Ian Rap: “Berry is improving”

[Dante84]

The #Chiefs and #Bucs are both 2-0 and both could be getting healthier: KC S Eric Berry (heel) is improving and could practice this week, while first-round DT Vita Vea could do the same. Too early to know their status for this weekend, but positive signs.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 17, 2018

[Sannyasi]

Originally Posted by Eleazar

It's just an illustration that an epidemic of homerism has taken hold.

Never before did you ever hear CP nattering about how great Rivers is. Never has anyone been afraid of him. No one posted about how we can't expect a defense to be able to contain Rivers because of how great he is.

Rivers is now 13-13 against the Chiefs all time, and barely has more TD than INT against us. He has not terrorized the Chiefs throughout his career.

But now that a good portion of the board is in "I want to believe" for 2018 mode, we're making excuses for the defense to give ourselves hope that maybe the team can contend this year. That maybe the sad state of the defensive personnel won't mean Mahomes' great start will all be for naught.

Those are the bare facts. The defense has been in steady decline for several years and there's a dearth of talent now, which can't be hidden any longer.

When your first opponent comes out and throws the ball 50 times, and then the next opponent watches the film and decides to throw it 60 times, it's safe to say the book has been written on your defense.

We don't have 1st team NFL quality talent on defense. It's going to take a couple of strong offseasons in the draft and free agency to begin a rebuild on defense. Thus far we haven't had one.

It wasn't in the gameplan for either of those teams to throw it 50 or 60 times, it was what was demanded by circumstance. When you go down by a lot of points very quickly its natural that teams will favor the pass to catch up.

[FAX]

Originally Posted by staylor26

Eleazar is such a ****ing moron

Actually ...

Based on what I've read here over the years, Rivers has never been wildly respected. At all.

He was known as a choker, basically.

I know there is a lot of media hoopla about his eventual ride to the HOF, but, by the same token, a lot of people think he's not necessarily a lock and that the bus might be full already. So that's that part. The pundits pick him and the Bolts to go to the SB every, single year (it seems like) and they collapse somewhere along the way without fail. Are we elevating Rivers to make our guy seem better? If so, that's entirely unnecessary.

The other part is that our defense is, in fact, depleted. It got old and Dorsey did us no damn favors by allowing players to hang on too long or waiting far too long to sign good players. (Granted, some unforeseen injuries got in the way.) Apparently, Veach is building run-D first and hoping to hit on some pass rush. We're not there yet, so that's not opinion ... that's observation.

The other, other part is that ... well, I forget the other, other part. But I'm certain that Mr. Eleazar probably got that part right, also.

FAX

[RunKC]

We need to get Berry back soon bc Eric Murray is the worst starter on the defense. Dude is lost out there and is constantly getting burnt by TE’s.

In a few weeks, Jordan Lucas and Eric Berry need to start playing significant snaps.

We need to get Murray off the field. He’s that much of a liability.

[BossChief]

I don’t blame Dorsey for the Houston or Berry deals...but there were definitely signs that Berry was a huge risk signing.

Can you imagine how good this team would be if Houston and Berry were giving us the best years of their careers like the year preceding their extensions.

This is a dynasty with those 2 playing like they’re in their prime and Mahomes at QB.

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by RunKC

We need to get Berry back soon bc Eric Murray is the worst starter on the defense. Dude is lost out there and is constantly getting burnt by TE’s.

In a few weeks, Jordan Lucas and Eric Berry need to start playing significant snaps.

We need to get Murray off the field. He’s that much of a liability.

Yup. It sucks because I thought the guy had the skills coming out of college to convert into a good coverage safety.

Whoops.

[Simply Red]

I've never had any big issues with Cochise.

[Unclesam]

He could practice this week but he may also not practice this week. THANKS FOR THE UPDATE

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by Sofa King

So, any actual news on Berry today? Maybe some false hope?

I heard from a friend who knows the Chiefs training staff that if we push this thread to 1000 posts, Eric Berry will start practicing again.

[Eleazar]

Originally Posted by staylor26

Eleazar is such a ****ing moron

Tell us again how this D is one player away from being Super Bowl caliber, homer of homers

[Imon Yourside]

Originally Posted by RealSNR

I heard from a friend who knows the Chiefs training staff that if we push this thread to 1000 posts, Eric Berry will start practicing again.

Send this post to 1000 friends and Berry will play this weekend.

[Mother****erJones]

Originally Posted by Eleazar

Tell us again how this D is one player away from being Super Bowl caliber, homer of homers

It won't be super bowl caliber but could be good enough considering the front seven is vastly improved from what it was and getting Berry back and Sorensen back as the 3rd or 4th safety is solid where he belongs. They won't be awesome but should be a lot better than they are now. That's not counting what the pass rush could look like if KC gets more from Speaks or KPass as the season goes on. Then you throw in a dime backer hybrid guy like O'Daneil, and suddenly gives KC a much improved defense from last season.

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by Eleazar

Tell us again how this D is one player away from being Super Bowl caliber, homer of homers

I never said that. This offense is well beyond “SB caliber”. You don’t need to have a “SB caliber” defense. You just need one that can get key stops like ours has the past two games. Will that possibly get tougher to do? Maybe. That’s why I think the addition of Berry (along with Sorensen) can help offset that.

There’s absolutely no reason to think with the addition of Berry that we can’t beat anybody with this offense.

The whole thing about having a below average defense is it scares you about having to get in shootouts with great offenses. Well we just won two shootouts in the road against two of the best offenses in the league. What more proof do you need?

[Mother****erJones]

I tell you what, Sorensen is a much better blitzer than ****ing Eric Murray. He completely whiffed on that sack of Ben

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by Mother****erJones

I tell you what, Sorensen is a much better blitzer than ****ing Eric Murray. He completely whiffed on that sack of Ben

I never thought I’d miss Sorenson so much, but he alone would be a significant upgrade. Between him, Berry, and Parker we’d look much better at S going into the playoffs.

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by Eleazar

Tell us again how this D is one player away from being Super Bowl caliber, homer of homers

They may be Superbowl caliber if Mahomes keeps playing out of his mind. He's having a greater impact on opposing offenses than anybody on the defense possibly could. What happens once the league figures him out and he has to adjust will be interesting.

In any case, clearly the 2017 team was one player away from beating the Steelers.