Chiefs
Chatter
It's
time to cure the disease
Posted
10-21-02
by
CK Rairden
Landmark columnist
A frustrated head coach emerged after yet
another heartbreaker with a new defensive strategy for
the Kansas City Chiefs. The offense has to control the
ball, score on all its possessions and keep a defense
that Dick Vermeil accurately described as “the disease”
off the field.
“You don’t put your weakest phase
of your football team on the field. If you know what the
disease is, you work like hell to try and cure it.
"But you sure as hell don’t give
them the same vaccination that does not work we just put
‘em back on the field.” Vermeil stated.
I like that line of thinking and it is a
good strategy. Unfortunately NFL rules state that if your
offense doesn’t get a first down you either punt
or surrender the ball on downs.
That means that the diseased defense of
the Chiefs has to be put on the field. And for every game
this season, that has meant chunks of yardage, tons of
points by the opponents and a two game losing streak.
***
The head coach was not finished, “were supposed
to be the best offense in football scoring 34 points a
game and all that BS (and we can’t convert on third
downs.)”
Now this line of thinking is warped. The Chiefs offense
did struggle a bit late in the game, but they rolled up
34 points on one of the best defenses in the league. There
is no way they can be expected to score on every possession
except when they are practicing during the week against
the diseased TURNSTILE defense. Denver scored on five
of its last eight possessions and that was the difference.
****
A few weeks back Dick Vermeil mentioned that he didn’t
even speak to defensive coordinator Greg Robinson during
game days. That has to change. With Vermeil’s admission
of his sickly defense in dire need of some sort of treatment
someone from the Chiefs coaching staff needs to get in
Robinson’s ear.
Dr. Vermeil has made a fine diagnosis of the sickness
that is contagious and spreading throughout the Chiefs
defense. It’s going to be impossible for this season
as a vaccination may not be enough. This defense needs
major surgery.
Using a scalpel to remove Lew Bush was a good move, and
many other defenders need serious procedures as well.
It’s time to send a message to the diseased starters
on the defense that aren’t producing. That is a difficult
proposition as the depth of this diseased TURNSTILE defense
isn’t much to speak of either, but something has
to be done.
The starting point needs to be the leader, Greg Robinson.
It’s time to sit the coordinator down and tell him
to seek professional advice and treatment. And with an
angry Raiders crew blowing in to town next week with a
ton of offensive weapons, Robinson needs to hit the couch,
the vaccination line and even the O.R. table immediately.
(CK Rairden can be reached by email
at ckden@yahoo.com)
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