Now and Later: Change Must Come to Kansas City

Now and Later: Change Must Come to Kansas City – I don’t want to forget that game. I don’t want to forget how it felt watching Chiefs Wide Receivers waste pass after pass, from a young MVP, who put his body on the line, to deliver them. I want to remember watching stupid penalties and Travis-Jekyll-and-Hyde-Kelce earn a butt chewing, from Eric Bieniemy, and be a baby about it. I want it seared into my consciousness the way it darn well better be seared into the brain of every half-wit who played a snap, on offense, for the Kansas City Chiefs, October 6^th 2019, because that level of effort is unacceptable. Failure must beget change. Some of that change can come now, the rest will take time, but make no mistake, the Kansas City Chiefs have some serious work to do.

The Chiefs and Discipline

You want to be great? Put in the time, and trust your teammates. This is a huge problem, on both sides of the ball. Chiefs receivers, and backs, have had trouble with their hands the last two weeks. This is easily corrected with some extra work after practice. The jugs machine, grip strength exercises, ball protection drills, if you put in the time, you’ll see the results. You know what I see? Guys not putting in the time.

The offensive line has been getting Mahomes clobbered. Fixing it isn’t rocket science. Every player has a responsibility, execute that responsibility and don’t worry about what the guy next to you is doing, unless you have no one to block. If you’re losing your matchup… HOLD. 10 yards is a tiny price to pay for keeping Patrick Mahomes upright. You’ll be surprised how often it goes uncalled, anyway.

The run defense actually had one of their better outings against the Colts. It was still rough. There’s nothing wrong with Spagnuolo’s scheme. It’s been solid against the run, in the past. Players have to be disciplined. Don’t over-pursue, stick to your gap, wrap up. Guys are trying too hard to make plays, when they need to just do their job, and let their brothers in arms do the same. Too much ‘hero ball’ is opening tons of cut back lanes.

Do your best, and live with the result. Football is not a 9:00-5:00 job… sacrifice and discipline are indispensable elements of a championship run.

The Chiefs and Physicality

The Chiefs have made a couple solid additions, on the OL and DL, but a real change, from finesse to physicality, will take time. The Zone Blocking System (ZBS) was fine and dandy with Alex Smith at the helm, but it’s time to go to a Power scheme. The Pittsburgh Steelers, in their heyday are the perfect model, for Chiefs to follow. Put some big guys, in front of your big armed QB, and give him time to throw. The only time you really need to run the ball is in short yardage anyway. Power run schemes are a lot better at getting those 1-3 yards, when you need them. They may not have the same explosiveness, or ceiling, of a ZBS, but they’re far more consistent.

This scheme relies heavily on grown men playing in the middle of the line. Chiefs need glass eaters at DT. Guys who can absorb double teams every day. K.C. has been looking for a great NT ever since Poe left. Derrick Nnadi might be on his way to being that guy… but he’s not there yet. The Chiefs need to find themselves a Damon Harrison, Vince Wilfork, Brandon Williams, type of guy in the coming off-season. If GM Brett Veach can get one before the trade deadline, even better.

The Chiefs are going to see press coverage a lot now and they’re going to see it repeatedly. There are two basic ways to beat it: speed, and power. Hardman and Hill can provide your speed, and Pringle is coming along, in that department. Power is what’s lacking. Kelce is really your only possession target, except for those rare occasions when Watkins is fully healthy. K.C. coaches needs to do everything they can to get Jody Fortson up to speed (and move him from the practice squad to the active roster). He’s their best option to add some power, this year. Whether that works out right now or not… adding some bigger, more physical, receivers needs to be a priority in the off-season.

The Chiefs and Guts

No pain, no gain, no risk, no reward. Chiefs have had an embarrassment of riches on offense, and only really needed to be average on defense. Because of this, the offense hasn’t needed to:

• • run pick plays, that could result in penalties, or big gains
  • the defense hasn’t had to blitz, constantly
  • going for it, on 4^th down, has largely been optional.

The Chiefs need to quit playing like they’re just waiting for the playoffs, and start playing do or die right now and remember that the regular season is practice, for the playoffs. Quit trying to finesse your way through and give it all you’ve got. No risk it, no biscuit. Can’t wait to turn it on, till January.

A Specific Conclusion

A few minor tweaks can greatly improve what’s ailing the Kansas City Chiefs. That said, an overhaul in the trenches, needs to be in the cards next year. Can the Chiefs still do enough to get to the Super Bowl this year? Absolutely, but they have to play with heart, discipline, and gusto. Finesse is killing this team. If they’re going to be contenders, they need to play like it. Quit absorbing blows and start punching teams in the mouth, right out of the gate. Bend the rules, break the opponent, be bold and get back on track. Go Chiefs.

Ransom Hawthorne — ArrowheadOne

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“The Great Meme Wars of 2019: Chiefs vs Texans”

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