Bummer, letdown, reality check, and bubble buster are the nicer words fans used to describe the first preseason game. It felt like déjà vu. Like you’ve been there and bought the t-shirt. Twilight Zone stuff, but like my Larry Johnson jersey, 2009 isn’t something I want to put on.
From the initial stand of the defense to the first three and out by the offense the game against Atlanta was eerily similar to last season. Like the 1966 spaghetti western film “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly”, there were performances to like, ones to forget and others you’d rather not see again.
But, that was just the first preseason game. Take a chill pill, right?
Attending camp this past week I saw that both the players and fans haven’t quit. The 3,500 fans that showed Sunday following the Atlanta game haven’t stopped liking the Chiefs. Conversing with fans watching camp I found that there’s plenty of optimism left in the bank.
Tonight the Kansas City Chiefs play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and I’m just as anxious as I was with the first. Why? If the Chiefs can trim the fat and learn from the mistakes then it’ll be easy to believe Todd Haley when he says his team turns a corner.
Easy is good, but what if the Chiefs start flat? Remember, just happy thoughts for Tampa Bay.
ANDY STUDEBAKER: After Wednesday’s morning practice I asked linebacker Andy Studebaker what the general attitude was since the first preseason game.
“What, today? We got after it,” responded an energized Studebaker. “It was a cool morning, and we challenged ourselves last night that we needed to step it up a notch and we really did that on the goal line period. It was fun to watch. “
I asked him if the team will take anything into tonight’s game that was learned from Atlanta.
“If you watch the film from last week to this week I feel my biggest improvement from that first to second game is you’ve had a taste of hitting an opponent you’ve had a taste of game time, I mean it’s a little different from practice,” said Studebaker. “So you kind of know what to expect coming up and we have game film to watch of Tampa Bay so we have a chance to see what they’ve done this year rather than a shot in the dark like with the first game.
So we have some experience and we have a chance to evaluate them as well … it’s hard to say about Tampa Bay, because it’s still the preseason. You still have to do certain things and you still have a limited amount of time. We’re still practicing; it’s different because it’s not game week yet. But as a team we want to win this game, we want to prove we can win on the road and we’re going in to win that thing and that’s our goal. Winning on the road is going to be important, because you have to teach yourself that that’s what you have to do to become a championship team.”
Finally, what movie did Studebaker see with the team on Monday? Answer: “Dinner for Schmucks”.
WHAT DO FANS EXPECT FROM TAMPA? All eyes are up front.
The one stat from the Atlanta game that stuck out is zero sacks. Sacks are pretty, I don’t need pretty, but I want pressure. I want the defensive line to stop the run. The Chiefs buckled down fairly well in Atlanta, but fans want more out the gate. The Chiefs are trying to figure it out, but whether it’s Glenn Dorsey or Shaun Smith, they need an obstacle that demands attention. Until it happens “up the gut” will continue to smart.
It’d be nice to see the offensive line protect Matt Cassel. Until Cassel can have the assurance that other NFL quarterbacks have it’s not fair to completely judge him. Not giving Cassel an excuse, but he needs time. Haley speaks highly of the offensive line, but the same ones he brags on are the players before Ryan Lilja and Casey Wiegmann that allowed 45 sacks. Only five teams let more people through last year. My hope is Lilja and Wiegmann can stop the bleeding. There are also good prospects in guard Colin Brown and rookie guard Jon Asamoah.
If I had my choice of who turns the corner first, I’d pick these two, because if it happens here the entire team will be better.
MATT CASSEL HAS TO SHINE: Cassel puts in the work, signs the autographs, and he’s a nice guy. All good traits, but he needs to look the part on the field. No happy feet, no overlooking the open man, and no holding the ball when it should be thrown. Cassel needs a defining moment. It’s in him, I believe that, but it’s time to bring it out. It’s time to show the fans something, especially if Scott Pioli wants the fans to believe he’s “the” guy. Stealing one from Haley, but Cassel has to prove he’s got “it”. What’s “it”? Google it!
I’m also looking for a repeat of what the rookies and younger players brought to the first game. The foundation looks bright for the Chiefs.
Tune in, but have fun! Go Chiefs!
Good day, Chief fans!
