Loss #8 – San Diego
Ouch.
That was heartbreaking. Gut wrenching. Excruciating. But I can see the light, can you?
First and foremost I would like to say this; I am sold on Tyler Thigpen. Show me a quarterback that has played better in the NFL the last 3 games? Can’t do it can you? Tyler is for real and I couldn’t be happier in spite of the outcome today. The Chiefs might have finally found their quarterback, and as it sometimes happens in the NFL, he was found after a boat load of injuries.
I was prepared to sit down here and write some pretty disparaging remarks about the defense, the now obvious Achilles of the Kansas City Chiefs but I stopped, collected my thoughts and decided otherwise. Those guys played hard, the second string and most of the third string got a chance to pay this afternoon. Heck, most if not all the guys the Chiefs signed in the past week saw the field at one time or another. They played hard and appeared to leave it all on the field. I thank them for their effort.
I hope people–and by people I mean Jason Whitlock–don’t jump all over Herman Edwards for going for the two point conversion at the end of the game instead of going for the tie. I love the call and I would insist he do the exact same thing again if he had it to do over. I like it Herm. The Chiefs were 1-7 playing a division foe on their home turf, good call and it was the right thing to do.
The “official review” that takes place with under 2 minutes to go in the game has got to be changed. It doesn’t work. Dwayne Bowe caught the ball on the side line. No doubt. But did the officials choose to review that play? No! Instead, they waited until Mark Bradley clearly catches the ball and review it. Either the official review official if you will is incompetent, or he was in the back pocket of the Bolts. In the game, the official review was out to help the defense, not looking for plays to review on the other line of scrimmage, it was a waste of time and either way it needs changed. I guess they made up for it later on by calling defensive pass interference against San Diego when Gonzalez went up for the ball–awful call, but I’ll take it.
Draft Watch…
I will not be talking about QB’s any longer, I feel Tyler Thigpen barring a major meltdown is the Chiefs starting quarterback not only the remainder of this season, but the start of next season as well. He didn’t cave under the pressure of the two minute drill with time expiring. No my fellow Chiefs fans, I will focus on the defensive side of the ball. The Chiefs need help at right guard and tackle, but I don’t think they will spend a high first round draft pick on either of those positions. I think they will focus on MLB or DL, who that might be is a whole other topic.
I am starting the Tyler Thigpen fan club, very impressed with his play over the last 3 weeks. He definitely appears to be ascending in his ability as well.
As for the two point conversion. I say, why leave the game to one play to decide the win or loss? Herm says that he did not trust his defense to stop them again BUT when it was 4th and short just one series prior (I think with 4-5 minutes remaining), Herm elected to punt instead of go for it. He trusted his defense at that point so why not 2 minutes later? Best case we win the toss and kick a field goal to win, worst case we have 4 downs to stop the opponent and don’t. I just don’t like his “excuse” as to why he made the call. I would like to have forced over time, just don’t see the logic of relying on one play to decide the game, especially without an effective run game.
After living in San Diego for five years, I hate them, I hate them, I hate them…would love to have beaten them on their home turf. Maybe we can spoil something for them when they visit in a couple of weeks.
November 10th, 2008 at 8:49 amHerm was looking at the injuries to the defense I think. We lose the coin toss and we never get to touch the ball again. I think all the criticism that Herm has endured for not playing to win probably left him no choice but to do that, especially since the Bucs did it to us. I was not for it at the time but a good nights sleep has changed my outlook on that. Tyler Thigpen is playing like the best qb in the league right now, Tony G is just incredible. Inconsisteny is the word for a rebuilding team. Horrible games mixed with games that are a pure joy to watch are what you can expect and what The Old Chief told us to expect. Its what we have and I love it.
November 10th, 2008 at 9:43 amSteven:
I agree that the Bowe play should have been looked at. He looked out at first blush, but it was very close. This does not mean that the refs were in the Chargers back pocket. If that was the case, we never would have gotten the PI call on the ball thrown to TG. Most of the time, a flag would not have been thrown there.
Question on your draft watch. When you say DL are you suggesting that we look at a DT?
November 10th, 2008 at 10:18 amMerlin -
I am almost certain that Steven means DE…I think Tank and Dorsey could be something close to the Williams “twins” in Minnesota in a few seasons.
November 10th, 2008 at 11:08 amI would say with the way they’ve played, the DL is the evil williams twins, with the rushing stats that are being put up. As far as the 2 point call at the end of the game, I think it was the right choice to go for two, but it was a horrid play call that was horribly executed, the whole time everyone knew where the ball was going, it was doomed from the start.
November 10th, 2008 at 2:28 pmWilliams sisters? Just kidding. They are both, for all intents and purposes, rookie DTs. Rookie DTs don’t pile up stats.
Steven, agree on the D-Bowe call and to some extent Tyler Thigpen (he’s earned the rest of this year, that’s it so far).
I disagree on Herm. Just watch my vlog to see why. I’m going to be writing on this in the days become because, believe it or not, Whitlock’s propaganda machine is on your side on this one. What is up with all of these Herm apologists running amok? The guy goes 1-18 in 19 games and we want to — GULP! — keep him? Wow.
Andre Smith and Michael Crabtree are the two guys we need to look at. When you pick top three, you can only pick a LT, QB, WR, RB or DE — that’s it! Anything else is a reach, because you aren’t going to get someone who can takeover a game.
Good post, Steven. Especially on the officiating down the stretch. Just awful.
November 10th, 2008 at 2:41 pmYou know I was sitting at the game SURROUNDED by mostly Bolts fans and cheering my butt off only to see a dicked up XP that LITERALLY cost us the game. Not sure what happened there. As for the 2pt conversion attempt. NO! Not on the road and not after the team stopped them several times from scoring or scoring range. They were pressing the hell out of Rivers, evidenced by the 2 INT’s. Why not gather the D, pump them up for one possible series and see what these youngsters can do. That is the supposed point of this season right? The play calling up until that point impressed me as a whole. Nothing like hearing our boys silence these freaking FAIR AS HELL WEATHER fans here in San Diego. It really sucks wining the turnover battle, if Im not mistaken, the last 3 weeks and not getting a W. Still a good performance by the “worst team in the league”. San Diego OWES us a big one for that win!! They didn’t earn it!
November 10th, 2008 at 2:57 pmI have been against drafting Andre Smith because we already have a LT, but unless someone at DE or RB really shines in the near future, I see him being the only pick that makes sense where the pick is going to be. I don’t see Crabtree or another receiver because Bradley has played well. I could really see a back with LJ likely on his way out, but there isn’t a major prospect this year. We can move Albert to RT or guard next year, and have two building blocks. I think the first pick they get is going to be in no mans land. Nothing seems to fit a really pressing need right now for the value.
November 10th, 2008 at 5:15 pmagreed Bryman- anything we pick could be the “right” pick even Crabtree would be a good pick, but our when our team wasa dominant offense we had a dominant O-line and we need to build it up again, with Smith at LT and Albert at LG, which IMO is the best spot for him, we would have a young and potentially amazing left side, and we could possibly find the replacement of Waters at LG and move waters to RG for a year to mentor and possibly groom someone maybe a draft pick to take over RG and then RT would still need to be filled but i think Herb Taylor could handle it, which also i believe i spotted him playing on Sunday at RT for awhile, but think we would have a young but very talented line and would be able to keep it for years to come, I say Smith is the smartest pick but Smith or a DE or Crabtree would all be good picks
November 10th, 2008 at 5:33 pmOk a few things…
1. Pigpen: I was full on ready to throw that guy under the bus. Can you believe the turn-around he has made? Im still floored. Anyways, the best part about Pigpen is that he keeps us from doing something monsterously stupid in the 09 draft…reach for a QB in the 1st. Only if Bradford declares, should we draft a QB in the first. That would almost give us a Browns situation at QB…which aint half bad. Cause next year its very probable that Pigpen’s performance mirrors that of Derick Anderson.
2. Herm Edwards: Too all you guys ready to throw Herm under the bus…read above. And even if Herm continues to suck in 09 we will have gotten an 09 herm draft outa him. Ill take a Herm draft over 2 winning seasons with Vermile.
3. Crabtree: the last thing we should frickin do is draft Crabtree. We have wayyyy too many glaring holes to select a WR. Oh, if I remeber right herm is building a run first offense. Anyways, what we SHOULD do is use Crabtree as trade bait so we can trade down for Ray Melegula (or Laurinitus) and a 2nd rounder (or better).
4. Andre Smith: same argument as above. We should get a right OT with the 2nd or 3rd round pick.
something like this…
1st Ray Melegula (after a trade down)
November 10th, 2008 at 9:01 pm2nd Alex Mack (might have to trade up)
2nd OLB (from trade down)
3rd OT/OG (not 100% sure here)
4th Phil LoadHolt OT
MasterBlaster:
Without a trade down, who would you take?
November 10th, 2008 at 9:25 pmLINEBACKER LINEBACKER LINEBACKER LINEBACKER 1ST ROUND!!!
November 10th, 2008 at 9:50 pmhmmmmm Oher or Bradford…maybe a DE if you are really twisting my arm. But why couldnt we trade down? Im sure someone wants crabtree that bad (cowboys cough cough)
November 10th, 2008 at 11:52 pmI know it’s very hard not to talk about the draft while rebuilding, but you guys know that it takes a whole offseason, countless hours of workouts and tape dissection to construct a draft board. I’m a big Andre Smith fan. He will likely be the #1 player on the board. Lets see what he does the rest of the year though.
I was a big fan of this years draft especially because they went for the big bodies with the first two picks, and they both were outstanding picks. Smith has started every game of his career at LT and will be the next dominant franchise tackle in the NFL. Think Orlando Pace or Willie Roaf, but much younger. Move Albert to another spot on the line. I love how he has played at LT, but is probably better off at guard if Smith is drafted.
Crabtree is a beast and is hard to pass up, but he can’t help the team as much and we have a sick amount of holes outside of WR
November 11th, 2008 at 11:50 pm