Chiefs’ coaching adjustments need to stick

By Mike Ash  |   Thursday, September 27, 2007  |  Comments( 13 )

Kansas City Chiefs
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Halfway through their Week 3 contest with the Minnesota Vikings, things were looking all too familiar for the Kansas City Chiefs. Their offense was still struggling, scoring just three points after a turnover let them start a drive in field goal range. And they were once again trailing, just as they've done at halftime of every game in 2007.

But as the second half got underway, things slowly began to change. Adrian Peterson, the Vikings' talented rookie running back, rushed for 30 yards and a touchdown during Minnesota's opening drive alone. And as the third quarter began, he picked up right where he'd left off, gashing the Chiefs for over 40 yards as the Vikings ran the ball on five of their first seven plays.

Chiefs defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham had seen enough. Rather than keep the unit sitting back in the Cover 2 scheme, Cunningham cranked up the aggressiveness of his defense and had his speedy linebackers start attacking the line of scrimmage.

The adjustment paid off in spades. Peterson rushed for just 4 yards in the game's final 20 minutes, and the Vikings were held scoreless in the last two quarters.

More notably, though, there was a clear shift in the performance of the team's offense, too. What caused the shift has been the subject of some debate - to the average observer, the team simply started calling more pass plays that were designed to go downfield. In the first half, Damon Huard didn't complete a single pass to a wide receiver, throwing almost exclusively to fullback Kris Wilson and running back Michael Bennett as they came out of the backfield.

But according to head coach Herm Edwards, the team's play-calling didn't change where the passing game was concerned. Edwards says the difference in the second half was Huard, who finally began to throw downfield instead of quickly dumping off the ball to his checkdown receivers.

Regardless of what spurred the change, the end result was that the offense finally got moving. Putting the issue of Huard's play aside, it was clear that the team changed strategies. After spending much of the first half trying to run the ball against a strong run defense that was stacking the box, the Chiefs quit banging their head against the wall and took to the air.

On their first possession of the second half, the Chiefs started at their own 8-yard line and worked their way into field goal range as Huard connected with Tony Gonzalez and rookie Dwayne Bowe for big gains. And after cutting into the Vikings' lead on their first drive, the Chiefs' second possession saw them drive 84 yards for what would be the game-winning touchdown.

Despite the win, though, Kansas City's coaching staff came under fire from members of their own team, most notably Larry Johnson. After an outburst during the game, Johnson complained again on Monday about the team's less-than-creative play-calling. And with its adjustments heavily contributing to the team's first win, it would be foolish of the Chiefs to return to the status quo for their game against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.

With Johnson unlikely to get on track against San Diego's run defense, the team should look to employ the same downfield passing game that worked for it against the Vikings. This strategy should work equally well against the Chargers, who have given up an average of 324 passing yards in their last two games.

On the other side of the ball, reigning MVP LaDainian Tomlinson has just 130 total rushing yards this season, and the same aggressive, attacking defensive scheme the Chiefs used in the second half against Peterson might be just the thing to ensure that Tomlinson stays frustrated for another week.

But the onus is clearly on the offensive coaches, who were called out by their star running back.

"I learned a long time ago about coaches," Johnson said Monday. "They're always going to do what they want to do. It's usually an ego thing rather than trying to be better or trying to get better or trying to listen to input."

Will the Chiefs' staff keep things rolling and continue attacking downfield, or will the play-callers prove Johnson right and slip back into the same offensive rut that has led to the team trailing at halftime for three straight weeks? The answer will come Sunday in San Diego.
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