Chiefs: When Play Resumes

Chiefs: When Play Resumes

by David Bell | November 23, 2018

The Week 12 Bye Week

This weekend is sans Chiefs football: they have the much needed “Bye.” All the bruises, contusions, sore muscles and basic aches of football should be in the rear view mirror as we await the return of Eric Berry. That Berry’s return is much anticipated, I am sure by he himself, and certainly we “fans,” is a foregone conclusion that is coming to fruition now that he returns to practice after the weekend.

The Return of Eric Berry

Dee Ford, who has worked out with Eric Berry since before spring training, has spoken about Berry being tip-top ready. I still think that Berry may get his feet wet versus the Raiders but will likely not play most of the snaps in that game. The Chiefs visit Oakland for the game but the Raiders are an essentially hapless effort, though they beat the Cardinals, if you can imagine that. There is no reason for Berry to do anything but get time on the field to get back to NFL speed. There is no reason to risk his health in an all out assault on real time and full time game snaps. Well, unless the unthinkable is happening and the Chiefs can’t outscore whatever the Raiders might offer.

Things that Should Have Occurred

After the 3:05 Kickoff on Sunday out on the left coast, we will know a lot more about the character of the team, we should know whether they have corrected things which are raised in the list below. Several things should have happened as a result of the Rams game by the time we get to the other end of the week.

1.  Penalties. Both sides of the ball. Stupid stuff. Solve this problem.
2.  Reid and Co. Review the play calling in the last 5 minutes of the game.
3.  Andy Reid had his head stuck up dark side in regard to play-calling and clock management(the last 2 possessions clearly illustrate the problem that re-appeared).
4.  Secondary coaches Al Harris and Emmitt Thomas will have gone to great lengths about players keeping their hands to themselves. We are into the stretch run and need all players in the secondary on the same page whether it’s man coverage or passing off coverage from one defensive back to another. This has got to be a major goal of the coaching staff.
5.  Our Corners and safeties have to maintain coverage for at least 3 seconds. Get it done.
6.  The Pass rush must put it’s considerable talent to the task of winning at the LoS giving no time for the opposing Quarterback to guess, hop around, waiting for a target to break free.
7.  Patrick Mahomes needs to keep his head swiveling to the back side and the clock ticking in his head. Not that he failed on that to any great degree but the two big times he didn’t the ball was lost and the opponent, in this case Donald and the Rams, scored TD’s as a result.
8.  Patrick Mahomes should have gone to school big time on what opposing linemen can do in tipping a ball. I thought Mahomes trajectory was low in a lot of situations and two of those at least, resulted in tipped balls and one of those was the interception by Marcus Peters which essentially ended the game.

Looking Down the Low Throws

Another was a late in the game throw to Travis Kelce. It can be said that a low pass to Kelce should have been caught and he probably would have made that catch 8 or 9 times in 10, but when running in traffic at full speed and catching a ball at the knees is not an easy feat. The pass was throw in front of Kelce appropriately and the DB was trailing so a ball at a more catch-able height would have extended the drive when needed instead of being forced into a punt. Yes, that is a nit. Both ways. But make that pass more easily reeled in results in a drive kept alive, a drive that runs down the clock and gets the first down at a crucial time in the game. That this should not have been a crucial play is a moot point — it was and a failed 3rd down conversion hurt.

Another low throw was made and blocked by a linebacker, in the air to himself an resulted in a pick six.

[Caveat to items 5 and 6: Mahomes clearly played an outstanding game but just as clearly, his mistakes cost the Chiefs the game on the few plays that he made them at least in terms of points given away].

[Caveat to the Caveat: The defense had two sure takeaways on INT’s that should have been made. Both balls were dropped. Missed opportunities. The last was the close INT by Orlando Scandrick. That play alone would likely have ended the game and sealed the win].

This Offensive Resilience

The offense remained resilient in the face of adversity. Twice the Mahomes led squad recovered from double-digit deficits. It is really difficult to pick on the offense per se.

Penalties Again Were a Factor

I just cannot let this one go: FIX IT. Champions do not make continual stupid errors that cost them yardage. Period. It is time for Andy Reid to get this across to players on both sides of the ball. It is just not acceptable of a good football team. It is horrid when these errors occur on a championship quality team.

I am not ashamed of the game played. It is a game that should have resulted in a win and one thing that drives me bonkers is that late in the game, Reid did not manage the clock, take time away from the opponent and ensure, with play calling that the clock wound down and the Chiefs scored.

Maybe I am nit picking. Maybe not.

David Bell – ArrowheadOne

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