David Bell
Photo credit – “X” screen capture – but it caught your attention!
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I am not going to write about the Chiefs stellar TE Travis Kelce and his latest headliner squeeze who will be attending the Chiefs vs. Jets game on Sunday Night. Why? Because I don’t care about it.
I Do Want to Call Attention to…
I live near the US Border with Mexico. I am waiting for the cool, autumn mornings that we begin to enjoy in October and onward. This morning here on the Coastal Bend (the inshore area north of Padre Island and Laguna Madre), the temperature was recorded as 82 degrees at 8: AM. Talk about HOT, here’s a piece from Ed Easton Jr. at Chiefs Wire:
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“Chiefs OC Matt Nagy preparing for a
‘fistfight’ battle with NY Jets’ defense“
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Chiefs Wire Photo – Great capture of Matt Nagy
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In his presser on Thursday, OC Matt Nagy gave a respectful nod to the Jets defense, saying:
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“It’s a big-time challenge. I mean, when you watch the tape on this defense…what this defense does is they play very, very hard, they’re physical. This is one of those ones that you hear the cliche going back in a dark alley; it’s gonna be a fistfight. I mean, They’re not just good on the front level…They’re not just good on the second level, and they’re not just good in the third level, they’re good and all three. They’re well coached.”
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Joe Cullen’s Beast
In a midweek presser, Joe Cullen explained to the press that Leo Chenal’s nickname is “The Beast.”
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Leo Chenal — the Beast! Chicago Sun Times Photo Credit
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From another Ed Easton Jr. article for Chiefs Wire called, “Chiefs DL coach Joe Cullen says LB Leo Chenal’s nickname is ‘The Beast’”
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“We call him ‘the beast’ for a reason. Coach Spags (Steve Spagnuolo) has done a tremendous job, getting opportunities for guys and certain packages when they show that, (A) hey, they love football, and (B)…Leo is doing a great job. He’s playing in the middle. It’s in the Buffalo package, playing the edge and our base package. And he’s playing a little end in certain situations. He’s doing a great job, doing a great job in the run game. He studies the game. And he’s powerful and doing a great job in terms of getting after the quarterback as well.”
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LB Addendum
When you think about the primary LBs, which include: Nick Bolton, Willie Gay, and Drue Tranquill, that’s a big compliment for the 2nd year Pro. As Laddie and I have said to each other in several conversations this season, we think that the Chiefs LB corps might just be the best in the NFL. Adding Drue Tranquill to the mix was a superb signing by GM Brett Veach and it showed last week since Nick Bolton was not dressed for the game due to an ankle injury. Drue stepped up and was the “Green Dot” LB vs. the Bears and took on the role flawlessly. Drue is a well-spoken, player who is a student of the game.
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Tranquill – Chiefs presser screen capture
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Besides those four players (Bolton, Gay, Chenal & Tranquill), the Chiefs also have UDFA rookie Cam Jones and 2nd-year UDFA Jack Cochrane. It’s a tough group of players. Gotta reiterate that statement again: This is a tough LB Corp!
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Saucing Things Up!
Magnifying the upcoming game, the Jets have gotten into the public eye. QB Zach Wilson countered criticism by former Jets great QB Joe Namath, saying the offense was working to prove Namath wrong. Then Sauce Ahmad Gardner chimed in this week. He told the press that he had this game vs. the Chiefs circled on his schedule. Gardner appeared on the Kelce brothers podcast “New Heights” and stated the team he most looked forward to facing this year was the Chiefs. He also hurled a challenge to Matt Nagy as the coordinator of the Chiefs Offense. In his own presser, Nagy discussed the Jets defense and gave them credit for being a tough, no-holds-barred defense. While Nagy’s view is covered above, Gardner has stated he wanted to become the defensive player of the year early on this off-season.
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The Chiefs Defense
A lot of credit goes to the Chiefs defense: players, and coaches. Over three games they are giving up an average score by the opposing offense of 13.6 PPG. That’s really good stuff! It has been a tough nut to crack for Chiefs opponents. After watching a couple of Detroit Lions football games, especially after they beat the Packers 34-20 on TNF, I must give them a ton of credit. Still, the Chiefs defense held the Lions to one TD in the week one loss to the Lions 20-21. The defense did the job and stymied the Dan Campbell Offense. The difference in the game was the Lion’s pick-six when the ball bounced off Chiefs WR Kadarius Toney’s hands. Who knows, we could face the Lions again, in Super Bowl LVIII on February 11th.
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The Long Road
Looking down the road, it appears to me that the Chiefs could well enter week nine with a 7-1 record. I am not taking lightly the intervening opponents. Herbert has the Chargers on a roll, but I think the Chiefs should win those games, each week. The Chargers game is sandwiched between two matches with the Broncos, first at Arrowhead and then away at Mile High. Despite challenges from capable opponents, which also includes the Vikings on the road, with our defense playing stellar football, what I expect is indeed a 7-1 record before traveling overseas in week nine when they will face off with the Dolphins with the game being played at Deutsche Bank Park. In my thinking, the Chiefs will be playing a “quasi-home game” due to the Chiefs having a solid fandom in Germany. The high-flying Dolphins are going to present a significant challenge no matter what. However, the very next week, K.C. has a Bye Week scheduled.
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Phillip Takes a Peek
Phillip Maxwell had an incisive article on Friday about keeping the Jets grounded. It’s worth taking a look if you haven’t delved into it yet. See it here: “Chiefs Will Keep the Jets Grounded“
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Phil predicted a 34-10 outcome., and I’m good with that!
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Will Patrick Expose the Jets Defense?
Thus far, Patrick Mahomes has not had a monster game. The Chiefs offense really didn’t get things going until the Week Three game vs. the Bears. I think the Jets are a more dangerous team compared to Chicago. Building on that success is what I think is going to happen this week. Of course, I am always the optimist with my view of the Chiefs. Let’s hope they play each game as highlighted above as if it were the most important game of the season. This is what being a Chiefs fan is all about.
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David Bell — ArrowheadOne
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