Chiefs Notebook | Crennel explains why he didn’t try gadget plays
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star
Because of a patchwork offensive line and the absence of injured wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, the Chiefs established season lows in several offensive categories in last week’s 15-0 loss at Oakland.
They managed just seven first downs, 119 net yards, 10 rushing yards, and converted just one of 12 third downs in extending their streak to seven quarters without a touchdown.
But the Chiefs showed no imagination in trying to buy a few seconds or deceive an Oakland defense crashing the line to stop running back Jamaal Charles. No reverses, end-arounds, flea-flickers, halfback passes or even an old-fashioned Statue of Liberty. Why not?
“When you’re getting handled pretty good,” Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel said, “you have a hard time believing that gadgets are going to work and make the difference. You’ve got to have a good foundation and be good fundamentally. If you’re good that way, then a gadget might work.
“Then you have to look at the gadgets we’ve run in the past, and this year. Have they worked?”
The Chiefs tried a halfback pass last month against Denver, but it was a low-percentage pass across the field by Peyton Hillis for Quinn that fell incomplete.
“It was a gadget,” Crennel said. “You wanted gadgets, and we gave you one, and it didn’t work. You want another one that doesn’t work, or what? If any play works, it’s great. If it doesn’t work, it’s not good. We can try gadgets, and if they didn’t work, you’d be saying, ‘Umm, you tried a lot of gadgets that game. Why’d you try that many gadgets?’”
While the pass against Denver failed to click, Quinn said, “Maybe there will be something else in the cards this week. We’ll see.”
Quinn gets the OK
Quinn’s injured ribs won’t keep him from starting Sunday’s game against Indianapolis at Arrowhead Stadium.
“My ribs are doing great,” Quinn said after Wednesday’s practice.
Though Quinn is healthy enough to play, the Chiefs’ injury list again was a long one.
The Chiefs said cornerback Javier Arenas (ankle), center Ryan Lilja (back), tight end Tony Moeaki (head), wide receiver Jon Baldwin (illness), guard Russ Hochstein (back) and defensive lineman Jerrell Powe (illness) did not practice. Offensive tackle Branden Albert (back), safety Abe Elam (quadriceps) and cornerback Brandon Flowers (illness) were limited.
The Colts said linebackers Dwight Freeney (ankle), Kavell Conner (hamstring) and Jerrell Freeman (thumb), centers Samson Satele (ankle) and AQ Shipley (knee) and nose tackle Martin Tevaseu (illness) did not practice. Safety Tom Zbikowski (knee), offensive tackle Winston Justice (bicep) and nose tackle Antonio Johnson (ankle) were limited.
Both starting quarterbacks, Quinn (ribs) and Indianapolis’ Andrew Luck (knee) were on the injury report, but both participated in full practices.
Practice squad addition
The Chiefs re-signed kicker Matt Szymanski to the practice squad. Szymanski took the spot of offensive lineman Rich Ranglin, who was promoted to the active squad after Bowe was placed on injured reserve.