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Chiefs aren’t who we thought they were

By Stacy D. Smith

Oct 2, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Spencer Ware (32) runs the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half at Heinz Field. The Steelers won the game, 43-14. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Spencer Ware (32) runs the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half at Heinz Field. The Steelers won the game, 43-14. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

Here’s the perspective fans so desperately need today:

  • In four games, the Chiefs are averaging just 5.75 points in the first half
  • Teams have outscored the Chiefs 66-23 in the first half
  • Kansas City’s offense has scored just three touchdowns in the last 12 quarters
  • Sunday’s late scores ended a string of six quarters without an offensive touchdown

Ask yourself if these are the kind of offensive statistics befitting a team, in its fourth season, that’s had continuity both with personnel and its coaching staff? Wasn’t the Chiefs offense supposed to carry the team until Justin Houston returned to fortify the defense? Weren’t we expecting ascending players like Spencer Ware and Chris Conley to help Reid establish a more potent offense? What we’re left with are the unpaid bills of uninventive coaching. The Chiefs offense won’t be confused for the juggernauts of the league, but they’re also too talented to be struggling so mightily.

Some of this falls squarely on the shoulders of a head coach who has been dogmatic about his own involvement in play calling. Once a well-respected offensive mind, it appears the game may have passed Reid by. The west coast, as a system, isn’t an anachronism in today’s NFL, but Reid’s version of it seems to be.

Despite early success with the vertical passing game on Sunday, he eventually fell into a familiar pattern of one ineffective quick screen after another. Kansas City has playmakers in Jeremy Maclin, Travis Kelce and Chris Conley, but Reid seems perfectly willing to keep their hands tied. Even down multiple scores, the Chiefs were still nickeling-and-diming a Steelers defense which had been the league’s worst pass-rushing defense coming into the game.

If I’m being honest, part of this can also be attributed to quarterback Alex Smith. This offense is limited with him at the helm and that may explain Reid’s reluctance to play to his offensive strengths.

Remember the Week 3 contest where Kansas City got eight turnovers from the New York Jets? They still only managed to score 10 offensive points. That’s an indictment of Reid’s offensive imagination and could also indicate a ceiling created by being tied to Smith at quarterback. It’s not enough to avoid negative plays. The modern NFL requires a quarterback to make positive plays on a consistent basis.

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