SB Nation User Blog: Offense of the 70s

Curious moves by the Patriots

Offense of the 70s — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:44:24 -0000

Curious moves by the Patriots

They've released four players in the last 18 hours, right before the trade deadline. At least a couple, including Tully Banta-Cain, are expected to re-sign with the team quickly. So what's the point? Creative accounting? Clearing roster space for a big trade?

What are they up to, and how can the Chiefs take advantage? (Likely answer: probably some sort of accounting trick, and we can't.)

Available talent: Baskett, Runyan, Walker, etc.

Offense of the 70s — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:03:03 -0000

Seems like there are quite a few players out there now who should be of interest to KC.

For handy reference, here are some of them:

Hank Baskett, WR

Jon Runyan, OT

Langston Walker, OT

Lance Long, WR/PR (there's a rumor that he's been released, but I can't find anything on the web about it)

Steve Justice, C

Chris Patrick, OL

Are any of these guys better than what we have now? Who else is out there who should be on the list? Must be some defensive players available who would be upgrades. (And don't say Pollard, he had his shot and couldn't make this team.)

We lost this game on third down

Offense of the 70s — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 01:57:48 -0000

Third down: we went 2-10 on third downs. Additionally, we turned it over on a 4th down late (and converted a totally meaningless fourth down at the end of the half.) That means we were 2-11 when the drive was at stake.

Baltimore went 10 for 17 on third downs, and converted the only 4th down they tried, when they ran in the clinching touchdown at the end. That's 11 for 18 for them when the drive is at stake.

They converted several third and longs: a third and ten, a third and 14, and a couple of third and 8s IIRC. KC on the other hand, had two drives stopped short when Bradley failed to get the first down after making the catch near the marker. Haley pointed out "When you’re on the sticks on a third down, you’ve got to get the first down. That’s just the NFL. You’ve got to get the first down and keep the drive alive."

Which leads to another disappointment that hurt our chances:

Mental errors: Bradley's first down failures were two big mental errors. He didn't pay attention to the first down marker, and killed two drives because of it. There were some other mental mistakes that hurt too-- the penalty that wiped out the safety, Croyle not getting the play off early in the game, among others.

Which leads to another disappointment that hurt our chances: the horrible start. Baltimore had 11 first downs before we had one. The defense couldn't get off the field in the first half, and I think that came back to haunt us late, as our D-line seemed tired. They pushed us two yards back off the line on almost every play late, and I think part of that was because our defense was out there so long early. Additionally, even when we scored our first couple TDs, it wasn't because of long drives by the offense, it came off special teams and defense, so our D had to go right back out there again quickly. I think it caught up to us at the end.

But overall, considering everything-- playing a very good team on the road, which has two very good lines, without Cassel or Flowers, falling behind early-- we looked pretty good.

But we obviously need to make more plays on third down to win games. Can we? Will we? Why couldn't we do it today?

Post Draft Depth chart

Offense of the 70s — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 04:45:51 -0000

It's getting a little tricky to keep up with all the new guys, but here's an attempt:

Current Depth chart, as of 4/26. New players in all caps.

TE: Cottam, T. CURTS, S. RYAN, J. COLLINS, J. O'CONNELL

T: Albert, McIntosh, Richardson, Taylor, BROWN

C: Niswanger, W. Smith

G: Waters, GOFF, A. Jones, E. Harrison, De La Puente, T. Washington

WR: Bowe, Bradley, ENGRAM, Q. LAWRENCE, COPPER, CJ JONES, R. WRIGHT, T. JOHNSON, Darling, Webb

QB: CASSEL, Thigpen, Croyle, I. Martin

RB: L. Johnson, Charles, K. Smith, J. WILLIAMS, Savage, Battle

FB: Cox

DE: Dorsey, T. JACKSON, A. MAGEE, McBride, ROBERTSON, Boone, Babin, Johnston, Studebaker, Gilberry, B. GREENWOOD

NT: Tyler, Jackson, Lokey

OLB: VRABEL, D. Johnson, Hali, D. Williams, ROBERTSON, C. MAYS, P. WALTERS, J. BELCHER

ILB: Z. THOMAS, BEISEL, Dacus, B. ABARE

CB: Flowers, Carr, D. WASHINGTON, Leggett, DANIELS, Colclough

S: Page, Pollard, Morgan, Celestin, L. FRYAR, McGraw

PK: Barth, SUCCOP, MARTINEZ, MEYERS

P: Colquitt

(Please feel free to post any changes you think need to be made to the depth chart.)

Leroy Hill now a free agent

Offense of the 70s — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 16:28:25 -0000

Seattle removes franchise tag from Hill, so now he can be signed without compensation.

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlesports/archives/167365.asp?source=mypi

OLB, still young, would be a great pickup for the Chiefs. Hopefully we'll go offense with the rest of this draft, now that we've added two more top 3 draft picks to a defense that was already full of them.

(Need to add nine more words to this post or it can't be published for some reason, hopefully now that I have done so, it will be way more full of information.)

Pre-draft Depth Chart

Offense of the 70s — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:51:47 -0000

Current Depth chart, as of 4/22. New players in all caps.

TE: Cottam, S. RYAN, J. Collins

T: Albert, McIntosh, Richardson, Taylor

C: Niswanger, W. Smith

G: Waters, GOFF, A. Jones, E. Harrison, De La Puente, T. Washington

WR: Bowe, ENGRAM, Bradley, COPPER, Darling, CJ JONES, Webb, R. WRIGHT

QB: CASSEL, Thigpen, Croyle, I. Martin

RB: L. Johnson, Charles, K. Smith, Savage, Battle

FB: Cox

DE: Dorsey, McBride, ROBERTSON, Boone, Babin, Johnston, Studebaker, Gilberry

NT: Tyler, Dorsey, Jackson, Lokey

OLB: VRABEL, D. Johnson, Hali, D. Williams, ROBERTSON, C. MAYS

ILB: Z. THOMAS, BEISEL, Dacus

CB: Flowers, Carr, Leggett, DANIELS, Colclough

S: Page, Pollard, Morgan, McGraw, Celestin

PK: Barth

P: Colquitt

KR: Savage

(Please feel free to post any changes you think need to be made to the depth chart.)

Updated depth chart, with Goff added

Offense of the 70s — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:06:26 -0000

Current Depth chart:

TE: Gonzalez, Cottam, J. Collins

LT: Albert, Taylor, Carnahan

LG: Waters, A. Jones, De La Puente

C: GOFF, Niswanger, W. Smith

RG: Niswanger, GOFF, A. Jones, E. Harrison, T. Washington

RT: McIntosh, Richardson

WR: Bowe, ENGRAM, COPPER, Bradley, Franklin, CJ JONES

QB: CASSEL, Thigpen, Croyle, MArtin

RB: L. Johnson, Charles, K. Smith, Savage, Battle

FB: Cox

LDE: Hali, McBride

NT: Tyler, Dorsey, Jackson

RDE: Dorsey, Babin, Boone, Johnston

OLB: VRABEL, D. Williams, ROBERTSON

ILB: BEISEL

ILB: Boiman, Dacus

OLB: D. Johnson, C. MAYS

LCB: Carr, DANIELS, Colclough

FS: Page, McGraw, Celestin

SS: Pollard, Morgan

RCB: Flowers, Leggett

PK: Barth

P: Colquitt

KR: Savage, Robinson

(Please feel free to post any changes you think need to be made to the depth chart.)

Looks like we've picked up 5 new likely starters since the offseason began: Cassel, Vrabel, Goff, Engram and Beisel. Not bad, we still have the draft to come. And more players will get cut later in the offseason and we still should have a lot of cap room.

Needs: Another OT, a DE, 2 LBs? Hopefully we can add two new likely starters in some of those spots with the draft, plus another couple of contributors who will start in the future. And fill the other holes with signings later this offseason.

Depth chart

Offense of the 70s — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 05:57:55 -0000

Here is where we were at the end of the season:

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/depth-chart/KC

Yikes. That's bad. How have we upgraded so far?

Depth chart:

TE: Gonzalez, Cottam, J. Collins

LT: Albert, Taylor, Carnahan

LG: Waters, De La Puente

C: Niswanger, W. Smith

RG: A. Jones, E. Harrison, T. Washington

RT: McIntosh, Richardson

WR: Bowe, ENGRAM, COPPER, Bradley, Franklin, CJ JONES

QB: CASSEL, Thigpen, Croyle, MArtin

RB: L. Johnson, Charles, K. Smith, Savage, Battle

FB: Cox

LDE: Hali, McBride

NT: Tyler, Dorsey, Jackson

RDE: Babin, Boone, Johnston

OLB: VRABEL, D. Williams, ROBERTSON

ILB: BEISEL

ILB: Boiman, Dacus

OLB: D. Johnson, C. MAYS

LCB: Carr, DANIELS, Colclough

FS: Page, McGraw, Celestin

SS: Pollard, Morgan

RCB: Flowers, Leggett

PK: Barth

P: Colquitt

KR: Savage, Robinson

Please post a more accurate depth chart if you can, I'm sure I've left people out and have some things wrong.

Anyway, the point is, we have made some upgrades but a lot of work remains. I'd like to see 2 more new starters in the OL, one or 2 more at DL and a couple more linebackers. Pick up 3 or 4 more new starters, slide the incumbents down the chart, and we don't look that bad, especially in the AFC West. I'd say it's realistic to pick up 1 or 2 new starters from the draft. So if we can get 2 more new starters in free agency and from other teams cuts, that would be a really great offseason, filling most of the big holes.

Most of the time, that would be unrealistic to pick up that many new starters, up this team had so many holes, it's not that hard to add that many new starters.

Pioli's Draft Record

Offense of the 70s — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:54:50 -0000

I found this post on the Patriots section of a Red Sox message board, posted by a Pats fan named "dynomite."

It's pretty interesting, and any opinions here are not mine but those of a Patriots fan.

"Out of these 66 picks it's pretty stellar, with 2003 and 2005 (and perhaps 2008) being outstanding years. Maybe 19 or 20 true starters in the bunch. It's a very solid draft record, with few true mistakes.

Perhaps his greatest draft accomplishment (apart from the Moss and Welker deals) is that, of his 1st and 2nd round picks, the only "busts" were Chad Jackson in 06 and Bethel Johson in 03. (We'll never know about Marquise Hill in 04, sadly) Overall this list makes me feel better, though. He's a great executive and it sucks he's leaving, but it's not as if they guy had a Midas touch -- late round steals were few and far between.

4th round (120) Asante Samuel, CB, 2003
5th round (164) Dan Koppen, C, 2003
6th round (206) LeKevin Smith, DT, 2006
7th round (230) Matt Cassel, QB, 2005
7th round (239) Tully Banta-Cain, DE, 2003
7th round (244) David Givens, WR, 2002

Above average, probably, but to only draft 5 "noteworthy" players after Round 4 in 8 drafts isn't anything Canton worthy.

The drafts:

2008 draft (if Wheatley or Wilhite turn into a starter and KOC sticks as our long-term backup this was an A+ draft)

1 (10) Jerod Mayo, LB
2 (62) Terrence Wheatley, CB
3 (78) Shawn Crable, LB
3 (94) KOC, QB
4 (129) Jonathan Wilhite, CB
5 (153) Matthew Slater, WR
6 (197) Bo Ruud, LB

2007 draft (looks pretty horrible, but not once you factor in Welker and Moss. There was noting to be had at the end of that draft beyond Tyler Thigpen and Nick Folk -- I guess it was worth seeing if anyone stuck, and Lua might be decent, but... wow.)

1 (24) Brandon Meriweather, S
4 (127) Kareem Brown, DT
5 (171) Clint Oldenburg, OL
6 (180) Justin Rogers, DE
6 (202) Mike Richardson, CB
6 (208) Justise Hairston, RB
6 (209) Corey Hilliard, T
7 (211) Oscar Lua, LB
7 (247) Mike Elgin, OL

2006 draft (again, not great. The fact that LeKevin Smith is our best late round pick in the last 3 years is pretty suprising. Andrews showed promise as well.)

1 (21) Laurence Maroney, RB
2 (36) Chad Jackson, WR
3 (86) David Thomas, TE
4 (106) Garret Mills, TE
4 (118) Stephen Gostkowski, K
5 (136) Ryan O'Callaghan, T
6 (191) Jeremy Mincey, DE
6 (205) Dan Stevenson, OG
6 (206) LeKevin Smith, DT
7 (229) Willie Andrews, S

2005 draft (obviously this one was pretty fantastic -- for 5 of your first 6 picks to become starters is really, really good)

1 (32) Legan Mankins, OG
3 (84) Ellis Hobbs, CB
3 (100) Nick Kaczur, OT
4 (122) James Sanders, S
5 (133) Ryan Claridge, LB
7 (230) Matt Cassel, QB
7 (255) Andy Stokes, TE

2004 draft (unlike them to miss on all 3 mid-draft picks)

1 (21) Vince Wilfork, DT
1 (32) Benjamin Watson, TE
2 (63) Marquise Hill, DE
3 (95) Guss Scott, S
4 (113) Dexter Reid, S
4 (128) Cedric Cobbs, RB
5 (164) P.K. Sam, WR
7 (233) Christian Morton, CB

2003 draft (fantastic overall, but man, we suck at drafting WRs...)

1 (13) Ty Warren, DT
2 (36) Eugene Wilson, CB
2 (45) Bethel Johnson, WR
4 (117) Dan Klecko, DT
4 (120) Asante Samuel, CB
5 (164) Dan Koppen, C
6 (201) Kliff Kingsbury, QB
7 (234) Spencer Nead, TE
7 (239) Tully Banta-Cain, DE
7 (243) Ethan Kelley, DT

2002 draft (...except in this draft, which was pretty good overall)

1 (21) Daniel Graham, TE
2 (65) Deion Branch, WR
4 (117) Rohan Davey, QB
4 (126) Jarvis Green, DE
7 (237) Antwoine Womack, RB
7 (244) David Givens, WR

2001 draft (Pioli's first as Director of Player Personnel -- 2 great picks and then... eh.)

1 (6) Richard Seymour, DL
2 (49) Matt Light, OT
3 (86) Brock Williams, CB
4 (96) Kenyatta Jones, OL
4 (119) Jabari Holloway, TE
5 (163) Hakim Akbar, S
6 (180) Arther Love, TE
6 (200) Leonard Myers, CB
7 (216) Owen Pochman, K
7 (239) T.J. Turner, LB

Anyone got a record of Pioli's free agent signings and trades? Obviously the Welker and Moss moves worked out pretty amazingly for them, to name two.

Transforming the defense

Offense of the 70s — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:08:19 -0000

As bad as our defense was this past year, we could turn it around with just a few players, as long as they were the right ones taught by the right coaches.

No matter who our GM or head coach is, I really would like to see us move to a more aggressive, attacking defense instead of the passive cover-2. We'll have to wait and see whether that happens this year or not.

Personnel-wise, we might not be that far away. Two key free agent signings to shore up our weakest areas might go a long way to going from horrible to decent, which is the easiest leap to take.

Should we go after a couple of young vet free agents for the defense? If so, who?

I like Jonathan Vilma at MLB (if he is available) and Terrell Suggs at DE. Vilma is 26, rookie of the year in 2004, led the NFL in tackles with 173 in 2005, 132 this year. He averages about 8 tackles per game and makes a lot of plays. He's played both in a 3-4 and a 4-3. Suggs is also only 26, a 3-time Pro Bowler, has played OLB in a 3-4 and DE in a 4-3 and is a solid pass rusher.

They would fill two gaping holes, and make the other players around them better by comanding the attention of the offense and getting double-teamed.They won't come cheap, but if we could land them that would go a long way to shore up some gaping holes and keep us from having to spend two or three more first-day draft picks on defense this year. (We'll still need to spend at least one either way though.)