http://www.kansascity.com/sports/story/1411999.html
5 Things to Watch Tonight in the most important preseason game, if there is such a thing, of the season:
1. Tyler Thigpen’s play
The Chiefs need to decide whether Thigpen is expendable, and he can help them with that decision one way or another. Thigpen probably won’t enter the game until the third quarter, but while he’s in, he needs to show he can operate from a conventional pro offense. His throwing accuracy after dropping back from center has been lousy.
2. Create turnovers
The Chiefs haven’t taken the ball away from an opponent in two preseason games. They have the personnel to get that done, and now’s the time to set the tone for the regular season. They’ve done a decent job against two strong rushing teams and have sporadically put pressure on the opposing quarterback but haven’t yet converted that to turnovers.
3. Better offensive-line play
Larry Johnson is averaging a paltry 2.8 yards per carry in the preseason, and Matt Cassel spent most of his time in last week’s game running for his life. All of that has to change. The Chiefs plan no starting lineup changes tonight but could give some guys a look. That list includes Ike Ndukwe at right tackle. If he plays well, he could be a starter by next week.
4. Ryan Succop
The last of the Chiefs’ eight draft picks is having the biggest impact yet. He’s kicked off well and shown consistency on his field-goal attempts. If that continues, he will be a steal of the draft.
5. Big plays at wide receiver
The Chiefs’ longest pass play of the preseason is 22 yards. That’s not all the fault of the receivers. Usually the quarterbacks haven’t had time to look down the field. But the Chiefs are still searching for someone to complement Dwayne Bowe. This would be a good week for Mark Bradley to have a big game. He might need one to secure a roster spot.
1. Thigpen and Gutierrez were a combined 18-28 for 152 yards and 2 picks. If Cassel is out for any extended period of time, which I don't think he will be, we're screwed. We may be screwed anyway, though, with this mess of an offensive line
2. We finally got a turnover with Flowers' 28 yard INT return for a TD. Of course, in typical Chiefs fashion, he got hurt and had to leave the game
3. The offensive line only allowed the offense to accumulate 260 total yards (152 through the air and 108 on the ground) and they got Cassel killed. Offensive line.....BAD! BAD! BAD!
4. Ryan Succop made a field goal from 35 yards in the fourth quarter, but missed from 28 yards and had a 53-yard attempt carom off the crossbar with 4 seconds left in the first half
5. We did have 5 receivers with double digit yards/catch (Ashley Lelie, Dwayne Bowe, Quinten Lawrence, Rodney Wright and "Fine Dressed" Amani Toomer) but Mark Bradley may be on his way out of town
Preseason football is basically over in my eyes. I'm more optimistic about this Chiefs team than I've been about a Chiefs team in a number of years. I know we're not Super Bowl contenders yet but I don't think we're 3-13 or 4-12 bad either. I think we're going to be ok defensively and, as long as Cassel is ok, I think we have seen flashes of good thing offensively. If somehow we can find an offensive line that can block someone, I believe the Chiefs can surprise this year. San Diego should win the division by 5 miles but, with Denver and Oakland as the other teams the Chiefs are going to have to compete with, I'd like to see the Chiefs win 6-7 games this year.
