Cover 2, MLB and the Weakest Link

[booger]

True with the MLB with the deep drop. If anything though that IMO is one of Pat Thomas's strengths is his pass drops. Play action has hurt as which will open the middle if the MLB bites on the fake. Comparred though to Nap Harris who played in the last PS game against STL though...... Lets just say Harris played the pass horribly.

Weston Dacus seemed to be one of the top 5 LB's this preseason but was released and added to the PS. But in a C2 i don't think he has the footspeed to make the deep MLB drop.

We've really played much more man 2 man. Flowers and Carr were drafted for their abilities to play both man and zone. With the loss of Jared and the poor pass rush we have been blitzing more than just the 4 man rush in cover2.

Our biggest problem is stopping the run and giving up to much yardage on 1st down. It makes no difference what so ever on zone or man press if we don't stop the run. I think we gave up what 130 against NE? not sure exactly but 300 given up yesterday and they only had less than 60 yrds passing. 47 carries for 300 yards yesterday. only 19 pass attempted IIRC.

We've played alot of Nickel 4DL 2LB 5DB and some Big Saftey packages with pollard sliding down in the box, and McGraw or Morgan deep with page too. Really had to do that with Edwards dinged with the hammy and D. Williams with a cast on his hand and filling in at rush LB to give the DE's a breather.

Gun played alot of C2 in '95. Alot. MLB Tracy Simien had a career high 3 int's playing in their C2 base defense. That was James Hasty's first year with the club. Obviously once learning his man press skills they changed. That's why the 97 team was so dominant. Big physical press CB's and blitzing/killer pass rush.

Once he came back Gun used mostly zones and C2 quite a bit until this year with the addition of the rooks.

[KCJohnny]

Originally Posted by booger

True with the MLB with the deep drop. If anything though that IMO is one of Pat Thomas's strengths is his pass drops. Play action has hurt as which will open the middle if the MLB bites on the fake. Comparred though to Nap Harris who played in the last PS game against STL though...... Lets just say Harris played the pass horribly.

Weston Dacus seemed to be one of the top 5 LB's this preseason but was released and added to the PS. But in a C2 i don't think he has the footspeed to make the deep MLB drop.

We've really played much more man 2 man. Flowers and Carr were drafted for their abilities to play both man and zone. With the loss of Jared and the poor pass rush we have been blitzing more than just the 4 man rush in cover2.

Our biggest problem is stopping the run and giving up to much yardage on 1st down. It makes no difference what so ever on zone or man press if we don't stop the run. I think we gave up what 130 against NE? not sure exactly but 300 given up yesterday and they only had less than 60 yrds passing. 47 carries for 300 yards yesterday. only 19 pass attempted IIRC.

We've played alot of Nickel 4DL 2LB 5DB and some Big Saftey packages with pollard sliding down in the box, and McGraw or Morgan deep with page too. Really had to do that with Edwards dinged with the hammy and D. Williams with a cast on his hand and filling in at rush LB to give the DE's a breather.

Gun played alot of C2 in '95. Alot. MLB Tracy Simien had a career high 3 int's playing in their C2 base defense. That was James Hasty's first year with the club. Obviously once learning his man press skills they changed. That's why the 97 team was so dominant. Big physical press CB's and blitzing/killer pass rush.

Once he came back Gun used mostly zones and C2 quite a bit until this year with the addition of the rooks.

Oakland was hardly a threat to make a big play in the passing game. What did you see as our exposed weakness in run defense? And how much is the scheme a factor? The Chiefs D wasn't all that great against the rush last year either, and now we are 30th in the NFL in YPC, 32nd in yards allowed.

[King_Chief_Fan]

Originally Posted by KCJohnny

Oakland was hardly a threat to make a big play in the passing game. What did you see as our exposed weakness in run defense? And how much is the scheme a factor? The Chiefs D wasn't all that great against the rush last year either, and now we are 30th in the NFL in YPC, 32nd in yards allowed.

but, folks love where Herm is taking this team

[booger]

Originally Posted by KCJohnny

Oakland was hardly a threat to make a big play in the passing game. What did you see as our exposed weakness in run defense? And how much is the scheme a factor? The Chiefs D wasn't all that great against the rush last year either, and now we are 30th in the NFL in YPC, 32nd in yards allowed.

Last year our problem was Tank and Turk not playing(most of it coaching descisions, not like this year letting them learn on the go) enough snaps to give Edwards and Boone needed rest. The vets played too man snaps. Plus last year was the same basically at LB with Harris at MLB and key Fox when Donnie was hurt. But the DE rotation was better with Allen and Jimmy Wilkerson along with Hali. This year Turk could have been expected to play the Jimmy W. role but couldn't because we had to start him. He is the second best DE we got. Rotation.

Plus the same old problems as last year. Can't get off the field on 3rd down after too many avg. yd. a play on 1st. And an offense with way too many 3 and outs that leads to the D being on the field too much and wearing down in the second half.

Yesterday was Players over Scheme IMO. Herm this past week in Q/A's tried to keep warning that they could really run the ball. Also to tried and warn against us overlooking(as if we should overlook anyone) them since we played NE so tough.

Turk getting hurt was big. I don't remember Johnston playing at DE even though he was active, i could be wrong though. Our DE's and OLB's got embarrassed big time. Hali I imagine was very excited to be going against backup LT Mario Henderson. Hali has felt the pressure to rush the passer and get sacks. Even had a recent article in the star all about it. So I can see him not focusing on the run under those circumstances even though Film study, coaching, and the situation should have spelled out in the game plan to expect them to try to pound the rock. Basically a rookie QB at Arrowhead.....they now the history......expect them to run.

DJ, i have no idea other than I heard his named called once. I'm sorry to say but if i'm being unbiased and looking at just play and not who the player is Donnie Edwards should be cut if not retire.

Flowers at RCB has been a very good run support cb in college and last week. I didn't focus on him this week. If he did struggle like Carr did it's hard to get mad about a rookie or 2 having a bad game.

Once they got to the second level Fargas, McFadden, and Bush aren't that easy to bring down. Plus Griffith is a good FB and they did adapt the zone block bronco scheme up front.

They watched film and saw our stegth up front was our DT's. So they ran all over us and thrashed our DE's and OLB.

Scheme? I don't know, only coaches get the wide angle whole field shots from the endzone as far as gap control. But even going back to last year misses assignments and gaps have been the problems of big running plays.

So no, i don't see it as a scheme problem.

We have 23 defensive players. Some rookies and youngsters that have to learn. And a few Vets who really don't have their skills they once had.

Our strenth is our secondary even though young and our DT's.

[KCJohnny]

So if I am hearing you correctly, our perimeter control was suspect and our DE play that sought to exploit Henderson's inexperience was a non-factor due to Oakland attempting just 17 passes (at least 10 of which were totally unneccessary). The contain on the off tackles plays broke down and our DBs were making most of the stops on rushing plays.

Not sure about cutting Donnie, tho I see where you are coming from. I believe a healthy Edwards still is an NFL starter on most teams and that the kids need him on the field and in the huddle.

I still haven't heard what you think about our MLB. Granted Thomas is a bit light at 237 (but fast) and DJ should step up on the perimeter control but overall, do we have the talent to run the C2 effectively?