GRETZ: A Midseason Comparison

[Hammock Parties]

http://www.kcchiefs.com/media/images...80766078313713

Comparing the Chiefs at the midway point of this season with where they were last year at the same time reveals a two-game improvement in the only statistic that really counts: victories.

Otherwise, the Chiefs have shown improvement in very few areas from last year at midseason. In fact, the offensive numbers are down remarkably, the defensive numbers are improved in two key areas – points allowed and stopping the run – but are otherwise similar to last season.

The special teams show some improvement, although kick coverage lags behind. Right now, the difference between last year’s team and this year’s club may be the schedule they’ve played. Although it ranks among the league’s most difficult cards for the 2005 season, the Chiefs first seven opponents (they’ve played Oakland twice) have a combined record of 28-29. That’s nearly 50 percentage points below what last year’s first half foes were at the same point.

Despite the better record, the Chiefs point differential is half what it was last year at this point. That’s due to a drop of five points per game, even though the defense has done a better job in keeping opponents out of the end zone.

Vermeil’s motto of playing smart football – no giveaways and few penalties – is being held up in only one area: turnovers. The Chiefs are plus five after eight games, and they’ve done that by not giving the ball away on offense and picking up more fumbles on defense and special teams. Penalties, however, are up this year, although the yardage is down.

Giveaways are the only offensive area that’s shown improvement from last year over the first half of the season. Let’s remember that the first eight games of the 2004 season were hardly the Chiefs offense at its best. They had good games against Atlanta and Indianapolis, but they started the season with poor offensive production, thus the 1-3 opening record.

Defensively, Gunther Cunningham’s group is allowing nearly 20 yards per game less against the run, but 25 yards a game more against the pass. Sacks are down and that’s hurting the pass defense. The Chiefs also have only five interceptions this year; considering they’ve seen 301 passes thrown against them, that’s one area that needs improvement.

Special teams have shown improvement. Dustin Colquitt and Lawrence Tynes are doing a better job this year than what was produced last year in punting and field goals. Tynes has gotten eight more chances to kick field goals at this point compared to last year; that’s largely due to poor offensive production inside the scoring zone.

Dante Hall’s numbers on punt returns are down, but kick returns are up and he’s scored a touchdown. While the Chiefs coverage units are doing a better job on punts and not such a good job on kickoffs, they’ve not allowed a touchdown return; at this point last year they had given up a pair of TDs.

Ahead for the Chiefs are eight opponents who right now have a combined record of 37-29, a .560 winning percentage. That group includes four division leaders right now. They faced only one division leader in the first half of the year.

These midseason numbers must improve if the Chiefs hope to play beyond New Year’s Day.

[Chiefs Pantalones]

Did he mention if Priest is retiring?

[carlos3652]

Wow, I see a lot of improvement in the numbers...

[Hammock Parties]

IMO, it's a testament to our defense that we're a better team this year with the offense not playing as well.

If our offense was playing as well as it did last year, our D would look even better.

[Bob Dole]

Does he mention that Jack Harry is a tool?