Has our defense been HARSHLY judged?

[UChieffyBugger]

It seems to be in fashion to knock the Chiefs defense. WE as fans slaughter them daily, the local press slaughter then daily, the NATIONAL and INTERNATIONAL media slaughter them daily, and when I sit and think about the circumstances sounding that group, one could argue that they are getting judged a little harshly.

Now let's start with the preseason. Ragland and Hitchens played ONE warm-up together against the Bears and both missed several practice sessions. Nelson got knocked out of the Atlanta game and missed sessions himself, whilst Parker wasn't even In our building during the preseason. Then we have Ford who Is just returning to the team after being out for most of last season, and Houston barely played In the warm-up games himself.

Last year there was a perception that we had "the worst defense known to man", but I argued it was an overblown notion because the reality was that we were around fifteenth In the points allowed tally. But that notion has stuck with the team and now this unit that has barely played together Is thrown together and Is trying to both gel as a unit and get their football legs going all whilst facing TWO quality offenses on the road. The Pats defense started off badly too last year and then managed to be a decent unit until the superbowl where they contrived to drop their best corner, so there is a clear example of how things can change quickly In this game.

[ToxSocks]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Did you miss where 3 different guys had a chance to tackle him 5 yards short of the first down and whiffed?

That was on Hitchens.

[BleedingRed]

Look guys.........

I think this one stat is getting over looked. The Chiefs Defense has allowed 1st down on 3rd down only 8 times...... Sure team are 5/5 on 4th down but.

8/31 on third down isn't bad....

[T-post Tom]

Originally Posted by BleedingRed

Look guys.........

I think this one stat is getting over looked. The Chiefs Defense has allowed 1st down on 3rd down only 8 times...... Sure team are 5/5 on 4th down but.

8/31 on third down isn't bad....

28, 37, 27

[ToxSocks]

Originally Posted by BleedingRed

Look guys.........

I think this one stat is getting over looked. The Chiefs Defense has allowed 1st down on 3rd down only 8 times...... Sure team are 5/5 on 4th down but.

8/31 on third down isn't bad....

That's really good.

I thought the corners played well for the 2nd consecutive week too.

[ptlyon]

I couldn't watch the game because of those commies at fox. But listening to Lenny and Mitch it sounded like they were doing more of that drop 8 bullshit. Can anyone confirm?

[ToxSocks]

Originally Posted by ptlyon

I couldn't watch the game because of those commies at fox. But listening to Lenny and Mitch it sounded like they were doing more of that drop 8 bullshit. Can anyone confirm?

No not really. I don't recall them ever going "prevent". There was a play on 3rd and forever in which they all dropped back, but that's standard and expected. Every NFL team does that. The 9ers converted not because of the playcall, but because Hitchens took a poor angle and let the TE cut inside and turn up field for the 1st.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

The WHOLE game matters.

These are just excuses. Attempts to find bright spots in a bad defense.

That's fine. I'm all for it. But they have a long way to go.

They played great in the first half minus the 3rd and 20 fallout.

It’s like this entire team goes into a “IDGAF mode” when they get a lead. It’s like Sutton is purposely telling them to only watch the sidelines so we can burn clock.

“Well we’re up by 28 let’s just relax as long as we’re burning clock”.

It works but holy hell is it bad to watch.

[kgrund]

What is absolutely killing this D more than anything is (1) blown coverages and (2) tackling.

[ToxSocks]

Originally Posted by RunKC

They played great in the first half minus the 3rd and 20 fallout.

It’s like this entire team goes into a “IDGAF mode” when they get a lead. It’s like Sutton is purposely telling them to only watch the sidelines so we can burn clock.

“Well we’re up by 28 let’s just relax as long as we’re burning clock”.

It works but holy hell is it bad to watch.

The good news is that the corners are playing consistently well. Well enough to win.

We're struggling at ILB and safety.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

That was on Hitchens.

Regardless, it wasn't on Sutton, which was his point.

[Molitoth]

Originally Posted by RunKC

They played great in the first half minus the 3rd and 20 fallout.

It’s like this entire team goes into a “IDGAF mode” when they get a lead. It’s like Sutton is purposely telling them to only watch the sidelines so we can burn clock.

“Well we’re up by 28 let’s just relax as long as we’re burning clock”.

It works but holy hell is it bad to watch.

This is what is so maddening.

Sutton/Reid are basically trading free TD's in exchange for clock time.
If our offense makes 1 turnover mistake, this could EASILY backfire.

They aren't doing anything about it because there is a W on the stat at the end of the day.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Molitoth

This is what is so maddening.

Sutton/Reid are basically trading free TD's in exchange for clock time.
If our offense makes 1 turnover mistake, this could EASILY backfire.

They aren't doing anything about it because there is a W on the stat at the end of the day.

The thing is, if our defense could make one or two tackles during the "prevent" period, we aren't even having this discussion.

[ToxSocks]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

The thing is, if our defense could make one or two tackles during the "prevent" period, we aren't even having this discussion.

Yeah. ILB and safety are killing us right now.

[O.city]

Yeah, you trade scores for time in those situations, same as baseball in runs for outs.

But you've gotta make them take time. Make them go 5 or 6 minutes for a TD. That's no problem.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by O.city

Yeah, you trade scores for time in those situations, same as baseball in runs for outs.

But you've gotta make them take time. Make them go 5 or 6 minutes for a TD. That's no problem.

We did it against the Chargers. One of their 2nd half drives took 8 minutes. That's exactly what we wanted because even though they closed the gap, there wasn't actually enough time left for them to tie or get ahead.