This game was interesting. I don't put too much stock in "moral victories" but after laying such a huge egg last week against the Browns it was good to see the Chiefs come out and play well against a good playoff team.
Here are some of the positive things I noticed.
-Matt Cassel - He showed extreme toughness, as he has all season, and led the Chiefs on a couple of impressive drives. He when he gets the protection and is on the same page as his receiver he has continually shown he has the ability to make some great throws. That touchdown pass to Tim Castille was an absolute thing of beauty.
-The Defense - After cleaning off the treadmarks on their jersey's from last week the run defense and defense in general played leaps and bounds better than they did last week. I attribute the better run defense to the return of Glenn Dorsey off the injured list, this shows just how much he has grown and just how valuable he is to this team. I have said it before and will again, Dorsey is going to be a STUD and once the Chiefs are good will be talked about as one of the most dominant defensive players in the league. Speaking of which...
-Brandon Flowers - This guy is absolutely sick. All he has done in the second half of the season is make play after play. I have a semi-man crush on Glenn Dorsey but I may have just as big of one on Flowers and when the Chiefs emerge again as a playoff team he may be regarded as the best player on our defense. Once the team comes around people will be talking about Flowers as a "shutdown" corner. He is going to be GOOD.
-Jamal Charles - Not sure what else needs to be said. He continues to play his heart out and show that he is on his way to being a legitimate star in this league.
Now some of the not so positive stuff I noticed.
-Offensive line - Same old story, we all know it at this point. Can't protect or give Cassel time, can't open holes in the running lane, get too many penalties called against them...it's a sad state of affairs with this unit.
-Drops - Again, same old story. Receivers can't handle the ball. I can't tell if this is bad coaching, lack of focus, or just lack of talent. Probably a mixture of all 3. Although, I do imagine drops are less on a winning team, it will be interesting to see how the drops stat changes when the Chiefs are good (assuming any of these players are still here).
-Matt Cassel - While I am impressed by his toughness there are still some issues I have with him. Every 5-7 throws he will make a pass that has you asking "what in the hell was that?" Whether it is a ball that is too high, too low, too behind or too in front Cassel has routinely missed open receivers, this of course is only to be redeemed by him fitting the ball in the tightest of windows on his next pass. Inconsistency is not a characteristic of a franchise quarterback. Beyond that, he CANNOT throw the long ball. He doesn't have the arm strength or the downfield accuracy to make those throws, perhaps with a better O-line the throws will improve, but he just does not have the talent to make the throws that Peyton Manning or Drew Bress has.
Overall, I was slightly pleased with the game despite the outcome. The defense improved over last week and the offense continues to show signs of life with no consistency. Todd Haley is still in over his head and I am not sure how he and Pioli are gonna dig us out of this hole, I only hope that they can, that they do, and that they do it soon. I am past the point of wanting to cry...
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