Friday Morning Cup O’Chiefs
So five weeks into the 2008 season, the Chiefs are 1-4, with an offense that ranks 29 out of 32 teams in the league in yards gained, and a defense that ranks 30th in yards allowed.
That’s bad.
Football produces a lot of statistics. The NFL crunches all the numbers and produces rankings in more than 200 categories by the time they are done each week.
And after five games, the Chiefs are actually leading the league in one category: opponent fumbles recovered. They’ve grabbed eight, or one more than Arizona. No other teams have more than five and the league average is three per team.
The Chiefs are second in total takeaways with 11. Only Tennessee has more with 14. No other team has more than 10. They hold no other rankings that high.
On the flip side of the numbers, the Chiefs are last in the league in a handful of categories, most of them on offense. They are last in % of first down plays gaining four or more yards. That’s 27.6 percent; the league average if 44.9 percent. They are last in % of first down passing plays gaining four or more yards at 21.4 percent. The league average is 40.0 percent. They are last in average gain on first down, at 2.81 yards. The league average is 5.02 yards.
They are last in points given up after a giveaway, with 40, against a league average of 24 points. They are last in giving up a first down on a third-and-10 or more play; it happens 46.2 percent of the time, with the league average 38.4 percent. They are 32nd in runs allowed of 20 yards or more with 11. The league average is three. They are last in % of first down plays against them gaining more than four yards at 54.7 percent. The league average is 44.9 percent. They are last in big plays (20 yards or more) allowed, giving up 25 while the league average is 15.
FROM THE PAGES OF CHIEFS HISTORY
On October 10, 1971, the Chiefs beat the San Diego Chargers 31-10 in front of a crowd of 50,514 fans at Municipal Stadium. The visiting Chargers jumped to a 10-0 lead, but the Chiefs ran off the game’s final 31 points, thanks to a pair of QB Len Dawson touchdown passes to FB Jim Otis for three yards and WR Otis Taylor for 15 yards. The Chiefs also added TD runs of 15 yards from Warren McVea and 7 yards by Ed Podolak. CB Jim Marsalis and FS Johnny Robinson each picked off a John Hadl pass. RB Wendell Hayes led all rushers with 80 yards on 11 carries.
On October 10, 1976, the Chiefs beat the Redskins 33-30 at RFK Stadium in Washington. In one of just five games the team won that season, they went on the road and beat a Redskins team that finished the season 10-4. QB Mike Livingston threw for 332 yards and a pair of TD passes, including a 37-yard scoring pass to WR Larry Brunson with less than two minutes to play that provided the winning points. Livingston also connected with TE Walter White for a 33-yard TD pass. RB MacArthur Lane added a 6-yard TD run and Jan Stenerud kicked four field goals. The defense picked off Washington QB Joe Theismann twice, from CB Emmitt Thomas and LB Jim Lynch.
CHECKING IN ON FORMER CHIEFS
Linebacker Kawika Mitchell has found a new home in Buffalo with the Bills.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
The Pacman Soap Opera added a new chapter yesterday in Dallas, as Pacman got into a fight with his bodyguard and wrecked a hotel bathroom. It’s quite a mess. Here are the details.
Things are getting crazy in Dallas over this Pacman situation, and here’s the view of long-time Dallas-Ft. worth columnist Randy Galloway.
Former Broncos RB Travis Henry had to put his house up to pay the bail to get himself out of jail on the drug arrest he was hit with this week.
AROUND THE AFC WEST
A national columnist says things are much better these days in RaiderLand than most of the silver and black fans even realize. Make sure you check out his last reason.
The Chiefs are talking about needing to keep their offense on the field more. Apparently, the Chargers are having the same problem with their offense.
DT Nic Clemons has finally found a home for himself with the Denver Broncos.
Dear Seth Wickersham,
Yes, the Chiefs are terrible. At this rate it may take a year or two before they get back to regularly stomping the Raiders.
Well, he is right. We are pretty bad. But I’d rather have a lot of young talent than a bunch of old, overpaid “talent.” Chief fans have something to hope for while Raider fans are just waiting for Al Davis to do his next crazy thing.
Thanks for the vote of confidence Wickersham! It’s tough to swallow the fact that Herm has turned the Chiefs into the punchline at the end of an article about the Raiders punchline of a franchise. Here’s something real quick on Darren McFadden. He has 272 yards rushing in four games this year, 164 of them against us.
Bob, this article is exactly why I like you. No one breaks down stats like you. There’s some positive news (11 turnovers is great) but you’re not sugar coating the bad either (2.81 yards on 1st down). I know because of your close professional relationships with alot of people in the Chiefs organization it may be hard to be completely objective. But stats don’t lie and you’ll report them no matter what story they tell and I appreciate it.
Move TAMBA HALI to outside linebacker.
Telling statistics indeed! This battleship of a team is going to take quite some time to turnaround, just like the ones on the ocean.
But then, other teams are turning like a PT boat such as Atlanta and Miami. And the difference between those teams and the Chiefs? Gotta be leadership: Front office, coaching, players. Gotta be, doesn’t it?
Or, is it the shoes? (MJ reference)
Gotta be the shoes.
Here’s an update on Jared Allen. I think he’s pretty happy he left based on the quote at the end of the article.
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nfcnorth/0-5-57/Give-Allen-an-assist-on-Winfield-s-big-plays.html
Other teams seem to be making a ski boat turn but will they complete the turn?? Once you get that battleship turned look out!!
True Red & Gold – I think that’s a pretty good synopsis of the Chief’s philosophy. Rebuild from the ground up.
If you look at Atlanta and Miami vs. the Chiefs it would appear that the ATL and MIA starters on average have more game experience and longer tenure with the team. All other things aside, they have an advantage on the Chiefs in this area.
The Chiefs felt it necessary to take a different, more radical approach to rebuilding. At this point it’s hard to say that the gamble is paying off, but I think it’s too early to judge.
If the approach is deemed a failure, however, then who is there to blame but the GM and Head Coach?
lets hope this battleship doesnt sink before it gets turned around, because if it does i have a feeling its gonna be awhile before we can get another one to set sail. am i the only one who thought bringing in chan gaily was a mistake, just my opinion mind you
I agree ILChiefsFan,
The key is “time will tell”.
Everybody on here (including me) is afraid of our Chiefs turning into a perennial bottom dweller. Well history will tell us that the quickest way to that end is to turn the coaching position into a carousel. How many years did it take Cowher with the same team to win a Super Bowl (14). If Marty Shottenheimer would have stayed in one place as long he would have a Super Bowl. IMO Cowher would have never got there if not for the security of his position. If he was always looking over his shoulder or felt that he had to get it done in 2, 3, or 5 years it would have never happened.
I have no doubt findthedr will shoot that full of holes with his stats and Herm’s records. The point is: it is very dangerous to call for turnover at the coaching level.
findthedr’s days are numbered on this site. I think we are all in agreement on his position and we can see right through him.
If you go against him he gets very emotional and calls you every insult he can think of. It’s kind of sad actually.
Changing coaches happens regularily but I admit not alway for the best reason or successfully. that said I do not understand how herm and his staff were annointed as rebuilders. Yes, herm was in TB as DB coach during a rebuild under Dungy but that was a very small role and herm did not travel to join Dungy later. I can picture herm, if successful, taking up to 4 years to get his team ready to compete in the NFL. Folks, that is a lot of losing. 16 games a year for 4 years with a losing record 7-9 or worse each year, WOW, that be dredful. How long can you take that? Lastly, there is no garantee the rebuild will work. I remain somewhat disatisfied by the chiefs.
I don’t think anyone “anointed” Herm as a rebuilder. The official line is that he has been pushing for it for a couple of years and finally got agreement from the top. He’s a de facto rebuilder.
True Red & Gold; I’m not one of those “fire Herm!” guys (although I do think Carl needs to move on to other things). I agree with you that firing a coach can be counterproductive. On the other hand, what’s the average tenure for an NFL coach? 3-4 years? I don’t know; I’m just guessing.
I think the Clark Hunt is in a unique position to judge Carl’s and Herm’s performance this year. They’ve been given what they asked for; hopefully as part of that they established some clear metrics that can be used at the end of the season to gauge progress.
I think the “contended for the playoffs” yardstick is unfair and unrealistic, but there has been talk that that was the agreed-upon measure of success. Needless to say, it’s pretty unlikely this team will achieve that level this season unless something changes significantly.
I believe that Herm’s title while in Tampa was DB/Assistant Head Coach. I also believe that he had more to do with that rebuild than people give him credit for.
Tmess “I remain somewhat disatisfied by the chiefs.”
You keep saying that. Is that sarcasm? The Chiefs are 1-4, how could you be just somewhat dissatisfied?
I have never advocated that Herm get a free pass. I think that he needs to be and will be held accountable. Having said that, the real indicator of his performance will come this time next season. And regardless of what findthedr says, I don’t really care what his past is, only what he accomplishes in the next year.
Sorry guys, but we can only blame the coaches and staff for so much, and then the players have to go out onto the field and play ball. Yes it is going to take time, these are young guys, we have to give them some time, I don’t like to lose either, but that’s the way it is at the moment. So let’s tighten up our belts and stand up and go forward, and support our guys as best as we can, they don’t like to lose either.
obviously some of you go with the old adage that,’ you dont change horses in midstream.’
My question is why not? The team is aldready terrible in virtually every statistical category. Switching coaches doesnt mean doing away with the youth movement, but having someone else in leadership who is developing them.
I dont know if hiring Gailey was a good move, but I dont think it was necessarily a bad move. He is more experienced than Solari. I think either of them would have been more succesful without Herm’s interference.
obviously it is the job of the players to do their job on the field, but it is the job of the coaches to give them the best chance of success by:
1. adjusting to the players abilities
2. putting the best possible combination of personell on the field
3. making good calls, gameplans, and adjustments
That just hasnt happened. herm wants to play smashmouth football and repeatedly runs our rb into the gut of a 8-9 man front. Herm plays safe football and will not let the qb throw deep. he wants them to throw short passes. Herm loves the cover 2 because their is deep saftey help, and thus it is less likely to give up the big play.
“A good coach will make his players see what they can be rather than what they are.”Â
Ara Parasheghian, Football Coach
“Coaches have to watch for what they don’t want to see and listen to what they don’t want to hear.”Â
John Madden
I dont think Herm is watching or listening. Things arent working, and he is unwilling to change or adapt.
Calm down folks.. this is what a rebuild looks like.
This the only way to get to the SB.
Lets take our medicine and wait until the next draft.
Lets go ahead and get rid of King Carl after this year.. He is Done!
Okay guys what is up with this speculation about Tony Gonzalez being traded to the New York Giants the Chiefs are leaving no comment on this trade . So if it is true then let it happen find out what you can get for him. I hate to see him go but he is not going to win a championship here this team is maybe two or more years away from being at least .500 so I like to hear your comments on this matter.I just happen to hear this rumor it was said that it is to happen before the trade deadline.
“I hate the word intimidate. If a football team gets intimidated, you have no chance to win. Are we getting rattled? Maybe. Are we losing some confidence? Maybe. That’s what we have to fight against. We have to realize what we’re capable of and if it doesn’t work the first time, it could work the second time. If it doesn’t work the second time, it’ll work the third time. Eventually we will get there if we don’t let things get us down.”
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chiefs/story/834743.html
———————
Not willing to adjust. Another example of poor coaching.
The definition of insanity is
doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. I rest my case. Fire Herm Edwards and lets get this show on the road to respectability.
http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2008/10/10/632309/i-hate-the-word-intimidat#9292104
Come on findthedr, they are not going to fire Herm. Not right now anyway. We all know you want them too already. Please give us a break and stop beating a dead horse. Keep the stats, posts, and articles coming. I appreciate your knowledge but give up the Herm bashing for a little while. It is not impressing anyone anymore. There will always be people that don’t like the current coach and that is OK. I enjoy reading these posts but your constant bashing makes it a real drag.
Lets live in the real world and just talk Chiefs Football.
Willing to tone down:
“Clean House!
Fire ‘em all!”
that being said, I am really dissapointed in what Gailey said. He basically wants to keep trying what isnt working, hoping to get diffrent results. thats just crazy.
Add that to what Grunhard said recently about our Dline on the Petro show this week. He said that none of them have 2nd moves, and that shows they are poorly coached and developed’
That also explains a little of what possibly is going on with Dorsey. They earlier said that they wanted to use him as a 3 technique and rush the passer, but now they use him to take on blockers and gap control.
How is this team going to improve when they have serious and fundamental flaws in the way they are managing and developing the players?
How do they seriously believe they can evaluate Croyle and give him a chance to suceed against the Titans when they are unwilling to make personell changes and keep trotting McIntosh out on the right side?
Look, I’m not the only person screaming “Fire!” Its prominent people all around the NFL and even Mr. Gretz in some of his articles. Its that those in charge of the chiefs refuse to put the fire out. They seem content in letting it burn and rebuild instead.
We might lose one of our marquee players (Tony Gonzalez) in that blaze.
I have suspected for quite some time that something might happen with Tony. I hate to see it, but hey, the Giants would be a great place for him and probably gives him the best chance for that ring he wants. I thought that was what everybody else wanted for him as well. I don’t doubt that Fire Herm is a popular chant thru out the entire NFL right now let alone Chiefs nation. But to do it here constantly just detracts from good discussions.
Having said that, I would love to know what is going on in the heads of Clark on down to the assistant coaches and players. I am quite sure that Carl and Herm have convinced Clark that this is exactly how it would go. They probably gave him a timeline however and if that doesn’t play out, Clark will make a change (hopefully).
What Herm and Chan are saying is they want the team to impose there will on the other team. We are obviously not able to do that YET! We are still short personnel. IMO they still need MLB,WR,
TWO OLM and a RDE. I’m old enough to remember the coaching carousel that was the Chief’s of the late 70′s and 80′s. Remember that? Paul Wiggin anyone? Letting Marv Levy go because of a lack of patience. Herm needs another draft to solidify this team! I look for great improvement in 2010 GO CHIEF’S
Just to add something I omitted. the greatness that was Frank “crash” Ganz!
wiggin was fired within the season after compiling an 11-24 record in 3 seasons and after a 44-7 loss against the browns, and most would agree it was the right thing to do. It didnt set back the chiefs franchise.
I cant post it here but look up his wiki page for details.