Chief Concerns

It's Monday morning and I've had two days to think on it.

Had my coffee, went to the gym then drank some more coffee. As far as Monday's go I'm doing pretty well. Life's short, so why complain.

I'm not going to nitpick. I still consider Kansas City a contender. They got the goods; one lousy preseason game didn't change that.

Disappointed, dissatisfied and irritated but not fed up. Like Kansas City Star’s Kent Babb mentioned, let's keep the St. Louis Rams in perspective. My outlook still has Kansas City winning the division and winning more games than St. Louis.

Kansas City treated it like a practice while the Rams wanted a game. That was the difference. Jeff Fisher got embarrassed by the Indianapolis Colts in the Rams first preseason game. Kansas City faced a serious Jeff Fisher, Fisher wanted to win.

Kansas City, not so much. Last time Kansas City won a preseason game in St. Louis was in 2003.

Each Chief was looking forward to returning to their bed, wife, family and friends after camp Thursday. Distractions that hadn't been there for several weeks while in St. Joe. They're professionals, but human. A change in routine could have thrown the Chiefs off.

Still, that's part of the game. Hopefully the Rams reminded Kansas City of that.

It wasn't a fun lesson but preseason is about learning, mistakes and setting the stage for the regular season. I expect bumps in preseason. Injuries are the main concern, especially after what Kansas City experienced last season. Safety Kendrick Lewis in a sling concerned me most. Lewis will be out for a while until the Chiefs feel comfortable with him moving his arm. That might eat into the regular season.

But I accept ugly in the preseason; the Rams were one of those games.

Keep in mind Kansas City still has 90+ players on the roster, so a big part of the stupid came later. Ricky Stanzi was sacked four times. It wasn't all the offensive lines fault as Stanzi hesitated too often.

The positive I saw was that the main guys still looking good with some continuing to look great from the first preseason game. Players like Dontari Poe improved against the Rams.

Jamaal Charles is back! Charles had three carries for 17 yards a 5.7 average per carry. Peyton Hillis scored again. With Charles and Hillis the Chief backfield looks solid. Kevin Boss was fabulous. Boss had four receptions for 62 yards (15.5 avg.) leading all Chiefs receivers in the game. Matt Cassel continues to look like a competent quarterback. Brian Daboll hasn't once treated Cassel like Todd Haley called a developing player. Daboll treats Cassel like a quarterback and it shows. The starting offensive line did a good job of protecting Cassel. Like I said, most of the sacks Kansas City gave up came later. Two of the four turnovers were from Stanzi.

It wasn't a total sleepwalk, just not fun.

I expect a team wide awake against the Seattle Seahawks, but Kansas City really does have to figure out winning on the road. I think certain things got in the way of Kansas City against St. Louis. I honestly think leaving camp on Thursday and going back home unfocused them from what they needed to do.

Their heart wasn't there. You could see it in the way they moved, looked and acted in the game. Up to the Rams players have liked practice, have been into practice and have listened to Romeo Crennel.

I really believe the Rams were a blip on the radar screen.

Kansas City will be just fine!

Good day, Chiefs fans!