7/9/08
Since all of the drama
about the Draft and the hoopla surrounding the OTA’s and mini-camp,
things have gone quiet in Chiefs’ Nation. That is not a good sign since
they have only signed 3 of their draft choices, Brandon Carr, Will
Franklin and Barry Richardson. None of these are expected to make an
immediate impact, although Carr and Franklin should contribute. The
fans all have that same, sinking feeling we all get this time of year,
“Will Carl get the draftees signed and in camp on time?”
Every year during this
time period, it seems that he leaves the country for an extended
vacation. I understand the need to get away, and maybe there is no
better time. We can only hope that his team, led by Denny Thum, is
making progress and there will be a flurry of signings upon Peterson’s
return.
This year, there is
even more anxiety in that the choices ahead of Glenn Dorsey at #5 have
all signed. There should be little problem in zeroing in on a figure –
yet there is a problem. Dorsey and his people believe that since he was
generally regarded as the top player in the Draft, he should be paid
accordingly. But he slid to #5. I’m sure that is going to be
Peterson’s position. And if Peterson continues to hone is image as one
of, if not THE, toughest negotiators in the league, he may ruin this
bountiful draft.
Carl Peterson’s record
for signing players isn’t as poor as most fans would like to believe.
There was a recent article on the Chiefs’ website that depicted other
teams’ #1 draft picks and when they were signed that went back several
years. The Chiefs’ picks were in the bottom half for getting them in on
time, but they weren’t the worst. However, with the past combination of
#1 picks that didn’t pan out coupled with their tardiness in getting
signed, and it’s easy to understand the fans’ anxieties over the
signings of this year’s picks.
Another thought,
suppose Ryan Sims had signed on time and showed up for camp in shape and
ready to play. Suppose John Tait had not gone through his acrimonious
negotiation with Peterson and signed his first contract on time and in
good faith. Maybe both would still be Chiefs. Maybe there would be at
least one playoff win. Maybe the franchise would not be in the midst of
a complete and much-needed makeover.
But it takes two sides
willing to make a deal that will benefit both sides. It shouldn’t be
about boosting a GM’s ego or reputation. Hopefully, as Carl Peterson
nears the end of his reign, he’ll realize the best legacy he can leave
at this stage is a team of young, talented, contract-content players who
want to help Kansas City get back to the days of contention.
6/11/08
The Chiefs held OTA’s and mini-camp last week, with the last practice
open to the public on Saturday, 6/7.
You definitely needed a program to match all of the new players to
jersey numbers worn by long-time players
no longer with the team. It was quite an experience.
The atmosphere was brisk and there seemed to be a great deal of energy
on the field – with both the players
and the coaches. The team looked bigger, faster and more athletic.
There was little loafing and standing
around. Rookies and veterans alike were very attentive. After all,
there are several new coaches, a new
offense being put in, and the uncertainty that most everyone’s job is up
for grabs. The drills were performed
crisply (if not always correctly) and there was very little standing
around.
Even though there was no hitting, several new players
stood out for their speed, athleticism, instincts
and presence:
1.
The following
draft picks look as though they have starting slots already nailed down,
and are working
on refining their techniques and working in concert with
their fellow position players:
a)
Glenn Dorsey -
DT
b)
Branden Albert
- OT
c)
Brandon
Flowers – CB
2.
There are
several draft picks who are “knocking on the door” and pushing for a
starting spot:
a)
DaJuan Morgan
– S
b)
Brandon Carr –
CB
3.
Others of the
’08 draft class appear ready to contribute in special situations (2nd
TE, 3rd down back,
4th WR, Ret., DE rotation, etc.)
a)
Jamaal Charles
– RB
b)
Brad Cottam –
TE
c)
Kevin Robinson
– WR/KR
d)
Brian Johnston
– DE
e)
Maurice Price
- WR
4.
There were
some rookie FA’s who were also impressive:
a)
Maurice
Leggett – CB
b)
T.J. Jackson –
DT
5.
Veteran FA’s
who showed well were:
a)
Nick Novak –
PK
b)
Adrian Jones –
OT
6.
Holdover
veterans who were impressive were:
a)
Larry Johnson
– RB
b)
Dwayne Bowe –
WR
c)
Pat Thomas –
LB
d)
Rudy Niswanger
– C
e)
Tamba Hali –
DE
f)
Tank Tyler –
DT
g)
Tony Gonzalez
– TE
h)
Jackie Battle
- RB
On the negative side, there were some who did nothing to impress, either
because they didn’t dress due
to injuries, or just did nothing to stand out:
1. Rookie draft choices:
a)
Michael
Merritt – TE (injured)
b)
Barry
Richardson – OT
c)
Will Franklin
– WR
2. Starters from the ’08 team:
a)
Brodie Croyle
– QB
b)
Jarrad Page –
S
c)
Bernard
Pollard – S
d)
Napoleon
Harris – ILB
e)
Donnie Edwards
– OLB (injured)
f)
Brain Waters –
OG
g)
Derrick
Johnson – OLB
h)
Damion
McIntosh – OT
In defense of Brodie, the offense is significantly simpler this year,
with a heavy emphasis on power running,
sweeps, flare passes, and short routes. None of the QB’s stood out;
because it doesn’t appear they are
supposed to in this offense. There were a few occasions where they went
deep, with moderate success,
allowing for new routes and an almost all new receiving corps.
The
backs all looked quick through the holes. Larry Johnson did not appear
to have any issues with his foot.
The starting O-line looks to be Albert, Waters, Niswanger, Jones and
McIntosh. Of course Tony Gonzalez
will
line up at TE. Dwayne Bowe is the #1 WR, and for now, Devard Darling is
running #2, but look for that to
change. One of the young guys mentioned above may very well win the #2
spot. The FB is unsettled, with
no one claiming the job for now. Mike Cox has the inside track since he
played in this offense under
Chan Gailey at Georgia Tech. Jamaal Charles will likely be the 3rd
down back, with Jackie Battle and
Kolby Smith as backups.
The D-line starters were Dorsey, Edwards, Hali and Boone. That probably
won’t change, but look for Tank
Tyler and Turk McBride to improve over last year and get more playing
time. Rookies T.J. Jackson and
Brian Johnston may make the final cut, with Maurice Murray having an
outside shot.
The LB’s are set with Edwards, Harris, Johnson and Williams as the first
four for the three starting spots.
Pat Thomas may crack this unit based on special team play.
The CB position is really interesting. Flowers has already been given
Ty Law’s old spot, and Surtain is
holding on to his spot – for now. He’s getting pressured by Carr, who
is catching on fast and being given
every opportunity to win the job. Leggett looks like a real player and
could force out one of last years’
rookie
carryovers of Brackenridge, Barksdale and Patterson. This is going to
be a VERY young group.
Morgan looks like a strong bet to start at S along side
Page, with Pollard and McGraw as backup / special
teamers.
Darche is still the LS, and Colquitt is still one of the best P’s in the
game. The kicker with the strongest
leg on Saturday was Nick Novak, but all of the candidates made 50
yarders. This spot is still up for grabs.
The kick return duties will probably fall to Charles, while the punt
returns are up for grabs between
B.J.
Sams and Kevin Robinson.
All-in-all, the changes
and youthfulness were exciting. Mistakes were made and quickly
addressed by the coaches. Expect that to happen with some frequency in
’08 – ’09, but the overall talent level is much better, giving reason
for hope.
5/9/08
A lot can happen in a month! Things were
extremely quiet and boring in Chiefs’ nation 30 days ago. Did that ever
change.
First, the Jared Allen scenario. This was a
win-win for both sides, even before the Chiefs did so well in the Draft.
Allen had a great (contract) year. He played the pass and run extremely
well and walked the straight and narrow off the field. He was one of the
few bright spots on last years’ team. He wanted a long-term deal with
big-time guaranteed money up front. The team offered him the “franchise
tag” and a one-year salary of ~$9M. Supposedly, they wanted Allen to repeat
his performance of ’07 before signing him to the mega-deal. Allen felt that
he’d already proven his worth, and alleged that promises were made and
broken. He stated publicly that if he did not have a long-term deal in
place before the season started, he would never sign such a deal with K.C.
This would have been a disaster in the clubhouse with all of the young,
impressionable rookies the team is going to field in ’08. However, Allen is
not the bad guy in this scenario. Carl Peterson has an equal part to play.
His reputation, ego and penchant for being a ruthless negotiator are all
factors in his dealings with Allen, as well as other stars on the team.
Rarely does he ever proactively renegotiate the contract of one of his star
players without them having to “go public” with their case. If egos weren’t
involved, this entire situation could have been amicably resolved. But it
wasn’t. Allen moved on to a contending team, with Pro Bowl caliber players
all around him on the defensive line. He and signed the biggest guaranteed
contract in league history for a defensive player. The Chiefs negotiated
and got Minnesota’s 1st pick (17), 3rd pick (73) and 3rd
pick (82). This draft was exceptionally deep, and having 6 of the first 82
picks went a long way toward soothing the loss of Allen. Yes, he was a
proven commodity. Yes, he is only 26. And yes, he’s only one DUI from
being suspended for at least a year. The Chiefs found Allen in the 4th
round. Who’s to say they didn’t find another Pro Bowl player with one of
the picks they got for Allen this year?
Now, assessing the Draft.
1A. I agree with everyone else, Glenn Dorsey
falling to the Chiefs is a miracle. The other four teams ahead of the
Chiefs got fine players, but most everyone felt Dorsey was the best player
in the Draft. He will help the depleted pass rush brought about by Allen’s
trade by providing big pressure up the middle. This will help Tamba Hali
and whoever mans the left DE spot. Dorsey also plays the run extremely well
and looks to be a good locker room guy, team mate and future leader. He
should be the foundation and face of this defense for quite a long time.
1B. Branden Albert was the 2nd best
O-lineman in the Draft and was another fortuitous pick, even though the
Chiefs had to trade up to get him. He’s big, athletic and appears to be
very intelligent. He sounded very confident in his press conference about
switching from OG to OT. He has a “tough-guy”, no nonsense demeanor about
him and will be a starter somewhere on the O-line opening day. He also
appears to have the makings of a future leader on the O-line as well as the
offense.
2. Brandon Flowers was considered by many
experts as a late 1st Round pick. He has good size and enough
speed to play Corner in the Cover 2 defense. The thing that stood out most
from watching his highlights is that he hits. He arrives at the ball
carrier with a bad attitude, and this defense could use an infusion of
attitude. He should fill the void left by Ty Law on opening day as well.
3A. I thought Jamaal Charles had already been
drafted when he was announced as the Chiefs 1st pick in Round 3.
This is another great pick-up. He is a world class sprinter who is also a
premier football player. He only lasted this long in the Draft because of
concerns about his size. There are two issues with that concern. The first
is that in college, he was still committed to running track and kept his
weight down in order to do so to maintain that world class speed. Secondly,
he won’t be asked to carry the whole load here, initially serving as the
change-up back to Larry Johnson. He has time to gradually add 10 � 15
pounds of muscle, and when he does, he’ll be close to the same size as
another Chiefs back from Texas � Priest Holmes.
3B. I was somewhat surprised at the Brad Cottam
pick at number 76. He has great measureables for a TE, 6’-7”, 274 pounds
and a 4.7 40 time. But he saw limited action due to injuries and caught
very few balls during his career at Tennessee. With the investment in
Michael Allen last year as a 7th Round pick, this may have been
the only reach the Chiefs made on Draft day. I would have liked for them to
have chosen Jeremy Zuttah (OG) from Rutgers with this pick.
3C. DaJuan Morgan in this spot with the 82nd
pick really makes sense. Jarrad Page will probably work out ok as the SS.
But Bernard Pollard is too stiff and too slow to play either Safety spot. I
can foresee Morgan starting in Pollard’s spot and Pollard sliding down to a
LB spot while continuing to be a demon on Special Teams. Morgan was rated
as the best pure FS in the Draft.
4. Will Franklin was a good pick in Round 4.
The Chiefs have glaring needs at WR, but this draft was not overly deep in
high quality receivers. Franklin not only brings good size, but also had
the second fastest time at the Combine with a 4.39 40 time. If he can
stretch the field and make the catches, he has very little competition for
being the No. 2 starter along side DeWayne Bowe on opening day.
5. Brandon Carr is a developmental pick at
number 140. He also has good size and speed to play the Cover 2, but will
probably take some seasoning since he played at such a small school (Grand
Valley State). I would have taken Dennis Dixon � QB Oregon with this pick.
The Chiefs used their other 5th Round pick (136) to trade up for
Branden Albert in Round 1.
6A. Chiefs may have a couple of steals in the 6th
Round. Barry Richardson is a huge OT who will probably move to OG. He has
all of the tools and athleticism to have been drafted much higher. But he
plays soft and without a sense of urgency. If the Chiefs can light a fire
under him, they will have a steal in Round 6.
6B. Kevin Robinson is another WR with good
size, adequate speed and good hands. But his forte is returning punts and
kicks. This is a glaring area of need that the Chiefs may have already
addressed with the signing of B.J. Sams as a Free Agent, but Sams is coming
off of a major knee injury. There should be good competition in the return
game in camp, resulting in better field position in ’08.
7A DE Brian Johnson is eerily similar to Jared
Allen in size and college background. Johnson comes from tiny Gardner-Webb
and Allen came from Idaho State. Johnson is fairly raw, but with the dearth
at DE, he should get all of the coaching needed to afford him a chance to
make the team.
7B. TE Michael Merritt is touted as a Jason
Dunn-type blocking machine. If he makes the team on his blocking prowess,
that makes the Cottam pick back in Round 3 even more curious with Michael
Allen and the future HOF Tony Gonzales already on the roster.
The Chiefs also signed 17 College Free Agents
(1 � K, 3 � WR’s, 1 � QB, 1 � CB, 1 � RB, 1 � FB, 1 � S, 3 � DE’s, 1 � OG, 1
� OT, 2 � DT’s and 1 � LB). Some of these guys slipped through undrafted
for whatever reason and may end up as keepers. Guys to watch are OG Chris
McDuffie who is 6’-4’’ and 329 pounds. He was the 14th rated OG
in the draft. FB Mike Cox is a 252 pounder from Georgia Tech, where new
Offensive Coordinator Chan Gailey was Head Coach. DT Derek Lokey saw
considerable playing time in the Texas D-line rotation.
Herm Edwards has publicly stated that he wanted
to get 4-6 starters from this year’s Draft. He may have them if you project
Dorsey, Albert, Flowers, Franklin, Morgan and Robinson. Then you add
Charles and one of the blocking TE’s for situational downs and there are
possibly 8 major contributors. The only draftees on the developmental squad
would be Carr and Richardson. One of the drafted TE’s may not make the cut.
This is the first Draft in a long time where
the majority of the time was spent trying to find fault with what the Chiefs
did, rather than trying to justify and substantiate what they did.
Management did an excellent job, from Carl Peterson down to the lowest guy
on the payroll. The team has the potential for a solid foundation. Now the
players have to get signed, get coached-up and play.
4/11/08
This has been one of the quietest, most
uneventful off seasons the Chiefs have ever had. Luckily, to date there
have been no negative off-filed issues to deal with. Conversely, there
hasn’t been much going on at One Arrowhead Drive either. There are
roughly 20 positions to be filled before the season starts, and the team
has been conspicuously inactive in the Free Agent market. They have
postured that they wanted in on Jeff Blaine – C, and Josh Brown – K,
both of whom signed with other teams immediately after the Free Agency
period began. To date, their only “major” acquisitions have been
Demorrio Williams at OLB, Oliver Hoyte at FB, Devard Darling at WR and
Anthony Alabi at OT. Only Williams appears to have a chance to start.
That brings us to the Draft. The latest
count shows the Chiefs have 9 picks (5, 36, 67,100, 129, 132, 164, 196 &
224). An additional pick is supposedly due them this year, and next
from Tampa bay for the Bucs’ acquisition of Michael Bennett. That pick
would presumably be the Bucs’ pick # 180 in the 6th Round. By having 6
of the top 132 picks in this draft, several starters could, and should
be found in this draft. The usual concern for every Chiefs fan is the
ability to identify that talent and subsequently develop that talent.
The other concern surrounds the archaic, outdated negotiating tactics
employed by Carl Peterson. Nothing was done in the off-season to give
the fans any assurances that these issues have improved. However, with
so many holes to fill primarily through the draft, there is still major
concern that we could pick more guys like Ryan Sims, Junior Savaii,
Julian Battle, Craphonso Thorpe, Jordan Black, and Alex Sulfsted with
picks 1 – 6.
This draft is relatively deep at offensive
line and defensive backfield, two of the numerous areas of need for the
Chiefs. Defensive End, Tight End and Outside Linebacker positions are
adequate. The remaining positions are relatively weak in comparison.
Since their needs are so many, this may be one of the rare times if the
Chiefs say they plan to take the “best available player”, they may do
well.
Another possibility is to solicit
opportunities to trade down. If they could find the right trading
partner(s), it’s possible the Chiefs could pick up additional picks in
the top 150, and still get players they’ve targeted. An example would
be if they wanted Ryan Clady (Boise State) – OT at #5, and he was
selected ahead of that pick. If they could orchestrate a trade with
someone (Buffalo) in front of the team (Denver) who’d want the next OT
available, the Chiefs could make that trade. They’d possibly pick up
Jeff Otah - OT (Pittsburg) and Buffalo’s 42nd pick in Round 2, while
sending their 6th Round pick, # 164 back to Buffalo.
Who should the Chiefs draft in April,
barring any trades? Here’s my list, assuming availability:
#5 - OT Ryan Clady (Michigan)
#36 - CB Reggie Smith
(Oklahoma)
#67- WR Harry Douglas
(Louisville)
#100 - OG Andrew Crummey (Maryland)
#129 - From Miami CB Terrance Wheatley (Colorado)
#132 - OLB Curtis Gatewood
(Vanderbilt)
#164 - QB Matt Flynn (LSU)
#180 – From Tampa Bay TE
Jermichael Finley (Texas)
#196 - WR Marcus Smith (New
Mexico)
#224 - From NYG RB Calvin
Dawson (UL – Monroe)
So, assuming the Chiefs
follow this plan and all of these guys made the team and played to their
potential, what holes would still need to be filled either through
college Free Agents and team cuts in late summer?
Center – maybe Rudy
Neiswanger is already the answer
Kicker
MLB – an upgrade to Napoleon
Harris would be nice
Safety – depth, Wesley’s
desire for a trade and Pollards’ ineffectiveness
Fullback – someone needs to
block
TE – Jason Dunn needs to be
replaced as the blocking TE
Offensive Line Depth
KR / PR – a potential
game-breaker as a Returner
That is a lot of holes to
effectively fill in one year.
3/12/08
PATIENCE
is the operative word in Kansas City for Chiefs fans not only now, but
for the next couple of years. The management team has jumped into the
rebuilding mode with both feet. They have jettisoned numerous overaged
veterans and young, underachievers from a team that finished 4-12. Herm
Edwards has stated publicly there will be at least 8 new starters on the
’08 Chiefs, and as many as 20 new players on the 53 man roster.
The
immediate patience is needed as the Chiefs sit relatively idle in this
year’s Free Agent market, signing only DeMorrio Williams at OLB, Oliver
Hoyte at FB and Devard Darling at WR. Management’s stated preference
for only considering young, ascending Free Agents, beginning their
second contracts certainly limits the field of choices. This philosophy
is certainly better than the previous regime’s preferences for signing
plateaued, over-the-hill veterans only looking for a big payday.
However, in sticking with their current approach, the Chiefs have
expressed little interest in players who would seem to fit that new
profile at definite areas of need. As an example, this would include
players like OT Max Starks – Pittsburg, WR Bryant Johnson – Houston and
CB Dominique Foxworth – Denver.
To their
credit, the Chiefs have played their cards close to the vest in signing
Williams, Hoyte and Darling. There was never any chatter in the rumor
mills about the Chief’s interest in any of the three. Kansas City could
still have some other young, potentially-ascending players they intend
to sign to fill positions of need. Here again, patience is required.
The
majority of the other teams have participated vigorously in Free Agency
since it started in February. Chief’s fans have watched as the Chiefs
have been relatively uninvolved and wondered how the team was going to
fill all of the apparent vacancies. Management appears to be steadfast
in their commitment to rebuild this team for the long haul, and build it
with a strong foundation through the Draft. Patience is definitely
required here when fans consider the Chief’s long-term track record in
the Draft. Despite the relative successes over the past couple of
Drafts, there is still uncertainty as to the team’s ability to
successfully find and develop long-term starters through the Draft. If
Williams, Hoyte and Darling are expected to fill 3 of the 8 available
positions, that leaves 5 more starters to come from within the existing
roster, players released from other teams, still unsigned Free Agents,
and the Draft.
Assuming
the Chiefs are relatively successful in plugging all of the current
holes, the team is going to take some time to jell and mesh. Nowhere
will this be more important than on the offensive line where there will
be at least 3 and possibly 4 new starters. Next season will be a season
of learning, assessing and growing together as a team. There will be a
great deal of uncertainty and unfamiliarity. The Chiefs will also be
one of the younger teams in the league, which automatically brings with
it the mistakes that accompany youth. Fans need to recognize these
facts going into ’08, and realize that patience is going to be the key.
Now
Chiefs fans have to sit patiently by and await the Draft. The
anticipation is similar to that of a kid awaiting a trip to the candy
store with a pocket full of money. Dallas and Kansas City currently
appear to have the most picks to spend – Dallas in the early rounds and
the Chiefs in the latter rounds. Pending trades, these 2 teams should
hold the key to the ’08 Draft. But we’ll just have to be patient a few
more weeks to see what happens.
2/16/08
“The Bell Started to Toll…” yesterday for numerous veterans who were deemed
no longer viable options for their respective teams. As usual, many
well-known players have already gotten “the axe”. As of this writing, the
Chiefs have not announced their cuts. But Herm Edwards has said in numerous
press conferences that fans should expect to see 15-20 new players on the
'08 roster. Some of the more prominent names who could be released are:
- OLB Kendrell Bell
He was a major disappointment since he arrived as the Free Agent coup in
’05. He was hurt that year, and then displayed none of the explosive, play
making ability exhibited in his first 4 years with Pittsburgh. He was too
slow to cover as an OLB, too slow and too small to play DE, and not quick
enough to get to the QB in pass rushing situations. He has been
unavailable for numerous games due to various injuries. One of Herm’s major
issues is with players who are not available to play. “You can’t make the
team if you’re in the tub!”
- WR Samie Parker
Samie was a 4th Round pick in ’04. Many people thought the
Chiefs had a “steal” on their hands because of his tremendous speed and
potential upside. He was never able to translate that straight line speed
into football speed. He could not consistently separate from cover
corners. He had to “break down” to get in and out of his cuts, allowing
corners to break on the ball. He was very inconsistent catching the ball,
at times making the miraculous catch, then dropping the simple pass to the
flat. He had a penchant for celebrating every catch as though it was the
catch that won a Super Bowl. Maybe the infrequency with which he caught the
ball made that behavior appropriate.
- CB Ty Law
Even though his contract runs through 2010, it’s time to release Ty Law. He
arrived in ’06 as the prized UFA, albeit recovering from a severely broken
foot. He was 32 years old then, and certainly not in his peak years. He
has tried to get by on experience and guile as his speed, quickness and
reactions have deteriorated. Law has had to resort to granting enormous
cushions in an attempt to avoid getting torched on deep routes.
Consequently, QB’s continue to throw in front of him and wait for him to
either miss the tackle or go deep on him. There has been some talk of
trying him at Safety, but he would not make a very comforting last line of
defense.
- C Casey Weigmann
At a generous 282 pound listing, Weigmann was a perfect fit for the trapping
and pulling offense of the Vermeil / Saunders era. However, with Herm
Edwards’ desire for a tough, inside power rushing game, Weigmann no longer
fits. Every week he gets overpowered by behemoth NT’s and DT’s on the other
side of the ball.
- TE/FB Kris Wilson
When Vermeil / Saunders drafted Wilson in the 2nd Round of the
’04 draft, they envisioned a guy that would be a match up nightmare. The
nightmare is the Chief’s problem because he is ineffective wherever they
play him. His hands are suspect, he has no speed, he’s too short and slow
to be a TE and too afraid of contact to be a FB. His field awareness is
poor – when it’s 3rd and 4, and he’s asked to be the check down
receiver in the flat, he’ll run a route parallel to the line of scrimmage
and not gain enough yardage for the first down. Then he’ll drop the pass.
- Eddie Drummond
Drummond’s late signing in the last preseason was puzzling to many. The
one-time Special Teams Pro Bowler had clearly lost a step. He was tentative
and slow to react on returning both punts and kickoffs. He failed to read
the blocking schemes or onrushing coverage teams. More than once, he’d call
for a fair catch when there was not an opposing player within 10 yards of
him.
- DT James Reed
Reed is to the defensive line what Weigmann is to the offensive line – and
undersized lineman trying to play with the big boys. He was continually
being overmatched, but always appeared to give a good effort. He’s just too
small.
- OT Chris Bober
Bober is another player who spends more time on I/R than on the active
roster. He was supposed to be a veteran presence to serve as a backup all
along the offensive line to provide much needed depth. Again, he’s rarely
available.
- OLB Keyaron Fox
He came out of Georgia Tech with some promise and upside. However, like
many on this list, his availability has been limited since he was drafted in
’04. His lack of development and availability is one of the major reasons
the Chiefs had to bring back Donnie Edwards and try to squeeze another
couple of years from him. Fox has similar skills and measureables as those
of Derrick Johnson, but Fox has never been able to develop and sustain those
skills.
- K John Carney
Carney was signed as a desperation attempt to fix the kicking problems that
have haunted this team since the Nick Lowery era. The entire handling of
the kicking game this year was a joke from beginning to end. They released
a fairly reliable kicker in Tynes, spent a 5th Round pick on
Medlock who was not ready for prime time, and brought in Raymer who was
released in favor of Carney. He was fairly accurate up close, but had
little range beyond 40 yards and could not reach the goal line on kickoffs.
- WR Eddie Kennison
Eddie resurrected his career when he was acquired as a FA in ’01 and put up
very good numbers until last year. Age and the injury bug finally caught up
with the one-time fastest man in the league. Although he would have been
better served as a No. 2 receiver along side another stud wideout, he has
performed admirably in trying to assume that No. 1 receiver role. He has
been a positive influence on and off the field. Although he played
sparingly last year, his biggest contribution may have been as a mentor to
Dwayne Bowe.
- TE Jason Dunn
The OT who played TE and served as the blocking TE for the Chiefs has seen
his body finally give out. He came to the Chiefs with a history of knee and
back problems a FA in ’00. He was a devastating blocker in those powerful
Chiefs offenses of the early 2000’s. But last year, he finally hit the
wall.
Wiegmann, Kennison and Dunn all played with class, were excellent team mates
and solid citizens. They should go out with pride and dignity and great
appreciation from the Chiefs Nation.
Kyle Turley has already announced his retirement and Chris Terry was already
released.
There are other “fringe players” who could be
added to this list like RB Jackie Battle, RB Gilbert Harris and WR Bobby Sippio.
That’s eighteen players who could / should be released, for varying reasons, and
their positions replaced with younger, faster, tougher, more athletic players.
1/22/08
Herm and Carl have now made their decision and cast their lot on an
Offensive Coordinator. Based on their selection of Chan Gailey, we can
gauge the direction they intend to take the offense. They are committed to
Brodie Croyle as their QB, and have every intention on building this offense
around his strengths while attempting to surround him with the support
needed to maximize those strengths. The hiring of the Offensive Coordinator
was important. The hiring of good, competent Assistants and Position
Coaches is equally important. The Chiefs have not established they can
develop the young players they acquire. All too often, these rookies
stagnate here and leave the league, or worst yet, go somewhere else and
blossom. Hopefully, the new staff will be better able to coach and develop
all of the new players to be acquired.
Football “experts” have varying opinions when asked the question, “How long
will it take for the Chiefs to rebuild and become viable playoff
contenders?” Some contend the team has gotten so old and bereft of talent
in so many positions that it will take more than 3 years to begin to turn
the corner. Others believe the rebuilding process started with the 2006
Draft, and the foundation is already being laid that will make the team a
potential playoff contender in 2 years.
Whatever the case may be, the management team has publicly committed to
building a team through the Draft and only using Free Agency as a
supplemental measure to shore up short-term holes. The Chiefs will have at
least 10 draft choices in the 2008 Draft, and either the 4th or 5th pick for
their own choices in each Round. Barring any trades and compensatory picks,
they should be able to select 4 of the top 100 (or so) players available in
the first four Rounds.
With Herm and Carl publicly admitting that 15 – 20 players on the current
roster will not be back in 2008, there will be opportunities for many new
faces to replace them. The roster will have 28% - 37% turnover. Those
first 4 selections in the April Draft will be important in laying the
foundation for the future. Those 4 picks, at whatever positions the Chiefs
fill, should be able to start, or at least contribute significant minutes
immediately. And, that’s not to limit the expectations on the Chiefs’
selections for the rest of their choices or Rookie Free Agents. Hopefully,
there will be other Wills Shields, Donnie Edwards, Jared Allens and Jarrod
Pages to be found in the later rounds. However, the Chiefs will still need
to sprinkle in a small mix of veteran Free Agents this off season.
The areas of need for K.C. are well-documented: Offensive Line, Cornerback,
Wide Receiver, Punt / Kick Returns, overall depth, an upgrade in
athleticism, and improved team speed (pretty much a complete overhaul!).
The Veteran Free Agent class this off season is not as deep or star-studded
as in past years. But, there are some players available that may be able to
help the team rebuild quicker while still following their stated plan. This
assessment is only looking at current UFA’s (Unrestricted Free Agents) and
assumes the players’ current teams don’t re-sign them to a new contract.
Offensive Line
Alan Faneca (OG – Pittsburgh) is apparently ready to leave the Steelers and
would be a major upgrade for the Chiefs. He is in the prime of his career
and would bring some of that Pittsburgh toughness to the line.
Ryan Lilja (OG – Indianapolis) is not only an ex-Chief and hometown kid the
team lost when trying to sneak him through waivers, but an excellent, young
technician in the Dave Szott mold with a tremendous upside.
Max Starks (OT – Pittsburgh) is a huge man (6’-7’’, 340lbs.) and only 25
years old. His size, youth and Pittsburg-tough pedigree make him an
interesting target.
Cornerback
Asante Samuel (CB – New England) will get an enormous contract whether he
stays with New England, or signs with a different team. In either case, he
is in the prime of his career and would be an effective starter while
tutoring younger players.
Dominique Foxworth (CB – Denver) is certainly not in Samuel’s class and
would be less costly. But he’s only 24, has tremendous speed and could
serve as a stop-gap while the Chiefs developed their own young corners,
either currently on the roster or yet to be drafted.
Wide Receiver
Bryant Johnson (WR – Arizona) is a Dwayne Bowe clone. He is not the burner
the Chiefs need to stretch the field, but he’s big (6’-3”), has good hands
and can run after the catch. If the Chiefs were to use one of those first 4
draft picks on a deep-threat, Johnson would fit in nicely as an upgrade to
Sammie Parker as the possession / slot receiver.
Kick Returner
Andre Davis (WR – Houston) returned 2 kickoffs for touchdowns in one game
and averaged 30 yards per return.
In the post-season press conference, Peterson advised that the team had
ample room under the Salary Cap. At least $9M of that will go to Jared
Allen as either the “Franchise Tag” or a long-term contract. There will
have to be dollars set aside to fund the “Rookie Pool” to sign draft
choices. Also, there are decisions as to which of their own UFA’s the
Chiefs should re-sign as part of their future. Given these requirements,
there should be enough left to sign one or two other UFA’s to help bolster
the Chiefs’ roster.
1/3/08
Finally, this season has come to an end! It’s been like being on a bad
blind date – we couldn’t wait for it to be over. The ineptness of this team
reached new lows with season-ending losses to the Lions and Jets. Aside
from tying a franchise record for consecutive losses, the Chiefs did assure
themselves of the number five pick in the April Draft. On one hand, having
such a high-round pick is something to relish with anticipation. However,
that enthusiasm should be tempered with the knowledge that Carl Peterson has
announced that he will return in ’08. That is not an encouraging thought.
Carl Peterson has made the Hunt family, and himself, a great deal of money
since he came to Kansas City with his “Five Year Plan” to put the Chiefs in
the Super Bowl by ’94. He has parlayed his success an administrator and
talent evaluator in a defunct league into a 19 year ride on the backs of the
loyal fans of the Kansas City Chiefs. There is no doubt that he has been a
success from the business side of running the franchise. Let’s look at his
record as a talent evaluator.
Peterson has been responsible for nineteen draft selection processes since
his arrival in Kansas City. The Chiefs have drafted 155 players in those
nineteen drafts from 1989 - 2007. The old football adage states that a
draft cannot be truly judged until three years after it occurs. With that
in mind, let’s examine Carl Peterson’s draft record from 1989 – 2004,
focusing on the first three rounds (132 selections).
The Chiefs have had 13 Number 1 Picks during that time. Larry Johnson, John
Tait Tony Gonzales, Dale Carter and Derrick Thomas were the only selections
that should be considered “home runs”. That is a 38.5% success rate.
They have had 13 Number 2 Picks. Aside from Tim Grunhard, you could stretch
and include Reggie Tongue and Kawika Mitchell as successful picks. That
would be a 23.1% success rate for second round picks.
There have been 16 picks in the third round. The only “sure fire”
successful pick was Will Shields. Greg Wesley, John Browning and Tamarick
Vanover did make steady contributions to the team. Those four players make
the third round only 25% successful.
To be sure, there have been gems drafted in the later rounds from 1989 –
2004. David Szott, Donnie Edwards, Dante Hall, Scott Fujita and Jared Allen
were all steals in the rounds in which they were selected. So, of the 90
players drafted after the third round between 1989 and 2004, only 5 have
been true impact players, or 5.6%.
Looking at the whole body of work, there have only been 17 “great” to “good”
draft picks out of the 132 selections made. That is 12.9%. There’s the
obvious reason the administration continually felt compelled to bring in
free agents – they continued to miss on evaluating talent in the draft.
Several years Carl authorized the trading of draft choices to bring in
established veterans at positions of immediate need as stop-gap measures for
not only players, but coaches as well. The draft choices used to obtain Joe
Montana, Trent Green, Dick Vermeil and Herman Edwards could have gone toward
inserting more youth into the organization. Quite possibly, the Chiefs may
not have gotten themselves into their current situation had those choices
been used for the “best player available” in that year’s draft, instead of
veteran players or coaches. However, assessing the overall success rate of
the talent evaluation and the paltry number of impact players derived from
the draft under Carl Peterson’s watch, those additional picks could possibly
been as mis-used as most of the other selections.
Miami realized the issues they had with their overall football operation and
took steps to remedy that situation by hiring Bill Parcells. Atlanta is
looking to do something similar. Bill Cowher and Marty Schottenheimer have
both had their names discussed for both positions. The Chiefs should be at
the head of the line when it comes to looking for help to rebuild the
organization from the top down.
The Chiefs will have at least ten draft picks in 2008, along with
conditional picks due at some time in the future for Sims and Tynes. In
addition, they may be awarded compensatory picks for losing Mitchell and
Black to free agency. Whatever the final number ultimately becomes, they
will have an enormous opportunity to begin rebuilding the team. They cannot
afford to waste this opportunity. Based on Carl Peterson’s history of
talent evaluating, the Chief’s biggest acquisition this off season would be
to mimic what the Dolphins did, and get Cowher , Schottenheimer, or some
other “football person” to run the football operation.
12/20/07
After seven losses in a row, even the usually tight-lipped management team
of the Chiefs is now admitting they are in a rebuilding mode. The Chiefs
have been outscored 184 – 84 in the last seven games, with the
41 – 7 debacle in Denver being one of the lowest points in franchise
history. The team has to bottom-out somewhere, and maybe Denver was that
point. They did look marginally better in their 26 – 17 loss to Tennessee.
With only two games remaining, it is imperative to get as many looks at
young players as possible. It is obvious the Chiefs will have premium picks
in each round of the April Draft. In order to rebuild the team, they need
to do due diligence to assess their needs, and evaluate the draft-eligible
players and free agent market.
The question is who do you keep, who do you cut? Here is one view as to how
to make that evaluation of players currently on the active roster (Practice
Squad and I.R. players are not included):
1. Ascending (Players who still appear to have “Upside” potential)
Colquitt – P; Croyle – QB; Smith, Ko. – RB; Johnson, D. – LB; Allen – DE;
Boone – DT; Bowe – WR;
Gonzalez – TE
2. Stagnant (Players who appear to have already reached their
potential)
Carney – K; Huard – QB; Sapp – DB; Johnson, L. – RB; Harris, G. – RB; Page
– S; Grigsby – FB; McGraw – S; Pollard – S; Darche – LS; Waters – G; Svitek
– T; Webb – WR; Hali – DE; Reed – DT; Edwards – DT;
Wilkerson – DE; Fox – LB
3. Descending (Players whose level of play does not appear to be up
to their previous standards or potential)
Surtain – DB; Wesley – S; Harris, Nap. – LB; Edwards, D. – LB; McIntosh –
T; Wilson – TE; Kennison – WR;
Dunn – TE; Parker – WR
4. Should be Released (Players who no longer appear able to
effectively compete)
Law – DB; Wiegmann – C; Turley – T; Welborn – T; Drummond – KR; Bell – LB
5. Inconclusive (Players either injured or with minimal playing time
to evaluate)
Patterson – DB; Battle – RB; Brackenridge – DB; Barksdale – DB; Stallings –
T; Taylor – T; Smith, Kh. – DE;
Sippio – WR; McBride – DE; Tyler – DT; Harris, Na. – LB
All we can see as fans are results on the field. No one can determine what
is in any players’ heart, or any player’s head. Generally, the players on
this team have given a good effort. More often, they have been overmatched
physically by younger, stronger, faster and more talented players. And,
when Herm Edwards has played the younger players on the Chiefs, inevitably
they get outplayed by more experienced players.
The coaching, play calling, clock management, game time personnel decisions
have all been factors as well.
It is difficult to tell what came first, all of the aforementioned
management issues, or the players available to impact and implement those
decisions. As any coach will tell you, good players make coaches look
good. The assessment on the coaching staff should be made after they’ve had
time to acquire and develop “their” players.
This season has been a “no win” situation both literally and figuratively.
Injuries, retirements and hold outs have all had a negative impact on the
team in ’08, but other teams have suffered with those same issues.
This fan base is continuing to erode. The media is feeding the “clean
house” frenzy throughout the Chiefs Nation. Herm has admitted the last two
games will be to assess the younger players to see if they fit into the
long-term plans. Hopefully, that means more meaningful playing time for
those players listed in sections 1 and 5 above.
12/2/07
You have to be really careful around the Kansas City area these days. You
could get trampled by the hordes of “fans” jumping ship from their favorite
teams. First, the Kansas State Wildcats miss an opportunity to become bowl
eligible by losing to Fresno State. Later that night, the Kansas Jayhawks
lose the most important football game in their history to their hated
rivals, the Missouri Tigers. The following day, the Chiefs continue their
slide to the bottom of the NFL rankings with a loss to their hated rivals,
the Oakland Raiders.
Aside from a good showing by Brodie Croyle over the past two games with
Indianapolis and Oakland, and the breakout performance by Kolby Smith
against Oakland, there hasn’t been much that has been positive for Kansas
City. The media has been complaining for weeks about the same issues, poor
offensive line play, ultra-conservative play calling, poor personnel
decisions, failure to make gameday adjustments, poor clock management – the
list goes on.
While the Royals baseball team has been in a funk since their heyday in the
‘80’s, the city has embraced the Chiefs. In turn, for the majority of the
last 15 years, the Chiefs have provided that ray of hope for a city starving
for a successful professional sports franchise. And now, ironically, the
Royals appear on their way back to respectability as the Chiefs continue to
lose respect around the league and fans in their hometown.
At this point, aside from learning from past mistakes, it doesn’t really
matter how they eroded to this point. The important thing is to identify
all of the problems, develop a long-term plan to rebuild and stabilize, and
regain that lost respect and trust. No one can predict with any certainty
how Clark Hunt will run the operation. However, even if he is only in this
for profit, he has to see his fan base deteriorating. He has to see the
merchandise sales tapering off. Surely he’s aware that there are tickets
available for games and season ticket renewal rates are falling off. There
are more no-shows on Sundays at Arrowhead.&n
