A Level Headed Review Week 12 2024

[DenverChief]

ST- Kickers continue to do the impossible by hitting things that are hard to hit. Hilarious watching the ball doink the ref in the head.

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Schrader the hero of the game.

Defense - seems to still have a hard time with getting home on the pass rush without the extra blitzer. Didn't see if Uche had any snaps but since Young is a mobile QB they probably limited him again. It seems that every time we got burned on 3rd down the route was that under cross route that Pat made famous with Hill/Hardman in the AFC Divisional round against Buffalo a couple years ago. Just sneaking that WR under a go route. I'll have to go back and watch again, but it seems like we are really struggling on 3rd and long.

Maybe it's a focus thing? Seems like a lot of unnecessary penalties towards the end of the game, McDuffie looked lost on that TD pass and then commits the PI buy running into Moore.


TE - Kelce passes Jason Whitten for all time receiving yards. Noah Grey is really making himself known as a legitimate threat opposite Kelce.

OL - Wanya has gotten beaten bad a couple of times but so has Taylor. On the first TD pass you can see below it is Taylor losing to his man that causes Pat to run up in the pocket. Good news is Pat was only sacked once in the first half but it was Wanya getting beat around the edge.


Wanya got smoked again on the last drive in the 4th Q. I really hope DJ Humphries can get up to speed fast. The last two drives have been atrocious for the offense. Can't seem to get protection down for Pat, especially on exotic pressures. It's like they are so focused on providing help to the tackles that free runners are creating havoc for Pat.

Taylor getting owned by Clowney, the last play on the blitz JJSS missed picking up the blitzer instead chipping the DE.

RB - Steele/Hunt/Perine really stepping up and making big gains on the relief valve passes. Hunt with only 7 carries for 24 yards at half (3.4 yards per). Really gotta get the running game going more.


After watching the 1st half - Pat seems to be better and zipping passes into tight windows. I think he was being hesitant earlier in the year because he wasn't comfortable with the WR's making the catch on a tight window throw possibly leading to a turnover. You can also see Worthy is getting more involved in the passing game.

WR - I wasn't sure Hopkins had any emotions, every time he does an interview he is very reserved in his answers and emotions. This makes me very happy to see.

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Intersting....really hope Worthy can turn it up as we get closer to the playoffs.

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[Fishels]

There was some absolute bullshit flags I’d like to add on both two point conversions. And then one no call on Worthy

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by DenverChief

My guess is they have changed the protection schemes to benefit Morris and that has left Taylor on an unusual island where he might get more help on chips and from the Smith he is not anymore. Just a guess and I'd really have to pay attention to the blocking schemes from last year to really get a good handle.

I hope it's that and not something exploitable that Clowney found.

[Buehler445]

As to the game, we can't put together a whole game. It was good to see Mahomes dealing again, but fuuuuuuuuck the defense getting worked by the shitheel Panthers.

Last year we had the Bears game to show we could put it all together. I hope we can have one of those games down the stretch and rebuild the confidence that it is still in there.

Chiefs get all the flags. /s

[JPH83]

Issue is the trenches and it feels a more comprehensive problem to fix than in previous years.

Jawaan Taylor is overpaid and overrated even without the penalties, with them he's terrible. But he's also played at a high enough level to believe he can fix things. Wanya I don't think is a OT, certainly not a starter, and Smith has regressed a little. Best case is Smith reverts to at least average and Humphries raises the floor of the entire group, we'll see. If there's a single decision we could take back I reckon it's letting Kingsley and Wanya battle for that LT spot. I get it, we needed to see, but Kingsley being so bad really blew that up.

The DL looks awful,.aside from against the run. Jones has taken a worrying step back. Karlaftis generates almost no pressure and even less quick pressure and now seems to be average against the run. Danna has gone backwards. FAU offers nothing. Uche, who knows. Obviously Omenihu coming back COULD help but probably not immediately. Not sure how it's fixed, I think possibly the best bet is Uche starts to provide some juice on 3rd downs from DE and Omenihu does the same kicking in. The rest are passengers.

So there's a path to getting back to form, but perhaps a tougher one with more pieces needing to fall into place. I'm probably more optimistic on the OL than the DL.

[chiefzilla1501]

This was Schwartz’s take on the OL mess.
“ Jawaan uses the same pass set every time where he sets super deep and allows the DE to get inside pressure. Until he changes it there’s nothing that will improve.”

Sounds about right. Our OL issues seem a lot more to do with gaps in talent. We would never do it but would we better off starting humphries after the long week after thanksgiving. Resting wanya to get his leg better. Prepping wanya to play RT.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by JPH83

Issue is the trenches and it feels a more comprehensive problem to fix than in previous years.

Jawaan Taylor is overpaid and overrated even without the penalties, with them he's terrible. But he's also played at a high enough level to believe he can fix things. Wanya I don't think is a OT, certainly not a starter, and Smith has regressed a little. Best case is Smith reverts to at least average and Humphries raises the floor of the entire group, we'll see. If there's a single decision we could take back I reckon it's letting Kingsley and Wanya battle for that LT spot. I get it, we needed to see, but Kingsley being so bad really blew that up.

The DL looks awful,.aside from against the run. Jones has taken a worrying step back. Karlaftis generates almost no pressure and even less quick pressure and now seems to be average against the run. Danna has gone backwards. FAU offers nothing. Uche, who knows. Obviously Omenihu coming back COULD help but probably not immediately. Not sure how it's fixed, I think possibly the best bet is Uche starts to provide some juice on 3rd downs from DE and Omenihu does the same kicking in. The rest are passengers.

So there's a path to getting back to form, but perhaps a tougher one with more pieces needing to fall into place. I'm probably more optimistic on the OL than the DL.

I think a lot of our DL worries are just quick reactions. Jones is still a stud and omenihu without a doubt helps a ton. Spags will work on the DB rotations and we will tighten that up by the time we hit the playoffs. And those things improving will make everyone around them better. This is always the time of year where we start to freak out about our defense but they’ve always come through in the playoffs even with worse talent. The only difference is spags has earned enough respect that people aren’t calling for his head anymore, so now the blame has shifted to the players.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

This was Schwartz’s take on the OL mess.
“ Jawaan uses the same pass set every time where he sets super deep and allows the DE to get inside pressure. Until he changes it there’s nothing that will improve.”

Sounds about right. Our OL issues seem a lot more to do with gaps in talent. We would never do it but would we better off starting humphries after the long week after thanksgiving. Resting wanya to get his leg better. Prepping wanya to play RT.

Damn Mitch. It’s like you were reading CP. not what I wanted to hear.

Originally Posted by Buehler445

I hope it's that and not something exploitable that Clowney found.