ESPN.com - NFL - Take 2: Chiefs vs. Buccaneers Friday, November 5, 2004
Scouts Inc.
Tuesday, our scouts filed their advance advance scouting report on this
week's matchup between the Chiefs and Buccaneers. Now they're back with a
second look.
Kansas City WR Johnnie Morton had been somewhat of a disappointment in his
first two seasons with the Chiefs but he has played well recently and it
has opened up the offense. With Morton consistently finding ways to get
open working against single-coverage, defenses have a hard time rolling
their coverage to WR Eddie Kennison's side of the field. As a result,
Kennison, who has good speed, gets more opportunities to make plays in the
vertical passing game. In addition, Morton is helping No. 3 WR Dante Hall
get open. With Morton drawing attention to the outside and Kennison as
well as TE Tony Gonzalez stretching the field, Hall has more room to
operate underneath.
Kansas City offensive coordinator Al Saunders will test the discipline of
the Buccaneers' active front seven with some reverse action and different
personnel groupings. One of the formations Saunders can use is a pro-set
with Hall lined up as the back opposite Priest Holmes. Saunders can have
QB Trent Green hand the ball off to Hall or run play action. Tampa Bay
cannot allow Hall to turn the corner as a runner because he is extremely
dangerous in the open field. It must also be aware of where Hall is lined
up at all times. If the Buccaneers lose track of Hall when he lines up in
the backfield, he should be able to get open quickly and he is more than
capable of turning the short gain into the big play.
Saunders and head coach Dick Vermeil excel at keeping opponents
off-balance by running the same play out of different formations and
personnel groupings. It makes it far more difficult for opposing defenses
to pick up any tendencies and puts pressure on the opposing front seven to
react rather than attack. That doesn't bode well for a Tampa Bay front
seven that is its best getting upfield and disrupting the ball in the
backfield. Kansas City has the weapons to take advantage when the
Buccaneers get caught out of position so they must read their keys and
play with discipline.
Tampa Bay QB Brian Griese has extensive experience playing against Kansas
City, as he faced them twice a year when he played in Denver. However,
that may give the Chiefs more of an advantage than Griese. It's important
to remember that defensive coordinator Gunther Cunnigham served as Kansas
City's head coach in 1999 and 2000. Although the Chiefs failed to reach
the playoffs both seasons, Kansas City didn't lose to Denver during that
span. Don't be surprised to see Griese struggle as a result.
Vermeil said there were some breakdowns in the secondary's technique last
week. One of the problems that Kansas City experienced was corners failing
to re-route receivers when it goes to zone coverage. The corners need to
do a better job of getting their hands into the receiver's frame and
forcing him to redirect his route towards the safety. With the Chiefs
expected to run some bump-and-run coverage to disrupt the timing of the
Buccaneers' passing game, the corners need to improve in this area.
Keep an eye on the matchup between Holmes and Tampa Bay's outside
linebackers. Holmes is one of the most dangerous receivers out of the
backfield in the league but WLB Derrick Brooks and SLB Ian Gold possess
great speed and athletic ability. Green must be aware of where they are at
all times and throw the ball away when Holmes is covered. Brooks and Gold
have quality ball skills and they will be difficult to catch from behind
should they intercept a pass in the flat.
There is no question that the attention that Holmes draws from opposing
defenses opens up play action for TE Gonzalez but Gonzalez helps himself
out as well. Gonzalez has developed into a fierce blocker and he is doing
an excellent job of selling the fake before getting into his route. This
puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the linebacker or safety covering
him. While they have to be aggressive in run support, they must be aware
of Gonzalez releasing downfield after he engages a defender.
Cunningham is helping his defensive ends without jeopardizing the
soundness of the defense by lining a linebacker up over the tight end and
sliding the defensive end outside in certain situations. Lining the end up
wide creates a better angle and clearer path to the quarterback when the
Buccaneers drop back to pass. It will also put pressure on Tampa Bay's
offensive tackles to set up wider, which will create a seam between the
tackle and guard. The Chiefs are still in a position to defend the run
because of the placement of the linebacker.
Holmes has uncharacteristically fumbled four times over the last two games
and he needs to start practicing better ball security. Last week it
appeared that Holmes lost a fumble because he was trying to pick up a few
extra yards by extending the ball out in front of him. The Buccaneers will
be looking to strip the ball or punch it loose whenever the opportunity
presents itself. As a result, Holmes needs to keep the ball close to his
frame and cover it up with two hands when running in traffic.
Kansas City's offense has been playing with great confidence over the past
two games and the energy level seems to have risen. Players are getting
downfield and throwing blocks for Holmes as well as receivers after the
catch. Tampa Bay will have to match that intensity or it will give up some
big plays. The Buccaneers' must fight through the blocks and swarm to the
ball even when it looks like the back or receiver is going to be tackled.
Special Teams
Last week Kansas City P Steve Cheek fumbled a snap and it cost Kansas City
a field goal attempt. Tampa Bay's defense has played exceptionally well at
home so the Chiefs' field goal unit must execute and take advantage of any
opportunities it gets to put points on the board.
Hall hasn't been as productive in the return game this year but he
returned a punt 46 yards last week and showed that he is still capable of
breaking the long return in the process. Tampa Bay's cover teams, which
have played relatively well, need to keep him contained and wrap him up
upon contact.
Prediction: Chiefs 31, Buccaneers 20
Scouts Inc.
Tuesday, our scouts filed their advance advance scouting report on this
week's matchup between the Chiefs and Buccaneers. Now they're back with a
second look.
Kansas City WR Johnnie Morton had been somewhat of a disappointment in his
first two seasons with the Chiefs but he has played well recently and it
has opened up the offense. With Morton consistently finding ways to get
open working against single-coverage, defenses have a hard time rolling
their coverage to WR Eddie Kennison's side of the field. As a result,
Kennison, who has good speed, gets more opportunities to make plays in the
vertical passing game. In addition, Morton is helping No. 3 WR Dante Hall
get open. With Morton drawing attention to the outside and Kennison as
well as TE Tony Gonzalez stretching the field, Hall has more room to
operate underneath.
Kansas City offensive coordinator Al Saunders will test the discipline of
the Buccaneers' active front seven with some reverse action and different
personnel groupings. One of the formations Saunders can use is a pro-set
with Hall lined up as the back opposite Priest Holmes. Saunders can have
QB Trent Green hand the ball off to Hall or run play action. Tampa Bay
cannot allow Hall to turn the corner as a runner because he is extremely
dangerous in the open field. It must also be aware of where Hall is lined
up at all times. If the Buccaneers lose track of Hall when he lines up in
the backfield, he should be able to get open quickly and he is more than
capable of turning the short gain into the big play.
Saunders and head coach Dick Vermeil excel at keeping opponents
off-balance by running the same play out of different formations and
personnel groupings. It makes it far more difficult for opposing defenses
to pick up any tendencies and puts pressure on the opposing front seven to
react rather than attack. That doesn't bode well for a Tampa Bay front
seven that is its best getting upfield and disrupting the ball in the
backfield. Kansas City has the weapons to take advantage when the
Buccaneers get caught out of position so they must read their keys and
play with discipline.
Tampa Bay QB Brian Griese has extensive experience playing against Kansas
City, as he faced them twice a year when he played in Denver. However,
that may give the Chiefs more of an advantage than Griese. It's important
to remember that defensive coordinator Gunther Cunnigham served as Kansas
City's head coach in 1999 and 2000. Although the Chiefs failed to reach
the playoffs both seasons, Kansas City didn't lose to Denver during that
span. Don't be surprised to see Griese struggle as a result.
Vermeil said there were some breakdowns in the secondary's technique last
week. One of the problems that Kansas City experienced was corners failing
to re-route receivers when it goes to zone coverage. The corners need to
do a better job of getting their hands into the receiver's frame and
forcing him to redirect his route towards the safety. With the Chiefs
expected to run some bump-and-run coverage to disrupt the timing of the
Buccaneers' passing game, the corners need to improve in this area.
Keep an eye on the matchup between Holmes and Tampa Bay's outside
linebackers. Holmes is one of the most dangerous receivers out of the
backfield in the league but WLB Derrick Brooks and SLB Ian Gold possess
great speed and athletic ability. Green must be aware of where they are at
all times and throw the ball away when Holmes is covered. Brooks and Gold
have quality ball skills and they will be difficult to catch from behind
should they intercept a pass in the flat.
There is no question that the attention that Holmes draws from opposing
defenses opens up play action for TE Gonzalez but Gonzalez helps himself
out as well. Gonzalez has developed into a fierce blocker and he is doing
an excellent job of selling the fake before getting into his route. This
puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the linebacker or safety covering
him. While they have to be aggressive in run support, they must be aware
of Gonzalez releasing downfield after he engages a defender.
Cunningham is helping his defensive ends without jeopardizing the
soundness of the defense by lining a linebacker up over the tight end and
sliding the defensive end outside in certain situations. Lining the end up
wide creates a better angle and clearer path to the quarterback when the
Buccaneers drop back to pass. It will also put pressure on Tampa Bay's
offensive tackles to set up wider, which will create a seam between the
tackle and guard. The Chiefs are still in a position to defend the run
because of the placement of the linebacker.
Holmes has uncharacteristically fumbled four times over the last two games
and he needs to start practicing better ball security. Last week it
appeared that Holmes lost a fumble because he was trying to pick up a few
extra yards by extending the ball out in front of him. The Buccaneers will
be looking to strip the ball or punch it loose whenever the opportunity
presents itself. As a result, Holmes needs to keep the ball close to his
frame and cover it up with two hands when running in traffic.
Kansas City's offense has been playing with great confidence over the past
two games and the energy level seems to have risen. Players are getting
downfield and throwing blocks for Holmes as well as receivers after the
catch. Tampa Bay will have to match that intensity or it will give up some
big plays. The Buccaneers' must fight through the blocks and swarm to the
ball even when it looks like the back or receiver is going to be tackled.
Special Teams
Last week Kansas City P Steve Cheek fumbled a snap and it cost Kansas City
a field goal attempt. Tampa Bay's defense has played exceptionally well at
home so the Chiefs' field goal unit must execute and take advantage of any
opportunities it gets to put points on the board.
Hall hasn't been as productive in the return game this year but he
returned a punt 46 yards last week and showed that he is still capable of
breaking the long return in the process. Tampa Bay's cover teams, which
have played relatively well, need to keep him contained and wrap him up
upon contact.
Prediction: Chiefs 31, Buccaneers 20
