BOLT ANALYSIS: ARE THEY WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE?

I am confused, followers, by how this season is unfolding.  A useful way to view the NFL’s 16 game season is by quarters.  Yesterday’s sloppy affair marks the end of the first quarter of 2012 and I must say I really do not have a strong read on our Boyz yet.  I would love to look at our 3-1 record, complete with two road wins over divisional opponents, and be filled with promise and optimism. At the same time, it would also be easy to look at the silver platter KC handed us yesterday and focus too much on what we did NOT do in that game.  As usual, the ANALYSIS dwells amongst the grey areas...trying to sniff out the truth in a wild mashup of conflicting messages.

Arrowhead Stadium is a hard place to play. It’s loud, raucous, and filled with red-jerseyed maniacs. The Chiefs made sure yesterday, however, to issue a gag order to their fans by handing the ball to the white team over and over again. I have never heard that place so quiet. Every time the home team did something positive, they gave it right back. The Chiefs were coming off a win against New Orleans on the road and looked like they might be poised to overcome a bad 0-2 start and pull even with the Bolts. The first drive from San Diego quashed some of that however...with the Chargers moving effectively down the field to score on a nice inside route to Eddie Royal. That drive was stellar...Gates drawing flags and looking dangerous...Jackie Battle booming down the middle...and a bunch of guys getting involved. An interception on the ensuing Chiefs drive led to a field goal (more on this later) and another Chiefs fumble put us squarely in control. The crowd was dead, the Chiefs were pressing, and Norv was smiling his secret smile. Just like that, you looked up and the score was 20-0. That is when things took a turn that had the ANALYSIS squirming despite the lead.

Look, guys, let’s be real. This game should have been utterly out of control by half time. The Chiefs gave us the ball 5 times (!!) in the half. The Chargers were in position to blow the game open after another Chiefs turnover. In the red zone, a field goal or a TD at this point would be crushed the life out of the Chiefs. But Philip threw an awful pass that was intercepted and a few big plays later the score was 20-6 instead of something else.  There is a lot about that play that upset me:  1) it was a bad decision, 2) a bad throw, 3) minimum pressure, 4) Meacham was the intended receiver, 5) once again, the Chargers could not fire the silver bullet through the head of an opponent. Philip was bailed out by the fact that the next drive was a Donald Butler interception return for a TD. But, the writing is there for all to see. Philip just does not look great. For every great read and perfect throw (and he had a couple of lasers yesterday) Rivers mixes in some headscratchers.  How about the 3^rd and 1 forced throw into the endzone that should have been picked off (also to Meacham)? How about the completely poor intentional grounding play with minimum pressure.  Look, I know I am quibbling here...but one needs to embrace the fact that these are mistakes that will lose games when the games are close. I have always been a fan of Philip’s, and I am figuring that his brain freezes are the result of a bad running game and an incomplete O-line...but a pattern is a pattern and we need to hope it stops. Perhaps as alarming is the utter lack of continuity between Meacham and Rivers. Meacham was supposed to be our #1. He cannot get open, cannot get separation, and has caught exactly 6 balls in 4 games with no touchdowns. Philip has thrown two interceptions when trying to force it to him. This is a problem.

OK, OK. I’m off the ledge. We won 37-20 for gosh sakes...lighten up! There were a lot of good things in this game.  First and foremost, our defense looks faster, meaner, and better positioned. Jammal Charles is a great back..very fast...and he scored a few times. But, this really was a function of the fact that he made crazy runs than any problem on the part of our defense. Our defensive line led by V. Martin, Luiget, and Kendall Reyes looks physical and active. Donald Butler is the best player on the team right now, and our linebackers are hitting hard and in the right place. Weddle and Bigby seem to have chemistry back in the safety zone. Overall very impressive, and you have to believe that these young guys have some additional strides to take.  My only beef with the D:  Antoine Cason. What the hell, man? This is a contract year for Cason...he was a first round pick who is coming to the end of his rookie contract.  This is the time when he needs to make an impression. Weddle did it, earning huge $$ by having a great contract year. Philip did it, Gates did it, Gaither did it, Jammer did it years ago. This is his chance to get paid as they say. Well, he is not going to get his dough with a few more games like this. Despite an interception and a few passes defensed, Cason played really, really soft yesterday. Dwayne Bowe is a good receiver...but he worked over Cason time and again. The TD pass at the end with a huge lead was unforgiveable. Just a meltdown. I have tried to be in this guy’s corner..but that was painful. There I go...bitching again! Really...that is the last time....

What a surprise to see Gaither back in at left tackle after a few days of practice. The phantom back injury is gone? Wow. This is just a weird situation. Plain and simple. But, I am not going to waste time wondering what is up with this. He is back in there, and despite some sloppy play when he got tired, he looked pretty darn good. Welcome back...I hope you decide to stay Jared.

And, how about Mathews? Relegated to backing up Jackie Battle after his fumble last week, Ryan got better as the game went on. Despite how hard Battle, Brinkley, and Ronnie Brown have played...the team is just flat better with Ryan back there. He is a weapon. Norv will work him in. I just hope he can hold on to the ball and keep his bones from breaking. You hold your breath every time he gets the ball. Improvement may be a week away. I hope so.

So, one quarter of the season in the books. That was fast. Just think, it we can duplicate that quarter in each of the coming quarters...we will be 12-4. Sweet. But, much like the stock market, you just cannot count on that. Facts are facts, we are 2-0 in the division with both wins on the road. That is great. We travel to New Orleans next week to face the 0-4 Saints. Crazy. Drew and Sproley are going to be gunning for us. Can we really keep the Saints winless? I hope so. I think we are beginning to be a full team. Gaither and Mathews back in the fold helps a lot. Keeping guys healthy will be paramount. Much like last year, we are off the grid, as the media focus on the Texans and the Falcons and what is wrong with the Lions and the Saints and what is right (or wrong) with the referees. Fine with me, keep it quiet boyz, let’s keep it going.