Take
a Memo
Coming
out party for Larry Johnson
Posted
8-25-03
by
CK Rairden
Landmark columnist
It was a loss to feel good about.
No one left the field on a cart as Jerome Woods did last
season. 1st round pick Larry Johnson had a coming out
party of sorts with 203 total yards, and a special teams
touchdown. Priest Holmes took the first play from scrimmage
on a hand-off from Trent Green, ran around right end for
4 yards, and took his rightful pre-season place on the
sidelines for the rest of the game. The Chiefs racked
up 192 yards with a mixture of first and second stringers
in the first half while posting a 21-13 lead. And TE Tony
Gonzalez finally got involved with a TD reception in the
first quarter. So—is all well in Chiefs land?
Hardly—The memo pad is full:
****
—Dexter McCleon finally got his first start as a
Chief—so what did the Seahawks do? Abused the Chiefs
secondary for 347 yards through the air.
—Get used to it Chiefs’ fans—if the pass
rush is not exemplary as it was last weekend against the
Vikings those kind of numbers will be posted repeatedly
unless the defensive backs make tremendous gains in a
short period of time.
—In case you didn’t notice, the Chiefs defense
gave up 32 first downs and 482 total yards.
—The defensive highlight—R-Kal Truluck. He
recorded the only two sacks of the night. On the first
sack he used his speed rush to blow by Seahawks starting
left tackle Floyd Womack and sacked ‘Hawks starting
QB Matt Hasselbeck.
—He then showed a flash of technique when he bull
rushed the 333-pound Womack and got underneath the huge
offensive tackles shoulder pads and used his strength
to knock the behemoth tackle back and off balance, then
tossed him to the side to sack Hasselbeck again.
—KEY POINT: Both sacks were on third down, one forcing
a punt, and the second forcing Seattle to settle for a
50-yard field goal.
—R-Kal Truluck is still listed number three on the
depth chart at right-defensive end, but with his motor
and his improved technique and strength has cemented himself
into the defensive line rotation. Or at least he’d
better have.
—Another day at the office for WR Marc Boerigter—2
catches. One was for a TD, and one was for a first down
on third and seven.
—Bo did prove to be human, dropping an easy TD pass
with 54 seconds left in the 1st half.
—He was picked up by back-up TE Jason Dunn making
a difficult catch in the same corner of the end zone on
the next play that had to be reversed by replay after
a poor call by officials ruled Dunn out-of-bounds.
—So that’s what Todd Collins looks like when
he’s not throwing from flat on his back.
—The second string offensive line held its own for
the most part, and for the first time in this pre-season
didn’t look awful.
—The Chiefs opening drive three-and-out was their
first of the pre-season in their initial possession of
the game.
—The second drive featured RB Larry Johnson working
with the first team and the team overcame a first and
24 from the Chiefs own 16-yard line after a penalty.
—What a difference Tony Richardson’s blocks
make in the running game. On Larry Johnson’s 18-yard
run on the Chiefs first scoring drive he blew up the Seahawks
corner with a crushing block.
—The team showed some resilience on that drive,
overcoming penalties that made an 80-yard drive equal
a 13 play 105-yard scoring effort with Gonzo making the
TD catch (the second of the drive after Derrick Blaylock’s
rushing TD was called back on a holding penalty by Gonzo)
and the obligatory slam-dunk over the crossbar.
—DB Corey Harris has made this team with his fine
special teams play.
—WR Chris Horn has as well, and has proven to be
a crisp route runner if he is needed for the 5th WR spot.
—In a surprise, GM/President Carl Peterson hinted
that he would like to see six WR’s carried on the
roster. That would save Snoop Minnis' job until and if
WR Dameane Douglas is able to return.
—Priest Holmes standing on the sidelines for 59
minutes and 55 seconds means that the Chiefs now have
confidence in the right hip, and the front office and
Holmes’ agent are close to an extension for the All-Pro.
****
Pre-season losses, especially losses where you lead 21-13
at the half while your All-World RB stands on the sidelines
and your leader QB Trent Green plays but two offensive
series are meaningless. This was an acceptable, and for
the offense, encouraging defeat.
But once again, the defense looked scary. The Seahawks
picked at the Chiefs secondary when KC couldn’t get
pressure on the QB. There doesn’t seem to be much
hope of a change either which means this defense will
have to count on its front seven again. There is good
news in that: this front seven is much improved from last
season. They are fast and mean and can wreak havoc at
times. They swarm to the ball and are going to have to
carry the secondary.
NOTE: Tuesday is the initial cut day, and some very
unfamiliar names (and perhaps a familiar one or two) will
be released. The Chiefs only have to get their roster
down to 76 players because they receive an exemption due
to their very active NFL Europe status. There may be a
surprise, but it’s unlikely.
(CK Rairden can be reached by email
at ckden@yahoo.com)
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