Few surprises to Green, Chiefs in 27-14 victory over Chargers
ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
With every off-season weight he would lift, with every free-agent defender the Chiefs would sign, quarterback Trent Green's vision for the 2003 season would come more into focus.
That vision looked a lot like Sunday's 27-14 season-opening victory over San Diego at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs dominated the Chargers from the start, running out to a 24-0 halftime lead before faltering ever so slightly.
Green didn't picture the faltering part. Otherwise, the Chiefs were everything he hoped and more. The Chiefs, who led the NFL in scoring last season, picked up right where they left off offensively.
"We've been talking all along during training camp how good everything's been from a timing standpoint," Green said. "Having everybody back on offense, we've just been clicking. That was evident in the first half.
"You'd like to think you're going to execute that way on the first drive and in the first half. But you never really know until you get out there, especially since San Diego is so new on defense. For the most part, (the Chargers) did a good job. But we were really clicking in the first half."
In Green's off-season vision, he was both handing and passing the ball to a healthy and productive Priest Holmes, the Holmes of old. That part, too, was remarkably accurate.
Holmes, who received a $35 million contract extension this week, erased any lingering doubts about his health or ability to earn that money by getting the ball five times on the Chiefs' opening drive and scoring a touchdown on a 24-yard run.
"It's nice to see him put everything to rest," Green said. "Everybody saw him break tackles, saw him make guys miss in the open field. When he needed a burst, he got the burst to get around the corner."
The remainder of the offense was in step with Holmes the rest of the half. The Chiefs scored on four of their first five possessions as Green effectively picked apart a Chargers secondary filled with youth and decimated by injuries.
The Chiefs managed only a field goal in the second half, which troubled Green. But the revamped defense was impressive as well. The Chiefs showed some pass-rush prowess, as new acquisition Vonnie Holliday had three sacks, and they also limited Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who was second in the league in rushing last year, to 34 yards in 13 carries.
Green wasn't the only one impressed with the combined performance. All during a productive training camp and preseason, the Chiefs carried a quiet assurance that they were building to this level of play.
"I've been very confident," coach Dick Vermeil said. "I watched my coaches coach, and I've looked at the talent level. I see how they work. I feel the chemistry. I expected them to play very well."
The Chiefs allowed just 49 first-half yards. Four of San Diego's six third-down plays in the first half needed 18 or more yards to get the first down.
Defensive coordinator Greg Robinson was barely audible after the game. That's familiar for Robinson, who last year was frequently hoarse after games from screaming.
This year, it was from exhortation.
"This is the kind of statement we were hoping to make," Robinson said. "This was about what I was hoping to see. We had it from all the units. The line kept getting in there, and the linebackers kept making plays and the secondary kept making plays. It was good, sound defense."
Holliday had his three sacks, becoming the first Chief to compile that many in three seasons. Safeties Greg Wesley and Shaunard Harts had interceptions, Jerome Woods dropped a third and linebacker Shawn Barber broke up a pair of passes, one that would have gone for a touchdown.
"Why wouldn't we play like this?" Barber said. "It's the same way we practice. (Greg Wesley) gets an interception. Well, he gets one every other day in practice. I get my hands on a ball every day in practice. (Jerome Woods) gets his hands on a ball every day at practice. Vonnie gets pressure every day. Everything we did today we did in practice.
"We looked under every stone. There was no way we were going to let this team come in and surprise us. We must have practiced against every play they've run for the last five or six years."
Holliday got his first sack early, dragging down quarterback Drew Brees on the Chargers' fourth play. Barber said Brees, who picked apart the Chiefs three times in the last two seasons, was never the same.
"No matter what you say as a quarterback, that messes up your mental clock," Barber said. "It messes up your timing. Your play clock is going to go a little bit faster the rest of the game."
