Chiefs preseason: Observations from the first game

[Mr. Laz]

Chiefs preseason: Observations from the first game
by Chris Clark 38m ago


Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Watching the Kansas City Chiefs play against the Arizona Cardinals was rough for the first 10 minutes of the game. Arizona came out and took the ball down the field against the Chiefs defense in a way that we didn’t see last year.

A long 57-yard pass play on a short underneath route by Andre Ellington put the Cardinals in position for first and goal. Three plays later the Cardinals ran the ball across the goal line when Marcus Peters was just a split-second slow filling the hole to stop Ellington short of the goal line.

– The first play on offense saw Alex Smith target Jeremy Maclin deep down the left sideline and just missing him. After a first down to Travis Kelce the Chiefs offense sputtered and Smith threw an interception while a delayed blitzing linebacker hit him. For all Smith’s faults over the past two years, he showed more trust in his receivers on Saturday than he has ever before with Kansas City

– Eric Berry was the story of the night in Phoenix. The Cardinals welcomed him back to the NFL with a sign on their replay board before the game started. Berry didn’t play much of the game only seeing nine snaps, but to come back from lymphoma and radiation therapy only eight months after the initial diagnosis is remarkable.

He is not starting currently as the Chiefs are easing him into playing and seeing how his body responds. Berry was named one of the Chiefs captains for the game and shared a touching moment on the sideline with his mother before the game started. He is an inspiration to all with the passion he plays the game and the love he has for what he does.

NEXT: Players that stood out on offense


– When the second-string offense came into the game the Chiefs started to move up and down the field. Chase Daniel played the best game I’ve seen him play as a Chief, showing how much he’s grown and progressed in Reid’s offense. Daniel had almost as many touchdowns to receivers (3) as he did incomplete passes (4) throwing for 189 yards.

– Fred Williams played like he has much throughout training camp. He got open down the field and allowed a great window for throws from Daniel. Williams proved he has the ability to separate from corners and even proved he is cognizant that blocking downfield helps the team. While he currently sits behind Frankie Hammond on the depth chart for both receiver and special teams, a couple more games like Saturday night and he could really make it hard for the Chiefs to let him go.

– Another offensive player that shined on Saturday night was Charcandrick West. With Knile Davis leaving the game early with a knee injury, West stepped in and showed great decisiveness with his cuts and vision to see the holes. West is also a much better receiver than Davis out of the backfield but will need to work on his ability to pick up blitzes properly if he wants to see playing time on Sunday’s.

NEXT: Players that stood out on defense

– While we are used to watching Derrick Johnson fill holes and tackle the ball-carrier behind the line of scrimmage, seeing him continue to do it after returning from an Achilles injury is quite amazing. On the second play from scrimmage, DJ hit the running back for a very short gain and the second play from the goal line DJ ended up tripping up the running back two yards deep in the backfield. If it wasn’t for Berry coming back from cancer, DJ’s return would be the story of the night from me because he looks to be the same player he was before.

Of all the defenders, the Chiefs linebackers had the best showing. Both Ramik Wilson and Justin March showed why the Chiefs are excited about them. Wilson had an interception that he almost took back for a touchdown and made several other great fills before he walked off with an injury in the third quarter. March also continued to show the coaches what they have seen from him while in St. Joe. He is usually in the right place and did his best DJ impression on a couple of plays in the second quarter.

Both Dee Ford and Dezman Moses showed their ability to get after the QB but need to work on bringing him to the ground. Moses had six pressures last night and stepped up trying to make the team as the fourth outside linebacker. Before last night’s game I would have assumed the Moses was going to have trouble making the team as Josh Martin played well last year and has shown pass rush ability during camp, but Moses showed he is a very capable edge rusher and could make Martin expendable.

http://arrowheadaddict.com/2015/08/1...rdinals-recap/

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by bishop_74

I dunno. He has to:

A) Get it to the receiver within his grasp

B) Outside of the defenders grasp.



Check and check.



Considering the coverage I think this is the best placement considering he probably wanted to make a statement, and keep the defense honest. The only other option would be to dump it off, but then then that would defeat the purpose of the "come out throwing" show they were obviously trying to put on. This is as good as it gets folks considering the coverage.

B is the problem here. Look at the still. The DB isn't laid out and he's in perfect position to make the catch. Maclin, on the other hand, is laid out and he has a hell of a hard time getting to the ball.

As was mentioned, I'm glad he took the shot and I can only hope to hell he tries, and hits, more often, but that wasn't what you'd call a good pass.

[temper11]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

The defender is in better position to make that catch than the receiver.

That's basically what I'm getting at.

This... ball needed to be on the outside shoulder of Maclin. If he throws it 5 yards out of bounds, that's preferable to putting it where the defender can make a play on it in my opinion.

Thought he looked sharp the rest of his time though - interception notwithstanding. That ball was so far off the mark that I don't know what the hell happened. Terrible throw? Maybe, but Smith is usually very accurate at that distance. Wrong route? Doubtful - Avant is a veteran, I don't see him making that kind of mistake. Miscommunication? Most likely I think.

[temper11]

Originally Posted by MIAdragon

Lmfao no shit, and you think if that was not a scripted play he still would have thrown it? I don't.

I don't think he should have thrown it... Maclin was covered up. Don't waste a play, find the open receiver and get positive yards. West Coast offense is built on short down and distances.

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by MIAdragon

Lmfao no shit, and you think if that was not a scripted play he still would have thrown it? I don't.

Hell no he would not have thrown it-the DB was within 5 yards of the receiver.

I think the Chiefs are tired of hearing about Alex's noodle arm and said **** it-here is your ****ing long throw. Now shut up about it-see he can "air it out" like a champ.

At the end of the year-we will be like-remember that 1 long throw Alex made in the first preseason game that was a "good" incomplete pass. Man that was almost awesome!

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by BlackOp

My take away is KC's depth is vastly improved in comparison to past GMs. Chiefs back-ups beat the crap out of Arizona's 2nd stringers. Counting pre-season there are 21 weeks of football...its a battle of attrition. One week into this and both tackles are already injured...better have quality reserves.

It certainly looks that way right now.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

So I it was a "good" incomplete pass then?

At least he threw past 7 yards I guess.

Thanks for your contribution to the thread.

[J Diddy]

Originally Posted by MIAdragon

Lmfao no shit, and you think if that was not a scripted play he still would have thrown it? I don't.

I don't think he would have thrown it either. That being said he did.

[J Diddy]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

B is the problem here. Look at the still. The DB isn't laid out and he's in perfect position to make the catch. Maclin, on the other hand, is laid out and he has a hell of a hard time getting to the ball.

As was mentioned, I'm glad he took the shot and I can only hope to hell he tries, and hits, more often, but that wasn't what you'd call a good pass.

a ball that travels 50 yards in the air that is catchable by the wr is a good pass.

For fraggles sake.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

Hell no he would not have thrown it-the DB was within 5 yards of the receiver.

I think the Chiefs are tired of hearing about Alex's noodle arm and said **** it-here is your ****ing long throw. Now shut up about it-see he can "air it out" like a champ.

Somehow I doubt the Chiefs are designing plays for games with the intention of changing public perception of Alex Smith.

[Mr. Laz]

Don't care if it was scripted or not.


Keep throwing it and he will get better at it. That's what preseason is for.

[temper11]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

Don't care if it was scripted or not.


Keep throwing it and he will get better at it. That's what preseason is for.

I hear you... and there is also something to be said for keeping the defense honest. I just don't like throwing up jump balls, and that's what it looked like to me. Either one of those guys could have made a play on that ball. I know I'm way in the minority here, but I'd prefer he check it down there and wait for Maclin to get a step deep before he throw that. I'm not talking 5 yards of a step... just a bit-o-separation. I don't like wasted plays, it's like walking the lead off man - always seems to kill you.

[Aspengc8]

Originally Posted by temper11

I don't think he should have thrown it... Maclin was covered up. Don't waste a play, find the open receiver and get positive yards. West Coast offense is built on short down and distances.

They use some WCO concepts & philosophies, pretty much the same ones the rest of the NFL uses. I wouldn't say they are strictly WCO (that term is so antiquated). Either way, I was happy to see Alex test the deep ball, even though that one was under thrown. Pretty sure they played man press trail, and Maclin was forced to a outside release. ball should have been outside shoulder, out of bounds worse case scenario. Still happy to see that none the less.

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

Thanks for your contribution to the thread.

That is what I am here for- I try my best to add Nothing to these threads. Leave no trace-just like in the wilderness.

But look at all the responses that have been added since I questioned that it was a "close" play. And yes it was "Alex" close and "Alex" good.

Sorry moving on to start 5 more Evan Mathis threads to get some "good" Chiefs talk going. See you there bud!

[thabear04]

DJ is so valuable to this defense. https://t.co/Vz7My5MkXI

— Chase Snyder (@chiefssnyder19) August 18, 2015

#GiveWestMoreTouches https://t.co/fdUdg3PZw7

— Chase Snyder (@chiefssnyder19) August 18, 2015

Donald Stephenson. Good. https://t.co/AKFuXxTOU5

— Chase Snyder (@chiefssnyder19) August 18, 2015

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by J Diddy

a ball that travels 50 yards in the air that is catchable by the wr is a good pass.

For fraggles sake.