Offensive Problems? … Weekend Cup O’Chiefs
With four OTA practice sessions to go, many things could change around the Chiefs before they head off to start their summer vacation late next week.
But who would have believed back in early February that come the middle of June the Chiefs defense would be ahead of the offense in its development under Todd Haley and the team’s new coaching staff?
Wasn’t offense the strongest of the three phases of the game for the Chiefs last year? Obviously the biggest weapon in that attack is gone: TE Tony Gonzalez. But everybody else that mattered in the offense last year returned, including coordinator Chan Gailey. Because of that, the playbook was altered only slightly. It seemed like the offense was set to welcome its big new addition in QB Matt Cassel (right, with WR Bobby Engram) and was ready to roll.
That hasn’t been the case, or at least it hasn’t been in the practices that have been open to the media. Right now the defense is ahead of the offense. Haley has talked about the problems of his passing game in the last week. Obviously, those four remaining practices allow the offense time to catch up. And let’s remember we are still three months away from the regular season opener.
I provide that note of caution because from e-mails and comments that have come in, I sense grave concern among some in the Chiefs Nation about what’s been coming out of mini-camp and these OTAs when it comes to the offense.
Folks, it’s way too early to push the panic button. Remember, these sessions are barely football. These are guys running around in their underwear and there’s no contact allowed. Now, the linemen butt heads during practice, but it’s not with the ferocity of real football since they are not wearing pads.
And that makes perfecting the running game very difficult. Working the run game requires blockers blocking and defensive players pushing back and going after the ball carrier. That work will not begin until training camp.
So, one hand of the offense is tied behind its back. That leaves only the passing game to work on, something the defense knows from play to play in these sessions. The other guys are working on their own situations over there, but it’s always easier when they know the ball is going to be thrown, rather than run. That gives the defense an edge and they are able to take more chances in coverage.
Right now Tyler Thigpen seems to be throwing the ball with more efficiency than Cassel and that should not come as a surprise. He’s spent all of last year working with these same guys. Thigpen knows their speed, their quickness and how soon they will get to a certain point on the field. Cassel is still learning those traits and 10 OTAs and five mini-camp practices hasn’t been enough time to make things click flawlessly in June.
Should there be concern? It’s way too early for concern. Is it something to watch? Absolutely.
Haley wants to win as many games as he can in the 2009 season. There are no delusions of a rebuilding season coming from him. He saw what happened with Herm Edwards, who believed he had a year to rebuild from Clark Hunt. That proved to be incorrect. Haley is looking for victories and that’s not going to happen if the passing game isn’t successful.
An NFL season is a series of postcards that are strung together creating a movie. What we see in June is one part of the plot, a chapter so to speak. It should not be taken out of that context and blown up bigger than what it really is.
Come November, if the Chiefs are still struggling on offense, we’ll know where it started. If they are getting the job done, we’ll know June was just part of the growing pains.
TRENT GREEN DECIDES TO HANG’EM UP
The decision wasn’t so much his, as it was made for him. Nobody in the NFL was very interested in signing Trent Green to play for the 2009 season.
So Green has decided to retire, ending a 15-year career that started poorly and ended poorly, but in the middle he had great success as the starting quarterback of the Chiefs.
“I feel this is finally the right time,” Green told FoxSports.com. “I’ve talked about it with (the family) for a while, especially with the concussions over the last few years. We all felt it was the time to do it.
“The way I approached the game the amount of work I put into my preparation and being someone guys can turn to in the locker room, I don’t want to be a guy who waits for someone to get hurt to get a job.”
Green entered the NFL in 1993 as an eighth-round draft choice of the San Diego Chargers out of Indiana. He spent that season as the No. 3 quarterback with the Chargers and never saw the field. He was out of the NFL the next year, but landed in Washington for the 1995 season. Green spent four seasons with the Redskins, finally getting to play in 1998, starting 14 games.
He signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Rams in 1999, but then suffered a season ending knee injury in the pre-season. Green came back the next season and served as a backup to Kurt Warner.
In 2001, he was traded to the Chiefs and for five years he never left the lineup, starting 80 consecutive games and had three consecutive seasons throwing for more than 4,000 yards (2003-05).
By the time he left Kansas City in a trade with Miami, Green was second only to Len Dawson in the club record book for the major passing categories: attempts, completions, yards and TD passes. Green hit 1,720 out of 2,777 attempts for 21,459 yards and 118 scoring throws.
Over his entire career, Green was 2,266 out of 3,740 attempts, for 28,475 yards, 162 TD passes, 114 interceptions and an 86.0 career passer rating. He’s 39th in the all-time passing yardage list and 13th in the all-time passer rating list.
MICHAEL VICK IS A FREE MAN … IN THE NFL
Several teams were interested, but nobody in the NFL was willing to make a deal with the Atlanta Falcons for the rights to QB Michael Vick.
So the Falcons released him on Friday. Vick is now a free agent, free to negotiate with any NFL, Canadian Football League or United Football League team.
“It’s a situation that we have been thinking about for quite some time,” Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff told the Atlanta media. “We did our due diligence. We’ve been searching around the league and were looking for some interest as far as a trade. In the very end, we came to a conclusion that it was time. It was best for both us and Michael Vick to move on, to turn the chapter.”
Dimitroff said teams were interested in Vick, but felt the timing wasn’t right. The Atlanta GM delivered the news to Vick with a phone call.
“He was accepting of it,” Dimitroff said. “He was expecting it, I’m sure. We respect him as an individual and as an athlete in this profession. It was the right thing to do.”
Vick remains suspended by the NFL.
SIGNINGS & MOVEMENT AROUND THE LEAGUE
BRONCOS – signed seventh-round choice C Blake Schlueter.
REDSKINS – signed sixth-round draft choice LB Robert Henson and seventh-round WR Marko Mitchell; released WR James Trash, LS Jeremy Cain and LB Tyson Smith.
STEELERS – signed third-round draft choice CB Keenan Lewis and fifth-round picks CB Joe Barnett and FB Frank Summers; waived P Dirk Johnson.
SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY …
June 14
Born on June 14, 1962 in Pittsburgh was LB Scott Radecic
(right). He was the team’s second-round pick in the 1984 NFL Draft out of Penn State. Radecic played in 48 games with the Chiefs, starting 31 times and had four career INTs, including one he returned for a TD. He currently still lives in Kansas City and works for the stadium-arena design firm formerly known as HOK.
Born on June 14, 1962 in Whittier, California was C Mark Cannon. He played 11 games with the Chiefs during the 1989 season.
Born on June 14, 1966 in Albuquerque was OT Ricky Siglar. He played in five different seasons with the Chiefs (1993-96, 98.) He appeared in a total of 68 games with 50 starts in the Kansas City offense.
Given the early comments on the uneven outings of the offensive, it would seem that ball control will be a priority in 2009 so LJ might have a far larger and important role than anyone would have thought even as late as a few weeks ago?
A return of Marty ball in some form? Hey, if the WRs and QBs are average, playing keep-away is the best way to eke out those wins that Haley needs to continue his program.
On another note, thanks for being a class act all the way, Trent Green. Happy trails to Trent who should be on a TV screen or two near us in the future.
WR’s and QBs are average?? We lost Tony (Thigpen’s savior) and got Cassel who know nobody here. We have “questionable hands” Bowe, two cast offs and some old vets. Hardly a “average” group. Given time, they may blend but average may be shooting for the stars.
LJ may have to take the load for one more year if the offense line can block anybody.
Trent Green was one classy guy, wish him all the best.
“THE SKY IS FALLING! THE SKY IS FALLING!!!”
There’s no way to tell what we have, and don’t have…until they put the pads on and get down to business. So all the speculation is just that…speculation.
Good luck to Trent in whatever he does. He gave us some great years as the leader of this team.
Does anyone know if Trent is retiring as a Chief or with a different team?
He was a classy guy. Best wishes!
Trent does well on TV.
Mike Martz was on NFL with Rich @ Marshal Falk,talking about Vick, Mike was saying he would be better to come in to a team as a running back or a WR.
The first thing to mind Tyler was one of KC’s best running backs last year.
They might run a play with Matt and Tyler in the back field and see how cute this deff. looks !
In fact, they both are good runners .
No surprise that Thigpen is throwing it better than Cassel. He’s a better QB than Cassel. But he won’t get a chance to prove it, as in being given a real chance to start. Cassel will be OK though. He’s good, just not as good as Thigpen.
If these OTA’s really were the be all and end all for how and who will play well in the regular season, then WR Richard Smith would be coming off his 5th straight Pro Bowl, because for 2 years running, he was all OTA, earning rave after rave from DV. Craphonso Thorpe also did well in OTA’s consistently.
I agree on comment 1, Haley will surprise everyone this year and run the ball 60 percent of the time with LJ/Charles/Jav williams(or kolby if he makes it back)
The Passing game will come off the run game, not the other way around.
Also yes they arent even hitting each other, so there is time, however Im more encouraged about positive notes on the D, hopefully they fly under the radar till the season.
Mark Says:
No surprise that Thigpen is throwing it better than Cassel. He’s a better QB than Cassel.
Hilarious, Mark…hilarious.
Thank goodness for folks like Mark, they make reading this blog worth it. Totally lacking reality but really, really believe what they say. This is so much better than ole Rin and me, it keeps me here. Thanks.
I’m really getting tired of hearing how Herm “believed he had a year to rebuild from Clark Hunt [and] That proved to be incorrect.” Clark ALSO said he expected improvement as the year went on, and that anything close to 4-12 wouldn’t be considered a success. So if Herm thought he got a “free year,” then he was wrong, not incorrect. This sympathetic picture you’re trying to paint of a guy getting stabbed in the back is ridiculous.
Trent was the BEST QB ever to wear a Chief’s uniform. A true professional. He’s in the Hall of Fame in my book. Thanks for everything!
Graeme,
Bravo! Bravo!
Thank You for reminding us all of that minor detail. I had forgotten that.
It’s amazing to me how the Media has given Herm a pass on this. But then again he was their best buddy too, with his stupid comments that the local press seems to have found cute. Not to mention his subtle leaks to them. I find it disturbing (would have thought the Author would too, based on his rants against the local media and his fondness of history, but he seems to be in lock step with them on this issue) the way the Media likes to try and rewrite history, by simply omitting a fact.
I, by no stretch of the imagination think Clark is above, ummm making a promise he has no intention of keeping but, in this case, Clark did make the statement that he expected to see improvement, and that another 4-12 season would be a disappointment. Well, Herm actually managed to fall below that mark, so, he was fired, justifiably!
Thank You Graeme!
Thigpen is a better Qb than Cassel. Until someone can prove that the Patriots weren’t the better team last year and actually helped Cassel’s win/loss record, yardage stats and td/int ratio I will believe that Thigpen is more talented and did more last year with less talent around him.
i worry about some of the expectations on Cassel. I do believe he will succeed, be a leader, win games, and year in and year out be a 25-30 td guy with 10-15 picks, however, he may also be a guy who ranks right where league execs have him, 5-8th best in the league, and if thats the case, or even 10th best, thats acceptable. its the rest of the guys that need to get in shape not just physically, but mentally.
@ Mark. WOW!!! now THAT is a dumb statement. thigpen a better QB than Cassel? do you actually believe that?
Today: QBs, ownership tap dancing and any 22 (or 35-40 something) will do i.e., ‘check’ sells his soul (and the youth movement) for a “W” - ‘any.’
*
Two for one special: Thigpen is a far better QB than Cassel - just as Len Dawson was far better than Trent Green. Dawson, Starr and Unitas too were better than any others, ever.
**
What a Clark Hunt says for public consumption is not necessarily what he says/said in private; in fact, it very likely bore no resemblance the one unto the other, based on how long/hard/it was to say goodbye to Herm Edwards - that episode spoke volumes. Tell the public what they want to hear to $toke the coal - ticket $ale$ - whence season is nigh and then…well, worry bout the price to pay for illusion aft. Oh, what a tangled web he Jr. did weave when…
Now Bob G is ’slanting’ his commentary according to some…hilarious (the ’some’ that is)
***
“Haley wants to win as many games as he can in the 2009 season.”
- that he has said; unlike Edwards, two different philosophies/part & parcel two sets expectations,
by deduction - for ‘public’ consumption. What Jr. has told ‘check’ in 2009, and what Jr. told Herm in 2008 only those three people know.
As Rin has stated many times, Herm Edwards died for the $in$ of his player$, fan$ & Jr.$ bottom line which went $outh.
“Haley is looking for victories”
- he’s going to need lots of Visine…
He’s already said/insinuated one thing (”any 22″) and yet has brought in many relics with any hint of a football life left to give in hopes he’ll be
not so much ‘the biggest loser’ as just ‘a loser.’
He sounds like the perfect candidate: Democratic or Republican, take your pick…
Yes KC! Who you gonna believe? Me, or your lyin, ass ears?
Stupid Fn argument!
Yes Charles, because it’s true. He did about the same with far less. Stronger arm, better instincts, better escapability. Cassel is taller, which is an advantage. Both are tough guys and good leaders. Cassel is OK, and has a chance to be a 10-15 QB in the NFL. Thigpen has the ability to be 5-10.
Interesting to me is if Tyler continues to outplay or be more accurate than Matt all the way throught training camp up to end of pre-season will Haley hold up to his word and start Tyler over Cassell.
really top 5-10? how many top 5-10 qbs are runners? And did you notice Cassel runs pretty darn well for having a 3-4 inch height advantage.
And that 10 percent difference in completion percentage, dont give me moss and welker, ill give you gonzo and bowe….nothing better for a completion percentage than a TE like TG. Yet that did nothing.
Thigpen was nice, in an offense that couldnt run due to its format based simply on the fact that thigpen needs to be in the shotgun to do one read and throw, he can make multi reads.
Anyway…
can’t* make multi reads-
Top 5-10?
Donvan McNabb is. John Elway, McNair, etc certainly was. Nothing wrong with a QB that can run, as long as they don’t look to run 1st. Having a QB that’s a threat to run only helps an offense.
They CAN’T give Thigpen the job, after trading a #2 for him, but it would be nice if Haley did, if he continues to outplay Cassel. But if Cassel’s standing, he’s starting. He’d have to be embarrasingly bad, and Thigpen stunningly good, to even have Haley consider it, and then only because of his pronouncement of an “open competition”. Again, I like Cassel, I just Thigpen is the better QB and long term guy.
Mark…
Did you watch the same Chiefs games as I did last year? You didn’t see Thigpen make LOTS of bad throws? Look at the same receiver on most every passing play (Gonzales)? Make poor decisions many, MANY times? And he wasn’t running to run…he was running for his freakin’ life.
Don’t get me wrong…I like Thigpen. I think he has the skills, determination, and work ethic to make a good QB someday. SOMEDAY. Right now…he’s a decent back-up with some starting experience. That’s it. If he keeps up the right attitude, works hard, and keeps learning…he’ll probably get there.
And I don’t buy the “Haley won’t start Thigpen” argument. I firmly believe that Haley will start the QB that will give us the best chance to win. Like it or not, though…right now that QB is Matt Cassel.
Besides (maybe not you personally, Mark)…too many people are putting WAY too much stock into the OTA’s, and one mandatory mini-camp. The real deal won’t be until the pads go on and the hitting starts. Come on, guys…it’s mid-June.
Seriously…do other team’s fans start freaking out this early?
Scott…
do you live on the East coast near Philly, I do and yes there are some other teams, i.e. the eagles fans do freak out early even on their #1 QB who happens to be a top 5 QB.
Cassel ran out of the shotgun alot if not a majority of the time in NE, they realized he wasn’t making the reads fast enough from under center!! He was holding the ball too long and didn’t know when to take off running, hence the #1 sacked QB in the NFL last year!! Oh and Bowe had dropped enough passes last year, that all plays a part with the QB’s percentage. How many drops did Moss and Welker have last year? Less then Bowe combined??
Also Im glad to know that Thigpen wasn’t thinking run first, like cunningham in his hayday, he knew when to run and not take the sac if he could avoid it.
Scott, I agree about OTA’s. They mean very little, and most fans take them WAY too seriously. Who’s beating who, offense, defense, etc doesn’t matter much. It’s more about getting in shape and instilling the right mental attitude, which Haley is doing splendidly. I’m just not surprised Thigpen is playing better, because I expect him to. I watched every game and every play of Thigpen. What I saw was a massively improved young QB, who once Herm backed down from his archaic, backward offensive theories, and let Gailey create an offense he was comfortable in, played very well for the most part. Sure there were bad throws, bad decisions, etc., at times. There were for Cassel also, who I watched plenty, with a far better team, and better overall coaching and support system. That’s what 1st time starting QB’s do. As far as only looking at Tony G, that’s bogus. Bowe caught 86 balls. You can make a better argument that Cassel locked in on Welker, since he caught 42 more balls than any other NE receiver, while Tony G only caught 10 more than Bowe. I saw more potential and raw talent in Thigpen then Cassel. That’s my judgement. Others disagree, which is fine. Like I said, I like both guys, just Thigpen a little more.
I’ll be shocked if Cassel isn’t the starter. In fact, I think Haley should do it sooner rather than later, because when you have 2 QB’s, you have no QB’s. While I think Thigpen’s better, they don’t, so name Cassel the starter and avoid any QB controversy, which is the worst thing a team can have. There are ways for a Head Coach to heavily slant a supposed QB “competition” in camp, and I’m sure Haley will do that, because they want Cassel to start, after trading for him, and they won’t risk him getting badly outplayed by Thigpen(or Croyle) in the exhibitions.
I HAD THE SAME ? WILL T. GREEN RETIRE AS A CHIEF OR WHAT?…
Mark good points. I agree w/ points u made about thigpen and cassell. I think Thigpen has a great chance to start. Especially if Cassell starts the season as the starter and begins to hold on to the ball too long and take alot of sacks like he did in NE. Its ok with the team he played with last year but its going to cost games here in KC.
So will see it will be interesting. Because I do think Thigpen is better than most people think. And I also think it want be a big deal if Thigpen beats out Cassll and become the long term starter. I mean really if KC is winning with Thigpen as the guy who realy cares if we gave up a 2nd rd pick for Cassell. We’re winning and at the end of the day thats all that really matters.
I agree with both Ed and Mark. I have been watching a lot of NE games on the NFL Network’s “NFL Replay”. Cassell is a great runner, but holds onto the ball far too long. I’m also not buying the supporting cast idea in NE. From those games it seemed to me that Randy Moss fell back into his Raider days of taking plays off. His boyfriend Tommy wasn’t on the field so he gave poor effort. However, both Cassell and Thiggy seem to have trouble reading coverage with out using shotgun formations. Cassell also has more time in the NFL. Which I think should give him a slight edge…but I don’t think it does. Cassell will probably be the starter as stated above, but I think Thiggy will make it a hard decision. Of course Haley and company sat Leinart in favor of Kurt, but I think that was an easier call.
On a side note….watching these games I’m also focusing on the Chiefs new OLB Vrabel. He looks like he gets stuck at the line of scrimmage a lot. At first I thought that he just had trouble shedding blocks of O-Lineman, but the more I watched he had much trouble with TE’s also. Any one else have an opinion on him?
Fort of figure Vrabel was a throw in to give NE cap relief if the Chiefs wanted Cassel. True or not it does not matter. If Vrabel contributes, fine, if not Chiefs get a cap hit (which they can afford because they have not spent enough to meet the minimum level anyway). What we may have witnessed is the interworkings of the old boy system.
Vrabel is about done, and was brought here to lead/teach. He’s already failed at the leader part with his absence from OTA’s. But as the most experienced person in the type of D they want to transition to, he’ll still have a role.
Leinert wasn’t a guy Whisenhut/Haley drafted or traded for, so it was a different scenario than Cassel, and will make it far hrader to not start him. But it was smart of Haley to use Leinert as an example to keep Thigpen motivated and up in spirits.