Second Look: Carolina
Yes, it’s just as ugly the second time.
That coaches sit there and look through an entire game tape of a performance like the Chiefs had in Carolina has to be one of the worst aspects of the job.
I have an ample middle, but I didn’t have the guts to watch the entire game. Instead I zeroed in on the Chiefs offense in the first half. It was certainly one of the most inept performances by a single side of the football in many years for the Chiefs.
There were 18 situations: 16 official plays and two penalties. Those 18 situations led to just 13 yards. They lost 15 yards on two penalties and the 16 snaps produced 28 yards.
Here’s how it looked the second time:
1st-and-10 at the Chiefs 18-yard line.The Chiefs came out with one-back (1), two tight ends (2) and two wide receivers (2). The tight ends lined up on the left side, the wide receivers to the right. QB Damon Huard came to the line and changed the play before the snap. This extra time in his stance apparently was more than RG Adrian Jones could handle and he flinched. Jones was flagged for a false start. Result: minus-5 yards.
1st-and-15 at the Chiefs 13-yard line.The Chiefs stay in 1-2-2 and with the same alignment; tight ends left and wide receivers right. Huard handed off to Larry Johnson who goes right at the gap between right guard and right tackle. Jones could not clear LB Thomas Davis out of the hole and Johnson ran into the two of them and fell down. Result: minus-2 yards.
2nd-and-17 at the Chiefs 11-yard line. The offense lined up in a 1-1-3 set, with the TE lined up strong right, and two wide receivers left. Huard took the snap under center and the play was going to be a quick throw to WR Dwayne Bowe on the left side. But Carolina DE Tyler Brayton hit the gap between Jones and RT Damion McIntosh, and roared into the backfield and hit Huard, forcing a fumble. Johnson recovered for the Chiefs. That Brayton could shoot that gap and not be touched by McIntosh is astonishing. Result: minus-8 yards.
3rd-and-25 at the Chiefs 3-yard line. The Chiefs came out with 1-1-3 and Huard in the shotgun. The running back was Jamaal Charles. The Panthers rushed four and DE Charles Johnson came off the line untouched as McIntosh doubled down on the tackle. Charles chipped the rushing Johnson, barely slowing him down and then goes off to catch a pass. Huard can’t get the ball over Johnson, who knocked it down for an incompletion. How the Chiefs expected Charles to block the rushing end and then get into the pass route all by himself is hard to understand. Result: 0 yards.
1st-and-10 at the Chiefs 20-yard line. The offense came out in 2-2-1, with the tight ends strong left, the wide receivers on the right and Johnson and FB Mike Cox in the I-formation. Johnson took a pitch and runs at right tackle. McIntosh took out the DE, while Cox got a nice block on the run-support safety and cleaned him out of the hole. But on the second level, Jones wasn’t fast enough to get across the face of LB Davis, or strong enough to knock him down. Davis made the tackle. Johnson got four yards, but had Jones blocked Davis, he might have doubled that total. Result: 4 yards.
2nd-and-6 at the Chiefs 24-yard line. Aligned in 2-2-1, the tight ends were strong right, the wide receivers were left and the backs were in a split formation. Johnson ran at the gap between center and right guard and gained three yards. But C Rudy Niswanger was flagged for holding on DT Maake Kemoeatu. On a second look, Niswanger probably got flagged because his left arm was on the outside of Kemoeatu’s body and the defensive tackle ended up falling to the ground. It may have looked to the umpire who threw the flag that Niswanger threw his man to the ground. Result: minus-10 yards.
2nd-and 16 at the Chiefs 14-yard line. The offense came out in the same 2-2-1 personnel group, with split backs, tight ends strong right and the wide receivers left. TE Tony Gonzalez went in motion. Carolina rushed five, but Huard had good protection and threw deep down the left sideline to Bowe. The pass was about three yards overthrown. TV commentator Rich Gannon said the ball landed out of bounds, but it did not; it hit the ground in bounds. It was good placement, just overthrown. Result: 0 yards.
3rd-and-16 at the Chiefs 14-yard line.The Chiefs came out in 1-1-3, with Huard in the shotgun and Charles beside him. Gonzalez lined up in the slot on the left side. Against a four-man rush, Huard took the snap and locked on immediately to Gonzalez. He got rid of the ball quickly, throwing to Gonzalez who had two men around him. Gonzalez made the catch, setting the career receiving yardage record for tight ends, but he was tackled immediately and was 10 yards short of the first down marker. This play never had a chance to move the sticks because Huard made an immediate decision and threw to a spot that was 10 yards away from getting a first down. Result: 6 yards.
So far, the Chiefs lined up on offense eight times and produced minus-15 yards.
1st-and-10 at the Chiefs 21-yard line. Coming out in a normal 2-1-2 alignment with the tight end lined up strong left and the backs split. Johnson took the handoff and hit the left side of the line at the gap between center and left guard. Niswanger handled one tackle and LG Brian Waters handled the other, opening a hole. Cox got a good block on a linebacker and Johnson hit the hole. LB Jon Beason flowed to the play unblocked and made the tackle. Result: 4 yards.
2nd-and-6 at the Chiefs 25-yard line. The Chiefs came out in 2-2-1, with tight ends strong left, the wide receiver right and the backs in a split formation. On the snap, Waters pulled to his right, Johnson took the handoff and ran right. DT Darwin Walker was blocked by both McIntosh and Cox, but still made the tackle, holding Johnson to a short gain. Result: 1 yard.
3rd-and-5 at the Chiefs 26-yard line. In the shotgun with one back, Gonzalez and three wide receivers, the offense had three receivers lined up on the right side. Gonzalez came in motion from right to left. On the snap, Huard looked only to his left for Gonzalez. The Carolina defensive line ran a stunt and Walker came on the outside to the left of Huard. He was blocked by LT Herb Taylor and was not pressuring the quarterback. Huard threw for Gonzalez, but Walker knocked the pass down. Even if the ball had gotten through, Gonzalez would have struggled to get the first down, as he was two yards short on his route and there were two potential tacklers converging on him. Result: 0 yards.
Now, that’s 11 times the Chiefs lined up and they produced minus-10 yards.
1st-and-10 at the Chiefs 20-yard line. The offense lined up in 1-2-2, with Johnson as the single back, the receivers on the left side and the tight ends strong right. Gonzalez went in motion from right to left. Huard took the snap and dropped back to pass, looking left. His pass was knocked down by pass rushing tackle Kemoeatu. Result: 0 yards.
2nd-and-10 at the Chiefs 20-yard line. The Chiefs offense is 2-2-1, with the tight ends strong right, wide receiver left and the backs split. One note: Herb Taylor lined up in a pass blocking stance and his helmet was a good yard behind that of the rest of the offensive line. He should have been called for this, that’s how obvious it was. Carolina sent five in a pass rush and Huard shuffled out of the pocket to his right. Feeling the pressure coming, he threw a horrible pass across his body towards Gonzalez who was covered on three sides. The ball should have been intercepted by CB Chris Gamble, who dropped the ball. There’s no way this pass should have been thrown. Result: 0 yards.
3rd-and-10 at the Chiefs 20-yard line. Chan Gailey had a new set up for the shotgun in this game, sending out a 2-1-2 personnel group with Charles and Dantrell Savage in the backfield on either side of Huard. Carolina rushed four and Huard had good protection, throwing to his left side where he connected with Bowe who beat press coverage from CB Ken Lucas for the Chiefs initial first down of the game. That came with approximately 9 minutes, 35 seconds to play in the second quarter. Result: 15 yards.
1st-and-10 at the Chiefs 35-yard line. Back to the normal pro-set 2-1-2 alignment, with the backs in an I-formation and the TE lined up in the slot right. Gonzalez went in motion and ended up strong right. Johnson took the pitch from Huard. LB Davis shot into the backfield and Cox could not block him. Davis stopped Johnson for a three-yard loss. Result: minus-3 yards.
2nd-and-13 at the Chiefs 32-yard line. Again in the 2-1-2, the backs were split, with Gonzalez in the right slot. He went in motion again to the strong right position. Huard fakes a handoff to Johnson and boots to his right. He was pressured from Brayton and threw to Gonzalez at the Chiefs 30-yard line. Gonzalez was able to get positive yardage out of the play by breaking a tackle. Result: 3 yards.
3rd-and-10 at the Chiefs 35-yard line. Back in the shotgun with a 2-1-2 set, with Gonzalez in the slot on the left side. Carolina rushed four on Huard, who threw to his left side. Darling was beyond the first-down marker, but had to come back to make the catch and is tackled short of a first down. Result: 9 yards.
1st-and-10 at the Chiefs 17-yard line. Huard took the snap and kneels down to end the half. Result: minus-1 yard.
It’s hard to imagine an offense producing a more pitiful performance in a half. Sixteen plays, 28 yards, one first down with the deepest penetration being their own 44-yard line. Only four of those 16 plays started outside the Chiefs 25-yard line.
The frequency with which the Chiefs find themselves in 3rd-and-long situations is staggering.
Other than portions of the Denver game, the right side of the offensive line, and Damion McIntosh in particular, has consistently hamstrung any groove the offense is trying to get into. When Branden Albert is healthy, it will be a major disappointment to me if Herb Taylor is not lined up at right tackle.
I know Herm has expressed a desire to have the offensive line play together to grow together as a unit, but allowing a poor unit to grow together is not any more desriable than changing pieces of the puzzle. There comes a time when a player plays himself out of his spot, and personally, I’ve seen enough from McIntosh to make the change.
—Tim
That reads like what it looked like on TV.
Huard wanted the ball out of his hands as quick as possible, no reads just lock on to one guy and chuck it, or hand it off.
He needs to go!
TiminKC is absolutely correct. Mcintosh should be gone. Its like he lets the rusher through just to show everyone how useless he is. I don’t gripe too much about the player because we are rebuilding.But, this guy is one of the things that is wrong with our offense right now. The other is a decent quarterback.Not a stop gap measure as Huard is. I never thought I would say this but I’m glad Croyle is supposedly healthy again.
I was dumbfounded by McIntosh’s play as well. There was one play where we snapped the ball, and *boom* the defender was past McIntosh before he even left his stance. He turned around and looked totally confused.
Don’t remember the exact play, so I’m not sure if he thought there was help behind him… but he didn’t block inward, so I assume he just fell asleep… or the defender new the snap count better than him (or both)!
I’m certain that I could have made the block… I would have died shortly thereafter from being trampled, but I would have held him up for a brief moment longer than not at all.
It was painful. Play like that will get Croyle killed. It borderlines on negligent man-slaughter to leave McIntosh in.
I don’t know that it will do any good but, if you want a chance to reach management with your opinion on the Chiefs ummm Titans game KCChiefs.com has a little poll going.
Maybe someone in the hierarchy looks at it.
I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.
The Damion McIntosh and Adrian Jones combo on the right side is one of Herm’s blind spots. And yet we seem to prefer to run to the right. ??
McIntosh needs to go back to LT where he can backup and fill-in for Albert. Move Herb Taylor to RT and give another young guy a shot at RG. Now our power is to the left with Waters/Albert (McIntosh) hopefully flanked by Brad Cottam. We better be able to run to the left with that group.
I am not sure we want Brodie playing QB on this team. I doubt Brodie can stay healthy with any team but he could literally get killed behind these guys. This rebuild is underway but not close to complete. I think it would be a wait of talent to stick him out against Tenn. or any other game until the OL is better. Hello Thigpen, not because he is any good but his future does not look any good anyway.
As for the second look, brrrrr, save your efforts and trash it. Nothing can be learn from this tape but losing and they have already figured out how to do that.
Totally agreed McInworthless has to go. And for sure agree why in the heck do we keep trying to run to the right when are best tackle and guard is on the left side.
Bob, this is the first of your articles I haven’t been able to finish. Instead of reliving this game, I just pounded a nail into head and feel better already.
As a lonely Herm apologist, I may soon be making an appearance on the Discovery Channel’s “Dirty Jobs” program.
A franchise QB is an obvious missing piece, but I don’t know who is on the draft/free agent horizon that solves the problem?
You know, I’m not the smartest guy in the room when it comes to figuring out why the Chiefs are where they are right now, AND, how they can best get back to respectability and then, excellence.
I can tell you that success or failure is based on facts. If the facts suggest, on the one hand, that Herm needs to continue to sort out the anamolies of rookie mistakes vs the upsides of playing youth for the future, then I’m okay with that.
If on the other hand, the facts suggest that the talent is good enough to show promise for the future, i.e., win a few NOW, then I’m waiting to see THAT, you know?
At present, I’m at the fulcrum, teetering with equal weight on either side, waiting for the balance of reality to show itself. It’s like rocking back in the old rocker on the porch, reaching full back tilt and feeling the uncertainty of either coming back down or falling over in a crash.
I truly hope Herm knows what he’s doing.
There is an old saying that ‘you cant teach old dogs new tricks.’
Herm (in his infinite wisdom) will go against centuries of common sense and move Boone (who was our be DT) to play DE, and move McIntosh (who played LT his whole nfl career) to RT.
brilliant!
I really don’t know how to phrase it any better than this..But Herm better start watching the superbowl because he is never going to coach a superbowl game…Ever…Ever…Ever…No coach that does not like scoring 30 points a game (Herm even indicated he’d rather score 20 points a game) has no business being the leader of an NFL franchise..Even Bob knows that, although writing that would go directly against the people writing his pay check..Don’t worry Bob I like Carl! Just Don’t like Herm
I have been far from a Herm basher but when a team shows so poorly and your only explanation is “I don’t know” that is not acceptable.
Herm said “I don’t Know”…….. works for me ! ! I think the Chiefs looked as good as ever against Carolina. That was the best entertainment I saw in a long while,(since Sept. 14, o8 that is) Laugh out loud !!
http://chiefsblog.kansascity.com/?q=node/343
Edwards willing to make changes to induce sacks
Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said Tuesday he’s willing to make some changes and get more aggressive to improve the team’s weak pass rush.
The Chiefs have a putrid three sacks in five games; that’s tied with Cincinnati for last in the NFL. Even worse, none of Kansas City’s starting defensive linemen has a sack. Linebacker Derrick Johnson has two, and backup end Alfonso Boone has the other one.
“We haven’t gotten there like we’d like to,” Edwards said Tuesday. “We’re going to do some things.”
Edwards said the Chiefs might blitz more often and use Johnson and Demorrio Williams more often in pass rushing roles.
Read more about those plans, and the way that might backfire, in tomorrow’s edition of The Star.
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the nightmare never ends. Seems like we were getting sacks with Hali playing LDE…maybe we should move him back there for passing downs (with Turk in on running downs) and Brian Johnston at RDE.
It might be a better idea than blitzing LBs and than getting gashed big on play action pass.
HERB TAYLOR. BARRY RICHARDSON
Why are so many on here confident our current coaches can get the job done? Please help me understand what they have done in the last 1.25 seasons that indicates they are improving performance.
Yeah Yeah Yeah we beat Denver AFTER Denver had 4 turnovers, out yarded us and had an onside kick in their hands with two minutes to go. LUCKY and I hate the Donks
We have been embarrassed how many times in the past 16 games… I can think of 5 off the top of my head without even looking at scores.
This group of leaders aka Carl, Herm, Gun, Gailey and yes even our absentee owner Clark seem to be accepting the fact we will stink.
Rebuilding meand infusing NEW TALENT… it does not mean ONLY infusing youth. Don’t believe it can happen, look at Sean Payton’s first year in New Orleans… 32 new players and the SECOND ROUND of the playoffs.
We have an absentee owner, a GM that suddenly is invisible, a head coach that seems lost and coordinators that are NOT improving our young players.
Hope you all have good radio reception cuz watching the home games on TV will not be happening until this regime is GONE.
Isn’t part of the GM and Head Coaches job to build enthusiasm and hope with the fan base?
One more question…… if we had a REAL coach like Bill Cowher, how many of you think we would be 1-4 with three embarrassing losses… and how many of you would be excited about the future….. NUF SAID
Ray Farrens
I have believe Herm is going to turn this thing around he just needs time. People have to remember he did not inherit a BMW he got a Pento or a Dawoo. This team after Vermeil left had a horrible defense and an aging offense. So Vermeil go the heck out of dodge because he didn’t want to stay around to fix this mess. Most coaches for example like Dungy usually jus have to go in and build one side of the ball. IN Dungy case in Indy the offense was already there so all he had to do was build a defense. IN Herm case garbage defense and aging retirement home offense. Except for Larry and Tony. Lets go down memory lane a minute. 2006 the defense sucked so herm brought in Surtain and Law to help that out but then the offense start to show some age. Priest got hurt and Trent also. The line had a bunch guys ready to hang it up. So he squeeze blood out of turnip by getting this team to the playoffs with a second string quarterback. Then next yr age caught up with us on both sides of the ball 4 and 12 season. Now we blow it up and we’re here in 2008 with the youngest team in the league. So my fellow fans give it time this guy inherited a awful team that was on the downside because of age. He didn’t inherit a young and up and coming team. If anybody is to blame for this is Vermeil and Peterson for not doing a better job drafting players as the team aged. I can’t totally blame Peterson because that was his style. Sign old guy who had a little football left in them. We won alot of games like that in the past, but i think what he has learned that you can’t sustain long term success doing it that way. And you definately can’t buy a Super Bowl by putting a team together this ain’t the NBA. Like how Ainge did the Celtics. IN football championship teams are developed and under Herm leadership that is what him and Carl are going to do. We’re jus going through the growing pains of that process.
Bob I have very please with your writting. I find it accurate and insiteful.
Offensively:
Firstly - I agree with those who have named McIntosh as a “must be released” chief. I doubt that he could play second string on anyother team in the NFL. He is the weakest link in our offensive amour and i just don’t know why the coaching staff can’t see that. Or QBs and RBs play timid working behind him and even when the play goes to the left side his guy is a factor in the play. Secondly - the offensive scheme we are using requires an RB with patience, superior vision, and cutting (with a burst)…I like LJ but that is not his forte. i think Kolb is a better choice and i think i would even go as far as saying that Savage has the perfect toolset to star in this offense. While Charles has cuting, burst and good vision, he does not appear to be able to break arm tackles…a necessary trait if you’re running behind our young but improving Oline. Thirdly - Let’s start Franklin at WR until Mark Bradley comes up to speed at which point he would would then move to the slot. I beleive MB is going to be huge player for us in time. Fourthly - Why is Cottam getting playing time. A double TE set with Kolby/Savage/Charles would provide the pass blocking, spread running lanes, variation and deception (2 TEs to press the LBs). We need an offense that is “offensive”, not Defensive. An offense should dictate what the defense does - ours follows instead of leading the defense. Fifthly - We need a QB coach who understands the necessity for sound footwork and and timing in the passing game and can teach it. Sixthly - Move Tony around (with Cottam in this should be easier) and throw to him early. Seventh and final - where are the crossing routs on first and second down, it seems that all early down routes go to the flats.
Defensively:
Let the defensive line penetrate and stunt we give the opposing team the same movement on everydown making it easy for them to develope blocking strategies. Tank and turk are really working hard and it’s a shame they are not reaping the benefits. Dorsey seems to be working hard but sems to be a step slow in reacting…probably just needs time. He would be a force if he had a seasoned veteran to play along side of him. Secondly - does it make sense to move Pollard to MLB. He has everything but the size. He has the toughness and intensity we need to lead the defense. He is everywhere the ball is. I say play him there and start Morgan at his safety position. If Pollard isn’t big enough for the middle he can trade with DJ, in any case he should be a starting LB for this team. Thirdly - Tim Crawford needs to go with McIntosh…neither is an NFL caliber player.
Forthly - Demarrio is a player…turn him loose.
Fifthly - Weston Dacus is a sleeper, got to find a place for this guy. Sixthly - please trade LJ before the trade deadline….his value can bring us something good. Seventh and final - Huard does not help this team in anyway. He is soft, shows no leadership toughness or wisdom, seems to be satisfied with earning a paycheck. He is the model of complacency….the chiefs need to be moving forward in everyway, he, McIntosh, and Crawford are the force that resit our movement.