Mid Season Grades

By Ed Fulda
WBC Staff

The mid-season point is upon us and that means it’s time to hand out the report cards. I have tried to keep in mind that this a re-building year (maybe – it depends on what kind of spin the front office wants to put on things once the season is over). Given that football is a team sport, grades have been assigned to units rather than to individuals.

Wide Receivers: This unit has earned a solid grade of “F” so far. Eddie Kennison’s injury hasn’t helped matters, but Samie Parker isn’t contributing a thing. Dwayne Bowe had a monster game against the Chargers but has been virtually ignored since then. Jeff Webb hasn’t done much. Bobbie Sippio has spent most of his time on the inactive list and Eddie Drummond only sees the field on punt & kickoff returns.

Tight Ends: Tony Gonzalez has basically has been the Chiefs’ entire offense and is aiming for his second 100-plus reception season. Jason Dunn is still a solid blocker. This unit gets an “A.”

Offensive Line: What do you get when you produce a paltry 79.5 rushing yards per game average, give up 25 sacks, and produce only 8 touchdowns in 20 Red Zone opportunities? A grade of “D-,“ that’s what. Damien McIntosh is no better than Jordan Black was at left tackle. Chris Terry and John Welbourn aren’t doing anything special on the right side of the line. Center Casey Weigmann’s lack of size has become really noticeable in this offensive scheme. Brian Waters can’t do it by himself. The back-ups are a bunch of nobodies.

Running backs: Larry Johnson has produced 559 yards. Everyone else has contributed a total of 77 yards. If the team can’t run with Larry Johnson, imagine how bad it’s going to be if Johnson misses time with the ankle injury. Kolby Smith is a rookie who hasn’t shown on any level that he can be the “go-to” guy. Priest Holmes can’t shoulder the load anymore. Kris Wilson is an H-Back trying to play fullback. Boomer Grigsby is still learning how to play fullback. An “F” almost seems like a generous grade.

Quarterbacks: Damon Huard was a backup for all those years for a reason and his weaknesses are becoming more apparent the longer he’s out on the field. Brodie Croyle isn’t learning a thing sitting on the bench. I’ll give this unit a “C-“ because Huard is playing to the best of his limited ability.

Special teams: Dustin Colquitt is doing a solid job. Dave Rayner is probably a little better than Lawrence Tynes but not by much. Kick coverage has been below average. Eddie Drummond has been ordinary returning kicks. Overall, this unit gets a “C-.”

Defensive Line: Jared Allen has been solid since he returned from the 2-game suspension. Tamba Hali has not been as active in his sophomore season as he was as a rookie. Ron Edwards and Alphonso Boone have been OK in the middle. Of the back-ups, only Jimmy Wilkerson has shown much. Overall, a “B-“seems fair but Allen’s heroics are the main reason for the grade.

Linebacker: This unit has performed well. Napoleon Harris is a definite upgrade over Kawika Mitchell. Donnie Edwards has been solid if unspectacular. Derrick Johnson needs to be turned on to blitz more often. Kendrick Bell provides nothing, Keyaron Fox has been hurt, and the youngsters only see the field on special teams. Overall, the unit gets an “A,” but I really don’t want to see what happens if any of the starters go down with an injury.

Defensive backs: Both Ty Law and Patrick Surtain got toasted badly by the Packers. Both of them are starting to show their age, but the team has no one else who can start in their place at cornerback. Bernard Pollard and Jarad Page make their share of mistakes, but the young safeties show plenty of promise. Bennie Sapp is decent in the nickel package, but the rest of the backups are just warm bodies. A grade of “C” fits the bill.

Coaching: Yes, Gunther Cunningham and his staff have done a good job with the defense, but I challenge any of you to say the same for Mike Solari and his offensive assistants or Mike Priefer (special teams). There have been way too many instances this season where the team has come out obviously unprepared to play and that falls squarely on Herm Edwards’ shoulders. Cunningham’s efforts aside, the coaching staff rates a grade of “D.”

Front Office: The front office has been trying to play both ends against the middle. Is this team rebuilding or is it a contender trying to win the division? If the team is rebuilding, why are so many of the starters over the age of 30 and why isn’t Brodie Croyle starting at QB? The young players need to be on the field in order to get game experience, but that’s not going to happen if the team thinks it’s a legitimate contender to make the playoffs. For now, a grade of “C” is the best I can give.

Outlook for the 2nd half: Expect more of the same; decent one week and terrible the next. This team is lacking focus and direction and I don’t see where that will change until the front office and the coaching staff get on the same page. The team still has to face Denver twice, the Colts, the Chargers, the Titans, and the Lions. It could well be that the games against the Raiders and the Jets will be the only two wins the Chiefs get in the 2nd half.

your grade card was pretty accurate except when you say priest cant carry the load anymore.

he can STILL carry the load and way MORE of a load than LJ can. you will see.

Wide Receivers: I have to give this group a D+. Bowe has had a couple of pretty good games, but there has been nothing more to say for them.



Tight Ends: Tony Gonzalez has basically has been the Chiefs’ entire offense and is aiming for his second 100-plus reception season. Jason Dunn is still a solid blocker. This unit gets an B+. I only lwered this grade because I think these guys can take some of the credit for being a part of a poor blocking unit.

Offensive Line: McIntosh hasn't been as bad as I expected, in pass-protection, but he hasn't been as good as I thought, in run-blocking. I would classify Turley as mediocre, when he has been able to play. Welbourne has been bad, Waters has been decent, but still with some missed blocks. Wiegmann doesn't fit with the boring offensive system that we have now. And Terry isn't a good backup. Svitek has looked horrible, when he has played, and anyone else that has shown any promise, was released. I have no choice but to give this unit an F.


Running backs: Just as I tend to give less credit to "skill position" players, for their accomplishments, I also tend to burden them with less blame. Larry Johnson hasn't looked like the same guy, but he hasn't been getting the same "head of steam" that he had been getting either. Priest showed a little bit of promise, but I am far from convinced, at this point. So far, I give this unit a solid D.


Quarterbacks: Damon Huard did a decnt job with what he had to work with. When there is no running game, and precious little protection, with young, and primarily talentless wide recievers, asking anything more is asking too much. But, since he definitely has thrown some bad ball, and made some poor decisions, I give Huard a D+.


Special teams: I like what Colquitt has done, but he is just a punter. We were lucky to find an average kicker in Rayner. But the return game is what will dictate the D+ that I give this unit.


Defensive Line: Jared Allen has played like a beast. But he always has. Hali has been the beneficiary of fewer sacks, caused by Allens pressure, because Allen has been getting the sacks himself. Boone has definitely done some good things. Aside from those names, few have done anything to warrant their names being called during games. But, as a unit, they have been standing their ground a whole lot better than any Chiefs defensive line, in recent memory. I give them a B.


Linebacker: I really think that this group has done a terrific job. I agree with most of the content that was in the thread-starter, on this unit. I give them an A, also.

Defensive backs: Yes, each of these starters have been burned a time, or two. But clearly they have done a good job, on the whole. Bennie Sapps meldown, a few weeks ago, was quite embarrassing too. I give them a B- for their efforts. Someone is covering recievers, when they aren't making the occaisional big play.


Coaching: I break this down to "How is the team doing, against what I expected from them, with the talent that they have?". Basically, the defense has been aetter than I would have expected, the offense is doing about what I expected, and the specialteams has been a bit below my expectations. (Since we took the first kicker in the draft.) The only other thing that I feel the need to factor into this, is the teams record, with the talent that they have. And I feel that they have been more competetive than I expected. But, I still hold a grudge for the failures of Herm to address the needs of the offensive line. D+.


Front Office: This is where I get to place the rest of the blame, for a lack of talent. This is really an offseason grade. Because there is so little that a front office can do, during the season. D-.


Outlook for the 2nd half: I expect about the same that I expected for the first half. The first half, they overachieved. I expect them to make their record reflect what I see. I expect the Chiefs to win another game, or two. Don't think that I have lost hope. Not yet. But this is what I honestly expect. Croyle could light it up. Priest could succeed in spite of the offensive line. The defense could win more games for us. But I doubt it.

Excellent points all!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by timsatt1

your grade card was pretty accurate except when you say priest cant carry the load anymore.

he can STILL carry the load and way MORE of a load than LJ can. you will see.

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Stay out of this thread if you wish hurt on my players!