Mellinger: First three months of Dorsey’s Chiefs regime far cry from *****’s

[Tribal Warfare]

First three months of Dorsey’s Chiefs regime far cry from *****’s
By Sam Mellinger
The Kansas City Star
John Dorsey knows Kansas City. By now you’ve heard that part of his story. His wife is from the area, and their first date was at Jack Stack. When the Chiefs introduced him as their new general manager, he called it his dream job.

But living in a place can be very different than visiting. He just bought a house here. This is real now. Working a dream job can be very different than dreaming about it. So we wanted to check in after three months and see if anything had changed.

“No way, this place is awesome, man,” he says. “Here’s an example. We went down to Oklahoma Joe’s (on Wednesday), Andy and I and some other guys, and we sat in line for 40 minutes. The people were great. This is the good thing about the Midwest: Everybody respects your space. It’s a cool thing.

“Some guys would come up and talk to us; they’re genuinely excited. That’s what it’s all about. It’s the people, man.”

Dorsey will talk your ear off about Kansas City. The other day, as the lawn mower was going by his office window, he realized it was never this nice in Green Bay until mid-May, at least. You hear Dorsey talk, and you hear others in the Chiefs offices talk about him, and you begin to understand a franchise-defining change.

We don’t know if Dorsey will succeed in Kansas City. Nobody does. But after three months, there are clues about how the Chiefs are, and will continue to be, different.

He doesn’t spend any time trash-talking his predecessor, for one. This was a favorite pastime of Scott *****’s. Publicly and privately, directly and indirectly, ***** wanted you to know what kind of mess he inherited.

Dorsey never mentions that he arrives on the heels of what many involved called the worst football year of their lives.

“We’re just trying to get people excited, because that’s a good working environment,” Dorsey says.

The second major difference between this regime change and the one that preceded it is that Dorsey isn’t overhauling the front office. ***** talked constantly of changing the culture and spent a lot of time firing and hiring people. Dorsey has spent a large chunk of his time meeting and working with and listening to people who were here long before January.

“Not one guy has all the answers, my God,” Dorsey says. “This is a hard job now. There are going to be some people here who are going to help and it’s good to have everybody here to do this.”

That leads to the third major difference between Dorsey and *****. Whenever possible, ***** would namedrop Bill Belichick. Dorsey doesn’t talk much about Green Bay. Doesn’t tell stories about drafting Aaron Rodgers or winning the Super Bowl with the league’s youngest roster or what they saw in Clay Matthews that 25 other teams passed on ... unless you ask.

Dorsey isn’t coming to Kansas City expecting people to kiss his Super Bowl rings as much as he’s hoping the people here can help him win another one.

“I think you’ve got to earn everybody’s respect,” he says. “I’m trying to earn everybody’s respect in the organization. I only know one way. I have no ego. I like to work. I like work, I like football, and I love my family.”

The Chiefs’ last four years were filled with drama. Carl Peterson ran the organization for two decades, and although he probably should have been replaced a year or two earlier, you can now look back and see a professionalism that went missing when he departed. He had his quirks — quite frankly… — but people genuinely liked working for him. There’s something to be said for that.

It’s only three months, of course, but there seems to be a steadiness and professionalism returning to the Chiefs’ offices. You don’t hear stories of paranoia, or micromanaging, or bizarre rules about who can make color copies.

This is still an NFL organization, so secrets are still closely guarded. Besides, NFL teams are bigger than the general manager. Owner Clark Hunt was going to push his franchise in this direction no matter who he hired as general manager.

But the sense from the inside is one of confidence, comfort and a renewed optimism. You can see that in Dorsey as he talks about the rewards of hard work and the focus on empowering his scouts. Get people invested, he says. Get them excited. That’s how you build a winning culture.

Again, we don’t know how this story will end. Dorsey is only three months into the job. His first draft is three weeks off, his first game six months away. All we have are these hints. But all these hints are positive.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

All that truly matters is getting into the playoffs.

With an elite QB.

Alex Smith isn't taking a 9-7 team anywhere.

[Mr_Tomahawk]

Here we go...I can see it now:

"Didn't Alex just take the niners to the NFC Championship...?"

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by Wonton Prejudice

The Broncos are probably a 14-2 team.

We call this move the Garcia Bronco.

[Rasputin]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

The 2011 NY Giants won the Super Bowl with a 9-7 record.

The 2008 Arizona Cardinals were two minutes away from a Super Bowl with a 9-7 record.

All that truly matters is getting into the playoffs.

If we had a draft pick quarterback to lead this team I'd be excited to get into the playoffs with a 9-7 record. Forgive me that I think Alex Smith and any other retread QB the Chiefs would get ****ing suck for us to win in the playoffs. Could happen but we have only one playoff win with Joe Montana to show for it in the last 30 -40 years.

[Messier]

Originally Posted by KC Tattoo

If we had a draft pick quarterback to lead this team I'd be excited to get into the playoffs with a 9-7 record. Forgive me that I think Alex Smith and any other retread QB the Chiefs would get ****ing suck for us to win in the playoffs. Could happen but we have only one playoff win with Joe Montana to show for it in the last 30 -40 years.

I don't think there's a QB in the draft that can play better than Alex Smith this season.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by KC Tattoo

If we had a draft pick quarterback to lead this team I'd be excited to get into the playoffs with a 9-7 record. Forgive me that I think Alex Smith and any other retread QB the Chiefs would get ****ing suck for us to win in the playoffs. Could happen but we have only one playoff win with Joe Montana to show for it in the last 30 -40 years.

I'm just the messenger.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Messier

I don't think there's a QB in the draft that can play better than Alex Smith this season.

"This season" being the key phrase.
Posted via Mobile Device

[milkman]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I understand that some people feel that way but I spoke to someone today at great length that's been a frequent contributor for two decades at both ESPN and the NFL Network that had the opposite view.

Without going into too much detail, the "League" views the Chiefs as a real playoff threat this season and the consensus is that the Alex Smith move was genius, especially when coupled with Reid. The "League" has also been extremely impressed with their moves in free agency.

I was also told that the Bills have no interest in Smith, have targeted Nassib and will take him with their second round pick, so eliminate him from contention. If there's an unlikely run on QB's, they'll be more than happy to trade up into the late first round and grab him.

Take it for what it's worth. It's not "Bible" but it was interesting and I appreciated the input, especially since we're so close to the draft.

Again, FWIW.

This is not a dig at you.

ESPN analysts, and analysts all over, had the Chiefs as a playoff team.

They also thought that the move to get Cassel by Pioli when he first took the job was a great move.

Can't say I care much for how experts and analysts see things.

I personally think that if Reid tries to implement his offense the way he likes to run it with Alex Smith, this is a 5 win team at best.

If he adapts and asks Smith to manage the game in much the same way that Harbaugh, and Dontari Poe takes an impressive step forward in his progress, then this might be a 9 win team.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by milkman

This is not a dig at you.

ESPN analysts, and analysts all over, had the Chiefs as a playoff team.

They also thought that the move to get Cassel by ***** when he first took the job was a great move.

Can't say I care much for how experts and analysts see things.

I personally think that if Reid tries to implement his offense the way he likes to run it with Alex Smith, this is a 5 win team at best.

If he adapts and asks Smith to manage the game in much the same way that Harbaugh, and Dontari Poe takes an impressive step forward in his progress, then this might be a 9 win team.

Again, I'm just a messenger.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Messier

I don't think there's a QB in the draft that can play better than Alex Smith this season.

The question is, or should be, is there one that can play better in the years to come?

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

The 2011 NY Giants won the Super Bowl with a 9-7 record.

The 2008 Arizona Cardinals were two minutes away from a Super Bowl with a 9-7 record.

All that truly matters is getting into the playoffs.

Kurt Warner isn't walking through that door. Eli Manning isn't walking through that door, and Aaron Rodgers isn't walking through that door.

Yeah, you can win a SB as a WC if you have elite QB play.

Welp...

[The_Doctor10]

I suppose the best thing to remember is that Reid is never going to be satisfied with 'just ok' qb play long term. When McNabb began to decline, he drafted Kolb, signed Vick. When Vick wasnt a long term fix, he drafted Foles.

Alex Smith is here to establish some sort of consistency at the position. He's not here because Reid wants to show the NFL he's a genius who picks qbs in the 7th.

I like geno, and if they pick him, great. But if everyone sees something and you don't, what are the odds that it's everyone else?

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by Wonton Prejudice

The Chiefs aren't a playoff threat while Peyton Manning is in the AFC West.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by The_Doctor10

I suppose the best thing to remember is that Reid is never going to be satisfied with 'just ok' qb play long term. When McNabb began to decline, he drafted Kolb, signed Vick. When Vick wasnt a long term fix, he drafted Foles.

Alex Smith is here to establish some sort of consistency at the position. He's not here because Reid wants to show the NFL he's a genius who picks qbs in the 7th.

I like geno, and if they pick him, great. But if everyone sees something and you don't, what are the odds that it's everyone else?

FWIW, none of those guys he got to replace McNabb were good enough either. Washing down a shit sandwich with a glass of piss doesn't solve your problem.

[The_Doctor10]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

FWIW, none of those guys he got to replace McNabb were good enough either. Washing down a shit sandwich with a glass of piss doesn't solve your problem.

The biggest problem with both Kolb and Vick is their inability to stay on the field; both are concussion magnets. Subtract some severe brain trauma, there's very little wrong with them as quarterbacks. Vick's second season in Philly was as dominant a season as a qb has had in the last fifteen years. And largely credited to the work Reid did with him.