Sorry no tales of a smelly vag or meth-addicted 'Super Fans'...
1. Play Nick Bolton over a healthy Anthony Hitchens
The rookie linebacker was the star of the game against the Titans, totaling 15 tackles and 4 tackles for loss. He was the catalyst in neutralizing running back Derrick Henry more than any other team has done this season — outside of Week 1.
He was inserted as the starting MIKE linebacker because Hitchens had to miss the game with the injury he suffered in Week 6 — but we don’t believe the team should look back. Bolton showed explosiveness — and an ability to come downhill through gaps to make run stops — at a higher level than we’ve seen from Hitchens this season.
Bolton struggled to cover his hook zone on passing plays effectively, but Hitchens isn’t any better in those scenarios.
It’s unrealistic to expect Hitchens to ride the bench for the rest of the season, but if the Chiefs want their best defensive players in the game, Bolton should be in — and playing the middle linebacker position — as much as possible.
2. Shorten the cornerback rotation to Charvarius Ward, L’Jarius Sneed and Rashad Fenton
In recent weeks, cornerback Rashad Fenton has clearly emerged as a player the team should trust to play outside and cover talented receivers. He’s had good snaps against the Buffalo Bills’ Stefon Diggs and Washington’s Terry McLaurin — and the statistics back up his overall play.
That’s why it was frustrating to see Fenton on the sideline on an important third-and-7 on Sunday, passed up for cornerback Mike Hughes to cover Tennessee’s A.J. Brown. The play resulted in a touchdown pass on a jump ball that Brown won over Hughes.
Fenton’s 45 snaps still outpaced Hughes’ 16 — but we believe Fenton should absorb all of the snaps that aren’t going to Charvarius Ward and L’Jarius Sneed. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is known to leave his starting outside cornerbacks in for the entire game. That should be extended to their three-cornerback sets; the Chiefs don’t use four cornerbacks on the field simultaneously.
Those three players have shown enough to be trusted as the only players taking cornerback snaps moving forward.
3. Drastically minimize Demarcus Robinson’s snap count
This year, the wide receiver has played 72% of the Chiefs’ offensive snaps — more than every other skill-position player not named Travis Kelce or Tyreek Hill. Yet he’s sixth on the team in receptions — and relative to the snaps he plays, he is one of the league’s least-targeted receivers.
Playing him over wide receivers Mecole Hardman, Byron Pringle and Josh Gordon is becoming more and more unjustifiable. Playing Robinson is almost equivalent to taking a receiver away from the lineup on a given pass play. And it’s not like he’s been sound in other areas: three times this season, he’s been called for holding.
Even if the coaching staff plays him because they trust him to know the offense more than the others, it’s not enough to justify his lack of positive impact on the unit’s success. The other receivers should be able to provide what Robinson does — while also adding a higher likelihood of making a play in the passing game.
Wide receivers with 150+ routes run, but a target on less than 10% of their routes
Demarcus Robinson Chris Conley Donovan Peoples-Jones Jalen Guyton Brandon Aiyuk
Playing him over wide receivers Mecole Hardman, Byron Pringle and Josh Gordon is becoming more and more unjustifiable. Playing Robinson is almost equivalent to taking a receiver away from the lineup on a given pass play. And it’s not like he’s been sound in other areas: three times this season, he’s been called for holding.
Even if the coaching staff plays him because they trust him to know the offense more than the others, it’s not enough to justify his lack of positive impact on the unit’s success. The other receivers should be able to provide what Robinson does — while also adding a higher likelihood of making a play in the passing game.
I'd actually start Fenton opposite Ward and put Sneed in the slot. I think that feeds into their best fit.
Robinson sucks most often the time. I'd throw Pringle in his spot until Gordon has fully digested the playback and he needs ascending snaps starting this week. [Reply]
Originally Posted by kccrow:
I'd agree with all of that.
I'd actually start Fenton opposite Ward and put Sneed in the slot. I think that feeds into their best fit.
Robinson sucks most often the time. I'd throw Pringle in his spot until Gordon has fully digested the playback and he needs ascending snaps starting this week.
Wait...Sneed hasn't been playing the slot when Fenton is on the field? I thought Fenton was on the outside most of Sunday. Or did I imagine that? [Reply]
Originally Posted by dallaschiefsfan:
Wait...Sneed hasn't been playing the slot when Fenton is on the field? I thought Fenton was on the outside most of Sunday. Or did I imagine that?
No, you did see it often. I'd like to see it a permanent fixture, which hasn't been the case most of the season. [Reply]
Robinson is trash. Always has been. If he does catch the ball he runs backwards. I still hate him for fumbling that punt.
We need to run more bubble or wr screens. Quick passes to 10 87 17 and hopefully they can make a play. Find different ways to get 10 the ball. 17 sucks but 10 is always dangerous. .
Remmers Niang both suck. Slide Smith to RT. Play Blythe or LDT at RG.
If we released Ben Niemann today he would never play in the NFL again. Same for Sorenson [Reply]
Originally Posted by kccrow:
Robinson sucks most often the time. I'd throw Pringle in his spot until Gordon has fully digested the playback and he needs ascending snaps starting this week.
I'd agree we should see more Pringle and less DRob, but I disagree with your comment about Gordon. I doubt Gordon will be with us next year, so why wait? Can he not learn 15-20 plays and be trusted to execute them? He doesn't need to know all the playbook. [Reply]
Originally Posted by L02521z:
Robinson is trash. Always has been. If he does catch the ball he runs backwards. I still hate him for fumbling that punt.
We need to run more bubble or wr screens. Quick passes to 10 87 17 and hopefully they can make a play. Find different ways to get 10 the ball. 17 sucks but 10 is always dangerous. .
Remmers Niang both suck. Slide Smith to RT. Play Blythe or LDT at RG.
If we released Ben Niemann today he would never play in the NFL again. Same for Sorenson
You think a rookie guard with zero tackle experience is going to be better than Remmers, who is playing pretty well right now? [Reply]
Originally Posted by The Franchise:
Can’t wait for Hitchens to get his job when he comes back.
Should be a fireable offense if Spag does but I won’t be surprised when Spags pimps him back at the Mike position. I mean it took a public outcry and media pressure for him to put Juan over Sorenson. [Reply]
Originally Posted by oldman:
I'd agree we should see more Pringle and less DRob, but I disagree with your comment about Gordon. I doubt Gordon will be with us next year, so why wait? Can he not learn 15-20 plays and be trusted to execute them? He doesn't need to know all the playbook.
Yup
Gordon can run those quick slants that Mahomes wont throw to since he overlooks the open short route to throw to deep routes that are heavily covered. [Reply]
Originally Posted by dannybcaitlyn:
Should be a fireable offense if Spag does but I won’t be surprised when Spags pimps him back at the Mike position. I mean it took a public outcry and media pressure for him to put Juan over Sorenson.
Veterans don’t lose jobs because of injury. It’s going to happen. [Reply]