Drum Beats: Here Come The Jaguars

The 2007 NFL season is already four games old, and the Kansas City Chiefs have had an interesting start. They looked horrible the first couple of games, against the Houston Texans and the Chicago Bears, then scored a pair of come from behind victories over the Minnesota Vikings and San Diego Chargers.

After the preseason, no one was really sure what to make of this team. The Chiefs scored scant points and didn’t look that great on defense. Actually, it looked like it was going to be a long season for Chiefs fans. Who knew they’d have the third-ranked defense in the league, find a difference maker at wide receiver and be tied for first place in the division with a 2-2 record?

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For the first time this season, running back Larry Johnson and the Chiefs might not see eight players in the box to stop the run. The Jacksonville Jaguars have a lot of confidence in their front four, particularly their defensive tackles, and will probably be more inclined to stop the Chiefs’ passing game. Jacksonville sports the NFL’s fourth-ranked defense, and they are third against the pass.

They’re ranked 22nd against the run, but that’s because of a fluke first game against the Tennessee Titans. The Titans gashed the Jaguars for 282 yards, but the Jaguars locked it down after that holding the Atlanta Falcons and the Denver Broncos to 82 and 47 yards rushing respectively.

Offensively, the Jaguars run the ball quite a bit. They have 98 rushing attempts in only three games, well above the league average. Even quarterback David Garrard gets in on the act, averaging 4.7 yards a carry. The Chiefs are going to have to force him to beat them with his arm to be successful this weekend.

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Wide receiver Eddie Kennison looks like he may be coming back on Sunday, and that means the Chiefs are well on the way to having one of the league’s best wide receiving tandems. Kennison and Dwayne Bowe will be manning the outside, and that moves Samie Parker inside to the slot, somewhere where he can be successful.

Kennison should be able to capitalize on the attention that will be turned towards KC’s rookie receiver, especially that from Rashean Mathis, the Jaguars’ shut down corner. Kennison’s return also spells good news for tight end Tony Gonzalez, who is already benefiting from the attention that Bowe draws. If Gonzalez starts seeing single coverage over the middle of the field, the Chiefs offense will flourish.