Recipe for Success: K.C. BBQ

Recipe for Success:  K.C. BBQ

Who are these Chiefs?  

As I sit here writing after the game, I am struck by the thought that 3 different teams have taken the field in the Red and Gold of the Kansas City Chiefs.  Each half last week and the whole game this week seemed to be completely different.  While it seems reasonable and logical that we should be seeing either a stagnation or progression as the season progress, instead, we are seeing a regression.

After 2 games, we are 1-1.  The first game was a win, but it took a franchise record comeback to deliver it and the second game was a loss from dysfunctional play.  I am, generally speaking, an optimistic person.  This carries over into a “homeristic” perspective on my favorite sports teams.  I can see the good, the path to success, the way to win, in just about any situation.

The good news here is that I think the foundation for success is present.  The bad news is the “secret ingredient” appears to still be a secret.  In looking back at the play during these two games, we are all over the place game to game, half to half, series to series, and play to play.  It is almost like the Chiefs trade off occasionally with the bizarre Chiefs.

First, let’s take a look at the stats from this game, break down a few, and summarize what they might tell us.

Game Stats

First Downs – KC 14, Houston 15

Third Down Efficiency – KC 3-14, Houston 4-15

Total Plays – KC 60, Houston 69

Total Yards – KC 291, Houston 351

Total Drives – KC 14, Houston 15

Yards per Play – KC 4.8, Houston 5.1

Passing – KC 172 yards (20-37), Houston 254 yards (19-33 – 2 INTs)

Yards Lost on Sacks – KC 4-14, Houston 2-14

Rushing – KC 119 (19 at 6.3 YPC), Houston 97 (34 at 2.9 YPC)

Red Zone – KC 0-2, Houston 0-4

Penalties – KC 9-77, Houston 5-44

Turnovers – KC 3, Houston 2

Time of Possession – KC 26:01, Houston 33:59

For the most part, these are even.  There aren’t any real blowout stats that show the Texans dominated us.  The standouts (and difference makers in the game, in my opinion) are when you get down to the penalties and turnovers.  The penalties were even bigger than 9-77 yards would tell us.  One of those took 7 points off the board and most resulted in stalled-out drives.

Obviously, turnovers are drive killers and give to the ball right to the opposition.  Both of these take the ball out of the hands of our offense, lower the time of possession, and limit points on the board.  Both of these come from a lack of player discipline and leadership.

The rest of the stats, to me, say we have the talent and the play calling was on point.  We just need to execute the plays.  The rush game was churning out 6.3 yards per carry, which would be welcome by any team in the league.  The passing game, on the other hand, was an OK 8.6 yards per catch, however only a 4.2 yards per pass.  The completion rates was an anemic 54%.  The difference in the more typical AS11 rate of 70% would have been an additional 6 catches and almost 52 yards.  Depending on which catches were made that could have made the difference in the game.

Team Play

On the offensive side of the ball, we had too many plays where a ball was thrown off target, ball was dropped, ball was fumbled, or a penalty was incurred.  The only thing I can draw from this is that the players weren’t in the game.  No disrespect to the Houston defense, they are a very solid team, but it looked like we missed plays more than they made them.

On the defensive side of the ball,  we seemed to exhibit some sort of multiple personality disorder.  We have plays where we are out of position, get manhandled, or take a penalty.  Then, sometimes in the same series, we have a great stop behind the line, an interception, or force a 3 and out.  The lack of consistency really bit us here.

Again, I put this on the locker room leadership of the veterans.  They are the ones that coach up their position group, hold the younger guys accountable when needed, and provide the focus (such as grabbing them and making sure they don’t get an unnecessary penalty).

The only bright spot on the day was Special Teams.  We delivered with this group, but not enough to be the difference makers.

Special Teams Stats

Kickoff Returns – KC 158 yards on 6 returns (26.3 yards per return), Houston 39 yards on 2 returns (19.5 yards per return)

Punt Returns – KC 63 yards on 4 returns (15.75 yards per return), Houston 12 yards on 4 returns (3 yards per return)

Kicking – KC 4/4 for 12 points, long of 53, Houston 4/5 (1 PAT) for 13 points, long of 43

Punting – 6/285 yards, net of 45.5 per punt, Houston 5/249, net of 37.2 per punt

The special teams did a nice job on punts and kickoffs, in both returns and coverage.  If not for a poorly timed hold, one return would have gone for a touchdown and been a game changer.  While we may have still lost, this was late in the game and would have tied the game.

After watching Tyreek Hill in this game, it is apparent that he will “Reek” havoc on the opposition this year.  They will have to game plan this accordingly.   He is a special talent and will be a game changer if given any opportunity to make a return.  He does have the heart-stopping method of going into “human joystick” mode with all the changes of direction, some backward, and covering lots of ground (North-South and/or East-West).  I would count on this being the difference in a game later this year.

While I fully expected the Houston defense to come into this game and limit our offensive production, I didn’t think it would be more due to our lack of ability to complete passes and take undisciplined penalties.  I thought it would be a more direct breaking up of plays.

We just don’t seem ready to play these games.  It seems the team isn’t on the same page at times, timing is off at others, and we aren’t focused on the play at hand (adjustments, penalties, etc.) throughout the game.  While some of this could be put on the coaches, I think this is largely on the players at this point.   Could it be that the roster doesn’t have enough veterans sprinkled in to lead their position groups?  Or, are the veterans not providing the leadership needed?  Have we moved the roster around too much (to the point the different units can’t seem to get)?

It looks like we have all the ingredients for a successful team.  What we don’t seem to have is the right recipe.

What we have:

A GM and Head Coach to find the players and set the game plan (food procurement and head chef)

A roster with talent (a nice slab of ribs)

A playbook designed to produce results with the kinds of players on the roster (rubs and sauces)

A training and coaching staff to develop the players and keep them healthy (wood for cooking and smoking the ribs)

Arrowhead stadium to bring it all together (the smoker)

What we need:

But, for some reason, we just can’t figure out how it all goes together to produce the finest KC Barbecue anywhere.  Instead, we are left with some bush league attempt at a culinary creation.

If we plan to win the West and go deep in the playoffs, this needs to change ASAP.  The good news, I think, is that this is very fixable.  All the pieces are there.  We have a top chef and the guy that never stops searching for the finest ingredients.  What is going to be the factor that pulls it all together into some blue ribbon award winning, mouth watering, feast for the eyes, savory sensation of palate pleasing K.C. BBQ?    

And there’s “The Rub.”