Notes on Chiefs Preseason

[chiefzilla1501]

Offense

• I took a lot of shit last week for saying Chase Daniel was "terrible." That language was a tad strong, but last game showed why. I want more from a QB who gets paid $3M/year to be a reliable veteran.
• Tyler Bray had an effective preseason. But let's not get carried away. He needs time (better footwork, better decision making, learn to handle a pass rush) and his maturity is trending up, but I sure hope he can keep that up. Because it's clear he can make throws no QB has made in years. Overall really liked what I saw from him.
• Best WR corps in years. Solid enough #2 in Avery. Great potential from #3-5 (Hemingway in the slot. McCluster and Wylie... be great to make them earn a spot as an underneath guy, and Jenkins earn his spot as a stretch the field guy
• The offensive line isn't where you hoped it would be. Hudson will be a liability, Fisher is probably going to take some lumps early on. Our Guard play is adequate at best.
• Knile Davis is a solid #2 option. I wish he could also play bigger, but with his speed, he doesn't always have to. He's a guy who needs clean blocking and running lanes. But if he gets to top speed, he's very effective
• Reid loves to use tight ends and fullbacks. I don't think he'll be excited with what he has. I wasn't impressed with Sherman or Kelce. Fasano's a nice TE, but I'd rather him be a blocker turned safety valve
• Alex Smith... is better than his critics say but worse than his fan boys say. He was what he thought he was. Mostly accurate QB in the short/intermediate game and tremendous rollout ability. The downside... he still doesn't throw his receivers open, tends to stare at his primary read, and he missed WAY too many hot routes.
• Our special teams is going to be our offense's best friend.

Defense

• Said it before, I'll say it again. People understate how much Dorsey's marketing efforts to restore the roar at Arrowhead will improve our defense
• Defense is much better. Finally, a d-coordinator who will create pressure and will mix up formations. We saw a lot of exotic looks early on already
• Poe and Jackson were beastly against the run. Poe flashed upside in the passing game, Jackson is a complete disaster there. Bailey, on the other hand, needs to be more consistent in the run game but can actually drive his blockers in the pass rush. He needs to get more snaps.
• Dorsey brought in good LBs for cheap. Akeem Jordan is better than anyone we've had in years but I hope Nico Johnson starts soon. Also give Dorsey credit for getting tremendous safety depth for cheap. Demps and Abdullah were great cheap adds
• Eric Berry is going to be a weapon. Blitzing, playing LB, playing center field... he'll play everywhere.
• Kendrick Lewis is going to be a huge liability and I worry he'll give up big plays. We need speed back there.
• Speaking of big plays, we saw flashes of a defense that can be too aggressive at times. We're going to shut down running games, but if any back squeaks by... trouble. I have a bad feeling we're also going to bite hard on playactions and bootlegs, and at times overpursue a ballcarrier.
• Our CB depth is disastrous. If any of our CBs are injured, we're screwed. Sadly, our Safeties are handling a lot of Nickel and Dime responsibilities that should be handled by CBs
• I like Sutton's press coverage. Which means, the Chiefs HAVE to put pressure on the QB. Sean Smith is a better pickup than he gets credit for being.

[Ace Gunner]

obligatory "AS has limitations" reference

obligatory "Tyson Jackson pass rush poop" reference

tired shit

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Buzz_TinBalls

obligatory "AS has limitations" reference

obligatory "Tyson Jackson pass rush poop" reference

tired shit

I thought my eval on both those guys was more than fair. It's not like I'm shitting on either of those guys.

[notorious]

My short vesion: No major injuries

[Ace Gunner]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

I thought my eval on both those guys was more than fair. It's not like I'm shitting on either of those guys.

ya, I'm just tired of reading that particular set of comments. we all know these two are not reggie white and joe montana. really. we do. maybe next time you could write something new or even do the unthinkable -- leave out AS/TJ cliches.

here's a thought nobody brought up -- wylie is cut and Hammond/Hemingway make the 53.

[Ace Gunner]

Originally Posted by notorious

My short vesion: No major injuries

wylie pulled a hammy last night -- he was out most of last season with a hammy.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Buzz_TinBalls

ya, I'm just tired of reading that particular set of comments. we all know these two are not reggie white and joe montana. really. we do. maybe next time you could write something new or even do the unthinkable -- leave out AS/TJ cliches.

here's a thought nobody brought up -- wylie is cut and Hammond/Hemingway make the 53.

Wylie won't get cut. He's a gunner and very good at it. He can still develop as a WR, while being very valuable for special teams.

[Ace Gunner]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Wylie won't get cut. He's a gunner and very good at it. He can still develop as a WR, while being very valuable for special teams.

see post #6

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Buzz_TinBalls

see post #6

He left the game. I've seen nothing that says he's out for extended time. They cut Copper because they believe in Jalil Brown and Wylie. They're not going to cut him just because he tweaked a hamstring.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Buzz_TinBalls

ya, I'm just tired of reading that particular set of comments. we all know these two are not reggie white and joe montana. really. we do. maybe next time you could write something new or even do the unthinkable -- leave out AS/TJ cliches.

here's a thought nobody brought up -- wylie is cut and Hammond/Hemingway make the 53.

That's a completely silly criticism. I talked about the team as a whole. I'm not going to skip over two key starters just because you don't feel like reading about it. There are plenty of comments to respond to in the original post if you don't want to read about the "cliches." Especially the Tyson Jackson comment, because as I said, Bailey was getting push where Jackson was not.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

[*]Tyler Bray had an effective preseason. But let's not get carried away. He needs time (better footwork, better decision making, learn to handle a pass rush) and his maturity is trending up, but I sure hope he can keep that up. Because it's clear he can make throws no QB has made in years. Overall really liked what I saw from him.

I don't think it would be unrealistic to expect him to be the no 2 in year 2 and to take over for Smith in year 3...

[Dayze]

Offense - average
Defense - average.

that's my take.

[Sandy Vagina]

I thought the OP was reasonable and worthwhile.

I of course didn't love this part:

The downside... he still doesn't throw his receivers open, tends to stare at his primary read, and he missed WAY too many hot routes.

as I find this "doesn't throw his receivers open" to be vague and passed around too much, that it just sounds like you are regurgitating what you hear or read from other vague criticisms. Smith doesn't like taking many risk throws, so I guess somehow the semantics measure up.

I also don't think he stares down a single target... at least not often.

I also don't recall even seeing many (any?) hot routes through the preseason. Same thing happened in SF when the team was learning a new scheme in 2011 preseason. That will come as they go, but it better come quickly.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Rausch

I don't think it would be unrealistic to expect him to be the no 2 in year 2 and to take over for Smith in year 3...

There's no doubt the guy can be a great technical QB. He has some footwork and decision making issues that can get worked out. I just hope this experience and being surrounded by veterans like Alex Smith and Chase Daniel, as well as a very good offensive staff can beat the immaturity out of him. Or that the kid can learn to be a leader, which is easier said than done. Would be a shame for that much talent to go to waste.

[chiefzilla1501]

I've seen too many passes where Smith will wait for his receivers to break open and the ball gets there a touch (or more) too late. He's almost too careful. I don't think that's a risk throw at all. He has to anticipate his guys getting open instead of taking the safe route every time.

Originally Posted by Mac-NinersChiefs

I thought the OP was reasonable and worthwhile.

I of course didn't love this part:


as I find this "doesn't throw his receivers open" to be vague and passed around too much, that it just sounds like you are regurgitating what you hear or read from other vague criticisms. Smith doesn't like taking many risk throws, so I guess somehow the semantics measure up.

I also don't think he stares down a single target... at least not often.

I also don't recall even seeing many (any?) hot routes through the preseason. Same thing happened in SF when the team was learning a new scheme in 2011 preseason. That will come as they go, but it better come quickly.