Chiefs Update 10/29
From the Truman Sports Complex
The Chiefs practiced for just over two hours in the sunshine of a beautiful October Wednesday.
Participating in the practice was RB Larry Johnson, although he did not work at all with the Chiefs when they were on offense and did not participate with the scout team. He ran through individual drills with the rest of the offensive skill players and running backs.
The Chiefs have not definitively said that Johnson will not play this week although GM Carl Peterson has said he won’t get back on to the field until his issues with the NFL are cleared. Both sides await word from the league office on a possible suspension for L.J. for his off-field problems.
A bunch of injuries piled up from last Sunday’s game against the Jets and limited or kept out of practice the following players: CB Pat Surtain (quadriceps), RB Jamaal Charles (ankle), S Jarrad Page (groin), CB Dimitri Patterson (foot) and LB Wes Dacus (groin).
The Chiefs made official several roster moves, as they added long snapper Thomas Gafford (right) and tackle Andrew Carnahan (left) to the active roster and cornerback Michael Grant to the practice squad. Gafford is wearing No. 48 and Carnahan No. 71.
Gafford (6-2, 235) entered the NFL as a college free agent out of the University of Houston in 2006 with Green Bay. He’s gone to training camp with the Packers twice (2006, 2008), Seattle (2007) and Chicago (2008). The Houston native was a four-year letterman at Houston as the team’s long snapper and as a senior and was named the Cougars special teams MVP.
Carnahan (6-7, 306) was a seventh-round selection of Jacksonville in the ‘07 NFL Draft. He was released at the end of training camp in both seasons, and spent seven weeks on the Jags practice squad in 2008. The Texas native started all 37 games he played at Arizona State University.
To make room for Gafford and Carnahan the Chiefs placed J.P. Darche on the injured reserve list and released G Brian De La Puente. They had hoped to add De La Puente to their practice squad after he cleared waivers, but that was not the case Wednesday afternoon.
Grant (5-10, 186) entered the NFL as a college free agent out of the University of Arkansas with Jacksonville in ‘08. He was released prior to the start of the regular season. He appeared in 44 games (22 starts) at Arkansas as a safety and cornerback.
who has De la Puenta signed with?
Also, you guys need to read Gretz’s article defending RRRP. Who wants to have the honor to be the 1st to counter?
http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2008/10/29/second_guessing_the_second_guessing/
I don’t think anyone signed De la Puente. They signed that CB Grant instead. I would imagine they are going to add him if they bring Battle up to the active roster. Seeing as how without De la Puente, they have three OGs on the practice squad, they may need to cut one. Otherwise, we’ll have 4 OGs on the practice squad. Way too many.
I can’t disagree with Bob on this one findthedr. If they had come out passing instead and failed, then everyone would say that they should have run and killed more clock. The blame on that series goes to the offensive line in my opinion. Kolby Smith got no help whatsoever on Sunday and our line should be ashamed of themselves.
“You have to keep them honest,” Edwards said. “I don’t think you can live in (the spread). It’s like anything else: When people get a bead on what you’re doing, the first thing they do is attack you.”
Hopefully Herm realizes this is true not only of the spread, but of running LJ/Kolby right up Adrian Jones butt 9 first downs out of 10. Funny how the spread worked once and he’s already skeptical of it but the running on first down has not worked well all season and that’s what he wants to get back to. I know you’ve got to run well in order to win, but this guy is so stubborn. He is convinced his way is the only way.
I hope they continue to be agressive with the spread this week. Let’s give it the same chance we gave the ineffective ground game this season.
Sorry for that contradiction. My point in the above post was that I want to see lots more of the spread in the upcoming weeks, but that I think Herm made the right call to run the ball on that particular series. Balance is key, but there’s a time to be aggressive and a time to be conservative.
I dont like the call to run it 3 straight times. If we would have thrown to get the first and didnt, I would have been more satisfied in the sense that we went 3 and out trying to win the game doing what we did best in that particular game, spread em out and throw, roll thigpen out something along those lines. Its like in a fight, if your throwin jabs and connecting(spread formation/throw), why go into the fetal position (3 straight runs) when your winning the fight. “THROW” THE KNOCKOUT PUNCH! We can be competetive when the coaching staff puts together a decent gameplan both offensively and defensively. All year Herm/Gun/Chan have said our goal is to put these players in a position to be successful. We were not successful running vs the jets. The coaches didnt get it done in the end of the jets game. The coaches didnt put the players in a position to be successful calling 3 straight runs. A coach once said “we play to win the game” Im starting to think he meant we play to not lose the game. Go out there and TAKE victory when you have the opportunity. What do we have to lose?
Here are some reasons for why the RRRP was a bad idea:
1. We currently have one of the worst defenses in the NFL (statistically and observationally) so why put the game in their hands right now?
2. Our QB was hot, hitting 72% of his passes at that point.
3. Kolby Smith is effectively our third string running back and we had not established a running game with him at any point in the game (he average 1.4 yards/carry).
4. End-a-rounds, draws, etc. are also runs to consider, you don’t have to run the same play three times.
5. The Jets know as well as anyone Herm’s ultra-conservative ways and saw this coming a mile away.
Herm hasnt changed since this article was written in 2005: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/dr_z/01/17/drz.edwards/
6. We were winning because Favre had handed over 7 points to the D. Not because the D was winning the game.
The guy on the other side of the field was BRETT FAVRE. Possibly the greatest comeback QB of all time. He’s made 4th quarter comebacks against the best defenses football has had over the last 15 years, but no worries, Herm was going to stop him.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/dr_z/10/29/week.9/index.html?eref=T1
They are getting ripped, and rightly so, for failing to hold a lead over the Jets because they called three running plays, fell short and punted when they needed to hold onto the ball. Let me go into this a little deeper, just to show you how gutless this approach is. Their 91-yard pick for a TD was wonderful, but it also got their defense on the field right away, with no rest. After that score they somehow managed to force the Jets to punt, and now, with a three-point lead, the game was theirs. Holding onto the ball and keeping their defense off the field was a must because these poor guys had seen 33 plays run off against them, offset by the six their offense had run. Run three times, punt, hand the other guys the ball, and the game, take your shower, listen to a few speeches, get on your plane and go home. Next week you clap your hands and yell, “Let’s go get ‘em!” when every fiber of your being is saying, “How do I get out of here?”
Any updates on Colquitt? Apparently he practiced as he wasn’t mentioned above. They’ve got to cut Weatherford and bring up Jackie Battle this week. LJ is still inactive for some reason (why is he not on the field? The league hasn’t suspended him yet.) and Charles is hurt. Kolby Smith and Dantrell Savage is not a deep enough depth chart, especially if Savage continues to handle all the kickoffs and punts.
Observations. Running the ball like that three times at the end of the game, to me, wasn’t just conservative. It was ulta-conservative. Giving Thigpen a run-pass option would be conservative. It may have ended up a run, by Thigpen.
No, the Chiefs shouldn’t stay in the spread 100% of the time, just a lot of the time. Doesn’t always have to be with all the WR’s. You can (gulp) be creative, and use two tightends, two runningbacks even. Screens and dinks and dumps of all kinds are standard, but runs can be effective also-draws,of course, but I’ve seen pitches and stretch hand-offs, too. Imagination. Just because Thigpen is in the shotgun doesn’t mean it has to be the classic spread. Bring Thigpen up under center at the start sometimes, too, then move him back pre-snap. And, even when Thigpen does line up under center, you can still roll him out to help him see the field better and give him more options. Thigpen just needs to be smart. If nothing is there, go down. Just like throwing a pass out of bounds when nothing is there.
Bring Battle up from the PS. He played in the spread in college at Houston. He can help. McIntosh played slightly better in the Jets game, but still should see more of Taylor. I know Richardson is too much to ask for right now. Still looking for a handful of gadget plays to keep the opposing D off balance.
Defense: Hali back to his old spot looked much better. Only everyone thought that was a good idea. Turk and Johnston looked decent from the left side. What the Chiefs are doing with Dorsey and Tank is a travesty. They hold their ground plenty, especially Dorsey, but the linebackers and DB’s aren’t doing their part behind them. Besides, it’s definitely not utilizing their abilities fully. They could be devastating penetrators, busting into the backfield and blowing up plays. It must be very frustrating for those guys. Let’s say I’m wrong, along with many others. What the Chiefs doing now ain’t been doing that hot. Doesn’t that call for some kind of adjustment? The Chiefs did employ Boone and Edwards at tackle more in the Jets game, which helped. They’re better suited to engage and hold, and took some pressure off Dorsey and Tank. Although, Boone’s not a bad penatrator either. TJ Jackson plays with a lot of energy when he gets a chance; he’s intriguing.
P. Thomas should get more opportunity, on special teams. Someone, D. Edwards or Boiman, should be in there. Edwards won’t hold up to the run much; maybe Boiman on early downs, then Edwards. Dacus, Walden? Worth a try. Even if Pollard never moves to linebacker officially, I like playing him like one (up close to the line). That three safety thing is interesting, and gets Morgan on the field more. Seems like more could be done with that. DJ should be blitzed more. Use his speed. But, for crying out loud, can the blitzes be telegraphed just a little less. Jeeze, might as well put a neon sign up. I thought Gunther was supposed to be an expert on that sort of thing.
Really like the young corners, Flowers and Carr. Neither seems afraid to tackle. I bet both would be excellent blitzers. I just wish they’d give a little less cushion on the short outs. Do they ever get the green light to jump those things? But, man, I like watching them do battle with receivers; they don’t back down.
I was shocked to see the Chiefs put Thigpen in the spread, maximizing his ability and experience. I mean, wow, the coaches are awake and using their imaginations some.
Hell, at 1-6, try stuff ‘o plenty, as well. How about a little wing-t in short yardage or goaline. How bout third down defense with the front seven all standing up, doing free-style blitzes like we’ve seen the Giants and others do. How bout a long bomb on 3rd and 2…How bout passing on first down. Well, I guess you can get carried away. Keep them honest and off-balance as much as possible, anyway.
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Don’t let the Chiefs read Michael’s comment, we want the first overall pick.
yeah, i have to agree w/harry johnson…..cool out mike before you blow our 1st overall draft pick, orr. lol
Favre handed over 7 points to the D because the D put consistent pressure on him. Maybe nobody remembers seeing Favre on his Turf, but there were a couple of moments I wasn’t sure he’d make it back in the game. Even for a guy who’s seen it all, that makes a QB antsy. He made mistakes, and they were ‘forced’ errors.
I rarely ever agree with findthedr but I have to agree on the article Bob wrote on KCChiefs.com, I thought it was insulting.
Especially coming from a guy who likes to separate himself from the rest of the Media.
Just because most of us have no access to the locker room, practice, or the game field, doesn’t make us stupid or blind!
Your supposed to be better than the rest Bob!