[From the FanPosts. Bumped up the time.  -- Joel]

When an NFL team has better than average starting field position on offense, it wins 67.2% of the time. Those are the stats from all games 2004-2008.  What things affect field position? The kicking game plays a huge role, along with turnovers, as well as the success of the offense and defense, of course.  The average starting position is approximately the 31 yard line. That's for all possessions - not just after kickoffs. How will the Chiefs do with field position this year, and specifically next Monday night? Will Javier heat up under the lights? 

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According to Pro Football Focus, it's not even close.

An interesting name tops the league when it came to YCo [yards after contact] per attempt last season. Jamaal Charles averaged an astounding 3.6 yards per carry after first contact. Known for sprinter speed, Charles was able to make huge gains several times last season once he broke through the first contact. 

Thomas Jones, on the other hand, ranks near the bottom of the list of 61 backs at Pro Football Focus, with just 2.1 yards after contact.  Jamaal Charles also topped the league in yards per carry at 5.9.  Jones is about halfway down the list at a respectable 4.2 ypc.

While neither one stands six feet tall, both are tough nuts.  Jones has even been labeled indestructible. Jamaal's speed racks up the yards downfield in a hurry, helping his YCo.  Just remember that he can handle contact.

During my day at camp yesterday, I was downtown River Falls and stumbled into the bike shop that rents, then sells the Chiefs' bikes at camp.  Since I read a couple comments about people wanting one, I thought I'd tell anyone who is interested how to get it done.

via www.uwrf.edu

Just contact The Route Bike Shop in River Falls.  (715)-425-8684  Adam Schmidt, President, would be the best person.  The cost is $250 for the bike.  Shipping within the United States runs $50-$100.  They still have some for sale.  And no, I don't get a cut.  Question... Would you rather have one that was not rented out or one that lets say Tank rode around for a couple weeks?  Hmm...

via www.uwrf.edu

From the FanPosts  -Primetime

Is number 11 WR/KR Rodney Wright an arena league player who will be Kurt Warner or Bobby Sippio?  So far in camp, he's been making plays every day.  There are pics of an excellent catch demonstrating super concentration from Sunday after the jump.  Until a few days ago, he had no chance of making the team as far as I could tell.  Running backs may have a shot at 5'9", but a wide receiver?  Hmm. 

Anyway, since his name kept coming up in camp reports as a person making good catches, returning kicks and getting behind the defense, I thought a post that pulled together some facts and pics would be good.  If this flash in a pan makes it into one of the top three kick return possibilities, maybe we'll see some lightning during one of the first three pre-season games. 

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Note: A little upgrade edit from "bad" to "rebuilding" after the Bronco win! With little to be sunny about, I am wondering how I am going to be a good Chiefs fan.  Suggestions?

1. Problem solving.  That seems to be popular and makes for pretty good blogging fodder.  Sign this person.  Bench that guy.  Run more of these plays.  Fine tune our analytical skills.  I've done it.  Will continue to do it.  But it feels like buckling the seat belt on the Hindenberg at times.

2. Finger pointing.  Carl.  Herm.  Others.  Perhaps valid, but three more months of pointing fingers in the same direction -- or using the same finger -- is going to become exceedlingly tiresome.

3. Trash talking.  Hard to do get much more than a yawn from opponents without much to back it up week after week.

4. Brown bagging it.  Demonstrate dissatisfaction with management while staying warm and stylish.  Show your Price Chopper spirit! 

via farm3.static.flickr.com

5. Celebrating little things.  Anticipate and cheer for Tony G's record.  Watch Albert win his individual battles at LT.  High five surrounding fans when our young corners make an outstanding play.  Shout "About time!" when Savage replaces Sams.  Enjoy the warm feeling of breaking into the 20s in the power rankings after the first win.

6. Predicting positive events.  When will Jamaal Charles run for 100 and Will Franklin get 100 yards receiving/game?  When will Flowers get his first TD off an INT?  Can Colquitt work the sympathy vote for a trip to Hawaii? 

7. Following the team.  Even with a few expletives for bonehead plays or frustration with management, keep up to date on the personnel, watch the games, and be wiling to wear the team gear in public.  It builds character and shows bravery. 

8. Developing a secondary interest.  A coping strategy that may feel like you're cheating on the Chiefs by secretly tracking the Cowboys, Packers or another team with a legit stake in the race.  But you wouldn't actually be one of their fans.  And hey, you can also spend more time managing that fantasy team line-up.

9. Practicing mock drafts.  For months.  Grow hair like Mel's and start doing YouTube videos on college football stars.

10. Embracing martyrdom.  "You're a Chiefs fan?  Wow.  You're dedicated. You really are a fan."  What better time to prove you're a Chiefs fan than during the down times?  Anyone can be a fan for a popular team that plays Sunday/Monday nights and grabs the headlines.  Obscurity allows real fans to know players that are not household names.  Circle the wagons with fellow diehard fans.

11. Hoping for the future.  There's always next year.  Keep hope alive.  Blog about it.  At AP.  And balance it with a look at past glory days once in a while to remind us that excellence is possible.

12. Laughing while crying.  Keep a sense of humor.  And sense of perspective.  Fan and Fun are only one letter apart.  The only difference is "u."  (sorry - I'm oddly both embarrased and proud that I made that up) We choose to follow a professional sports team because it is supposed to be more enjoyable and entertaining than work, right?   Keep the jokes flowing.  Encourage one another.  And remember why we became fans in the first place.

Revised * (edited) the main post after the Cardinals game... How does the roster break down? Who's on the bubble?

Offense - 24

QB (3)  Brodie Croyle, Tyler Thigpen, Damon Huard

RB (4)  Larry Johnson, Kolby Smith, Jamaal Charles, Jackie Battle

FB (1)  Mike Cox, Chris Manderino

 

TE (2) Tony Gonzalez, Brad Cottam, Michael Allan, John Paul Foschi, Mike Merritt (IR?)

WR (5) Dwayne Bowe, Devard Darling, Will Franklin, Jeff Webb, *Maurice Price, Bobby Sippio, Kevin McMahan, Kevin Robinson (PR), Jabari Arthur, Sergiori Joachim, B. J. Sams

 

OL (9) Branden Albert, Brian Waters, Rudy Niswanger, Adrian Jones, Damion McIntosh, Herb Taylor, Barry Richardson, Wade Smith, Edwin Harrison, Tre Stallings, Anthony Alabi, Ken Shackleford, Will Svitek, Travis Leffew, Rob Smith

 

Defense - 25

DL (9) Tamba Hali, Glenn Dorsey, Alfonso Boone, Tank Tyler, Turk McBride, Brian Johnston, Ron Edwards, T.J. Jackson, Derek Lokey, Jason Parker, Johnny Dingle, Trevor Johnson, Maurice Murray, Jonal Saint-Dic

 

LB (7) Derrick Johnson, Donnie Edwards, Pat Thomas, Demorrio Williams, Napoleon Harris, Weston Dacus, LeRue Rumph, E.J. Kuale, Oliver Hoyte, Steve Octavien, Aden Durde

 

CB (5) Brandon Flowers, Brandon Carr, Patrick Surtain, Maurice Leggett, Tyron Brackenridge, Dimitri Patterson, Rashad Barksdale

S (4) Bernard Pollard, Jarrad Page, DaJuan Morgan, Jon McGraw, Khayyam Burns

 

Special Team – 4

P (1) Dustin Colquitt

K (1) Connor Barth?, Nick Novak

LS (1) Jean-Philippe Darche

Returner (1) *Dantrell Savage, Kevin Robinson, B.J. Sams, Jamaal Charles is already a RB 

 

Bold type indicates the expected number of people taken at that position corresponding to the number in ( ).  To keep the main post short, I will make my comments about who's on the bubble as comments.  Roster names are from kcchiefs.com depth chart 8/15.  Player order and selections in bold are by the very unprofessional sunny D.

CROYLE: "I would say out of 16 plays we probably had seven or eight that we had the ability to change it. So that’s eight more than we had all of last season combined... It just kind of makes sense. If you go up there and they have eight guys in the box and you only have seven people to block them, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to run the football. That’s where Chan getting us into one-on-ones comes into play, you know, checking to the pass. If they’re playing cover two zone, run the ball at them, that’s your best chance. It’s just kind of stuff that makes sense.

Duh... (I believe the reference to "16 plays" were the ones he QBed in the opening preseason game, btw.)

Why can't common sense be more common?  Did Solari think calling two plays in the huddle would be too complicated for men whose full-time job is playing football?  I realize the use of personnel packages limits the playbook when you get up to the line.  But sheesh! 

Sometimes I think the coaches who are determined to play tough football refuse to use any kind of misdirection or "finesse" just because they want to prove they're not pansies.  It's like, "Here's the play we're going to run.  We're going to prove that we can execute it even if you know what we're going to do."  You play to win the game, and if that can be accomplished with a little legal deception -- go for it!  Being tough and being creative are not mutually exlusive strategies.

Thank you, Chan, for being man enough to wear socks with your sandals, and for mixing up the plays to confuse the defense while still being tough!  Block quote from Q & A with Brodie 8/12.

As games get closer, here's a review of the rule changes for this year.  You know...  So you're not screaming at the referee saying, "But he was PUSHED out!"  Only to have a nearby ten-year-old tell you the rule has changed.

• No "force-out" rule anymore.  For a completion, you have to get your feet in whether you're hit or not.  Exception: If the defender wraps both arms around the receiver and "carries" [my word] him out, the play can still be called a catch.  Apparently, the league didn't want Derrick Johnson grabbing a receiver who's in the air in the middle of the field and running off the field with him before he put him down.
• One defender on the field can have a radio earpiece.  Only two defensive players get this privilege for the game.  And when the play clock hits 15, the radio is turned off.   That's been true on offense, but can't say I knew that.  I guess it's so the coach isn't  yelling, "I'm open!" into the QB's ear while the play is going on.
• No 5-yard incidental face mask penalties any more.  Only the 15-yard variety for twisting, turning or pulling. 
• If you win the coin toss, you can defer your choice to the second half, like college football.
• Dropped forward hand-offs and all botched snaps (whether or not they contact the quarterback) are now considered fumbles.  Hmm... Can't say that I knew they weren't fumbles.  Just take care of the ball, guys.
• Refs are now allowed to look under the hood and watch the replay of a field goal to make sure the right call is made (as long as the ball flies lower than the top of the uprights).  ...You remember the weird one from last year that went through the uprights and over the crossbar (good!), but then hit the curved support piece and bounced back out.  The initial signal was "no good" and the Ravens went to the locker room thinking they had a win.  Technically, the guys in stripes weren't supposed to consider the video evidence that everyone else in the world could see.  Somehow the ref worded the decision in a way that overturned the initial call without implying that the replay had any effect on their decision.  Nice job.

References: Wikipedia and Palm Beach Post.  Also, http://www.nfl.com/rulebook

Q: The new offense will allow you to make more changes at the line. How do you feel about that? Is that kind of exciting for you?

CROYLE: “It is. It’s something where, if the numbers are stacked up against us, it doesn’t make sense to run into it. With the new offense you can either change the declaration of the play or we can change the play, or we’ll have checks going into different games or different game plans. It just gives us the best chance to get in the right play and have a positive play.”

Did Croyle audible at Alabama?  Doesn't sound like a complicated call to make.  Basically it sounds like they will have a second play in their pocket and Croyle will switch to it if he comes up to the line and sees the wrong defense for the origianal play.  Sounds great!  Link to 7/29 Croyle interview from kcchiefs.com.

Q: The roll-outs and bootlegs that you’re going to be doing – how well does that suit you?

CROYLE: “I like it. It kind of gets me out in the open. Let’s me show off my great speed (laughs). It’s good. It’s something that we needed. We didn’t run a whole lot of it last year, but it suits our offense as much as we count on the running game. ”

Okay...it's preseason.  Time for optimism.  Everything looks good on paper.  Having said that, I'm likin' Chan's common sense.  When everyone knows you're just going to sit in the pocket, it reminds me of a Bill Cosby routine in which he pokes fun at the British soldiers.... Imagine the British and colonists in the middle of the football field as the referee explains the rules:

You:  The British army. You must wear red and march into battle in straight lines.  You:  The colonists.  You may wear natural colored clothes and stand behind the rocks and trees. 

Chan appears willing to mix it up and have our guys with the ball do things that the other guys trying to get our ball won't be able to anticipate.  Don't place an X eight yards behind the center and tell the defense that's where our QB will be every time.  Seems like decent strategy to me.  What do you think?  Audibles, rollouts and the occasional bootleg seem like a good idea to you?  Can Croyle handle it?  Can he throw on the run?  Do we have the lineman that can do it?

I have to admit I have been a little fearful of Chan's time away from the NFL.  But when people say he uses players' strengths and point out that he has been successful at each of his offensive coordinator's stops, I can see why.  Chan, my man... Pour me some of what you're serving, also.  I'ma thirsty for some scoring.

Player to watch:  DE Brian Johnston, Chiefs 7th round pick
College: Gardner-Webb
Height: 6-5   Weight: 274
Projected Round: 4

Some senior year stats:

• 24 stops for loss
• 6 sacks and 22 QB pressures
• 8 tackles on goal line plays
• 4 fourth down stops
• played left end

Coming from Gardner-Webb (like Idaho State), can he play at the NFL level?  If so, how fast can he get into the line-up?  And can we remember that Jared Allen didn't play at last year's level in his rookie year? (only 39 tackles, but a respectable 9 sacks)  Some people projected Brian to play DT in the NFL.  Don't think that's the plan in KC, but it tells me he's got some beef.

So is it Turks time to shine?  Can Boone find a new gear and play DE?  Or will a possible Johnston, Johnson, Flowers trio on the defensive left side have opposing RBs looking for the sideline in a hurry to avoid the hurt?

Does DE Johnston start at any point this year?

via cache.daylife.com

Derrick Johnson led the Chiefs in tackles for a loss in 2007. 

But who led the league in tackles for a loss in 2007?  Derrick Johnson with 14.

Additionally, DJ's 2007 numbers include:

• 4 sacks
• 3 forced fumbles
• 2 interceptions
• 6 passes defended
• 100+ tackles

Are our expectations so high for this first-round pick that nothing short of league MVP will make us feel like 56 has done an outstanding job?  Or maybe players are only labeled as "making plays" if we win the game?   Perhaps his lack of tantrums and off-field problems hurts his publicity compared to the bad-boys who grab NFL headlines?  Or is the only measure of individual success the number of Pro Bowl votes?

In an earlier AP post, Direckshun already pointed out that DJ has done well.

The third and last reason that DJ will be a Pro Bowler in 2008 is that he's already played like one last year. I believe that DJ was a Top 5 strongside linebacker last year. But every OLB that made the AFC Pro Bowl squad came from a 3-4 defense, which provides their OLBs to rush the QB with abandon and put up huge numbers.

I'm not observing the praise and admiration that I would expect to hear about production such as his.  Here's hoping that DJ tips a pass to himself and runs it back for a TD this year.  Makes a late-game hit for a forced fumble that results in a winning defensive TD.  Or produces a couple of other signature, highlight reel plays to go along with his excellent body of work that put him on the map of respected NFL linebackers in 2008.  Thanks for your great effort your first three years, DJ, and the hustle it takes to make tackles on the other side of the line of scrimmage.

What will it take for DJ's name to be more prominent, in your opinion?

To piggyback on the question regarding Huard's 2008 role, what about Pat Surtain?

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The news I've read out of OTAs this week has been encouraging.  Here are a few nuggets regarding the 89 guys at OTAs this week, with links and credits to the sources.  Bob Gretz confirmed Brackenridge's jaw surgery, which had been an unconfirmed radio report to this point, as far as I saw.

From Bob Gretz, kcchiefs.com

http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2008/05/23/ota_recapweek_no_1/

college free agent Connor Barth had the best week among the three kickers on the roster ...

cornerback Tyron Brackenridge is out of action after surgery this month on a broken jaw...

Tony Gonzalez will miss next week’s work; he’s going to become a father on Tuesday in southern California

From Feature story, kcchiefs.com

http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2008/05/22/qa_with_herm_edwards__52208/

Q: What other draft picks have done well so far?

EDWARDS: ”[Brandon] Carr’s done pretty well. He made some plays yesterday. [Brandon] Flowers has done good. [Will] Franklin has made some plays the last couple of days. I think all of them have shown something. [Jamaal] Charles has shown that he’s a lot faster than he was on tape– and he’s fast on tape.”

From Nick Athan, Scout.com

http://kan.scout.com/2/756874.html

Offensively

Croyle was sharp while Thigpen struggled.  Jeff Webb looked better than Darling.  "To me, the best guard on the field Thursday" was Chris McDuffie.

Defensively

Glen Dorsey: unstoppable. He ate up Brian Waters.  DE Brian Johnston "has the goods this year to start for the Chiefs."  For the week, DT Derek Lokey appeared to be "one of the team’s four best interior defensive linemen."

From the FanPosts. -Chris

Imagine for a moment that Page and Pollard lock down the safety spots during the year.  i.e. become more consistent tacklers.  And that DeMorrio Williams, Brandon Carr, Jon McGraw and others fill in nickel and heavy nickel DB packages.

Also imagine no Chiefs second receiver asserting himself through the first couple of games.  Football player and playmaker DaJuan Morgan is keeping the bench warm, but coaches want to get him on the field as something other than a punt blocker coming from edge opposite Pollard.  Could Mr. Morgan start to see action as a Chiefs receiver?  He played some split end in college, but here are his high school WR stats: 

Prior to sitting out his senior campaign at Suncoast High School, Morgan earned All-Region honors at wide receiver and was the team MVP as a junior. He totaled 2,760 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns for his career, and passed for 1,100 yards and 13 scores, adding 600 yards and seven touchdowns rushing.

Watching his interception highlights makes one think he can catch a ball. 

Scott Fillhouer: What was your greatest play in football?

 DaJuan Morgan: Probably a fake punt return against Virginia Tech my redshirt freshman year. They snapped the ball directly to me and I ran 44 yards.

For the entire interview with DaJuan, go here.  During the draft, I for one was not excited when a safety was chosen in that third round where I desparately was hoping to see another O-lineman, receiver or cornerback.   But it appears we got "football players," as they say.  How do you think DaJuan will do?

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From the diaries. -Chris

Chiefs spread from 11th to 32nd in these 8 power rankings collected September 8.  Poll.

MSNBC  11 based mostly on last year
Powerrater on aol 16
Fox (Schrager) 18
PlanetBlacksburg 18
Covers.com 19
USA Today 21
ESPN 26
Fox (Menefee) 32 and catching some heat for it

Average: Just a little worse that 20.
Expectations are low from the "experts."
Poll asks for average rank at the bye-week.

To throw Huard in this for a sec, is the fact that he played behind Marino, Brady and Green for many years really the basis for such low expectations of him?  If the o-line gives him just a little time this season, is it possible he will have 2-3 years as a solid QB?