K.C. Chiefs: Pass getting a pass

WR Corp Output After Two Games

+ Jeremy Maclin has 9 catches after two games, which projects to 77 receptions for the season.

+ Albert Wilson has 3 receptions and 25 yards.

+ De’Anthony Thomas has 3 receptions, 6 targets for 22 yards.

+ Chris Conley has 0 catches.

+ Jason Avant, zero.

+ Frankie Hammond, nothing.

Perhaps you need to be decades older to understand the commercial and cultural significance of… “Where’s the beef?”… but the Chiefs passing game, so far this season, has sadly reflected any extended meaning of the once popular Wendy’s commercial.

Even that statement may be somewhat misleading because, what’s truly needed is… spicy, tangy barbecue sauce to go on that beef. Some pizzazz, some pow, some hallelujah… that’s what’s missing.

Current Ratings & Rankings

Pro Football Focus ranks the Kansas City Chiefs 15th in passing offense with a -0.1 score for 2015. NFL.com ranks Alex Smith at 22nd out of 37 quarterbacks in passing offense (total passing yards- 434 yards). By the way, Peyton Manning comes in at #23 with 431 passing yards (but it’s generally accepted that Manning’s not having a great year in coach Gary Kubiak’s system so far).

Adam Teicher from ESPN said yesterday in a piece called, “Chiefs wide receivers are lagging again” that,

"“They have accounted for only 15 catches (tied for 28th in the league), 156 yards (31st) and 26 targets (28th)…. [Albert] Wilson and [De’Anthony] Thomas are two of the Chiefs’ fastest players, so it’s reasonable to expect some big plays from them when they do catch the ball. But they have 47 yards between them on the six catches. Wilson’s 13-yard reception is the longest of the bunch.”"

None of this is what any Chiefs fan envisioned for the 2015 Kansas City Chiefs passing attack. In fact, when you think about the heart and soul of an Andy Reid offense, isn’t it the passing game that comes to mind first and foremost. Beyond that… and what I’m suggesting here… is that the passing game must produce big and explosive plays, not just deep balls, to make the rest of the offense work or come alive. Without that, how can a running game live and breath?

I hereby commit the results of this season, so far,

to the song “Something’s Missing” by John Mayer

and specifically to the Chiefs wide receiving corp.

However, it’s my great hope that this season will

not be limited to the malaise of Mayer’s melody.

No, I didn’t spend any time focusing on the offensive line here. It’s a subject that’s been exhausted to a great degree so no need to restate the obvious: if the Chiefs had a top shelf offensive line this could be a team for the ages… and these problems with the passing game would virtually vanish in the autumn mist.

The defense is so strong this season that it’s entirely possible that by the end of the year, when many defenses begin to jell, this one will shut down and shut out several opponents. We all know Jamaal Charles will slash and dash his way to at least 1,200 yards (he’s on pace for 1,456 right now) and we all know that Dave Toub’s special teams will bounce back and dictate field position in most games. Dominant performances by the defense, Jamaal Charles and special teams… that’s all going to mean little if the passing game can’t begin to create those eye popping plays that make defenses respect the outer limits of the red zone. They must release the beast… if there is one to be unleashed… or another Chiefs season could slip into mediocrity.

What do you think Addict fans? Is it the Chiefs passing game that needs to get smoking hot… or is someone just blowing smoke?