Tribal Warfare
10-10-2010, 09:50 PM
Chiefs defense looks like the real deal (http://www.kansascity.com/2010/10/10/2296806/chiefs-defense-looks-like-the.html)
SAM MELLINGER COMMENTARY
INDIANAPOLIS | Todd Haley says the Chiefs made progress with a loss, and this time, the head coach of a franchise that tries to control the message as much as any in the NFL is dead right.
Mostly.
There is progress in the run game and especially the defense, and this isn’t what Haley is talking about, but there’s a lot of progress in how well the rest of us understand what the Chiefs are after a 19-9 loss to the Colts here on Sunday. That’s a good thing.
Mostly.
The Chiefs are no longer undefeated, of course, but they still lead the AFC West with more reason to believe than before. These are the steps that improving teams have to make.
Playing the Colts in their dome in a game they absolutely needed used to mean a blowout loss and good news for Peyton Manning’s fantasy owners. Now it means a tough game the Chiefs could’ve won with a better quarterback or more breaks.
Losses used to make us numb, now they’re a chance to analyze. Losses used to remind us of everything going wrong, but now they also highlight what’s going right.
Mostly, it’s the defense. This is real. Believe it. Manning threw 18 incomplete passes, one interception, no touchdowns, and his worst passer rating (65.0) since the last time he faced Romeo Crennel’s coaching — Nov. 30, 2008, in a game against the Browns.
Glenn Dorsey and Tamba Hali are emerging as consistent forces. Brandon Flowers is playing at a Pro Bowl level, and the rest of the secondary is cleaning up their mistakes of the first two games. The Chiefs played nickel defense virtually the entire game and still held the Colts to just 3.1 yards per rush.
Crennel is fast becoming the star of this Chiefs season. That’s not an easy thing for a defensive coordinator, but this group finished 30th last year and is now giving up 18 percent fewer yards and 46 percent fewer points.
Think about this: the Chiefs failed to score a touchdown on the road against the Colts, but still had a chance to win in the fourth quarter. This is a long way from the Greg Robinson team that couldn’t even get the Colts to punt.
There are bound to be hiccups — and one of them might come next week at Houston — but there’s enough track record here now to believe the Chiefs’ defense will keep them in most every game.
There is no shame in losing at Indianapolis, and all those positives are real. The problem is that quarterback Matt Cassel continues to be the wet blanket keeping this Chiefs season from being anything more than solid progress.
The Chiefs’ plan is for Cassel to be merely adequate. That philosophy is outdated in today’s NFL, but he’s falling short of even those basic expectations — the Chiefs are asking him to make C’s, but he’s got a lot of D’s so far.
Blind faith and loyalty can cling to certain excuses. Dwayne Bowe dropped two passes in a row, including one that would have been a 30-yard, go-ahead touchdown. But too many of Cassel’s throws are late or off target, and honestly, what does he do well?
Calls for Brodie Croyle are picking up, so you know the situation is helpless if not hopeless.
The hope lies in Cassel becoming worthy of general manager Scott Pioli’s confidence — now would be a good time for offensive coordinator Charlie Weis’ “fix” to take — or the Chiefs finding a better option in the offseason.
Because the rest of the team is pretty good, and figures to only get better. Jamaal Charles is averaging 6.1 yards per carry and more than 100 yards per game since midway through last season. Tony Moeaki led the team with 50 yards receiving and is establishing himself as this year’s breakout star.
There is reason for optimism all over the field. Shaun Smith is making up for Tyson Jackson. Dexter McCluster is a big-play threat on every snap or kick. Ryan Succop and Dustin Colquitt give the Chiefs a solid kicking game. The offensive line kept Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis without a sack.
This is all real, and it’s very much worth our attention and appreciation. The Chiefs have been awful for a few years, and nothing better than mediocre for many more. It’s been a long time since a rebuilding project of any kind actually worked in Kansas City.
The best part of this is a defense that figures to only get better with Crennel and a core of developing players.
The worst part is that the story of an improving team with a limp quarterback is already getting redundant.
SAM MELLINGER COMMENTARY
INDIANAPOLIS | Todd Haley says the Chiefs made progress with a loss, and this time, the head coach of a franchise that tries to control the message as much as any in the NFL is dead right.
Mostly.
There is progress in the run game and especially the defense, and this isn’t what Haley is talking about, but there’s a lot of progress in how well the rest of us understand what the Chiefs are after a 19-9 loss to the Colts here on Sunday. That’s a good thing.
Mostly.
The Chiefs are no longer undefeated, of course, but they still lead the AFC West with more reason to believe than before. These are the steps that improving teams have to make.
Playing the Colts in their dome in a game they absolutely needed used to mean a blowout loss and good news for Peyton Manning’s fantasy owners. Now it means a tough game the Chiefs could’ve won with a better quarterback or more breaks.
Losses used to make us numb, now they’re a chance to analyze. Losses used to remind us of everything going wrong, but now they also highlight what’s going right.
Mostly, it’s the defense. This is real. Believe it. Manning threw 18 incomplete passes, one interception, no touchdowns, and his worst passer rating (65.0) since the last time he faced Romeo Crennel’s coaching — Nov. 30, 2008, in a game against the Browns.
Glenn Dorsey and Tamba Hali are emerging as consistent forces. Brandon Flowers is playing at a Pro Bowl level, and the rest of the secondary is cleaning up their mistakes of the first two games. The Chiefs played nickel defense virtually the entire game and still held the Colts to just 3.1 yards per rush.
Crennel is fast becoming the star of this Chiefs season. That’s not an easy thing for a defensive coordinator, but this group finished 30th last year and is now giving up 18 percent fewer yards and 46 percent fewer points.
Think about this: the Chiefs failed to score a touchdown on the road against the Colts, but still had a chance to win in the fourth quarter. This is a long way from the Greg Robinson team that couldn’t even get the Colts to punt.
There are bound to be hiccups — and one of them might come next week at Houston — but there’s enough track record here now to believe the Chiefs’ defense will keep them in most every game.
There is no shame in losing at Indianapolis, and all those positives are real. The problem is that quarterback Matt Cassel continues to be the wet blanket keeping this Chiefs season from being anything more than solid progress.
The Chiefs’ plan is for Cassel to be merely adequate. That philosophy is outdated in today’s NFL, but he’s falling short of even those basic expectations — the Chiefs are asking him to make C’s, but he’s got a lot of D’s so far.
Blind faith and loyalty can cling to certain excuses. Dwayne Bowe dropped two passes in a row, including one that would have been a 30-yard, go-ahead touchdown. But too many of Cassel’s throws are late or off target, and honestly, what does he do well?
Calls for Brodie Croyle are picking up, so you know the situation is helpless if not hopeless.
The hope lies in Cassel becoming worthy of general manager Scott Pioli’s confidence — now would be a good time for offensive coordinator Charlie Weis’ “fix” to take — or the Chiefs finding a better option in the offseason.
Because the rest of the team is pretty good, and figures to only get better. Jamaal Charles is averaging 6.1 yards per carry and more than 100 yards per game since midway through last season. Tony Moeaki led the team with 50 yards receiving and is establishing himself as this year’s breakout star.
There is reason for optimism all over the field. Shaun Smith is making up for Tyson Jackson. Dexter McCluster is a big-play threat on every snap or kick. Ryan Succop and Dustin Colquitt give the Chiefs a solid kicking game. The offensive line kept Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis without a sack.
This is all real, and it’s very much worth our attention and appreciation. The Chiefs have been awful for a few years, and nothing better than mediocre for many more. It’s been a long time since a rebuilding project of any kind actually worked in Kansas City.
The best part of this is a defense that figures to only get better with Crennel and a core of developing players.
The worst part is that the story of an improving team with a limp quarterback is already getting redundant.