Hammock Parties
10-28-2011, 01:24 PM
http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2011/10/27/three-to-focus-on-chargers-chiefs-week-8/
After these teams met in week three, did anybody really think their next meeting would be as consequential as it is now? Even though the Chargers put the Chiefs in a 0-3 hole in that game, the Chiefs can move their records up to 4-3 with a win over the visiting Chargers and put themselves back in prime position to win the division in spite of their early season setbacks. The fans at Arrowhead should certainly be a handful for the Chargers after a dominant defensive performance in a shutout against the hated Raiders last week that revitalized their season and gave the fans something to be excited about.
On the flip side, the Chargers could use a dazzling defensive display of their own after second half let-downs in back to back games. After almost allowing Tim Tebow to lead a comeback against them before their bye week, the Chargers did blow a second-half lead last week when the Jets came back from a 21-10 halftime deficit. With that being said, the Chargers have some work to do on offense as Philip Rivers hasn’t had the kind of season he did a year ago. Rivers will have to hope that the Chiefs’ secondary has come back down to Earth after a six-interception game. Meanwhile, Kansas City has to take this opportunity to show that their resurgence isn’t just the product of playing two poor teams and catching the Raiders in a bad spot.
1) Shaun Philips vs. Barry Richardson
Any given week there’s always a few games in which there’s a glaring pass rusher/offensive tackle mismatch that looks like trouble on paper. More often than not, that matchup plays an important role in the game and the best pass rushers usually do succeed in feasting on those tackles that aren’t exactly the cream of the crop. Well, one of those matchups this week can be seen right here, with outside linebacker Shaun Philips (+8.6 pass rush) facing off against right tackle Barry Richardson (-5.6 pass blocking). Technically, Philips has started all but one game at right outside linebacker this season, but he sees time at both outside linebacker positions and will get at least a few opportunities to rush Matt Cassel from Richardson’s side.
Richardson actually had a perfect game statistically in pass protection last week, as did the entire Kansas City offensive line, but one game doesn’t make a trend. Richardson’s young enough to improve his game quite a bit, but he has been a sieve in pass protection thus far in his career. Being able to contain Philips would help Richardson in losing his reputation for being on the field solely for run-blocking, but he’s got a long way to go before shedding that label.
2) Will Rivers get back on track?
If Philip Rivers wants to be consistently mentioned with the likes of Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, and so on, his game needs to become more about winning than numbers. Not that his numbers have been anywhere near last season’s pace. Elite quarterbacks, though, don’t often lose games in which they had a 10+ point halftime lead and Rivers needs to have a strong game to help quiet the seemingly annual criticisms that he can’t lead a team to the Super Bowl.
It won’t be easy facing a secondary whose confidence must be sky-high after a six interception effort against Oakland. Those six picks might have as much or more to do with poor throws as they did great defensive plays, but from the Chiefs perspective, six turnovers are six turnovers and the secondary has to be feeling good. Brandon Flowers (+4.6) hasn’t been fully healthy until recently and it’s a good thing he was at his best last week because he’ll need to be this week to compensate for the severe height disadvantage he’ll face against either starting Chargers wide receiver. Vincent Jackson is right there with Rivers looking to rebound after a bad game (-1.7) against the Jets.
3) Breaston emerging as solid secondary option
The Chiefs haven’t really given Cassel a suitable secondary passing option to Dwayne Bowe (+7.1) since they brought him to Kansas City, but they were still able to win the division last year thanks to good defense and an explosive running game featuring Jamaal Charles. The Chiefs have found ways to get production out of the ground game without Charles, but regardless it isn’t as effective as it was with Charles in the lineup and if the Chiefs want to make a serious run at the division this year, they have to find some other offensive weapons.
Jonathan Baldwin finally got on the field last week and could become a factor down the road, but for now the emerging threat on Kansas City’s offense has been free agent signee Steve Breaston (+4.5). Amidst concerns that his surgically repaired knee might not be healthy enough to perform, Breaston did little to alleviate these concerns early in the season. If the knee was a problem before, Breaston seems to have found a way to manage it because he’s looked much better recently and has graded in the green in each of his last three games. He’s looked quicker and more elusive and if the Chiefs can successfully utilize these traits, Cassel will have a solid alternative underneath and not have to force the ball to Bowe quite so much.
After these teams met in week three, did anybody really think their next meeting would be as consequential as it is now? Even though the Chargers put the Chiefs in a 0-3 hole in that game, the Chiefs can move their records up to 4-3 with a win over the visiting Chargers and put themselves back in prime position to win the division in spite of their early season setbacks. The fans at Arrowhead should certainly be a handful for the Chargers after a dominant defensive performance in a shutout against the hated Raiders last week that revitalized their season and gave the fans something to be excited about.
On the flip side, the Chargers could use a dazzling defensive display of their own after second half let-downs in back to back games. After almost allowing Tim Tebow to lead a comeback against them before their bye week, the Chargers did blow a second-half lead last week when the Jets came back from a 21-10 halftime deficit. With that being said, the Chargers have some work to do on offense as Philip Rivers hasn’t had the kind of season he did a year ago. Rivers will have to hope that the Chiefs’ secondary has come back down to Earth after a six-interception game. Meanwhile, Kansas City has to take this opportunity to show that their resurgence isn’t just the product of playing two poor teams and catching the Raiders in a bad spot.
1) Shaun Philips vs. Barry Richardson
Any given week there’s always a few games in which there’s a glaring pass rusher/offensive tackle mismatch that looks like trouble on paper. More often than not, that matchup plays an important role in the game and the best pass rushers usually do succeed in feasting on those tackles that aren’t exactly the cream of the crop. Well, one of those matchups this week can be seen right here, with outside linebacker Shaun Philips (+8.6 pass rush) facing off against right tackle Barry Richardson (-5.6 pass blocking). Technically, Philips has started all but one game at right outside linebacker this season, but he sees time at both outside linebacker positions and will get at least a few opportunities to rush Matt Cassel from Richardson’s side.
Richardson actually had a perfect game statistically in pass protection last week, as did the entire Kansas City offensive line, but one game doesn’t make a trend. Richardson’s young enough to improve his game quite a bit, but he has been a sieve in pass protection thus far in his career. Being able to contain Philips would help Richardson in losing his reputation for being on the field solely for run-blocking, but he’s got a long way to go before shedding that label.
2) Will Rivers get back on track?
If Philip Rivers wants to be consistently mentioned with the likes of Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, and so on, his game needs to become more about winning than numbers. Not that his numbers have been anywhere near last season’s pace. Elite quarterbacks, though, don’t often lose games in which they had a 10+ point halftime lead and Rivers needs to have a strong game to help quiet the seemingly annual criticisms that he can’t lead a team to the Super Bowl.
It won’t be easy facing a secondary whose confidence must be sky-high after a six interception effort against Oakland. Those six picks might have as much or more to do with poor throws as they did great defensive plays, but from the Chiefs perspective, six turnovers are six turnovers and the secondary has to be feeling good. Brandon Flowers (+4.6) hasn’t been fully healthy until recently and it’s a good thing he was at his best last week because he’ll need to be this week to compensate for the severe height disadvantage he’ll face against either starting Chargers wide receiver. Vincent Jackson is right there with Rivers looking to rebound after a bad game (-1.7) against the Jets.
3) Breaston emerging as solid secondary option
The Chiefs haven’t really given Cassel a suitable secondary passing option to Dwayne Bowe (+7.1) since they brought him to Kansas City, but they were still able to win the division last year thanks to good defense and an explosive running game featuring Jamaal Charles. The Chiefs have found ways to get production out of the ground game without Charles, but regardless it isn’t as effective as it was with Charles in the lineup and if the Chiefs want to make a serious run at the division this year, they have to find some other offensive weapons.
Jonathan Baldwin finally got on the field last week and could become a factor down the road, but for now the emerging threat on Kansas City’s offense has been free agent signee Steve Breaston (+4.5). Amidst concerns that his surgically repaired knee might not be healthy enough to perform, Breaston did little to alleviate these concerns early in the season. If the knee was a problem before, Breaston seems to have found a way to manage it because he’s looked much better recently and has graded in the green in each of his last three games. He’s looked quicker and more elusive and if the Chiefs can successfully utilize these traits, Cassel will have a solid alternative underneath and not have to force the ball to Bowe quite so much.