Donger
09-27-2005, 11:20 AM
http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2005/09/27/gretz_badnewsindenver/
DENVER – So, obviously there is work that still must be done.
Not even the biggest pessimist in the Chiefs Kingdom would have ever imagined what happened Monday evening at Invesco Field. In the not so delicate verbiage of pro football, it was an old fashioned butt whuppin’.
The Chiefs were outplayed and outcoached in losing 30-10 to Denver. It was an embarrassment of the kind that happens on an almost weekly basis in the NFL. The same Broncos team that dominated the line of scrimmage against the Chiefs couldn’t stop the Miami Dolphins in the opening weekend. Monday night, the Denver defense looked like the ‘85 Chicago Bears.
One has to look long and hard to find another game in the last three years or so where the Chiefs never have a chance to win; but that was the case in this prime-time affair. OK, they did win the pre-game coin toss when Eddie Kennison called heads and it landed face up.
But from the opening kickoff, the Chiefs were in a hole that only got deeper and deeper. They kept the ball for the game’s first four minutes, 41 seconds and got off eight offensive snaps. Total yards gained: 19. Only a roughing the passer penalty against Denver kept the drive alive.
It was like that the whole game for the Chiefs offense. The running game never got going and the passing game was hit and miss. There are not readily available statistics to confirm this, but having seen every game that Green has played in a Chiefs uniform, I can think of none where he was battered as badly as what happened Monday night.
Whether it was blitzing linebackers and safeties, or a revamped front four that finally showed some muscle, the Broncos defense kept getting to Green. Jordan Black struggled at left tackle in place of the injured Willie Roaf. OK, struggled is being kind. He was outclassed most of the evening. Chris Bober at right tackle was no better. The now healthy Trevor Pryce went up and down the Chiefs offensive line, beating just about every one of the five blockers at some point in the game.
Then there’s the Chiefs defense. This game was the litmus test for the improvement of this unit. They failed. They failed miserably. They knew everything that was coming at them and they couldn’t stop the Broncos. The running game was going to be the key; couldn’t stop the run. Jake Plummer was going to bootleg; couldn’t stop the boots that were runs or the ones that set up passes. Rod Smith was going to get the ball; couldn’t cover him, until he was finally knocked out of the game after making his seventh catch.
Missing in action were the Chiefs linebackers, especially Kawika Mitchell. Press box statistics on tackles are often questionable and Kawika better hope that’s the case, because he was credited with just three in the game. Kendrell Bell had six and Derrick Johnson five tackles. The Chiefs leading tackler in the game was a safety, Greg Wesley with 11.
In comparison, the Broncos linebacking trio of D.J. Williams, Ian Gold and Al Wilson were one-two-three in tackles with 20 of the team’s 51.
The defensive numbers remain ugly:
Luckily for the Chiefs, there is time to recover. But they must lick their wounds quickly because the Eagles are coming to town this weekend. The Chiefs can salvage the start of their season with a victory over the Philly Birds.
DENVER – So, obviously there is work that still must be done.
Not even the biggest pessimist in the Chiefs Kingdom would have ever imagined what happened Monday evening at Invesco Field. In the not so delicate verbiage of pro football, it was an old fashioned butt whuppin’.
The Chiefs were outplayed and outcoached in losing 30-10 to Denver. It was an embarrassment of the kind that happens on an almost weekly basis in the NFL. The same Broncos team that dominated the line of scrimmage against the Chiefs couldn’t stop the Miami Dolphins in the opening weekend. Monday night, the Denver defense looked like the ‘85 Chicago Bears.
One has to look long and hard to find another game in the last three years or so where the Chiefs never have a chance to win; but that was the case in this prime-time affair. OK, they did win the pre-game coin toss when Eddie Kennison called heads and it landed face up.
But from the opening kickoff, the Chiefs were in a hole that only got deeper and deeper. They kept the ball for the game’s first four minutes, 41 seconds and got off eight offensive snaps. Total yards gained: 19. Only a roughing the passer penalty against Denver kept the drive alive.
It was like that the whole game for the Chiefs offense. The running game never got going and the passing game was hit and miss. There are not readily available statistics to confirm this, but having seen every game that Green has played in a Chiefs uniform, I can think of none where he was battered as badly as what happened Monday night.
Whether it was blitzing linebackers and safeties, or a revamped front four that finally showed some muscle, the Broncos defense kept getting to Green. Jordan Black struggled at left tackle in place of the injured Willie Roaf. OK, struggled is being kind. He was outclassed most of the evening. Chris Bober at right tackle was no better. The now healthy Trevor Pryce went up and down the Chiefs offensive line, beating just about every one of the five blockers at some point in the game.
Then there’s the Chiefs defense. This game was the litmus test for the improvement of this unit. They failed. They failed miserably. They knew everything that was coming at them and they couldn’t stop the Broncos. The running game was going to be the key; couldn’t stop the run. Jake Plummer was going to bootleg; couldn’t stop the boots that were runs or the ones that set up passes. Rod Smith was going to get the ball; couldn’t cover him, until he was finally knocked out of the game after making his seventh catch.
Missing in action were the Chiefs linebackers, especially Kawika Mitchell. Press box statistics on tackles are often questionable and Kawika better hope that’s the case, because he was credited with just three in the game. Kendrell Bell had six and Derrick Johnson five tackles. The Chiefs leading tackler in the game was a safety, Greg Wesley with 11.
In comparison, the Broncos linebacking trio of D.J. Williams, Ian Gold and Al Wilson were one-two-three in tackles with 20 of the team’s 51.
The defensive numbers remain ugly:
Luckily for the Chiefs, there is time to recover. But they must lick their wounds quickly because the Eagles are coming to town this weekend. The Chiefs can salvage the start of their season with a victory over the Philly Birds.