Chiefs Preseason Game Two: Game Report

Chiefs Preseason Game Two:

Game Report

by Laddie Morse

“Feast or Famine.” That pretty much sums up the Chiefs Preseason Game Two. Actually, you could say it was more like, “Famine then Feasting.” Since it’s only the Preseason, let’s forego the play by play and take a look at the highs and lows:

Game Observations

• any time you win 28-14 it’s a good day
• the first team defense has a whole lot of work to do
• the first team offense needs more reps to gain more rhythm
• the running game was ineffective early in the game
• Kareem Hunt finally got going on a pass play, great one-hand grab
• Patrick Mahomes needs focus and must gain consistency 
• Mahomes had an INT & needs to learn to look the safety off before going downfield
• Mahomes had a 69-yards (in the air) TD
• Mahomes was 8-12 with 138 yards, 1 TD & 1 INT, 98.6 passer rating
• Sammy Watkins has to find a way to contribute and make tough catches
• Watkins had a drop on a pass thrown behind him… needs to catch those difficult balls to justify his worth… and he’s not doing that yet
• Watkins stopped in the end zone & nearly caused an INT but he needed to come back towards the QB and could have had a TD if he does that
• the defense must maintain gap integrity to limit big running holes
• CB Kendall Fuller had 3 pass breakups proving that the trade was a good one
• TE Travis Kelce had 2 down adn out catches that were terrific
• CB Steven Nelson is now in the concussion protocol
• Nelson’s replacement, Tremon Smith, had a very good game
• Tremon Smith might get the start by opening day. He’s playing that tight. Still makes rookie mistakes but the guy can cover
• QB Chad Henne’s pass to WR Gehrig Dieter was a thing of beauty & may have earned Dieter a spot on the roster after making a great move at the los and pretty over the should in-stride catch for a TD
• Henne was reminiscent of Alex Smith on a naked bootleg running to pick up yardage down the left sideline
• Henne was 8-of-10 for 85 yards, 1 TD & No INTs with a 135.4 passer rating. Can you say QB controversy? No? Me either
• ILB Ben Neilson had a pick-6 and looks like he’s making the team
• RB Kerwynn looked weak in the trenches and a roster spot is in jeopardy
• RB Darrel Williams looks like a future starter
• Darrel Williams double-straight arm was a game time highlight
• Derrick Nnadi had a mixed bag game… not so good, then some very solid plays
• Breeland Speaks got better as the game progressed
• Speaks is a stud-muffin
• the Chiefs D had 2 Takeaways total and that’s good even if they were by second teamers
• the absence of ILBs Ragland and Hitchens is irritating… gotta be on the field to be counted
• in the “Must Fix Department” the Chiefs had 9 penalties
• after the game Andy Reid said Terrance Smith “tweaked his ankle but he’d be okay” …

The Chiefs started the game off on the first two plays by forcing a 3rd & 11. You might think that the defense has turned a corner but then watch what happened on the following 4 plays which delivered the Falcons down to the Chiefs 4 yard line and they punched it in from there… & the Falcons did all that versus the Chiefs first team defense:

• 3rd & 11 at ATL 34
  (14:02 – 1st) (Shotgun) M.Ryan pass deep right to A.Hooper pushed ob at KC 37 for 29 yards (E.Murray).
• 1st & 10 at KC 37
  (13:23 – 1st) T.Coleman left tackle to KC 22 for 15 yards (L.McQuay; E.Murray).
• 1st & 10 at KC 22
  (12:37 – 1st) T.Coleman right tackle to KC 7 for 15 yards (L.McQuay; K.Fuller).
• 1st & Goal at KC 7
  (11:59 – 1st) I.Smith right tackle to KC 4 for 3 yards (D.Ford; J.Jenkins)….

A 29 yard pass play permitted on a 3rd down when you know they’ll be passing and they know you’ll be bringing the pressure? Inexcusable. Then, to give up back-to-back 15 yard gains.. to the left, then to the right… stand up, sit down, fight, fight, fight. That’s probably what’s most frustrating about a Bob Sutton defense: they know, and you know, what’s coming, and you still can’t stop it. Unless that changes, the Chiefs chances of advancing far into the playoffs will be a tough task, much less making the playoffs.

Premature articulation? I’ll buy that, but at the same time, there is something that rings true there. Sad to say.

If you’re looking for a Super Bowl Champion in the making… this team doesn’t have that feel so far. It feels more like a jigsaw puzzle with some corner pieces missing while other pieces are floating away (to the medical tent and beyond). Instead of all the pieces coming together to form a beautiful image of players holding a Lombardi Trophy over their heads… it looks more like the final outcome of this puzzle is the picture of a good crowd at Arrowhead, which ought to please Clark Hunt, but not the hungering masses who have been awaiting a championship for many a decade.

Yes, the Chiefs scored the last 25 points of the game to win it. On the road no less. That’s great. However, some of those points were put on the board by some players who may not even be on the final 53 man roster: when backups were playing backups. What the Chiefs need, is to start winning the preseason. Now. They do that in Seattle, and I think it pays off. Make every game a game worth winning. Not only will your players, like Patrick Mahomes, take to it like a shark to water, but the fans will appreciate it as well. Do I want you to give your best plays away. Heck no. However, if you’re creative enough to make a playbook that’s ten feet thick, then you can easily come up with a few new inches to use in preseason exclusively. In any case, your young players need the experience of winning in every quarter of the game, especially the first one.

Sure, it’s just a preseason game and we’ll be able to tell a lot more in preseason game three because the starters will play almost three full quarters… but what’s your take on these preseason games? Do you think it’s necessary that these young players begin to learn what’s it’s like to win and win now? Or, are you okay with the current vanilla flavored bologna. 

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