Covitz:Chiefs GM John Dorsey likes what he’s seen of the team
 

Chiefs GM John Dorsey likes what he’s seen of the team
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star
The Chiefs reached the halfway mark of their first voluntary offseason program under their new regime, and general manager John Dorsey was as upbeat on Tuesday as when he was hired on Jan. 14.

Dorsey and new head coach Andy Reid have had a rookie minicamp and four days of on-field practices to evaluate their first draft class, the veteran players they acquired and those who were inherited.

“So far, so good,” Dorsey said. “I’m excited with the direction we’re headed. I can’t say enough about how the guys have practiced, how the coaching staff has begun to teach these young men … It couldn’t be any better. These five months … have been everything I thought it would be.”

The Chiefs have turned over half the roster from the wreckage of last year’s team that went 2-14. Of the 90 players on the current roster, 53 are newcomers, and Dorsey and Reid aren’t done yet.

“Each team on a year-to-year basis has its own identity, and I’m trying to work through ... who is this team? That’s what I’m trying to see.

“We haven’t played a game yet. We’re still in the honeymoon period. We’ll be judged for what we do on the football field.”

Dorsey, who spent the previous 13 years in the Green Bay Packers’ personnel department, cited several pleasant surprises he’s seen so far.

“I knew (safety) Eric Berry was a good player, but I didn’t realize what a really good football player he is,” Dorsey said of the two-time Pro Bowler. “I didn’t realize (wide receiver) Dwayne Bowe could be as good as Dwayne Bowe wants to be. (Running back) Jamaal Charles, you have to utilize a guy like him. … Our two outside linebackers (Tamba Hali and Justin Houston) are as good as advertised.”

Dorsey’s biggest offseason acquisition was trading a second-round pick in this year’s draft and conditional second- or third-rounder in next year’s draft to San Francisco for quarterback Alex Smith. He hasn’t been disappointed with Smith.

“I really like what Alex Smith is doing,” Dorsey said. “How far he’s grasped this offense, and I can see the head coach loading him up, because he’s a smart kid, he’s physically talented.”

Dorsey signed former Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel as Smith’s backup. Dorsey is confident Daniel can be productive in the event Smith goes down with an injury — as Smith did a year ago with a concussion at San Francisco. Daniel attempted just nine passes in three years as Drew Brees’ backup at New Orleans and has no proven track record.

“You could have said that about Matt Hasselbeck,” Dorsey said of Brett Favre’s one-time backup in Green Bay who eventually led Seattle to a Super Bowl. “He was like Mr. August. When you look at the backup quarterback, you want a highly motivated, competitive individual who understands his role and is willing to step up on a moment’s notice and is ready to take the baton when it’s handed to him.

“I feel very comfortable with Chase in his role and in his abilities. Once you get him in this offense in the preseason, he’ll show people why we brought him into this organization.”

Dorsey’s other marquee move was the selection of offensive tackle Eric Fisher of Central Michigan with the first pick of the NFL draft over Texas A&M’s Luke Joeckel. Fisher, a left tackle in college, is running with the first unit at right tackle as veteran Branden Albert occupies the left side.

“I find it interesting with offensive linemen who are selected so high, when they begin to blend into the group, you forget about them,” Dorsey said. “It’s like, ‘My gosh, it’s like he’s a veteran out there.’ Athletically, Eric is as talented as we thought he was. Like any rookie coming into the NFL, going to a new team, he’s going to have to work at the technical stuff. That comes with a little time. Everything he’s done to this point, I couldn’t be happier.

“I’m very happy with this draft class. I think there are a couple of surprises among the college free agents. I’m not going to name any names, but all along, we have said, if we can find three, four free agents to make this team, that helps down the road. “

In addition to Daniel, the Chiefs brought in several veteran free agents, and already it appears tight end Anthony Fasano, defensive end Mike DeVito, cornerbacks Sean Smith and Dunta Robinson and possibly inside linebackers Akeem Jordan and Zac Diles are going to play key roles this season.

“(Defensive coordinator) Bob Sutton likes big press corners, so you have to give him players like Sean Smith,” Dorsey said. “I like Dunta Robinson’s approach to the game, his true professionalism. … Everybody has done everything I thought they’d be doing.”

Certainly, there have been some disappointments, but Dorsey did not want to address them.

“Are there positions on the roster that need to be improved?” he said. “Yes there are. I’m not going to say which ones, but we’re not done turning this roster over until training camp or I wouldn’t be doing my job. I’m living in the present with an eye on the future.

“When you get a chance to be with a coaching staff like Andy Reid, you want to make sure you give him all the tools you can to succeed.”

One of those tools was hiring former Nevada head football coach Chris Ault as a consultant. Ault is the guru of the pistol offense that San Francisco used so effectively last season, and the Chiefs have dabbled with the formation in the offseason program.

“In today’s football you’ve seen a high degree of success with the pistol offense,” Dorsey said. “It was pretty ingenious by Andy to get the guy who was the architect of the pistol offense and give him a consultant’s role to help defend it and to run it. I think that was pretty sharp.”

Dorsey, who worked with Reid at Green Bay in the 1990s, believes the veteran Reid, at 55, has been re-energized in Kansas City.

“What’s good about him is he’s got a bounce in his step and is loving the heck out of coaching,” Dorsey said of Reid, who spent the last 14 years as Philadelphia’s head coach. “He’s breaking down every little detail. Guys don’t realize how much he sees.

“I love how much fun he’s having. He’s enjoying himself. When he can enjoy himself, that means good things for this organization.”

Not a real ringing endorsement there

John Dorsey's offseason and draft moves need to work out really well for me to regain the enthusiasm I had for him before said moves.

So far I don't think he has proven to be as he was advertised.

blah,blah,blah ... win or **** off.

Winning cures all.

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I hate all these fluffy feel good storys in the off season about how good this player looking or that player is looking or the team is really looking good. They have one almost every day in the San Diego paper and it's all BU*LSH*T.

This

I would hope he likes what he sees - he built the ****ing team.

Insert WE LANDED ON THE MOON pic from Dumb and Dumber here.

I like that he's aware that part if the roster sucks. Not often you hear a GM concede that.

He came from a team with Aaron Rodgers
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Covitz:Chiefs GM John Dorsey thinks team is a pile of shit

They're in shorts. Can't judge much. Wait and see obviously

These.


Fluff pieces just make me roll my eyes.

The time between the draft and camp just sucks sooooo much balls.
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I bet if you asked him honestly which roster he's take outside of QB, he'd say it would be a toss up.

Yeah, it's like the Jodi Arias quote today: "This is the worst mistake of my life. It's the worst thing I've ever done".

Yeah, no shit. I sure as hell hope so.

Show me.

Dorsey:" meh, I'm not really sold on Alex but Andy wanted him."

probably. That is why I said what I did
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More happy happy joy joy blow smoke up yer ass writing from the Star

Beats the heck out of what Weis had to say about Cassel a few years back.

good lord the Star sucks ass.
Even during the season, the articles are sunshine and rainbows.

"Chiefs to wear red uniforms half the time." KC Star

"Chiefs To Play All Home Games At Arrowhead" / Teicher

Chiefs win by scoring more points than other team - covitz

You guys will find something to bitch about 100 percent of the time. Good lord.

We wouldn't want to actually look forward to the football season, would we?

I'm looking forward to the season. The majority of my hate comes from not living in KC, not attending many games, not being in the comfort zone of a whole city that back you when the Chiefs suck, and therefore not giving one **** about tailgating and atmosphere. I need wins and a winning organization that embraces winning philosophies. If I choose to fly colors(and I do), you better produce a product that doesn't make people look at my swag and say "really"?
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your words are hurtful

I actually thought this was a pretty good article. Dorsey sounds like a pretty straight shooter. He had some pretty positive things to say about things he has seen that he likes. That is a breath of fresh air compared to the past regime where every single response seemed to be a canned response.

And he refused to throw anyone under the bus that he thought was not performing up to par... but let it be known that some guys need to step it up at the same time.

Pretty good article IMO. :shrug:

60% of the time, it works everytime!

Is anyone else concerned about the offense? I've been hearing that our defense is shutting down our offense. Not sure if the pistol is working for them or what's going. We're not able to get anything going offensively.

How hard do they go in OTA's? I'm my quite sure. Eric Berry was breaking up passes left and right. I also don't know who's throwing these passes. Not panicking just yet, so don't kill me.

Yeah, that Alex Smith is a real smart kid. Has some physical talent, too, if you can look past the noodle arm. Potential to develop into a VERY decent player! Like, possibly a Top 20 NFL QB in the right system if surrounded by immense talent at every other position on offense.

Dilfering.
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Every defense in the league is ahead of their offense at this point. Takes longer to install and properly run an offense than it does a defense.
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This place is a giant vagina that makes Octomom's uterus look virgin.

True. At least for those teams installing a new offense.

Understandable, I was thinking it would take more time or defense to transition than an offense, especially if we're trying to stop the pistol. The majority of the time, defenses seem to struggle more.

Not a big deal though, I'm sure they'll get together.

Because we have heard this before...

/thread.

Please do tell me about all of this offensive talent that Alex Smith was surrounded with in 2011. I must have missed it. Really, no, do tell.

Especially at receiver......This should be GREAT. his wr depth chart looked like this to start the season.

Crabtree,
Braylon Edwards.
Josh Morgan,
Kyle WIlliams.

By the NFCCG, it was

Crabtree,
Kyle Wlliams,
Brett Swain,
Joe Hastings.

on the IR,

Tedd Ginn,
Josh Morgan,

Cut, braylon Edwards.

Please, do tell me more about this immense talent on offense. Im dying to know.

You want him to say "OMG I love him, he's the greatest ever!!!!!!" He complimented him about as highly as you ever hear coaches or GM's compliment their players.

All you need to know about how bad the receivers were by the end of the year is that Brett Swain and Joe Hastings are both white practice squad receivers and they were starting.

Bullshit, his response "well Alex is smart! :shrug:" doesn't give me the warm and fuzzies on our key FA pickup

But he didn't just say he was smart, he said he was physically gifted and he really liked what he was doing.

Pioli said same shit about Cassel, it's deja vu all over again.

Smith was a number 1 overall pick, Cassel didn't even start in college. There's a huge gap in talent level between the two.

Hell even Matt Cassel has thrown for more TDs than Alex Smith in a season. That's ****ing embarrassing man.

In a season?

Hell, he's thrown for more in his CAREER.

And Cassel has been a starter for two fewer seasons than Smith.

Nah, usually the other way around. Think about how many things can go wrong if one person botches an assignment, if your QB isn't on the same page as the receiver, if any route is mis-timed, if your line isn't in sync, etc.... Not that defenses don't need that stuff too, but there's so much more of it on offense. Defenses can often improve overnight.

Regardless of your opinion on Alex Smith (I think he's an average QB), he's a much better QB than Cassel. Period.

Yea you are reaching for something to bitch about. He also made reference to his physical ability and how was impressed with him.

But cherry pick what you want.

Shit dude, this is the Cassel rebuttal here

WTF does Cassel have to do with Alex Smith?

I keep trying tell my self that I'm wrong about Alex Smith and that he is better than I think he is. Then you say that ROFL

Not opinion, fact. And the stats back it up.

Statistically, they are the same ****ing guy. You have no evidence to back up a claim that Smith is "much better" than Cassel.

Alex Smith:

179 yards per game
1.01 TD per game
.77 INT per game
59.3% completion
6.56 yards per attempt
.45 fumbles per game

Matt Cassel:

173 yards per game
1.05 TD per game
.73 INT per game
58.9% completion
6.6 yards per attempt
.31 fumbles per game

If Buffalo had traded for Alex Smith, no one here would be claiming Smith is "much better" than Cassel - and rightfully so, because there's no evidence to back up such a claim.

Because all things have been equal right?

For a guy who isn't in to stats...............

They are mirror images of each other only difference is Smith is made of glass.

It's like you can copy and paste the same debate statements from the Cassel defense to here and you wouldn't tell the difference.

So you are a big stat guy?

People here claimed Smith was way better than Cassel before he was traded here, it only changed after. You know this, I know this.

The threads are here.

So you and OTWP think Cassel could have had the 2011 season Smith did? And the start to the 2012 season?

Look, not groundbreaking difference here but if we want to look at Smith Vs Cassel 2009 to present here what it looks like. One guy improving another getting worse.

I have not claimed Smith is a world beater but I liked the guy in SF the last few years before he was traded so I am not going to just reverse field now like many here.

http://i541.photobucket.com/albums/g...ps73e280f3.jpg

Bull shit. There wasn't very many here who wanted Alex Smith and if they were they were being shot down.



I call bull shit on your post.

Could?

He already has. 2010.

Smith - 2011/2012:

187 yards per game
1.15 TD per game
.38 INT per game
64% completion
7.36 yards per attempt
.3 fumbles per game

Matt Cassel - 2010

208 yards per game
1.8 TD per game
.46 INT per game
58.2% completion
6.92 yards per attempt
.13 fumbles per game

As I said the Cassel debate all over again. His level of suck equals Cassel with injury issues.

I am not referring to the off season, I am talking in season for the last 2 years.


Clay had an entire thread dedicated to Alex Smith. You need to do some research.

Matt Cassel played well beating Brees in a playoff game and almost won the NFCCG? **** me.

You all are some jaded mother ****ers.

I don't have to do any research at all I was here. Last season as soon as Alex Smith was benched a bunch of us went on a neg rep spree to any one who pimped for Alex Smith to come here. Not many at all wanted Alex Smith to come here just a few. Only a handful of posters wanted anything to do with Alex Smith before the trade.

The old version of QB rating?

ROFL

Desperate.

Eagles game, 2009. Cassel throws for 90 yards and a 5 yard average in a game we lost by 20 points. QB Rating?

124.5.

Every starting QB and many b/u's are better than Ca$$hole.

That doesn't make Smith good - it means he's not a horrible failure in every way...

I can't see how these guys keep bringing up ONE game out of an eight year career.

say it aloud Marcellus.

That was only one game. Out of eight years
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One game against what I believe was the 30th ranked pass defense makes up for 7 years of futility?

I understand you want to have hope for the guy, but don't piss on my leg and tell me it's raining. Even in his best seasons, he's been average at best. To act as if 1 playoff game against a shit defense makes up for 7 years of sub 200 yard efforts and a 1:1 TD:GAME ratio is ridiculous.

I'm sick of watching shit football, so I hope he's decent, but "decent" isn't good enough. You all are expecting to cash in a lottery ticket. Expecting the frog to magically turn into a prince.

Sad that "Better than Cassel" is the rallying cry.

Because that one game is the toothpick holding their weak argument together.

How's my favorite Asian mechanic from Mid-Missouri, BTW?

doing great buddy, busy as hell at work. Finally got good help it seems and I can relax and supervise lol.

How about you?
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Same here, busy. Last day with kids tomorrow, teacher work day on Friday and then summer break.

you guys get your breaks when I'm blowing up busy lol. Lake weather. I love it.

Have a great summer man.

I'm hoping Smith works, I know you are too lol, but that's all it is.

Really not much else to base it on...
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1 game is all Smith has played well in his career?

I have better shit to do than argue with you guys about this.

Fact is when Flacco put up bad numbers and won games everyone said **** stats he wins games.

Now it's look at Smiths stats he is lucky to win any games.

By your measurements Flacco and Eli Manning should have been done years before winning a SB as try both put up bad numbers and did it in seasons they won the SB in.

Laugh all you want I'm not the one who lacks perspective.

I don't get the typical teacher summer vacation.

We're on a modified calendar. I'll be off from this weekend until July 8th, work a 9-week quarter, then have 3 weeks off in September. Work another 9-week quarter, and have a touch over 4 weeks before/after Christmas. 9 more weeks, 3 week Spring Break in late March/early April.

I'm loving it - it's nice to be able take long vacations when it's not peak/expensive.

Oh yeah. I bet that is ****ing awesome.

I've been lining the guys out early the last week and taking off early some, that's my vacation lol
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