Chiefs Ramping It Up – Chiefs MIA’s for Wednesday’s Practice: Some men were MIA Wednesday and this must be noted as they missed the practice.
- LOT Mitch Schwartz
- DE Taco Charlton
- DE Alex Okafor
That’s three players that have been a crucial component integral to the team’s success. I should note that Sammy Watkins also is missing practices, but I don’t think there was intent to make him available versus the Broncos, with a tender hamstring after injuring it last week. We’ll have to wait and see how things roll out on Friday.
Looking Up for IR/PUP/Covid Players
- OL Martinas Rankin, is returning to practice. (Hallelujah!)
- DT Khalen Saunders, out since September 19, in the Week 1 will return from IR.
- Offensive Guard, guard Danny Isidora, is being protected on the practice-squad
- QB Jordan Ta’amu is back to the practice squad after time on the Covid list.
Anthony Sherman is still on the Covid-19 list. However, he’s capable of being removed from that list before Sunday’s game.
Note: The status of L’Jarius Sneed’s return is unknown. We surely can use his return ASAP.
Catching Up on Other Moves
The Chiefs, as everyone knows, signed RB Le’Veon Bell. He will be available for Sunday. Is there any doubt he will take some snaps during the game? I have none. He needs to get his feet wet and the Broncos game is the time to get it done. Bell has been not only a top RB in the NFL, but a top receiver of the backfield as well.
Bell arrived in K.C. aware of how he would be used as the #2 RB. He mentioned it himself and was very pleased to be signed by the Chiefs. I see this as a very positive move by the Chiefs with the RB group. How it unfolds should be good to watch. Both Bell and Clyde Edwards-Helaire (CEH) had been in quick communication even before Bell arrived at the One Arrowhead Way.
The Three Cs and Reid’s Offense
What I see? The Chiefs now have a dual RB threat and the players will make it work. Keep in mind that I predicted CEH would gain 1,000 yards for the season (he’s on pace to gain 1,346 yards rushing this year). Some have lamented the focus on the Running Game for the first and 6th game of the season. I do not. I see the added dimension of being able to run the ball as being a high positive. It makes Play Action work. It adds a dual threat that opposing defensive Coordinators must account for. In the Bills game, McDermott obviously decided to take away the short and intermediate passing game by lining up the LBs 6 or 7 yards deep. The Chiefs took advantage of that for more than 5 YPC and they dominated the clock with nearly 38 minutes of possession. What did Patrick Mahomes think? They gave it to us and we took it and we won – I paraphrase.
There can be a critique of Andy Reid’s recently adopted focus on the run game. Does it help the three C’s (Continuity, Cohesiveness and Consistency ) or hinder it? From what we witnessed in the game against the Bills was an offense that fared very well, despite the focus on the ground. An offense that had solid continuity and rhythm though one would expect with all the weapons for the aerial game that the Chiefs would continue to throw the ball and do so effectively. What I saw was a Chiefs Offensive Line playing very aggressively and I really liked that a lot. This gave CEH and other RB’s good lanes to get into the 2nd level of the opposing defense. The Chiefs had more Run Plays called than passing plays. That surprised me but they did so effectively. Also, the Chiefs offensive line players were missing components and with the next man up playing a significant role, the OL was a juggernaut. It was pleasing to see.
A Gay Old Time?
Willie Gay, Jr. was reduced to only 3 snaps Monday. He had one very nice play but considering the performance of the other 2 “starting” LB’s, I think it’s time to put Gay in as a Starter, including any plays for pass defense whether straight up or in the Nickel. PFF still has Hitchens rated at 47.9 (and 31st among LBs in solo tackles) which means he’s still a below average LB. In other words, I am sick of the LB play with Hitchens, and Damien Wilson included.
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about Willie and his expanded role as a starter and getting significant snaps. I watched the “coaches view” game film and felt pretty good about it. Then, versus the Bills, he saw extremely limited action. The three LB’s who saw significant play were the usual suspects: Hitchens, Wilson and Niemann. Although they played better in this game than they did the previous two weeks, I’m still highly unsatisfied with this group.
Opposing Expectations
I am not sure how Denver’s OC will approach this game. What I do know is that the team appears to be moving forward with their young QB, Drew Lock. I know that they have a QB that creates and adapts in the game with Lock. I know that Andy Reid cast some sunshine on Lock this past week when he was asked about him:
“Certain guys just play big… he is big but he plays big in the pocket. He’s not flinchy at all. He’s got a nice touch. Seems like he has a very nice feel for what they’re asking him to do. And the beautiful thing is he’s getting better with time.”
Denver has had a pretty good defense over the past several years, even as they fell aside from leading the division. In 2018, the Broncos drafted rush LB Bradley Chubb and he appeared to be an answer for their defense but was injured and out after 4 games. He is now in the “Full Practice” Category. I had Chubb on my list of potentials for the Chiefs, of course. He had some difficulty trusting his knee upon his return to play. I still think the NC State product will be a very good OLB with a high ceiling. That of course, is going to be a factor for the Chiefs to counter to keep QB Patrick Mahomes clean. Unfortunately for the Broncos other OLB, Von Miller, was knocked out of his 2020 season early and that reduces the double threat from the outside, which Denver had hope would aid in bringing the team to top performance against their division opponents, Chiefs. I think the way they view the Chiefs now is: “Pick your poison.” We’ll see because, figuring out what Broncos DC, Ed Donatell, will do, is above my pay grade. After the first win, Donatell discussed extending their ability to take the ball away from the opponent. The Chiefs go from there. The Broncos started off at 1-3 and now sit at 2-and-3 after their most recent win over the Patriots. From all I read out of Denver is that the team is moving toward being a contender. I doubt they have, as fans and pundits, high hopes for a victory this week.
Four days ago, RB Coach for Denver, Curtis Modkins, had contracted the Wuhan Virus, but this occurred outside team facilities. The question was, would the Sunday game versus the Pats go on as scheduled? It did.
Having Willie Gay take true starter snaps is a big expectancy that I have (at some point). I am very anxious to see L’Jarius Sneed return to action (whenever that may happen). That is one other huge anticipation that I have at this moment, and for good reason.
From Regulators Podcast: NFL defenders lowest passer rating when targeted,
- 1. Jason Verrett – 14.6
- 2. Bobby McCain – 15.4
- 3. Jessie Bates III – 30.8
- 4. L‘Jarius Sneed – 33.8
- 5. Nick Kwiatkoski – 39.6
Broncos Wed-Thurs Practice Report
DNP: OLB Jeremiah Attaochu (quad) missed another practice today, NT Mike Purcell missed Wed and Thursday as well; FB/TE Andrew Beck (hamstring), OT Demar Dotson (not injury related), OG Dalton Risner (shoulder), WR Diontae Spencer (shoulder).
Limited List: OLB Bradley Chubb (ankle), WR KJ Hamler (hamstring),TE Noah Fant (ankle), NT Mike Purcell (knee).
RB Melvin Gordon returned to practice and that is good news for the Broncos offense. This likely means that Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo must again account for defending against the run first. A side note to that is Gordon had a DUI the previous week, but the Mile High Report indicates that he will continue to play football for the Broncos until the NFL makes a ruling.
In a telephone interview with PFT, HC Vic Fangio said:
“This is a situation that has been collectively bargained by the union and the league… it carries some really harsh penalties for him Gordon). We’re gonna monitor that, see how it goes. If the league penalties are what we think they’ll be, that’ll be the extent of the penalties. But we’ll keep monitoring it.”
In other words, the team itself will not discipline the RB. In the 2020 CBA, the minimum suspension is now 3 games, but that is applied upon the cases resolution. Expect to see Gordon on Sunday.
Summary: Team Rhythm
Last week proved one thing for me is that when the Chiefs get rolling, and in rhythm… it is an almost impossible task to counter the team’s power. I have not seen this occur on both the offense and defense side of the ball in the same game or, for all quarters in any game. They have had great success and have only lost a single game — and even in that game they scored over 30 points. I suspect Sunday will be more of the same.
For the team? Play the game as yourselves… “Be yourself”… is the best thought that I could pass on.
David Bell – ArrowheadOne
If you are viewing this in Apple News and would like to join the Discussion, [GO HERE.](http://arrowheadone.com/chiefs-ramping-it-up/#disqus_thread)