X-Factors Inside the Huddle Reids addiction is driving KC fans crazy Maybe it’s in Andy Reid’s DNA. Or maybe it’s an addiction. The Kansas City head coach loves the passing game. One criticism over the years is that perhaps he loves it too much. Reid has a tendency to turn to the passing game when he doesn’t have to or, as we saw against San Francisco last Sunday, when he doesn’t need to. There’s no other explanation - other than some sort of compulsive disorder - as to why the Chiefs would abandon their running game when it was shredding the San Francisco defense and ask quarterback Alex Smith to win the game with his arm. The first quarter of the game tells you all you need to know. On the first two drives we had great balance between our running and passing attack. Even though we only had a 7-0 lead, we showed that we could move the ball effectively against the San Francisco defense. But, on the third possession, Reid couldn’t help himself. We had second-and-one in 49er territory and we threw the deep ball. That’s fine. It’s worth a shot on second down. But we also passed on third down. Granted, Smith missed a wide open Jamaal Charles down the sideline, but we still decided to air the ball out instead of going to the run. And we did the same thing again on fourth down. You want to know why KC fans are frustrated? Here’s why: •Seven times the Chiefs were looking at third down and four - or less - and not one of those times did they give the ball to Jamaal Charles or Knile Davis. •Davis is coming off back-to-back 100-yard rushing games and he touched the ball only two times. Charles is arguably the best back in the NFL and he gets just 15 touches. •San Francisco held a 40-19 edge in rushing plays. And it’s not like KC was forced to abandon their running game because they were behind. We were ahead 17-16 going into the third quarter. •San Francisco held a 36:04 to 23:56 edge in time of possession. We had the ball for 11 minutes in the first quarter when we were running the ball. That means we had the ball just 14 minutes over the final three quarters. That’s why KC fans are frustrated. We could also be asking “Where’s De’Anthony Thomas?” He’s perhaps one of the most explosive players in the NFL. Thomas is finally healthy and he’s back on the field and we act like he’s still standing in street clothes on the sideline. Thomas told me during the pre-season that the first time he touched the ball in the NFL he would score. He promptly kept his word with a punt return during a pre-season game. Not good enough for you? In his first real game, Thomas nearly broke a punt return for a touchdown. And the first time he touched the ball on offense he turned a screen pass into a 17 yard touchdown. Thomas needs to be a part of this offense, as does Travis Kelce. He’s proven to be one of the best tight ends in the NFL and he had only two catches against the 49ers. But it still comes back to the running game. The best way to protect your quarterback and make him even more effective is to run the ball. This team has great potential. Even with a 2-3 record we can still make the playoffs, but it’s not going to be on Alex Smith’s arm. Smith is not Peyton Manning or Tom Brady. If this team wants to keep its playoff hopes alive Reid needs to bring his addiction to the passing game under control and reacquaint himself with Jamaal Charles and Knile Davis. * * * Now that Arrowhead Stadium is once again officially the loudest stadium in the world, what next? Will we get another challenge from Seattle? I doubt it. The last time that Seattle went after the noise record the effort was led by former Seahawks player Joe Tafoya and his “Volume 12” group. It didn’t get the support of the team ownership or management the way it was supported in Kansas City. Tafoya is doing other things now, so if Seattle is to go after the record again the effort would have to be led by someone else. That doesn’t appear likely at this time. In addition, the Seahawks’ schedule isn’t favorable to a record-setting attempt. The only big-time game left is Dallas and the remainder of their home games will be played during the afternoon. Night games are better for raising the noise level. Even if the Seahawks decided to go after the record later this year or sometime in the future, I’m not that concerned. I don’t see anyone breaking our record of 142.2 decibels. That’s a record which should stand for a long, long time.
Posted on: Thu, 09 Oct 2014 00:53:49 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015