Gretz - It's Been Done Before

[C-Mac]

It's Been Done Before
Sep 26, 2008, 8:46:46 AM by Bob Gretz - FAQ

Not much fun being a Chiefs fans these days, is it? What with the franchise record 12-game losing streak, 21 quarters since the Chiefs have held the lead in a game and the fact that a loss this Sunday to Denver would give them a 0-4 start for the first time since 1980.

Funny thing about that 0-4 start some 28 years ago. The Chiefs finished that season 8-8. They were in the third-year of Marv Levy’s rebuilding project, one that began in 1978 with a 4-12 record, followed by 7-9 in the 1979 season.

Strange things happen when a team is rebuilding. There are dark days and seemingly no future. Then one day, a team that couldn’t get out of its way one week, pulls it together and starts winning. It has happened many times before.

I won’t take you back to the ‘80 Chiefs, who started 0-4 because just about every one of their starting offensive linemen was injured for the opening month. No, let’s look at something more recent.

The Tennessee Titans.

In 2003, the Titans were 12-4 and went to New England and lost a game in the playoffs to the Patriots, 17-14. They were a veteran team with guys like Derrick Mason, Steve McNair, Eddie George, Frank Wycheck, Kevin Carter, Jevon Kearse, Samari Role and Albert Haynesworth.

They were a veteran group, an old group and they were in salary cap jail. The Titans had kept many of their own stars with big money deals. They had little room to maneuver in free agency, whether it was keeping their own players that were coming up or signing others.

By the start of the ‘04 season, George, Wycheck and Kearse were gone. By the start of the ‘05 season, they were joined by Mason, Carter and Rolle. By the ‘06 season McNair was gone too. Only Haynesworth remained.

The ‘04 season finished with a 5-11 record. The ‘05 season finished with a final record of 4-12.

At the start of the ‘06 season, the Titans began 0-5. Combined with a 2-9 finish at the end of the ‘05 schedule, at one point they were 2-14, with an eight-game losing streak.

But while the record was going down, the talent level of young players was growing with good drafts in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

That ‘06 season started with a seven-point loss to the New York Jets. Then it was a 33-point defeat on the road to San Diego. Both of those clubs went to the playoffs that year. But in week No. 3, the Titans lost to Miami 13-10, a team that finished 6-10. They were crushed by Dallas at home 45-14, a Cowboys team that finished 9-7. Then it was the fifth straight loss for that ‘06 season, a one-pointer on the road to Indianapolis.

At that point, the Titans were 0-5, and they were averaging 12 points per game, while giving up 27 points per game. They had a rebuilt offense and a defense that had developed several players and sprinkled in with some veteran free agents, like LB David Thornton and DE Kyle Vanden Bosch. None were signed to contracts for big dollars.

It had been a season of tearing down, and then 21 games of rebuilding over two seasons. In that troubled time, the Titans were an ugly 9-28.

The eight-game losing streak ended in week No. 6, with a 25-22 victory on the road in Washington. Over the final 11 weeks of the ‘06 season, the Titans were 8-3.

Then last year, they went 10-6 and made the playoffs. This year they are 3-0.

So they went 9-28, and now they’ve gone 21-9.

It was hard. It was tough. It wasn’t easy. It’s not complete. The Titans have a problem at quarterback with their first-round guy from the ‘06 Draft in Vince Young. But they continue to win with veteran Kerry Collins. That’s because the rest of the team around him is so good and he’s not making the big mistakes that are part of his profile (176 career TD passes against 173 career INTs.)

The Titans didn’t just wake up one morning and suddenly were better. They paid a price. They got younger, they built through the draft and now, they are reaping the profits from their patience.

It’s a model for what the Chiefs are trying to do. It’s also a story that every Chiefs fan should remember during these dark days.

[Hammock Parties]

Great article by Gretz. He's bang on.

[FAX]

Originally Posted by Zouk

The Titans moved to Nashville in 1997. The period Gretz described was 2004-2006. ...

I'm sure this is just a simple matter of miscommunication and not a conscious, intentional attempt on your part to misdirect the discussion in order to score some cheap gotcha points, Mr. Zouk. I refuse to believe that a person of your intellect and integrity would do something like that. Ever.

But, just to be clear. I mentioned the Tacks' move to Nashville in the context of your prior post which included the following statistics ...

Herm Edwards:

Playoffs: 4 out of 7 years (57%)
Playoff record: 2-3

Jeff Fisher:

Playoffs: 5 out of 13 years (38%)
Playoff record: 5-5

Surely we're on the same page, now. Gretz can talk about whatever he wishes. You, on the other hand, were making the argument that Herm's record compares favorably to Fishers' and you included Fisher's 13 years of tenure in order to make your point. I was simply pointing out (as I've already stated) that Fisher's w/l record should be viewed in light of the many issues he had to fight through while acquiring said record. Just so we're clear.

FAX

[Zouk]

Originally Posted by FAX

Your comment about "People were not singing Jeff Fisher's praises during that period ..." is curious, though. Sure, there were some folks who were harping on him, but just so you know, the vast majority of peeps in Nashville were tremendously supportive of him - even during those crazy times. I think it was because they were just so thrilled to have an NFL team moving in. Had he not started winning, though, I'm sure that would have changed.

FAX

The period I was talking about in the first line was 2004-2006.

[FAX]

Okay ... let's see here ... first, it's 3 years of rebuild, then it's 13 years of record, then it's 3 years of rebuild again. With all respect, Mr. Zouk, this is getting confusing.

I tell you what, let's just pick one, single year we can both agree on and work from there. I'll start ... 1867.

FAX

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by Claythan

Great article by Gretz. He's bang on.

How does Carls D*ck taste?

[Hammock Parties]

You know guys, I really resent the notion that I'm trying in some way to please the Chiefs by being positive. I'm not. The Chiefs don't give me anything in return. So please stop.

[triple]

so the point of this is that Gretz thinks we should give Carl 2 more years to show signs of improvement?

[Zouk]

Originally Posted by FAX

Okay ... let's see here ... first, it's 3 years of rebuild, then it's 13 years of record, then it's 3 years of rebuild again. With all respect, Mr. Zouk, this is getting confusing.

I tell you what, let's just pick one, single year we can both agree on and work from there. I'll start ... 1867.

FAX

Dude - you said you thought I was wrong about people being down on Jeff Fisher during "that period" because they were excited the Titans were new to the city. But "that period" I was referring to was almost 10 years after that. And all of that had nothing to do with comparisons to Herm.

When I compared the records I used their entire tenures as coach.

This is not as tricky as you're pretending it is.

[FAX]

Ha! You're not going to fool me with all that "this is not tricky" stuff, Mr. Zouk. I wasn't born yesterday in a barn or someplace. Who do you think you're dealing with, Mr. Skip Towne?

FAX

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by Zouk

Herm Edwards:

Playoffs: 4 out of 7 years (57%)
Playoff record: 2-3

Jeff Fisher:

Playoffs: 5 out of 13 years (38%)
Playoff record: 5-5

It's all perception. And you cannot convince me Herm has had better talent than Fisher.

How does Herm's dick taste?

[Skip Towne]

Originally Posted by Zouk

Dude - you said you thought I was wrong about people being down on Jeff Fisher during "that period" because they were excited the Titans were new to the city. But "that period" I was referring to was almost 10 years after that. And all of that had nothing to do with comparisons to Herm.

When I compared the records I used their entire tenures as coach.

This is not as tricky as you're pretending it is.

You gotta watch that FAX guy. He's tricky.

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by Claythan

You know guys, I really resent the notion that I'm trying in some way to please the Chiefs by being positive. I'm not. The Chiefs don't give me anything in return. So please stop.

If Nick couldn't get press credentials, WPI would be frequented by about 10 people.

Since he can, you have something to gain by licking the taint of the Chiefs.

You have everything to gain. Without this gig, what are you going to do? Move out of the basement and work in fast food?

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by Claythan

You know guys, I really resent the notion that I'm trying in some way to please the Chiefs by being positive. I'm not. The Chiefs don't give me anything in return. So please stop.

OK i believe you.


Why dont you try and be more honest with your readers?? Chiefs fans are not stupid.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Why dont you try and be more honest with your readers?

I give my honest opinion.

Sometimes that opinion is negative.

[Reerun_KC]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

How does Herm's dick taste?