gblowfish
09-03-2010, 09:06 AM
Ten Things About Last Night's Game
10. The bad thing about having a game on Thursday night is, it's hard to find time on a work day Friday to really sit back and do some in-depth, well researched insightful thinking about the conclusion of pre-season and the pending home opener ten days from now. So now that its the morning after, I'm at work and don't have a lot of time. I guess I'll have to make some sketchy, shallow, poorly considered off the cuff remarks about last night's game in general. Woah! Hey, no problem, that's right in my wheelhouse!
9. The fourth exhibition game is the poster child for why four exhibition games are two too many. This was a throw away game for Green Bay, as it was for many of the upper-tier teams across the league. It wasn't important enough for Green Bay, or many other competing teams, to risk injury to their skill position starters the week before the real games begin. Still, season ticket holders are forced to pay full boat to watch. That's a rip-off, no matter how you slice it. Last night it rained on the tailgaters just enough to give the charcoal a good soaking, then by game time it was dry and cool. Perfect weather, although the field was just a touch soggy. Announced attendance was just under 64,000. Lower bowl looked pretty full except for the end zone corners, upstairs was still pretty sparse. I think the MNF game may be the only sell out this year. We could see a blackout on 1/2 vs. Oakland. When was the last time a Chiefs/Raiders game was blacked out in KC? Got to be more than 20 years ago. It could very well happen. It wouldn't surprise me if more than half the home games are blacked out this season.
8. You can't take a whole lot away from this game, since we didn't see the real Packers. We did see KC"s real first string offense, and Cassel, well, he looked like Cassel. I'm afraid he's going to be a slow starter in every game. He doesn't seem to get into the game flow until after about the third or fourth series. Stats are 4 of 9 for 58 yards -Bowe got 30 of that as YAK after a 6 yard pass-, 1 TD and 1 pick. KC fans have been notoriously rough on starting QBs. Dawson got booed during his last days. They're going to be watching Cassel's every move with a hyper critical eye. But is Cassel among the top half of starting QBs in the NFL? I don't think so. You can maybe name four or five guys that he's clearly better than, but not many more than that. The Chiefs have a long way to go to just get to mediocre, remember, we only won four games last year, and that's twice as many as the year before. You've got a much better chance of contending if you have a stud QB. And as we've said time and time before, the Chiefs have never drafted and brought up their own stud starting QB. Starters have always come here from somewhere else. Weird, but that's just the way it is. Right now, Cassel just doesn't look the part. Not even close.
7. I've been very pleased with the progress the defense has shown this year. Yeah, the defensive line has underachieved. But the linebackers have been (on the whole) better, and the defensive secondary has been a whole bunch better. No more Mike Browns or Ty Laws or Ray Crocketts or other re-treads in the secondary. I think we'll still have a hard time stopping the run against some teams. Atlanta ran the ball great against us in week one, but hopefully Romeo has been able to get some adjustments in place. I just think we'll be harder to drive on this year, and with better special teams play, should win the field position battle in lots of our games this year.
6. On offense, we can really run the ball. Last night Chiefs averaged 4.5 yards per carry, and that's including Jeremy Horne's minus 12 on a blown end around. We've got two backs who can make a third and one -Jones and Battle-, two backs who can turn the corner -Charles and McCluster- and McCluster can run the Wildcat if needed. So for the running game that's excellent balance. I really liked the pitch out to McCluster last night around left end. Nice play, good mis-direction. The kid could be another Devin Hester.
5. Cassel did throw one ball deep last night, but it was not even close to a completion. He still has yet to show us this year that he can hit a pass (not counting YAK) over 20 yards. We've got speed guys in McCluster and in Horne who can get deep, but can Cassel get the ball in their zip code? Bowe looked OK again last night. His all business attitude on the field is much improved, hope he keeps it up. He did have a foul up with Cassel on the interception. He broke one way, ball was delivered the other way. Not sure if he ran the wrong route, or Cassel just threw to the wrong spot. That's going to happen, just part of the passing game.
4. Todd Haley looks much healthier this year. Last year after he dumped Chan Gailey and went all Wiyle E. Coyote on everybody, he was running on three hours sleep and got real big raccoon circles under his eyes, and looked dead on his feet the whole season. This year, he has top notch, experienced coordinators, and he just looks to be in much better shape mentally and physically. Hopefuly that will mean he'll improve as a head coach and be better prepared (and better rested) for each game. None of us work very well when sleep deprived and stressed out. Haley was a rookie coach last year, and like all rookies, he'll get better with experience. I just hope we don't get off to a lousy start like we did last season.
3. I think the only "sleeper" to make the team this year will be Jeremy Horne. His botched reverse didn't help his cause last night, but that's just one play. Greenwood played pretty well on special teams last night, but I think he's practice squad material. Our third string defensive backs just suck out loud. We were in danger of blowing the game in the fourth quarter (just like last week vs Philly) but were able to get a stop at the very end this time. I also think Pioli will be all over the waiver wire. The really good teams will cut some guys who would be quality second stringers for this team, and every chance to improve the 53 should be taken.
2. What's going to happen to Jarrad Page? Does he sit out the entire year, or is there a last minute trade? Or does Pioli just cut him outright? Page didn't do himself any favors by missing all of pre-season. I think this is also a shot across the bow to the rest of the players that Pioli and Co. ain't taking any grief from anybody. I think next year's collective bargaining stuff could be ugly. But that's another conversation for another day. Let's get through this year first.
1. Last year in regular season the Chiefs lost three out of every four games they played. This year in pre-season the Chiefs lost three out of every four games they played. So are we seeing progress? Generally yes, but not enough to be excited or think that the corner is going to be turned just yet. I'll bet we'll win five or six games this year, and if we get more than that, it will be a pleasant surprise. Remember, it took Marty two years to get the Chiefs turned around following the Frank Gansz era. I think of the games we lose, they'll only be a few where we get blown out. I think we'll have a chance in most of the games we play. The defense will be better, but Cassel isn't good enough to will the team to victory and score that extra TD or two you need to get over the hump. And who knows what the injury situation will be for us, and for all the other teams in the AFC West? Don't expect a lot this year, and you won't come away disappointed.
Now, bring on those Bolts!
10. The bad thing about having a game on Thursday night is, it's hard to find time on a work day Friday to really sit back and do some in-depth, well researched insightful thinking about the conclusion of pre-season and the pending home opener ten days from now. So now that its the morning after, I'm at work and don't have a lot of time. I guess I'll have to make some sketchy, shallow, poorly considered off the cuff remarks about last night's game in general. Woah! Hey, no problem, that's right in my wheelhouse!
9. The fourth exhibition game is the poster child for why four exhibition games are two too many. This was a throw away game for Green Bay, as it was for many of the upper-tier teams across the league. It wasn't important enough for Green Bay, or many other competing teams, to risk injury to their skill position starters the week before the real games begin. Still, season ticket holders are forced to pay full boat to watch. That's a rip-off, no matter how you slice it. Last night it rained on the tailgaters just enough to give the charcoal a good soaking, then by game time it was dry and cool. Perfect weather, although the field was just a touch soggy. Announced attendance was just under 64,000. Lower bowl looked pretty full except for the end zone corners, upstairs was still pretty sparse. I think the MNF game may be the only sell out this year. We could see a blackout on 1/2 vs. Oakland. When was the last time a Chiefs/Raiders game was blacked out in KC? Got to be more than 20 years ago. It could very well happen. It wouldn't surprise me if more than half the home games are blacked out this season.
8. You can't take a whole lot away from this game, since we didn't see the real Packers. We did see KC"s real first string offense, and Cassel, well, he looked like Cassel. I'm afraid he's going to be a slow starter in every game. He doesn't seem to get into the game flow until after about the third or fourth series. Stats are 4 of 9 for 58 yards -Bowe got 30 of that as YAK after a 6 yard pass-, 1 TD and 1 pick. KC fans have been notoriously rough on starting QBs. Dawson got booed during his last days. They're going to be watching Cassel's every move with a hyper critical eye. But is Cassel among the top half of starting QBs in the NFL? I don't think so. You can maybe name four or five guys that he's clearly better than, but not many more than that. The Chiefs have a long way to go to just get to mediocre, remember, we only won four games last year, and that's twice as many as the year before. You've got a much better chance of contending if you have a stud QB. And as we've said time and time before, the Chiefs have never drafted and brought up their own stud starting QB. Starters have always come here from somewhere else. Weird, but that's just the way it is. Right now, Cassel just doesn't look the part. Not even close.
7. I've been very pleased with the progress the defense has shown this year. Yeah, the defensive line has underachieved. But the linebackers have been (on the whole) better, and the defensive secondary has been a whole bunch better. No more Mike Browns or Ty Laws or Ray Crocketts or other re-treads in the secondary. I think we'll still have a hard time stopping the run against some teams. Atlanta ran the ball great against us in week one, but hopefully Romeo has been able to get some adjustments in place. I just think we'll be harder to drive on this year, and with better special teams play, should win the field position battle in lots of our games this year.
6. On offense, we can really run the ball. Last night Chiefs averaged 4.5 yards per carry, and that's including Jeremy Horne's minus 12 on a blown end around. We've got two backs who can make a third and one -Jones and Battle-, two backs who can turn the corner -Charles and McCluster- and McCluster can run the Wildcat if needed. So for the running game that's excellent balance. I really liked the pitch out to McCluster last night around left end. Nice play, good mis-direction. The kid could be another Devin Hester.
5. Cassel did throw one ball deep last night, but it was not even close to a completion. He still has yet to show us this year that he can hit a pass (not counting YAK) over 20 yards. We've got speed guys in McCluster and in Horne who can get deep, but can Cassel get the ball in their zip code? Bowe looked OK again last night. His all business attitude on the field is much improved, hope he keeps it up. He did have a foul up with Cassel on the interception. He broke one way, ball was delivered the other way. Not sure if he ran the wrong route, or Cassel just threw to the wrong spot. That's going to happen, just part of the passing game.
4. Todd Haley looks much healthier this year. Last year after he dumped Chan Gailey and went all Wiyle E. Coyote on everybody, he was running on three hours sleep and got real big raccoon circles under his eyes, and looked dead on his feet the whole season. This year, he has top notch, experienced coordinators, and he just looks to be in much better shape mentally and physically. Hopefuly that will mean he'll improve as a head coach and be better prepared (and better rested) for each game. None of us work very well when sleep deprived and stressed out. Haley was a rookie coach last year, and like all rookies, he'll get better with experience. I just hope we don't get off to a lousy start like we did last season.
3. I think the only "sleeper" to make the team this year will be Jeremy Horne. His botched reverse didn't help his cause last night, but that's just one play. Greenwood played pretty well on special teams last night, but I think he's practice squad material. Our third string defensive backs just suck out loud. We were in danger of blowing the game in the fourth quarter (just like last week vs Philly) but were able to get a stop at the very end this time. I also think Pioli will be all over the waiver wire. The really good teams will cut some guys who would be quality second stringers for this team, and every chance to improve the 53 should be taken.
2. What's going to happen to Jarrad Page? Does he sit out the entire year, or is there a last minute trade? Or does Pioli just cut him outright? Page didn't do himself any favors by missing all of pre-season. I think this is also a shot across the bow to the rest of the players that Pioli and Co. ain't taking any grief from anybody. I think next year's collective bargaining stuff could be ugly. But that's another conversation for another day. Let's get through this year first.
1. Last year in regular season the Chiefs lost three out of every four games they played. This year in pre-season the Chiefs lost three out of every four games they played. So are we seeing progress? Generally yes, but not enough to be excited or think that the corner is going to be turned just yet. I'll bet we'll win five or six games this year, and if we get more than that, it will be a pleasant surprise. Remember, it took Marty two years to get the Chiefs turned around following the Frank Gansz era. I think of the games we lose, they'll only be a few where we get blown out. I think we'll have a chance in most of the games we play. The defense will be better, but Cassel isn't good enough to will the team to victory and score that extra TD or two you need to get over the hump. And who knows what the injury situation will be for us, and for all the other teams in the AFC West? Don't expect a lot this year, and you won't come away disappointed.
Now, bring on those Bolts!