Time For L.J. To Produce … Friday Cup O’Chiefs
It’s Larry Time.
The fans have been waiting for it to happen. So has his head coach/offensive coordinator. And yes, his teammates have waited to see Larry Johnson get loose.
But nobody wants to see it more than Johnson himself.
“It’s time,” Johnson said after practice on Thursday. “I think we learned some things last week (in Philadelphia). I think it will transfer to this week. It’s the same type of defense, so we know what we are going against.”
Johnson was speaking of the second half offensive attack in the loss to the Eagles last Sunday. That’s when a perturb Todd Haley decided if he was going to get crushed by Philadelphia, he was going to get his running game into shape. In the second half down by multiple scores, the Chiefs ran the ball 19 times with little or no success.
But Johnson said things got done
“It’s tough; you try to find your niche here and there, but in the second half we got moving,” Johnson said. “I saw little things started to happen. I think we learned a lot from coach and he learned a lot from us as far as taking that approach.
“I’m pretty sure we can carry that mentality over. Now, we know what we are dealing with. ”
The frustration of losing and not being able to produce for the offense is there for Johnson, but as he gets closer to his 30th birthday, he certainly seems to be handling the situation better than at any time in the past. There have been no tantrums, no bad body language and no finger pointing.
It’s just been Johnson running hard, even though sometimes there is nowhere to run.
“We are just waiting for that spark; I know it will come, so right now we just have to weather the storm,” said Johnson. “Things are going to be tough until we find our identity, then we can turn it on and it’s all downhill from there. ”
One factor that has made a difference for Johnson is the new regime running things at Arrowhead Stadium.
“The last couple years, nobody wanted to do anything about it (losing),” said Johnson. “This year, I was sitting next to Monty Beisel and I won’t be sitting next to him no more. There are a lot of other guys that I have seen and said Hi too, and they aren’t here anymore. It’s their dedication to making this team better day-in and day-out. You always see this team trying to change.
“From my perspective, this is the first time I’ve seen this team try to do something right now, rather than wait to the draft or whatever.”
Again, from Johnson’s perspective there’s a new emotion hovering in the Chiefs locker room these days that is making just about every one uncomfortable. That would be fear.
“There was never that fear, most guys never had that fear; I saw guys faces and they were thinking ‘Oh, I’m going to be here, I’ll just ride it out’,” he said. “Even when Dick (Vermeil) was here, there were a lot of guys that were real comfortable. I was like, ‘shoot I wish I could get that comfortable.’
“This is a production business and everyone has to be ready, and if you don’t produce, there’s always going to be somebody to take your spot.”
Is Larry Johnson comfortable? Not hardly.
“I know I’m not comfortable,” Johnson said. “I lost three mil(lion) in that deal (his off-field problems and his contract.) My reputation is on the line with this team. I have to prove myself day in and day out. As you can see there are three or four running backs already playing with me, so it’s never a situation where I’m feeling like I’m comfortable.”
Through three games, Johnson has run for 136 yards on 54 carries, an ugly 2.5-yard per carry average. His longest run is 14 yards. But a slow start is not something unusual for Johnson. In the previous four seasons when he was one of the primary runners in the Kansas City offense, there have been other times when early season production was down. Here are the numbers after three games:
| Â Season | Â Carries | Â Yards | Â Avg. |
Game Avg. |
||
|
2009 |
54 |
136 |
2.5 |
45.3 |
||
|
2008 |
58 |
217 |
3.7 |
72.3 |
||
|
2007 |
50 |
140 |
2.8 |
46.7 |
||
|
2006 |
74 |
295 |
3.9 |
98.3 |
||
|
2005 |
26 |
164 |
6.3 |
54.7 |
||
Johnson can only hope to recreate the performance he had the last time he faced the Giants defense. That was back in December 2005 at Giants Stadium when he ran for 167 yards on 31 carries with two touchdowns.
FIVE FORMER CHIEFS DRAFT PICKS MAKE UFL FINAL ROSTERS
Next Thursday night, the United Football League will begin its life when Las Vegas hosts California for the inaugural league game. If your cable system or satellite service gets the Versus network, you can watch at 8 p.m. CDT.
The final rosters were decided on Wednesday and the four teams have 11 former Chiefs and five of the team’s draft choices. Plus there are a number of Missouri-Kansas-Kansas State players on rosters as well. Here’s how it breaks down:
- NEW YORK – QB Quinn Gray, QB Ingle Martin, WR Craphonso Thorpe (4th-round ’05), LBs Joe Mortensen and Charlton Keith from Kansas.
- FLORIDA – P Todd Sauerbrun, WR Frank Murphy from Kansas State and QB Chris Greisen of Northwest Missouri State.
- LAS VEGAS – WR Samie Parker (4th in ’04), OT Jeremy Parquet (7th in ’05), LB Gary Stills (3rd in ’99), G Tavares Washington, RB Josh Scobey of Kansas State.
- CALIFORNIA – TE Michael Allan (7th in ’07), WR B.J. Sams, WR Bobby Sippio, OT Tyler Luellen from Missouri.
SIGNINGS, INJURIES, HONORS & MOVEMENT AROUND THE LEAGUE
- AFC – named Colts QB Peyton Manning the AFC offensive player of the month for September; Bengals DE Antwan Odom the AFC defensive player of the month; Broncos K Matt Prater as the AFC special teams player of the month.
- NFC – named Saints QB Drew Brees the NFC offensive player of the month; Packers CB Charles Woodson as the NFC defensive player of the month and Eagles PR DeSean Jackson as the NFC special teams player of the month.
- NFL – named Jets QB Matt Sanchez the NFL offensive rookie of the month for September; named Lions FS Louis Delmas as the NFL defensive rookie of the month.
- BILLS – placed CB Leodis McKelvin on the injured-reserve list (leg).
- LIONS – released WR Yamon Figurs.
- PANTHERS – signed DT Hollis Thomas; released DT Ra’Shon Harris.
- RAMS – promoted from the practice squad WR Nate J ones, LB Dominic Douglas and DT Leger Douzable.
FROM THE PAGES OF CHIEFS HISTORY
On October 2, 1960, the Dallas Texans fell to the New York Titans 37-35 at the Cotton Bowl in the fourth game of their inaugural season. More details later today.
On October 2, 1966, the Chiefs lost 29-14 to the Buffalo Bills in front of a crowd of 43,885 at Municipal Stadium. The Chiefs could not overcome a strong performance by the Bills defense, as they scored a pair of touchdowns in the first quarter, but were shutout afterwards. QB Len Dawson threw a pair of TD passes, one for 71 yards to WR Otis Taylor and 15 yards to RB Curtis McClinton. The Chiefs were able to run for just 51 yards, while the Buffalo defense picked off a pair of passes, one each for Dawson and QB Pete Beathard. “The Buffalo line was just great,” said Chiefs coach Hank Stram. LB Bobby Bell had an interception of Buffalo QB Jack Kemp. Taylor caught four passes for 125 yards.
On October 2, 1983, the Chiefs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 38-14 in front of 58,975 fans at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs put the game away with 21 fourth-quarter points, highlighted by a 15-yard TD pass from QB Todd Blackledge to TE Willie Scott. FB Billy Jackson added a six-yard scoring run and RB Theotis Brown had a one-yard TD run. Earlier in the game, QB Bill Kenney threw 10 yards to WR Henry Marshall for a score and LB Charles Jackson returned a fumble 37 yards for a touchdown. The Chiefs defense had five interceptions and three sacks. S Deron Cherry had two of those INTs.
On October 2, 1988, the Chiefs and New York Jets tied 17-17 at Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands. It was a big fourth-quarter comeback that allowed the Chiefs to even the score. Down 17-3 on the first play of the final period, QB Steve DeBerg threw a pair of touchdown passes. DeBerg connected with WR Carlos Carson for an 80-yard score and then with less than a minute to play, he hooked up with WR Emile Harry for an eight-yard TD pass. Earlier, the Chiefs got a 34-yard FG by K Nick Lowery. On the afternoon, DeBerg was 17 of 34 with two TDs and two INTs. Carson finished with five catches for 162 yards. SS Lloyd Burruss had an interception of Jets QB Ken O’Brien and DE Bill Maas, LB Dino Hackett and LB Jack Del Rio had sacks.
SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY …
Born on October 2, 1986 in McKeesport, Pennsylvania was CB Maurice Leggett. He joined the Chiefs as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Valdosta State in 20089 and ended up playing in 12 games. Leggett scored a pair of touchdowns, returning a fumbled fake field goal for a score and taking back an interception 27 yards for a TD against Denver. He was named the team’s Mack Lee Hill Award winner, given each year to the top rookie player.
Born on October 2, 1942 in Higginsville, Missouri was DL-OL George Seals. He joined the Chiefs in 1972 after playing eight seasons with the Redskins and Bears. Seals played in two seasons at Arrowhead Stadium (1972-73), appearing in 24 games. He played his college ball at the University of Missouri, and he was selected by the New York Giants in the 1964 NFL Draft and the San Diego Chargers in the 1964 AFL Draft. Seals signed with the Giants, but was traded to Washington in a deal that included Hall of Fame LB Sam Huff. After playing that season with the Redskins, Seals was traded to the Bears where he started as an offensive lineman, but then was moved to the defensive line. A contract squabble made him available in ’72, and the Chiefs got him in a trade, giving up DT Andy Rice and the team’s 1973 first-round draft choice. He played in 24 games in two seasons with the Chiefs. 
And born on October 2, 1937 in Midway, Pennsylvania was Dick Haley (right), father of the Chiefs head coach. Haley played six seasons in the NFL with Washington (1959-60), Minnesota (1961) and Pittsburgh (1961-64). He appeared in 75 games playing both running back and defensive back. As a rookie with the Redskins he ran for 51 yards on 14 carries with a TD. Over his career he caught eight passes for 78 yards. Haley played mostly defensive back during his final seasons, finishing with 14 career interceptions, including six during the 1963 Steelers season.
Hello? Sure is quiet around here.
I agree, LJ needs to step up, but let’s not heap all the blame on him. That line is atrocious and I doubt even Barry Sanders or Sweetness himself could run behind it.
JCH
Well, I wouldn’t go that far Josh as even last Sunday I seen plays that J.Charles or LJ could have done that bounce step Sanders had left or right and had more yards. Sweetness would more run right at ya and cut. They would both struggle thats for sure this line is horrible.
As far as LJ himself I have eatin my crow and he will have to prove to me that he still has it. I’m back to the lets get rid of LJ wagon. There’s a trade I’d like to see this year heck why wait until the offseason.
This could be the game that KC might turn some conner’s in , the key is going to be ball controll ! Have to keep the ball out of Manning’s hand’s .
With Halley -Jackson comming together , some TE’s @ WR’s now in place—and they are proably going to work the middle , and if that can plugged , along with some kind of running game (200 + ).
I think a high % of the team are starting look like this going to really start falling in place .
phred—-the mascott dosen’t seem to get up this early , 10:00——>
Chris,
Yeah, that might have been an extreme example.
JCH
Yes, the Chiefs line is terrible. But LJ is not the same LJ from a few years ago, either. He has no spark, no fire. He runs like he EXPECTS to get that 2.5 yards each carry, which that number is a little misleading. If it weren’t for a couple of his longer runs, most of his carries go for no gain or minus yards. If I were Haley, I’d concentrate on getting Battle, Charles, and Savage the bulk of the carries and see what they have. LJ is the Chiefs past. Those guys might, MIGHT be the future. It’s time to find out.
Josh says:
I agree, LJ needs to step up, but let’s not heap all the blame on him. That line is atrocious and I doubt even Barry Sanders or Sweetness himself could run behind it.
Charles had more yards on 5 carries than LJ did on 12. Get the ball in someone elses hands!!
Example.. Charles, Savage, and where has Battle gone to? Had a good preseason.
Happens to all of them: time appends & relegates greatness to but also ran a runningback. Turns a thoroughbred into plow horse, Beetle an Ferrari, Beatles into Beau Brummels- legends/pedestrian.
It happened to Sayers and it happened to Okoye – happens to those that knew a Bo Jackson & those who did not the case Larry Johnson. Eventually, unless the name is marked Brown or Sanders, all come to know via a device other than their own. Johnson now knows…better late than never – or was is just later than he thought?
Whether due to normal wear & tear, injury or as victim their own device, the life a runningback is measured via Haley’s Comet ra’her dog years. Some comets are brilliant – others
just, well… treading water – found wanting after a brief burst on the scene.
Rin wonders – as He wanders – et tu Lar? Wonders He that is me Rin no more. Lar’s seen the light, and his Head Coach Herm Edwards w/a little help from his friends Carl and Roger by way a thinner wallet & smaller self context.
Set to the music ‘Smile’, we change a few words and “Run, tho your line is jaking – run, what’s the use complaining… as your career nears the end, you’ll append”…and so he has.
Larry’s become a football conformist; having ones career flash before the eyes helps. Too, running into walls be they public opine or offensive line your own tends to make awareness go up as average per carry same drops.
Unlike his new coach who keeps trying to force a square peg into a round hole and when it doesn’t work blames the wrong ‘hole’ as it were, Lar has seen the errors of his ways…soon enough so too the 0-7 other who screams alot, yet says nothing really & accomplishes little too.
Very soon now the public will grow tired
s act too, just as the players already have, Rin is certain of it!
its quiet around here because most “fans” left to be on the chiefs official messageboard where they have moderators which wont allow “doggie poo type” spamming.
We are talking about two different things here. One, LJ and two, the Chiefs. If LJ were not on the Chiefs where would he be? Just maybe he is done. He has a long career for an ordinary RB. It was not a HOF variety and unhappy from the personal side but at least he made it, something others dream about. Anything left in the tank, I doubt it.
We have beat it to death but the Chiefs are rebuilding and really, really bad. Pioli/Haley have made it apparent that this is just an extended preseason for all of 09. To believe that some lightbulb will come on like in the cartoons, makes you a true Chiefs fan but not to realistic. “Patience of the fans will be rewarded” should be the slogan for the next few years.
PS: the “Patience” bit is not orginal it is a quote from Pioli at the time of his hiring.
el cid,
I don’t know about the “extended preseason” thing. I think they want to win now, but are also looking down the road.
Cassel had it right with his statements yesterday. If the Chiefs can eliminate the stupid mistakes and stupid penalties, the wins will start coming. This is the NFL. If you don’t play smart football, you won’t win many games. The Chiefs are obviously not a very good team right now. Part of that is those mistakes. A good team can afford to make a mistake here and there. A bad team can’t. The Chiefs are not good enough to help the other team out, and still win.
el cid,
So what does being negative and pessimistic get you? Do you feel better about this team by tearing them down? I read what “This Fanbase Sucks” said yesterday, and I agree. Look at the fanbases of perinnial stinkers. The Phillies have the most losses EVER in the history of ANY professional sport. They won the World Series last year and are on track for a repeat performance this year. The Patriots were an NFL laughing stock until Pioli and Bill took over. Nine years later, they’ve been to the Super Bowl four times and gone undefeated in the regular season. What do those two examples show us? Pioli’s right. Patience of the fans WILL be rewarded.
I understand frustration. I am a die-hard Royals AND Chiefs fan. I have been since I was old enough to watch TV with my dad. I have had my heart broken by these teams too many times to count. Am I frustrated by the fact that we haven’t won yet under this regime? Yes. Is this regime the answer? I don’t know. I’d like to think so, and I’m not willing to write them off yet. Herm had THREE YEARS to make something of this team. What did he do? Gutted it like a fish and left the filets on the cutting board to rot in the sun. I think we can all agree that his experiment didn’t go as planned. What this regime is trying to do is take those pieces or rotten fish and figure out a way to make a meal out of it. Chances are, they’re probably going to have to thow that old fish out and start over with a brand new fish. I’m okay with that. I’m tired and frustrated with quick fixes. This team is bad, yes, but they’re improving. The Eagles are a great team. I’d call them a NFC Championship contender. The first half our schedule is horrid. The second half is where you will start to see improvement. Stay the course!
Slow, aging, indifferent running back combined with an untalented, patchwork offensive line = the 2009 Chiefs running attack.
I’m betting that the o-line gets lots of attention by Pioli between now and the start of next season, I think that’s apparent to all. What I don’t think will happen is too many high draft picks being used to sure it up. Unless they decide that Albert needs to be moved inside, at most they might use one of the 2nd round picks for the o-line. I’m thinking Pioli will rely on free agents and 3rd and 4th round picks to build a line.
Just my 2 cents.
I would just like to pick LJ’s brain while watching game film…the Mrs. and I are always wondering why he just plows ahead when it seems he could just turn right or left and pick up some yardage….just wondering what it is he is seeing or not seeing.
We spend most of the games hollering “Throw it to the tight end!”….it matters not to us who is playing tight end, but it seems to me after all these years of watching football at all levels, that a quick pass or 3 to a decent TE can back the LB’s up and give you some more room to work the run…..and they should try to throw to LJ some more…..I think he has done pretty well when they have used him as such….. We just plain old like Dantrell Savage, and coach Haley can’t call his number enough for us…..he is fun to watch! On a lighter note; The Mrs. and I will be attending the Broncos game on 06DEC09. We have not been to Arrowhead in 6 years….I bought club level, front row, seats# 1,and 2… the ticket master ticket exchange thing is pretty cool…..I can’t think of a finer way to celebrate our anniversary……..yes sir, she is a mighty fine wife, and she can shoot very well too! Make this a great day and remember; “Throw to the tight end!” Go Chiefs!!! Out here.
Bill Beliehick turned that team around the day he put that old anchour in the locker room and a note that any one that wanted to go down with the ship to get on the anchour , they had just lost a key player in a salary cap type trade , and there was a lot of doom and gloom . Thing’s really did’nt look good and they all decided to go out and play their best , and the rest is history .
That was pure team effort———-
“Pioli/Haley have made it apparent that this is just an extended preseason for all of 09.”
By all means, let’s write the season off because they had a disappointing home loss and road losses to two of the best teams in the NFL. No, this team is not good enough to beat top-10 NFL teams – does anybody think they would be?
“To believe that some lightbulb will come on like in the cartoons, makes you a true Chiefs fan but not to realistic.”
Could’ve made the same statement about this time last season, when this team was getting crushed by the NFC South. They went on to be competitive in the majority of their games after that. This team will get better, what remains to be seen is if they get good enough to win some of the games they couldn’t last season.
That “lighbulb” could very well come on, el cid. Stranger things have happened. Personally, I think that “lightbulb” will be beating a good team. When the Chiefs beat a good team, that’s when I think you’ll see the tide start to turn. My personal prediction is the Dallas game next week. That may not be “realistic” as you say. But that’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it.
Mad Chief,
I think its completely possible!
JCH
Mad Chief,
Dallas is a team I had targeted prior to the season, but they’re running the ball like crazy right now. I think they’ll run all over the Donks.
NY AND DALLAS both have what I call ” not perfect ” to win every game now , team’s , later in the season teams like this have promblems with their divinson’s and get knocked off .
Don’t think they will just say KC got lucky , more like Todd and Scott have worked these guy’s to a high level .
These are both home games and I think some fan’s are hungery for some football !
If I was a coach ,and had to deal with a high HP team that lost all that weight early , I’d worry .
ILChiefsFan says:
“Dallas is a team I had targeted prior to the season, but they’re running the ball like crazy right now.”
True. The Barber/Jones/Choice combo is working well, no doubt about it. If the Chiefs can stop the run and limt Witten, Romo could be had.
No problem, right?
As far as Dallas running all over Denver? That would be great. I’d like to see about a 40-3 score, myself. Broncos, 3-0? Pffhttt. It’s time they were exposed.
Mad Chief,
I forgot that Jones got hurt last week and won’t play against Denver. He’d better not play against the Chiefs either!
And I’m just going to say this, at the risk of ridicule: I think that in terms of run offense/defense the Chiefs can play with the Giants. The problem is that the Giants pass offense/defense is so friggin’ good right now it cancels everything else out. If the Chiefs can’t throw on the Giants at least a little bit then they can’t be successful running the ball.
I luv when people make claims that LJ is done! He is our BEST player hands down, the only 1 on our team who has big play potential. I know, I know alot of u LJ bashers are saying yeah right Bowe is or maybe Cassel but maybe 10 years ago Bowe would be charaterized as a Possession WR and Cassel a solid backup(U can hold your breath with these 2 all u want)! I tell u guys what u go out there with our line and a target on your back and lets seem how many yards u get if any.. Battle runs 2 high which is gonna get him killed sooner or later,we r still holding our breaths on Charles who shows flashes but fumbles more often than not and Savage LMAO u gotta be kidding me..the kid runs hard but he has no clue in which hole 2 hit, he spends more time running into his own players. LJ will get it going as soon as Cassel shows he can be a threat down field! If I were a Defensive coor. and played the Chiefs this is a easy week for me b/c I’m putting 8-9 in the box until they throw it down field.
Mad Chief, 2 answer your question the other day about what could Pioli have done more in FA this year? How about sign Derrick Brooks and Marvin Harrison both could have brought alot of experience 2 our young team in need of guidance clearly!
I’m glad larry gets it. For the previous 3 years, all this team did was draft and hope. Now their trying to improve using all the tools (trades, FA, draft, training, coaching…). That’s why I like the new management; they get it and aren’t going to waver just because things have not gone well for their first 3 measly games.
Alexthe”GREAT”,
There has been zero interest from any team in signing Marvin Harrison. That tells me something right there.
Brooks. Yeah, maybe. He’ll still out there, too, unsigned.
Thing is, how do we know who Pioli might have tried to sign? He sure as hell isn’t going to tell us. I’ll bet there were several players he went after, but got no interest from them because the Chiefs are a 2-14 team. We’ll likely never know.
Yeah L.J.! Great attitude! He sees the light!
Whereas, Retarded Rin only sees Herm’s starfish.
HA! Retarded Rin hates how I get at him!
You deserve it Retard.
Gameth…
Seteth…
Matcheth…
idiot.
To *** mom didnt we just have a blog on saying stupid stuff that didn’t have anything to do with this blog???????? While I’am not a fan of the mouth …….why start it . lets try to make this blog a place we all want it too be .Thanks ……PnS
I agree anon.
I enjoyed reading almost every post so far, and thats been along time, now someone trying to ruin it all ready.
To everyone, lets be mature, okay! As most of us are…
There were three things for me to evaluate concerning LJ and the run game at the beginning of the season:
1st- Attitude, did he have a new attitude or just faking it? My opinion…he has a new (better)attitude. No way he could fake it after 0-3 start.
2nd- Skill set, does he have significantly diminished skills from earlier years? My opinion…his skills have not significantly diminished because he was never a “get yards where there wasn’t any” back to begin with.
LJ always needed an opening or at least a crease and he could get one with Roaf, Shields, etc. Now once/if he has an opening he is just as tough a back to bring down as any in the league. This year he is also fighting for/stretching for that extra yard not seen last year.
3rd- Line play, does he need a GOOD line to get started? Yes (see #2). I have been one of those fans arguing for settling on the same 5 OL and letting them gel; however, I have been won over to getting the BEST 5 you can now (even 3-5 games into the season) and then let them gel.
Great blog…….Hank right to the point!!!!!!Charles if he didn’t fumble looks like he should start……would LJ go in a hole maybe . With the amount of $ LJ is being paid he should be backing up to the pay window……with a….. you shouldn’t have smile.Well now that I think about it….. that would just about include the whole team . Fan since 65 !!!!! PnS
agreed, don’t attack someone for their opinion. This IS america still right?
Alexthe”GREAT” says:
He is our BEST player hands down,
and Savage LMAO u gotta be kidding me..the kid runs hard but he has no clue in which hole 2 hit, he spends more time running into his own players.
My question is what games have you been watching? If you wanna make theat assumption about Savage, what do you have to say for “THE BEST player hands down”, he rund into the line every play… that he does not fall down in the back field. I am not saying Larry was not good, he played good for us for three years. But get over it, he is DONE. Why keep beating a dead horse, we will get nothing out of him again. They say he needs wholes, well hell I can run through a friggin whole. Brian Waters could get his big but through a whole. The line will not create wholes, so lets put the ball in play makers hands, aka Charles, Battle, and Savage.
And something else, not to you Alex, does anyone else think that we need to throw the ball to set up the pass? Instead of the opposite. Not screen passes 10 yards behind the line of scrimage a actual pass down field 10 plus. Lets start the game with passes, for a change even if incomplete. Just not another Larry to the right, atleast go left behind our probowl guard and good left tackle.
I think larry still has talent, his attitude is better. He does need a crease to get it going as does 90% of all running backs in the NFL.
Personally I want to see LJ and Charles in the back field at the same time, more often. That would help a lot with some of their tendencies, and keep teams guessing. Motion Charles out who will now be on a linebacker, you can now pass with mis-matches, or run because there are less people in the box.
They definitely need to start using formations to create space, if teams are going to stack the box, and we are not going to throw down the field, we need more 3 and 4 WR sets so it creates more space in the box.
LJ can’t block you say, go back to week 1 on Brodie’s second touchdown, he was able to make that pass b/c LJ stuffed a blitz right up the gut. He has improved. Not to mention LJ in space is not fun for linebackers and DB’s over the course of a game that wears you out, he made nice plays catching the ball against the raiders and running in space.
Amen Chiefsfan_62!
Throw that ball down the field, not 5 to 10 Yds behind the line. Sid Gilman understood that and he used the passing game to set up the running game and the passing game too….sometimes I do miss seeing coaches and some players smoking cigs on the sideline LOL! I think all of our RB’s have decent hands should we decide to use them….. I don’t think LJ is totally done though, just needs to be used to his remaining strengths/skills…. but as you said the play calling for LJ gets so predictable during some games…we can always throw it to the tight end too HA!!! Also; if when we need say 8 yds for a first down, why does it seem that we never throw it at least 9 yds? Just makes me crazy somtimes. Our O-line will get better. Patience, patience, patience. Out here.
Don’t be afraid to throw the ball on first down. Throw against the base defense, not against the nickel or dime. And yes, LJ is blocking a little better.
Got to wonder? LJ is the poster child for Haley’s Chiefs? What is wrong with this picture? Seems he was that way with Herm’s Chiefs also, how did that work out for you? He is about 30 and well used, how much is left? A lot more questions than answers on LJ.
Lar is averaging only 2.5 per carry – pretty poor – until you compare him to
& 
– .000 as in 0-7 in 2009…
Patience? … I want a win .. I want a competitvie team with fire in their eyes!! I want a tough, smart Team that plays smash-mouth football … I want the Chief’s I grew up watching back. Fix the O-line, tighten up the secondary and quit making stupid mistakes. The performance we witnessed last Sunday is completely unacceptable. Pioli/Haley make the big bucks now let’s see them earn it.
I thought the season was determined based off LJ’s performance. As many of you know, a good running games opens up the passing game. Well, a 2.5 yd. average isn’t going to open up anything besides a closed window to victory(My best Rin impression, who’s very articulate IMO, I don’t agree with you though). I think they(Bob, Mitch Holthus) are trying to make LJ look better than he is. Our line is better than it was last year(barely) so, the people using the logic “Our line is horrible, lj can’t find a hole” should examine who we had starting last year.
Another note, I saw that Yamon Figurs was released. He was overdrafted(3rd round?) purely because of his speed(by the Ravens, a supposed good drafting team). I remember he looked pretty good as a KR/PR. Maybe we should look at him….
Any word on Tauscher? I hope he comes to KC, he’d solidify that line for us at least this year. There are a lot of good RT’s coming out this year….