Tuesday, our scouts filed their advance advance scouting report on this week's matchup between the Chiefs and Jaguars. Now they're back with a second look.
• Kansas City WR Eddie Kennison is expected to return from a hamstring
injury that has forced him to miss the Chiefs' last two games. Kennison's
ability to stretch the field will open up the short-to-intermediate routes for
WR Johnnie Morton and draw some attention away from TE Tony
Gonzalez. However, QB Trent Green has been extremely efficient in
Kennison's absence. He cannot start forcing the ball downfield now that
Kennison is back in the lineup. Kansas City doesn't want to let Jacksonville's inconsistent offense off the
hook by giving it quality field position, or worse, points by turning the ball over.
• White teams have consistently double-covered Gonzalez in the red zone and the Jaguars will do the same, Jacksonville's linebackers and safeties must be aware of No. 2 TE Jason Dunn. Dunn, who has caught a touchdown pass in each of the Chiefs' last two games, isn't nearly as dangerous as Gonzalez, but he rarely drops passes that he should catch. He also has the wide frame to shield defenders from the ball and his size could cause some matchup problems for the Jaguars.
• Jaguars SS Donovin Darius has a sprained ankle and is listed as questionable. Expect Deke Cooper, who will replace Darius if he's unable to go, to see plenty of playing time even if Darius is in the starting lineup. Darius is outstanding in run support and his physical style of play would be missed, but he struggled in coverage last week and the ankle injury could hinder his mobility. Cooper has slightly better man-to-man cover skills than Cooper and will match up better with Gonzalez. The key for Cooper is not getting caught out of position, as he lacks ideal recognition skills, making him vulnerable to play-action.
• Kansas City RB Priest Holmes has played against Jacksonville three times and failed to rush for over 100 yards in all three games. It appears that Holmes will have an excellent opportunity to record his first 100-yard game working against the Jaguars, as they allowed San Diego to average five yards a carry last week. However, Jack Del Rio is a defensive-minded coach who takes pride in stopping the run.
Last year Jacksonville allowed Tennessee to sustain an 11-minute drive that consisted of a steady diet of RB Eddie George. Del Rio laid into his team and made it clear that the players need to do a better lob of<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o
></o>
playing within the scheme. The Jaguars held Baltimore RB Jamal Lewis, who rushed for over 2,000 yards last year, to 68 rushing yards and no touchdowns on 21 carries the following week. Del Rio called last week's performance against the Chargers embarrassing. It will be interesting to see how his team reacts this time.<o></o>
• In breaking down the film of Jacksonville's game last week it became clear that QB Byron Leftwich is developing some bad habits. Leftwich is locking onto his receivers and almost always pats the ball before getting into his throwing motion. Not looking the safeties off allows them to get into position to make a play, and patting the ball gives the corner a little more time to break on the ball. If he doesn't play with better technique this week, a Kansas City pass defense that has five interceptions in four games should be able to capitalize.<o></o>
• The Jaguars have gone to an I-formation with a receiver lined up just outside and behind the tackle when they have gotten close to the goal line. Jacksonville will then motion the fullback to the side of the receiver. The alignment accomplishes two things. It gives the Jaguars an extra blocker when they decide to run the ball to that side of the field. The second thing it does is put pressure on the linebacker corps. If the Chiefs are overaggressive filling against the run, Jacksonville will go to play-action and the receiver lined up behind the tackle should be able to get open quickly.<o></o>
• While Del Rio hasn't said where Marcus Stroud will line up, he will probably move back to his normal defensive tackle position after playing end last week. The Jaguars' depth at defensive end has been decimated by injuries, but Stroud appeared uncomfortable lining up on the outside and is one the best in the league when playing tackle. More importantly, the move failed to solidify Jacksonville's perimeter run defense as Del Rio had hoped.<o></o>
• Leftwich isn't much of threat to run, as he lacks great speed and doesn't have the elusiveness to make multiple defenders miss. However, he is a powerful runner who can pick up a few yards after contact and Kansas City must be prepared for a quarterback sneak every time the Jaguars get inside the 5-yard line.<o></o>
• Chiefs defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham will bring pressure from all over the field and Jacksonville's offensive line is having some problems adjusting to the blitz. Last week San Diego lined a linebacker up outside of the defensive end and then sent him on a delayed blitz between the end and the defensive tackle. Once the tackle committed to the end and the guard committed inside, it created a clear path to the quarterback. The Jaguars' offensive line will have to do a better job of communicating or the relatively immobile Leftwich could take some big hits.<o></o>
Special Teams<o></o>
• The return of Kennison should also help Kansas City's return game. With Kennison back in the lineup, RS Dante Hall won't have to play as big a role on offense. He should be fresher and more explosive retuning kicks as a result. That's not good news for Jacksonville's cover teams, but don't be surprised if the big play in the return game comes from the Jaguars. RS Jermaine Lewis is also capable of going the distance every time he touches the ball and the Chiefs' cover teams have been inconsistent at best. They have already given up a punt return for a touchdown.<o></o>
• Jacksonville's PK Josh Scobee has connected on five of his six field goal attempts, but his lone miss came in the Jaguars' last home game. With Kansas City's ability to put points on the board, Scobee will need to make the most of his field goal attempts this week.<o></o>
Matchups<o></o>
• Kansas City WR Eddie Kennison vs. Jacksonville CB Rashean Mathis<o></o>
• Kansas City RB Priest Holmes vs. Jacksonville MLB Mike Peterson<o></o>
• Jacksonville WR Jimmy Smith vs. Kansas City CB Dexter McCleon<o></o>
• Kansas City LOG Brian Waters vs. Jacksonville RDT John Henderson<o></o>
• Jacksonville QB Byron Leftwich vs. Kansas City FS Jerome Woods <o></o>
Prediction: Chiefs 27, Jaguars 17
• Kansas City WR Eddie Kennison is expected to return from a hamstring
injury that has forced him to miss the Chiefs' last two games. Kennison's
ability to stretch the field will open up the short-to-intermediate routes for
WR Johnnie Morton and draw some attention away from TE Tony
Gonzalez. However, QB Trent Green has been extremely efficient in
Kennison's absence. He cannot start forcing the ball downfield now that
Kennison is back in the lineup. Kansas City doesn't want to let Jacksonville's inconsistent offense off the
hook by giving it quality field position, or worse, points by turning the ball over.
• White teams have consistently double-covered Gonzalez in the red zone and the Jaguars will do the same, Jacksonville's linebackers and safeties must be aware of No. 2 TE Jason Dunn. Dunn, who has caught a touchdown pass in each of the Chiefs' last two games, isn't nearly as dangerous as Gonzalez, but he rarely drops passes that he should catch. He also has the wide frame to shield defenders from the ball and his size could cause some matchup problems for the Jaguars.
• Jaguars SS Donovin Darius has a sprained ankle and is listed as questionable. Expect Deke Cooper, who will replace Darius if he's unable to go, to see plenty of playing time even if Darius is in the starting lineup. Darius is outstanding in run support and his physical style of play would be missed, but he struggled in coverage last week and the ankle injury could hinder his mobility. Cooper has slightly better man-to-man cover skills than Cooper and will match up better with Gonzalez. The key for Cooper is not getting caught out of position, as he lacks ideal recognition skills, making him vulnerable to play-action.
• Kansas City RB Priest Holmes has played against Jacksonville three times and failed to rush for over 100 yards in all three games. It appears that Holmes will have an excellent opportunity to record his first 100-yard game working against the Jaguars, as they allowed San Diego to average five yards a carry last week. However, Jack Del Rio is a defensive-minded coach who takes pride in stopping the run.
Last year Jacksonville allowed Tennessee to sustain an 11-minute drive that consisted of a steady diet of RB Eddie George. Del Rio laid into his team and made it clear that the players need to do a better lob of<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o></o>playing within the scheme. The Jaguars held Baltimore RB Jamal Lewis, who rushed for over 2,000 yards last year, to 68 rushing yards and no touchdowns on 21 carries the following week. Del Rio called last week's performance against the Chargers embarrassing. It will be interesting to see how his team reacts this time.<o
></o>• In breaking down the film of Jacksonville's game last week it became clear that QB Byron Leftwich is developing some bad habits. Leftwich is locking onto his receivers and almost always pats the ball before getting into his throwing motion. Not looking the safeties off allows them to get into position to make a play, and patting the ball gives the corner a little more time to break on the ball. If he doesn't play with better technique this week, a Kansas City pass defense that has five interceptions in four games should be able to capitalize.<o
></o>• The Jaguars have gone to an I-formation with a receiver lined up just outside and behind the tackle when they have gotten close to the goal line. Jacksonville will then motion the fullback to the side of the receiver. The alignment accomplishes two things. It gives the Jaguars an extra blocker when they decide to run the ball to that side of the field. The second thing it does is put pressure on the linebacker corps. If the Chiefs are overaggressive filling against the run, Jacksonville will go to play-action and the receiver lined up behind the tackle should be able to get open quickly.<o
></o>• While Del Rio hasn't said where Marcus Stroud will line up, he will probably move back to his normal defensive tackle position after playing end last week. The Jaguars' depth at defensive end has been decimated by injuries, but Stroud appeared uncomfortable lining up on the outside and is one the best in the league when playing tackle. More importantly, the move failed to solidify Jacksonville's perimeter run defense as Del Rio had hoped.<o
></o>• Leftwich isn't much of threat to run, as he lacks great speed and doesn't have the elusiveness to make multiple defenders miss. However, he is a powerful runner who can pick up a few yards after contact and Kansas City must be prepared for a quarterback sneak every time the Jaguars get inside the 5-yard line.<o
></o>• Chiefs defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham will bring pressure from all over the field and Jacksonville's offensive line is having some problems adjusting to the blitz. Last week San Diego lined a linebacker up outside of the defensive end and then sent him on a delayed blitz between the end and the defensive tackle. Once the tackle committed to the end and the guard committed inside, it created a clear path to the quarterback. The Jaguars' offensive line will have to do a better job of communicating or the relatively immobile Leftwich could take some big hits.<o
></o>Special Teams<o
></o>• The return of Kennison should also help Kansas City's return game. With Kennison back in the lineup, RS Dante Hall won't have to play as big a role on offense. He should be fresher and more explosive retuning kicks as a result. That's not good news for Jacksonville's cover teams, but don't be surprised if the big play in the return game comes from the Jaguars. RS Jermaine Lewis is also capable of going the distance every time he touches the ball and the Chiefs' cover teams have been inconsistent at best. They have already given up a punt return for a touchdown.<o
></o>• Jacksonville's PK Josh Scobee has connected on five of his six field goal attempts, but his lone miss came in the Jaguars' last home game. With Kansas City's ability to put points on the board, Scobee will need to make the most of his field goal attempts this week.<o
></o>Matchups<o
></o>• Kansas City WR Eddie Kennison vs. Jacksonville CB Rashean Mathis<o
></o>• Kansas City RB Priest Holmes vs. Jacksonville MLB Mike Peterson<o
></o>• Jacksonville WR Jimmy Smith vs. Kansas City CB Dexter McCleon<o
></o>• Kansas City LOG Brian Waters vs. Jacksonville RDT John Henderson<o
></o>• Jacksonville QB Byron Leftwich vs. Kansas City FS Jerome Woods <o
></o>Prediction: Chiefs 27, Jaguars 17
