Here goes, my "final" look back at the worst season in 20 years for the Red and Gold.
Best game (outcome): at Chargers, week 4. The only home game the Chargers lost this year was to ... the 4-12 Chiefs, 30-16 way back on September 30th. For the better part of six, seven weeks, this one victory gave Arrowhead Nation reason to hope, to believe, that 9-7, maybe even 8-8, would win the AFC West. Sadly, the Chiefs collapsed, the Chargers surged, and this victory was an aberration in the grand scheme of things. But still, without question, the 2nd half of this game was the Chiefs finest hour in 2007.
Best game (overall): vs Packers, week 9. If you were there that day, you just knew, there was a feeling in that stadium that you don't often witness, a sense, a realization that you are seeing something you might never see again. In this case, Brett Favre's almost certain final appearance at Arrowhead.
Worst game (both overall and outcome) vs broncos, week 10. Say what you want about Gunther Cunningham as a head coach, only two numbers will ever stand out to me. 4. and 0. As in "4 wins, 0 losses" against the hated horsies from mile high. Dick Vermeil? 4-6 against denver as our head coach. Herm Edwards? Now an utterly unacceptable 1-3. If you can't beat your divisional rivals, odds are, you ain't beating anybody else either.
Best development: Herm Edwards learning to go for it on the opponents side of the field. Really, you mean not punting on 4th and 2 at the opponents 36 is a good idea? You're kidding me. Here's believing that (hopefully) getting a decent kicker and a couple linemen who don't get your QB and RB killed every other down doesn't change Herm's new-found common sense approach to 4th down football.
Worst development: 0-9 record after the break. The Chiefs were the only team in football to fail to win after week 9. Yet over 70% of the coaching staff, and the entire front office, returns intact to try again. (steve begging hhh to grab a sledgehammer and put him out of his misery ...)
Best personnel decision, offseason: (multiple ties) acquiring draft choices via trades for Ryan Sims, Lawrence Tynes, and Trent Green. Sims never suited up. Tynes is a 50/50 shot every time he lines up. And getting a 5th rounder for Trent Green was nothing short of a steal. Also, honorary congrats to getting a pick for Michael Bennett in-season, opening the way (eventually) for Kolby Smith to receive significant playing time to help in his development.
Worst personnel decision, offseason: using our 5th round pick on Justin Medlock, K, UCLA. This is arguably the single worst drafting decision of the Carl Peterson era. And with 19 years and the hundreds of picks over that time to choose from, that's saying something.
Best personnel decision, during season: working Benny Sapp into the starting lineup. Its high freaking time that guy gets a crack at it. Sapp performed fairly well to boot, which can only mean one thing entering 2008:
(steve) (enters Sports Nutz) (clerk) can I help you?
(steve) yeah, I need a 20 Chiefs jersey.
(clerk) who?
(steve) (frustrated) Sapp! 20! Benny freaking Sapp!
(clerk) who?
(steve) (pounds counter) the brave, heroic Benny Sapp! The dude who taunted the donkeys on Thankgiving by celebrating on their bench! Benny f*cking Sapp! Number Twenty! 2! 0!
(clerk) ok ... (picks up phone) uuh, security, yeah, we have a situation ...
Worst personnel decision, during season: the first 93 seconds of the second half, vs broncos, week 10. To recap the situation: the Chiefs, at 4-4, tied for first in the AFC West, lead 3-5 denver 8-6 at the half. Damon Huard has, to put it mildly, stunk up the joint. Everyone, from Bob Gretz, to Mitch Holtgus, to the CBS broadcasters, to the hot-as-hell 30 year old in section 132, realize its Brodie time. There is no legitimate reason, not a single discernable, legitimate reason, to keep Huard in to start the second half.
Huard starts. 93 seconds, two turnovers, and two donkeys touchdowns later, the rout was on, the Chiefs season began to spiral out of control, and Herm finally realized what everyone in the stadium knew 93 seconds earlier, and in comes Croyle ... 93 seconds too late. Its a decision the Chiefs never fully recovered from. At least so far.
Best play of the season: Huard to D Bowe, 3rd and 19, early 4th quarter, at Chargers week 4. Took a 16-16 tie and blew the game open, as a simple 6 yard slant pattern was taken to the house. Easily Mike Solari's best play call of the year ... and not surprisingly, he stole the play from Mike McCarthy's playbook, as it was the exact same play, in nearly the exact same spot, that the Packers ran to beat the Chargers the week before.
Worst play of the season: (tie) God knows there were many, many, many qualified candidates to choose from. But I've narrowed it down to three, all from the same game, the game that changed the fate of the season. I can't honestly decide which is worse, so I'll post them all, and y'all can decide which one ultimately crushed our playoff hopes:
1a. Larry Johnson fumbles out of the end zone, vs Packers week 9. LJ breaks it, to the 30, the 20, the 15, the 10, the 5 ... fumble! Instead of a huge touchdown that would have put KC up 7-3 early in the 2nd quarter ... and conceivably would have had us kneeling down on the final drive, instead of forcing "worst play of the season 1c", the Pack gets the touchback, and goes on to win the game.
1b. Greg Jennings goes 61 yards to the house, vs Packers week 9. Chiefs up 22-16, 3:08 to go. Packers have a 3rd and 5 at their own 39. Favre back to pass. He's hit as he throws off his back foot ... and hits a strike to Greg Jennings, who goes UNTOUCHED and UNCOVERED down the middle of the field for a touchdown to put the Pack up 23-22. To say I was p*ssed at this play, is the understatement of the season. I believe I nearly broke my hand pounding Sheila's seat in front of me. I was furious. To give up a touchdown, fine. Its Favre, game on the line. We've seen it before. But to let their best receiving threat run uncovered, down the middle of the field, with the game on the line, was utterly inexcusable. Someone's ass should have been cut or fired for that.
1c. Charles Woodson returns INT for TD, vs Packers week 9. Despite the LJ fumble, despite the LJ injury, despite the Jennings touchdown, the Chiefs still have the ball with a shot to win. Trailing 26-22, they start at their own 25, 26 yard line, with a timeout still in hand. Plenty of time to rally. After a couple short passes, Huard looks over the middle for D Bowe ... only, D Bowe isn't there. But Charles Woodson is. And he takes the gimme pick six to the house, to seal the Chiefs defeat, break the back of what up to that point was an overachieving division leader, and break the spirit of the Arrowhead faithful.
Jesus, that was depressing. And yet, I still had more fun at that game than any other one this year. Just goes to show you.
(jack lemmon) huh?
(burgess meredith) what? what the hell are you talking about?
(jack lemmon) well, you say you smoke cigarettes, you drink beer, you eat bacon, goes to show you what?
(burgess meredith) huh?
(jack lemmon) I thought you had a point?
(burgess meredith) no there ain't no goddamned point! I just like that story.
Now for some individual grades:
Brodie Croyle: C. Going 0-6 is bad. Looking dazed, confused, and befuddled half the time he was on the field, is worse. But having to execute plays called by the most incompetent offensive coordinator in franchise history, while trying to stay upright behind the worst offensive line in franchise history, with little to no semblance of a running game to take the pressure off you? That's ugly. That's really ugly. Its why I can't call Croyle a failure, or even pass any semblance of judgment on his season.
Larry Johnson (or as Sebree would spell it, Lerry Johnston): D-. Missed 8 games with injury. In essense missed the first 3 games due to his training camp holdout. So in the five games he actually bothered to show up for, what did he do? He went for over 100 at San Diego, he got his huge contract, he starred in a Jay-Z video ... and that's about it on the positive front. Horrible season for our franchise player. He must rebound to 2005, 2006 form if the Chiefs have any hopes of being competitive in 2008.
Kolby Smith: A. The rookie from Louisville started the last 6 games for the Chiefs, and exceeded every reasonable expectation. In LJ and Smith, the Chiefs might have their backfield for the next 5-6 seasons set up well.
Dwayne Bowe: B+. The first rounder reported late, yet made an impact early and often. Was the downfield receiving threat the Chiefs haven't had since 2000 when Derrick Alexander was here. My only criticism is that he tends to drop some easy passes. That's correctable.
Jeff Webb: C. Adequate 3rd receiver. Didn't do anything spectacular, but didn't f*ck anything up either.
Eddie Kennison: F. Was hurt on the first play from scrimmage, missed nearly two months with a hamstring, and was ineffective after that. Likely the end of the line for one of Carl's greatest signings ever. If he's back in 2008, I'm good with it though, he can provide a solid veteran presence in the locker room, as well as be a model to D Bowe, Webb, and anyone else we bring in.
"F*ck" Ed Drummond: Z. The worst free agent signing by any NFL team in 2007. Ed Drummond has as much business being on an NFL field in uniform as I do. He's got to go. If only for my sanity, he's got to be released. Now.
Tony Gonzalez: A. Did everything asked of him, and then some. Another all-pro, all-world season from Tony G, who is showing no signs of slowing down after 11 seasons in the league.
Offensive Line: G. Worse than an F. This unit was piss poor from the moment camp started, and got worse from there. Waters did the best he could. McIntosh was hurt all year, and ineffective when he played. Weigmann is done. Ditto Welbourn. Chris Terry couldn't last the season and was cut. Rudy Niswinger, Will Svitek, and Herb Taylor won't be confused for NFL-level talent anytime soon, although Svitek at least showed some potential. The Chiefs must address this part of the team in the draft or free agency (or both), and they have to hit a freaking home run on at least 3 signings / picks. For all my bitching about Carl Peterson, at least this is one area of the team he's usually good at staffing (2007 is the exception, thankfully, based on his track record).
Jared Allen: B+. Gets a solid A, A+ for the 14 games he participated in ... but given how the DL, really the entire defense, played at Chicago, you have to ask: if Jared had simply designated a driver last fall, and not gotten two DUI's, what kind of an impact could he have had on that game? (Nothing he would have done would have saved us at Houston). For that, he gets dropped a level, I simply can't give an A to a projected season-opening starter who misses two games due to stupidity.
Alphonso Boone: B+. Solid season from this veteran offseason acquisition. Hope he's back in 2008.
Tamba Hali: C. Disappointing second year for this promising ute from Penn State. Must step it up in season three.
Donnie Edwards: B. It was great to see the 59 back in the Red and Gold. But clearly, after 12 years in the league, he's not the player he once was. Still, can be a valuable contributing member of the defense for at least a few more seasons.
Derrick Johnson: D. Took about five steps back this season after two promising seasons. Must step it up next year to the next level, or else the Chiefs face a tough decision when his rookie contract expires after 2009.
Napoleon Harris: F. Was not the impact LB the Chiefs needed him to be. Must rebound in 2008 or else he'll be looking for his fourth team to call home in 2009.
Ty Law: F. Burned consistently and repeatedly in 2007. Law is simply not a starting CB in the NFL anymore. His return in 2008 should be contingent on a demotion to backup, otherwise, thank him for two years of service and move on (or move out).
Patrick Surtain: D. Beginning to slow down and show his age, but I think he's still got another year or two of starting football in him. Pairing Surtain with Sapp next fall seems the likely choice at this point for the cornerback position.
"Brave" Benny Sapp: B. Solid nickel back early on, promising starter late in the season. Should start in 2008. Time to sink or swim kid.
Bernard Pollard: B-. He's getting quite good at blocking punts. Now he just needs to improve his cover 2 skills to justify his 2nd round pick status.
Jarrad Page: C+. Looks like a steal in round 7 to get this guy. Could team with Pollard to give us our starting safety combo for the next 5-6 years.
Dustin Colquitt: A. Arguably our best offensive weapon in 2007. Which probably explains why we went 4-12.
Place kickers: F. Medlock was awful. Rayner was inconsistent. And Carney's not the answer. If you're going to play "Herm Ball" (which I'm all for), you simply MUST have a rock solid option at kicker, someone automatic inside 40 and damned close to automatic from 40-49 yards out. A jason elam, an Adam Vinatieri, a Jason Hansen. The Chiefs don't have one. They'd better find one, and soon.
Carl Peterson: F. He single handedly is responsible for the pathetic roster the Chiefs field as 2007 draws to a close. I have documented his six consecutive failed drafts that have left this team without a core to build on. I have ranted about his countless free agent failures, his lack of postseason success, and his infatuation with the sellout streak. Carl has two seasons apparently to get this team back on track. I wish him nothing but the best. I just hope I'm not wasting thousands of dollars to watch a fruitless effort.
Herm Edwards: B-. I fault him for Mike Solari. And his "get over it" comment infuriated even me, and I'm just about the biggest Herm apologist walking around town. But other than that, what can you blame him for? He inherited an aging roster in decline, saw his franchise QB knocked out cold in his first game ... and somehow finagled a playoff berth out of that season. He somehow had this team 4-3 and in position for 5-3 were it not for the 3 "worst plays of the season" detailed above. (None of which were his fault). His clock management was ok, save for one exception (2 TOs on one play vs raiders). He went for it on 4th down more often than not, something I totally approve of. And say what you want, this team never quit on him. He's the right man for the job. And if you're gonna give Carl a 15th try to build a playoff winner, certainly Herm deserves a 3rd season at the helm. Because unlike Carl, Herm's won a playoff game this decade. Two of them, including a roadie.
Mike Solari: F. Worst offensive coordinator in franchise history. Couldn't outthink a corpse. His second half adjustments simply were non-existant, which explains why, despite losing 9 straight, the Chiefs led or were tied at the half in 7 of those games (all except denver and Detroit). Has already been fired, and deservedly so.
Gunther Cunningham: C. I would have fired Gun too. He's had four years to get this defense fixed ... and while its better than it was when he arrived, its nowhere near where it needs to be. If the defense continues to suffer coverage breakdowns, 2nd half breakdowns, and tackling issues in 2008, you can be sure Gunther will be looking for work in 2009.
Mike Priefer: F. I'd rather have Kurt Schottenheimer or Mike Stock back at this point. Priefer is not qualified to coach special teams, yet he'll return in 2008. Which means we can expect more crappy place kicking, more baffling kick returns, and a couple special teams touchdowns scored against us.
Clark Hunt: Incomplete. I was disappointed that he didn't remove Carl as GM. And on-field, his first year as owner, his team was a catastrophe. Still, you can't judge a person off of one season. He appears dedicated to keeping the Chiefs in KC long term, as evidenced by ponying up family money for better renovations at Arrowhead. He believes in stablity, which can be a good thing. And he's apparently a hands off owner, willing to let the people he has hired run his team to the best of their abilities. We can all be grateful he's not Dan Snyder or Al Davis.
Wow, that was lengthy. Questions, comments, concerns, feel free to post them or email them. The next post will (hopefully) be the Milwaukee trip highlights. Or as was stated on Saturday morning ...
(person at hotel restaurant) y'all are drinking? at 9:30?
(my cousin) we're Kostus'! Its what we do!
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