Andy blames himself, not Alex, for Chiefs' sputtering offense

[ShowtimeSBMVP]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- When you're 6-0 and coming off a 2-14 season, there really shouldn't be any complaining.

There can't be a football fan or scout or executive anywhere on the planet who could have forecast the amazing turnaround general manager John Dorsey and coach Andy Reid have conducted with the Chiefs -- certainly not to the extent of a 6-0 start.

But -- and isn't there always a but? -- there is one small area of concern that even Reid himself continues to address: a sluggish offense.

The Chiefs are 25th in the NFL in offense, chugging along at just 326 yards per game, a remarkably low figure for a team unbeaten this far into the season.

No one is more aware of the offense's struggles than Reid. The offense is his baby.

"Listen, I'm never going to make excuses," Reid said Monday. "That's not how we roll here. But the reality of it is we're a little young, but we have to get better.

"I see some phases we're getting better at. But I've got to do a better job of getting these guys in the right position to succeed. We've all got a little piece of the pie to get things right. We're learning on the fly, but we're going to get better."

The Chiefs likely will have to. Fans in this area have seen this script before. They've seen the Chiefs' teams of the 1990s soar through the regular season on the strength of their overpowering defenses and elite special teams.

Then those fans saw the same teams misfire in the postseason, mainly because the offense couldn't step up and contribute when it had to.

To avoid revisiting that script, the Chiefs must get more production out of quarterback Alex Smith, whose numbers keep sinking.

Smith is 26th in the league in passing yards at just 221.7 per game. He's also 20th in the league with a passer rating of 79.8.

But if you're looking for Reid to point any fingers toward Smith, you'll have a long wait.

Reid knows what kind of team he has. He knows, outside of Jamaal Charles and at times Dwayne Bowe, he doesn't have an explosive offense.

Reid also knows you can win in this league simply by not messing up, and letting the opponent beat itself. The Chiefs are No. 1 in the league in turnover ratio at plus-12, and don't have the appearance of a team that will beat itself anytime soon.

"Not turning the ball over is very important to us," Reid said, "especially when you have a solid defense like we have and the kicking game we have, both from our punter and our kicker."

In that respect, Smith is giving Reid all he needs, even if the offense has that familiar conservative look of the '90s. After all, there is a fine line between wanting more offensive production, and opening the offense up so much that more turnovers occur. Reid isn't likely to stand for that.

"You want to always start off by protecting the ball," Reid said. "There's no fine line there for me. ...

"Alex is doing that. And we need to point out the way Alex continues to manage this offense."

And that is the key in Reid's mind: He simply wants Smith to manage the game, which also includes managing the different personalities in the huddle.

"We've got a guy at quarterback, this kid, he's a stud," Reid said. "The things he does for this team is unbelievable. He's making people around him better. He takes the blame for things -- that's what good leaders do.

"At the same time, he's able to teach and explain to other guys with a clear head. Those are valuable things for us as coaches to see. I'm very pleased with the job (Smith) is doing."

In Reid's mind, let the other quarterbacks around the league possess the pretty passing numbers; Reid will take the ultimate one that counts. That is, for now, 6-0.

Still, Reid also has been around long enough to know that his offense will have to improve as the season wears on, even if it's just incrementally.

And that will be up to Reid himself as the play-caller and architect of the offense, something Reid has mentioned almost every week.

"I think we have done some good things, but we have plenty to work on," Reid said. "I don't think I've done a very good job of putting guys in position to make plays. That has been obvious at times. I have to do a better job."



http://www.foxsportskansascity.com/n...75&feedID=5117


Sorry if Q

[Brock]

And how to fix it.

[TripleThreat]

Tom Brady's qbr rating was lower than Alex's before this last week, now Im not sure but , Could it be from no welker? No gronk, hernand, or a true #1 wr? Maybe... If you look at the elite qbs they have a shit ton of weapons to throw to on offense and then have shit defenses so they have to throw all game and put up shiny stats.. We can get rid of Hali, berry, Poe, Johnson, and then sign a shit load of offensive weapons and put a bunch of plugs in on defense.... People need to learn you can't have a elite d and a elite o. And if you do it doesn't last for long once u have to resign the players that broke out or rookies that exceeded expectations...

[Brock]

Originally Posted by TripleThreat

Tom Brady's qbr rating was lower than Alex's before this last week, now Im not sure but , Could it be from no welker? No gronk, hernand, or a true #1 wr? Maybe... If you look at the elite qbs they have a shit ton of weapons to throw to on offense and then have shit defenses so they have to throw all game and put up shiny stats.. We can get rid of Hali, berry, Poe, Johnson, and then sign a shit load of offensive weapons and put a bunch of plugs in on defense.... People need to learn you can't have a elite d and a elite o. And if you do it doesn't last for long once u have to resign the players that broke out or rookies that exceeded expectations...

Can we at least have an okay offense? Because there's no ****ing reason we shouldn't.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Brock

Can we at least have an okay offense? Because there's no ****ing reason we shouldn't.

The Chiefs were last in scoring in 2012 with an average of 13.2 points.

While they added Alex Smith and Donnie Avery, Fasano hasn't played in 4+ games, Kelce's on IR and the interior of the offensive line has been awful.

Yet, they're scoring 19.2 points a game this year offensively, which is a 32% increase over last year.

They're improving, but they've got a long way to go before they're above average.

[KCUnited]

Originally Posted by TripleThreat

Tom Brady's qbr rating was lower than Alex's before this last week, now Im not sure but , Could it be from no welker? No gronk, hernand, or a true #1 wr? Maybe... If you look at the elite qbs they have a shit ton of weapons to throw to on offense and then have shit defenses so they have to throw all game and put up shiny stats.. We can get rid of Hali, berry, Poe, Johnson, and then sign a shit load of offensive weapons and put a bunch of plugs in on defense.... People need to learn you can't have a elite d and a elite o. And if you do it doesn't last for long once u have to resign the players that broke out or rookies that exceeded expectations...

.

[TripleThreat]

Originally Posted by Brock

Can we at least have an okay offense? Because there's no ****ing reason we shouldn't.

Wtf? We do have a "ok" offense.. It's far from spetacular at this point in time but to say its not even a ok offense is just having too much wool pulled over your eyes.. That said. This is a entire new coaching staff. New qb. New players. Young players. 6 games in... I wasn't expecting a shut out offense, but I am expecting one come playoffs. It's wayyy to premature to say our o sucks after just 6 games under the circumstances. Plus we are 6 and 0 be thankful our "shitty" offense isn't giving the ball away to cost us games and that our "shitty" offense is putting together great 4th quarter drives to shut out games. But your right our offense isn't even in the "ok " category.

[Floridafan]

Forgive my ignorance, I was a wrestler in high school and never played football but my observations thus far are that Alex Smith doesn't seem to have much time to find an open receiver and they are not getting open as quickly as the Donkeys receivers do. Fisher is supposed to be extremely talented left tackle but he was switched to the right side and is having to learn to lead with the other foot etc.. He seems to be a swinging door and getting beat way too often. Maybe he isn't over his old injuries just yet.

I think that Reid won so many games because he does understand how to run an effective WCO and players will grow into their roles as they play more. Am I being an idiot for thinking we need help on the O line and need to use Hemmingway more? Please be gentle with me in your reply's as I said I am a neofyte when it comes to the finer points of "football" knowledge.

[beach tribe]

I hope they can get this fixed. If not I could see Bray popping a Kaep in Smiths ass next season.

You noticed they havent paid Smith like Pioli did Cassel. If they really thought Smith was the unquestioned answer he might have gotten extended.

[beach tribe]

I wonder how much Bray gets to practice against our 1s?

[Ace Gunner]

Originally Posted by beach tribe

I wonder how much Bray gets to practice against our 1s?

how about zero

here's hoping Bray can play in this league

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by TripleThreat

Wtf? We do have a "ok" offense.. It's far from spetacular at this point in time but to say its not even a ok offense is just having too much wool pulled over your eyes..

This is apparently an "ok" offense: 25th in yards, 26th in yards per play, 27th in completion percentage, 21st in 1st downs, 27th in 3rd down percentage, 21st in penalties, 26th in passing yardage, 28th in yards per pass, 21st in first downs via the pass, 29th in passing 1st down percentage, 21st in qb rating. On the plus side they're 9th in rushing, 12th in rushing yards/game, 12th in rushing average, 10th in rushing first downs and 13th in rushing 1st down percentage.

I guess that's "ok" for some, but I don't see an offense that's good at anything. They're 'ok,' but not great, running the ball, and they're bottom third in every passing category aside from interceptions. This being a team that's pass-first....

The few statistical categories where they're close to or at the top of the league, scoring (9th), time of possession (7th) and turnovers (1st) are primarily attributable to the defense, who's leading the league in TD returns, sacks, passes defensed, 3rd down percentage and turnovers forced.

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

If THIS team could score "all the points in the world", they'd be damn near unbeatable.

Hell, if the offense could score 23 or 24 points a game, they'd be damn near unbeatable. Because the defensive scores would take that up around 30.

Similarly, if the offense could convert first downs and sustain drives, they'd be damn near unbeatable.

That's what people who think talking about this stuff is just us "bitching" don't get: what we're really saying is that we see the possibilities for what this team can actually be.

And they could or perhaps should be better than they are. Even sitting at 6-0 there's tons and tons of room for improvement. The sky could really be the limit, if the offense ever begins to click.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by Mavericks Ace

This offense needs a game manager, because the talent on it after Bowe, and Charles, is pathetic. And the only people who think it is anything more than that, are blind homer Chief fans, or Alex Smith haters......

Well, I'm at least happy Andy isn't burying his head in the sand.
If Smith was even playing as well as he was last year before being injured, this offense would likely be averaging about 7 - 10 points more per game, and right about where I would feel comfortable in saying they could make some serious noise in the playoffs.

Nothing is set in stone yet and they can improve- like getting Fasano back at TE. At least the HC isn't content and thinks that 6 and 0 = he doesn't need to reevaluate how he is utilizing the offense and if the play calling needs some tweaking.

We've just had just a history of coaches that were stubborn and continued to force a square peg in a round hole, that I hope he does go over the tape and pick his other coaches brains for greater success.

I think once the bye week comes were going to have quite a bit of little new surprises especially given the key games that come up just after our bye.

[houston_pressure]

If this team is able to pick up Tony G... They have a Top 3 RB. Top 3 TE. Top 10 WR, Solid LT, first overall pick RT, a coach who's suppose to be offensive minded, and a QB we just gave up two 2nd's for. All backed by an excellent defense and ST to set them up. If they can't move the ball that's a problem.

[Dayze]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

This is apparently an "ok" offense: 25th in yards, 26th in yards per play, 27th in completion percentage, 21st in 1st downs, 27th in 3rd down percentage, 21st in penalties, 26th in passing yardage, 28th in yards per pass, 21st in first downs via the pass, 29th in passing 1st down percentage, 21st in qb rating. On the plus side they're 9th in rushing, 12th in rushing yards/game, 12th in rushing average, 10th in rushing first downs and 13th in rushing 1st down percentage.

I guess that's "ok" for some, but I don't see an offense that's good at anything. They're 'ok,' but not great, running the ball, and they're bottom third in every passing category aside from interceptions. This being a team that's pass-first....

The few statistical categories where they're close to or at the top of the league, scoring (9th), time of possession (7th) and turnovers (1st) are primarily attributable to the defense, who's leading the league in TD returns, sacks, passes defensed, 3rd down percentage and turnovers forced.

Boom