Chiefs VS Seattle Post Game

WOW!

The Kansas City Chiefs (7-4) went to Qwest Field to face the Seattle Seahawks (5-6) and won their second road game of the year 42-24.  The Chiefs needed to win this game and they did so with a dominating performance.

MMA isn't the only place the ground and pound takes place.  The Chiefs #1 rushing attack was at it again, running the ball 48 times for 270 yards.  That's a blistering 5.6 yards per rush average!  Compare that to 20 yards on 12 carries (1.7 yards per rush) Seattle managed to eke out and you can see the Chiefs dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.

Jamal Charles is more than a speed back, he is the total package.  Running behind an offensive line missing its best player in Brandon Albert, the Chiefs RB made it look elementary.  He had 22 Carries for 173 yards (7.9 yards per rush) and a touchdown.  He is definitely one of the best RB in the league and topped a thousand yards with 5 games to go.

Matt Cassel and Dwayne Bowe have taken their games to an elite level.  No other QB WR tandem in the NFL is playing a this high of a level.  Cassel completed 22 of 33 pass attempts for 233 yards and 4 TD.  Bowe caught 13 passes (tying his record set 2 weeks ago) for 170 yards and 3 TD.  If these guys continue to play like this the Chiefs will continue their assault on defenses well into the playoffs. Its amazing that these two players were written off at the beginning of the year.

The Chiefs defense is peeking when it matters most.  The Defense, led by Derrick Johnson (6 tackles, 1 sack), came to play in this game.  They had 2 INT and a Fumble Recovery and harassed the Seahawks play makers all day long.  This was a statement game for this unit and it showed they can be a force down the stretch.

The 1 area that raised some eyebrows was the not so special special teams unit.  They Allowed a FG to be blocked and a punt block that led to a score.  If they clean up this mess there isn't a whole lot other teams can look forward to when they play the Chiefs.

Overall this game can give this team a lot to be proud of.  They controlled the clock (41.03 - 18.57), were efficient on offense and made plays on defense.  They went on the road in November and beat a team leading their division.  Statement game? No, the Chiefs just did what we are starting to expect from them.

Chiefs VS Seattle

The Kansas City Chiefs (6-4) are clinging to a 1 game lead in the AFC West and a victory against the NFC West leading Seattle Seahawks (5-5) can put a halt to the 4 game road losing streak they currently possess. 

The Chiefs need to win this game - The schedule is not going to change and the Chiefs play 3 of their next 4 on the road.  In order to be a good team you have to win in November and December.  These next 6 games will make or break the Chiefs 2010 season.

Advantage - The Chiefs lead the league in rushing yards per game so statistically they have an advantage every game.  They need to pound on Seattle with Jones then run by them with Charles.  If the Chiefs win the battle in the tranches and control the line of scrimmage they will have a great shot at winning the game.

Mistake free football - The Chiefs lead the NFL with only 7 turnovers all year and they are one of the least penalized teams.  The Oakland game showed us what happens when the Chiefs leave their composure at home.  If they take care of the ball and play smart, penalty free football they'll control the game.

Game clock is crucial - Controlling the ball is a goal of every NFL team.  They want their offense to score, but also to hold the ball and keep the pressure on the other teams defense.  On the road it is crucial to win the game clock battle by running the ball well on offense and forcing 3 and outs on defense.  How the Chiefs defense plays will determine how the offense will attack Seattle.

Prediction - My game ball is going to our running backs.  Jones and Charles will eat up the clock, run for over 200 yards and allow us to leave Qwest Field with a victory.  The Chiefs win the game 27-13.

Chiefs Earning Recognition

Individual accolades are a byproduct of team success.  If the team is winning then the players generally get recognized.  The Chiefs are finally winning and some players are having Pro Bowl caliber seasons.

I'll give you 4 for offense and 4 for defense.

Offense

QB Matt Cassel - He knows his role, but he's setting a new standard for the "game managing" quarterback. He has 18 TD to just 4 INT.  His 96.2 QB Rating is 7th in the league and ahead of notable QB's Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees.  He's playing his best football down the stretch.

RB Jamal Charles - Every run is a big run for this RB. He's 7th in the league in rushing yds with 848 and he has done it on 139 carries. That's less than anyone in the top 20. His 6.1 Avg is "maddenesque".

WR Dwayne Bowe - D Bowe is "THE SHOW".  Leads the league with 11 TDs and at least 1 in the past 6 games.  Really coming on strong since "the drop" against Indianapolis.  Looks to be hitting his stride at the right time and has become Cassels favorite target.

LT Brandon Albert - This giant, nimble footed LT has really held his own against some of the best pass rushers in the NFL. A big reason the Chiefs lead the league in rushing yards and fewest sacks allowed.

Defense

OLB Tamba Hali - Hes tied for 6th in the NFL with 8 sacks and even that doesn't tell the whole story.  He is relentless off the edge against the pass and rush.  Teams game plan away from him and still cant avoid him.  His pass coverage has also improved dramatically.

CB Brandon Flowers - Becoming one of the premier corners in the league.  Shuts down top receivers and makes ferocious tackles at the line of scrimmage.  Game changing talent.

ILB Derrick Johnson - His nose for the ball is impressive.  He's a true sideline to sideline tackler and when he hits you you stop moving.  Deserving of the 5 year contract extension he signed recently.

DT Glen Dorsey - This mammoth of a DT is playing up to his paycheck.  He is making plays vs the run and constantly getting pressure on the QB.  The Pro Bowl needs to see the "Gorilla Dance".

Check back at the end of the year to see which Chiefs players get the recognition the crave and a complete breakdown of the Pro Bowl Roster.

Billy Butler deserves long term contract

Billy Butler is a 24 yr old hitting machine. He does what he is supposed to do and its time the Royals start to look at doing what they should do, which is sign him to a long term deal. Billy is making near the league minimum in salary this year and that fact doesn't sit right for me. You see Billy is hitting an outstanding .344, which is currently third in the American League. The two guys ahead of Billy are Vladimir Guerrero and Justin Morneau. Their salaries? Vlad gets 5.5 mil and Justin gets 15 mil. Granted they've had a little better career thus far, but Billy has to project as having more potential at this stage in their careers. Billy salary is only 470k! The league minimum is 400k! For a guy thats also second in hits, third in doubles, tenth in on base percentage, twenty first in slugging percentage the salary doesn't equal the production. Billy has three years of big league experience. He is eligible for arbitration from 2011-2013, which means he is ineligible for free agency, is without a contract, cannot agree to terms on a new contract with his current team and has been on the roster for three years. This means that Billy and the Royals have to submit salary offers and an arbitrator decides which is fair based on players with similar ability and years of experience. If I was in Billy's situation I would want the long term security, the respect of my peers, my owners trust and more than anything to be paid what I am producing. He deserves more then what we are currently giving him and I would argue more than what we will offer him. Baseball is a grueling sport, 162 games is a lot and the players get paid less than any other sport per game. When you have a gem, you reward him or you let him sign somewhere that will. Unfortunately for Royals fans, letting them go to someone who will is a familiar story. My stance? Pay this man!

Been Awhile. NBA, NFL thoughts

Hello out there! It's been a long time since I've written as I've been really busy with work and school along with military obligations. I will be writing a lot more frequently now that I have the time!

NBA Thoughts:

First let me write a little bit on Derrick Rose since he is who I last wrote about. In case you don't know I am an avid Chicago Bulls fan and D. Rose happens to be the man for my team. I wrote that he was coming and if you didn't believe me then you definitely should now. He improved in all aspects of the game in his second season, including defense. He played well at home (838pts, 251ast) and on the road (781pts, 218ast). He brought a high energy level to every game and definitely showed he is an ascending talent and will be a force in coming years!

If LeBron James doesn't pick Chicago as the next city to play for he is more foolish then anyone thought. Chicago is a large market and the Bulls are a team on the rise. I believe LBJ wants to be a winner in the near future, and Chicago is the team that provides that opportunity.

The Boston Celtics are playing out of their minds and more credit should be given to Rajon Rondo. He is the head of that snake and they'll only go as far as he takes them. I believe that is to the finals, but not to the championship.

The Los Angelas Lakers are by far the best team. The have size and skill in the post. Great perimeter defense. Ability to go big or small without compromising effectiveness and a coach who understands game tendencies better than anyone else. Oh yeah, they have Kobe (second best shooting guard ever) Bryant as well.

If there was ever going to be a player to break Michael Jordan's NBA record for most years leading the league in scoring (10 for Michael) it is Kevin Durant. The kid has an unreal offensive game and can do anything he wants on that side of the court. Just for the record I'm not making a predictions on that just yet other than to say he'll come close.

NFL Thoughts:

JaMarcus Russell is the biggest embarrassment of the NFL. He took advantage of guaranteed money, got fat (literally) and happy and wasted an opportunity any regular guys would love the shot of getting. I cant stand the guy and I hope he never plays again. He should be ashamed.

The New York Jets have been talking a big game this offseason. Super Bowl? I think not. The team got lucky last year to make the playoffs. Losing Thomas Jones to the Kansas City Chiefs will hurt a lot more than people realize and Mark Sanchez still has a long way to go after throwing 20 int's and coughing up 10 fumbles (losing 3). They should let their play speak for them.

I love Bret Farve and think he should play as long as he is productive. But I am getting really tired of the retire/unretire act and the wait til last minute to decide if Im playing routine. It puts the franchise in limbo and hurts his fan base. He is a legend , but this act is almost as old as he is.

This NFL season is going to be full of surprises. I think one of the biggest is going to be the Kansas City Chiefs. It starts with the home opener against San Diego. The NFL is smart in bringing the Chiefs back to prime time and a resurgence is definitely on the horizon in the near future for this proud franchise.

Tim Tebow, in my opinion, is already a star person and he will be a star player once he figures out the nuances of the NFL. Good things happen to those who work hard, stay humble and cherish opportunities. To bad Tebow doesn't have Russell's arm strength.

Final Thoughts:

Sports are and have always been my passion. Im an unbiased sports evaluator who speaks my mind, welcomes argument and loves statistical evaluations. If you have a comment or point to make, make it!

Joshua

Derrick Rose is Blooming

Mr. Rose is getting taken to school by Rajon Rondo, but listen to me when I tell you he is coming into his own.  The fact is he's increased his PPG from 16.8 to 19.5 and AST from 6.3 to 7.3 in the playoffs. The problem is he has also increased his TO from 2.49 to 5.8 and some of these, like the alley oop attempt to Noah with about 3 minutes to go in a 2 point game of game 5 of the playoffs, are too costly not to notice. Im not going to bash on the Rookie, he has played lights out in 3 of the 5 games and for a 20 year old he is starting to develop into a solid all around player also averaging 6 RPG. 

Rose is only 87 games into his pro career and I am going to go ahead and say that he will be the best point guard in the NBA in 3 years. He will develop a solid jumper, he'll stop barreling down the lane with his head down and God willing he'll start using his hops more and dunk on a few flat footed, unsuspecting 7 footers on a regular basis. I love his effort and if he can devote more of himself on the defensive end he'll easily challenge Chris Paul for best thief in the NBA.

Derrick isn't there yet ladies and gentlemen, but he is coming.