Distractions of the Season

Forgive me as I have gotten distracted from what matters most… and I think, if I explain, you’ll understand.

Among the list of diversions I’ve been addressing this weekend…

… the new Fanball Sports Network Facebook page, which is quickly growing into the destination for any and all that enjoy sports on just about any level. We are really blowing it out and will be, by the time I am done (a day that may never come), serve as the premium location for anything you could want related to sports on Facebook. Come check us out.

… I’m stressing my fantasy rosters as I ponder my playoff run (having won by miracle in Round 1) in the CTGFFL without Freddie Barnes, Kellen Moore, and the rest of my college crew (no NCAA rosters in these rounds) as well as the win-and-in situation (lose and I’m out) I’ve found in the devastatingly-competitive Buffalo Wild Wings All-Star Blogger Fantasy Challenge (I don’t think I have a shot btw… my crew is down this week if Kurt Warner doesn’t show for Arizona).

… I’m also spending way too much time in building and solidifying the new Fanball Sports Network pages on Twitter. If you enjoy the offerings of the social media community, Twitter is about as fun and inclusive and entertaining as it gets. We’ve opened new homes for all four of our Network communities – the NHL, the NBA, the MLB, and of course, the NFL – and you’ll find my fingers sharing not only our own posts but news, blog offerings, articles, and applications from all around the sports universe on those spots. Hit us up, you will enjoy.

… and of course, I also found some fun in covering the offensive lines of the NFL for the mothership this week and shared those reviews with the masses. There are so many wonderful headlines working from the big uglies of the league this week that I had to leave my joy for the return of Ryan Harris on the curb (tough you’ll never squash my love for Casey Wiegmann or Ryan Clady). Check it out if you enjoy a different beat on the NFL and a different view of the fantasy world… I think you will enjoy.

… and I took a few moments to have a drink and honor the memory of the greatest Broncos fan that ever lived. Rest in peace Tim… few enjoy a life worth celebrating like you did, and we sincerely doubt anyone in this cowtown will again.

Onward and upward. I have three hours until kickoff for the Broncos in the quest to destroy the unbelievably overplayed statistics of the last 18 trips to Kansas City, also known as the Stable’s Game Preview for the week (we have yet to offer the buffets of the week… I’ll compile during the game, and probably be on Twitter while I’m at it… @BroncosStable), and with no time to spare I’m going to toss it up like Dough boy….

… drive-by style. Quick and ruthless.

Three Bullets for the Glass-Is-Half-Empty Crowd

1) The New York Yankees have a better December record at Arrowhead Stadium than the Broncos.
We’ve covered this. Everyone has covered this. I offered by own stats for this span of time and the rest of the world has chosen the quick reflection of Denver’s record at Arrowhead over their last 18 December trips to this stadium. I get it. We all get it. This team is historically disappointing on this trip at this time of year.

If I were a fan of the Chiefs, I’d be reflecting on the past as often as possible, too.

2) The Chiefs are strong on special teams.
Hit the stat pages and you’ll find the Chiefs fall just outside of the top-10 NFL teams in terms of yards allowed on kickoffs, but they have seen more than all but one team in that top 10 (35, topped only by Washington… by the way, that indicates they give up plenty of scoring, and we’ll touch on that in a minute) and thus the averages indicate performance is strong.

The Chiefs allow just 21.7 yards per kickoff return (ranked 9th in the league), have allowed a long kickoff return of just 38 yards on the season (that’s very impressive), and have yet to allow a return touchdown. The same is true on punts (they don’t face nearly as many of these), allowing just 5.2 yards per punt return (4th in the league) with a long return of 15 yards on the season.

They can kick, they can stop the return, and they limit the field position the opposition will find on special teams.

3) The Chiefs have finally gotten wise and adjusted to personnel that could work.
It may or may not be termed as an evolution, but it was clear this roster was fractured when coach Todd Haley left Arizona and came to the KC. His primary offensive weapon was a disgruntled, abused rusher with a propensity for selfish and destructive behavior. The quarterback situation was an atrocity. The offensive line was a joke. The defense, loaded with potential, was failing to achieve it.

We can debate the quality of the players left to do battle, but Haley has finally learned what is and is not worthy of time on the field and he’s doing what he can to make the current situation work as a viable threat to compete. Moving Larry Johnson was a necessity but also brought increased pressures for Matt Cassel and the rest of the offense. Haley improved their depth by adding Chris Chambers to the receiving corps (a move that may have been motivated by knowledge of pending doom for Dwayne Bowe… more on this in a minute) who has subsequently become a favorite for Cassel.

In fact, Chambers may be the Chiefs’ best bet for production moving forward. He fits Cassel’s short-yet-accurate arm, he allows the offense to compensate for a struggling offensive line with short and precise routes, and he pulls linebackers away from an effort to limit the run (thus opening lanes for Jamaal Charles).

This roster may be a wreck but in this league you often have to take two steps back to move one step forward. As we sit today, you could suggest Haley has moved ‘em just one step back and could be on the verge of a step or two forward.

Three Bullets for the Glass-Is-Half-Full Crowd

1) The Broncos are healthy.
Here is the latest injury report from ProFootballTalk.com on the Denver Broncos for Week 13:

QUESTIONABLE S Brian Dawkins (ankle)

PROBABLE T Ryan Harris (toe), RB LaMont Jordan (back), QB Kyle Orton (ankle), WR Eddie Royal (thigh), LB Wesley Woodyard (neck)

That’s it. Ryan Harris is back, Orton is fine, Royal is fine, Woodyard is fine… and Dawkins has been listed as “Questionable” all season long. That happens when the coach gives you rest during the week, and rest during the week will happen when you are (a) old, yet (b) as dominating and vital over the football field as ever. Dawkins has slowed yet (if you want to suggest a slight slip against Baltimore I’ll agree, but I’ll suggest he also used that game as the catalyst for retribution today) and I sincerely doubt that changes today.

To be fair, the Chiefs fail to submit a report that is significantly deeper… but they are dangerously thin to begin with.

2) The Chiefs are suddenly reliant on a fumble-prone rusher, a marijuana-prone receiver, and a mistake-prone coach.
This may not be fair on all fronts… I just dedicated a few paragraphs above for praise of Haley, I have no idea if Bowe was smokin’ the kind buds to earn his suspension (his agent claims he was using weight-loss supplements and we have every reason to believe that’s true since Haley has been oh so happy to brag about the team’s weight-loss initiative since their days in training camp… but look at that mugshot of Snoop, compare it to Bowe’s headshot there at that link, and tell me they don’t look alike… besides, I think it’s funny and it could explain Bowe’s lack of focus early this season, yes?), and Charles is just getting started (only 78 carries on the season) and the numbers fail to suggest he is of major detriment (two lost fumbles, eight games apart).

That being said, it is fair to note the team’s most potent receiver of note is gone, the stories of Charles’ struggles to protect the football are much easier to find than the numbers suggesting it’s an issue, and Haley may be making proper decisions with personnel but that fails to produce quality decisions on the field. The scenario is improving (the Chiefs have finally moved to an even par score in terms of Give/Take and recent battles against Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, and Washington indicate they are learning how to win or, at the very least, keep it close).

The point is this… the Chiefs have lost every single player you would have rated as a potential commodity to fear, at least on offense, this season. Jamaal Charles, Chris Chambers, Bobby Wade, Mark Bradley… these are the players the Chiefs are tabbing as their sources of offensive hope.

That’s not hope. That’s a nightmare.

3) Kansas City’s defense will be playing in this game.
This is simple. Let’s review the numbers, followed by the NFL ranks (in parenthesis) adjoined to them.

TOTAL DEFENSE: 4,322 yards allowed (29th)

TOTAL DEFENSE PER GAME: 392.2 yards allowed per game (30th)

PASSING YARDS ALLOWED PER GAME: 258.4 yards per game (30th)

PASSING TOUCHDOWNS ALLOWED: 19 (tied for 24th)

RUSHING YARDS ALLOWED PER GAME: 134.5 (27th)

RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS ALLOWED: 11 (22nd)

POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME: 25.6 (28th)

Read those numbers and attempt to suggest this defense is capable of stopping Knowshon, Brandon, Kyle, or Correll. Not only do the powers that be fail to find a worthy sense of defensive opposition, but I would suggest this game could be a prime location for those who are struggling  or on the rise – Eddie Royal, Tony Scheffler, Jabar Gaffney, mabye even Peyton Hillis – to enjoy opportunity.

I don’t see how Kansas City overcomes this reality.

I missed one distraction… my friend Ryan Jones, the correspondent with the Network for the Kansas City Chiefs (ChiefsChatter.com) hit me up to offer thoughts on the game, and in the quick-fire discussion I put forth some thoughts on the lack of defensive prowess brought by Kansas City… and I’m more than happy to support that same view today.

In earnest review of this Chiefs team the only positives I could find would be listed, in order of prominence, as follows: (a) punt/kickoff return coverage, (b) punting, and (c) covering the spread at home after a straight-up loss (Jones noted, via his own Chiefs blog, several betting trends… and to be honest, they represent some of the best numbers I’ve seen on this team this season, and that’s not saying much).

That’s it. I’m sorry, once again I tried. I can’t look at Matt Cassel standing alone in this offense and suggest this team will shine. They have no strengths, they lack an defense capable of keeping it competitive despite those losses, and I’m not willing to reach for homefield advantage or history or the recent OT win over Pittsburgh as viable support for a different outlook.

In the interview with Jones I offered my prediction, and as you can probably gues, I’m sticking by that as well… Broncos 27, Chiefs 13.

Thanks for stopping in.

Tags: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Week 13