KC Star: CHIEFS NOTES (Carter)

[FloridaChief]

CHIEFS NOTES

HOLMES UPDATE

Running back Priest Holmes will be listed as questionable on the Chiefs' mid-week injury report after suffering an ankle sprain and slight knee strain on the same fourth-quarter play against Carolina on Sunday.

Holmes received treatment on Tuesday, the players' day off, and will continue to be evaluated throughout the week.

“What it amounts to is how long it takes for the ankle to feel comfortable to go back to work on,” Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil said. “It's not a severe ankle sprain. I haven't talked to Priest this morning but he's in there getting treatment. I think we have to list him at questionable. If he wasn't able to go Derrick Blaylock would start and Larry Johnson would be ready to go. … But right now, we're preparing as though Priest Holmes is going to be ready to play.”

NEGATIVE IS POSITIVE

Despite their continued problems with stopping the big runs, Vermeil and defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham are encouraged by the fact that the defense has made 15 tackles for loss in two games. The Chiefs made only 43 such tackles for loss in 2003 and 41 in 2002. The problem is that the Chiefs have allowed runs of 25, 47 and 71 yards against Denver and Carolina.

“It shows that the philosophy of how we use the front seven is working,” Vermeil said. “Now, we have to be as fundamentally correct and sound in our technique to prevent the big play.”

INJURY UPDATE

Defensive end Vonnie Holliday (groin) did not play against Carolina but is probable. Safety Greg Wesley (hamstring) also did not play against Carolina and is “questionable to probable” according to Vermeil. Linebacker Keyaron Fox (quadriceps) is questionable.

Linebacker Kawika Mitchell, who saw his first action since suffering a sprained ankle in the second preseason game, is feeling well and will continue play on special teams and in the four linebacker set. Monty Beisel will make his third consecutive start at middle linebacker.

[go bo]

15 tackles for a loss seems pretty good...

i don't think this defense is dead yet...

there are signs of life there...

[el borracho]

Believe it or not, the defense is improved and improving. I am currently happy with our DTs, one of our LBs, three safties, and one of our CBs. If we had decent DEs and another corner we would be respectable.

[Tribal Warfare]

The D-line is improving, but it's the damned LBs need to plug the gaps while D-Tackles are occupying several tacklers Shawn Barber and Monty Beisel need to get better quick

[Gaz]

Improved and improving is correct. The D will continue to get incrementally better. The bad news is that they will be limited by the talent on the team.

At this moment, the strength of the team is at S & maybe DT. Woods and Wesley is a very good tandem. Sims and Siavii could be monsters in time. Unfortunately, the talent at the remaining positions is average. Hicks and Browning are serviceable DEs, but they are not top-tier players. Barber is an average talent. Mitchell and Beisel are still learning the position; Mitchell has more upside and we do not know how good he will eventually be. Fujita is a keeper. Warfield is an average CB [who is about to do some hard time]. McCleon is adequate at best.

There will be improvement, but only up to a point. It will take better players to get this D to the next level. Unfortunately, the improvement on D has been matched by decay on the O. There is no way this D can be good enough to make up the gap caused by the suckage of the O in the first two games.

xoxo~
Gaz
Did not anticipate the Chiefs D playing better than the O this season.

[Gaz]

I think that Beisel will improve. He has already shown improvement in just a couple of games. And I also have high hopes for Mitchell. Barber is a disappointment so far, but I remain foolishly optimistic there as well.

My concern remains the stagnant Offense. For all out hopes in a rejuvinated Gunther D, the Offense was and is the engine that drives the Chiefs bandwagon. When it stalls, the R&G will go nowhere, even if the D spots them a TD. What in earth is up with them?

xoxo~
Gaz
One of those guys born every minute.

[whoman69]

The one thing improved upon last year also is the fact that 3rd and 8 is not an automatic for the other team anymore. The offense has got to come together or we may as well start all the young guys and prepare for the future.

[StcChief]

Ultimately the Offense has to get in sync and move the ball in long drives and score TDs.

Or by the end of the game the D will breakdown from being on the field to much.

[Lzen]

15 tackles for loss in 2 games averages out to 120 for a full 16 game season. Compare that to 43 last year and 41 the previous year. Yep, they are improved for sure. Still gotta figure out how to stop the big plays. Of course, that's being Madden-esque in stating the obvious.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Lzen

15 tackles for loss in 2 games averages out to 120 for a full 16 game season. Compare that to 43 last year and 41 the previous year. Yep, they are improved for sure. Still gotta figure out how to stop the big plays. Of course, that's being Madden-esque in stating the obvious.

That's because the d-line has improved immensely but our LB's are still piss-poor.

[Frazod]

I think the defense IS improved. The problem is the offense is hanging them out to dry, and they break under the pressure. It seems like we've punted more times in the first two games that we did all of last year. 3 and out, or one first down and then 3 and out, and BOOM - the D's back out there. It would take a great defense to counteract that. We don't have one.

Last year, it might have been enough. But I fear Gun got here a year too late.

[philfree]

Although we didn't add any new players on D the two guys who weren't on the D last year are making a pretty good impact at DT. Dalton and Siavii are helping a bunch.

PhilFree