Thanks to some of your articles I've been able to watch the preseason games with a better focus on what to take from them and feel like our overall roster has a lot of potential to be the best of the Mahomes era. Again its preseason with a lot of the superstars sitting, but early returns on players has been very encouraging. Any plans of reviewing the LBs or DBs before next preseason game? I've been seeing things about Hitchens looking faster and wondering how Gay and Bolton look as well.
Just to echo this: this season is the first I have truly enjoyed preseason games, and I give Seth virtually all of the credit for making them feel meaningful.
Completely agree with this. Even with watching to the end of the game I've enjoyed them as opposed to just watching how the first team players performed in years past.
This is encouraging, particularly given the step up in speed/power from Big 12 defensive tackles,
a position group where that league is historically far behind the SEC (esp if you exclude OU).
Fortunately, unless my eyes deceive me, the best interior linemen in our division are the ones Humphrey has been practicing against daily. Fletcher Cox will be a big early test, though.
Seems like durability may be Humphrey's biggest question. Though he doesn't strike me as the sort of dude who will give up snaps easily.
That 3rd embedded clip is just.....whew.....amazing? If you put 90% of the interior players in the NFL in that situation, they are lunging at air. The way he kept his feet underneath him is special.
Greatness is as much about consistency as it is about excellence, and Humphrey is as consistent as they come. He'll rarely "WOW" the casual football fan, but he'll be a stalwart and centerpiece to anchor this new look O line. And the talking heads will be like, "Boy CEH looks really good! He's gotten so much better since last year!"
Indeed, if things go according to plan there will be a lot of talk about CEH improving, when he's really always been the same (very good) dude.
Hopefully because the OL drew so much attention in the Super Bowl and offseason people will pay closer attention to them in-season and on a national level!
That run play in your second GIF was a thing of beauty. Every lineman won his block. I look forward to watching the Chiefs execute - and win - in short yardage situations this season.
I also have to ask whether you're concerned about the vision displayed by CEH in some of these clips. In particular, in one of these plays he took the right A gap behind the double-team by Creed and Smith when it looked like he had a lot of room in the left A gap and a climbing Thuney ready to clear out the 'backer.
I think there was a play or two vs the Niners where he might have left yards on the field. Not sure, of course, because I don't watch enough tape. Hence a request for your thoughts.
Just so I'm 100% sure, which clip are you talking about? Number it for me!
I would note that at times the "if the RB had cut this direction or that direction" discourse can be similar to how people talk about QB's not throwing to guys who look open once the ball has been released. It's important to keep in mind that every action by the RB would influence how the defense moves, and so what looks open may well have not been open had the runner gone a certain direction.
That said, let me know which one and I'll give you might thoughts!
I think I know (thanks to Keith) for SURE which play you're talking about. The short answer is that I think he anticipated Smith climbing sooner to block the defender that laid the hit and had a ton of room there if Smith does so.
Understanding why it happens, I don’t understand how teams let a plug and play starter fall so far in the 2nd round.
Accounting for positional value, every team would have needed to make two picks that were each higher EV than Creed. Unlikely but happy it worked out for us!
I think sometimes teams get so caught up in positional value that it becomes easy to forget that "good player > bad player" is a basic truth regardless of position.
It's all about how Belichick holds teaching sessions on how to be a head coach for his assistant coaches throughout the year. I had never heard of this before.
Is this common? Does Andy Reid do this?
Supposedly Belichick's "tree" has performed worse than Reid's tree. What might Reid do differently?
Wouldn't all of us love to be in on these sessions!
Also, so I don't highjack a thread in the future, where/how can subscribers write to you directly on topics not being covered? Am I overlooking a link?
I had not seen that! Honestly, based on he fact that Belichick's coaching tree has really struggled, I'm not so sure that he's not just playing possum with guys he thinks he might face one day lol.
And I'm always happy to answer non-topical questions in the comments! I can also be reached via Twitter :)
It’s always hard to say from practice and preseason but everyone on the O-line looks solid. I’m excited to see this group in a real game. Cleveland will be a good challenge for them.
I was also impressed with what the announcers passed on about Andy Heck’s instructions to Creed: make decisive protection calls. Better to be wrong and work around it than unclear or late.
I am so excited for Humphrey but there is definitely part of me that wishes we would have signed Joe Looney this offseason. Then our interior line could be Looney Thuney. Just such a missed opportunity lol
Because he's a center, Creed didnt provide a lot of "positional value" in the draft. But I shake my head at that kind of logic. If you can get a pro bowl caliber player at any position, who will be your starter for the next decade-- you draft that player. I live in Big 12 country so I've known all about Creed for awhile now. I was hyped when we selected him. Looks like a great pick so far. And really, what's THE most important thing??? Protect PM15 at all costs. Creed WILL do that, while also being a plus factor in the run game, for years to come. Good stuff Seth.
Thanks to some of your articles I've been able to watch the preseason games with a better focus on what to take from them and feel like our overall roster has a lot of potential to be the best of the Mahomes era. Again its preseason with a lot of the superstars sitting, but early returns on players has been very encouraging. Any plans of reviewing the LBs or DBs before next preseason game? I've been seeing things about Hitchens looking faster and wondering how Gay and Bolton look as well.
Just to echo this: this season is the first I have truly enjoyed preseason games, and I give Seth virtually all of the credit for making them feel meaningful.
Completely agree with this. Even with watching to the end of the game I've enjoyed them as opposed to just watching how the first team players performed in years past.
I very, very much appreciate that.
Seth makes us all better fans. He's great at that, and I commend him for it.
(wells up)
That's exactly why I do this, and I'm so glad to hear that it's been even a little helpful!
This is encouraging, particularly given the step up in speed/power from Big 12 defensive tackles,
a position group where that league is historically far behind the SEC (esp if you exclude OU).
Fortunately, unless my eyes deceive me, the best interior linemen in our division are the ones Humphrey has been practicing against daily. Fletcher Cox will be a big early test, though.
Seems like durability may be Humphrey's biggest question. Though he doesn't strike me as the sort of dude who will give up snaps easily.
That 3rd embedded clip is just.....whew.....amazing? If you put 90% of the interior players in the NFL in that situation, they are lunging at air. The way he kept his feet underneath him is special.
Greatness is as much about consistency as it is about excellence, and Humphrey is as consistent as they come. He'll rarely "WOW" the casual football fan, but he'll be a stalwart and centerpiece to anchor this new look O line. And the talking heads will be like, "Boy CEH looks really good! He's gotten so much better since last year!"
But we'll all know what's really going on.
Indeed, if things go according to plan there will be a lot of talk about CEH improving, when he's really always been the same (very good) dude.
Hopefully because the OL drew so much attention in the Super Bowl and offseason people will pay closer attention to them in-season and on a national level!
That run play in your second GIF was a thing of beauty. Every lineman won his block. I look forward to watching the Chiefs execute - and win - in short yardage situations this season.
I think we all do!
I also have to ask whether you're concerned about the vision displayed by CEH in some of these clips. In particular, in one of these plays he took the right A gap behind the double-team by Creed and Smith when it looked like he had a lot of room in the left A gap and a climbing Thuney ready to clear out the 'backer.
I think there was a play or two vs the Niners where he might have left yards on the field. Not sure, of course, because I don't watch enough tape. Hence a request for your thoughts.
Just so I'm 100% sure, which clip are you talking about? Number it for me!
I would note that at times the "if the RB had cut this direction or that direction" discourse can be similar to how people talk about QB's not throwing to guys who look open once the ball has been released. It's important to keep in mind that every action by the RB would influence how the defense moves, and so what looks open may well have not been open had the runner gone a certain direction.
That said, let me know which one and I'll give you might thoughts!
I'm not Paula, but she saw what I saw. It is the fourth clip.
I think I know (thanks to Keith) for SURE which play you're talking about. The short answer is that I think he anticipated Smith climbing sooner to block the defender that laid the hit and had a ton of room there if Smith does so.
The fifth clip kills me.....looks at Mahomes' feet as he releases the ball.....who does that?!...or who can do it other than him?
Understanding why it happens, I don’t understand how teams let a plug and play starter fall so far in the 2nd round.
Accounting for positional value, every team would have needed to make two picks that were each higher EV than Creed. Unlikely but happy it worked out for us!
I think sometimes teams get so caught up in positional value that it becomes easy to forget that "good player > bad player" is a basic truth regardless of position.
I think you have a new adult son!
Don't tell Mitch.
oh my goodness ! DID YOU GET THE LICENSE PLATE NUMBER OF THE GUY THAT HIT US
I'm seeing these rookies play and I'm blown away by what we have. If we get three starters who are rookies for the next 4 years then holy cow.
It's been crazy to watch. We're staring at a best case scenario on the OL.
Seth--completely off topic but have you seen this article: https://theathletic.com/2788545/2021/08/25/inside-bill-belichicks-head-coach-training-sessions-that-prepared-joe-judge-for-his-role-with-the-giants/
It's all about how Belichick holds teaching sessions on how to be a head coach for his assistant coaches throughout the year. I had never heard of this before.
Is this common? Does Andy Reid do this?
Supposedly Belichick's "tree" has performed worse than Reid's tree. What might Reid do differently?
Wouldn't all of us love to be in on these sessions!
Also, so I don't highjack a thread in the future, where/how can subscribers write to you directly on topics not being covered? Am I overlooking a link?
Thanks
I had not seen that! Honestly, based on he fact that Belichick's coaching tree has really struggled, I'm not so sure that he's not just playing possum with guys he thinks he might face one day lol.
And I'm always happy to answer non-topical questions in the comments! I can also be reached via Twitter :)
It’s always hard to say from practice and preseason but everyone on the O-line looks solid. I’m excited to see this group in a real game. Cleveland will be a good challenge for them.
I was also impressed with what the announcers passed on about Andy Heck’s instructions to Creed: make decisive protection calls. Better to be wrong and work around it than unclear or late.
I am so excited for Humphrey but there is definitely part of me that wishes we would have signed Joe Looney this offseason. Then our interior line could be Looney Thuney. Just such a missed opportunity lol
Because he's a center, Creed didnt provide a lot of "positional value" in the draft. But I shake my head at that kind of logic. If you can get a pro bowl caliber player at any position, who will be your starter for the next decade-- you draft that player. I live in Big 12 country so I've known all about Creed for awhile now. I was hyped when we selected him. Looks like a great pick so far. And really, what's THE most important thing??? Protect PM15 at all costs. Creed WILL do that, while also being a plus factor in the run game, for years to come. Good stuff Seth.
The Chiefs putting a renewed focus on the OL is a great thing to see, and hopefully we see it pay dividends!