Pioli says Chiefs can turn around after 0-2 start

[ShowtimeSBMVP]

Pioli says Chiefs can turn around after 0-2 start
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star




Like seemingly much of Kansas City, general manager Scott Pioli is more than a little stunned by the Chiefs’ 0-2 start.

But Pioli said Tuesday that his confidence in the Chiefs is not shaken and he remains convinced the Chiefs can still make something of their season.

“If any one of us knew what the answer was, we wouldn’t be sitting where we’re sitting right now,” Pioli said. “But I also don’t think it’s the end of the world. We have 14 games left. We’re certainly digging a hole but it’s not something we can’t get out of. Everyone within the organization is disappointed in the results so far. We’re all surprised because I don’t think any one of us went into the season thinking we would be 0-2. I don’t think any of us anticipated that.

“(He expects the Chiefs) to improve, get better and start winning some games in whatever order that is. Those are my expectations, but I want to be clear those are mine and our expectations. I think those are the players’ expectations, the coaching staff, the fan base. Our expectations at the beginning of this year were that we were going to be winning games. Right now, we haven’t done that. (But) we’re two games into a 16-game season.”

The Chiefs are one of six 0-2 teams in the NFL, but they weren’t close to winning either game. Their scoring differential of minus-34 points is second-worst in the league behind only Tennessee.

As the general manager, Pioli built the roster. Asked whether he was guilty of overestimating the abilities of some of the Chiefs’ players, Pioli said, “We think the roster is good enough. I think it is. Now it comes down to executing. We improved this team through free agency and did quite a bit of spending to improve this team whether it was contract extensions or the signing of other players. Time will tell if it was enough. I think it was.”

Regarding their spending, figures supplied by the NFL Players Association showed the Chiefs to have more than $26 million in available room under the league’s salary cap. Pioli said he didn’t regret not using more of that available cap space when the Chiefs built their roster.

“I think there are things we did do that helped this football team,” Pioli said. “I also know for a fact that this year alone we’re spending over $141 million in cash this year. That’s more than $20 million over the cap.

“It’s been proven time and time again that there’s not a direct correlation between spending cap dollars and winning. There’s not.”

Pioli said the Chiefs would need to allocate some of their available 2012 salary cap space toward the 2013 cap. He didn’t provide 2013 cap figures, but his comments indicate the Chiefs might otherwise be snug against the cap next season.

“We had better have cap room this year to roll over for next year to make sure we’re (in good shape),” Pioli said. “(Using available salary cap space) is not a year-by-year, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants thing.

Pioli during the offseason also hired Romeo Crennel as head coach, promoting him from defensive coordinator. Crennel finished last season as the interim coach. The Chiefs went 2-1 in those games and fell just short of making the playoffs and completing a dramatic turnaround.

Crennel remains the defensive coordinator this season as well. But the poor play of the Chiefs’ defense is a big reason for the 0-2 start. They have allowed 75 points, which is tied for worst in the league.

Asked whether Crennel was the right coach to direct the Chiefs out of their hole, Pioli said, “Absolutely he is. I think he’s doing a good job. I really do.”

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/09/18...#storylink=cpy

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by BossChief

Routt is an adequate replacement and the move frees up 3.5 million to use elsewhere (maybe ends up going to either Albert or Bowe) and gives us a third round pick as well.

We do have depth at corner...it's just hurt (Brown fared well against Fitzgerald in ps prior to getting hurt) or stupidly moved to another position (Daniels)

Brown's atrocious preseason outings against St. Louis and Seattle justified finding more depth at that position. At this point, all signs point to Brown becoming O'Connell 2.0.

[BossChief]

Signing Routt as a replacement knocks the depth argument out of the equation.

Especially when you figure the comp pick into the equation.

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by BossChief

Signing Routt as a replacement knocks the depth argument out of the equation.

Especially when you figure the comp pick into the equation.

No, it doesn't, not after Brown's horrendous outings in preseason. There is not one excuse that justifies Reeves starting position in game one.

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

Brown's atrocious preseason outings against St. Louis and Seattle justified finding more depth at that position. At this point, all signs point to Brown becoming O'Connell 2.0.

Totally disagree.

Brown isn't there yet, but he has the talent to get to the point of being a quality #2 corner.

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by BossChief

Totally disagree.

Brown isn't there yet, but he has the talent to get to the point of being a quality #2 corner.

Regardless of his "potential," we are losing legitimate games because of his current lack of "quality."

24-40, 17-35.

If those results aren't indicative of Pioli's embarrassing lack of attention to the Chiefs secondary, I do not know what is.

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

No, it doesn't, not after Brown's horrendous outings in preseason. There is not one excuse that justifies Reeves starting position in game one.

Reeves is garbage and you won't find me defending him or why he was kept...but if it weren't for stacked injuries he wouldn't have ever gotten on the field except for special teams.

Flowers
Brown
Menzie

When you have stacked injuries like that...especially at corner...it's gonna get ugly for any team.

The sad part is that Daniels should have been the one out there after those guys went down.

That's a major head scratcher for me.

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by BossChief

Reeves is garbage and you won't find me defending him or why he was kept...but if it weren't for stacked injuries he wouldn't have ever gotten on the field except for special teams.

Flowers
Brown
Menzie

When you have stacked injuries like that...especially at corner...it's gonna get ugly for any team.

The sad part is that Daniels should have been the one out there after those guys went down.

That's a major head scratcher for me.

We had the cap room and ability to acquire more talent at corner in the offseason, with the knowledge of Flowers and Menzie's injuries before the preseason, (as well as Daniels new position.) Pioli's oversight on the secondary is nothing short of a humiliation for the team.

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

Regardless of his "potential," we are losing legitimate games because of his current lack of "quality."

24-40, 17-35.

If those results aren't indicative of Pioli's embarrassing lack of attention to the Chiefs secondary, I do not know what is.

The Bills completed 10 passes and I bet we held Ryan to one of the lowest passing totals he will have all year, even though he roasted us.

Those scores are largely because of poorly timed turnovers.

Cassels fumble and first pick (along with the missed fg) knocked us out of the Atlanta game when it was a close contest up until that point.

Cassels fumble and Hillis fumble while going into the endzone killed the buffalo game...NOT secondary depth...we couldn't contain Spiller and we turned the ball over at inopportune times.

Jeez people, let's try to remain at least somewhat objective.

It sucks losing good players, but it happens to every team in football.

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

We had the cap room and ability to acquire more talent at corner in the offseason, with the knowledge of Flowers and Menzie's injuries before the preseason, (as well as Daniels new position.) Pioli's oversight on the secondary is nothing short of a humiliation for the team.

Menzie went down in preseason not before and the pickings at corner were very slim outside of Drayton Florence.

It is what it is.

[New World Order]

Originally Posted by BossChief

The Bills completed 10 passes and I bet we held Ryan to one of the lowest passing totals he will have all year, even though he roasted us.

Those scores are largely because of poorly timed turnovers.

Cassels fumble and first pick (along with the missed fg) knocked us out of the Atlanta game when it was a close contest up until that point.

Cassels fumble and Hillis fumble while going into the endzone killed the buffalo game...NOT secondary depth.

Jeez people, let's try to remain at least somewhat objective.

It sucks losing good players, but it happens to every team in football.

To be fair, they didn't need to throw. But as of right now Jalil Brown is not a viable option to come in and start at the cb position, I went to the preseason game against Seattle and he looked absolutely horrible.

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by BossChief

The Bills completed 10 passes and I bet we held Ryan to one of the lowest passing totals he will have all year, even though he roasted us.

I would argue that this is moreso a result of our half-ply running defense, rather than any considerable achievement of our secondary. I also question the effect the turnovers truly had on the outcome of the game. While Hillis' fumble was a momentum breaker, Buffalo drove down the field more or less uncontested in four of their drives on Sunday.

Originally Posted by BossChief

It is what it is.

Sigh, I can agree with you there.

[Black Bob]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

How about a big healthy dose of shut the **** up?

How about a big healthy dose of crow man? What you said was bullshit and you should man up and apologize.

Originally Posted by BossChief

Let's not be so quick to label Brandon Carr a "superstar", either. He is a very very solid second corner but he doesn't get a lot of picks or cause a lot of fumbles and he isn't "special" in run support, either. He is a very very solid #2 cover corner...NOT a "superstar".

We kept the wrong guy. He is a #1 CB and he should have been in KC.
He's always been a better cover guy than Flowers. Also, Flowers quit growing a couple of years ago and Carr hasn't stopped. He is still an ascending player.

Originally Posted by BossChief

Reeves is garbage and you won't find me defending him or why he was kept...but if it weren't for stacked injuries he wouldn't have ever gotten on the field except for special teams.

Flowers
Brown
Menzie

When you have stacked injuries like that...especially at corner...it's gonna get ugly for any team.

The sad part is that Daniels should have been the one out there after those guys went down.

That's a major head scratcher for me.

It's that stupid 2-3-6 scheme. We are relying on that scheme too much. With Lewis out, Daniels has to play safety. Romeo needs to trash that formation because it is killing us on so many levels.

[el borracho]

The Chiefs should bring in Eric Hicks to mentor everyone on being ok with an 0-4 start.

[FAX]

How do you feel about the 2-3-6 defensive scheme, Mr. BlackBob?

FAX

[Ace Gunner]

Originally Posted by BossChief

The Bills completed 10 passes and I bet we held Ryan to one of the lowest passing totals he will have all year, even though he roasted us.

Those scores are largely because of poorly timed turnovers.

Cassels fumble and first pick (along with the missed fg) knocked us out of the Atlanta game when it was a close contest up until that point.

Cassels fumble and Hillis fumble while going into the endzone killed the buffalo game...NOT secondary depth...we couldn't contain Spiller and we turned the ball over at inopportune times.

Jeez people, let's try to remain at least somewhat objective.

It sucks losing good players, but it happens to every team in football.

Surely you are forgetting a couple keys to these beatdowns. Spiller had like 60 yards rushing during the first qtr alone and just knifed through the line at will, so there really was no reason to throw the ball a lot.

Secondly, you know damn well this defensive backfield is more than one step down from what this team had last season -- even with Berry gone. They are undermanned back there, to say the least. I haven't seen that much confusion in this team's secondary since back when Herm was coach.

Third, QB's have all day to throw on the Chiefs, so there's that. It hasn't been this way in years. Tamba makes this defense look respectable when paired with Carr/Flowers. I know this will change some as the season progresses, but I don't think this defense will look as good as the did last year. They had deficits at the safety position, but the other three players did a good job keeping order much of the season.

This looks nothing like the defense we've seen recently and it's not the "new coach". The players are mentally breaking down. They are football stupid, some of them and that is showing up in spades this season because they are so full of themselves, they think they can just freelance this defense and be golden. Heh. Not. Gonna. Work.