The Mysterious Chiefs … Sunday Cup O’Chiefs
From Baltimore, Maryland
It seems only appropriate that the Pioli/Haley Era would begin here in the town where Edgar Allan Poe spent so much of his life.
Poe was one of America’s greatest authors of mysteries, so there is no better place for the 2009 Kansas City Chiefs to take the field for their first game. It goes down at M&T Bank Stadium against the Baltimore Ravens, a team named after Poe’s most famous poem. Kickoff is noon CDT, and you can see it on CBS-TV.
Right now, the team that Haley will lead onto the field is a mystery, certainly the most mysterious collection of players, offense and defense that the Chiefs have seen in more than 25 years, back to when John Mackovic took over as head coach for Marv Levy in the 1983 season.
Since then, when there have been changes at the top of the leadership chain at Arrowhead, it was easy to predict how teams coached by Frank Gansz, Marty Schottenheimer, Gunther Cunningham, Dick Vermeil and Herm Edwards would attack on the field.
But the changes around the Chiefs have been so complete, so overwhelming that after nine months under the direction of Pioli and eight months with Haley in charge, there’s no way to guess what we will see on the field. Certainly, the pre-season provided a look, but the offensive and defensive game plans were vanilla. And, on top of that, the guy coordinating the offense and calling the plays today has changed.
“There’s a lot of mystery to the Chiefs, X and O-wise, and there’s a lot of mystery personnel-wise,” said Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. “We’re not sure who’s going to play various positions. Guys have played different positions than they’ve played sometimes in their career, and the scheme is completely different. So, we are in the dark as far as a lot of things they are going to do.”
There’s the mystery of who will start at quarterback for the Chiefs. Will Matt Cassel be able to deal with his knee injury and play? Will Pioli/Haley expose their franchise quarterback to the ravenous Ravens defense? Cassel was part of every practice this past week and he met the media on Thursday as is the custom for the team’s starting quarterback.
Haley has said all along that the decision will come before the game. The coach may have an idea who will take the first snap and he may have a desire for Cassel to be in there. But in this case, the lack of a decision may be less about throwing up a smoke screen, and more to do with just how Cassel’s knee feels when he wakes up and heads for the stadium.
No matter who is the quarterback, just how will Haley handle this first game with an offense that he’s changed so much?
Will they come out and try to establish the running game, to take pressure off an offensive line that struggled with pass protection in the pre-season? Can they even get the running game going against one of the best defenses against the run in this decade? That remains a mystery.
In fact, that’s one mystery that might actually help the Chiefs, although Haley doesn’t see that.
“We’re just trying to get better every single day,” said Haley. “We’re still trying to find an identity as a team and that’s going to be a work in progress. That’s really where we’re at.”
Same too with the defense under Clancy Pendergast. We know the base scheme has changed and during the pre-season schedule, Pendergast showed a few blitzes and zone drops that ordinarily a coordinator wouldn’t uncover in games that don’t count. But this defense had a long journey to recover from last year’s disaster, so some changes had to be taken. Will that continue again in this game?
And there’s a real mystery as to how Haley and Pendergast will use their personnel on defense. Will Demorrio Williams and Jon McGraw stay in the starting lineup, or will Derrick Johnson and Jarrad Page get back in the opening group?
The Chiefs face a big special teams battle, as the Ravens are one of the best coordinated kicking games in the league. They haven’t been solid in the kicking game during the pre-season, but they haven’t been bad either. They must be good in this game to have a chance to win.
There’s a big mystery on the other side of the field as well. The Ravens still have names like Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs, Trevor Pryce and Haloti Ngata on the field, but the Baltimore defense is a bit of an unknown because there is a new coordinator: Greg Mattison. He’s a grizzled veteran of the coaching ranks, but this is just his second year in the NFL and first as coordinator, replacing Rex Ryan, now the head coach of the New York Jets.
There’s no question with a change in the guy in charge, there will be changes in how the Ravens play defense. And it’s easy to conclude that the Ravens showed little of those changes in the pre-season.
“This is the toughest game of the year and when you have change like they did it makes it more difficult,” Haley said. “You’re watching some games from last year. You’re watching some games from this year. You just don’t know.
“It’s a lot of ‘here’s what we think, but we’ve got to be ready for this, this and this.’ The first game of the year is always the toughest as far as preparation. Make a coaching change or significant players change it makes it even tougher.”
Mattison’s background as a coordinator in college football was at Florida, Notre Dame and Michigan, and there’s no doubt since the Chiefs have had all off-season to prepare for this one game, they’ve checked out his tendencies as a coordinator even at that level.
“Those are things that coaches have fun talking about,” said Haley. “Who knows him and I think it sometimes it’s a little more pertinent than others. I think it’s something definitely that’s been discussed.”
All the mystery surrounding the Chiefs doesn’t cause much of a problem for a veteran player like Reed.
“Right now, all we can do is focus on us,” Reed said. “First game of the season is all about what we’re doing right now. We can’t focus on what they’re doing because we really don’t know what they’re going to present. That’s a good challenge for us, and it’s a good challenge for them because they don’t have a clue on what we’re going to do, for the most part. They’ve got new coaches going in, a couple different players, so it ought to be interesting.”
Yes, it should be very interesting to see how this mystery plays out.
SIGNINGS, INJURIES & MOVEMENT AROUND THE LEAGUE
- BROWNS – RB James Davis was involved in a one-car accident Saturday morning in Cleveland and suffered a head injury. Davis spent part of the day in a Cleveland Hospital, but was released and is now listed as questionable for Sunday’s game.
- FALCONS – released RB Vernon Hayes.
- RAIDERS – DL Richard Seymour reported to the team on Saturday and is expected to play Monday night against the Chargers.
FROM THE PAGES OF CHIEFS HISTORY
On September 13, 1981, the Chiefs beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19-10 at Arrowhead Stadium. A crowd of 50,555 watched the Kansas City special teams dominate the game, with some help from the Tampa Bay kicking units. The Chiefs first touchdown was set up by a fumbled snap on a Bucs punt. RB Ted McKnight scored on an eight-yard run. K Nick Lowery kicked four field goals, the longest from 42 yards. Punt returner J.T. Smith had a 62-yard punt return to set up a Lowery FG. QB Bill Kenney was 12 of 25 passing for 99 yards, compared to Bucs QB Doug Williams who completed 20 of 43 passes for 294 yards. The victory made the Chiefs 2-0 for the first time since the 1969 season.
On September 13, 1987, the Chiefs won the season opener over the San Diego Chargers 20-13 at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs trailed 13-10 in the fourth quarter, after leading 10-0 at half-time thanks to a 43-yard scoring run by RB Christian Okoye and a 25-yard FG by K Nick Lowery. But the Chargers got a pair of FGs and then a 34-yard TD pass from QB Dan Fouts to RB Gary Anderson. But then Chiefs rookie returner Paul Palmer returned a kickoff 95 yards for a score. Okoye finished the game with 105 yards on 21 carries. The Chiefs defense had three interceptions, with FS Deron Cherry grabbing two and CB Albert Lewis got the other one. CB Kevin Ross and LB Dino Hackett had sacks.
On September 13, 1992, the Chiefs beat the Seattle Seahawks 26-7 at Arrowhead Stadium. Facing his old team for the first time, QB Dave Krieg had a nice day for the Chiefs, hitting 13 of 19 passes for 231 yards and a first-quarter TD pass to WR J.J. Birden that went for 72 yards. The Chiefs also got a two-yard scoring run by RB Barry Word and a 36-yard interception return for a TD by LB Lonnie Marts. K Nick Lowery had a pair of FGs. The Chiefs had over a five-minute advantage in time of possession. LB Tracy Simien had a sack and an interception.
SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY …
Born on September 13, 1936 in Dallas was OT Jerry Cornelison. After playing in the Canadian Football League coming out of SMU, he signed with the original Dallas Texans and then spent five seasons with the Texans and Chiefs (1960-62, 1964-65), appearing in 70 games. The Texas native has made his home in Kansas City since rejoining the football team in ‘64.
Born on September 13, 1944 in Montgomery, Alabama was S Ceasar Belser. He joined the Chiefs in 1968 out of the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Belser played four seasons with the team (1968-71), appearing in 56 games and making his mark as a special teams ace. Some 30 years after his Chiefs career, his son Jason Belser played for the Chiefs.
Born on September 13, 1959 in Phenix City, Alabama was FB Billy Jackson. He was selected in the seventh round of the 1981 NFL Draft out of Alabama. Jackson played four seasons with the Chiefs (1981-84), appearing in 57 games with 31 starts. He carried the ball 399 times for 1,365 yards and scored 16 touchdowns, including 10 in his rookie season. Jackson caught 58 passes for 416 yards and 2 TDs.
Born on September 13, 1962 in Washington, D.C. was S Mark Robinson. He was selected in the fourth round of the 1984 NFL Draft out of Penn State. Robinson played four seasons with the Chiefs (1984-87), appearing in 48 games with seven starts. He picked up three interceptions and two sacks. He finished his career with three seasons playing for the Buccaneers.
Born on September 13, 1976 in Indianapolis was DL Derrick Ransom. He was selected in the sixth-round of the 1998 NFL Draft out of the University of Cincinnati. Ransom played five seasons with the Chiefs (1998-2002), appearing in 56 games, with 26 starts. He had three sacks. Ransom finished his career with a season with the Cardinals and then one with the Jaguars.
Balt. has big names in there on def.—old big names–
This is a possible perfect storm brewing for them , KC is young and in shape to prove a point .
I’ve seen fired up college teams come in and derail big , big teams .
Fourth Quarter might be when all that hard camp and hard work will pay off .
You just have too wonder what it would take for some/one to get on our chiefs bandwagon .If not maybe he could get on that wagon & hit the road to his any 22 well do team.PnS
Could be on the west coast ??? I think us chiefs fans would take a collection up for the ticket!!!!! See Ya don’t want to be ya ……as my grand daughter would say. PnS
Jim do you have family in Linneus ????? PnS
And did you notice Bob G (the rest didst not of said Rin is sure) OT Jerry Cornelison’s name is misspelled on his football card?
Jerry was the starter at RT for the Texans/Chiefs until the big man from Auburn, #73 Dave Hill came to town circa 1963.
*
Edgar Allan? Yes, he’ll do – borrowest his Raven, ‘nother comes now too.
To quoth an Baltimore Ravens once more, Chiefs stand a chance today naught, no, ne’er score…
“Once upon a Baltimore dreary, while ‘right 53′ found self out-manned, teary,
Over many missed passes, curious runs dubious allure,
While they plodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came attacking,
Some Ravens not so gently rapping, rapping Chiefs coaching bore.
‘Tis some visitor’ they muttered, `crapping ‘pon our gridiron floor – only this, and nothing more.’
KC we abhor quoth the Ravens once more – play all day & all night but today they shall not score.”
38-0
daddy-o
The difference so far the QB play ……Herms any 22 drafted QB isn’t getting done.PnS
END OF QUARTER ONE
Ravens 10 points, 135 yards, no qualms or problems; alas for KC 0 points & no hope too – but – 5 yards theirs just for s****s and giggles…like this -
heh heh heh heh heh heh heh!
daddy-o
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand…another 3 and out – 4 now in 4 tries for ol’ Kaycee. 10 yards theirs – total. Yup, it’s true…
Don’t cry &
heh heh heh!
Analonymous…
Thigpen in Chiefs 3 & out QB makes no difference! Will make no difference whence the Money Pit Mutt Ca$$el comes back either (he will also sit v OAK, another KC loss…)
heh heh heh
Oh do have pity on them Ravens…let poor KC score, please?
here, Rin relented said a prayer for the fops KC…
Ravens 10 kc 7
Throw them a bone…
heh heh heh
Analonymous, doth thou thinkest (no, you do not – but still) can kc getteth first doweneth afore end o 1st halfeth?
What thinketh thee?
heh heh heh!
Oh go ahead then, let kc have a first down their first Ravens…have pity on them
&
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand in a 1st half TOTALLY DOMINATED by the Ravens, our score:
BALT 10, Rin 7, chiefs 0
The ‘new’ improved offense lays an egg – 0 points, 1 first down …no pool no phone no pets, ain’t got no ath-e-letes… ain’t King of the Road!
heh heh heh
And now, Rin’s halftime analysis (ne’er be confused with Analonymous his)
BALT clearly the superior team on offense, defense and special teams…all 3 phases. 215 total yards for the Ravens – and [ drumroll ] 56 (cough-cough, sputter) for the Hailme men…
In conclusion, if anything BALT relaxed and took kc too lightly – if said be possible – this has been a walk in the park for BALT so far, should continue to be.
Little ‘e’ for a little effort chiefs – but no cigar… Ravens take the ball start of the 2nd half and SCORE!
What sorcery be this? BALT allows kc score? Magic must be – magic…but not enough will it be…
:cry
TOUCHDOWN RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-VENS!
Aaaaaaaaaaaaand our score now -
BALT 17 – Rin’s gift 7 – Flacco’s gift 7 – chiefs 0
&
Aaaaaaand, another 3 and out s ‘new’ Hailme super duper offensive onslaught his continues.
Dusty Colquitt gets off a 28 yard rocket the side of his foot…Ravens ball midfield!
END OF THE 3rd QUARTER
RAVENS 17
(Rin & Flacco sitting this one out) –
dumbasses 0
“You enjoying this game so far Herm?”
“IMMENSELY RIN! My Chiefs are doing really well, but s are sure stinkin’ it up today!”
& “Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh!!!”
RAVENS – 17
Rin – 7
Flacco – 7
Succop – 3
s Hailme offense – 0
heh heh heh!
TOUCHDOWN RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-VENS!
heh heh heh!!!
Aaaaaaaand our score now –
BALT 24, Rin 7, Flacco 7, Succop 3, chiefs offense 0
&
TOUCHDOWN RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-VENS!
heh heh heh!!!
Aaaaaaaand our score now –
BALT 24, Rin 7, Flacco 7, Succop 3, chiefs offense 0
&
So good we had to say it twice!
Herm’s Man BRO-DIE CROYYYYYYYYYLE! – with copious help from Rin’s Father up above- TD! Another gift now makes the score -
RAVENS 24
Rin 7
Flacco 7
Rin’s Father 7
Succop 3
s Hailme offense 0
ANOTHER TOUCHDOWN RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-VENS!
RAVENS 31 s chiefs offense 0
heh heh heh!
“I’m a pickin Herm!”
“And I’m a grinnin’!”
& “Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh!!!”
s non-existent supplied “Chicklet’s & Clippers” offensive line gets Brodie killed…but I gotta go now – time for another Ravens TOUCHDOWN!
heh heh heh!!!
daddy-o
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand, yet another TOUCHDOWN
Raaaaaaaaaaaa-vens!
RUB-IT-IN!!!
BALT 38 – s ‘new’ chiefs ‘o’ 0
Rin NAILS the 38 point total for the Ravens AND the 0 points nee shutout of kc’s offense!
heh heh heh!
Do we smell 0-5 ? I think we do!
#
And that’s all she wrote – (cue Chuck Bednarik): “This f****n game is OVER!!!”
Ravens 38 – chiefs 0 / Rin’s called shot comes to
pass
“I can take ANY 22 guys from off the street and… go 0-5…” (now, 0-6 aft next week vs OAK!)
heh heh heh!!!
&
Rin’s post game review will follow next!
daddy-o
And now “Rin’s Review” brought to you by the one – the only – Rin Tin Tin!
daddy-o
So then, what can we as KC Chiefs fans take from today’s game? Another ‘L’ yes to be certain – but then we knew that was going to be the case…this game was ne’er in doubt.
Rin’s 38 Ravens 0 chiefs ‘new’ ‘o’ as in OH MY! CALLED SHOT FINAL SCORE too came to pass; again, no surprise His greatness.
Positives from today: Rin was right again, Chiefsfandumb wrong yet once more, per the usual.
The stars – Herm’s Men Chiefs – all of them!
QB Brodie Croyle – will & should be the starter next week vs OAK ‘if’ KC wants any chance to win. He’s the best QB on the team plus ‘The Money Pit’ Mutt Ca$$el be still but a backup QB, has owweee; too has no tolerance for pain obviously.
The others? All Herm’s Men all the time!
Dwayne Bowe – Herm’s Man!
Mark Bradley – Herm’s Man!
Tamba Hali – Herm’s Man!
Jon McGraw – Herm’s Man!
Derrick Johnson – Herm’s Man!
Oh, all 32 of Herm’s Men were the raison Chiefs had a chance any, the 21 & “any 22’s’ the rasion in entirety KC was clobbered.
Mr. Irrelevant was so no need to mention him…he being but an anomoly.
Hope for the future? None. Nothing good comes out of a loss – why every Chiefs fan herein this blog said so themselves last season when the Coach/GM had different names – can be no different in 2009 – that would be niggardly.
So then, it has come to pass: ‘I can take ANY 22 guys from off the street and… go 0-5″
Rin said many times afore that if the Chiefs do not win game 2 v OAK they’ll not win a game any until December… He saw no raison at all today to change that sentiment.
Come next Sunday night, barring a miracle, will be 0-6…and counting.
Oh, by the way: DEN’ new Head Coach won today – he as the Broncos now 1-0.
Rin will be staying here to comment further and address all his fans comments…
daddy-o
This question just in to Rin from Scottie and his brother alex k: it is – “Did the Ravens look flat today?’
Excellent question, thank you ail & scrotum. Yes they did yet despite that fact they won in a walk.
Baltimore relaxed early in this game after they saw how easy it was going to be/how far superior to KC they were. Rin asked His Father for a gift and so He gave kc 7, Flacco too felt sorry gave kc 7, then their field goal kicker he too decided that errancy in lieu of piling on would be the kind thing to do.
Otherwise, score would have been 48-3…that the NFL cannot have, much too embarrassing, but said is the type of beating KC will be just as likely to get each & every Sunday.
Again, thanks for the question!
daddy-o
Come Monday night, twill be:
SD 1-0
DEN 1-0
OAK 0-1
KC 0-1
After week 2:
SD 2-0 (they beat BALT in San Diego)
DEN 2-0 (they beat CLEV in Denver)
OAK 1-1 (they beat us in kansas city)
KC 0-6 (they lose at home to the RADUHS! (4+2=6)
“Herm, what do you think they’ll say about after next Sunday’s game in KC?”
“Uh… he can take ANY 22 guys and… go 0-6.”
“lol: “CORRECT!”
& “Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh!!!”
Where oh where has Rin’s scottie & alex k gone, oh where oh where can they be?
heh heh heh
DOGMAN YOU AND YOUR FAMILY OF MUTTS DID NOT GIVE KC ANY POINTS SO GO BACK IN YOUR DOGHOUSE AND SCRATCH YOUR FLEAS. TRUE YOUR PREDICTED THE FINAL RAVEN TOTAL BUT IF WE USE YOUR THINKING THE SHOULD SUBRACT 7 FROM YOUR SCORE AND GIVE IT TO HERM SINCE IT WAS MOSTLY PLAYERS FROM HIS TEAM WHO GAVE UP THE LAST TD. STANDINGS FROM NEXT WEEK WILL READ:
SAN DIEGO 2-0
KANSAS CITY 1-1
DENVER 1-1
OAKLAND 0-2
HERM: YOU NEVER WON YOUR SECOND GAME OF THE YEAR WITH THE CHIEFS AS COACH. THE ONLY OTHER COACHES WHO HOLDS THAT DISTINCTION WERE PAUL WIGGIN AND FRANK GANSZ SR. THEY LIKE YOU WERE RELEASED. SO YOU CAN BE PICKIN AND UP CRYIN WITH DOGMAN.
OH MYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!
heh heh heh
daddy-o
That “The Mysterious Chiefs…Sunday Cup O’Chiefs” picture of Edgar Allan Poe just suits my Chiefs to a T so far this season: as in the look of 0-5 that portends 0-6 next SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY! BE THERE!
&
DO NOT READ ANY MESSAGE FROM RIN TIN TIN.
DO NOT RESPOND TO ANY MESSAGE FROM RIN TIN TIN.
DO NOT FEED THE TROLL. IF YOU RESPOND YOU GIVE HIM WHAT HE WANTS
DO NOT RESPOND TO RIN TIN TIN!
COPY AND PASTE THIS ANYTIME RIN RIN RIN SPEAKS HIS TRASH OR ANYONE RESPONDS TO HIM
RAVENS WIN!
RAVENS WIN!
RAVENS WIN!
heh heh heh!!!
&
Cue paraphrase of former BUFF LB Isiah Robertso, with final crescendo courtesy Homer Simpson -
“I got a feelin Kansas City’s going winless don’t you know – they’ll be 0 & 16 and come end of ‘09 will be two firings DOH!”
heh heh heh
“Did you like that one Herm?”
“I did Rin!”
& “Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh!!!”
you are delusional
you live in a complete fantasy world
you are delusional
you live in a complete fantasy world