Chiefs Looney ... The Morning After: Philadelphia - Page 10

Mr. Laz · 08-28-2010, 10:04 AM

The Morning After: Philadelphia

By Josh Looney
Posted 5 hours ago
Chiefs show grit, but still not a win

Mr. Kansas City himself called me shortly before kickoff last night. Bill Grigsby is the best. When it comes to re-living Chiefs history, there are few better sources than ‘Ole Grigs.
Anyway, he asked me if I had a Chiefs record book handy, which I did. Grigs wanted to test his Chiefs knowledge.

“Now correct me if I’m wrong,” Grigsby said. “But the first time that the Eagles and Chiefs played each other was in 1972, and the Eagles won that game 21-20.”

He was correct; and then, of course, went on to tell a story from that day in Chiefs history.

Grigsby’s tale involved the Chiefs being three-touchdown favorites against Philly. The Eagles were woefully bad that year, 0-5 when they visited Arrowhead (they’d finish 2-11). Unfortunately, for the Chiefs, there was a pre-game alarm as to what was about to come.

“I get out there and our United States flag that’s flying at the top of Arrowhead is upside down,” Grigsby explained. “(Former GM)Jack Steadman was running around like Catfish Hunter with a no-hitter in the ninth inning and the bases loaded.

“Now remember this,” Grigsby continued. “The teams had never played before and the Chiefs were three touchdown favorites with a flag flying upside down. That means, in international code, ‘distress.’”

The “distress” call went out early once again against the Eagles at Arrowhead on Friday night. This time in the first contest played at the Chiefs newly renovated home.

The Chiefs fumbled on the first play from scrimmage, giving Philadelphia the football on the Kansas City 22 yard line. When Eagles RB LeSean McCoy sprinted his way for an 18-yard touchdown just 50 seconds into the contest, things looked bad. When the Chiefs fumbled on their third play from scrimmage and punted on their fifth, things looked worse.

On the Chiefs next offensive series, QB Matt Cassel

’s pass hit off of TE Tony Moeaki

’s hands and landed in the arms of Eagles CB Trevard Lindley. That’s when it looked like the Eagles rout was on.

“I don’t know that it could start a lot worse than it did, both offensively and defensively,” head coach Todd Haley said after the game.

But in this instance, the rout wasn’t on.

The Chiefs defense came alive, forcing five consecutive punts after allowing an Eagles field goal near the end of the first quarter. Kansas City front-line players would notch their first turnover of the preseason, tally four sacks and exit midway through the third quarter holding a 14-10 lead; it was something that seemed improbable just a quarter and a half prior.

“They say in boxing that it’s not how hard you punch, it’s how you react after you’ve been punched,” Haley said. “We took a couple of pretty good body blows; they might have been a couple of head shots, hay-makers, whatever you want to say, but guys fought back and made plays.”

How many times have we seen the Chiefs start the game in a similar fashion over the past few seasons, only to get run out of the building?

Last year’s game against the Eagles immediately comes to mind, as does the game against the Giants and that 2008 drubbing in Carolina. There are other examples as well. Call it the “here we go again,” or “same old, same old” type of feeling, but things turned around differently at The New Arrowhead last night.

“I think it was just the ‘want to,’” LB Demorrio Williams

said. “Early on we probably hung our heads down but I think the guys realized what type of team we have and guys came out and just fought to win the game. We are trying to win this year and trying to bring Arrowhead back.”

Whatever it was, it was something to build on.

While Williams and Andy Studebaker

did their best to provide a spark with a pair of sacks, the Chiefs offense didn’t come alive until a bizarre penalty grounded the Eagles. Cassel connected on eight consecutive passes in a 16-play drive that was extended by the fourth-down delay of game penalty on Philadelphia’s punt return team. It was a play that finally kick-started the Chiefs offense.

The span of time between that penalty and when the Chiefs starters were removed from the game was the best that the Chiefs have looked as a team thus far in 2010. The team was physical on both sides of the football and made plays that amount to what it takes to win in the NFL.

The overall play before that penalty, and then after the removal of the starters, is what has to be nixed before the regular season begins.

Three to Like

QB Takedowns

Finally! The Chiefs recorded their first sack of the preseason, and they did it in pairs.

Demorrio Williams played like a maniac on Friday night, finishing with a pair of sacks, a diving pass breakup and five tackles. Andy Studebaker pitched in with two sacks of his own and DL Dion Gales

added another quarterback takedown in the fourth quarter to give the Chiefs a quintet of sacks on the evening. It was the first time since September 23, 2007 (vs. Minnesota) that the Chiefs recorded five or more sacks in single game.

“That is really important,” Williams said of the Chiefs notching a handful of sacks. “Especially to put their offense in a second and long, third and long, things like that are huge. On third down we got some pressure on the quarterback and gave our other guys a chance to make plays.”

The numbers could have been even better, had the Chiefs finished off a few more chances at wrapping up Kevin Kolb, Mike Vick and Mike Kafka.

Gritty Defensive Effort

The defense as a whole turned in an extremely solid performance, especially in the second and third quarters.

They weathered an early storm from Philadelphia; a storm that was trying to turn ugly in a hurry. Physicality was at a pre-season high with big hits all over the field, including a wicked stick by Derrick Johnson

. The defense was blue collar, gritty, gutsy…whatever you want to call it…they played the game the way that it is meant to be played.

“Defensively we played together as a unit,” said S Kendrick Lewis

, who had an interception. “Everyone was on the same page and we blitzed them a little. Guys were getting free and making plays and applying pressure. On the back end we did our thing as far as coverage is concerned but as a unit, it all worked in our favor.”

In the end, holding Philadelphia to just 5-of-17 on third down made a big difference in the way the night went defensively.

Rushing Roles

The offense didn’t have its best day as a unit, but the Chiefs run game offers something to look forward to heading into the regular season.

Both of the Chiefs speedsters, Dexter McCluster

and Jamaal Charles

, averaged around six yards a carry and got loose in the open field. Situationally, the Chiefs bigger backs turned in some solid runs too. Thomas Jones

was able to convert third-and-short situations, as was Jackie Battle

, and Jones found the end zone on an 11-yard carry to get the Chiefs back on top in the third quarter.

It’s clear that the Chiefs are aiming to be a running football team.

Three for Improvement

Finding a Way to Win

How much better would Chiefs fans feel if Kansas City’s reserves could have just forced a three-and-out on Philadelphia’s final series? Or even a turnover on down in the Red Zone?

Instead of kneeling on a win, the Chiefs were dealt a loss in the game’s final minute.

For some, it doesn’t matter. The starters dug their way out of an early hole, took the lead and brought some swagger back to Arrowhead. For others, it doesn’t matter who was on the field; the Chiefs found a way to lose a tight game. Preseason or not, we’ve seen this outcome before and it’s not any fun.

Wherever you stand, there’s something to be said for the confidence that is built in successfully finishing off an opponent.

Turnovers Crush Chances

Before the Chiefs were on the board, they had already dug themselves into a two turnover hole. Kansas City’s turnover ratio is now at -7 (eight giveaways, one takeaway) this preseason. Dick Vermeil used to have some sort of turnover chart built with winning percentages based off of negative, positive and neutral finishes in the turnover department.

I don’t have that chart handy, but the Chiefs have lost the turnover battle in all three preseason games of 2010 and own a 0-3 record in those contests.

Philadelphia, by the way, scored their first 10 points on series’ that followed a Chiefs turnover.

Starting Fast

The Chiefs need to fix this broken record before the regular season gets under way.

Mr. Laz · 08-30-2010, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coogs

Fair enough. I have not had time to read everything... everyweek. There seems to be a small faction of the Planet that seems to be defending Cassel at every turn. Didn't know if you were one of those or not, but I have seen you defend him quite a bit.

I just see a lot more to not like that to like. Wished it wasn't that way, but the guy just does not make me feel good about our offense.

if a small faction didn't turn EVERY DAM thread into a Cassel bashfest it wouldn't be necessary. I'm not a "true fan" ... i'm not a "drafturbator".

i wanted Clausen

but dam, a game thread between 2 non-chiefs teams and in turns into a "cassel this ... cassel that". Alot of it has to do with draftubators are just assholes who want to poke,prod and pissed anyone off that can. I understand this, but still ... give it a ****ing rest.

when cassel ****s up ... i say so
when cassel does something right ... i say so

keg in kc · 08-30-2010, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laz

if a small faction didn't turn EVER DAM thread into a Cassel bashfest it wouldn't be necessary. I'm not a "true fan" ... i'm not a "drafturbator".

i wanted Clausen

but dam, a game thread about between 2 non-chiefs teams and in turns into a "cassel this ... cassel that". Alot of it has to do with draftubators are just assholes who want to poke,prod and pissed anyone off that can. I understand this, but still ... give it a ****ing rest.

when cassel ****s up ... i say so
when cassel does something right ... i say so

zip it, true fan!

Mr. Laz · 08-30-2010, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keg in kc

zip it, true fan!

**DeezNutz** · 08-30-2010, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laz

if a small faction didn't turn EVERY DAM thread into a Cassel bashfest it wouldn't be necessary. I'm not a "true fan" ... i'm not a "drafturbator".

i wanted Clausen

but dam, a game thread between 2 non-chiefs teams and in turns into a "cassel this ... cassel that". Alot of it has to do with draftubators are just assholes who want to poke,prod and pissed anyone off that can. I understand this, but still ... give it a ****ing rest.

when cassel ****s up ... i say so
when cassel does something right ... i say so

This might help you relax.

http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/forumdisplay.php?f=29

Sweet Daddy Hate · 08-30-2010, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

This might help you relax.

http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/forumdisplay.php?f=29

Coogs · 08-30-2010, 02:03 PM

Laz,

I really want to defend Cassel, but I can't. I want to see something that gives me hope that he is going to send this offense into high gear, but I don't. And what is worse, I really can not blame the parts around him. The O-line may not be littered with pro-bowlers, but I suspect there are worse lines in the NFL. He has been given a fairly competent receiving core, yet there seems to be nothing developing between the QB and those receivers. And he has RB's... two at least in Charles and McCluster... that can run behind said O-line.

All I see out of our QB is a quality of play that is much closer to that of a Jamarcus Russell... capable of 1 decent drive a game, 2 at most... vs the other end of the spectrum where every single offensive possession has the makings of points.

I want to see it. I really do. It's nothing personal against Cassel with me, I just want to see competent QB play. I'm not seeing it. And I am not going to pass the blame to other offensive players to mask the blame either.

Mr. Laz · 08-30-2010, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coogs

Laz,

I really want to defend Cassel, but I can't.

it's becoming harder and harder to do.

last year his situation was shit ... you could invent a worse situation for a QB. This year it's much better and Cassel still isn't.

i think everyone knows this ... it's still very tiresome.

We are talking about our linebackers on defense and one of these dicks bring up Cassel. I mean WTF?!?

Coogs · 08-30-2010, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laz

it's becoming harder and harder to do.

last year his situation was shit ... you could invent a worse situation for a QB. This year it's much better and Cassel still isn't.

i think everyone knows this ... it's still very tiresome.

We are talking about our linebackers on defense and one of these dicks bring up Cassel. I mean WTF?!?

OK, now I agree if we are discussing defense, bringing Cassel into the debate is a bit much. Haven't had time to read all the threads, so I miss out on some stuff like that.

Reerun_KC · 08-30-2010, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coogs

OK, now I agree if we are discussing defense, bringing Cassel into the debate is a bit much. Haven't had time to read all the threads, so I miss out on some stuff like that.

Its not even about defending Cassel, no matter what the topic or the thread, it turns into the same damn thing...

Same people crying and blaming everything on Cassel.. Traffic on i-70 after the game? ****ing Cassel...

Wife hides the jergens and refuses to put out? ****ing Cassel...

Damn trash guy knocked over the trash can this am.. ****ing Cassel...

Hey I think I am getting the hang of this...

milkman · 08-30-2010, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

Its not even about defending Cassel, no matter what the topic or the thread, it turns into the same damn thing...

Same people crying and blaming everything on Cassel.. Traffic on i-70 after the game? ****ing Cassel...

Wife hides the jergens and refuses to put out? ****ing Cassel...

Damn trash guy knocked over the trash can this am.. ****ing Cassel...

Hey I think I am getting the hang of this...

Once again.

This team has some parts that could begin to establish true improvement.

But it's like buying parts for your car to fix it.
If I give them to a florist, I'm not going to get my car fixed.

The Chiefs are the car, and Cassel is the florist.

Brock · 08-30-2010, 07:04 PM

Its not even about defending Herm, no matter what the topic or the thread, it turns into the same damn thing...

Same people crying and blaming everything on Herm.. Traffic on i-70 after the game? ****ing Herm...

Wife hides the jergens and refuses to put out? ****ing Herm...

Damn trash guy knocked over the trash can this am.. ****ing Herm...

Hey I think I am getting the hang of this...

Sweet Daddy Hate · 08-30-2010, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkman

Once again.

This team has some parts that could begin to establish true improvement.

But it's like buying parts for your car to fix it.
If I give them to a florist, I'm not going to get my car fixed.

The Chiefs are the car, and Cassel is the florist.

Holy Shit that's awesome.

08-28-2010, 10:04 AM
Mr. Laz Don't Tease Me Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: KS Casino cash: $11047037	Looney ... The Morning After: Philadelphia The Morning After: Philadelphia By Josh Looney Posted 5 hours ago Chiefs show grit, but still not a win Mr. Kansas City himself called me shortly before kickoff last night. Bill Grigsby is the best. When it comes to re-living Chiefs history, there are few better sources than ‘Ole Grigs. Anyway, he asked me if I had a Chiefs record book handy, which I did. Grigs wanted to test his Chiefs knowledge. “Now correct me if I’m wrong,” Grigsby said. “But the first time that the Eagles and Chiefs played each other was in 1972, and the Eagles won that game 21-20.” He was correct; and then, of course, went on to tell a story from that day in Chiefs history. Grigsby’s tale involved the Chiefs being three-touchdown favorites against Philly. The Eagles were woefully bad that year, 0-5 when they visited Arrowhead (they’d finish 2-11). Unfortunately, for the Chiefs, there was a pre-game alarm as to what was about to come. “I get out there and our United States flag that’s flying at the top of Arrowhead is upside down,” Grigsby explained. “(Former GM)Jack Steadman was running around like Catfish Hunter with a no-hitter in the ninth inning and the bases loaded. “Now remember this,” Grigsby continued. “The teams had never played before and the Chiefs were three touchdown favorites with a flag flying upside down. That means, in international code, ‘distress.’” The “distress” call went out early once again against the Eagles at Arrowhead on Friday night. This time in the first contest played at the Chiefs newly renovated home. The Chiefs fumbled on the first play from scrimmage, giving Philadelphia the football on the Kansas City 22 yard line. When Eagles RB LeSean McCoy sprinted his way for an 18-yard touchdown just 50 seconds into the contest, things looked bad. When the Chiefs fumbled on their third play from scrimmage and punted on their fifth, things looked worse. On the Chiefs next offensive series, QB Matt Cassel’s pass hit off of TE Tony Moeaki’s hands and landed in the arms of Eagles CB Trevard Lindley. That’s when it looked like the Eagles rout was on. “I don’t know that it could start a lot worse than it did, both offensively and defensively,” head coach Todd Haley said after the game. But in this instance, the rout wasn’t on. The Chiefs defense came alive, forcing five consecutive punts after allowing an Eagles field goal near the end of the first quarter. Kansas City front-line players would notch their first turnover of the preseason, tally four sacks and exit midway through the third quarter holding a 14-10 lead; it was something that seemed improbable just a quarter and a half prior. “They say in boxing that it’s not how hard you punch, it’s how you react after you’ve been punched,” Haley said. “We took a couple of pretty good body blows; they might have been a couple of head shots, hay-makers, whatever you want to say, but guys fought back and made plays.” How many times have we seen the Chiefs start the game in a similar fashion over the past few seasons, only to get run out of the building? Last year’s game against the Eagles immediately comes to mind, as does the game against the Giants and that 2008 drubbing in Carolina. There are other examples as well. Call it the “here we go again,” or “same old, same old” type of feeling, but things turned around differently at The New Arrowhead last night. “I think it was just the ‘want to,’” LB Demorrio Williams said. “Early on we probably hung our heads down but I think the guys realized what type of team we have and guys came out and just fought to win the game. We are trying to win this year and trying to bring Arrowhead back.” Whatever it was, it was something to build on. While Williams and Andy Studebaker did their best to provide a spark with a pair of sacks, the Chiefs offense didn’t come alive until a bizarre penalty grounded the Eagles. Cassel connected on eight consecutive passes in a 16-play drive that was extended by the fourth-down delay of game penalty on Philadelphia’s punt return team. It was a play that finally kick-started the Chiefs offense. The span of time between that penalty and when the Chiefs starters were removed from the game was the best that the Chiefs have looked as a team thus far in 2010. The team was physical on both sides of the football and made plays that amount to what it takes to win in the NFL. The overall play before that penalty, and then after the removal of the starters, is what has to be nixed before the regular season begins. *Three to Like* QB Takedowns Finally! The Chiefs recorded their first sack of the preseason, and they did it in pairs. Demorrio Williams played like a maniac on Friday night, finishing with a pair of sacks, a diving pass breakup and five tackles. Andy Studebaker pitched in with two sacks of his own and DL Dion Gales added another quarterback takedown in the fourth quarter to give the Chiefs a quintet of sacks on the evening. It was the first time since September 23, 2007 (vs. Minnesota) that the Chiefs recorded five or more sacks in single game. “That is really important,” Williams said of the Chiefs notching a handful of sacks. “Especially to put their offense in a second and long, third and long, things like that are huge. On third down we got some pressure on the quarterback and gave our other guys a chance to make plays.” The numbers could have been even better, had the Chiefs finished off a few more chances at wrapping up Kevin Kolb, Mike Vick and Mike Kafka. Gritty Defensive Effort The defense as a whole turned in an extremely solid performance, especially in the second and third quarters. They weathered an early storm from Philadelphia; a storm that was trying to turn ugly in a hurry. Physicality was at a pre-season high with big hits all over the field, including a wicked stick by Derrick Johnson. The defense was blue collar, gritty, gutsy…whatever you want to call it…they played the game the way that it is meant to be played. “Defensively we played together as a unit,” said S Kendrick Lewis, who had an interception. “Everyone was on the same page and we blitzed them a little. Guys were getting free and making plays and applying pressure. On the back end we did our thing as far as coverage is concerned but as a unit, it all worked in our favor.” In the end, holding Philadelphia to just 5-of-17 on third down made a big difference in the way the night went defensively. Rushing Roles The offense didn’t have its best day as a unit, but the Chiefs run game offers something to look forward to heading into the regular season. Both of the Chiefs speedsters, Dexter McCluster and Jamaal Charles, averaged around six yards a carry and got loose in the open field. Situationally, the Chiefs bigger backs turned in some solid runs too. Thomas Jones was able to convert third-and-short situations, as was Jackie Battle, and Jones found the end zone on an 11-yard carry to get the Chiefs back on top in the third quarter. It’s clear that the Chiefs are aiming to be a running football team. *Three for Improvement* Finding a Way to Win How much better would Chiefs fans feel if Kansas City’s reserves could have just forced a three-and-out on Philadelphia’s final series? Or even a turnover on down in the Red Zone? Instead of kneeling on a win, the Chiefs were dealt a loss in the game’s final minute. For some, it doesn’t matter. The starters dug their way out of an early hole, took the lead and brought some swagger back to Arrowhead. For others, it doesn’t matter who was on the field; the Chiefs found a way to lose a tight game. Preseason or not, we’ve seen this outcome before and it’s not any fun. Wherever you stand, there’s something to be said for the confidence that is built in successfully finishing off an opponent. Turnovers Crush Chances Before the Chiefs were on the board, they had already dug themselves into a two turnover hole. Kansas City’s turnover ratio is now at -7 (eight giveaways, one takeaway) this preseason. Dick Vermeil used to have some sort of turnover chart built with winning percentages based off of negative, positive and neutral finishes in the turnover department. I don’t have that chart handy, but the Chiefs have lost the turnover battle in all three preseason games of 2010 and own a 0-3 record in those contests. Philadelphia, by the way, scored their first 10 points on series’ that followed a Chiefs turnover. Starting Fast The Chiefs need to fix this broken record before the regular season gets under way.
Posts: 95,626

08-30-2010, 02:03 PM	#141
Coogs In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Northern Kansas Casino cash: $-2265651	Laz, I really want to defend Cassel, but I can't. I want to see something that gives me hope that he is going to send this offense into high gear, but I don't. And what is worse, I really can not blame the parts around him. The O-line may not be littered with pro-bowlers, but I suspect there are worse lines in the NFL. He has been given a fairly competent receiving core, yet there seems to be nothing developing between the QB and those receivers. And he has RB's... two at least in Charles and McCluster... that can run behind said O-line. All I see out of our QB is a quality of play that is much closer to that of a Jamarcus Russell... capable of 1 decent drive a game, 2 at most... vs the other end of the spectrum where every single offensive possession has the makings of points. I want to see it. I really do. It's nothing personal against Cassel with me, I just want to see competent QB play. I'm not seeing it. And I am not going to pass the blame to other offensive players to mask the blame either.
Posts: 21,910

08-30-2010, 07:04 PM	#146
Brock Say hello to my little friend Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Larryville Casino cash: $9598422	Its not even about defending Herm, no matter what the topic or the thread, it turns into the same damn thing... Same people crying and blaming everything on Herm.. Traffic on i-70 after the game? **ing Herm... Wife hides the jergens and refuses to put out? ing Herm... Damn trash guy knocked over the trash can this am.. **ing Herm... Hey I think I am getting the hang of this...
Posts: 47,314