Chiefs v Raiders: Nine Questions
by David Bell | November 30, 2018
This is a topical question and answer piece for the Raiders Week. It is made up of questions that I felt should be asked and then I answer them my own dang self.
I actually have other questions but these covered the areas that I thought were the most critical for team and the staff to answer. Other Questions? Will Sammy Watkins Play? Will Reid use play calling that focuses on using Kareem Hunt and Spencer Ware more(will Reid do that?). Or, How many snaps will Chris Conley get and how many targets? Ditto Robinson and so on. But I will leave it at the following nine questions and you can add to it after you get through the article.
My Nine Questions and Answers
Will Eric Berry get Game Snaps? — he did not practice all-out this week. If Berry makes a game appearance it will be just that — something to wet his whistle… some snaps as inspiration for the team. Like that. Prediction? I can’t see holding him out if he practiced, if he can possibly go — 5 or 10 snaps.
What will Chris Jones Give Us in this Game — I think Chris Jones is working on the type of season that will get him in the Pro Bowl. Heck, he is having an All Pro Season.
Prediction: 5 tackles, 2 Sacks (hurries and QB hits mixed in, at last 1 each and probably more).
Are the Chiefs going to be looking down the road too soon? — this one is always a question when facing a team who is not a match for one’s own club talent-wise. Let me say this: I cannot see this roster of players getting too far ahead. This year, with these players, the Chiefs have stayed focused each week so expect a big win versus the Raiders. There are young players getting their taste of full time NFL Football and they have got to be on top of it. We have Houston, Jones, Ford, Kpassagnon and Speaks all wanting a shot at the quarterback and this week should be an advantage against the lesser experienced offensive tackles of the Raiders.
Patrick Mahomes is a factor here as well. He will drive the offense with a whip if he needs to or make plays himself (which I worry most about due to injury). Prediction on Sacks? 7 total.
Will Andy Reid’s playcalling be at the top of his form? — I remain unconvinced that Andy Reid learns from his errors and miscues. I do think he will get the offense moving quickly and the Chiefs will score quickly. He will stick to the script and defer to the Raiders or choose defense to open the game. He wants the ball first in the second half. However, Reid is renowned for getting his head into a plan and sticking with a script that is not working. That worries me against most teams. He could do that in this game as well but it won’t matter. The Chiefs will win anyway.
Will Andy Reid Keep the pedal to the metal? — Wow. Toughy. I think his tendency is to let off when he feels the game is in hand — which is exactly the wrong thing to do. I think he should use the big boot and bury the accelerator and then swap out Mahomes in the 4th quarter and let the backups see what they can get done. In this case I want the score to dictate the subs and that the game is used for as much for training as possible… at a point that makes sense. It’s better for the team to gain knowledge of what there are doing and what they are capable of — and then turn it over to young players and Henne for example.
Will Bob Sutton rush the QB? — this is also questionable. If the Chiefs rush the QB with 4, they will be successful. If they send the blitz? Better yet. The Chiefs will have pressure from Jones, Ford and Houston. Getting another pass rusher is their most successful defense and it makes the job of the secondary a whole lot easier.
Will Tremon Smith get snaps at Cornerback? — You dang betcha.
Will Ben Niemann get a good number of snaps in this game? — Another positive. Getting him more game-time snaps can only benefit the Chiefs in this one. Let him play it out against NFL starters. Let’s see how he does.
Will Dorian O’Daniel be used for his speed, covering the short zone, passes to RBs in the flats, and stopping the run outside the DE’s? — that is exactly how he should be used and the question becomes one that only Bob Sutton can answer. The answer should be “affirmative.
Those are my questions. What are your own answers? Or, for that matter, what questions should be asked… which I may have left out?
Game Prediction: Chiefs 48, Raiders 16
David Bell – ArrowheadOne
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