Direckshun
08-27-2017, 01:55 PM
He entered this season as one of the biggest enigmas on this team, which is saying something. Everybody has been lauding the Chiefs starting OL and that's deserved in some regards, but how it Witzmann individually performing? Upon watching every snap against the Seahawks tough front 7, would Witzmann be a weak link? Does this mean Ehinger or Fulton then becomes an option?
Let's see.
1st quarter
15:00 1st and 10
ball on Chiefs 25
Smith on a naked bootleg, darts up field for 8. Nazair Jones gets the jump on Witzmann, but Witzmann effectively guides him to the far side of the field along with the rest of the OL.
14:22 2nd and 2
ball on Chiefs 33
Ware runs untouched up the gut for the first down, getting wrestled down after a 5 yard gain. Witzmann pulls to the right, but between he and Schwartz, no real hole opens up -- which is fine, because Morse and Fisher have the left side dominated. The Seahawks read Witzmann pulling and overcommitted a bit.
13:45 1st and 10
ball on Chiefs 38
Ware up the gut again for 7. Witzmann goes pure downhill with Fisher to open the hole. Witzmann pushes Nazair Jones back with Fisher, then getting pushed back a hair by a LB.
13:08 2nd and 3
ball on Chiefs 45
Draw play, up the gut for Hunt, who gains 6 on the play and the first down. Witzmann has Ahtyba Rubin one-on-one, putting him on rollerskates and getting a few yards push, creating the hole for Hunt.
12:04 1st and 5
ball on Seahawks 44
A little play action, but Smith turns and fires a perfect pass to Hill, who drops it. Witzmann handfights with Ahtyba Rubin for about 1 second.
11:58 2nd and 5
ball on Seahawks 44
A strange double option for Smith, who pulls the ball from Ware and keeps it, so he can chuck a lateral to Albert Wilson on the far end. Wilson gets a couple yards and is planted. Nazair Jones again gets the jump against Witzmann, but Witzmann rides him far wide of the play.
11:13 3rd and 2
ball on Seahawks 47
Smith checks down from the shotgun to Ware, who hauls in a low pass and gets out of bounds just after the 1st down marker. Frank Clark tries to get around Witzmann with quickness but Witzmann catches him and plants him into the turf.
10:43 1st and 10
ball on Seahawks 38
Hunt runs off right tackle for about three yards before a mass of players swallow him up. Witzmann chases Ahtyba Rubin for a couple moments before putting his hands on a LB at the end of the play.
10:00 2nd and 7
ball on Seahawks 35
Hunt up the gut, gets stood up after about a couple yards. Witzmann is to down block on Ahtyba Rubin, but Rubin puts Witzmann on his knees. Does his damnedest to keep his hands on Rubin while on his knees, but Rubin swallows up Hunt for the tackle.
9:16 3rd and 4
ball on Seahawks 32
Smith in a drop back, feels heat off his left and throws a poor pass to Kelce's feet, incomplete. The Seahawks drop everyone, leaving Witzmann with no man to block.
9:10 4th and 4
ball on Seahawks 32
Smith in the shotgun, quickly fires a pass low to Albert Wilson, who can't come up with it. (Roughing the passer gives the Chiefs a 1st, though.) Witzmann receives Cassius Marsh and shuts down his rush effectively.
9:05 1st and 10
ball on Seahawks 22
Ware runs off right tackle for a couple yards. Witzmann gets a push on a DL before rolling right and getting a late push on Rubin as the play comes to an end.
8:28 2nd and 7
ball on Seahawks 19
Screen pass to Ware who is out wide. Ware drags a linebacker about eight yards -- Ware is injured and gone. Witzmann chases Bobby Wagner a bit but can't get to him.
7:54 3rd and 1
ball on Sehawks 8
Hunt with a run up the gut is destroyed when K.J. Wright comes through untouched and drops him for a loss. Witzmann and Fisher double team Michael Bennett effectively.
3:39 1st and 10
ball on Chiefs 4
Hunt up the gut for 6. Morse and Witzmann push Rubin back several yards and out of the play.
3:00 2nd and 4
ball on Chiefs 10
Smith in the shotgun hits Kelce on a quick route, drags a couple defenders a yard or two for a 8 yard gain. Witzmann doesn't have a man to block, as Frank Clark dances between him and Fisher.
2:19 1st and 10
ball on Chiefs 19
Smith with a play action, gets flushed out of the pocket by a Kam Chancellor blitz, tosses the ball out of bounds. Witzmann shuts down a bull rush by Frank Clark.
2:08 2nd and 10
ball on Chiefs 19
Quick play action, then Smith darks an out pass to Hill, missing him by inches and Hill can't reel it in. Witzmann doubles with Morse to negate Rubin.
2:05 3rd and 10
ball on Chiefs 19
Smith on a delayed screen to Charcandrick West, who gains a couple yards and is planted. Witzmann stays in line for a moment, then helps a teammate when Michael Bennett leaks through -- planting Bennett before trying to get out in space.
2nd Quarter
13:37 1st and 10
ball on Chiefs 12
Smith in shotgun, quickly hits Kelce on a slant for 8. Penalty by LDT gets the play called back. Witzmann handles Jarrad Reed largely by himself.
13:24 1st and 16
ball on Chiefs 6
Smith hits Tyreek out of the shotgun for a quick 10. I can't tell which DT Witzmann handles 1 on 1 but he does a good job neutralizing the rush.
12:32 2nd and 5
ball on Chiefs 17
Smith runs the option, keeps the ball and is chased down in space for a sack/loss by Frank Clark. Witzmann gets shed by Quinton Jefferson -- engages him and then is thrown off so Jefferson can pursue.
11:46 3rd and 9
ball on Chiefs 13
Smith in shotgun, finds Tyreek with a step on his guy. Smith's pass is a little underthrown and Hill drops the pass. Witzmann has two guys to block on a blitz -- a standing up LB, who darts inside and Witzmann blocks, and Frank Clark blitzing behind him who Witzmann is late to get to. You see the OL here slide down to make sure everybody can be blocked (great calling by Fulton), but the handoff from Witzmann to Fulton doesn't happen fast enough to block the streaking rusher, which hurries Alex's throw.
3:13 1st and 10
ball on Chiefs 23
Hunt runs between the tackles again for a solid 7 yard gain. Witzmann gets an early hit on the DE before moving on to getting push against Rubin.
2:40 2nd and 3
ball on Chiefs 30
Smith option-hands-off to Hunt up the gut for 2 yards. Witzmann fails to sustain his block on Jarran Reid. Reid eventually sheds him and wraps up Hunt's legs.
2:00 3rd and 1
ball on Chiefs 32
Hunt up the gut for an easy first -- and several yards afterwards. Witzmann makes up for his shoddy effort the previous down by destroying Ahtyba Rubin off the ball -- several yards downfield.
1:36 1st and 10
ball on Chiefs 39
Smith on a quick slant to Conley for 8 or 9. Witzmann receives Rubin and negates the bull rush.
1:18 2nd and 1
ball on Chiefs 48
Smith out of shut gun fires to Kelce on another quick slant, ball goes through Kelce's hands. Witzmann has no man to block.
1:08 3rd and 1
ball on Chiefs 48
Hunt with another nifty run up the gut for a quick first down and then some yards. Witzmann pulls over Morse but Michael Bennett is falling over. Witzmann and Bennett meet as Bennett sits on his ass.
1:01 1st and 10
ball on Seahawks 43
Smith out of a shotgun fires an out route to Wilson, who drops the pass. Witzmann hangs out, waiting for a blitzer, then gets a shot in on a DE before Smith fires the pass.
0:58 2nd and 10
ball on Seahawks 43
Smith in shotgun, has no one to throw to. Waits a few beats, then tries a Mahomes-esque off-balance cross-the-body pass to Kelce and misses horribly. Holding on K.J. Wright gives the Chiefs a 1st down. Witzmann collects Frank Clark and absolutely shuts him down.
0:52 1st and 10
ball on Seahawks 38
Smith in shotgun, pocket breaks down and he hauls it out of bounds. Witzmann does masterful job picking up the stunt blitz -- shutting down the first guy then receving the 2nd one by the time he hits the hole.
0:46 2nd and 10
ball on Seahawks 38
Smith again in shotgun, again can't find anybody, throws the ball away to Hunt for an incomplete pass. Marcus Smith throws everything at Witzmann and can't get past him.
0:41 3rd and 10
ball on Seahawks 38
Smith in shotgun, but Frank Clark gets around Schwartz fast enough to deflect the pass as Smith throws it. Witzmann doesn't have a guy to block.
TL;DR:
In conclusion, Witzmann sure looks like a decent starter at the LG position. He consistently gets push, he is excellent in the passing game. He isn't amazing getting out in space but he's pretty decent in the phone booth when he's pulling. His play arguably negatively effected only one play all half (Hunt was tackled by Witzmann's guy for a 2 yard gain, when it could have been a longer gain), although an argument could be made he didn't adjust once to a stunt fast enough once.
I personally like him, and that's coming from a skeptic who wasn't sure what to think of him. He's fast and smart and will only get better as the year progresses and his chemistry with Fisher & Morse solidify.
Let's see.
1st quarter
15:00 1st and 10
ball on Chiefs 25
Smith on a naked bootleg, darts up field for 8. Nazair Jones gets the jump on Witzmann, but Witzmann effectively guides him to the far side of the field along with the rest of the OL.
14:22 2nd and 2
ball on Chiefs 33
Ware runs untouched up the gut for the first down, getting wrestled down after a 5 yard gain. Witzmann pulls to the right, but between he and Schwartz, no real hole opens up -- which is fine, because Morse and Fisher have the left side dominated. The Seahawks read Witzmann pulling and overcommitted a bit.
13:45 1st and 10
ball on Chiefs 38
Ware up the gut again for 7. Witzmann goes pure downhill with Fisher to open the hole. Witzmann pushes Nazair Jones back with Fisher, then getting pushed back a hair by a LB.
13:08 2nd and 3
ball on Chiefs 45
Draw play, up the gut for Hunt, who gains 6 on the play and the first down. Witzmann has Ahtyba Rubin one-on-one, putting him on rollerskates and getting a few yards push, creating the hole for Hunt.
12:04 1st and 5
ball on Seahawks 44
A little play action, but Smith turns and fires a perfect pass to Hill, who drops it. Witzmann handfights with Ahtyba Rubin for about 1 second.
11:58 2nd and 5
ball on Seahawks 44
A strange double option for Smith, who pulls the ball from Ware and keeps it, so he can chuck a lateral to Albert Wilson on the far end. Wilson gets a couple yards and is planted. Nazair Jones again gets the jump against Witzmann, but Witzmann rides him far wide of the play.
11:13 3rd and 2
ball on Seahawks 47
Smith checks down from the shotgun to Ware, who hauls in a low pass and gets out of bounds just after the 1st down marker. Frank Clark tries to get around Witzmann with quickness but Witzmann catches him and plants him into the turf.
10:43 1st and 10
ball on Seahawks 38
Hunt runs off right tackle for about three yards before a mass of players swallow him up. Witzmann chases Ahtyba Rubin for a couple moments before putting his hands on a LB at the end of the play.
10:00 2nd and 7
ball on Seahawks 35
Hunt up the gut, gets stood up after about a couple yards. Witzmann is to down block on Ahtyba Rubin, but Rubin puts Witzmann on his knees. Does his damnedest to keep his hands on Rubin while on his knees, but Rubin swallows up Hunt for the tackle.
9:16 3rd and 4
ball on Seahawks 32
Smith in a drop back, feels heat off his left and throws a poor pass to Kelce's feet, incomplete. The Seahawks drop everyone, leaving Witzmann with no man to block.
9:10 4th and 4
ball on Seahawks 32
Smith in the shotgun, quickly fires a pass low to Albert Wilson, who can't come up with it. (Roughing the passer gives the Chiefs a 1st, though.) Witzmann receives Cassius Marsh and shuts down his rush effectively.
9:05 1st and 10
ball on Seahawks 22
Ware runs off right tackle for a couple yards. Witzmann gets a push on a DL before rolling right and getting a late push on Rubin as the play comes to an end.
8:28 2nd and 7
ball on Seahawks 19
Screen pass to Ware who is out wide. Ware drags a linebacker about eight yards -- Ware is injured and gone. Witzmann chases Bobby Wagner a bit but can't get to him.
7:54 3rd and 1
ball on Sehawks 8
Hunt with a run up the gut is destroyed when K.J. Wright comes through untouched and drops him for a loss. Witzmann and Fisher double team Michael Bennett effectively.
3:39 1st and 10
ball on Chiefs 4
Hunt up the gut for 6. Morse and Witzmann push Rubin back several yards and out of the play.
3:00 2nd and 4
ball on Chiefs 10
Smith in the shotgun hits Kelce on a quick route, drags a couple defenders a yard or two for a 8 yard gain. Witzmann doesn't have a man to block, as Frank Clark dances between him and Fisher.
2:19 1st and 10
ball on Chiefs 19
Smith with a play action, gets flushed out of the pocket by a Kam Chancellor blitz, tosses the ball out of bounds. Witzmann shuts down a bull rush by Frank Clark.
2:08 2nd and 10
ball on Chiefs 19
Quick play action, then Smith darks an out pass to Hill, missing him by inches and Hill can't reel it in. Witzmann doubles with Morse to negate Rubin.
2:05 3rd and 10
ball on Chiefs 19
Smith on a delayed screen to Charcandrick West, who gains a couple yards and is planted. Witzmann stays in line for a moment, then helps a teammate when Michael Bennett leaks through -- planting Bennett before trying to get out in space.
2nd Quarter
13:37 1st and 10
ball on Chiefs 12
Smith in shotgun, quickly hits Kelce on a slant for 8. Penalty by LDT gets the play called back. Witzmann handles Jarrad Reed largely by himself.
13:24 1st and 16
ball on Chiefs 6
Smith hits Tyreek out of the shotgun for a quick 10. I can't tell which DT Witzmann handles 1 on 1 but he does a good job neutralizing the rush.
12:32 2nd and 5
ball on Chiefs 17
Smith runs the option, keeps the ball and is chased down in space for a sack/loss by Frank Clark. Witzmann gets shed by Quinton Jefferson -- engages him and then is thrown off so Jefferson can pursue.
11:46 3rd and 9
ball on Chiefs 13
Smith in shotgun, finds Tyreek with a step on his guy. Smith's pass is a little underthrown and Hill drops the pass. Witzmann has two guys to block on a blitz -- a standing up LB, who darts inside and Witzmann blocks, and Frank Clark blitzing behind him who Witzmann is late to get to. You see the OL here slide down to make sure everybody can be blocked (great calling by Fulton), but the handoff from Witzmann to Fulton doesn't happen fast enough to block the streaking rusher, which hurries Alex's throw.
3:13 1st and 10
ball on Chiefs 23
Hunt runs between the tackles again for a solid 7 yard gain. Witzmann gets an early hit on the DE before moving on to getting push against Rubin.
2:40 2nd and 3
ball on Chiefs 30
Smith option-hands-off to Hunt up the gut for 2 yards. Witzmann fails to sustain his block on Jarran Reid. Reid eventually sheds him and wraps up Hunt's legs.
2:00 3rd and 1
ball on Chiefs 32
Hunt up the gut for an easy first -- and several yards afterwards. Witzmann makes up for his shoddy effort the previous down by destroying Ahtyba Rubin off the ball -- several yards downfield.
1:36 1st and 10
ball on Chiefs 39
Smith on a quick slant to Conley for 8 or 9. Witzmann receives Rubin and negates the bull rush.
1:18 2nd and 1
ball on Chiefs 48
Smith out of shut gun fires to Kelce on another quick slant, ball goes through Kelce's hands. Witzmann has no man to block.
1:08 3rd and 1
ball on Chiefs 48
Hunt with another nifty run up the gut for a quick first down and then some yards. Witzmann pulls over Morse but Michael Bennett is falling over. Witzmann and Bennett meet as Bennett sits on his ass.
1:01 1st and 10
ball on Seahawks 43
Smith out of a shotgun fires an out route to Wilson, who drops the pass. Witzmann hangs out, waiting for a blitzer, then gets a shot in on a DE before Smith fires the pass.
0:58 2nd and 10
ball on Seahawks 43
Smith in shotgun, has no one to throw to. Waits a few beats, then tries a Mahomes-esque off-balance cross-the-body pass to Kelce and misses horribly. Holding on K.J. Wright gives the Chiefs a 1st down. Witzmann collects Frank Clark and absolutely shuts him down.
0:52 1st and 10
ball on Seahawks 38
Smith in shotgun, pocket breaks down and he hauls it out of bounds. Witzmann does masterful job picking up the stunt blitz -- shutting down the first guy then receving the 2nd one by the time he hits the hole.
0:46 2nd and 10
ball on Seahawks 38
Smith again in shotgun, again can't find anybody, throws the ball away to Hunt for an incomplete pass. Marcus Smith throws everything at Witzmann and can't get past him.
0:41 3rd and 10
ball on Seahawks 38
Smith in shotgun, but Frank Clark gets around Schwartz fast enough to deflect the pass as Smith throws it. Witzmann doesn't have a guy to block.
TL;DR:
In conclusion, Witzmann sure looks like a decent starter at the LG position. He consistently gets push, he is excellent in the passing game. He isn't amazing getting out in space but he's pretty decent in the phone booth when he's pulling. His play arguably negatively effected only one play all half (Hunt was tackled by Witzmann's guy for a 2 yard gain, when it could have been a longer gain), although an argument could be made he didn't adjust once to a stunt fast enough once.
I personally like him, and that's coming from a skeptic who wasn't sure what to think of him. He's fast and smart and will only get better as the year progresses and his chemistry with Fisher & Morse solidify.