Finally, in 2021, the Kansas City Chiefs team that I anticipated during the offseason, arrived. It only took them 10 games to get there and they did so in fine fashion, beating the Raiders, an away game in Vegas, 41-to-14. Structurally, the Chief’s errors were minimized. The ones that really hurt were: the Punt return fumble by Mike Hughes that set up a Raider TD, the Missed Field Goal by Harrison Butker, and a few other player errors the significance of which dwindled as the game clock counted down. There were highlights that should bolster the team and the confidence of the fans… but, there are some “Buts”….
Listing the “Buts” is pretty easy because I’ve already addressed two of them. There were miscues by the secondary, especially when Carr threw up the middle on routes run by a tier 3 WR. One of those resulted in a TD. Another was Patrick Mahomes overthrowing receivers on deep routes. That remains a concern for me. He missed at least 4 of them, missed targets that were open, and the long ball that was a success — the TD to Darrel Williams — was an errant throw as well. Williams made one hell of a catch for that score.
On the other hand, I am very “cautiously” optimistic… finally.
Offensive Line Outlook: Rosey
Like most fans and analysts, I have had concerns about the bookend OTs and Patrick Mahomes deep drops of 10+ yards. That remains unsettling for me as it is has been an exposure for the OTs, made worse by the edge rushers getting up field on an outside speed rush. That’s even more problematic with all new players on the front five. Orlando Brown has been exposed to giving up a ‘pressure’ or sack as has Lucas Niang, and Mike Remmers. What was needed was for Brown to overcome his feet. He has shown that to be the case the past 3 weeks. From my point of view, that exposure remains, but my basic aerial view of the OL has shifted since my impressions at 7 weeks into the season when I wrote:
“…it’s too early to really grade out the OL. They were all spanking new to the Chiefs in 2021. It takes several games played to really gel. I think play-calling enters into the equation as does gap blocking(at which the OL grades out well) and blocking scheme(which is still a work in progress). Brown struggles due to Mahomes’ style. Patrick often takes the snap 5 yards deep and retreats from there to a 10-yard drop.”
Mike Remmers — who was sent to the IR last week — and Lucas Niang, are out and injured, so the Chiefs have started Andrew Wylie at ROT. We are aware that he is not a starting quality player at OT, and wasn’t a great starter at OG, when he’s done so at that position. He has missed blocking assignments, and had a couple of bad holding calls. but overall, as the 3rd Alternate ROT, Wylie has held up. Certainly, when Niang returns, he will again be the starter on the right side of the OL. Further, Kyle Long has returned to practice, which gives us a lot of hope about the strength of the ROT position and overall depth for the OT role altogether. I expect Kyle Long (OG/OT) to be the #2 ROT and also expect Mike Remmers(OG/OT), Niang should return shortly, (no broken ribs).
It appears that the remainder of the season will present Reid and Heck with a very good stable of OL players. That group looks to be in great shape the rest of the way with:
- Backup to the Backups – Andrew Wylie (OG/OT)
- OC#2: Austin Blythe (OC/OG)
- OC #3: Nick Allegretti (OG/OT)
All three players have been starters at some point in their careers.
Yes, complicating the problem with pass protection is the Mahomes deep drops, trying to get isolated WRs and make the connection on those deeper routes. In an article at the Athletic, Nate Taylor identifies this as something the OL needed to focus on. The Tackles should be aware of the speed rush by knowing the play that is called and also knowing Mahomes tendencies. This is part of the difficulty of a completely the new Offensive line and requires time to “gel.”
It’s happening and I think you can see it in Brown’s adjustments, especially over games 8-10. I’m very comfortable with both Lucas Niang at RT and Orlando Brown, Jr. at LT.
Perfect Additions to the OL
I cannot say enough in appreciation of Joe Thuney (LOG) and what his expertise and leadership for the IOL has become. His play is exemplary. Add to that: Creed Humphrey (OC) and Trey Smith (ROG) are among the top four rated Rookies in the NFL. Our interior OL is top drawer.
Things are actually looking up for the Offensive Line.
Receivers
The Chiefs have 4 RBs that are all effective receiving targets for Mahomes. WR Tyreek Hill and TE Travis Kelce who are constant threats, so what’s missing? That elusive #2 WR behind Hill. I have remarked to Laddie several times in the not too distant past, that Reid needs to get Hardman, as well as other WRs, more involved in the passing game using crossing routes. In the game versus the Raiders, this was explicitly demonstrated on a Hardman crosser that turned into a big gain. I am firm in my view that Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy need to put their heads together and get more routes in the play scheme.
What would also benefit the Chiefs is getting Josh Gordon involved. He would benefit from the crossing routes and underneath patterns. Getting a former Pro Bowl Player far more involved should be a constant effort for Andy Reid. It hasn’t happened yet. Nor do I see Mahomes, with his selective vision for targets, making sure he finds Gordon either.
What would really help is that Hardman or Gordon really step up and fulfill promise/expectations of a #2WR.
I like what the Chiefs have done with the RB’s by committee. I presume that at least after the Bye, Clyde Edwards-Helaire returns to the fold with Williams, McKinnon, and Gore all available. All are a threat.
The Defensive Front Four
Sunday’s game once against amplifies why Chris Jones should be playing the Interior next to Jarran Reid. The DL – okay, so CJ belongs inside and adding Melvin Ingram aids the Front Four, but having Alex Okafor in the background is also a strength. Different players can then be spotted in and in so doing mix up the reads by opposing QB’s.
DL Film Review
Watching the film of the past two games tells me that Jarran Reed is quietly more powerful if Chris Jones is inside.
That showed up clearly in the games against the Packers and Raiders.
Seth Keysor and I had an exchange about Ingram and his applicability as a Chief fitting our DL. Keysor shares my view, but others don’t. I watched Ingram’s snaps against the pack specifically to see the import of his setting the edge — which he does, and also observed his disruption of the aerial game — which he also did. Versus the Raiders Ingram amped that up.
With these 5 players — CJ, Clark, Okafor, Ingram, and Reed — the Chiefs can mix and match with: Danna, Wharton, and Nnadi.
Linebacker Play
The game against the Packers was a good game for the Chiefs LBs and that was extended through the Raiders game though Bolton had fewer snaps in that game than in the previous one. I remain big on the threesome: Hitchens, Gay, and Bolton. They have swung the outlook of the LB corps upward in ability, result, and reliability.
The Secondary
The Secondary has played well, too. There have been breakdowns in coverages, and perhaps some misapplied defense sets call. Still, the Chiefs held the WFT, Giants, Packers, Raiders all under 17 points. They did in that series of games, give up 27 in the loss to the Titans but even then you could see the defense melding into a cohesive Unit.
Rather than focus on a game review, I refer you to Sean Shorter’s game review article on Monday: Chiefs at Raiders, The Good, the Faid, and the Ugly
Pending Judgement and Outlook
Where do the Chiefs stand? –> Atop the AFC West.
In the title of this piece, I wrote that “Caution is Needed” for our outlook about the games of the rest of the season. There are two things I want to point out about the game remaining before the Bye: this coming Sunday the Chiefs face the Cowboys who had a breakout game themselves on Sunday, whipping up and completely dominating the Falcons, 43-3. That was after the Boys suffered an embarrassing loss(sans Dak) versus the Broncos. return the previous week and the Cowboys struggled mightily losing 16-30. This is not going to be an easy game to win because Dallas is a pretty darn good football club. Their record is 7-and-2, with losses to the Bucs and Broncos.
Since the Chiefs have not strung together a strong performance, game after game, I am very cautious about the season at this point. Based on Sunday? I like the Chiefs chances as they are playing this game in Arrowhead.
Should the Chiefs have finally turned the corner, they still face a tough schedule, tougher because the remaining opponents are above .500 football at this point of the season. I certainly did not expect the records of the closing part of the season to be as tough as it appears now. I do think that Chris Broussard nails it if the Chiefs as a “team” have turned the corner.
Perhaps I should retitle this piece as “Looking Ahead, I am Cautiously Optimistic”… or… “Outcome to be Determined, but the Chiefs are Suddenly in the Mix Again”.
Coming off the Bye Week, Reid’s teams have always played well. The What if? Can they close out the Cowboys, win the game versus the Broncos and approach the final games of 2021 at 8-and-4? More to the point, they face the Chargers in a game that is head to head with a team that the Chiefs lost to earlier in 2021. They also face division foes the Raiders again and the Broncos twice. Let’s hope the Chief’s waltz away next Sunday, enter the Bye at 7-4, come out swinging and win versus the Broncos. That leaves 5 contests two of which are Division games. I am, cautiously optimistic at least enough to say that expect the Chiefs to go on a winning jag. Go Chiefs!
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David Bell — ArrowheadOne
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