Chiefs Update 11/10
From the Truman Sports Complex
You know that revolving door that’s attached to the Chiefs roster, the one that spins on a regular basis?
Well get ready, it’s going to start spinning again.
In the day after the Chiefs one-point loss in San Diego to the Chargers it was time to evaluate the carnage from Sunday. It’s not pretty.
Although final decisions were still in the works, it appears that a pair of defense ends – Turk McBride and rookie Brian Johnston – are likely headed for the injured reserve list. McBride was not active for Sunday’s game with what’s been termed a shoulder injury. Johnston suffered a torn calf muscle in the game.
And Tamba Hali is unlikely to play this coming week against New Orleans because of an ankle injury suffered in San Diego.Â
That makes defensive end a priority as the Chiefs fish in the NFL personnel waters. Linebacker may be as well. LB Derrick Johnson did not play in San Diego because of a hamstring injury and the Chiefs don’t expect him back this Sunday. MLB Pat Thomas left the game with a hamstring injury and he’s unlikely to play against New Orleans. LB Donnie Edwards left the game with a right thigh/knee injury, but he returned and played the second half. How he feels on Wednesday may leave him questionable for Sunday’s game as well.
It does not appear that CB Brandon Flowers (hamstring) will be ready to go this Sunday as well, so there’s a chance the Chiefs will have five, maybe six new starters on the defense.Â
On offense the Chiefs must still evaluate RG Adrian Jones, who left the game with a knee injury and RB Jamaal Charles, who got a minimal number of snaps because of his sore ankle.
The Chiefs spent Monday looking at the tape of the loss in San Diego. In the house was RB Larry Johnson, coming off his one-week NFL suspension. He’ll be on the practice field on Wednesday when the Chiefs return to practice. Right there will be another roster move, as they need to make room so he can return to the 53-man list.
This is a bunch of AWFUL news for Chiefs fans. I was really looking forward to seeing Flowers match up against Colston this Sunday. I hope Carr can continue to stay healthy. I’m devastated that Hali, McBride and Johnston are all injured.
Could the Chiefs need to be looking for a weight training consultant? These injuries are just ridiculous.
It will be very interesting to see how Larry Johnson is used this weekend. Will Herm even play him? Seems like playing him will only help his trade value at the end of the season.
Herm absolutely made the right call yesterday with the two-point conversion. It didn’t end the way I’d have liked it to, but NO ONE can argue that this team hasn’t been showing real heart and improvement over the last three weeks. Our defense is a ghost of its starting self, and we had a chance to beat the #1 offense yesterday.
Any idea what DE’s we could be looking at Bob?
I agree Eli this is devastating news. Man hopefully Gunther can come up with some blitz packages with the lack of experience that is going to be out there at defensive end. You can’t let Breeze get comfortable and pick the team apart. Offensively great to hear Larry is back we need him badly. Hopefully he can get going and with Thigpen given the Chiefs a legitimate passing game the Saints will get ate up trying to stack 8 in the box. More than likely they will though because they’ve heard of Larry. They’re probably still not sold on Thigpen which is fine by us.
Three letters for you: K-G-B. They passed up on him last week in favor of a young player in Gilberry and that was fine with me. Now, they have a DESPARATE need for a DE with some experience who can make an impact with minimal practice time. They brought in Macklin last week and he’s 30 and I’d say it’s time to add another veteran to the mix.
These injuries are pissing me off big time. What incredibly awful luck! Maybe a new strength and conditioning coach would be in order? How does a team deal with this? I can’t stand Herm (as I’ve said plenty) but even I’m ready to give him a free pass this year. You’re telling me McBride and Johnston are done for the year AND we won’t have DJ, Flowers, or Pat Thomas either?
Starting lineup on Sunday as it stands right now:
LE A Boone
LT T Tyler
RT G Dorsey
RE W Gilberry
SLB R Boiman
MLB W Dacus
WLB D Williams
CB B Carr
CB M Leggett
FS J McGraw
SS B Pollard
Page and Donnie are banged up, so they may be backups. I like Ron Edwards getting more snaps, and Erik Walden was a DE in college so maybe he can fill in as a pass rusher some. Maybe TJ Jackson gets his roster spot back. Geez, LJ takes his roster spot back and that leaves us with just one spot left to get a player. A DE I’d say. Still need another LB and probably another DE after that. Someone has to get cut. Darling/Webb/Battle perhaps?
Somehow, I don’t see Ingle Martin getting his spot back on the roster anytime soon.
Game plan and personal numbers that big , thats rough . Know any magic thicks , like rabbits out of hats .
WOW!! This injury thing is WAY BEYOND ridiculous!!
I suspect something sinister is amiss, maybe even UNHOLY.
Is it time to start tearing up all the new concrete already poured at ARROWHEAD, maybe someone put a pair of Al Davis glasses (or some other sort of raider bedevilment) in a column.
That’s it for the D. Offensively, it’s hard not to be excited by what the Chiefs are doing. Chan Gailey’s version of the spread has teams on their toes. Some people are wary that LJ won’t be a good fit and I understand that concern, believe me. However, I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt and wait and see how he handles it. I think he and Charles can still make for a dynamic duo now that the team has an effective passing game. New Orleans defense isn’t very good. I know they can pass the ball plenty, but I think that favors the Chiefs. Let em come into Arrowhead and try and fling the ball around! It’s strong running teams that have given us fits and New Orleans doesn’t run well. We should be able to score a fair amount of points on these guys. Also, they have a rookie kicker AND punter, so maybe special teams will curse our opponent instead of us on Sunday.
Thought , two tight ends that at one time or another have played some Def. Brad C. & M. Merritt
thanks for the update Bob!
the injuries could just be a result of having so many rookies who havent yet had an offseason of nfl conditioning, are not used to the speed and violence of the NFL.
Conditioning wise, I think the chiefs will be better next yr.
John,
You may be on to something. By the time I got home last week I was tired and sore also.
The injuries and 2nd half colapses are a direct result of Herm’s short 70-90 minute practices. This is Herm’s history. We just aren’t in shape to play 4 qtrs.
Here is some kudos to Thigpen and the Chiefs from a member of the National Media.
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80c644a8
John I watch a lot of NFL T. A. but missed this,thanks . Craig might have a point , there are 2 tight ends , they have , that are in shape and are on the active roster ( Brad & Mike ) both are quick and same size as Jarred Allen . Help is were you find it !
As bad as this defense is can losing anyone really be that big a loss.
CraigK, the 70-90 minute practice sessions are group and team sessions, it is not the only conditioning that these guys get. I do not get your reasoning on this. The Chiefs were playing like mad men the fourth quarter Sunday, it was the third quarter that they seemed a little off. That was because game plans had been adjusted and they were trying to catch up to that, I saw no evidence of players not in shape.
Every one was calling for more passion, players playing faster and harder. Well, all the injuries is a direct reflection of young guys playing hard and fast and with passion. findthedr is right on in his evaluation of the injury problem, it has nothing to do with their conditioning. Now people want the Weight Coach’s head, unbelievable!
Litsen Craig K how about finding another team. I’m fed up with wanna be fans like you blame the head coach for everything. My goodness thats just ridiculous blaming him for the teams injuries. Good point with the injuries findthedr. I guess when if it rains Sunday and the field conditions are horrible you will blame Herm for that too huh. Thats just ridiculous. How about this while Herm’s the head coach you go find another team to cheer for.
This is a weird day. ED and True, you are absolutely right about the “blame Herm for the injuries due to short practices” garbage. When Vermeil was here, people blamed him for injuries because his practices are too long and strenuous. The fact of the matter is, people get hurt and most of the time it isn’t anyone’s fault, just the body giving out or some freak accident.
Let’s not just pile blame on Herm for everything. He’s not the Anti-Christ. I don’t think he’s a great coach, but I also don’t question his heart and his intentions. He really thinks he’s doing what’s right for this team, and who knows? Time may prove him right. It may also prove him wrong. To sit and say that things that are beyond his control are “his fault” is really just kind of silly. If you are going to bash the man, do it for something he has control over, like play-calling and time management.
I must say, its really tough not having our young guys get the reps, losing Turk means DE joins LB/OL/HB/ as the largest holes on the team…I hope Dorsey/Tank can stay healthy, or else they cant even evaluate our talent…
I hope we still draft Laurenitus or Rey(USC), I think its what we need however…
LARRY needs to get released as soon as that can be possible, he is a cancer, lets just take the hit and move on…
I don’t blame Herm for the injuries, and won’t blame him when/if the D gets chewed up this week and in subsequent weeks. But he absolutely IS to blame for the major step back and horrid defensive play this year, up to this week of horrible injuries. I don’t want to hear any excuses from Herm Minions that you can’t judge him becuse of all the injuries, because they just happenned. You can judge him, and he should be fired because of it, one of several reasons, along with wanting to start Huard over Thigpen.
Hi e d! I think what I will do is go ahead and continue to renew my Chiefs season tickets for the 30th year next year, e d. I think I will also enjoy my Wolf Pack Club dining before and after the games before I drive back to Des Moines, Iowa every Sunday. Where are your seats e d? I’m on the 40yd line, 2nd row upper deck behind the Chiefs bench. Perfect seats for my son, brother and I to see the complete exhaustion our Chiefs suffer through every 2nd half.
I do think the last 3 weeks have shown some real positives. Thigpen being the most positive in that he just may be the QB answer.
I don’t hate Herm, I just want him to get better. One thing I think would be to practice 2+ hours like most NFL teams.
I do think it is amazing what Herm’s staff has done with all the players (70+ so far). I just think we could be in better shape, that all…e d.
Go Chiefs…Go Farmland!