Flanagan:No one on Chiefs defense pointing fingers at offense yet
 

No one on Chiefs defense pointing fingers at offense yet


It would be pretty easy for members of the Chiefs’ defense to start barking at their counterparts on the Chiefs’ offense.

For three games, the Chiefs’ defense has tried to keep the team in games (sort of), only to perhaps get overly discouraged as the Chiefs’ offense continually flounders.

But Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson said the defense isn’t upset with the team’s struggling offense.

“No, it may look like that,” Johnson said Monday. “But I don’t think that way. And I hope nobody else thinks like that.

“What the offense does (shouldn’t) affect what we do on defense. It’s still a team game. When we get on the field, we have to stop the other team. We can’t be thinking we need to ask the offense to get three points or seven points.”

That being said, DJ acknowledges that a potent Chiefs offense, or even an adequate Chiefs offense, wouldn’t exactly hurt the overall cause.

“It’s easier (playing defense) that way,” he said. “If you have an offense putting up 30 or 40 points, it’s always easier. But that’s not our situation here. We can’t use that as an excuse.

“I figure even if the offense struggles, it still should be a close game, 13-3 or something.”

DJ also insists that the offense and defense haven’t splintered on the sideline or in the locker room.

“We haven’t had any finger-pointing, and that’s a good thing,” he said. “That’s really a good thing.”

There’s certainly plenty of blame to go around for the Chiefs’ defense, too. The defense has been embarrassed while trying to stop the run the last two games.

“Those three straight three-and-outs we had (to start the game) weren’t just by coincidence,” he said. “We knew what we were doing then. We need to repeat it … (The Falcons) didn’t do anything different.”

The main thing, he said, is the team just desperately has to find a way, any way, to win.

Worse than Chiefs?

There’s a real battle going on right now for the title of worst NFL team in Missouri.

Chiefs fans understandably are distraught, but Rams fans have watched their team lose by an average of 29 points a game.

And as the St. Louis Post-Dispatch observed Sunday as the team was walking off the field, the Rams were jeered by Seattle fans, one of whom yelled, “You’re the worst team in Missouri!”

Blackout countdown

We’ll keep an eye out for you this week on the Chiefs’ television blackout situation.

The Chiefs told me Monday that they expected to get some tickets back from the Broncos, and the game hasn’t been sold out yet.

The deadline to be sold out is 72 hours before game time, but that rule has been stretched quite a bit in some cities so far this season.

The defense is giving up a ton of yards and points what are they gonna do say you suck so the offense can go yea you suck too!

Exactly. The defense is not markedly better than the offense or anything; both units have been awful so far.

Now that's a funny headline.

Both need to step-up badly ... Id be ashamed to get my check on monday if I played like that on sunday ....

Fixed your post :D

The defense is the biggest disappointment on the year so far. Especially in the run game. That inability to stop the run is the most troubling. Hopefully they get it turned around quickly.

Defense is *suppose* to be Herm's philosophy of emphasis too.Which furthers inept incompetence.

Yeah not too many players are playing well enough to point the finger at anybody.

As Herm said. This team has no strengths right now.

1. Unconscious Incompetence. 2. Conscious Incompetence. 3. Conscious Competence. 4. Unconscious Competence.

The four states in the standard learning model. I'm glad to see that the players are transitioning from stage 1 to stage 2. That's progress.

FAX

They should ask Derrick Johnson real questions like.....so why is it this is now your 4th year and you still make stupid mistakes?

I can't believe some fans really believe its the offenses fault that LBs miss their gaps, safeties bounce off people when they don't wrap up, and the lack of a true pass rushing RDE. If this defense relly wanted to help themselves out, they would find a way to get off the field on 3rd and long.

"“And as the St. Louis Post-Dispatch observed Sunday as the team was walking off the field, the Rams were jeered by Seattle fans, one of whom yelled, “You’re the worst team in Missouri!”!”"

Ouch!

Uh oh, Mr. Johnson wants the Chiefs to quit the NFL and join the Arena League.

Defense not pointing fingers? What could they say? You guys suck worse than we do? Pot meet kettle