Chiefs Whitlock: Hard to know what to think after weird Chiefs game

**Tribal Warfare** · 09-13-2009, 10:16 PM

Hard to know what to think after weird Chiefs game
JASON WHITLOCK COMMENTARY

BALTIMORE | Draw any conclusion you like from the Chiefs’ season-opening, 38-24 loss to the Ravens.

The Chiefs were more competitive than you expected. Kansas City’s defense was an embarrassment. KC’s defense was undermined by an offensive unit that couldn’t sustain anything for three quarters. Things will improve when Matt Cassel is healthy enough to play.

Take your pick. They can all be defended. There’s at least a kernel of truth in whatever conclusion you reached after one of the weirdest games of the football weekend.

The bottom line is: The Baltimore Ravens are Super Bowl contenders, and in the fourth quarter, Brodie Croyle and the Chiefs’ offense took the field with 2 minutes to play and the outcome undecided.

I never dreamed it possible. Not even at halftime, when the Chiefs trailed just 10-7 on the scoreboard, 12-3 in first downs, 215-56 in total yards and 20-10 in time of possession.

When the Chiefs climbed to a 14-10 advantage midway through the third quarter — thanks to a 70-yard Derrick Johnson interception return — I stilled envisioned the Ravens winning a laugher.

But about the time Kansas City’s luck ran out, head coach/offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Todd Haley loosened the reins on Croyle, trusted his offensive line to keep Croyle dry and began challenging a Baltimore defense that had grown lackadaisical.

The Chiefs scored 10 points in the first 7 minutes of the fourth quarter, amassing 131 of their 188 total yards of offense in two fourth-quarter series.

Unfortunately, once Haley conquered his fear of Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, the surprisingly pass-happy Ravens were ready to cash in on their game-long offensive dominance. Baltimore scored 21 points in the fourth.

With the score tied 24-24, Joe Flacco caught the Chiefs in an all-out blitz and lofted a lovely 31-yard floater to Mark Clayton for six points. Game over.

The Ravens, a ball-control, running team throughout their abbreviated history, threw the ball 43 times on Sunday. During the offseason, head coach John Harbaugh hired Al Saunders (former Chiefs offensive coordinator) as an offensive consultant. It was easy to see Saunders’s influence.

Baltimore’s passing game caught the Chiefs totally by surprise.

“I would say,” linebacker Mike Vrabel acknowledged, “we had planned for a running game.”

The exotic, well-timed blitzes that had highlighted Clancy Pendergast’s preseason defense were left in the playbook or ineffective because of Baltimore’s willingness to throw on first, second and third down.

In the first half, the Ravens threw it 25 times and ran it 13. They moved the ball with ease but failed to finish drives in the red zone. In the second half, particularly in the fourth quarter, every play in the Baltimore playbook seemed to work. Ray Rice and Willis McGahee led a ground game that produced 198 yards. Flacco threw for 307.

The Ravens ran 85 offensive plays. The Chiefs ran 44.

The Chiefs blocked a punt for a TD, and Derrick Johnson set up a short TD drive for the Chiefs with his interception return. Pathetic Kansas City defense wasn’t the only reason for the 40-20 time-of-possession disparity.

“We probably got worn out,” Haley said of his defense.

Haley’s players declined to use fatigue as an excuse.

“That’s why we did all of that conditioning (during the offseason),” middle linebacker Corey Mays said. “We have to do a better job of getting ourselves off the field.”

Vrabel said: “Giving up 500 yards of offense is ridiculous.”

Defensive tackle Tank Tyler added: “When our offense scores and puts us in the lead, our mentality has to go up another level. We can’t let them score after that. Our momentum has to be out of this world.”

Maybe the Chiefs can build momentum off this defeat. Haley said he saw positives in their performance, especially the lack of penalties and turnovers.

“We played the game the way that I thought we had to play it,” Haley said. “There are some things I look at coming out of Baltimore and feel like we’re making progress.”

Herm Edwards saw all the same things when the Chiefs left New England last year. Thirteen losses later, Herm saw a pink slip.

I am not predicting a 14-loss season. I’m simply repeating that Sunday’s opener is up for multiple interpretations. Mine is no better than yours.

Mecca · 09-13-2009, 10:19 PM

I think that's probably alot more fair than everyone was expecting.

Simplex3 · 09-13-2009, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

I think that's probably alot more fair than everyone was expecting.

Some might call it 'backpedaling'.

Mecca · 09-13-2009, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simplex3

Some might call it 'backpedaling'.

Ah so even if he's fair he can't win.

**DeezNutz** · 09-13-2009, 10:21 PM

My interpretation is that I have none. /JW/

Brilliant. And gutless.

Hammock Parties · 09-13-2009, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Haley said he saw positives in their performance, especially the lack of penalties and turnovers.

Herm, is that you?

Mecca · 09-13-2009, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

My interpretation is that I have none. /JW/

Brilliant. And gutless.

No matter what he says someone is going to say it sucks hes this and that it's kind of like when I post.

**007** · 09-13-2009, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

I think that's probably alot more fair than everyone was expecting.

That was very surprising from Whit.

I like that the players aren't making excuses too.

Hammock Parties · 09-13-2009, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

My interpretation is that I have none. /JW/

Brilliant. And gutless.

Yeah. Shitty, JW.

Shitty.

You're paid to have an opinion, not the absence of one accompanied by game recap bullshit.

I AM INFURIATED!

Silock · 09-13-2009, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simplex3

Some might call it 'backpedaling'.

Those people are racists.

JUST KIDDING.

**DeezNutz** · 09-13-2009, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

No matter what he says someone is going to say it sucks hes this and that it's kind of like when I post.

Goes with the territory for great scribes like Whitlock and yourself...

But, just as you keep firing off opinions, so, too, does JW, and he pussyfooted this ****ing column.

Fail.

Bring it or don't write it, Jason.

**dirk digler** · 09-13-2009, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

Herm, is that you?

I don't ever remember Herm saying that but maybe he did.

Hammock Parties · 09-13-2009, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Goes with the territory for great scribes like Whitlock and yourself...

But, just as you keep firing off opinions, so, too, does JW, and he pussyfooted this ****ing column.

Fail.

Bring it or don't write it, Jason.

I would imagine Jason, being a large individual, is often tired after attending road games on the coast, and has not the heart to bash the Chiefs after gorging himself on crab cakes.

He'd rather cough up a few quotes, litter in a few stats and say "meh."

Mecca · 09-13-2009, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Goes with the territory for great scribes like Whitlock and yourself...

But, just as you keep firing off opinions, so, too, does JW, and he pussyfooted this ****ing column.

Fail.

Bring it or don't write it, Jason.

Now that is true, if I wrote it I would have fired out an opinion.

Hammock Parties · 09-13-2009, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirk digler

I don't ever remember Herm saying that but maybe he did.

It's Hermesque.

"Yeah, we didn't gain a lot of yards, but we kept our penalties down and protected the football. Like I always say, you do those things you give yourself a chance to win in the fourth quarter. We just gotta make a play in the fourth quarter. I put us in a position to win, now the players gotta go make a play!"

09-13-2009, 10:16 PM
Tribal Warfare The Boom Boom Room Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $812813	Whitlock: Hard to know what to think after weird Chiefs game Hard to know what to think after weird Chiefs game JASON WHITLOCK COMMENTARY BALTIMORE \| Draw any conclusion you like from the Chiefs’ season-opening, 38-24 loss to the Ravens. The Chiefs were more competitive than you expected. Kansas City’s defense was an embarrassment. KC’s defense was undermined by an offensive unit that couldn’t sustain anything for three quarters. Things will improve when Matt Cassel is healthy enough to play. Take your pick. They can all be defended. There’s at least a kernel of truth in whatever conclusion you reached after one of the weirdest games of the football weekend. The bottom line is: The Baltimore Ravens are Super Bowl contenders, and in the fourth quarter, Brodie Croyle and the Chiefs’ offense took the field with 2 minutes to play and the outcome undecided. I never dreamed it possible. Not even at halftime, when the Chiefs trailed just 10-7 on the scoreboard, 12-3 in first downs, 215-56 in total yards and 20-10 in time of possession. When the Chiefs climbed to a 14-10 advantage midway through the third quarter — thanks to a 70-yard Derrick Johnson interception return — I stilled envisioned the Ravens winning a laugher. But about the time Kansas City’s luck ran out, head coach/offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Todd Haley loosened the reins on Croyle, trusted his offensive line to keep Croyle dry and began challenging a Baltimore defense that had grown lackadaisical. The Chiefs scored 10 points in the first 7 minutes of the fourth quarter, amassing 131 of their 188 total yards of offense in two fourth-quarter series. Unfortunately, once Haley conquered his fear of Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, the surprisingly pass-happy Ravens were ready to cash in on their game-long offensive dominance. Baltimore scored 21 points in the fourth. With the score tied 24-24, Joe Flacco caught the Chiefs in an all-out blitz and lofted a lovely 31-yard floater to Mark Clayton for six points. Game over. The Ravens, a ball-control, running team throughout their abbreviated history, threw the ball 43 times on Sunday. During the offseason, head coach John Harbaugh hired Al Saunders (former Chiefs offensive coordinator) as an offensive consultant. It was easy to see Saunders’s influence. Baltimore’s passing game caught the Chiefs totally by surprise. “I would say,” linebacker Mike Vrabel acknowledged, “we had planned for a running game.” The exotic, well-timed blitzes that had highlighted Clancy Pendergast’s preseason defense were left in the playbook or ineffective because of Baltimore’s willingness to throw on first, second and third down. In the first half, the Ravens threw it 25 times and ran it 13. They moved the ball with ease but failed to finish drives in the red zone. In the second half, particularly in the fourth quarter, every play in the Baltimore playbook seemed to work. Ray Rice and Willis McGahee led a ground game that produced 198 yards. Flacco threw for 307. The Ravens ran 85 offensive plays. The Chiefs ran 44. The Chiefs blocked a punt for a TD, and Derrick Johnson set up a short TD drive for the Chiefs with his interception return. Pathetic Kansas City defense wasn’t the only reason for the 40-20 time-of-possession disparity. “We probably got worn out,” Haley said of his defense. Haley’s players declined to use fatigue as an excuse. “That’s why we did all of that conditioning (during the offseason),” middle linebacker Corey Mays said. “We have to do a better job of getting ourselves off the field.” Vrabel said: “Giving up 500 yards of offense is ridiculous.” Defensive tackle Tank Tyler added: “When our offense scores and puts us in the lead, our mentality has to go up another level. We can’t let them score after that. Our momentum has to be out of this world.” Maybe the Chiefs can build momentum off this defeat. Haley said he saw positives in their performance, especially the lack of penalties and turnovers. “We played the game the way that I thought we had to play it,” Haley said. “There are some things I look at coming out of Baltimore and feel like we’re making progress.” Herm Edwards saw all the same things when the Chiefs left New England last year. Thirteen losses later, Herm saw a pink slip. I am not predicting a 14-loss season. I’m simply repeating that Sunday’s opener is up for multiple interpretations. Mine is no better than yours.
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09-13-2009, 10:19 PM	#2
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $2517050	I think that's probably alot more fair than everyone was expecting.
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