The Chiefs defense had their work cut out for them today.  And it wasn’t because of the powerful running game of the Raiders.  It is because the Raiders only play on half the field.  If you get the ball near your opponent forty…Sebastian Janikowski is dangerous.  But today, Shane Lechler put on a Pro Bowl demonstration of punting.  His net average yards were impressive.  The play of the entire special teams left the Raiders a chance to win this game at the last minute, and that is exactly what they did – practically on one play.

Enough about getting beat.  It was encouraging to see the play of Bobby Wade, acquired this week off waivers.  I thought both he and Dwayne Bowe were playing tough, especially across the middle (You know, the area of the field Tony Gonzalez used to play in).  Speaking of Dwayne, I thought today it was evident that he is indeed maturing.  Also playing better IMHO was Tank Tyler.  And DJ … that’s two!    And of course, the other Johnson, Larry was hitting the holes faster and running tougher.  Last season he seemed to come down if someone thought about touching him…today – you had to hit him hard and low.  But, man do I miss T-Rich.  Imagine LJ behind a T-Rich lead.

One thing is for sure.  True accountability in the clubhouse…or office place…makes a difference.  We’ve seen it week after week from this coach.  A player can’t even get off the field without finding out the coach’s feelings about his performance.

OFFESNSIVE COORDINATOR

While we’re on the subject…I liked Chan Gailey as a person.  He was an extremely polite and pleasant person.  But watching the new blocking schemes today in conjunction with the breadth of play calling (moving pockets, screens, etc.), I must say I think Todd Haley is a better O-Coordinator.  Larry Johnson obviously has talent, and Todd seems to be finding a way to use it.  Now let’s see if he can dodge the freight training coming on the NFC East Railroad.

It seems Plaxico Burress was not the only one to shoot themselves in their NFL game last week. I honestly don’t know why any coach would risk getting the best placekicker in the league hurt when a game IS NOT YET on the line. Probably the same coach that would come out throwing against the Chiefs 2008 Defense.

But before you credit the Raiders defeat as self-inflicted, you should know…the Chiefs read the fake. It was no accident that Maurice Leggett was there to pick up the fumble. Raiders punter Shane Lechler usually sits down (with his butt on his angle or very near the ground). But suddenly, his form changed – and the Chiefs saw it.

As Marty Schottenheimer used to say, “Luck is what happens when preparation & opportunity come together.” (Well…close anyway). The Chiefs Special Teams were well prepared for the Raiders game. It was GREAT to see them capitalize on their opportunity. It was GREAT to see them contribute.

Congrats to Mike Priefer and his men!

Gunny’s men did good stopping the run as well, learning from Septembers 300 plus yard tromp.

Next up! THE DONKEYS. Expect Jay Cutler to provide amble opportunity for the Brandon’s to show their preparation. And expect Tyler Thigpen to get some bootleg payback.

Len Dawson believed in an Oakland victory. So, this week – I’m going to believe. After all, we won once in Denver – 2000 wasn’t it? (Sorry…my bad) What I meant to say was – we beat them here…we can beat them there.

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oh! I know.Cornerbacks!

Personally, I’m content with Ty Law getting a chance for post season play with Brett Farve – mainly because …. HE’S NOT HERE!!!!! I think one task we have definitely accomplished this year is finding two quality – young cornerbacks. It’s probably too early to tell…but based on last week, Maurice Leggett maybe a third.

I’m also thankful for the promise of Tyler Thigpen. Yes, I’m still voting for Thigpen. IMHO, Thigpen really only made one mistake last week against the Bills. Now before you reach for the mouse to tell me 3…three….III….turnovers by Thigpen….keep this in mind: The two interceptions are on curl routes that are a three step drop and fire. Thigpen spends all three drops selling, than looks and fires. As Mitch Holthus put it…that route has a problem!

Looking back through the games to Atlanta, the film showed receiver’s nearly getting this on almost every instance of it. In some cases the corner gets it, but can’t hang on to it. While Thigpen got the credit for NOT throwing an interception – coach’s should have known this was coming. Either its design or execution has been sketchy from the onset of Thigpen starting. After all, flip a coin enough times, it will land on the other side! Before you place this on Chan, the receivers aren’t helping this route. These curls could be bread & butter for us, but not until our receivers learn to get separation.

There! I said it.

How about SHOWing us some separation. I could also go into a complete rant about catching balls that hit you in the hands, but that’s just not in keepingwith the Thanksgiving “Glass-Half-Full” spirit. (You’ve have no idea – how hard that was to type)

One last thing. I keep hearing about how young this team is. And I believe there is truth in the “rookie wall.” And for the 2008 Chiefs, that isn’t going to be just a guy or two. But here is what is killing me. Derek Johnson is in his fourth year of pro-football. In fact, he is in a contract year. If ever there was a time to show (I mean, SHOW) coaches what you’re made of …. it’s a contract year.

After the Bills Trent Edwards crossed the line of scrimmage last week, he became a running back. Why then was Derek Johnson still backing up 2, 3, to 4 yards deep in the end-zone? Why? You can’t tell me that Gunther needs to explain to him how the rules work. Chalk it up to sluggish return, his girl-friend having a baby, the flu, whatever. But if you can’t feel the game…you better be the most studied guy on the field. That TD was unacceptable. Come on DJ. We need you. Shows us what you are made of.

Boy…this was my warm-fuzzy! At least I left the Special-Teams alone.

Turkey day, then its off to Oakland. The land of Italian cookies. I love the food in SF. Tough game though, expect the Raiders to play a lot of Man-to-man and continue to pry on our run coverage. Best o’luck to Herm and his men. We’re going to talk pretty in depth about what the Chiefs can expect with Kendall and Len on pre-game from Oakland.

Till then…Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

Fast forward to the Meadowlands. Now we’ve lost a game, we could have won. Yes, I find that to hurt. It should hurt! But on Sunday!

On Monday, we should revel in the fact we were competitive. This is a rebuilding year, in which we have now been competitive in almost half our ball games.

COMPETITIVE
New England
Denver (Obviously)
New York

NON-COMPETITIVE
Oakland
Atlanta
Carolina
Tennessee

Look at 3 of those 4: Tennessee is the number one team in the country right now. Carolina is number three. And Atlanta is developing into a top 10. That leaves only Oakland as a performance not worthy. Our second game of the year – in a rebuilding year.

Unfortunately, coming to town this weekend is the number 9 team in the league. And the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense appears to be as strong as the Tennessee Titans

TYLER THIGPEN
Personally, I like the mechanics of Tyler Thigpen. His footwork is faster. His fakes are stronger. He just draws cleaner lines with his actions. Last week as he was scrambling for the first down out of bounds at the end of the game, he took a quick step right, as if to cut back to the middle of the field. These caused the d-back to stop pursuing and start to reverse direction. Without this move, I’m not sure Tyler makes it out of bounds to stop the clock before the d-back’s initial full pursuit would have caught him.

It was a great day for Thigpen. I believe there may have been an element in the play calling at the end of the Jets game that was an effort to protect the confidence of this young man – helping to build a player that the Chiefs can utilize for nine more games. As a fan, building a good quarter back is worth a loss IMHO.

Expect the Bucs to test that confidence.

CORNERBACKS
The play of our two rookie cornerbacks, the Brandons!, continues to be a huge positive. I believe as a defense starts to come together, one of its first visible products is turnovers. If I’m right, this is the start of something great.

DEFENSE
The Jets games was Tamba Hali the best Hali has looked in 2008. I vote we make this change permanent. Also, the defense in general did a much better job of seeing the football – with one or two exceptions. I won’t (4) mention any (9) numbers though. Fundamentals!
BRAD COTTAM
Right here is where Tony Gonzalez should plant a legacy seed for after he has finished as a player. It was great to see Brad out there making plays. Imagine what Cottam and Bradley could do for Gonzalez and Bowe. Come on…that’s a little exciting to dream about.

FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT
The Bucs are good. But if one thing impressed me about the Jets game it is this: the Chiefs had more fight in them. The Jets knocked them to the ground early. Chiefs bounced back. The Jets knocked them down again, and just before the half we landed a huge blow. Then again – but much like the grains of sand that make up a beach, each players small increase in fight and effort is beginning to make a difference.

I think what makes this so disappointing is the loss of momentum and confidence gained from the Denver victory.  Had the Chiefs just lost a tough fought battle to the Panthers on Sunday, our record would be identical to what it is now.  However, mentally it is a completely different place!

Regardless, I’ve been preaching you can’t know until you review film…so here it is.  I reviewed the first 10 offensive plays.  Let’s face it.  Defense doesn’t matter for this game – because you can’t win if you don’t score!!  Here is the first series:

1. 1st and 10 from the 18 – Jones  flinches.  (False start -5 yards)
2. 1st and 15 from the 13 – Jones doesn’t punch down enough on the DL for Niswanger to seal an angle.  McIntosh plants his feat and loses his block on the DE.   Hole closes and 27 falls over backwards when he runs into it.  Johnson misses the cut-back.  (-2 yards)
3. 2nd and 17 from the 11 – Jones is so slow off the ball that the DL runs straight through the A gap and sacks Huard (for those non x’s & o’s…that’s the worst place to leave open…as it is the closest most direct path to the backfield).   Huard doesn’t fumble… Johnson recovers.  (loss of 8 yards)
4. 3rd and 25 from the 3 – Screen pass under the goal post.  Jamaal doesn’t do much to slow down the DE, but it is a screen pass.  Huard waits to long looking left and by the time he turns to throw the screen the DE is there to knock it down.
   The second series is not much better, but the same 4 players struggle all day.

Adrian Jones
In general Jones is not quick enough.  In situations where he progresses from a chip block to the linebacker, he just can’t get there to seal the linebacker.  And because he can’t get to the linebacker quickly, he is unable to spend enough time chipping or punching down coming off the line.  This extra half second of double team is what it takes to get a defensive linemen turned and sealed.
 
Damion McIntosh
Slow feet.  Slow feet.  Slow feet.  Slow feet.  No feet!!!   Whenever a linemen stops moving his feat…he’s done!   Damion is too slow to get up and turned in.  Then when the DE starts to move left or right, he just leans with him until he slides off….and WHOOP!   Slow feet!
 
Damon Huard
Beside the obvious freight, I noticed a few mechanical items with Damon.  First he carrys the ball low.  This requires a lot of time to bring the ball up and throw it.  Furthermore, he pats the ball just before doing this.  These two habits combine to around ¾ of a second.  And that is enough time for the defense to react.  Three of the Panthers front four were 6’4” or better.  But I question if this wasn’t a factor in the batted passes all day.
 
LARRY JOHNSON
Despite Larry’s previous stats, he isn’t running well in my opinion.  He isn’t making good reads.  He isn’t running efficient routes.  He isn’t selling the fake.  And he isn’t sure footed!  Several times including the first play of the game (second after the penalty), the cut-back is open.  He just missed it.   And this offense requires he make reads. 

I also think he is taking some wasted extra steps, either bending routes or shifting left and right.  This is drawing the linebackers straight into the gaps.  It also makes it difficult for the offensive linemen to set their blocks as they can’t tell where Larry is going.  Good running backs excel at setting their blocks and making clean – sharp cuts around them.  Larry isn’t doing that right now.

And it is almost eerie how easily this 230lb running back comes down.  He often gets one foot swept out and he falls forward.  Or he runs into a pile and falls backwards or sideways.  Michael Turner is only 10lbs heavier, but he would not come down.  Barry Sanders was 30lbs lighter, and he would not come down.  2 yards rushing?  As our Director of Master Control Eric Townsend said, “that’s not rushing, that’s falling forward!”

WHAT NEXT
Having to play Tennessee next feels like starting the season in NE all over again.  I do know this.  What veterans are left (a.k.a TG!!!!!) need to stop worring about being on a great team…and start making THIS team great.  The veteran playmakers have to become stronger leaders.  The have to show these young men how to WIN in the NFL.