Kansas City Chiefs: Week Five Report Card

Some commentators saw Week Five as an opportunity for Kansas City to pull an upset over a struggling Dallas Cowboys team that has been vulnerable on the road of recent. 

The Chiefs did not disappoint in providing a scare, but a plus-two turnover ratio and 10 points off of those turnovers was not enough to put one in the win column.  This week’s grades should help explain why.

Pass Offense: C+

For the third week in a row, the passing score jumped a half-grade.  For a third week in a row, Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel threw for two touchdowns with no picks.  The half-grade jump is for a season-best 253 passing yards. 

The additions of Bobby Wade this year and Mark Bradley last season have given this passing attack dynamic potential as they combine forces with Dwayne Bowe. 

Glaringly detrimental to offensive production though is the offensive line.  It will be a miracle if Cassel survives the season injury-free getting hit as much as he does. 

Running Attack: F

Heavy blame is showering down on Larry Johnson for an inept running attack.  True, averaging less than two yards per carry doesn’t cut it, but not all the blame can fall upon LJ’s shoulders. 

If this season provides anything for Chiefs fans, it is a cruel lesson as to the importance of an offensive line.  Instead of ranting on the ineffectiveness of the run game and how fans wince every handoff, let’s look at what can be done. 

How about moving the aging Brian Waters from left guard to center and extend his playing life?  Bench Mike Goff, who looks past his prime and won’t likely return to this team beyond this season. Give the rotating starters at the right tackle spot, such as Ike Ndukwe, a shot at guard.  If they could get a look to start at tackle, they can fill in at guard.  Get Wade Smith, a player with some starts under his belt, a chance to get in on the line.

A runner is only part of an effective rushing game.   

Run Defense: C-

Pro: The bruising, forceful Marion Barber was essentially a nonfactor.  Con: Tashard Choice more than picked up the slack, rushing for 92 yards on just eight carries. 

The blitzing style of the 3-4 leaves the Chiefs vulnerable to runners who break the line of scrimmage, but it’s hard to hate on a defense that kept the red and gold alive. 

One reason the statistics are deceiving is that when an offense has trouble staying on the field, the defense is subjected to a greater number of plays.  More plays=more yards.  A couple of positives are Glenn Dorsey is looking strong as a run stopper, and the tackling of Brandon Flowers (a corner!) is exciting to watch.    

Pass Defense: D

Kansas City had only one sack.  It came on a nice inside move from Tamba Hali, who beat Flozell Adams to make the three-yard loss.  However, a consistent rush is still lacking. 

There should be no qualms with either of the starting corners.  Corner is a position where one can play extremely well and only be remembered for one missed play.  The flipside of this is the egotistical receiver who can drop passes, but be remembered for the one or two big plays they make. 

The perfect example of this is Miles Austin, who burned the Chiefs big time on his way to 250 yards and two touchdowns, including the overtime winner.  However, Austin also dropped another potential touchdown, but that play is largely forgotten. 

The NFL today is played and officiated in a way that even the best corners will be beat occasionally.  However, to allow a single receiver this kind of game is inexcusable. 

Special Teams: C-

There is no logical reason why the left guard and center don’t even stand up to block on field goal attempts. 

This was pointed out by commentators last week and this flawed practice led to the field goal block on a Ryan Succop attempt from 53 yards that could have been the game winner for Kansas City.  The Dallas special teams leaped over the Chiefs’ blockers with their heads down and put an end to a strong drive late in the fourth—unacceptable.

Play of the Game: 

On 4th-and-7 and down by a touchdown with only 26 seconds remaining, Cassel hit Bowe on an inside seam route from the Dallas 16 for a touchdown that would force overtime. 

Bowe plucked the ball out of the air and held onto it despite being sandwiched by two Dallas defenders who tried to knock the ball loose with a hit.  One of the few times Cassel had a pocket to throw out of Sunday afternoon.  This is what fans would like to see more of from the Chiefs.  Bowe’s third touchdown of the year was a big one.