MorKnolle
All Pro Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,971
My thoughts on Mario's first game
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Here is my evaluation of every single play that Mario was on the field last Saturday night after watching tape on the game a couple times thru:
Play 1)
1st & 10, 17 yard line - Chiefs in a weak I formation with 2 WR, 1 TE, 2 RB, the TE on the right side of their formation and the FB left of the QB.
Mario lines up as LDE, line up right on the TE (Gonzalez).
Chiefs call a running play away from Mario's side, Mario battles Gonzalez 1 on 1 with a relatively neutral result, not gaining much ground but not giving any up, and the play heads off the other direction without him really getting involved in it, the Chiefs gain 4 yards. Mario gets off the snap a little bit slow, but not bad.
Play 2)
2nd & 6, 21 yard line
False start
2nd & 11, 16 yard line - Chiefs line up with 2 WR, 2 TE, 1 RB, with both TEs to the left side of the line and the RB offset to the right of the QB.
Mario is lined up at RDE, right on the 2nd TE.
Green goes into a 3 step drop and a quick throw on a curl route to the right side. Mario is doubled by the 2 TEs and the LG rolls over to lend some assistance as well, so he's double and triple teamed on the play. Mario pushes his way about 2 yards upfield and 2 yards into the pocket. The completed pass results in an 8 yard gain. Mario gets off the snap a little slower than he should be able too, but likewise not bad.
Play 3)
3rd & 3, 24 yard line - Chiefs line up with 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB, both the slot WR and TE are on the left side of their formation.
Mario lines up at LDT in the gap between the C and RG.
Green goes into a 7 step drop, throws to the left to the slot WR on a quick in & out route and throws too far outside (Dunta Robinson in coverage). Mario is initially doubled by the C and RG, once Will Shields has him locked down the C leaves to help on Weaver and should have been called for a block in the back in the process. Mario pushes about 4-5 yards up field, but was initially doubled and then left 1 on 1 with a likely future Hall of Famer. Mario gets off the snap decently well.
Play 4)
1st & 10, 29 yard line - Chiefs line up with 2 WR, 1 TE, 2 RB in a weak I formation. The FB motions from left to right to form a strong I (TE on the right side).
Mario is lined up at LDE, in the gap between RG and RT. Mario initially engages with Gonzalez and tosses him to the side with his left arm, then brushes off the FB who is coming to that side to block, which takes away the outside option in the run and opens the gap for Demeco Ryans to come thru for the tackle, the Chiefs gain 4 yards. Mario gets a decent start off the snap.
Play 5)
2nd & 6, 33 yard line - Chiefs line up with 2 WR, 2 TE, 1 RB.
Mario lines up at RDE, outside the TE to the left side of the offensive formation, then he shifts inside to the gap between the LT and TE.
The Chiefs run in the other direction, MArio is shielded on the back side of the line and can't get involved in the play. The Chiefs gain 2 yards. Mario gets a decent start off the snap.
Play 6)
3rd & 4, 35 yard line - Chiefs line up with 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB, the slot WR and TE are to the left side, the outside WR motions in a few yards before the snap.
Mario lines up at LDT in the gap between the C and RG. Mario gets a 1 on 1 with Will Shields, gets about 4 yards upfield and tries a relatively ineffective spin move.
Green has a 7 step drop, throws down the middle and complete for 11 yards (Lewis Sanders in coverage). Green gets rid of the ball before pressure can get right in his face. Mario gets a good start off the snap.
Play 7)
1st & 10, 46 yard line - Chiefs line up with 2 WR, 2 TE, 1 RB, double TEs to the left of the formation.
Mario lines up at RDE, in the gap between the LT and the 1st TE.
Green pitches the ball outside to Mario's side, he rides the 1st TE and doesn't really gain ground into the backfield but doesn't lose any ground, shrugs TE off and avoids the C who is pull blocking, and he gets an arm on LJ for his assisted tackle, Chiefs gain 3 yards on the play. Mario gets a little slow off the snap, although Barrett Green came up and tried to bump him to the outside right before the snap which may or may not have distracted him momentarily.
Play 8)
2nd & 7, 49 yard line - Chiefs line up with 2 WR, 2 TE, 1 RB, 2 WR to the right, a TE on each side, then the TE on the right side motions out to the left.
Mario is lined up at RDE on the LT. Mario goes 1 on 1 with Turley, gives a hesitation step for his first two steps (I would much prefer to see him launch right in there and attack rather than hesitating). In the meantime Weaver makes a nice swim move on the LG then gets blocked in the back after getting by, also not called. When Mario gets after Turley, he bullrushes him and basically pancakes Turley. Green gets the ball off before the two of them can get to him and completes the pass for a 6 yard gain. Mario gets a decent start off the snap.
Play 9)
3rd & 1, 45 yard line - Chiefs line up with 1 WR, 2 TE, 2 RB, WR to the right who motions slightly inside before the snap.
Mario is lines up at LDE in the gap between the RT and TE.
Mario gets in a 1 on 1 battle with the RT on a running play up the middle, battle results basically in a stalemate with neither gaining ground. LT should have been called for holding after tackling Peek from behind when he shoots thru the gap. Chiefs gain 3 yards. Mario gets off a little slow, but not bad.
Play 10)
1st & 10, 42 yard line - Chiefs line up with 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB - Twins WR to the left, TE to the right side of the line.
Mario lines up at LDT in the gap between the RG and RT. Mario runs a stunt to his right, Chiefs run a draw right into the gap that Mario just vacated, Morlon Greenwood promptly blocked out of the way, Demeco Ryans overpursues into the hole and lets the RB by, Glenn Earl and Peek make the tackle after a 3 yard gain. Mario gets a decent start off the snap, Chiefs play happens to run in the gap our defense created with the stunt.
Play 11)
2nd & 7, 39 yard line - Chiefs line up with 2 WR, 1 TE, 2 RB, I right formation.
Mario lines up at LDE, outside the TE.
Chiefs run up the middle, Mario gets around the TE and RT but is behind the play afterward. Robaire Smith is doubled initially and bumped outside, Will Shields drives Weaver to the outside, C comes off his double on Smith and blocks Anderson, Demeco misreads initial direction of the play and ends up blocked by FB, Brown and Earl are a little slow reacting to the play and RB breaks CC's tackle, Earl and Barrett Green drag him down with a little assistance after a 10 yard gain. Mario gets a good start off the snap.
Play 12)
1st & 10, 29 yard line - Chiefs line up with 2 WR, 1 TE, 2 RB in an I right formation.
Mario is lined up at LDE in the gap between the RT and TE.
Mario is left 1 on 1 with the RT and is not especially effective with any move but pushes him about 7 yards upfield and into the pocket.
Chiefs run a play action pass and dump the ball off to the RB over the middle, Johnson runs to the left sideline and is gang tackled for a 5 yard gain, Green gets the ball off before pressure can get there. Mario gets an ok start off the ball.
Play 13)
2nd & 5, 23 yard line - Chiefs line up with 2 WR, 1 TE, 2 RB in an I left formation with a WR tight to the left side who motions over to the TE spot on the right side of the formation.
Mario is lined up at RDE right on the TE.
Chiefs run a cutback from the left to the right, Turley gets a good block on Mario and knocks him over, as shown repeatedly on ESPN (a.k.a. the anti-Texans network). Babin does a pretty good job blocking off the intended running lane, but Robaire misses a tackle in the backfield and the RB cuts back to the left side for a 3 yard gain. Mario gets off the snap a little slow.
Play 14)
3rd & 2 - 20 yard line - Chiefs line up with 2 WR, 2 TE, 1 RB, TE to the left motions to the right.
Mario lines up at LDE on the TE on the right side. Mario jumps to the outside on the snap and Barrett Green gets in there slow and doesn't plug up that opened gap, RB picks up 4 yards on a quick run right to that spot. Mario gets off the snap ok.
Play 15)
1st & 10, 16 yard line - Chiefs line up with 1 WR, 2 TE, 2 RB in a straight I formation with the WR to the left, then motions to the right.
Mario is lined up at RDE on the TE. Chiefs rnu a play action pass, MArio is cut blocked by the RB and nearly upended but stays on his feet, although he properly read the play action. QB dumps the ball off to the FB in the left flat for a 4 yard gain. Mario gets a decent start off the snap.
That's it, Mario was subbed out for Kalu on the next play that resulted in a 12 yard TD run. There are certainly several things Mario has to work on still, but I think he had a pretty solid 1st game if you watch the whole plays closely and what happens on them. Either way, he played 15 plays in an exhibition game and has pleny of room to improve and should become much more productive, especially when he's on the field for 70+ plays a game.
That's my evaluation of it.
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We officially have a real defense.
If they would have put more iron in the hull of the Titanic . 
