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Thread: Are the Chiefs Set For a Free Fall

  1. #1
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    Default Are the Chiefs Set For a Free Fall

    Very good article we should all read and take heed to from another fan.
    Are the Chiefs Set For a Free Fall Like the 2009 Broncos? - Arrowhead Pride
    Are the Chiefs Set For a Free Fall Like the 2009 Broncos?

    by Jon Yoon on Nov 17, 2010 8:50 AM CST in 2010 Kansas City Chiefs Season

    It was bound to happen. The Chiefs were bound to get blown out one of these games. Now the wheels have fallen completely off the bandwagon.


    Let me remind everyone of two critical points. Write them down. Study them hard. Pop quiz yourself. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
    • This is the first game the Chiefs lost in convincing fashion. The fact that it happened 9 games into the season isn't a bad thing
    • The Chiefs all season long have been an average, non-playoff team cloaked in exquisite robes
    Did you take notes? If you didn't, read the above points again.
    Enough of this ridiculous talk about the Chiefs falling out. Enough ridiculous talk or comments about Todd Haley coaching for his job. Enough ridiculous comments about Todd Haley losing his team. Long story short, this is a team that still has talent gaps that has been largely overachieving all season long. Despite that, yesterday was the first game all season where they were never really in a position to win. That means the problem isn't with the team or the coach; the problem is with the unrealistic expectations put on this team as a result of finally winning games.
    Easy schedules are a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, it's been a great ride to watch the Chiefs win games and reignite conversations that the Chiefs could be primed for a playoff run. Given the remaining schedule, there is definitely truth to those claims. They could back their way into the playoffs. The problem is, a few wins can often encourage people to take their eyes off the prize. Because the Chiefs were "so close" to being a playoff contender, we fans convinced ourselves that Randy Moss was the last missing piece to this puzzle. Yeah, we actually had that conversation. Remember that?
    If there's anything we've learned the last two weeks it's that the Chiefs are more than a superstar away from being a legit playoff contender. That's soberingly bad news for some, but it's also news that I hope will keep people grounded after losses like these. That's not a bad thing. What the Chiefs have shown this season is that they are competitors and overachievers. They won their first five games by playing beyond their talent level. Even in a blowout loss, you had to like the fire and determination the offense showed to play as if a 35-point game was actually within reach. I railed on Dwayne Bowe quite a bit for his key drop last week, but last week might have been a turning point for me. I don't care if it was garbage time. I've heard some people complain that he was celebrating meaningless Touchdowns or padding his stats. Who cares? What impressed me more was the way Bowe was throwing his body everywhere, taking a few heavy shots, bouncing up only to take another shot, all in meaningless minutes. The guy played every single meaningless 4th quarter snap as if it were the 4th quarter of the Super Bowl. You can't even get Randy Moss to play with that much intensity in a close game, let alone a blowout. If Bowe can show that kind of focus and determination all season long on a consistent basis, we might have the makings of a superstar.
    However, the truth is, the Chiefs were also exposed in several ways. Well, "exposed" isn't the right word to use. It's more appropriate to say that the Chiefs showed their true colors in certain ways that only started to come to light when they started losing games. Some can be fixed this season and some can be fixed after the season. We just have to remind ourselves that we're not out of the rebuild just yet and that we only had so many opportunities last offseason to fix the multiple problems that existed. Here are some of those things that really stood out to me:
    • Depth: When a good team like the Steelers loses a player to injury, they have a player on the bench that could probably compete for a starting position on most teams. That's what happens when you consistently make good personnel decisions via free agency or the draft. When the Chiefs lose players, they have to draw from a much shallower pool of talent. That's not uncommon for a team just starting to find their groove from a personnel standpoint. You can't build a 53-player deep roster in just 2-3 years. The Chiefs really suffered from losing Kendrick Lewis and Jon McGraw and it's a big reason why the Chiefs got annihilated in the deep passing game. I wonder if we are also starting to see some small signs of fatigue.
    • Matt Cassel: I know the general sentiment is that Matt Cassel had a pretty good game against Denver. Not from my perspective. I don't care what his final numbers say or how well he passed against a prevent defense. What Cassel did in the second half validates what I already like about Cassel as a player and a person: he's a warrior who plays with a great deal of passion. The problem is, Cassel proved yet again that he's difficult to rely on when the team needs him most. Yet again, Cassel was extremely ineffective on 3rd downs. He single-handedly killed the first 4 drives by throwing one pass 5 yards over Charles' head, overthrowing an open Chambers, taking a coverage sack instead of throwing the ball away (forcing a longer 52-yard missed field goal), and then fumbling the ball and giving the Broncos an easy 7 points. Here's why I bring Cassel up: the Chiefs have gotten away with brutally slow starts and horrible finishes on offense all season long, largely because the defense has bailed them out. Cassel is a 50% passer in the first quarter and a 41.7% passer in the 4th Quarter when the game is within 7 points. Yikes. As the Chiefs play tougher teams, particularly in the playoffs, the Chiefs aren't going anywhere if they take a full quarter to get going and if they are that lackluster late in a close game. If this is Cassel's team, he needs to demonstrate leadership by proving to the team that he can produce when they need him the most. To me, at 14-0, the defense was crying for help. At 21-0, the defense was begging for help. In those situations, of course the defense is to blame, but a true leader does not miss the kinds of plays Cassel missed.
    • Clear Gaps at Skill Positions: I don't think the Chiefs have overly glaring holes at key positions like Nose Tackle and a pass rushing OLB outside of Tamba Hali, but they are glaring enough to limit the Chiefs from reaching their full potential. The Chiefs got swallowed up in the pass rush against Denver and are still several players away from being where they need to be. Once again, for a team trying to build through the draft, you expect to have a few gaps. As the Chiefs continue to draft better and start using their money on marquee free agents, those gaps will disappear. It's something that will limit the Chiefs in 2010, but it's not something that concerns me beyond 2010.
    • Imperfections and Mistakes: I mentioned it last week when the Chiefs lost to the Raiders. Of course no team wants to make stupid mistakes, but overachieving teams like the Chiefs absolutely cannot afford to make those mistakes. They are going to win games through flawless execution of the gameplan, sound fundamentals, and mistake-free football. The Chiefs played less mistake-free than what we saw in Oakland, but this is still not the disciplined team we saw play against San Diego.
    The Chiefs could ride their easy schedule into the playoffs, but they're going to do so through overachievement and in spite of their flaws. So let's enjoy the ride: if they sneak into the playoffs, that's an added bonus. If they miss the playoffs by a few games, then they are what they were supposed to be. Either way, neither scenario should drive Chiefs' fans into a panic (even though it inevitably will).

  2. #31
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    Quote Originally Posted by tornadospotter View Post
    It was lack of Defense that gave up all those points. But it was lack of offense in the first Quarter that also allowed this to happen. Be it from type of play calling, or what ever, when we needed a first down, we did not get it. I

    I see what you're saying. Our lack of offense gave them more opportunities to score against us. Perhaps this also led to poor morale for the team as a whole.

    However I still think, with the way the defense was playing, they would have scored a lot of points against us. We shouldn't expect our offense to score 35 to 40 points to win a game ... it would be nice but ...

  3. #32
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    ...Like Tom Petty.

  4. #33
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    Quote Originally Posted by CapitalT View Post
    ???? Are you for real? ... likely a troll.

    No one could possibly believe it was Cassel's fault we gave up 49 points.

    Have fun trying egg us on trolly! ... and if you are really a Chief's fan ... what are you smoking?

    why resort to name calling, we are all upset over that loss, but remember we are all CHIEFS fans and all want the same thing, the total destruction of the raders and broncs at ARROWHEAD, a division title, a conference championship, a super bowl victory, the beginning of a dynasty.

  5. #34
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    Quote Originally Posted by chiefnut View Post
    why resort to name calling, we are all upset over that loss, but remember we are all CHIEFS fans and all want the same thing, the total destruction of the raders and broncs at ARROWHEAD, a division title, a conference championship, a super bowl victory, the beginning of a dynasty.
    Yep! All of the above.

  6. #35
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    Quote Originally Posted by brdempsey69 View Post
    .
    The games versus Seattle and St. Louis are on the road. I would highly advise against chalking those up in the Win column ( or any game ) until the games are played.
    Seattle is a horrible team...even worse than when we played Cleavland.
    <a href=http://www.chiefscrowd.com/forums/../../../../image.php?type=sigpic&userid=2553&dateline=1258934108 target=_blank>http://www.chiefscrowd.com/forums/.....ine=1258934108</a>

  7. #36
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    Quote Originally Posted by honda522 View Post
    Seattle is a horrible team...even worse than when we played Cleavland.
    Really? Watch them probably become world beaters when the Chiefs play them up in Seattle.

  8. #37
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    realistic predictions;
    arizona-win
    seattle-win
    denver-win
    sandiego-loss
    stlouis-pick
    tennesee-loss
    oakland-win

    that should give us 9-10 wins and the division, after that its a brand new season

  9. #38
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    Quote Originally Posted by kckidd8870 View Post
    .He either under throws or over throws his recievers almost every time in a crucial situation.
    Everytime? So I guess those key overtime throws vs. the Bills were all way off target. So was the throw vs. Dallas last year on 4th down to tie the game...Oh yeah and the 4th quarter throw to Bowe to give us the lead vs Oakland (down 4 on 3rd and 11) that was a duck, too.

    You are blinded by the fact that you have already made up your mind about Cassel.

    No QB makes ever throw perfect. Matter of fact, many of the most memorable throws in NFL history were hardly strikes. Staubach's "hail mary" throw to a wide open Drew Pearson to win the game vs Minnesota in the '75 play-offs slowed him down to a stop (letting the DB almost make a play), "the catch" thrown by Joe Montana was nearly out of the reach of Dwight Clark or what about the culmnination of the drive where John Elways pass to Mark Jackson was in the dirt?

    If Cassel had many any of these throws, by your standards, you'd have to rag on him for his lack of accuracy.

    The point is that not every throw is going to be perfect, so you can't go on "some feeling" you have about Cassel. If you do that, all you are going to do is focus on any throw he misses as "evidence" to that fact that he isn't any good. This isn't fair since every QB misses throws.

    Objectively, here is what the facts are, currently. The Chiefs are 5-4 and doing better than anyone thought they would. Cassel is the 9th ranked passer in the NFL with an excellent rating of 94.5 and a 2nd in the NFL TD-INT ratio of 16-4.
    Granted, Cassel's 3rd down passer rating could use improvement but part of this is that 8 of the Chiefs 12 dropped passes have come on 3rd down. The Chiefs overall 3rd down conversion problems are as much a result of a complete failure to convert 3rd and 2 or less on the ground as much as it is Cassel's passing.

    Further, this isn't the whole picture. Cassel's 3rd down passing conversion percentage is at 37.8% which granted isn't good (ranking @ 22 in the NFL). You know whose at #20, though? Tom Brady at a nearly identical 39.2%. Guess you'd dump Brady, too. Peyton Manning is only at #15 at 42%. On the other hand, the king of 3rd down conversions this year is Carolina's Matt Moore @ 50%. I guess he is the best QB In the NFL.

    Look Cassel is not perfect, but I think the 9th ranked passer rating is pretty accurate for where Cassel sits. You want a different QB, but who? Brady? Manning? Brees? Rivers? Good luck.

    How about the other guys like Romo, Schaub or Flacco? Are these guys better than Cassel...probably not, in the same class, yes, but certainly not substantially better, if not lesser...

    Keep in mind, too that Cassel has gotten where he is with the benefit of a good running game but - in spite of - arguably one of the worst WR corps in the NFL. BTW - if having a good running game keeps from being a good QB you probably wouldn't want Ben Roethlisburger, either.
    Last edited by wilqb16; 11-19-2010 at 12:56 PM.

  10. #39
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    Quote Originally Posted by wilqb16 View Post
    Everytime? So I guess those key overtime throws vs. the Bills were all way off target. So was the throw vs. Dallas last year on 4th down to tie the game...Oh yeah and the 4th quarter throw to Bowe to give us the lead vs Oakland (down 4 on 3rd and 11) that was a duck, too.

    You are blinded by the fact that you have already made up your mind about Cassel.

    No QB makes ever throw perfect. Matter of fact, many of the most memorable throws in NFL history were hardly strikes. Staubach's "hail mary" throw to a wide open Drew Pearson to win the game vs Minnesota in the '75 play-offs slowed him down to a stop (letting the DB almost make a play), "the catch" thrown by Joe Montana was nearly out of the reach of Dwight Clark or what about the culmnination of the drive where John Elways pass to Mark Jackson was in the dirt?

    If Cassel had many any of these throws, by your standards, you'd have to rag on him for his lack of accuracy.

    The point is that not every throw is going to be perfect, so you can't go on "some feeling" you have about Cassel. If you do that, all you are going to do is focus on any throw he misses as "evidence" to that fact that he isn't any good. This isn't fair since every QB misses throws.

    Objectively, here is what the facts are, currently. The Chiefs are 5-4 and doing better than anyone thought they would. Cassel is the 9th ranked passer in the NFL with an excellent rating of 94.5 and a 2nd in the NFL TD-INT ratio of 16-4.
    Granted, Cassel's 3rd down passer rating could use improvement but part of this is that 8 of the Chiefs 12 dropped passes have come on 3rd down. The Chiefs overall 3rd down conversion problems are as much a result of a complete failure to convert 3rd and 2 or less on the ground as much as it is Cassel's passing.

    Further, this isn't the whole picture. Cassel's 3rd down passing conversion percentage is at 37.8% which granted isn't good (ranking @ 22 in the NFL). You know whose at #20, though? Tom Brady at a nearly identical 39.2%. Guess you'd dump Brady, too. Peyton Manning is only at #15 at 42%. On the other hand, the king of 3rd down conversions this year is Carolina's Matt Moore @ 50%. I guess he is the best QB In the NFL.

    Look Cassel is not perfect, but I think the 9th ranked passer rating is pretty accurate for where Cassel sits. You want a different QB, but who? Brady? Manning? Brees? Rivers? Good luck.

    How about the other guys like Romo, Schaub or Flacco? Are these guys better than Cassel...probably not, in the same class, yes, but certainly not substantially better, if not lesser...

    Keep in mind, too that Cassel has gotten where he is with the benefit of a good running game but - in spite of - arguably one of the worst WR corps in the NFL. BTW - if having a good running game keeps from being a good QB you probably wouldn't want Ben Roethlisburger, either.
    Awesome post, been saying the same thing for weeks now.

    Anyone who watches any other quarterback (yes even the Mannings, Brady, etc.) will see bad throws every game. If we went by a lot of people's logic on here, there is no such thing as a good quarterback.

    I just got into a discussion with a guy saying the Chiefs should trade for Kevin Kolb...Seriously? People see a couple good games this guy plays and think he's the next hall of fame franchise QB. I've watched Kolb play...he has no pocket presence, is INACCURATE (as evidenced by his career 10/11 TD/INT ratio), and a lot of his game is heightened by the fact that he's throwing to stud WR's like Maclin and Desean Jackson. To sum it up, he's Jay Cutler with less mobility.

    Sorry to get off on a tangent, I just was really peeved earlier to see that people have given up on Cassel (for no reason) and are ready to start the experiment over by trading more draft picks (likely a 1st, at least a 2nd) for another QB. The grass isn't always greener on the other side when it comes to getting new QBs. People think a lot of quarterbacks look better than the one we have (because ours is always under the microscope). Bring a new one and the same thing will happen. Kolb was less than impressive in most of his starts I have seen. When it comes down to it, the odds are against us finding the next Brees, Manning, Brady...But Cassel in my opinion is making great strides and is the future of this franchise.
    Last edited by Ryfo18; 11-19-2010 at 01:07 PM.

  11. #40
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    I still do not think cassel will be a great QB nor is he the right QB for the CHIEFS but we can't bash him for his play the last 2 weeks. they were team losses and he would have to been great to pull them out without help from the rest of the team. let's look forward to just making the playoffs/winning the division

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