Enemy On the Plank: Kansas City Chiefs

Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-US PRESSWIRE

This week the Bucs come off their bye to host the Kansas City Chiefs who are in a similar position at 1-4. Both teams have talented aspects to them but both can’t seem to get anything going to generate wins. We sat down with Patrick Allen from the Chiefs blog Arrowhead Addict to discuss this weeks matchup and get some intel on the visiting Kansas City Chiefs.

TPP: The Chiefs supposedly did/didn’t cheer their injured quarterback off the field last week meaning the Brady Quinn era has begun in Kansas City. How confident are you, given Quinn’s history not only in the NFL but back at Notre Dame, that this is the guy that can turn things around?

PA: The Chiefs don’t need Quinn to be Tom Brady, they just need him to be competent and not turn the ball over. KC’s offense is built to be led by a game-manager QB. Cassel was supposed to be good at that but this season he has fallen apart. The protection is decent, the receivers are decent and the running game is outstanding. He is just turning the ball over and playing scared.

Over the long-term I doubt Quinn is much more than a backup but we’ve seen plenty of backups come in and spark an offense for a season by being cautious and taking care of the football. See Matt Cassel in New England.

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TPP: Outside of Jamaal Charles, Tamba Hali and Dwayne Bowe, who on this Chiefs team should the Bucs watch out for on Sunday as someone who can really bring the pain?

PA: Beware of Justin Houston. The Chiefs drafted him in the 3rd round two years ago and he really came on at the end of last year and has picked up where he left off this year. He is tied for 3rd in the NFL with 6 sacks and is a complete OLB. He can drop into coverage and really get after the QB. With Hali on the other side, the Chiefs are developing a nightmare scenario for QBs. Double Hali if you dare but remember that Houston has twice as many sacks.

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TPP: Who on this Bucs team would you steal and put on the Chiefs? Why?

PA: I’d take Carl Nicks. The Chiefs are hurting a little at the guard position and are starting rookie Jeff Allen. Allen isn’t ready yet and Nicks is unbelievable.

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 TPP: Clearly something’s not working if the Chiefs are yet again in the dumps already. Last year Todd Haley was the scapegoat but now someone else needs to be pinned with the blame. Is Scott Pioli the anti-Christ in Kansas City or is someone else going to pay if this painful season limps on the way it’s started?

PA: The team looks poorly coached. The talent is there but the rate at which KC is turning the ball over is staggering. The defense also played poorly out of the gate. Romeo Crennel has to turn things around starting Sunday or I fear this will be his last season as a head coach in the NFL. The team is too talented to be performing so poorly.

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 TPP: The Chiefs have just fired Scott Piolo and named Patrick Allen the new GM. What’s the first move you make as the new GM to turn this franchise around?

I wouldn’t do anything for the rest of the season. I’d let Crennel try to win as many games as he can. I’d then call whichever team has the first pick in the draft and give them whatever they wanted for the pick…unless that team was sure not to take a QB, in which case I’d just leap the first QB needy team. I’d have my scouts examine the hell out of the QB’s in the class and I’d take the best one, likely Geno Smith.

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 TPP: Alright, money on the table: who wins this game on Sunday and why?

PA: I have a good feeling about Sunday. Something about the change at QB and the way the defense played last week has me believing the team may be about to turn the corner. But they’ve been bad this year, as a team and there is simply no way to know what is going to happen with Quinn out there.

I love the Chiefs and my heart tells me something good is going to happen Sunday but my head is telling me to look at the evidence. Road game. Unknown quantity at QB. Inconsistent D.

KC could blow Tamp out Sunday.

But I am going with my head this week, hoping I am wrong. Tampa 26, Chiefs 13.