A lot that is negative has already been written about the Chiefs first preseason game. So, here are my notes of encouraging actions taken by the Chiefs 2nd and 3rd stringers during the first game of the preseason.
First, I’d like to address a few of the negative vibes floating about in the Chiefs Blogosphere.
"“The Chiefs looked really bad and all is lost.” Really, you’re giving up that easily?“At the post game, Coach Haley said he wanted a win.” What else did you expect him to say? “They didn’t even play the starters. It was embarrassing.” We could go back to “no football”, is that what you’d like?."
On Friday evening the Chiefs coaching staff wanted to separate the wheat from the chaff by getting more practice time, in a game situation. Done.
This was a valuable practice session and an opportunity for depth and bubble players to compete. Todd Haley and Scott Pioli have been saying this preseason that they are going to adapt, to get their newest players caught up, because of a truncated off season. The practice at Arrowhead on Friday night was part their plan. A well orchestrated plan.
Did we learn anything? Here are my UP-ity game notes. These notes only focus on the positive plays made by new players.
Methodology: I fixed my eyes upon the line of scrimmage and re-watched most plays twice, looking for, 1) anyone who got a push at the line of scrimmage and then 2) any Chiefs player who ended up making a play. In most cases, only one player per play was chosen.
Action picks up late in the first quarter after all starters have left the field:
#97 LB Pierre Walters made a solid hit and tackle on a RB out of the backfield.
#70 DL Dion Gales fought off blockers to bring the RB down on a Bucs sweep left.
#31 DB Quinten Lawrence made a tackle in the flat on a WR before he could get momentum.
#31 DB Quinten Lawrence chopped the RB down in the flat on an outlet pass.
#31 DB Quinten Lawrence tackled the WR before he could cross the line of scrimmage.
#49 S Sabby Piscitelli came up to defend a pass on a quick hitch.
#89 WR Jon Baldwin made a good catch on a quick up and in then fought for a few extra yards.
#85 TE Jake O’Connell made a catch with a DB on his back for a 5 yard gain on a hook pattern. Announcer Tom Brenneman called it a “tempo” pass and catch.
#66 LB Erik Bakhtiari, a pursuit sack around the right end. Watched play several time and E.B. does a good job of, 1) getting up field, 2) engaging LT with arms extended, 3) making a move further up field, and 4) tracking and running QB down.
#70 DL Dion Gales pushes past the Bucs OG on a sweep left and gets penetration deep into their backfield to make a tackle of a loss.
#50 LB Justin Houston makes a speed rush move to the outside and beats RT James Lee with a swing move forcing QB Josh Johnson to step up into the pocket and deliver the ball early, resulting in an incomplete pass. I watched this one play by JH several time and was enough for me to see his significant potential. BTW, James Lee is a 4th year player in a position battle with Jeremy Trueblood for the starting RT position for the Bucs.
#50 LB Justin Houston sticks his nose into the middle of the line of scrimmage to help stop a running play cold for no yardage gained. I liked his aggressiveness, to mix it up in the middle. Strong football move.
#60 OL Chris Harr made a great block from the RT position and pancaked his man.
#49 S Sabby Piscitelli had several missed tackles but, I’m wondering if his continued orientation into the Chiefs defensive schemes would change things dramatically for him? He also had some solid hits.
#48 S Reshard Langford makes a solid strip on he TE going up high at the back of the end zone.
#66 LB Erik Bakhtiari, on the first play of the second half, gets good penetration into the backfield and the FB picks him up but, he’s able to turn and catch the RB.
#57 LB Justin Cole makes a sweet sack on a blitz up the middle. He engaged the Center but, beat him quickly and cleanly then got up field to QB Johnson fast. Nice play.
#30 DB Jalil Brown made a couple of solid plays. One in tight coverage on a streak route. The ball was slightly over thrown but, I’m to sure the WR couldn’t have caught it because JB’s coverage was good. On another play at the goal line Brown’s coverage was tight. The WR ran a slant in pattern. Slow motion revealed that JB keeps his hips square with the receiver then quickly shifts his weight as the WR makes a cut to the inside. JB opens his hips and turns to run to the spot of the delivery turning his eyes toward the QB and raising his hand to swat the pass down. Good pass defensed. Excellent response time. Pioli and Haley did a good job scouting him.
#89 WR Jon Baldwin runs a good up and in route. QB Palko leads him too much, for no catch on the play. However, JB may have barely gotten his hand on the ball to change it’s path and avoid the INT.
#95 DL Jerrell Powe, playing over the RT, penetrates and makes a play from the opposite side that the running play is headed. Good pursuit. Well done. Didn’t know he could react that quickly.
#90 DL Brandon Bair. Tampa bay called a running play designed to go to between the LG and the LT. Brandon Bair and Jerrell Powe were stationed there and couldn’t be moved so, the running back had to completely change directions and head the to the opposite side. That was impressive as both players gave no ground and changed the course of the play.
#64 DL Amon Gordon. 6-2, 305. On a few different broken Tampa plays Gorgon can be seen waddling around, chasing down the play, and he kind of reminds me of the old PacMan game… only he never seems to catch anyone. Actually, I think he did once.
#89 WR Jon Baldwin makes an acrobatic catch down the sideline. Although was eventually ruled out of bounds the catch was notable. QB Rick Stanzi threw a pretty pass that ended up behind the DB and Baldwin reached back and popped the ball up in the air and then hauls it in but, loses it as he’s tumbling to the ground. The ball comes off his feet, never coming into contact with the ground, and he finally pulls the ball into this chest for a catch… but by then he’s sitting on the sideline… and.. out of bounds. A play like that can really get you psyched for the potential plays yet to come in his career including he idea that he and Stanzi may have a future together long after Cassel moves on to coaching and commercials. Teams certainly won’t be able to ignore his presence on the field.
#51 LB Gabe Miller made a solid pursuit sack on his own.
#13 QB Ricky Stanzi make a good adjustment to a broken pass play as he lateraled the ball to Jackie Battle. His quick feet and quick wits were evident in this game and on this play.
#99 LB Micah Johnson made several good pursuit plays on running plays. Am unsure if that’s because he was making up for being out of position or what but, his pursuit is a plus.
#13 QB Ricky Stanzi makes another positive run after pass protection break down and WR’s are covered.
#13 QB Ricky Stanzi lays a long beautiful pass into Jeremy Horne’s bread basket but, Horne can’t hold on he’s popped hard under the chin strap by the Safety of he Bucs. This was a “legal” hit as described by announcer Brian Billick: when hitting, the defensive man is instructed to apply his shoulder the offensive man’s chest. This one got Horne under the chin and rang his bell.
#51 LB Gabe Miller. With Tampa at the 35 yard line of the Chiefs and attempting to run the ball the Bucs are drive blocking everyone straight forward. Miller shucks his blocker like a piece of corn and moves into the backfield. He sets the corner outside of the RT he’s just beaten and the RB tries to get outside and around him. Miller goes for his legs and holds on for a good tackle for a loss. Excellent move, twice in one play.
#11 WR Jeremy Horne runs a 7 yard down and out. QB Ricky Stanzi delivers the ball as he’s making his cut. Horne bobbles the ball but, holds on. Nice job after taking the big hit earlier.
#13 QB Ricky Stanzi. K.C. is in a hurray up offense in the fourth quarter and Stanzi is taking it from the shotgun formation. WRs run a go route but, no gets open so Stanzi makes a pretty 8 yard run up the middle diving in head first. Smart. Heady. Gets the team lined back up again quickly.
#31 DB Quinten Lawrence does a good job of staying close to his WR has run a 5 yard hook pattern. No catch.
#31 DB Quinten Lawrence does a good job of staying close to his WR who has run a down and in and he reaches up and knocks the ball away. #26 RB Jackie Battle makes back-to-back runs and makes positive yardage each time. Both run go to the right for 4 yards then for 7 and a first down.
#13 QB Ricky Stanzi in the shotgun, avoids the rush by making a couple of nifty moves but is finally caught in the flat and tackled for a sack. This doesn’t sound positive but, Stanzi’s maneuverability is worth mentioning.
#26 RB Jackie Battle takes a screen pass for 9 yards.
#13 QB Ricky Stanzi avoids the rush, rolls left and then throws on the run making an accurate throw to #5 Zeke Markshausen but, the DB bats the ball out of his hands. ZM could have held onto that ball. Nice touch pass from Stanzi.
#99 LB Micah Johnson blitzes up the middle and gets so deep so soon that he takes the RB down just as he’s gotten the ball. M.J. looks like a stud. I had to watch that play several times over again. A real pleasure. M.J. looks even bigger than his listed height/weight of 6-2, 258.
#13 QB Ricky Stanzi. Tampa blitzes up the middle and defender has Stanzi in his grasp but, Stanzi does a spin move to escape spinning to his right. Stanzi is stumbling but, recovers his balance speeds to the side line making all the way back to the line of scrimmage for no loss. Impressive.
#26 RB Jackie Battle takes a screen pass in the flat for a 5 yard gain.
#60 LB Amara Kumara makes his way through the crowd of linemen on a sweep left and locates the RB still in the backfield, over runs him a little bit but, then pulls him down for a loss on the play. Pretty sweet move. I can see that with some more experience Kumara could be really good if he can harness his raw natural gifts.
#70 LT David Mims had a nice drive block and kept on pushing his defender downfield throughout the play. On most plays I can see that Mims will need to learn to bend more and play lower if he is to succeed at this level. He is so tall that he often tends to block people in the shoulders and even the head and I’m not sure that’s going to fly if he gets the chance to go against first teamers.
#61 C Rodney Hudson had a good “locked in” block on a sweep play to the right. Hudson stayed hooked to blocking his man throughout the play. Good job considering that it was late, late, late in the fourth quarter.
This Arrowhead PRACTICE showed coaches which second tier, or new, players could make plays on a more consistent basis. The answer to that includes the following players, from what I witnessed: Justin Houston, Quinten Lawrence, Ricky Stanzi, Jon Baldwin and Jalil Brown. Other players who showed flashes and could become gamers include: Micah Johnson, Jerrell Powe, Sabby Piscitelli, Justin Cole, Jeremy Horne, Rodney Hudson, Brandon Bair and Amara Kumara.
Yes, there was a dog house group for me but, this is a positive post so, we’ll leave the dogs out.