Mock (5/4)

[Dante84]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

You guys REALLY NEED to watch the Bucs games again on the All 22.

They changed up their coverage entirely in the 2nd half and the Chiefs scored like two field goals.

Their coverage in the Super Bowl was pretty similar. They had a great, creative scheme (Todd Bowles ran out a weird, Big 12-esque coverage for much of the game) along with some outstanding performances. Sean Murphy-Bunting is a quick-twitch slot corner who's still somehow 6'0", and he pitched a near-perfect game in coverage. The Bucs threw everything at Kelce, but they also sometimes just slapped Lavonte David on him and David played out of his mind.

The OL probably cost us that game, but we all know the truth: the Bucs beat us in several ways, not just that one.

I think the Chiefs have gained on the Bucs, and maybe have surpassed them. But right now, in May, I think it's easier for the Bucs to score us on than it is for us to score on them, which gives the GOAT the advantage.

I hate to be that guy, but a huge, huge element of that game was early, questionable, drive-sustaining penalties exclusively called against the Chiefs.

These penalties both served as momentum killers for us and boosters for them, and also led to an early hole for us and lead for them.

Their early lead then led to us becoming even more one-dimensional (both due to poor play calling and necessity) as the game went on, which only served to exacerbate their strength and our weakness - their DLine vs our OLine.

I really think that if that same game is played 10 times - not as a series but rather in different timelines in the same exact scenario - we win it 7/10 times.

With standard officiating, their drives end when they are supposed to, the score stays close, Mahomes does his thing, we stay multi-dimensional, its a close finish.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by Dante84

I hate to be that guy, but a huge, huge element of that game was early, questionable, drive-sustaining penalties exclusively called against the Chiefs.

These penalties both served as momentum killers for us and boosters for them, and also led to an early hole for us and lead for them.

Their early lead then led to us becoming even more one-dimensional (both due to poor play calling and necessity) as the game went on, which only served to exacerbate their strength and our weakness - their DLine vs our OLine.

I really think that if that same game is played 10 times - not as a series but rather in different timelines in the same exact scenario - we win it 7/10 times.

With standard officiating, their drives end when they are supposed to, the score stays close, Mahomes does his thing, we stay multi-dimensional, its a close finish.

I think this is a fair interpretation, but that was probably a Top 3 DL going up against an entire line of backup OL. Combine that with Brady being Brady, and we were probably doomed.

That said, I saw windows for a victory. And I think the moves we made this offseason get us closer to one.

[wachashi]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

The OL probably cost us that game, but we all know the truth: the Bucs beat us in several ways, not just that one.

There's no "probably" about it. The Bucs knew they could generate consistent, almost immediate pressure with four rushers. They knew that before the game even started and they schemed their entire defense around that HUGE advantage. The Bucs brought more than four rushers only five times the entire game, and Mahomes was still running for his life. That's nuts.

They "cheated" on the short/intermediate routes knowing the ball had to come out super-quick. They played two-high safety shell behind that.

Game over. There's really nothing else to say.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by wachashi

There's no "probably" about it. The Bucs knew they could generate consistent, almost immediate pressure with four rushers. They knew that before the game even started and they schemed their entire defense around that HUGE advantage. The Bucs brought more than four rushers only five times the entire game, and Mahomes was still running for his life. That's nuts.

They "cheated" on the short/intermediate routes knowing the ball had to come out super-quick. They played two-high safety shell behind that.

Game over. There's really nothing else to say.

They outscored us in the 2nd half of the regular season game after they changed up their defense.

The Bucs outplayed us in all three aspects, it wasn't just OL bad = loss. People forget Townsend punting it pretty much sideways.

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

They outscored us in the 2nd half of the regular season game after they changed up their defense.

The Bucs outplayed us in all three aspects, it wasn't just OL bad = loss. People forget Townsend punting it pretty much sideways.

You mean they outscored us in the 2nd half when we had a huge lead and took our foot off the gas like we ALWAYS do? OMG!!!!

Also, you still don’t understand that everything the Bucs did on the back end was due to their ability to rush 4 and still have Mahomes running for his life.

****ing moron.

[RunKC]

I get the excitement But we’ve got Andy and Patrick and this ain’t gonna last forever. Every year is the gold standard for Chiefs football right now. I’m just trying to enjoy that while I can and not look ahead.

The future is right now

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by staylor26

You mean they outscored us in the 2nd half when we had a huge lead and took our foot off the gas like we ALWAYS do? OMG!!!!

Also, you still don’t understand that everything the Bucs did on the back end was due to their ability to rush 4 and still have Mahomes running for his life.

****ing moron.

I doubt our plan was to let the Bucs close the gap and be in position to win the game.

We won the game, but we had to hold on against a strong Bucs comeback.

We need to just give them credit: they played an iffy game with a really good second half, and then an outstanding Super Bowl. To beat them, we are probably going to have to do more than just turn our OL into the fortress it's become.

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

I doubt our plan was to let the Bucs close the gap and be in position to win the game.

We won the game, but we had to hold on against a strong Bucs comeback.

We need to just give them credit: they played an iffy game with a really good second half, and then an outstanding Super Bowl. To beat them, we are probably going to have to do more than just turn our OL into the fortress it's become.

Yea going from an OL that was full of backups and couldn’t block 3-4 guys to save their lives to possibly one of the best in the league clearly isn’t enough! That’s also obviously all we did!

It’s not like we also added a guy like Jarran Reed who could be a huge difference maker that easily gives us the best interior pass rush duo in the NFL. He’s not even worth mentioning in regards to a potential rematch, right?

You’re just further proving my point that this entire thread was your passive aggressive way of continuing to question Veach and bitch about what turned out to be a fantastic offseason.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by staylor26

Yea going from an OL that was full of backups and couldn’t block 3-4 guys to save their lives to possibly one of the best in the league clearly isn’t enough! That’s also obviously all we did!

It’s not like we also added a guy like Jarran Reed who could be a huge difference maker that easily gives us the best interior pass rush duo in the NFL. He’s not even worth mentioning in regards to a potential rematch, right?

You’re just further proving my point that this entire thread was your passive aggressive way of continuing to question Veach and bitch about what turned out to be a fantastic offseason.

You found me out. You discovered the secret messaging.

Pop into my DMs for your prize.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

I doubt our plan was to let the Bucs close the gap and be in position to win the game.

We won the game, but we had to hold on against a strong Bucs comeback.

We need to just give them credit: they played an iffy game with a really good second half, and then an outstanding Super Bowl. To beat them, we are probably going to have to do more than just turn our OL into the fortress it's become.

Wow.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Wow.

Okay, now hold on. What exactly is it that I've said that's so radically out there?

You guys, I swear.

[wachashi]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

They outscored us in the 2nd half of the regular season game after they changed up their defense.

The Bucs outplayed us in all three aspects, it wasn't just OL bad = loss. People forget Townsend punting it pretty much sideways.

The Bucs did outplay the Chiefs in all three phases. That's true. But if Townsend punts an absolutely perfect game, we're still losing that game easily. If the defense puts on a show and turns in their best performance, we're still losing that game. It's closer, but we're still losing.

It's a 100% different contest if the Chiefs have their starting offensive line. It's too much of a numbers disadvantage when our five guys can't block their four. Hell, they allowed instant pressure against a four-man rush every other down it seemed like. It's very simple math and there's no reason to overthink it. They were dropping six or seven guys in coverage. Normally when that happens, you should be able to run the ball or bide your time until someone comes open because there's no pressure. We couldn't do either. Why? Offensive line.

[kccrow]

I think all you guys are arguing about depends upon perspective.

Serious question 1: If Brown Jr and Lucas Niang get hurt, are we in a substantially better position than last year when Fisher and Schwartz went down?

Being devils advocate to most, I'd argue that we'll be better suited on the interior but we do remain exposed on the outside due to lack of functional depth yet again. Albeit, the chances of that happening two years in a row are relatively slim.

Serious question 2: Has the pass rush significantly improved, or improved enough to actually create substantial pressure on Brady (or any elite QB for that matter)?

While I really like what Jarran Reed brings as an interior rusher, I don't know that it's enough to consistently affect a QB. If Clark goes down, we have absolute jack and shit on the edges.

Serious question 3: Has the Chiefs' ability to cover improved in any meaningful way, regardless of position (S, CB, LB)?

As it stands, Breeland is out and that leaves a promising Sneed, a stagnant Ward, and a mediocre Fenton at CB with no real influx of talent whatsoever. Safety play remains the same. LB play will be an interesting watch now that Gay should see more snaps and he's more proficient in coverage than Wilson. That's, of course, assuming Gay actually picked up all of his assignments between last year and this year and doesn't get torched for misalignments. While I really do like the pick of Bolton, I'm not sure if he substantially improves the coverage side of things in year one. So really, I don't know if the Chiefs have gained anything, and unless they add a veteran CB I think there isn't any gain/loss in the grand scheme of things.

Add in the fact that the Chiefs are essentially trotting out the same thing at the skill positions in 2021 and there weren't any substantial, position group altering, gains outside of the current state of the offensive line, I would think there is "some" pause for thought here in looking at what Direkshun is trying to convey.

In a nutshell, the Chiefs did not drastically improve their ability to rush the passer nor did they drastically improve their ability to cover, both issues in the Super Bowl. Hopefully, they at least gave Pat a lot more time to find targets outside of Kelce and Reek because they did nothing to change the fact that the rest of the targets can't get open quickly enough to make a meaningful difference otherwise.

I think the Chiefs are a better overall team this year, so long as they don't have anything ridiculous happen again, so long as some of these young guys like Sneed, Niang, and Gay project as planned.