Chasing answers to Chiefs’ rudderless Reid

Oct 4, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid looks on during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half at Paul Brown Stadium. Cincinnati defeated Kansas City 36-21. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Shhh…  I don’t want to alarm anyone…

But there has been a lot of serious disappointment around here lately and it is getting worse by the day.

The season opener was a concern in the preseason, but now shows to be bright spot.  The Texans were thought to be improved and the featured the best defender in the NFL in J.J. Watt.  In the end, the team only allowed Alex Smith to be hit on 12.2% of his attempts and had nearly 60/40 split in the pass/run playcalling.  Leaving Houston with a win was a good start to the 2015 campaign for the Kansas City Chiefs.

As the Chiefs have gone on to flounder, havoc has ensued in both of those areas and more.  The offensive line’s protection has been well…. offensive.  Andy Reid has been terribly inconsistent.

Andy Reid is under pressure to make this team perform.  And he should be.   After two full seasons at the helm and ‘his’ players being signed, Reid should be hitting his stride with this team.  It is year three after all.

The Fallout

The home loss to the Bears got the “Fire-Reid” movement going last week, both here on AA and out in the internet-universe.  A lot of reaction was running high due to the hand-wringing over the loss of Jamaal Charles for the remainder of the 2015 season.

The truth is that it is next to impossible to fire Andy Reid any time soon.  It is a possibility sometime after the season, just as Reach theorized in his take earlier this week.  To be honest though, this season isn’t to that point yet.  It will be if Reid cannot right the ship.  If the team falls to 7-9 or 6-10, Reid may have to put his new house up for sale.  For a team with Superbowl aspirations, that simply isn’t good enough.  Bottom line.

However, if Reid gets this squad to .500 and can finish with 8 (or more) wins, he won’t be going anywhere.  Clark hunt won’t demand a change and John Dorsey isn’t going to fire a friend who still has fight in him.

Reid and his staff are coming under the gun.  The team they have led on the field in recent weeks is a shell of itself.   Forget the playcalling and playing guys out of position.  There are bigger issues here.  The players are lethargic.  They show no emotion on the field or the sidelines.  They pull-up on plays, assuming their teammates have it covered.  The defense doesn’t swarm to the ball.  The offense quits on blocks.  The sidelines don’t celebrate big plays by their teammates on the field.  First and foremost, Reid has to fix the attitude and motivation.  How about a little swagger?

They have to find a way to utilize and motivate their talented roster.  If they struggle again this week against the Vikings, changes will have to be considered.

Next: The Answer could already be on Chiefs Staff