Are We Overreacting to the Chiefs
Abhorrent Performance? The Caveats
by Paul Pulley
The headlines for this game could have read: “Chiefs current DC Bob Sutton KOed by former OC Matt Nagy”
It seemed pretty obvious that Nagy, even with his starters resting, had Sutton’s number and in all honesty, we should have seen this coming. Sutton’s defenses can’t stop anyone until they are backed up to the goal line and with Nagy’s familiarity with the Chiefs, he probably had a blast making Sutton look like a division one high school coach.
Everyone has been rehashing the bad plays and there were so many of those that I’m sure that will continue right up to September 8th, the day before opening day versus the Chargers. I thought I might list some of the caveats to this performance. I am not trying to paint a pretty picture of what happened at Soldier Field in Chicago, I don’t think there is any way to do that, unless you’re a Picasso fan and I’m not really into abstract art. On the other hand, I love some of the works of M. C. Esher and maybe what we had with our defense in this game against the Bears, was the headwater of the water that is flowing uphill to a beautiful waterfall. The Chiefs defense just needs to continue it’s “upward flow” until it reaches it’s apex and turns into a beautiful thing to see (we can all have our dreams, right).
Caveat Number One
Chris Jones: the only listed starting defensive lineman that played in this game, only played seven snaps and one of those was on special teams. I believe that’s when the Bears announced that they were going to rest their starters, head coach Andy Reid and Sutton decided to change the Chiefs defensive approach to this game. Defensive linemen Justin Hamilton, Jarvis Jenkins, Mike Purcell and rookie Derrick Nnadi got the vast majority of snaps on Saturday.
The defensive line, with few exceptions, held up fairly well in this game, Nnadi had several good plays (and a couple really bad ones) and we saw some flashes from the others also. I’m beginning to wonder if Allen Bailey even makes the team, he hasn’t been available for some time now and there is almost zero information about his condition, other than some type of knee injury.
Caveat Number Two
The outside linebackers: starting OLB’s Justin Houston and Dee Ford played exactly eleven snaps each… not exactly what you would expect if the plan was to play your starters the majority of the game. This left second year developmental prospect Tanoh Kpassagnon and rookie Breeland Speaks to man the outside, and they did for 31 snaps apiece. This was a good learning experience for both and they each made some very good plays. There were a few plays I’m sure they would like to have had mulligans for, but they also had some very good plays (regardless of what the refs thought). Rob McCray and Tyrones Holmes got several snaps late in the game but if I was to venture a guess right now, I think that if Ford is completely healthy, the Chiefs will start the season with only four outside linebackers on the roster.
Caveat Number Three
iLBs: we were finally able to see inside linebackers extraordinaire — Anthony Hitchens and Reggie Ragland — take the field together for the first time… ever. I’m not sure what these guys had to drink before the game started but man, did they have some hiccups early on. I believe most of us, myself included, expected these two players to take the field and play like they’ve been together for years. You know what ladies and gentlemen, we should have known better. It’s going to take some actual game time under real playing conditions before the chemistry gels with these two. The important thing is that progress could be seen as the game continued and that was a very good sign. Neither Terrance Smith nor Ukeme Eligwe got many snaps at all Saturday, so the emphasis was on Hitchens and Ragland getting plenty of work.
Caveat Number Four
The Cornerbacks: starting corner, Steven Nelson, was still in the concussion protocol and missed the game. However, Kendall Fuller is going to end up being one of the best CB’s in the NFL. Unfortunately, David Amerson looks slow and lost and I hope GM Brett Veach doesn’t decide to keep him just because he’s the one who signed him. I would bet that David Bell would have loved to have trout go after his flies the way Orlando Scandrick bit on that double move… wow, did he get burned. I have yet to rewatch the game but I do believe Scandrick played pretty well other than that play, especially since he had only been with the team less than a week. Heck, Scandrick even chased down one of Amerson’s screw ups from across the field. So I see some promise with Scandrick. With Nelson and Fuller starting, Scandrick coming on in nickel and with Tremon Smith and Arrion Springs in the wings, the future might not be quite as bleak as it appears today. Although once again, this is a group that is going to need time to make everything gel.
Caveat Number Five
The safeties: Eric Berry didn’t play. That’s it, if Berry misses significant time, the position is a dumpster fire. Leon McQuay did his best Ron Parker imitation by flopping on the ground in an attempt to make a “tackle” but, at least Parker would have covered a receiver out for a pass. McQuay has the part of being “fashionably late” down to a science. Eric Murray made a few plays but he still isn’t anyone who should be starting at either safety position. I know there are several Daniel Sorenson fans out there but it’s pretty sad when Dirty Dan is far and away the second best safety on the team. 4th round draft pick Armani Watts still hasn’t shown enough to get on the field with the first team but hopefully he can progress into the safety several people have envisioned.
Caveat Number Six
OL: right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, LDT missed this game due to being in the concussion protocol and although Andrew Wylie played a pretty good game, Duvernay-Tardif has become one of the best guards in the league and his absence was missed. On the other side of center at left guard, we have traded the crappy play from last year of Bryan Witzmann to the crappy play this year of Cameron Erving. Our only hope is that with practice and game time at a single position, Erving will be able to improve as Witzmann never seemed able to. If there is anything that HC Andy Reid and offensive line coach Andy Heck should have taken away form this game, they desperately need to work on blitz pickups. Nagy may have done the Chiefs a favor by pointing out this flaw in the Chiefs pass protection.
So, what positives can we take away form this game? No new injuries, that may be the most important. Our starting ILBs got on the field finally and were able to get some very important game reps working together. Kendall Fuller is going to shut down his section of the field, I just hope we can field two more quality corners to assist him. Mahomes is going to be a very, very expensive player to have on the roster in about 3 years. Kansas City’s short yardage defense has done an outstanding job this preseason, I don’t believe they have given up a 1st down yet when opponents have gone for it on 4th and short. One last positive is… that Bob Sutton will turn 68 years old shortly after the beginning of next year, so maybe he’ll decide to stay home and nap on his couch, instead of napping on the Chiefs sideline.
Well, here’s to tuning in Thursday evening at 7:30 PM CDT and trying to decide which players make the 53 man roster.
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