(09-08-2019, 10:48 PM)jagfan0728 Wrote: Always good to read your post game thoughts, Bullseye. I have visited the board for a long time, but don't post much. I'll share some random thoughts here on what was an eventful game.
I have to agree that half of our poor defensive performance was just going up against an extremely talented and well coached team and I expected the Chiefs to have success. However, what little resistance we showed was disappointing to say the least. Blown coverages, missed tackles, bad angles, and far too often soft and conservative play calling. If not for the injuries to Hill and Mahomes, they surely would have hung 50 or 60 on us. The defense is still the strength of our team and if they don't get right, it will be a long season.
Jack had arguably his worst game a pro and threw a temper tantrum to top it off. You could see the ref was already throwing the flag for the dirty hit and if Jack had kept his composure it would have ended there. I know its early, but I was not a fan of his large contract because of the position he plays and because I am doubtful he can play at the level to warrant it. He's a good player, but not a great player. We didn't learn much from the Telvin Smith extension. I'd love for him to prove me wrong though.
I don't know how much of the Chiefs explosive plays had to do with our young safeties, but as of now it is a concern for our secondary. It doesn't help that our two pro bowl corners looked average today as well. I thought the defensive line played well at times, but we did give up a few too many big runs for my liking and some of that has to be attributed to them. Allen, while not in any way dominant, had some nice plays and Bryan even flashed once which hopefully he can build on. Quincy Williams flashed a couple of times, but hard to tell how he did in coverage.
One more thing about the defense. It seems we are almost begging for personal fouls on every play after the plays are over. It's disgusting and has to stop. I get that the other team may be provoking some of it, but if you show it gets to you, you'll likely get provoked even more. I want to assign the blame solely to the players, but considering it is a number of different players, I have to put some of the blame on Marrone for the lack of discipline. Last year, I chalked the lack of discipline up to having a losing season and players not taking it well, but to have that start this early in the year is inexcusable. Is Marrone too easy on the players? How does a hard nosed guy like Coughlin tolerate this? How is this not eating at him?
Offensively, I wish we got to see more of Foles. Very hard to judge him on a small sample size, but certainly dropped a beautiful dime on the touchdown pass. I feel bad for him as I'm sure he feels like he's letting the team down, but considering he's never played a full 16 game season, it was always a possibility. As far as I'm concerned we roll with Minshew. The names of available QBs do nothing to excite me and Minshew has shown enough to think we have a QB that could develop into a quality backup. He threw for 12 straight completions I believe and almost broke the team record. I liked his poise and he throws a pretty ball. Hopefully we can be competitive during Foles absence and while in no way am I predicting this, how could it not be a good thing if he played well enough in Foles absence to at least create a little QB controversy? Foles is the guy and if he's healthy, he's playing, but a QB controversy in this case would be a positive thing. Minshew certainly gives me more hope than a Henne or Kessler ever did.
As for the rest of the offense, Fournette does look quicker this year. If he can stay healthy, he could have a productive year. Our receives looked better than anticipated with Chark showing big play potential and Conley looking like a solid addition. We still need play making at tight end which hopefully Oliver can provide. Our OL was decent especially with two rookies at tackle, but we have to cut down the holding penalties. They kill drives. But, I do have to reiterate what Bullseye stated, they do seem a little one sided. They say there is holding on every play, yet where are the holding calls on the Chiefs against the strength of our team, our Dline?
Next week will tell us a lot about our team and how this season will play out. Are we overreacting to a game against what I think is the Super Bowl favorite or was it a sign of the chaos yet to come? I would love to see them respond with some pride and go get a divisional win on the road, but who knows what to expect with this team. I'll be watching because I guess I just can't look away.
Thank you.
Hope to read more of your posts in the future.
I'm inclined to agree with you that this was Jack's worse game, though I'm not sure if he had any responsibility on the Watkins deep pass to the right or he was supposed to pass him off. I would think he had responsibility to pass him off, but the way Reid was calling plays, mixing up formations, etc, it wouldn't be a complete shock if somehow Jack were responsible for staying with Watkins, reminiscent of Pozluszny being responsible for Travis Benjamin a few years ago in San Diego. But even if Watkins was not his responsibility on that play, he had a bad game, without question. Him losing it like that and getting ejected didn't help matters.
I think your observation that the safeties are now a concern is astute. I think most here were comfortable with Harrison. and resaonably okay with Wilson. But until they shut some passes down that come into their area, offenses will attack that area of the defense whether the offense is as talented as the Chiefs or not.
Regarding Marrone, I have been a staunch supporter of his on this board, perhaps the earliest. That said, the personal fouls and lack of discipline on defense will be a huge reason for his dismissal if he is let go. The lack of discipline is quite puzzling considering he is considered a TC disciple and the first thing he did when he became interim coach was do things to instill more discipline.
I am absolutely sickened by the Foles injury. Barring a 2000 Baltimore Ravens style level of play by the defense, the Foles injury will absolutely rob this team of what looked to be a promising season before today.
Are we overreacting to a bad loss? It's never a bad bet to advance that proposition. That's what fans do. But I am not naive enough to think there aren't reasons for serious concern. Even if Foles were healthy, this is still an incredibly tough stretch of the schedule coming up these next few games. The Texans and tacks always give us fits. Denver is a strong defense, Carolina is no slouch, and the Saints are an explosive offense too That stretch is made a lot tougher if the defense continues to play undisciplined football. But adding the Foles injury, playing a rookie QB behind essentially two rookie tackles, one of whom is the 3rd team LT playing out of position, I cringe of what our season could become.
(09-08-2019, 10:53 PM)MoJagFan Wrote: (09-08-2019, 10:46 PM)Bullseye Wrote: Do you mean a tipping point for the season, a tipping point for the franchise, a tipping point for a player, group of players or coach?
Please elaborate.
Sorry.. I don't know right now. Feels like a franchise one but it is one game. It is heart breaking to work all off season thinking a stable and capable QB will get the job done and have it go up in flames 10 minutes into the season.
I am feeling melancholy about the team right now. We had such a long decade of painful bad top to bottom teams and to have one flash in the pan year, ouch. Sorry to be a debbie downer.
No need to apologize.
This was a demoralizing loss today.
Worst to 1st. Curse Reversed!
