Whitlock - Defense, show us something

[Guru]

Defense, show us something


So here’s the test for Gunther Cunningham’s revamped defense. Gunther’s unit had the whole month of November to prepare for this monthlong final exam that begins today with the Denver Broncos inside Arrowhead Stadium.

A year and a half, four defensive free agents and youngsters Jared Allen and Derrick Johnson is more than enough time and more than enough investment to see if Gunther Cunningham truly is a defensive mastermind.

We can judge Gunther now. It’s fair. He can’t complain that he wasn’t provided the tools. The Chiefs have a high-priced secondary with players Gunther approved. He’s got a linebacking corps that has lots of speed and maybe even a couple of potential stars in Johnson and Kawika Mitchell. Up front, the Chiefs don’t have a Steel Curtain, but the line is serviceable, and Cunningham believes in them.

Nope. Today there should be no excuses. The crowd will be loud, the weather will be cold and the Broncos’ game plan is no secret.

Jake Plummer will run the boot, and Denver’s running backs will run the stretch.

Can Cunningham’s defense stop it?

If it can’t, kiss your Chiefs’ playoff aspirations goodbye — even if the Chiefs win. As the Chiefs wrap up the regular season, three of the NFL’s best offenses will visit Arrowhead Stadium.

You have to figure the best the Chiefs can do is split road games against the Cowboys and the Giants. So that’s at least one loss. And if KC’s defense isn’t truly improved, then it’s difficult for me to believe that the Chiefs can sweep home games against high-scoring San Diego and Cincinnati.

Nope. The Chiefs must play good defense today and win. There are, of course, reasons to believe that they will. And, of course, there are reasons to be suspicious. Let’s start with the positive.

The Chiefs — for the first time since 1997 — are showing signs of having a legitimate defensive strength. KC’s secondary is becoming a weapon. Over the last month, safeties Greg Wesley and Sammy Knight have become consistent playmakers. Wesley had three interceptions against Tom Brady. Knight stole a Brady pass, too.

Wesley and Knight have also been more consistent in run support.

Corner Eric Warfield has been very physical in run support. He’s tackled better this year than in any of his previous seasons. Warfield and big-ticket free agent Patrick Surtain give KC a solid corner combination.

When you toss in blitz specialist Benny Sapp, Kansas City’s secondary has an identity and the players in the secondary have roles and you know what to expect. Wesley is a terrific center fielder. Sapp rushes the passer. Knight is a headhunter. Surtain is a cover guy. Warfield is a combo, high-risk, big-play corner.

It’s been a long time since KC’s defense has had an attribute or players it could count on to do certain things. Having a consistent strength gives Cunningham freedom to turn loose some of his other defenders and take risk.

It also gives the other defensive players confidence. You can see this added confidence the most in middle linebacker Kawika Mitchell. He’s beginning to run around and make plays the way Donnie Edwards used to.

Now, what makes me skeptical about KC’s defensive improvement is that the Chiefs haven’t done anything against an outstanding offense. Beating up on Oakland, Buffalo, Houston and a New England offense that featured Heath Evans at running back just doesn’t cut it.

Slowing down Denver, San Diego and Cincinnati would prove something.

One of Kansas City’s defenders has a chance to really make a name for himself today. This is a high-profile game. Jared Allen dominated Washington a few weeks back with three sacks, two forced fumbles and a couple of fumble recoveries. Wesley had a big day against the Patriots.

Great players make plays against the best competition. We’ll find out today if the Chiefs have any great defensive players. They’ll need at least one to beat the Broncos.

[Guru]

I did make it readable. Jeez one simple accident by a Noob. I learned from it ok. LOL

[Branden Albert's Huge Balls]

Originally Posted by kcchiefsguru

I did make it readable. Jeez one simple accident by a Noob. I learned from it ok. LOL

Sorry, what are you talking about? Post your article and shut up. Jeez.

[Guru]

Originally Posted by gochiefs

Sorry, what are you talking about? Post your article and shut up. Jeez.

[beer bacon]

Heath Evans has been a better RB this year then Dillon. Period. Pass has been better too. With Dillon out the Patriots running game has averaged 20 yards more per game. Both Evans and Pass are averaging over 4 yards a carry while Dillon has averaged 3.5 ypc this year. Can people, especially guys that are payed to know this stuff, stop acting Heath Evans being the starter destroyed the Patriots' offense?

[Rausch]

True.

Obvious, but true...

[angryllama]

Originally Posted by beer bacon

Heath Evans has been a better RB this year then Dillon. Period. Pass has been better too. With Dillon out the Patriots running game has averaged 20 yards more per game. Both Evans and Pass are averaging over 4 yards a carry while Dillon has averaged 3.5 ypc this year. Can people, especially guys that are payed to know this stuff, stop acting Heath Evans being the starter destroyed the Patriots' offense?

Hmmmm...Heath Evans or Corey Dillon?

Well, we do know one thing...Heath Evans isnt very good. I'll take Corey Dillon.

[ChiefsCountry]

Glad Whitlock did his homework, Surtain wasnt a free agent he was acquired in a trade.

[beer bacon]

Originally Posted by angryllama

Hmmmm...Heath Evans or Corey Dillon?

Well, we do know one thing...Heath Evans isnt very good. I'll take Corey Dillon.

Most of the time the best idea is to actually look how they are playing as opposed to reputations. Dillon never looked the same this year before he got injured. Anyone that watched him play could see that. Excuse me while I whip this out:

Dillon: 441 yards at 3.5 ypc
Pass: 205 yards at 4.9 ypc
Evans: 169 yards at 4.3 ypc

Rushing YPG with Dillon starting this season: 76
Rushing YPG without Dillon starting this season: 96.5

[HemiEd]

Is it 3:15 yet? Hurry up, damn I am pumped for this game.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Glad Whitlock did his homework, Surtain wasnt a free agent he was acquired in a trade.

Yeah, all the education he's getting from Ball State is paying off big time.

Sheesh, Whitlock sure likes to find out if the T-Bone looks good by sticking his head up in a cow's ass eh? I'd personally take the butcher's word for it anyways.

Jason is missing the point. Yes, the defense played good aganist a bad Miami, Buffalo, and Houston team, along with the dinged up Patriots team. But he's not looking at the fine line. We played a solid passing team in NE, and Oakland, especially with that WR's the Raiders had.

My point is, in the past, our defense would let a 32nd ranked offense look like the f**king St. Louis Rams/Indianapolis Colts offense. Practically, almost all of the games we played in the past were a freaking shootouts for the most part.

The Chiefs’ defense held the Raiders to 263 total yards, at Buffalo, holding the Bills to 209 yards. After utterly dominating Houston two weeks ago. They had not allowed a 200-yard passer in almost a month.

Sure, Oakland, Buffalo and Houston are not good teams. But remember, before Cunningham came along, the Chiefs’ defenses were just plain awful. They gave up yards and points to everybody.

The Patriots may be riddled with injuries and such, but Jason's failing the common sense.

The Patriots are the defending Super Bowl champs, and that was still Bill Belichick coaching, still Tom Brady passing (with the league’s fourth-best passing attack), still a champion coming into Kansas City in need of a victory. And we pretty much dominated them for the most part, except playing soft (Darned zones!)

It's a nice change though that I'm not consistently worried about the Chiefs defense like in the past, where for the most part, I'd have to cover my eyes.

Oh, and Jason, go f**k yourself.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by Coach

My point is, in the past, our defense would let a 32nd ranked offense look like the f**king St. Louis Rams/Indianapolis Colts offense. Practically, almost all of the games we played in the past were a freaking shootouts for the most part.

Exactly, 2-3 years ago, 2nd stringers like Heath Evans shredded this D on a consistant basis. They still are not worldbeaters, but they decent and have some playmakers now. Lets hope Sims returning will provide some more consistant pocket push up front, the only thing this defense needs to become "elite".

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Glad Whitlock did his homework, Surtain wasnt a free agent he was acquired in a trade.

Jeeez giving credit for what he suppose to do. Where's Chris Rock?

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Coach

Sheesh, Whitlock sure likes to find out if the T-Bone looks good by sticking his head up in a cow's ass eh? I'd personally take the butcher's word for it anyways.

Rep.