Take
a Memo:
Third
and three call blew it
Posted
10-14-02
by
CK Rairden
Landmark columnist
With 2:35 left in the game, the Chiefs brain
trust made the decision to put the game in the hands of
Greg Robinson’s “TURNSTLIE” defense.
The Chiefs injured one-legged QB led the
team downfield and instead of allowing him to attempt
to make a play, they decided to run yet another sweep
on 3rd and 3. It failed as it had all day. The team then
passed it over to the injured one-legged automatic kicker,
who booted a 43-yard FG to give the Chiefs a 6-point lead.
There was absolutely no way the 3-0-8 “TURNSTILE”
defense could stop anyone, let alone the Chargers offense
who had dominated the Chiefs all day long. The only hope
the Chiefs would have is if the Chargers scored quickly
and the potent KC offense could take the field again with
a little bit of time left.
Due to inept time management by the Chiefs
coaching staff, the Chiefs offense wouldn't see the ball
again until 10 seconds remained in the game. Game and
clock mismanagement are at the top of the list of an incredibly
full pad.
Take A Memo:
—On the Chargers game winning drive,
Tim Dwight caught the ball at the 2-yard line with 1:03
left in the game. It was obvious the TURNSTILE defense
couldn’t make a stop and the Chiefs had one timeout
left. The Chiefs should have used it. The only hope for
a win was to get the ball back to the offense with at
least 35 seconds left. The coaches didn’t use that
timeout and the clock kept ticking.
—Marty Schottenheimer and the Chargers
were so confident that the TURNSTILE defense couldn’t
make the stop they huddled up and giggled, and didn’t
take a snap until 25 ticks were left on the clock.
—Two plays later, the Bolts toasted
cornerback (and I use that term loosely) Eric Torchfield
for the fifth San Diego TD of the game. Game over.
—Cornerback William the Burnee doesn’t
belong on an NFL field. He looked completely confused
on the field, and it was amplified on the Chargers last
drive.
—For those just checking in, Defensive
guru Greg Robinson calls one of his anemic defenses the
3-0-8 spinner defense. I renamed it to the 3-0-8 TURNSTILE
defense as opponents merely pass through on their way
to chunks of yardage, and lots of touchdowns.
—The Chiefs blitzes don’t work
because the defense is so slow. The blitzing defenders
come untouched many times but are so slow that they arrive
at the QB too late to disrupt the play.
—HELP WANTED: Several cornerbacks who
will at least defend a couple of passes a game. Bring
shoes and shorts and apply at One Arrowhead Drive.
—Shaunard Harts and Scott Fujita played
well on the defense, other than that this defense can’t
tackle, can’t stop the run, and can’t stop the
pass. Is there any more to say about Greg Robinson‘s
TURNSTILE defense? Nothing that can be printed here.
****
—Is Marc Boerigter for real as a wideout? All he’s
done when he has been on the field as a wide receiver
is make plays. He now has 5 catches for 136 yards and
2 TD’s in very limited action.
—Trent Green showed once again that he has guts,
playing the entire second half on one leg. Taking the
ball out of his hands on 3rd and 3 late in the game was
a mistake. Instead of a sweep to Holmes how about a short
pass to Holmes? Or Gonzo? Or Boerigter? Or Richardson?
—There are now so many offensive weapons it seems
as if it will be difficult for any team to take them all
away in any one game. Unless it is 3rd and 3 in the fourth
quarter, and the play call takes the plethora of weapons
away.
—That coaching mistake caused the 4th quarter magic
streak to end as the Chargers outscored the Chiefs 21-10
in the 4th quarter.
—<Sarcasm on> Priest Holmes had an off game;
he only had 159 total yards and 1 TD. <Sarcasm off>
****
—A golden opportunity wasted by this loss, but this
offense is still a blast to watch. They continue to develop
offensive weapons, and Trent Green is maturing with each
snap.
—But this is the kind of loss that can stay with
a team for a while. And no matter what record this team
finishes with for the season, this is a huge “what
if?” game. The 3-3 Chiefs are an adequate defense
away from being 5-1, and it can’t change this season.
—The older, slower defensive personnel and coordinator
dictate that unless the Chiefs offense gets the ball in
the 4th quarter with more than 10 seconds remaining, the
Chiefs can’t count on any defensive stops.
—This has been obvious since the beginning of the
season, and still nothing has been done about it. And
that’s an embarrassment.
(CK Rairden can be reached by email
at ckden@yahoo.com)
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