Whitlock: Chiefs need to rattle Grossman

[C-Mac]

Whitlock: Chiefs need to rattle Grossman
When I campaigned for the Chiefs to sign Ty Law, it was for games like today.

Ty Law vs. Rex Grossman is a total mismatch.

Seriously, Law has put together a Hall of Fame career by baiting quarterbacks into foolish throws. He’s owned Peyton Manning in the postseason, and Manning is quite possibly the smartest QB ever to play the game.

Law has done it because when he’s mentally locked in, his football instincts are the equal of Manning’s. There are few cornerbacks you can say that about. But it’s true about Law. He’s never been the fastest or quickest corner to play the game. Law has picked off 50 regular-season passes because he gets inside the head of the opposing quarterback.

There’s a lot of room inside Rex Grossman’s head.

If the Chiefs have any chance of winning today against the heavily favored Chicago Bears, Ty Law, Patrick Surtain, Benny Sapp, Jarrad Page, Bernard Pollard (and linebacker Donnie Edwards) need to produce at least two Grossman interceptions.

Kansas City’s secondary is supposed to be the strength of the defense. Law and Surtain have Pro Bowl résumés. Surtain has a huge contract. Page and Pollard are billed as future Pro Bowlers. KC’s secondary unit is matched against the Bears’ weak link, quarterback Rex Grossman.

I expect Law to deliver. He’s the only Chiefs player (besides maybe Donnie Edwards) who has delivered consistently in big games. Kansas City’s season is pretty much on the line today. Yes, teams have recovered from 0-2 starts.

But the Chiefs don’t strike me as the kind of team that will get markedly better late in the season. They don’t have a young quarterback or a young offensive line that is waiting to jell. What we see today is pretty much what we’re going to see all season from the Chiefs, even when Jared Allen returns from suspension.

My expectations are low for Kansas City’s offense all season and especially today. The Bears held San Diego and LaDainian Tomlinson to 14 points a week ago. Tomlinson, the game’s best back, rushed for just 25 yards. And the game was in San Diego.

Today, inside Soldier Field, with the defending NFC champion Bears trying to avoid an 0-2 start, I don’t see Brian Urlacher and Co. allowing Larry Johnson and Damon Huard to control the clock.

This should be a defensive struggle … as long as Chicago return man Devin Hester doesn’t run wild. We know the Bears have a great defense. The question is whether the Chiefs have a good defense.

Herm Edwards came here promising to build a great defense. Today will be a good test of whether he’s making any progress. Honestly, I have my doubts.

Ty Law can only do so much. Without a pass rush, Herm’s Cover 2 scheme falls apart. If the Chiefs can’t stop the run, Herm’s Cover 2 scheme falls apart. KC’s pass-rush problems won’t be fixed until Allen enters the lineup.

KC’s run defense will remain suspect as long as Page and Pollard remain suspect. I’m not prepared to write off the two second-year safeties, but they have not tackled as well as I expected. Page, in particular, missed tackles throughout the preseason.

Pollard and Law made an adjustment in coverage last week against Houston that allowed Andre Johnson to streak 77 yards downfield with a touchdown. Pollard is not a coverage safety. He should be a bruising intimidator, a poor man’s John Lynch. Right now, Pollard looks like a linebacker trying to play safety.

Well, we’ll find out today. There will be plenty of opportunities for Pollard and Page to make plays in the running game and in the passing game. If Kansas City’s secondary comes up empty, it’s a terrible sign for this season and next season.

[RustShack]

CHIEFS WILL WIN THE GAME!!!

[dj56dt58]

Same shit different Sunday

[Mecca]

I don't think this game is going to be fun to watch, unless you're a bears fan.

[Hammock Parties]

We're not going to get pressure on Grossman. Forget it. Houston has an average offensive line and Schaub had plenty of time.

[Direckshun]

Great article.

Clearly forcing Gross, Man into a bad game is the solution.

We've got the tools on defense. This game is not out of reach.

I just don't expect our offense can score a single point unless the defense can create it for them.

[Deberg_1990]

I envision a "Career Day" for either Grossman or Cedric Benson.

[Mecca]

Is the career day defense back?

[Direckshun]

We cry about how awful the defense looked against Houston, but they allowed 13 points. That's a good showing.

Granted it was against a week offense, but let's stop pretending like the week 1 defense looked awful.

[Thig Lyfe]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

We cry about how awful the defense looked against Houston, but they allowed 13 points. That's a good showing.

Granted it was against a week offense, but let's stop pretending like the week 1 defense looked awful.

We do? I thought the general consensus was that the defense was mostly pretty satisfactory, save for that big Andre Johnson TD.

[Psyko Tek]

Originally Posted by Mecca

Is the career day defense back?

no, I think this one may actually be good...
someday

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by SportsRacer

We do? I thought the general consensus was that the defense was mostly pretty satisfactory, save for that big Andre Johnson TD.

The thread was snowballing in that direction.

[tk13]

I think our defense will be fine. It's the offense putting the defense in bad positions that worries me.

[Calcountry]

Originally Posted by tk13

I think our defense will be fine. It's the offense putting the defense in bad positions that worries me.

It was just two years ago, that that observation was reversed. Amazing.

[CupidStunt]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

We cry about how awful the defense looked against Houston, but they allowed 13 points. That's a good showing.

Granted it was against a week offense, but let's stop pretending like the week 1 defense looked awful.

They were pretty solid for the most part, and Houston's offense is going to surprise this year. They'll be solid.

Run defense was spotty but mostly good. Pass defense was spotty, too, and showed good flashes but allowed too many big plays and key conversions. We need to play a little tighter, get better help over the top and GET AFTER THE QB.