Chiefs' offense: "one of the worst in the league, by nearly every measure"

[the Talking Can]

http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2013/9...chiefs-offense

some numbers to chew on from arrowhead pride

The Chiefs are actually 12th in the league in PPG, at 23.7. But if you take away the 14 points the defense is directly responsible for, that number drops to 19 PPG, which would be tied for 23rd - with the Raiders. The Chiefs are relying on the defense to score points, which isn't good. Defensive scoring is random and shouldn't be part of the game plan. They didn't need Tamba Hali's pick-6 to beat the Jaguars, but they did need Eric Berry's against the Eagles.

They also are just not moving the ball; their 333 yds/gm is 21st in the league and their 4.9 yds/play ranks 25th. "Well Kyle," you may ask, " if the Chiefs offense is so bad, how are they undefeated this year?" That's an excellent question, thank you for asking. The answer is that the defense and special teams are much, much better than we thought.

The problem the Chiefs are having is getting to the Red Zone in the first place. They're 30th in yards per drive, with only Tampa Bay and Jacksonville behind them, and Cleveland directly in front of them (not good company to be in). This is a really, really bad offense. But here's the real kicker: the Chiefs' offense has the best starting field position in the NFL this year, and still can't score.

The Chiefs average 17 yards per drive better field position than their opponents (ok, ok, 16.95), the best mark in the NFL (2nd table). Only two other teams average more than 10 yards better starting field position than their opponents (New England and Chicago). The Chiefs' average starting line of scrimmage (LOS) is their own 36.97 yard line (best in the NFL), while their opponents average starting LOS is their own 20.02 yard line (also best in the NFL). What all of that means is the Chiefs's offense is handed consistently great starting field position and can't do anything with it, then they let the special teams pin opponents deep in their own territory. The defense bails out the offense by not letting opponents move the ball, giving the offense the ball back with great starting field position. Lather, rinse, repeat.

There's a nice breakdown of our defense against philly over there as well:
http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2013/9/2...p-kelly-eagles

I have to reiterate and emphasize just how much the Chiefs played man to man -- like a ton of it. And they have the secondary to handle it, unlike most teams in the NFL. Specifically, they matched up Sean Smith on Cooper a lot on the outside. If this had been a prize fight, Cooper's corner would have thrown in the towel somewhere around the middle of the second quarter. Smith owned him right up until the end of the game when he started cramping up. Cooper just couldn't shake him, especially on those aforementioned deep routes Kelly had him running all game.

[Imon Yourside]

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

alright, at least we've clarified that 49er nonsense about Bowe...

shit, I have actual work to do now

There aren't many(if any) Chief fans that would disrespect Bowe, He's a great receiver IMHO.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by WhiteWhale

I think this view has more to do with you merging all disagreeing comments made by many posters into one imaginary representation of chiefs fans.

A lot of truth to that.

The 'true fan' has become an amalgam of 200 different posters saying different things at different times.

But whatever - we all fall victim to it.

On a board with literally thousands of members, there's going to be disagreement over literally everything.

[Brock]

Bowe will probably do well to match the numbers he got with tyler ****ing palko at qb. Let that sink in.

[WhiteWhale]

Originally Posted by Bo's Pelini

I've never seen Charles be an effective 3rd and short back. I'd nuch rather go with the guy who's 230 to pick up 1 yard.

Really?

Statistically Charles actually converted 3rd and short very well in 2010 and 2012. Much better than the 'power' alternative. Jones probably got 70% of those carries in 2010 and converted at about half the rate of JC in the same situations. I think there's a stereotype against him because of his size. I think he's a lot like Marcus Allen in that he finds small lanes and tends to fall forward enough to get the yard.

I think our interior blocking has been hot garbage this season and he has obviously struggled in those same situations.

[Mav]

Originally Posted by jspchief

TE isn't the issue. Smith refuses to throw to a guy that isn't wide open. He doesn't throw to the back shoulder of a wideout in man coverage. He doesn't throw to covered guy, putting it in a spot where is complete or nothing.

Watch what the great QBs do. It's not just about reading an offense and finding an open guy. They also know when to let the receiver make a play. They know how to put it in a good spot to a player in man coverage.

Smith doesn't do it. And for that reason, Bowe won't get shit for targets playing with him.

TE is an issue. Alex has always trusted his tight ends all the way back to Eric Johnson. He will actually force passes to tight ends. Always have. And now days, tight ends matter of FACT, every single Elite qb has a GREAT ONE.

Tom Brady has Gronk, Matt Ryan has Tony G, Drew Brees has Jimmy Graham, Aaron Rodgers has Jermichael Finley, Peyton Manning has Julius Thomas who is quickly becoming a monster.

Hell Andy Dalton has TWO......

Tight ends are vital in todays passing games.

[the Talking Can]

Originally Posted by KILLER_CLOWN

There aren't many(if any) Chief fans that would disrespect Bowe, He's a great receiver IMHO.

Bowe has caught shit for his 'attitude' since the moment he arrived, from fans and the stupid kc media....that's an easily provable fact

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

And had Smith taken risks and thrown the ball into double coverage, it's likely this team would be 1-2 at best.

Is that really want you want?

Saying this over and over and over doesn't make it true.

So the defense can carry the team when they are not scoring, but can't carry the team should Alex throw an INT?

How in the hell are Brees, Dalton, Schaub, Cutler, Geno etc. winning games?

[Mav]

Originally Posted by Bo's Pelini

Yes because you agree with them.

Stunning how that works.

I don't care if we are in the middle of an argument, if you make the correct statement that I agree with, ill admit it. He has no chance to ever do that. Pride is a vile evil thing.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Bo's Pelini

Yes because you agree with them.

"Alex Smith doesn't take risks. News at 11".

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by Brock

Bowe will probably do well to match the numbers he got with tyler ****ing palko at qb. Let that sink in.

Yeah, well that's what happens with a shitty OL and no TE.

[the Talking Can]

Originally Posted by Mavericks Ace

Stunning how that works.

I don't care if we are in the middle of an argument, if you make the correct statement that I agree with, ill admit it. He has no chance to ever do that. Pride is a vile evil thing.

shut the **** up, you tool

emo maverick to the rescue...

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by WhiteWhale

Really?

Statistically Charles actually converted 3rd and short very well in 2010 and 2012. I think there's a stereotype against him because of his size. I think he's a lot like Marcus Allen in that he finds small lanes and tends to fall forward enough to get the yard.

I think our interior blocking has been hot garbage this season and he has obviously struggled in those same situations.

They're also doing wacky shit like delayed handoffs from the shotgun with 3 or 4 wide, so he's not even getting a run at the line before he's hit.

I'm not really a "go big" kind of guy, but in that situation I'd tend to prefer the flexibility of the I formation, and going play action if you want to try for something big, rather than hoping you can spread them and beat their nickel out of the shotgun. It's not like you're really surprising anybody when you try to run it on 3rd and short, even if you're in shotgun, so why make it harder for yourself.

('course when it works we'll all say "wow! what a playcall!")

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by Bo's Pelini

I've never seen Charles be an effective 3rd and short back. I'd nuch rather go with the guy who's 230 to pick up 1 yard.

That's fine if you have a legit short yardage back on your team, but too often teams switch horses midstream to the bigger guy because they think that extra size means extra power, which = first down.

When backs gets stuffed on short yardage situations it's because the defensive line and linebackers and the kitchen sink has leaked through the gaps and has already wrapped up the carrier. Very very few RBs in the NFL have the leg-churning ability to push forward for the needed extra yard after getting contacted. And quite often a lot of those RBs who can do that aren't even the biggest guys in the world (Chris Ivory is a name that comes to mind in the game today).

So it becomes just as much about finding a guy who has the vision to find a spot, the speed to surge before contact can be made. All in all, teams should probably just hand it off to the most talented RB on the team who has already warmed up plenty with several carries, rather than giving it to some lumbering FB whose first touch comes against a wall of ferocious defenders who are 95% sure what the playcall is going to be.

Knile Davis doesn't necessarily have more power than JC, certainly doesn't have his vision, and his fumblitis is very concerning with that many tacklers looking to strip the ball in a crucial situation.

Just give it to Charles.

[OnTheWarpath15]

If ****ing Anthony Fasano and a 3rd round rookie are the key to this offense, we have some significant issues.

[Mav]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Saying this over and over and over doesn't make it true.

So the defense can carry the team when they are not scoring, but can't carry the team should Alex throw an INT?

How in the hell are Brees, Dalton, Schaub, Cutler, Geno etc. winning games?

The team gave up almost 300 yards rushing to the Eagles. If the eagles have the lead, and are still gashing the Chiefs how do you stop them to score?

Now. UNDERSTAND WHAT IM SAYING. The offense HAS TO IMPROVE for this team to have more than just regular season success. That's a given.

But, considering the circumstances, especially about the Eagles game, short week, only week 3 of the season, injuries, and the fact that Alex Smith threw for 273 yards, its a step isn't it?