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 J Diddy

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



For fraggles sake.

In high school maybe

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by thabear04

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

— Chase Snyder (@chiefssnyder19) August 18, 2015

we need it, bad.

[Discuss Thrower]

Glad they kept Charye West from last season.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by temper11

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.

You know how many people have been screaming and cussing for Smith to throw jump balls since Day 1?

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

You know how many people have been screaming and cussing for Smith to throw jump balls since Day 1?

Man... Even I don't think Smith wouldn't succeed if he had Maclin, Bowe and Kelce has his receiving targets on the same roster.

[Aspengc8]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

You know how many people have been screaming and cussing for Smith to throw jump balls since Day 1?

Hopefully the line play holds up enough for them to throw some 5-7 step drop concepts in without the fear of 'immediate check down'.

[temper11]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

You know how many people have been screaming and cussing for Smith to throw jump balls since Day 1?

Yes... I do. I'm just not one of the. I understand the need to stretch the field, but I'd prefer that get done when there is a receiver that has a step on his defender. Otherwise, in my opinion, it's just window dressing.

[ViperVisor]

People have played too much Madden.


In the regular season Maclin doesn't get a 7 yard cushion. It's coverage by a guy that is depth in the secondary. Justin Bethel is a special teams star that knows he just doesn't want to screw up as a CB. So he plays it safe with lots of backpedaling.

In the regular season CBs will actually be up on Maclin and a route like that is much more likely to get him a behind the CB.

[J Diddy]

Originally Posted by Fish

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

That's what the Chiefs PR department want you to believe.

Sheep.

[milkman]

I can not say emphatically enough, Ramik Wilson was far from impressive.

He didn't get after after tackles.
Tackles came to him.
Without going back to rewatch the game, I would venture to guess that every single tackle he made came after the ball carrier gained at least 4 yards.

And his defense in the 2 goal to goal plays was nothing short of pathetic.

His interception was a ball that bounced in the air off the receiver's chest, right to him.

He did nothing at all that could be described as impressive in any way.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by temper11

Yes... I do. I'm just not one of the. I understand the need to stretch the field, but I'd prefer that get done when there is a receiver that has a step on his defender. Otherwise, in my opinion, it's just window dressing.

He doesn't have to be a deep ball passer. But he has to throw deep enough often enough that defenses aren't stacking against the short game. It drives me nuts how Alex refuses to throw jump balls, fades, or back shoulder throws. He throws to open guys instead of throwing them open.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by O.city

The chiefs have the red lines on the practice field for wrs to give their qb room to throw. I'd imagine Maclin was forced to squeeze it due to the safety alignment (sorter or sully?).

The throw should go to the boundary so it's either an incomplete pass or catch (interference maybe), so it's not thrown where'd you'd prefer here.

Similar to Avery in game 1 last year, a percent of deep ball completions are on the wr to make the play too.

All true, unless his defender is shaded outside. Of course, then that defender has shitty technique and not a clue about relational positioning.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

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

At least he threw past 7 yards I guess.

Yes. Much like the RB that tries to leap in the endzone looking athletic as hell flying through the air- only to get stuffed short of the goaline.

Unfortunately, the common thing both of them have is the only points you're gonna possibly get are style points.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

The struggles of the clitoris.

That's what she said.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by ViperVisor

People have played too much Madden.


In the regular season Maclin doesn't get a 7 yard cushion. It's coverage by a guy that is depth in the secondary. Justin Bethel is a special teams star that knows he just doesn't want to screw up as a CB. So he plays it safe with lots of backpedaling.

In the regular season CBs will actually be up on Maclin and a route like that is much more likely to get him a behind the CB.

Is that the Plaza lighting - just out of focus?