|
|
11-08-2004, 08:03 AM | Topic Starter |
Brilliant!!
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Indiana, USA
Casino cash: $10014051
|
Wow. A good Gretz article that is dead-on accurate IMHO
http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2004/11...ld_not_afford/
GRETZ: An Outcome They Could Not Afford Nov 08, 2004, 6:19:18 AM by Bob Gretz TAMPA – It was the kind of disaster the Chiefs just could not afford at this juncture of the 2004 season. There will be a lot of words in the coming days about how the Chiefs are still breathing in the AFC, how they can still make something of their season over the final eight games. All of that is true and it beats giving up. But it’s hard to believe any of it will happen. The Chiefs are 3-5 after their loss to Tampa Bay. They need to get to 11-5, 10-6 at the minimum to make the post-season tournament. That means playing the second half of the season unbeaten, or with just one loss. Dick Vermeil said after the game that he believed his team could do just that, because they won nine games in a row last year. But the 2004 Chiefs are not the 2003 Chiefs. They’ve proven that for the last eight weeks. They’ve not shown the ability to win three games in a row. Why should we believe they could win eight straight, or even seven games in the second half? The ‘04 Chiefs lack the mental toughness necessary to pull off that kind of task. OK, so what is mental toughness? There are a lot of different terms that can be used to describe the same thing. I’m not talking about character; this Chiefs team dripping with players of high character. It’s not about dedication and work ethic; you won’t find a group of NFL players in one stadium who have worked harder in the last 10 months to make something of this season. Mental toughness is the ability to function at the highest level of performance when the stakes are the highest. When your team cannot afford another loss in the season, how do your players react? Do they raise their level of performance to the point they don’t make silly mental mistakes, where they are so schooled and prepared in the fundamentals that they can overcome whatever deficiencies in talent they may have? That’s mental toughness and the ‘04 Chiefs do not have it. Some players do, and they display it every game. But as a collective group, they come up lacking. They’ve showed that at various times this season, but it was readily apparent against the Buccaneers. Examples? Here are a few. On Wednesday the Chiefs coaching staff showed the offense tape of the Tampa Bay defense with a special emphasis on the Bucs ability to knock loose the football. They’ve been doing it for years and are among the best in the league at creating turnovers. On Saturday morning, before leaving for Tampa, the offensive staff made this point the players again. A team with mental toughness takes that information and makes sure that under every circumstance, they have ball security. They spend all week practicing it, thinking about it, reminding themselves about securing the ball. In the first quarter, at the end of a long pass play and run by Eddie Kennison, with the end zone 10 yards ahead of him, with a two-touchdown lead at the Chiefs fingertips in the first quarter, disaster struck. Kennison allowed the ball to be punched out of his hands. I say “allow” because he had not secured the ball. He admitted after the game, that he should have had better ball security. It rolled into the end zone, where it was picked up by the Bucs and returned 29 yards. No touchdown, no field goal, and then Tampa went down the field and scored a touchdown to give them a 14-7 lead. It was a 14-point swing of momentum. Remember, the Chiefs lost by three points. A defense with mental toughness does not allow a receiver on a first-and-goal play at the three-yard line to go uncovered. The Chiefs did that in the second quarter, when tight end Ken Dilger split out left and no defensive player picked him up. Eric Warfield saw him there, but covered the slot receiver. Jerome Woods moved to that side of the formation, looked at Dilger, but made no move to cover him. It was like Warfield and Woods either couldn’t see Dilger, or refused to acknowledge his existence. But Brian Griese saw Dilger and threw an easy touchdown pass to the tight end. It was inexcusable, especially when the mistakes were made by veteran players; guys who have been schooled and know better. At the least, they could have called a timeout. Instead, it was a Tampa Bay touchdown, in a game the Chiefs lost by three points. In the first half, the Chiefs held Michael Pittman to nine yards rushing. On the second offensive play of the third quarter, Pittman runs 78 yards through the Chiefs for a score. Why? A linebacker didn’t fill the play the way he was taught and a cornerback did not provide the support as was designed in the defense. Pittman scored a touchdown in a game the Chiefs lost by three points. With the season on the line, on the Chiefs final offensive play of the game, how does a three-man pass rush beat a five-man Chiefs offensive line? That should never happen, in any game, but most especially one where the Chiefs lost by three points. It’s not like Kennison, Warfield, Woods and the others don’t want to win; in many cases they are probably trying to do too much in hopes of getting a victory. It’s just an unfortunate fact of the 2004 season that the Chiefs biggest opponent has been themselves. It’s become their profile. They showed it against Houston, against Jacksonville, against Tampa Bay. It has become their profile. Not beating themselves: that’s a sign of a team with mental toughness. The Chiefs have shown us nothing to make us believe they can correct that in the season’s final eight games. |
Posts: 3,994
|
11-08-2004, 08:10 AM | #2 |
Bono & Grbac wasn't enough
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Sioux City, IA
Casino cash: $12553829
|
In listening to the radio broadcast yesterday and listening to Gretz, I was wondering how the heck people around here can call him a front office toy.
He totally ripped the Chiefs, as well he should have. I'm glad I didn't see the game, it was tough enough to hear on the radio.
__________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Advertise here: $19.99 a month |
Posts: 34,346
|
11-08-2004, 08:29 AM | #3 |
Starter
Join Date: Sep 2000
Casino cash: $4842080
|
i've always thougth gretz calls like he sees it.
|
Posts: 296
|
11-08-2004, 08:48 AM | #4 |
Has a particular set of skills
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: On the water
Casino cash: $2599627
VARSITY
|
Gretz needs a blowtorch to remove his lips off of King Carl's backside every time he needs to eat.
__________________
Time is worth more than money. |
Posts: 79,307
|
11-08-2004, 09:02 AM | #5 | |
Supporter
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: T-Town
Casino cash: $10004900
|
Quote:
|
|
Posts: 69,689
|
11-08-2004, 09:13 AM | #6 |
stax of wax
Join Date: Feb 2004
Casino cash: $10004900
|
When are we gonna start firedickvermeil.com? Ali Chi3fs...where are you?
__________________
courtesy of BoneKrusher "Baseball? It's just a game. As simple as a ball and bat, yet as complex as the American spirit it symbolizes. It's a sport, a business and sometimes a religion." Ernie Harwell |
Posts: 34,865
|
11-08-2004, 09:39 AM | #7 | |
Has a particular set of skills
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: On the water
Casino cash: $2599627
VARSITY
|
Quote:
__________________
Time is worth more than money. |
|
Posts: 79,307
|
11-08-2004, 10:07 AM | #8 |
MVP
Join Date: Sep 2002
Casino cash: $4844930
|
Gretz'a take seems to be that it is 100% the players fault.
That is a crock. There has to be at least one or two Caucasians in the Chiefs organization that can take some of the blame as well.
__________________
Where Ignorance is Bliss, 'Tis Folly to be Wise. __ |
Posts: 11,028
|
11-08-2004, 10:11 AM | #9 | |
Fall down 7 times, get up 8
Join Date: Aug 2000
Casino cash: $10004900
|
Quote:
__________________
How strangely will the Tools of a Tyrant pervert the plain Meaning of Words! Samuel Adams |
|
Posts: 15,469
|
11-08-2004, 10:29 AM | #10 |
Smug Weasel
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Bleachers at Busch
Casino cash: $10004900
|
Even Gretz is scoffing at the homers who think the Chiefs can still make the playoffs.
IMO, Gretz has been much more critical of the Chiefs under Vermiel than he was when Marty and even Gunther was coaching. I think Gretz likes the defensive style of play better, and sometimes he sounds skeptical that we will ever win a Super Bowl with an offensive focus. I still remember his postgame analysis back in the Okoye days when everyone would call in and complain about the boring and ineffective offense we had back then, and he would always say that the problem didn't lie with the plays that were called, instead, the problem was the execution. He doesn't seem to defend Vermiel like he used to defend Marty. |
Posts: 4,910
|
11-08-2004, 10:38 AM | #11 |
Mahomes Fanboi
Join Date: Apr 2004
Casino cash: $2624969
|
I thought that was a great article. WTG gretz.
|
Posts: 19,495
|
11-08-2004, 11:14 AM | #12 |
sorta mod-ish
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: KC North
Casino cash: $2971616
|
Dammit, Gretz! This is not why King Carl pays you! Either you write some fluff piece about how the Chiefs scrapped until the end, and how heartbroken they are, or you'll find yourself shipped to the desert to cover the Cards!
Nice article. And dead on. |
Posts: 101,408
|
11-08-2004, 10:37 AM | #13 |
MVP
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: In the Top 10
Casino cash: $9924205
|
This is a decent article, but make no mistake Gretz is a PR guy, a Carl apologist and ass-kisser number 1 to all things Queen Carla.
__________________
A 35 year drought can make you thirsty. |
Posts: 15,777
|
11-08-2004, 05:02 PM | #14 | |
Genious
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Colorado
Casino cash: $10012761
|
Quote:
__________________
re-sign: to sign again resign: to withdraw from employment |
|
Posts: 5,366
|
11-09-2004, 12:24 AM | #15 |
Out Gunning CP's Fandom Police
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Laguna Beach, CA
Casino cash: $1843127
|
I agree with most of the article, but the COACHES need to be called out as well. I hate the "PROFILE" of this team this year...
__________________
"The CHIEFS, HAVE THEIR DYNASTY!" Last edited by TEX; 11-09-2004 at 12:52 AM.. |
Posts: 34,799
|
|
|