Monday Morning Cup O’Chiefs
There’s a lot to cover in the hangover haze of the 2009 NFL Draft, especially if you rode the pony from Matt Stafford at No. 1 to Ryan Succop at No. 256.
And that’s the biggest bone I have to pick with Scott Pioli. The Chiefs GM held that last choice of the draft, Mr. Irrelevant as he’s become known over the years, and he gives us a kicker? Come on! To wait all that time and end the draft with a foot jockey? Listen, I know kickers are part of the game and who knows, this guy may end up being a top-shelf guy. But give us some thick-necked kid from some small college in the middle of nowhere who will grab this opportunity as the greatest moment of his life.
Now we know for sure, we have hard evidence that Pioli is a personnel maniac.
Who trades into the bottom of the seventh round because he just has to have a tight end-fullback type from Miami of Ohio? That’s what the Chiefs GM did, working a swap with the Dolphins and giving up the Chiefs seventh-round pick next year for No. 237 this year. Pioli drafted Jake O’Connell, who near as anyone could find started just three games during a four-year college career. That’s reaching deep into the draft pot!
So how did the Chiefs do in the ‘09 Draft? Folks, I’ve got to tell you the only thing more worthless than a mock draft is grading drafts the day after they are done. You won’t find that here, so if you are looking for a B or C or F, the only grade I’m giving the Chiefs is the same one I’ll give the other 31 teams: incomplete. See me in December 2011, as this draft class wraps up its third season in the league.
But here are some off the cuff thoughts on the Chiefs draft picks.
First, there’s no question it’s not a sexy group and I doubt these picks set fire to the ticket buying lines into Arrowhead. That’s OK, because Pioli’s job is to put a winning team on the field; the organization has a lot of other folks to handle the ticket selling. And I can remember this: there was no stampede on the ticket office 20 years ago when the Chiefs used the fourth choice of the draft to take a linebacker out of Alabama named Derrick Thomas. He was as unknown to the average Chiefs fan at that time as Tyson Jackson is to the Chiefs followers of today.
Everything I can find and hear about Jackson indicates that he has the potential to be the lynch-pin that Pioli wants for the Chiefs on defense. If he can anchor one of those end spots, if he can stand up and stuff the run when it comes right at him, it will be huge in turning around the entire defense. What D.T. meant to the defense in a much flashier way since he rushed the passer, that’s what Jackson will be to the future Chiefs defenses. If he’s not, it will be a major blow to the Pioli/Haley efforts
Getting QB Matt Cassel in the second round was the best use of a draft choice by Pioli this year. Listen, 15 starts does not make the guy a grizzled, proven veteran and he won’t have Randy Moss and Wes Welker to throw to, but draft picks are currency to improve your roster and adding Cassel makes the Chiefs a better team.
Third-rounder Alex Magee sounds OK. It would have been nice if either Jackson or Magee had a history of rushing the passer. But before you worry about sacking the QB, you’ve got to stop the run in the NFL and if Magee helps make that happen, then he will be a very good third rounder.
I’d have to say the selection of CB Donald Washington was a surprise and would not have been the direction I’d have taken the choice. It would be easy to sit back and call it a best available athlete pick, because this guy certainly has physical gifts. Funny, but those gifts did not translate into a lot of big production at Ohio State.
But maybe the pick is an indication of more. Because strategic stuff isn’t something the Chiefs share these days with the local media, this is only a guess, but I bet there’s a belief in the new regime that Brandon Flowers and Maurice Leggett are too small. Flowers is 5-9, 187; Leggett 5-11, 188. Washington is 6-1, 197 pounds. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Washington got into some trouble with the Ohio State coaches and earned a two-game suspension to start the ‘08 season. It started his season off on the wrong foot and he never really seemed to recover. He talks like he’s got something to prove. That’s a good thing for the Chiefs.
In the fifth-round Mizzou OT Colin Brown was a choice the draftniks didn’t see coming, because they didn’t have him highly rated. In the end all that is meaningless. These types of picks are where Pioli and the Patriots made hay over the years especially with offensive lineman. Whether Brown can play or not, it’s cool that a kid who grew up a Chiefs fan gets the chance to come down the road from Braymer and try to make the team. Should he be able to play, then all the better because right now the Chiefs have no future right tackle to take over from Damion McIntosh. Brown can become that guy, if he’s capable.
Quinten Lawrence was the sixth round choice. He’s a wide receiver out of McNeese State and he’s fast, big-time fast. Pioli says he’s not just fast, but plays fast. There’s always a need for speed in the NFL.
Then, the three seventh-round picks came through the door. Whether or not RB Javarris Williams, O’Connell and Succop can make a difference on the field is probably 33 percent. One of those three will stick; that’s about the average after two or three years in the league.
Are the Chiefs a better team today, than they were last Friday? No, but then these draft picks haven’t even gotten on the practice field yet. Will the Chiefs be a better team on September 13th with these picks? They had better be if Pioli/Haley are going to re-assure people they know what they are doing.
FOLLOWING THE PATRIOTS FOOTSTEPS
No matter how hard you try, you just can’t stray too far from what the Patriots did when understanding what Pioli and Haley are up to in rebuilding the Chiefs.
That was never more visible than picking Jackson and Magee.
In the first round of the 2001 draft, the Pats selected Richard Seymour out of Georgia with the sixth pick. In 2003, New England grabbed Ty Warren out of Texas A&M with the pick No. 13 and the next year they drafted Miami’s Vince Wilfork with the 21st selection. All three of those guys are still there in Foxboro. They’ve combined to play 280 games, with 252 starting assignments and six trips to the Pro Bowl. And there were those three Super Bowl championships.
Only once in the 2000-08 drafts did the Patriots use an early choice (first through third) on another defensive lineman (that was a second-round choice in ‘04 on DE Marquise Hill.) Ironically, Bill Belichick used the 40th pick in the second round on Saturday to take a defensive tackle Ron Brace.
The Pats identified those three as key and they became the foundation of their defense.
Check out the numbers Seymour/Warren/Wilfork brought out of college football and the numbers of Jackson and Magee as a comparison:
| Player | College | G/S | Tackles | Sacks |
| Seymour | Georgia |
41/25 |
223 |
9.5 |
| Warren | Texas A&M |
36/25 |
144 |
13.5 |
| Wilfork | Miami |
36/14 |
148 |
14 |
| Jackson | LSU |
53/38 |
122 |
18.5 |
| Magee | Purdue |
50/34 |
117 |
6 |
Warren came in having played defensive end and nose tackle at A&M. Seymour and Wilfork had been defensive tackles for the Bulldogs and Hurricanes. They were selected because of how they fit into the 3-4 scheme Bill Belichick wanted to run with the Patriots.
Jackson and Magee were drafted because of how they will fit with the defense the Chiefs want to run under Haley. There are a lot of similarities to the guys that helped create the Patriots dynasty.
How does that translate? It doesn’t. Arrowhead is not Foxboro. Belichick is not in the building. The circumstances are in no way the same and it would be a mistake that think that following the blueprint from New England will automatically lead to the same results in Kansas City.
But the idea is sound. It is basic football: establish your defense because defenses win championships. That’s what the Chiefs are trying to do.
THE CASSEL CONTRACT NON-STORY
The strangest story of the weekend was the report that the Chiefs and QB Matt Cassel had reached an agreement on a contract extension with $36 million in guaranteed money.
This was reported on the NFL Network, with the source given as Mike Lombardi, a former NFL executive who does some work for the Network and also writes for the website National Football Post. Years ago, Lombardi worked as part of the Cleveland Browns when Belichick was the head coach and Pioli was a gofer getting pizza and donuts for the coaches and scouts. There was no attribution given for the report by Lombardi/NFL Network.
The story sat out there in cyberspace for about 30 minutes or so until it was shot down by Sports Illustrated/SI.com/ NBC/Sirius NFL Radio’s Peter King. Yes, Peter is a walking media conglomerate these days; it’s great to see somebody in the sports writing world enjoying a wealth of opportunities. I’ve known Peter for years and he is one of the most plugged in people that covers pro football.
On Saturday Peter and I shared a workroom at the Chiefs offices. Once the report popped up on TV, P.K. sent out two text messages. He got replies from both of his targets indicating the story wasn’t true. He posted that fact on SI.com, and later Pioli confirmed that there was no deal.
Who were King’s sources? Well, let’s just say that the people Peter texted would be in a position to know whether the Chiefs and Cassel had a deal. In fact, they would be the first to know.
Later in the day, P.K. got a text from Lombardi who insisted that his information on a new deal was on the mark.
At some point, the Chiefs and Cassel will likely come to an agreement on a contract, rather than spend the year with him playing for the franchise tender offer of $14.65 million. It will be interesting now to see just when that happens.
THE TRADING TREND CONTINUES IN THE DRAFT
A lot of Chiefs fans expected the Chiefs to be wheeling and dealing during the ‘09 Draft. They figured that’s what Pioli learned from his time with Belichick in New England, where they trade draft picks seemingly every round.
But when the smoke cleared on Sunday afternoon, the Chiefs were involved with only two draft pick trades. The obvious one was dealing the No. 34 pick to the Patriots for Cassel and LB Mike Vrabel. Then there was that strange jump into the end of the seventh round to pick up the FB-TE type from Miami of Ohio.
That doesn’t mean he wasn’t looking to deal.
“We talked about a lot of different trades with a lot of different people,” Pioli said. “We spent a lot of time on the phone. Again, different opportunities, but we didn’t feel good about them. At this point in wanting to trade we felt we would have to give up too much to get to certain spots. There were a couple of players that we talked about that we thought about potentially trading up for but it was getting close enough to our pick and fortunately they fell to us and we were able to save the picks.
“Again, I love to look for trades and consider trades but if they’re not right or the right opportunity isn’t there you don’t consummate the trade.”
The league was dealing picks again. Last year, half of the tradeable picks were dealt at least once. This year, the pace wasn’t quite as frantic. Of the 224 picks that could be traded, 93 were dealt at least one time. That’s 42 percent. The round with the most choices that changed hands was the fifth round. The round with the fewest was the first round, where just nine picks did not stay with their original teams.
I hope KC tries to sign Jason Taylor to play OLB, we need a pass rusher opposite Vrabel and Hali isnt fast enough or athletic enough for OLB. You can never have enough pass rushers especially after having only 10 last year. Why did KC pick Magee over Jarron Gilbert, Gilbert was taller, faster, and I thought the higher rated player. Oh well we will know if this was a good draft in a few years.
The Tyson Jackson pick was a good one. I don’t get Alex Magee or any pick there after. Picking Magee is a no confidence message to Glenn Dorsey. Haley has indicated that Dorsey will be a DE in the 3-4. We also have Tamba Hali a former #1. Why DE Magee followed by CB Washington? We have DL and CBs. This team needed a RT and an OG. We’ll see if Brown is the RT…not real optimistic on that one.
Good to see someone else sort of wondering what happened at various stages with this Chief’s draft? Some thoughts:
Was Pioli taking the safe route this year, not trusting the evaluations of his inherited scouting department?
The 3-4 DEs taken were drafted for their flexibility to jump inside to go DT in a 4-3, and if I’m not mistaken, 3-4 DEs are primarily needed to stuff the running lanes, and push the pocket for the LBs to roam, make tackles and rush the QB. If Tyson Jackson and Magee can do those things consistently, their picks will be justified. Not sexy or glitzy, just…good.
I was less than impressed with the mundane, plodding course the Chiefs took in the draft before pulling that unimpressive 7th round trade rabbit out of the hat which Bob did a good job of panning.
I also liked the Tyson Jackson pick. I like the flexibility he gives to morph between the 3-4 and 4-3 defense. I heard a lot of rumors we had several offers to trade and declined due to value of what we would get in return. I was honestly hoping for a bigger and more glamorous draft with us coming out looking like the team to beat from the start, but this isn’t Hollywood and I am OK with what Pioli and Haley did. It’s only one draft and we have a better coaching staff in place now than we have in quite some time.
I haven’t used (borrowed) the phrase yet but I will here.
In Pioli we trust.
The Right 53!
After the Magee pick, I’ll lay you odds we trade Dorsey (probably for draft picks next year or quality O line help) before training camp opens.
I say just wait. I think he looks at long term rather than immediate gratification. I suspect he has his eye on some free agents (rookie and veteran) that he is planning to sign. These draft picks will be parts of the machine.
We supposedly had a great draft last year and have already cut several of them. I’m with Bob, just wait.
After a nights sleep, the first pick was a reach but should be ok because of the team needs. The rest just plain shabby but if they were what Pioli/Haley wanted, fine. I still have heartburn over ignoring the offensive side of the game (OT Brown is almost an insulting answer for the offensive side). I do not see anyone on the current roster providing anything like the production from traded TE. It looks like we are going to try to win in 09 without scoring TDs, sounds a lot like herm? SI reporter suggested the Chiefs will have to dip into other team JUN cast offs or unsigned FAs for offensive help. He figured the Chiefs could not go into this season standing pat with the players they have on offense.
Would someone smarter than me please explain in simple words how the 4 starters from last year and the first two picks will share? playing time in a 3-4. Who is out, where do they go, and with so much money tied up can they be cut? I just do not get it. Many of you folks have an idea how this works, I am lost.
Here’s a thought…
Maybe,just maybe, after their evaluations…Pioli and Haley think some of the players on our current roster are not as bad as they played last year. Maybe they feel like these players could be much improved with better conditioning, better coaching, and a healthy dose of REAL practices.
Easy now, Mr. Gretz. Succop has a cannon for a leg–a true Howitzer–and had a nasty abdominal strain his senior year. The guy, when healthy, was kicking through the uprights for SC on kickoffs, meaning he will be into the endzone for the Chiefs, assuming he has recovered. And he has some nice guns for a kicker. Give him a chance.
tm1946,
I believe Dorsey is a goner, to answer your question. He’s not bulky or strong enough to play NT in a 3-4 and does not have the height/arm length/leverage to play a traditional 3-4 DE so is he to be relegated to a situational role and be worth the $25 million still guaranteed on his contract?
I’m sort of surprised he wasn’t dealt before or during the draft but unless he can somehow become a force at NT, I can’t see him being a part of this defense.
Rip Em,
I agree with you. I can’t see the Chiefs paying Dorsey a first round pick money for a situational role. He is a very high talent however, and I think if Pioli is worth anything at all he’ll be able to trade him for a good pick.
Overall this was a poor draft on the face of it and probably the worst in the last decade. I’ll give it a ranking of F. For all the hype about Pioli in the end he proved exceptionally human. He certainly got schooled by the rest of the NFL GM’s.
I believe some of our guys will be gone in trades for players/picks before the season starts. I don’t believe Pioli will sit on that much money in the D front seven. To play Dorsey as a role player would be to diminish trade value. He needs to be with the right 4-3 team. He’s under contract, with a year of experience & just about everybody had him #1 on their boards. I really thought he’d be dealt to somebody wanting a DT in this draft because of the above factors.
There are so many holes to fill we have to start somewhere. Please remember how many games we lost because of Special teams…we’d take the lead late only to give up a HUGE return giving a short field with a weak D! We did begin scoring points. I believe Cassel is a better “trigger man” than Thigpen. I believe Goff is a HUGE upgrade at RG. If RT can be adequate, we’ll be serviceable. Obviously Haley believes he can work with our WRs.
Like most of you, I was confused a better OT prospect wasn’t taken in the 4th or TE Ingram maybe in the 5th. Had Shon Greene not been taken right before us, I think we may have taken him.
LMAO…Scott Haley. Thanks for that contribution. I needed a good laugh.
It must be simply AMAZING to be able to look into the future like that.
In case some of you missed what Pioli said (and apparently a lot of people did)…here’s part of it:
Pioli, the Chiefs’ new general manager, said more moves would follow.
“We’re going to keep at it here,” he said Sunday as the Chiefs were finishing their eight-player draft. “Just because the draft’s over … anytime you think your football team is set and your roster is set, that’s when things start to creep up on you.
“There’s (still) a lot of ground to cover. We’ve started — and there’s a lot more ground to cover. As it stands today, we’re not done improving this football team. There are going to be a lot of things that happen with other teams and other people. There are going to be a lot of other opportunities. There are some people out there who were maybe free agents and it gets to about two weeks before the draft and some of the veteran free agents want to stop and settle down and see what’s going on and see what teams are going to draft and see where they think their opportunities may be the best.”
It’s April, people. Don’t bury the 2009 Chiefs just yet.
There is one thing I think most folks are not taking into consideration, with all this why didn’t they trade Dorsey.
Dorsey is obviously either recovering from some off season surgery, or he is hurt right now. Remember he was on the stationary bike at the Off Season Conditioning Camp. That makes teams a little leary of trading for him. Lets not forget, he had a knee injury coming out of LSU, and sported a brace a majority of last season.
And then their is a real possibility that Haley does feel like Dorsey could play an DE.
Just some food for thought!
I don’t understand why taking Alex Magee is a vote of no confidence in Dorsey? If we are running the 4-3 Under, which alternates to a 3-4 on occasion.
I see the line as follows, Jackson on the weak side (just inside the OT), Tyler next to him almost at NT), Dorsey next to him (between G, just inside the other Gaurd, with Magee outside the TE on the opposite. The LBs are Hali/McBride outside Jackson, Vrable/Thomas in the middle, and DJ over the TE, wherever he lines up… On third downs Vrable can come in to replace one of the players on the line.
Obviously the guys can move around in this lineup, especially the LB’s, but I think we can have both of them on the field at the same time and use all of the linemen that we have in an effective way.
Thoughts?
“After the Magee pick, I’ll lay you odds we trade Dorsey (probably for draft picks next year or quality O line help) before training camp opens.”
From last year’s Warroom Report.com scouting report: “He projects to work in any defense, but his best position would be as a three technique in the 3-4 defense as he excels when able to operate in space.”
Do you think perhaps Dorsey did not play quite to our expectations last year because he really needed to be in a 3-4? With his physical tools, I don’t think Dorsey is going anywhere.
That’s kinda the way I see it too,But I have R. Edwards at nose. There is absolutely nothing wrong with using a rotation on the D-Line. And lets face it, Magee may not be ready to start right away.
I would love to be at all the camps and watch the battles along that front seven! It’s gonna be fierce!
Not to beat a dead horse, but I think Dorsey has a better chance of being successful in a 34 than DJ does. He is the guy I hope the Chiefs can trade.
Chiefs sign a WO.
USF Senior receiver Taurus Johnson who had 38 receptions for 498 yards and six touchdowns in his senior season, and finished his career at USF with 112 catches for 1,434 yards and 12 touchdowns, has signed a free-agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs after this weekend’s NFL Draft.
At 6’1-208 pounds, has a good blend of strength & size. At the scouting combine, T.J. ran a 4.43 & a 4.48 in the 40 yard dash and put up 18 reps of 225, placing him in the top 5 for receivers. He also registered a 35 1/2 inch vertical leap a 10-1 broad jump.
T. J garnered plenty of interest from the Bears, Browns, Denver, and worked out for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but had a private work-outs with the Kansas City Chiefs WR Coach Dedric Ward at Saddle Brook before the draft.
“Coach Ward is a real good coach and I’d love to play for him and the Chiefs.”
More line Backers.
KC Reels in LBs
by Adam Caplan of ScoutNFLNetwork.com, April 26, 2009 at 9:46pm ET
Pierre Walters Profile
Former Eastern Illinois University LB Pierre Walters and former University of Maine LB Jovan Belcher have agreed to contract terms with the Kansas City Chiefs, Scout.com has confirmed.
With the expected move to a 3-4 defensive scheme and being that the Chiefs are light on depth at linebacker, both players should have a chance to make the final roster.
Pioli’s first draft makes Carl Peterson’s drafts - any - look spectacular.
Reiterating - Chiefs 2009 Draft Grade: F
Don’t forget that we got Matt Cassel and Vrabel as our second round choice. Not bad and it certainly elevates the draft result. Although, it is ridiculous to “grade” a draft. Some of these “can’t miss” players in the first round won’t amount to anything.
I disagree with Bob on draftig Succup.It is a definite need, he is an “athlete” with a unbelievably strong leg. I never understand why teams waste a pick on some unknown as Bob suggests. Sign those guys as free agents. If you have a pick, use it to improve your team as much as possible.
Scott Haley,
If the Chiefs get a “F” then does that put Undead Al and his Raiders at a F minus or a Z?
Couldn’T agree more BinSC Yes the Jets 1st pick last year & maybe our own pick comes to mind . So to call the draft this year now is futile . The kicker was a good call for us . Some would say pick them up as free agents but the player has a say where the want to go . If you want them you had better draft them .
I can’t complain too much on the draft this year. You could almost see it coming. In the weeks past, Scott and Todd had been cleaning the roster of players that didn’t want to be here as committed Chiefs players, whether they were Herms players or not.
They laid the ground work for “their” defensive plans for now and the future. We had “experts” like Kiper and Yahoo’s own Jason Cole nit-picking them for taking them 5 or 6 slots too early. When we have a dominant fearsome defense again, I’m sure they won’t be as worried that Jackson was a wee bit early in their estimation.
Pioli got the player he wanted with the #3 pick. Tyson Jackson was obviously the number one player on his list. Could he have traded down several spots and still got Jackson? Of course. But, to trade down you have to have someone willing to trade with you. We didn’t. End of story.
I believe I’ll trust Piloi’s expert opinion over the so-called “experts” in the media. If they’re so damn smart, then why aren’t they working for an NFL team in their scouting department…instead of going on and on about which team should or shouldn’t have taken this or that player with whatever pick?
Bob, I have a question. Have the Chiefs ever considered working out Damion McIntosh at nose tackle? He has perfect size for that role and also played on the defensive line at Kansas State, so he has some experience on that side of the ball too. I can see him being able to get push on the line as a nose tackle and occupy blockers… a guy that big would obviously require double teams. Is this realistic?
Reports: Chiefs release bulk of scouting staff
By PFW staff
April 27, 2009
Monday was D-Day in the Chiefs’ scouting department, as the vast majority of the staff was released by GM Scott Pioli, accoring to multiple sources.
LMAO!
Most of the Kansas City’s existing staff knew they were on borrowed time when Pioli was hired to replace Carl Peterson earlier this year, but they were kept on to at least get the club through draft weekend. Now that those duties are over, the axe has reportedly fallen on multiple holdovers from the old regime.
Pioli now will look to bring in his own staff of scouts, a younger group that shares his vision when it comes to evaluating and selecting talent.
I was wondering when this was coming. He had to use Carl’s scouting staff for this draft because he didn’t come in until January. He will now be able to assemble his own staff. I think this is huge especially in the evaluation of many of the second day picks. That’s where scouting is most important.
Yo! Scroll up toward the top brothers and see what the Ripper said on this topic.
The chickens are roosting and this draft was on ‘instrument landing’ type technology by Pioli and his minions.
Another mystery is this reported signing of Cassel.
Michael Lombardi stands by his report that Cassel signed the contract.
This is what he had to say on the denial by the Chiefs.
“First, something I want to clear up before offering my draft thoughts…
The Matt Cassel extension we reported on was told to us from someone very, very close to Matt. This person is a trusted friend and would have no reason to lie about what he knew. We aren’t looking for sensational headlines, and when the story was told, we felt so confident with our source that we ran with it.
The Chiefs deny that there’s an extension, but they also denied that Tony Gonzalez was going to the Falcons. They insisted nothing was happening. So we’re still confident with the source who told us that Cassel has agreed to it. He’s never been wrong and knows a few things about journalism.”
You can read it here.
https://www.nationalfootballpost.com/2009/04/notes-from-lombardi-draft-breakdown/
You know, I’m not choosing sides here but I don’t like all this crap. The Chiefs need to do a much better job of public relations!
Why and or what could possibly be Pioli motivation to deny the report? But why would a guy who’s pretty well known for good solid stuff, go off half cocked and then make a point to stand by his report?
I don’t like all this underhanded sh!t!
One other thing that adds to this BS is, the guy who broke the story on the Cassel signing being false is PK, as the author of this blog shared with us today that he shared an office with Mr. PK of SI.com over this past weekend.
I think the whole thing is silly! Why not clear this up?
Just so know one thinks I’m a total moron, I can understand the Gonzalez situation.
no one* too!
To all you football genuises. Pioli, and Haley will do what they want without you superior input. That is why they are the ones in charge, and you are not. They know what they want, and how they are going to achieve it. Not you, nor Kietzman, or Whitlock, or anyone will deviate them from that course of action.
Response to Scott’s Optimism
“…the so-called “experts” in the media. If they’re so damn smart…” I agree - Jason Cole from Yahoo! Sports gave the Chiefs an A-minus…I was projecting more in the D-minus range. I STILL have serious concerns about the health of our qb and rb going forward. We didn’t need to replace Carl to get this kind of brilliance.
“It’s April, people. Don’t bury the 2009 Chiefs just yet.” –insert funeral durge here–
First of all, keep drinking the Pioli-Haley Kool-Aid, Leonard. It might clear your thinking but I kind of doubt it.
Secondly, for perhaps the first time ever, I agree and laud the comments of Anonymous on this entire troubling and bizarre past draft weekend, and I’m not talking about the picks made.
This continued annoying bunker and news blackout mentality of Pioli is wearing most thin, particularly when erroneous reports are surfaced which is, in my view, a by product of this growing paranoia toward the media as displayed by Pioli.
Let me just say it. I’m starting to believe that Pioli is over rated AND in over his head as a GM.
Although I’ve stated multiple times that I’m not overly excited by this draft class, it’s WAY too early to call it an “f” class. If you really want to grade a draft, grade the 2006 draft. Those kids have had three seasons to learn, develop, and make an impact. Let’s take a look:
1st DE Tamba Hali - Not a bad pick, but this is a make or break year for him.
2nd SS Bernard Pollard - A starter since his second season and a kick blocking force as a rookie. Looks like a good pick.
3rd QB Brodie Croyle - Couldn’t stay healthy. Still here but for how long? Looks to be a poor pick.
5th CB Marcus Maxey - Never made an impact, now out of the league. Bad pick.
6th OG Tre Stallings - Never did much here. With Washington now I believe. Bad pick.
6th WR Jeff Webb - We resigned him. Not sure if he’ll make the team but he’ll get a chance. Not a great pick, but okay for a 6th rounder I suppose. Average for now.
7th FS Jarrad Page - Instant contributor and two year starter. 10 career picks. Great pick.
Overall, it’s hard to give this draft more than a C in my book. Pollard and Page are the stars, Hali could be as well if he rebounds from last year. Webb would look better if he makes the team for a fourth year. Croyle, Maxey and Stallings were miss fires.
“If the Chiefs get a “F” then does that put Undead Al and his Raiders at a F minus or a Z?”
The fact that the thought of this comparison exists just shows how poor our draft was.
We haven’t seen a thing from one of the draftees yet SG. If Jackson can’t stop the run or rush the passer after a year or 2 under his belt, then by all means, Pioli should hear about it. But they haven’t even taken a snap in practice with red and gold on. Give it some time. This wasn’t going to be a glamour draft anyway. He was putting some building blocks in place just like Herm was doing. Let’s just see how effective Pioli/Haley can be a year from now.
You can “agree” or “laud” me all you want Rip, I’m ok with Pioli and Haley, so far. But I do not like all this crap of he said she said!
They could do a much better job in the PR department, if that’s Pioli’s or Hunt’s responsibility, some one needs to get it fixed!
Well if the rumor is true about the draft scouts who could blame them . Pioli & Haley have seen this team talent since Jan. Pioli drafted players that supposedly was already fix under Herm & Carl in this draft. Who was right Iam betting on Pioli after 19yrs of Carl P. There is a reason Carl & Herm are still out of work & it not the economy.
Why is everyone on these blogs so “bipolar?” The Chiefs either get an “A” or an “F”, Pioli is solid or in way over his head…
The Chiefs draft was decent. We did not have many pics and we got good players for our team at the positions we needed to fill.
Pioli is a solid manager, but it is going to take time to find out how he does and how his pics turn out.
It is way too early to condem or praise anyone on this team yet.
Just sit back and enjoy the next several months and next year to see how this all pans out…
Remember we have not seen this type of change in Kansas City for 20 years!!! Give it some time!!!
Another thought I had was that Jackson is supposed to be a high motor guy whose a leader on D - I think some thought was given to him motivating Dorsey, since they played together at LSU to try to get him out of the habit of taking plays off. If you watched some of his lowlight films you’d see a player who’d dog it every so often. I think with Jackson on the line he’ll be called out for that kind of behavoir. In fact, I think that was one of the flaws in Herms coaching style … in that he didn’t get in players faces when they dogged it or made mistakes.
you need to put up a memorial sort of thing for frank gansz sr….I was so close to this family, so close to him since I was 8 years old, he had an immense impact on my life…
I hope the special teams will block a few kicks for him this year, best special teams coach ever.
Not sure why everyone is so intent on the Chiefs telling everything they know? “The PR department needs to do a better job”? Why?? To make a bunch of whining fans feel better about the team. What a group of poker players we have here. Do you all turn your cards the wrong way so your opponents can see your hand? That way everyone can feel warm and fuzzy about the situation. What a hen house we have going here!
I don’t get why the 3rd round draft choice means Dorsey’s gone. Dorsey is the starter at Under Tackle, and will be used to his strengths, unlike the clueles coaching of last year. Magee is a rotational guy for this year, to spell Jackson and Dorsey since he can do some of the same things they they both can do. Hali is a stand up DE/Rush Backer, alog with Vrabel, if he ever shows up. Which one’s coming, which one isn’t on any given play? Watch some NE film and you’ll get it. McBride likely will be cut, or traded if we can get anything for Herm’s 2nd rounder, since our 1st 2 picks showed what Pioli thought of that Herm pick. Dorsey is going now8where but hopefully opposing backfields as the gap shooter 0he spposed to be.
i am so-so about this draft like many others but are most people upset cause we got picks nobody has even heard of. when madden 10 comes out as always i’ll pick chiefs and win SB. i wish i could do it in reality
Dorsey situation, we kept the def line coach from last year, spent the draft on Def line and some of us think Dorsey was just miss used and still fits. Do not know but something does not fit in this picture.
“We haven’t seen a thing from one of the draftees yet SG.”
Nope - Pioli had to see how poorly our offensive line played LAST YEAR and how we had TWO QB’s and ONE RB end the season on IR because our line couldn’t protect them. Anyone who doesn’t take steps to correct such a painfully obvious deficiency is not going to get praise from me. Trading away one player who was our top safety valve to take pressure off the qb for a 2nd round pick next year - not exactly getting my praise either.
I don’t have to see how our picks perform to evaluate that portion of our draft performance.
“It is way too early to condem or praise anyone on this team yet.”
They’ve had 2 important months to fix the deficiencies I have noted on the line - is Goff enough to keep Cassel and LJ (or whoever runs the ball) off the IR this season? Is removing Gonzalez from our roster with no current year compensation going to help or harm that situation? If I neglect to criticize this obvious little thing, am I simply blind or stupid?
I dont understand the CB pickup, Carr and Flowers played decent last year and they didn’t get into trouble like the guy they just drafted…
I believe that Pioli/Haley think they have some guys they can coach up, and turn into great players.
Might want to check the initial, what do we do at the 3 spot, from 3 weeks ago or so, it was the 2nd one i think with the no trade back stipulation, and I believe 7 of US said Tyson Jackson…
I think pass rush comes with guys doing their jobs, and with jackson off the edge, thats 4-5 sacks a year, now the LB’s will get some sacks, Tank can get 1-2, and Mcgee/Dorsey on the other side should get a couple.
But if you look at Seymour, Ty Warren and vince W, the big DT with the name I cant spell, those guys didnt put up crazy numbers, they just got to the QB, and opened up sacks for guys like Vrabel.
Washington was puzzling to me as well, however if they feel he fits well as the number 3 on the slot guy, I cant argue that the chiefs had issues getting off the field on third downs, pass rush part of it, but there has to be a link to the 3rd corner mismatch.
The later picks are tough, but I still believe kc has a guard in Herb Taylor if Waters gets dealt.
and quite frankly, I havent seen a guy look faster on tape than our 6th round pick, he looks as good as Bey in terms of break away speed, return game only I assume.