Practice Report 10/8 Update
From the Truman Sports Complex
Speaking after practice on Thursday, Larry Johnson did not provide any sort of explanation of his one-word answer to most media questions after last Sunday’s game against the Giants: ego.
“That’s last week,” said Johnson. When asked for a hint, he declined.
But Johnson made it plain that it’s time for the Chiefs offense to get its act together and to do it for four quarters.
DE Wallace Gilberry was the only player on the active roster and practice squad who was not taking part in the practice. Gilbery suffered some sort of head trauma during Wednesday’s session. He was on the field, working in the rehab area.
During the practice, OT Ikechuku Ndukwe suffered a neck stinger and was forced out of the work.
Speaking after practice, QB Matt Cassel said this week the emphasis on offense has been on limiting the negative plays. “We need a lot more production on first and second down,” said Cassel. “If we can eliminate the negative plays and have more production on early downs, we won’t be so bad on third down.”
Cassel said there’s no magic potion to eliminating the team’s negative plays. “We must have more attention to detail as we go forward,” said Cassel. “Whether it’s running the ball, catching the ball, throwing the ball, we need to be better.”
When it comes to negative offensive plays, the Chiefs lead the NFL. They’ve had 51 running plays for negative yardage, passing plays for negative yardage (including sacks) and offensive penalties. Those 51 negative plays have cost the KC offense 269 yards.
Chiefs fans have been waiting for a breakout performance from Cassel. “I would love to throw for 350 yards and have a big breakout game as well,” said Cassel. “More important than stats is to get a “W” on the board. Stats will come. The biggest thing for this team is winning a game.”
“The biggest thing for this team is winning a game.”
WOW, That’s sad . . .
Has anyone ever noticed that moving the ball forward (vs negative plays)seems so much harder for the chiefs than it does for just about every other team? So many other teams will get receptions across the middle, 4-5 yards every other run or so. Not the Chiefs. I mean, heck, the Lions are moving the ball forward easier than the Chiefs. Can the drop off in player quality be that significant? Is the coaching that far off? I’m not blasting anyone, I’m just confused as to why this is so hard for this team!
Its hard 2 get 350 yards a game without Moss, Welker getting all the yac. Try throwing the ball down field 2 Bowe, most likely it will be man2man coverage b/c dallas is gonna stack the box baby!
Its gotta be coaching,Hell Gailey made Thigpen into a half-way decent Qb with no experience and we still was able 2 compete.
Alexthe”GREAT” says:
“Its hard 2 get 350 yards a game without Moss, Welker getting all the yac.”
Exactly, Alex. Good point. If we had a couple of talented recievers like New Engalnd has, we would we WAY ahead of where we are now.
Alexthe”GREAT” says:
“Its gotta be coaching,Hell Gailey made Thigpen into a half-way decent Qb with no experience and we still was able 2 compete.”
Yeah, they “competed” alright. Didn’t win…but they “competed”.
I think the current boys in charge are shooting for something a little more than that. Are we there yet? Not even close. But, we will be. We’ll see if our record this year is better than it was last year. That’s where the proof will be.
It is not Moss , It’s if you can connect on play’s throwing long .
Is that going to happen ?
I have the answer……QB sneak ever play 1or2yrds ….until the rest of the talent catchup with QB. This is a pun …..no response required PnS
Jim Lloyd+ says:
“It is not Moss , It’s if you can connect on play’s throwing long .
Is that going to happen ?”
Depends on if our QB has more than half a second to throw. It’s a little tough to have your receivers go deep, when the opposing D is on your QB the second he gets the ball. It all starts with the line. They have to give some pass protection. Period.
Bennet-WR>Dallas say’s he does’nt see how they can lose to KC sun. ( I DO )
Defence is a problem for them #1
If KC can get a lot of first down’s and hold a desent game together , NO fumbles or interception’s .
Good— Jump start would help .
Our no running game, passing game, negative plays, all due to the o-line. period. I give Haley credit for trying to get better talent on the line, but until they get better, nothing else will.
but I think they are getting better. hope o’callahan is one answer
Its primarily because of the O-line. Another large factor is that LJ doesn’t have the quickness or explosion as in the past. When you watch his footspeed/quickness compared to many other RBs in games we’ve played, he’s soooo slow. Watch this weekend. He needs space to get going. He’s not reall good at blasting through a crease like he used to be.
I think if O’Callahan plays well for the remaining year, it will enable them to get a C & G in the offseason. Rudy just isn’t gettin’ it done. He has no explosion off the ball & is not reall consistent at the point of attack. I also think the process of changing Albert’s body has affected him. He’s a very good prospect. After his performance last year with virtually no training camp… I’d be surprised if they don’t adjust his playing weight at some point. The O-line as a group seems to have a lot of trouble maintaining discipline in pass protection by either sliding to the pressure or helping out somebody else too quickly. I don’t think that’s so much of a group thing as individual recognition skills.
Mad Chief do u think we are competing this year? I would say no minus the first game. But i think Haley should put Cassel in the shotgun and run slants and curls. Stop running those long developing routes out of pro style until our lne proves they can pass block.
I actually thot LJ has improved. no hes not fast, but I think he has a better additude and he has more fire in him now. I can see his facial expressions better, hes not cryin as much, and he seems to be pumped up more after a good play than the last 2 year. I think if the 0 line gets better LJ can really do some damage to defenses still
alex the great what was the only difference between the first game and the rest of the games? I can only think of one really..
AH 78 ….They don’t want to look at that . Its call burying your head in the sand.The cause ….maybe….they really don’t like Brodie…..refuse to acknowledge he played better than preferred QB…. Believe the world is flat PnS
Just give Cassel a pro bowl team to surround him & he could be Trent Dilfer of the SB Ravens ……now I’m not saying he wont be…. he isn’t right now.PnS
You guys that seriously think Croyle is a better QB than Cassel? Could you please pass me some of what you’re smokin’? Maybe then, I could see where you’re coming from.
Brodie played decent in the first game against the Ravens. Not good, and certainly not great…but decent.
You do not yank your starting QB out of the line-up because the back-up plays decent for one game. You just don’t.
Listen…EVERY SINGLE PLAYER ON THE CHIEFS OFFENSE HAS BEEN PLAYING SUB-PAR. EVERY SINGLE ONE. How in the hell is putting Cassel on the bench going to fix that? Even Brodie said a few weeks ago that Cassel is “the man”. If he knows that, then why do some of you have such a hard time accepting it?
I have to say, though…this Croyle lovefest is very amusing to me. Last year, and the beginning of training camp this year…there wasn’t one single soul that was on his side. All I heard was “Brokie” Croyle, and “he SUCKS!”, cut him, trade him, he can’t take a hit, blah blah blah. And now, you guys think putting him in to start is THE ANSWER to all the teams Offensive problems! LMFAO!!! Seriously!
It’s a free country, and we’re all free to think and say what we want. You guys want Croyle in? That’s cool. Don’t hold your breath waiting for it to happen, though. I’ve said it over and over the last few days, Cassel will start playing better when the whole Offense starts playing better. If I thought there was even the slightest chance that the Chiefs would be a better team with Brodie under Center, I’d be all for him getting in there. And you can bet your ass that Haley would too. Do you SERIOUSLY think there is one single person on planet Earth that wants the Chiefs to win a game MORE than Todd Haley right now? We fans want to win, definitely. Haley’s ASS is on the line. If he thought Croyle was the better man, he’d be in there. So while you may not agree with his decisions, he IS playing the guys HE thinks gives the team the best chance to win. No doubt in my mind.
Since this is an extended preseason, how about Guttierez? He has not been knocked out during a real game, has not yet thrown behind a WR, and has a strong arm. Also everyone loves the QB who does not play. Might as well save Cassell and Brodie until there is a OL that can play, possibly by 2011.
A lot of people seem to be forgetting how utterly average Croyle has looked at any point he’s been given an opportunity. He’s a good backup. That’s not a bad thing to be. If our shoddy offensive line allows Cassel to be injured again, Croyle might be able to hold down the fort for a game or two, but I personally wouldn’t want him starting for a longer period than that. I have never seen that “spark” that winning QBs possess from Croyle. I’ve seen it in Cassel. Just because the guy got a big contract everyone wants to dog on him. Get over it guys. He’s our QB and unless he is just down right terrible (like JaMarcus Russell) he will be our starter this year and next for certain. After that, if we aren’t winning and he isn’t playing well, I’m sure Pioli will cut his losses and move on.
Let’s all do our best to exercise some patience this year.
How about Guttierez? Everyone loves a QB who does not play. He has not been knocked out out a real game. And he has not thrown behind a WR, yet. And until we get the offense fixed it would save Cassell and Brodie for 2011.
Brodie’s career stats in 14 games:
58.5 Comp %
113 yd/gm
8 TD!!!!
8 INT!!!!
Sacked 22 Times
Pass Rtg 71.6
Cassel in KC since you dont respect his NE stats:
59.6 Comp %
153 yds/gm
5 TD
2 INT Sacked 10 Times
Pass Rtg 82.5
Gee whiz!!! Croyle is much better than Cassel? Get real you guys. This line is worse than at any time since Brodie was drafted. I think he has potential but he has had an opportunity to take the starting QB job and couldn’t capitalize. GET OVER IT!!! Give Cassel more than 3 games. Besides, he’s been better in the 3 games than Croyle has in his career. Wow, Brodie had one good game out of fourteen. He’s All Pro!
Mad Chief says
Listen…EVERY SINGLE PLAYER ON THE CHIEFS OFFENSE HAS BEEN PLAYING SUB-PAR. EVERY SINGLE ONE.
Wow, and I thought it was just a lack of talent. If what Mad Chief says is correct then it must be coaching, what else could it be?
I don’t think that anyone is saying that Croyle is better than Cassel. I think what they are saying is that to date Cassel is not even close to 60 million dollars better than Croyle. I agree with Colby that Croyle up to this point has been average and there is a chance that a good backup is all that he will ever be. But I would not bet the farm on that. Croyle still could become a great starting QB in the NFL, it is not too late for that to happen and it just might. So far Cassel has been very average and does not look consistently like a starting QB in the NFL. We will see if can become one.
Good points, Chiefs Fan 82.
Not to mention, Cassel’s first real game as a Chief was against the Raiders. New team, first regular season start, and coming off an injury. Then he had to go play IN Philly no less, just to come back home and play (arguably) the best team in the NFL in the Giants? And with an underachieving Offense, at that.
This team needs time to “gel”. The more they all play together, the better they will get.
True Red & Gold says:
“Wow, and I thought it was just a lack of talent. If what Mad Chief says is correct then it must be coaching, what else could it be?”
Lack of talent IS part of it. But, do you think Albert is better than he’s been playing? How about Waters? Bowe? Even Cassel? These guys are ALL better than they’ve played thus far. I think, anyway.
The coaching is part of it, too. I haven’t denied that. Haley is Rookie. He’s making mistakes…and he’s acknowledged that. It’s basically a whole new staff, too.
New players, new coaches, new way of doing things. This will all need time to come together. I have the patience to let it. For those that don’t? I feel your pain…but don’t know what else to say.
If you are looking for a Croyle fan I’m one . That’s not why I would like to see him play. Croyles play in the ravens game…. is why…. & the play of Cassel so far. I just don’t see why you are against finding it out…… mop up role ……what do the chiefs /you have to lose.PnS
alexthegreat is a moron
add moss, welker, put harvin in the slot, and it wont matter…the fact is that this team LACKS THE OL/TE’s to block long enough to “go downfield to bowe” and btw, Bowe is NOT A DOWN FIELD RECIEVER
sigh
Good points Mad Chief, Colby, and Chiefs Fan 82. We have to be patient because right now it doesn’t make a difference who is the QB if they don’t have any playmakers or a offensive line. Hopefully, O’Callaghan can be the solution at RT but we need a solution at RG and C as well. Also, the lack of playmakers hurts the Chiefs in stretching the field resulting in eight in the box and teams blitzing on early downs. Haley will be OK once he can find an offensive coordinator so that he won’t be doing everything.
I agree. As good of a playcaller Haley has been, the situation is too new with him being the HC and all the dramatic changes that are taking place. Haley needs an offensive coordinator, atleast for right now. Once he becomes comfortable with the team, he can then determine whether or not he should be calling the plays.