Podcasting: Len’s Look 11/21
Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson joins us to talk about the Chiefs. Len continues to analyze the growth of Tyler Thigpen at quarterback and his need for a victory to validate himself and his offense. Len also talks about the Chiefs lack of a pass rush and the poor special teams play that is hurting the team’s chances of victory. He also spends some time talking about young Buffalo quarterback Trent Edwards.
Len makes a great point about Tyler. He do needs to be more productive in the second half but he can’t do it alone. Receivers have to catch the football and offensive line have to open holes for the running backs. I remember Bradley dropping a critical ball on 3 and 2 late in last game. And in the second half of Bucs and Jets game I can remember Bowe dropping key third down passes as well. And look at plays on the goal-line the offensive line can’t push someone back a couple yards just to allow time for Larry to at least get to the line of scrimmage. Its not all on him. At some point this team as a whole just have to want it more than the opponent. Especially in the second half.
Love hearing Lenny and Bob talk about the current state of the Chiefs. Excellent stuff here. A couple of points made during the podcast are illuminating I thought:
1) Lenny on special teams play: (paraphrased somewhat), “Special teams is killing the Chiefs. If something isn’t working, change it up, try some new players in there even if they’re starters.”
So, where is the coaching expertise and why haven’t they, the coaches, figured this out?
2) Lenny again: “Not getting pressure up the middle on the opposing QB allows the guy to get comfortable and pick apart the Chiefs.”
Is Gunther Cunningham smart enough to try new wrinkles to get this done? Can Gunther make adjustments as Chan Gailey has done for the offense to get far better production out of Thigpen?
Or is Gunther simply in over his head? Does he not have the talent to get a push up the middle a few times to disrupt the rocking chair Brees was in last Sunday?
To say the Chiefs overall defense and special team play is a massive understatement. Someone or someones have got to turn up the heat under these people!
Thigpen’s development (and it must be noted the offense was opened up for #4 whereas it was not for Croyle, by reports) and part n parcel via a Thigpen having better ‘stat’ than Croyle serves to but validate the obvious: a Croyle’s 0-6 W/L mark is no more an indictment of he than the 0-5 Thigpen’s is ‘gainst him: it is a team game and until the team plays better, gets better/better players all around, the pasting of a W/L tag on the backs the QBs – any – is folly.
Build the team, and it (wins) will come…
Let us consider, Defense is terrible, Special Teams is killing the team, and the Offense is not the type herm wants to run.
Three good reasons to continue the rebuild with herm and the guys. It is obvious to me they know exactly what they are doing and success is just around the corner.
I am being foolish I know, but to read how the chiefs need a QB or MLB to turn this around makes me worry about driving home, what are the rah, rah guys on,
Rin Rin! Tin Tin! Rin Tin Tin!