Would You, Could You, Chiefs Fans? 10.29.19

Would You, Could You, Chiefs Fans? 10.29.19 – it’s the season for trades and panning for gold, even more than it is the offseason… and because the trade deadline is today, it’s time for a little “Would You, Could You?” Like any other Chiefs fan at AO, I dream dreams for the Chiefs of trading for super sensational coverage CBs or massive dancing bears on the OL.

Yes, my brain has spent a lot of time in the land of “If only?” Like, I used to think about… if only the Chiefs had kept Joe Horn or Nick Lowery or Rich Gannon or, or, or… so let’s hope they don’t make any bad decisions today. Now, let’s take a look at some issues facing the Chiefs.

Would You, Could You, Chiefs Fans? … be as concerned about the Minnesota Vikings as you were about the Green Bay Packers? I guess we’re not the only ones who might be concerned. In a piece written by Adam Patrick for the Fansided Vikings site called, “Viking Might Have to Face Patrick Mahomes in Week 9 Afterall” he states:

“Despite the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback dislocating his knee cap less than two weeks ago, there’s still a chance that he could suit up against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 9.”

Let’s not forget that the Chiefs have one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL right now, if not the best in a generation in the person of Patrick Mahomes. “But he’s hurt right now”… I can hear it. However, I also hear from someone who is usually an anti-Chiefs fan is saying something altogether different:

“Sources say it goes back to how Mahomes’ knee is actually built. Because of the way his knee is configured — and how naturally loose his ligaments are — only one ligament in his knee was compromised by the scary injury, and that was just barely. None were torn. The fact that he didn’t move when the original dislocation happened helped, as well. A layman would say Mahomes is double-jointed….” -Adam Schefter

So, if you were wondering how Mahomes could jump up from such an injury and then walk nonchalantly off the field a few seconds later, there’s your answer, Plus, if indeed what Adam Schefter is saying, that Patrick Mahomes’ body is built differently than most, is true, and his early return materializes… then watch out Vikings! Now, I’m not saying I accept everything Schefter says as gospel, in fact it’s the opposite: I take most of what he says with a grain of salted nuttiness. However, I won’t be at all surprised to see Mahomes strapping on his cape again this Sunday.

Would You, Could You, Chiefs Fans? … believe that the Chiefs will be near full strength for the playoffs, enough to make a playoff run? To begin with, with 70% of the Chiefs starters sitting on the bench on Sunday evening, they came with a fumble of possibly winning against one of the better teams in the league… certainly the second best QB in the league (see what I did there?).

I moved several times during my professional career as a classroom teacher and each time I did, I was mostly met with what I would call, territorialism. Meaning, the teachers who were there the longest, had the biggest problem accepting me as “one of their own.” The same principle is true in most workplaces I have found and I’d expect that to be the case for football teams.

Except, that process is somewhat truncated… meaning, shortened. Perhaps you remember choosing up sides for basketball at recess… but even then, those making the choices were given the same choices day in and day out. Professional athletes are accustomed to making the kinds of changes that require moving across the country to establish themselves with a new team. However, let’s not forget that it still takes time. As of today, October 29th, LeSean McCoy has been with the Chiefs for 60 days. Can you recall how you felt two months after you moved into a new house? That’s exactly what McCoy is going through.

Now, McCoy may be a bad example because many are upset with him for his bread-loaf-fumble. However, as far as developing team cohesiveness is concerned, we’re experiencing what it looks like for these player to begin to come together, especially on defense. That’s probably what all the early season penalties was about too:

Would You, Could You, Chiefs Fans? … be happy if the Chiefs, and GM Brett Veach, did not, make a trade today before the NFL’s trade deadline? There’s a good possibility that the Chiefs make no moves at all prior to the deadline today at 4:00 Eastern time. Why? Because I think it’s been a sellers market. So, that’s a good thing for the Chiefs if they don’t fall into the trap of giving away too much for a player who can come in and help this year.

Now, that’s not to say a deal doesn’t get done today. I think it might… just not for a player who is anything more than a developmental guy. Someone like unto Reggie Ragland. In fact, think about most of the players Veach has brought in (or traded for) and you’ll find… guys who needed to be developed. Guys like Cam Erving, Darron Lee, Charvarius Ward, Blake Bell, Austin Reiter, Greg Senat, Jordan Lucas, Rags, and others.

I’m in favor of one of those kinds of trades today but I also acknowledge, that none of those players have had a breakout game yet.

Would You, Could You, Chiefs Fans? … accept that HC Andy Reid is a great coach… but that he can’t win the big one? There’s a lot of talk about Andy Reid and his place amongst the greatest coaches in the history of the NFL but that he’s just can’t win in the crunch time moments of the game… or the season. While that seems like an increasing possibility, you have to admit that it’s a truism about that man called Andy Reid… so far.

I say, so far, because of guys like Pete Carroll who went to two Super Bowls recently, winning one of them, and flaking out at the end of another… because prior to the time Carroll went to his first Super Bowl with the Legion of Boom, many fans were saying the same things about him even though he’d led USC to two NCAA National Championships then he lost to Texas in 2005, tarnishing his legacy. Carroll had also been the HC for the NE Patriots just prior to Bill Belichick where he was 27-21. Speaking of Belichick, think about what he would have been without Tom Brady? Sure Andy Reid had Donovan McNabb all those years in Philly, but no one thinks McNabb was even close to a Tom Brady, in fact, most outside of Philly don’t think McNabb will ever make the Hall of Fame.

So, who is Andy Reid? He’s a genius play caller… yes… and play designer… yes… but… he’s also someone who doesn’t spend enough time on managing game situations: like whether or not he should punt or go for it in a 4th-and-3 situation vs the Packers with 5:13 to go vs the 2nd best QB in the league and knowing he had a tired defense he would be sending onto the field. Until he gets past his characteristic response: “I got to do better, time’s yours, I got to do better, time’s yours…” then he’s likely to do it again… and again and say that, again… and again.

Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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