***Kansas City Chiefs at New York Giants (1 Viewer)

[wannabee]

Turley was just plain getting owned last night. If he's their answer at left tackle the Chiefs are in serious trouble.

Both starting backs looked good and should both finish in the top five again. I think LJ has enough skill to run behind a mediocre O-line.

Brandon Jacobs looked like the second coming of Natron Means: easy to stop if you can hit him in his first couple of steps, but if he gets three steps on you, impossible to bring down.

Anyone know why Croyle didn't play? Is he in danger of getting cut? Hurt?[/b]

Croyle has been hurt for quite a while. He did not play last week either. Croyle battled injuries in college, too, iirc. Here is a news blurb showing more from a week ago:Croyle hurt

Published Sat Aug 12 10:54:00 a.m. ET 2006

(Rotoworld) Chiefs QB Brodie Croyle has missed the majority of training camp with a shoulder injury.

Impact: Kansas City was forced to sign retread veteran Jeff Smoker as insurance for Saturday's preseason opener. Croyle is out indefinitely.

 

[QUEZILLA]

Anybody know if Crophonso Thorpe got any pt?

 

[hydroxybear]

The biggest difference I saw in the Offense for the Giants is Elis maturity. He is moving his feet better than I've ever seen him. The O-Line is working well against the Chiefs too.

Giants Specail Teams are looking good too.

If this was a real game the Giants would be killing the Chiefs.......And I am concerned about the Chiefs Offensive Tackle situation. This could be the "Birk" injury that is going to sink the KC running game.

I hate to say this, but I am spitting out the LJ juice. Im downgrading all Chief players after seeing this - maybe not a ton but there is more risk here than advertised -

Brandon Jacobs is getting the ball some - he runs like a quicker E. George or a bigger C. Brown. Unfortunately that means he does not get his pads down either. Im not sure he would last if he had to carry the ball for an extended time.

Tim Carter is being working in alot. He is getting many looks.

So I should "look at his feet" ? Is that what your telling me?

 

[Atomic Dawg]

Some Random thoughts on the game I saw.

1. KC D is swiss cheese again. Even with Ty Law (slow and older) teams are going to have their way with them unless things gel sooner than later.

2. The offense is NOT what it was. REMEMBER LJ has not played a whole season yet, AND he has a rag-tag line. I just read Shields was seen leaving the field with a boot on.

3. NO WR threat at all.

4. Gonzales will have a good year.

5. Trent will get mauled this year a lot more.

6. This team looked like a slow undisciplined and old team (I know this look--I am a Raider fan!)

7. They looked like a bunch of individuals not a team.

This REALLY surprised me after the week they had last week. As much as I dislike the Chiefs, I thought they would look a lot better than this. If they are holding out for the season, they had better be darn good once it starts.

There are too many changes this year on this team to make some solid player decisions. I think LJ should be downgraded some on peoples lists, but a downgrade for him is don to #3 or so. Expectations were so high. Do not kid yourself though, he is still a top 3.

 

[houndirish]

Anybody know if Crophonso Thorpe got any pt?

Craphonso had 1 target late in the game on a 15 yard square out. I believe he caught it.

 

[houndirish]

Here's the lowdown on Jacobs.

Forget all this Ron Dayne talk. Dayne danced around in the backfield and even when he hit the hole, he didn't do it forcefully. Jacobs at times last year showed some rookie hesitation but at least tends to hit the hole hard. The people that are labeling Jacobs as solely a short yardage back are putting too much emphasis on last season. Jacobs was typically only inserted into the lineup on short yardage and goal line situations for multiple reasons:

- Tiki was so dominant they didn't really need Jacobs in a feature role.

- Helped Tiki avoid the big shots that come in the short yardage wars (think of how Detroit always pulled Barry Sanders).

- Lastly and most overlooked ... Jacobs didn't have a firm handle on the blocking assignments or blitz protection. We all know that this hurdle tends to be the biggest for rookie RB's. It's precisely why Jacobs wasn't even listed as Tiki's backup last season.

Now, after an entire offseason to learn this stuff, Jacobs should be able to slide into the #2 role and be used as more than simply a short yardage battering ram. Derrick Ward's injury paves a clear path to the #2 spot which methinks Jacobs would've won anyway. If another season goes by where Jacobs only action is on 3rd and short than I'll happily eat crow on this. However too many people are overstating how he was used last season. The Giants are keenly aware of Tiki's age and how he'll benefit with Jacobs taking on some of the burden. Jacobs should benefit too because for the first time in his professional career he won't be entering the game in an obvious run situation (something that I also think contributed to some of his 2005 criticism).

 

[houndirish]

Really folks? Granted, I didn't see the first 4 plays of the game, where LJ gets 1 yard, then -4 yards, catch for no gain, punt. But I did see the rest of the first half. I thought KC looked pretty efficient the next drive marching down the field. The pass protection was very good, good pocket for Green. A couple of near misses to Parker downfield, but they were taking shots. Had first down pass to Gonzo called back at the NYG 11, coupled with false start killed the drive. LJ comes back for one play and busts for 7 up the middle, just dragging guys. Then all starters are pulled. Basically played one extended series.

And this was without 2 starting guys on the O-line? Excluding Roaf (I don't care what he says, we've seen lineman heal quickly once pre-season comes to a close)..LJ's last two carries were for 4 yards and 7 yards, without 2 starting lineman, and now he's a high risk mutt? puhleeez..

If I'm recalling the same plays, those near misses were because Giants CB Corey Webster had him blanketed. KC didn't have a lot of open receivers in this game. Giants secondary played much better than expected.

 

[houndirish]

That's two nice sticks by Page, the KC safety.Haven't noticed Pollard.

Pollard got a lot of PT in the 2nd half. I thought he was everywhere.

 

[houndirish]

With Plax on that team, he needs to get that fade pass down.Chief defense ain't impressing me.

Truth be told, I'm not sure that it would help. Plax, despite his size, sucks on the fade. He simply doesn't use his height to his advantage. I dunno, maybe he's not much of a leaper. But there were several times last season where Eli threw perfect fades to Plax and he simply didn't battle for the ball. I absolutely agree this should be a monster play for NY but in this case Plax is the one ruining the equation, not Eli.