Chiefs Covitz: History says Reid will rest Chiefs players - Page 2

**Tribal Warfare** · 12-23-2013, 08:28 PM

History says coach Andy Reid will rest Chiefs players now that playoff position is assured
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star

With the Chiefs locked into the fifth seed in the AFC playoffs, coach Andy Reid said he has not determined whether he’ll sit some of his starting players in next Sunday’s regular-season finale at San Diego.

History suggests Reid will rest key players such as quarterback Alex Smith and running back Jamaal Charles and keep them out of harm’s way before the first round of the playoffs on Jan. 4-5.

The Chiefs, 11-4, cannot improve their position in the playoffs after losing 23-7 Sunday to Indianapolis. San Diego, 8-7, has a chance at a wild card spot by beating the Chiefs, coupled with losses by Miami and Baltimore in earlier games that day.

“I’ll evaluate all the different situations,” Reid said on Monday. “I have sat people before … quite a few times, actually, and benefited from that. But I’ll look at everything and make sure I have that part evaluated.”

Reid faced this situation four times in Philadelphia — in 2001, 2004, 2006 and 2010 — and each time he either limited his starters to a handful of snaps or sat them altogether. The Eagles won their first playoff game in three of those seasons.

In 2004, the Eagles, 13-1, had the NFC East and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs clinched with two games remaining. Reid pulled his starters after one series in a 20-7 loss to St. Louis in the penultimate game and sat quarterback Donovan McNabb, running back Brian Westbrook, wide receiver Terrell Owens, safety Brian Dawkins and defensive end Jevon Kearse in the season-ending 38-10 loss to Cincinnati.

Those players also had an extra week off when the Eagles had a bye in the playoffs before beating Minnesota and Atlanta en route to the Super Bowl.

“The one thing I did then, and I’m going to do now is take the time I have to evaluate it and make sure I do what I think is right,” Reid said. “It’s a bit of a gut feeling you go with. I’ll go off of that.”

One factor in deciding whether to rest players or play them in these situations is whether the week off will affect their timing.

In 2011, Green Bay, assured of the No. 1 seed, rested quarterback Aaron Rodgers, among others, for a regular-season finale against Detroit, and Packers backup Matt Flynn threw for a franchise-record 480 yards against Detroit, capping a 15-1 season. The Packers, whose only regular-season loss that year was to the Chiefs, would be upset in playoffs by the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

In Reid’s last trip the playoffs, in 2010, he sat quarterback Michael Vick, running back LeSean McCoy and wide receiver DeSean Jackson in a season-ending 14-13 loss to Dallas. Philadelphia lost its wild-card game 21-16 to eventual Super Bowl champion Green Bay.

“If you look at the history of it, it’s been a 50-50 shot over the last three or four years by people who have done it,” said Reid. “It’s what you feel most comfortable with as a coach. The obvious benefit is to rest your guys and get them back to feeling a little bit fresher than what they are at the end of the season.

“You take the risk of the timing part of it. Sometimes that’s there, sometimes it’s not. Those are things you evaluate.”

In the cases of outside linebacker Justin Houston, who may be ready after missing the last four games with an elbow injury, and offensive tackle Branden Albert, who has missed the last three with a knee injury, they may need to play on Sunday in order to get their timing back.

“I’ll look at that, too,” Reid said. “I’ll take that into consideration as I go through the process.”

Charles may be the one player who could use a week off to rest from the pounding against a physical team like the Chargers. Charles has carried 259 times — 26 short of his career most — and caught a career-most 70 passes this season.

He’s touched the ball on 36 percent of the Chiefs’ offensive plays, and that doesn’t count shots he has taken while pass-protecting, carrying out fakes, and even delivering a big hit in tackling Colts linebacker Jerrell Freeman after an interception on Sunday.

If Reid decides to rest Charles, he said he is comfortable with rookie Knile Davis, despite Davis’ critical lost fumble against the Colts and another fumble he recovered while returning a kickoff.

“We have to feel that way because until this point, that’s what we have done,” Reid said. “If Jamaal ever went down, he’s the guy who steps in and goes.

“You can’t touch the ball four times in a game and have two of them on the ground. He knows that. He’ll be the first to tell you. He’s a smart kid, a conscientious kid, I trust he’ll get that taken care of.”

Outside linebacker Tamba Hali could be another candidate to sit out this week. Reid said Hali had some swelling in his knee, but “he should be OK down the road.”

That was an indication that Hali’s next action will be in the playoffs.

chiefzilla1501 · 12-23-2013, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

You know what would be sweet?

Rest Alex, Charles and a handful of other guys that need another "bye week" and time to prepare for Indy. imo they should already be practicing against stuff for Indy. The SD game is meaningless.

Let Bray start and play the whole game against an angry SD team. It will be a good learning experience for the kid.

The players that matter need to be finding ways to score on Indy and keep them from scoring on dumb shit. Who cares what happens next week?

I think Alex could still stand to improve. Give him the first half, maybe get some confidence back, then bench him. I care about benching people to rest them, not to give our backups experience. Smith won't get any more tired. He just runs the risk of getting hurt.

Red Dawg · 12-23-2013, 08:52 PM

If no Smith and JC then rest them all. Defense as well.

**Ragged Robin** · 12-23-2013, 08:57 PM

You want to go into the playoffs with some sort of momentum.. starters need to put the game away first before bringing in the backups. If that doesn't happen then they should play the whole game unless someone gets hurt.. Charles should sit most of the game though.

**Easy 6** · 12-23-2013, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jd1020

You do know that Charles is still a chronic fumbler, right?

If Davis can run at an all time best level then he'll be forgiven.

But then again, Charles is fumbling about once every 60 touches. Davis is fumbling once every 14... **** him.

Yep **** it, i say get rid of BOTH those sorry pricks.

jd1020 · 12-23-2013, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott free

Yep **** it, i say get rid of BOTH those sorry pricks.

Because Charles was/is a sorry pick... herp derp.

Deberg_1990 · 12-23-2013, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ragged Robin

You want to go into the playoffs with some sort of momentum.. .

I would really like to know if there are stats to prove this or it's just another sports cliche?

My guess is the latter.

go bo · 12-23-2013, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott free

Yep **** it, i say get rid of BOTH those sorry pricks.

and the dogs they rode in on...

yeah!

Red Dawg · 12-23-2013, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ragged Robin

You want to go into the playoffs with some sort of momentum.. starters need to put the game away first before bringing in the backups. If that doesn't happen then they should play the whole game unless someone gets hurt.. Charles should sit most of the game though.

I would not risk injury to try for momentum. We went 2-4 and killed it. We need fresh legs and to find our intensity.

Chiefnj2 · 12-23-2013, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

I would really like to know if there are stats to prove this or it's just another sports cliche?

My guess is the latter.

You think there are a lot of teams that finish 2 - 5 and do well in the playoffs?

Molitoth · 12-23-2013, 10:11 PM

Going into a road playoff game on a losing streak is right where the Chiefs want to be!

Maybe this is when we see all of those trick plays and blitzes that Reid and Sutton have been saving all season.

**OnTheWarpath15** · 12-23-2013, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

You think there are a lot of teams that finish 2 - 5 and do well in the playoffs?

Probably just a hair fewer than those that finish 3-4.

Discuss Thrower · 12-23-2013, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by go bowe

and the dogs they rode in on...

yeah!

Let's leave Wendler ' s Mother out of this.

Hammock Parties · 12-23-2013, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

Let's leave Wendler ' s Mother out of this.

my mother is dead you asshole

Discuss Thrower · 12-23-2013, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by go bowe

and the dogs they rode in on...

yeah!

Let's leave Wendler ' s Mother out of this.

Chiefnj2 · 12-23-2013, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Probably just a hair fewer than those that finish 3-4.

Actually, I did a quick look and it doesn't look like it matters much. Ravens finished like crap and won, saints lost their last 3.

I just dont think kc is very good. Indy has been bending KC over the barrel the last 15 years, what's one more year of being a prison bitch.

12-23-2013, 08:28 PM
Tribal Warfare The Boom Boom Room Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $1002813	Covitz: History says Reid will rest Chiefs players History says coach Andy Reid will rest Chiefs players now that playoff position is assured By RANDY COVITZ The Kansas City Star With the Chiefs locked into the fifth seed in the AFC playoffs, coach Andy Reid said he has not determined whether he’ll sit some of his starting players in next Sunday’s regular-season finale at San Diego. History suggests Reid will rest key players such as quarterback Alex Smith and running back Jamaal Charles and keep them out of harm’s way before the first round of the playoffs on Jan. 4-5. The Chiefs, 11-4, cannot improve their position in the playoffs after losing 23-7 Sunday to Indianapolis. San Diego, 8-7, has a chance at a wild card spot by beating the Chiefs, coupled with losses by Miami and Baltimore in earlier games that day. “I’ll evaluate all the different situations,” Reid said on Monday. “I have sat people before … quite a few times, actually, and benefited from that. But I’ll look at everything and make sure I have that part evaluated.” Reid faced this situation four times in Philadelphia — in 2001, 2004, 2006 and 2010 — and each time he either limited his starters to a handful of snaps or sat them altogether. The Eagles won their first playoff game in three of those seasons. In 2004, the Eagles, 13-1, had the NFC East and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs clinched with two games remaining. Reid pulled his starters after one series in a 20-7 loss to St. Louis in the penultimate game and sat quarterback Donovan McNabb, running back Brian Westbrook, wide receiver Terrell Owens, safety Brian Dawkins and defensive end Jevon Kearse in the season-ending 38-10 loss to Cincinnati. Those players also had an extra week off when the Eagles had a bye in the playoffs before beating Minnesota and Atlanta en route to the Super Bowl. “The one thing I did then, and I’m going to do now is take the time I have to evaluate it and make sure I do what I think is right,” Reid said. “It’s a bit of a gut feeling you go with. I’ll go off of that.” One factor in deciding whether to rest players or play them in these situations is whether the week off will affect their timing. In 2011, Green Bay, assured of the No. 1 seed, rested quarterback Aaron Rodgers, among others, for a regular-season finale against Detroit, and Packers backup Matt Flynn threw for a franchise-record 480 yards against Detroit, capping a 15-1 season. The Packers, whose only regular-season loss that year was to the Chiefs, would be upset in playoffs by the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants. In Reid’s last trip the playoffs, in 2010, he sat quarterback Michael Vick, running back LeSean McCoy and wide receiver DeSean Jackson in a season-ending 14-13 loss to Dallas. Philadelphia lost its wild-card game 21-16 to eventual Super Bowl champion Green Bay. “If you look at the history of it, it’s been a 50-50 shot over the last three or four years by people who have done it,” said Reid. “It’s what you feel most comfortable with as a coach. The obvious benefit is to rest your guys and get them back to feeling a little bit fresher than what they are at the end of the season. “You take the risk of the timing part of it. Sometimes that’s there, sometimes it’s not. Those are things you evaluate.” In the cases of outside linebacker Justin Houston, who may be ready after missing the last four games with an elbow injury, and offensive tackle Branden Albert, who has missed the last three with a knee injury, they may need to play on Sunday in order to get their timing back. “I’ll look at that, too,” Reid said. “I’ll take that into consideration as I go through the process.” Charles may be the one player who could use a week off to rest from the pounding against a physical team like the Chargers. Charles has carried 259 times — 26 short of his career most — and caught a career-most 70 passes this season. He’s touched the ball on 36 percent of the Chiefs’ offensive plays, and that doesn’t count shots he has taken while pass-protecting, carrying out fakes, and even delivering a big hit in tackling Colts linebacker Jerrell Freeman after an interception on Sunday. If Reid decides to rest Charles, he said he is comfortable with rookie Knile Davis, despite Davis’ critical lost fumble against the Colts and another fumble he recovered while returning a kickoff. “We have to feel that way because until this point, that’s what we have done,” Reid said. “If Jamaal ever went down, he’s the guy who steps in and goes. “You can’t touch the ball four times in a game and have two of them on the ground. He knows that. He’ll be the first to tell you. He’s a smart kid, a conscientious kid, I trust he’ll get that taken care of.” Outside linebacker Tamba Hali could be another candidate to sit out this week. Reid said Hali had some swelling in his knee, but “he should be OK down the road.” That was an indication that Hali’s next action will be in the playoffs.
Posts: 42,023

12-23-2013, 08:52 PM	#17
Red Dawg Going home eventually Join Date: Dec 2002 Casino cash: $4822858	If no Smith and JC then rest them all. Defense as well. __________________ If you're not first you're last!
Posts: 30,349

12-23-2013, 10:11 PM	#25
Molitoth Mahomes Fanboi Join Date: Apr 2004 Casino cash: $3034969	Going into a road playoff game on a losing streak is right where the Chiefs want to be! Maybe this is when we see all of those trick plays and blitzes that Reid and Sutton have been saving all season.
Posts: 19,472