Preseason Game 1: Who helped and hurt their chances of being a Chief on Week 1?
 

I'm still in preseason mode, so I wasn't adept at watching the line play yet. Some obvious observations about guys who helped their stock are (in order of observation strength):



Chase Litton is a superstar in the making, and will eventually force us to trade Patrick Mahomes II.

Kelce looks pretty good, but he was probably going to make the team anyway.

T.Y. McGill impressed me and is my dark horse pick for a roster spot.

Jace Amaro looked really good. I think he's our #2 or #3 TE.

Darrel Williams seems like a budding Spencer Ware. Big, tough, and runs hard.

Alex Ellis generally played well, if you discount that last play.

Ben Niemann is going to make the world forget about Luke Kuechly.

In the little that I observed, McKenzie and Wylie were playing well at RG and RT.

Byron Pringle seemed to have quickness.

D. Robinson was going to make the team, but he helped his cause to move up the depth chart.

Kerwynn Williams and Damien Williams both looked good as well, but not as good as Darrel.

Kpassagnon seemed to be our best pass rusher among the non-Houstonian OLBs. That's not a hearty endorsement, but it's an endorsement.



On the other side of the equation:

Armani Watts was lost out there. He looked like a fan who had wandered onto the field.

Our starting line was a sieve, particularly at the tackles, and I worried about Patrick Mahomes II's life.

The CBs were playing soft, but I hope Nelson doesn't do that all year.

Dee Ford still has no instincts.

Patrick Mahomes apparently according to this place

I was impressed with Jace Amaro & D.Robinson. Both played well.

Was NOT impressed with Watts and Amerson - BOTH SUCKED. (But I knew that would be the case)

We have a WR named Byron Pringle, and I hope at least makes the practice squad based on his name alone.

To be fair, those penalties on Amerson were horse shit. At least the PI call.

He actually was all over the place last night and played well. It's crowded at WR so I doubt he makes it - maybe his special team play will help.

It was weak, BUT Amerson is the type of CB that's going to get that called on him every time. He's ranked at or very near the bottom in coverage ability. So, he's a marked man. He also has terrible instincts. Reminds me of a bigger version of Phillip Gains.

Oh god, I hope he isn't THAT bad.

Pringle runs crisp routes. And it's funny because it's true.

My takeaways from the game:
First things first, the pregame coverage from KCTV was a joke. The two clowns in the parking lot were totally unprepared and missed cues all broadcast. Tom Martin was even a little snarky. Keep Dani and bring in an UDFA from a D-2 J school.
Mahommes didn't light it up, but part of that was poor protection, especially from the LG. I think it's time to end the Cam Evring experiment. It's clear he has some learning yet to do, but the promise is there. QBs 2 and 3 were OK, but Chase Litton was pretty impressive. The kid has a cannon for an arm, he just needs some work. I think McGloin might be selling insurance after the preseason.
Did Dee Ford even play? Oh yeah, he was the guy getting flattened on every running play to the left. Come on down Breeland Speaks, you are the man. Kpass isn't going to take Houston's job any time soon.
Amerson's first penalty (holding) was a good call, but the PI call was straight out of Triplette.
More Williams equals more better. All 3 RBs looked good, but Damien just may wind up being our #2 instead of #3. Ware and West could be trade bait. X. Williams is going to be a beast.
One rookie that impressed the hell out of me was #56, Ben Niemann. The stop he made on 4th and a yard made me think of another #56.I could hear that pop clear out here in the woods. I realize he was playing against 3rd and 4th stringers, but #45 better be looking over his shoulder lest he has to join forces with McGloin in the insurance game.
I'm not ready to throw in the towel out on our run D yet. We had 4 starters out tonight, both ILBs, Berry, and Dirty Dan. If it doesn't show marked improvement with their returns, then let's panic.

I think Eric Bieniemy hurt his chances at being the playcaller all season*.


















*obligatory ERMAGEHRD preseason overreaction

Vanilla game plan

it was vanilla

When LDT was in the game, it was French vanilla.

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Rain Man again.