2014 Chiefs Edition: Shock And Awful

Jamaal Charles is once again going to be a wonder to watch. However, the Chiefs first 3rd down and 2 to go from their own 21 yard line provides an example of the challenge that JC faces this year. Especially if he has to continue to run behind a group of men who can not sustain a block for more than 2 seconds. Below is a breakdown of that play.

In the first picture, you can see that Alex Smith has already handed the ball to Jamaal Charles and RT Donald Stephenson is pulling to clear the way. At this point point the play looks like it could be a long gainer if all goes well. However, you can already see that Bengals #55 LB Vontaze Burfict is beginning to throw Chiefs #19 Kyle Williams aside and at the bottom of the picture Dwayne Bowe looks like he may be getting beat by the much smaller #23 DB Terrance Newman. Still, with most of the important Bengals player engaged by Chiefs blockers Charles should be able to gain good yardage.

In the next picture (below) you can see Chiefs blockers breaking down all over the field. Bengals #94 DL Domata Peko has gotten off of his block and appears to be ready to make the play on Charles. He’s in the left yellow oval. In the right yellow oval is Burfict who has long since left Kyle Williams behind and is now nothing more than a cheerleader. You can also see that Terrance Newman has made it around Bowe and essentially forces JC to take an inside track. Also at the bottom of this picture is the result of Stephenson pulling and whiffing. There was a lot of that in this game. Too many blockers not engaging once they got downfield. So many blockers looked like they didn’t really know what to do.

In the third picture below, Charles has attempted to leap over Burfict who trips him up while #94 closes in to make the tackle. Kyle Williams is circled on the right because he remains stationary throughout the play after being beat by Burfict. It’s astounding.

In the fourth picture seen below you can tell every block has broken down except for TE Anthony Fasano’s. Fasano continued to engage Carlos Dunlap throughout the play. Charles fails to gain the two yards necessary for the first down and most Chiefs players turn into bystanders. Especially Kyle Williams who takes to jumping up and down.

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