Lesson Learned: Clark is Right to Land HC First

[Chief Faithful]

Originally Posted by FAX

Sometimes I stay up late worrying about the mentally handicapped.

Clark's strategy in this situation smacks of brilliance. Whether he came up with the idea or merely listened to advice from someone else, it's an extraordinarily smart move, Mr. Hugh Janus.

I've posted this basic idea before, but since nobody ever reads my posts, there's no reason not to repeat it here; Clark is engaging a great strategy.

Let's assume (and probably very correctly) that Dr. Evil has a generous early termination compensation clause in his deal. Let's also assume (equally correctly) that he won't want to just up and quit because he's an incompetent moron. Given those two factoiders, Clark says, "Okay, screw you and your GM position. I'll just hire a coach who can handle your personnel responsibilities and make all the other football decisions. Somebody else can take over the janitorial concerns. You sit by the door and keep your mouth shut or you're fired for cause." Meanwhile, Clark's attorneys try to work out some sort of mutually-agreeable compromise and, failing that, decide whether or not Clark has the liberty to fire him outright based on some other rationale ... such as being a total idiot.

As I said, it's brilliant. A classic case of making chicken salad out of a dodo.

FAX

I'm in agreement and take this a step further this strategy maybe exactly what makes Pioli more effective. He has done well managing the cap and has a good system in place for talent scouting and evaluation. The problem is he does not know what the team needs because of the lack of coaching stability and poor internal talent evaluation. I think both of these problems are solved by this new strategy.

By making the coach equal to the GM and reporting to the owner this attracts better coaching talent. Brings stability to the organization. And most of all give the coach equal say as to what the team needs in the way of talent. For example, if Haley, as reported, did not like Cassel he could say to Pioli get me a new QB and it now becomes Pioli's job to get a new QB. Before Pioli just says its not the QB's fault it is yours and fires the HC. Coach now has more power and respect, which is healthy for the whole organization.

[FAX]

Originally Posted by Chief Faithful

I'm in agreement and take this a step further this strategy maybe exactly what makes Pioli more effective. He has done well managing the cap and has a good system in place for talent scouting and evaluation. The problem is he does not know what the team needs because of the lack of coaching stability and poor internal talent evaluation. I think both of these problems are solved by this new strategy.

By making the coach equal to the GM and reporting to the owner this attracts better coaching talent. Brings stability to the organization. And most of all give the coach equal say as to what the team needs in the way of talent. For example, if Haley, as reported, did not like Cassel he could say to Pioli get me a new QB and it now becomes Pioli's job to get a new QB. Before Pioli just says its not the QB's fault it is yours and fires the HC. Coach now has more power and respect, which is healthy for the whole organization.

I agree except for the first part about Pioli being somehow "effective". He's done well managing the cap for three reasons; 1) He's dealt with a crap load of rookie deals that were already in place and 2) He's signed guys who weren't crazy about testing FA, and 3) He's brought in absolute garbage as FA talent.

In other words, he's proven that he can not screw up an anvil ... which, when I think about it, is a little surprising in and of itself.

FAX

[Chief Faithful]

Originally Posted by FAX

I agree except for the first part about Pioli being somehow "effective". He's done well managing the cap for three reasons; 1) He's dealt with a crap load of rookie deals that were already in place and 2) He's signed guys who weren't crazy about testing FA, and 3) He's brought in absolute garbage as FA talent.

In other words, he's proven that he can not screw up an anvil ... which, when I think about it, is a little surprising in and of itself.

FAX

Pioli brought in the same talent evaluation and management system used in New England and Atlanta, which is a great system. The thing that has failed is Pioli has been responsible for determining the team needs. Let Pioli work the scouting system and let the HC determine what the team needs and this could work just as well as it does in New England and Atlanta.

[FAX]

Originally Posted by Chief Faithful

Pioli brought in the same talent evaluation and management system used in New England and Atlanta, which is a great system. The thing that has failed is Pioli has been responsible for determining the team needs. Let Pioli work the scouting system and let the HC determine what the team needs and this could work just as well as it does in New England and Atlanta.

Hmmm ... I must be operating under a set of inaccurate assumptions, Mr. Chief Faithful. It is and has been my understanding that Dr. Evil himself has made the personnel and drafting decisions and that our "scouting department" is primarily responsible for number-crunching only.

If true, what kind of system is that? That's no "system". I don't even know what that is ... a feudal system, maybe.

I fear that any efforts to identify redeeming qualities in Dr. Evil are wasted on me, Mr. Chief Faithful. I cannot force myself to even be reasonable about it.

FAX

[Chief Faithful]

Originally Posted by FAX

Hmmm ... I must be operating under a set of inaccurate assumptions, Mr. Chief Faithful. It is and has been my understanding that Dr. Evil himself has made the personnel and drafting decisions and that our "scouting department" is primarily responsible for number-crunching only.

If true, what kind of system is that? That's no "system". I don't even know what that is ... a feudal system, maybe.

I fear that any efforts to identify redeeming qualities in Dr. Evil are wasted on me, Mr. Chief Faithful. I cannot force myself to even be reasonable about it.

FAX

Read the book War Room if you are interested in the scouting system used by the Patriots, Falcons and Chiefs. It is a great system the problem in KC is the Al Davis type dysfunction not the system. Get a HC with a strong personality who knows what is needed on the field reporting to the owner and that dysfunction will end.

Don't misread me, the NFL is a results business and Pioli has failed with the football operations. Too much turn-over in the coaching staff, lack of team personality and the wrong 53 on the field. As a team administrator he has been successful.

Maybe Pioli has failed because he has been asked to do too much. Let Pioli or the new GM run the scouting system and administrate the cap and let the HC run the football operations. I believe if the Chiefs find a strong personality for HC that knows what is needed on the field then maybe Pioli could excel in the same role he filled in New England. Jay or Jon Gruden, Cowher, Saban, and Billick all have that strong personality the Chiefs need. I don't know much about Kelly or Shanahan, but they sound good.

Just my opinion, all of this, but I strongly believe what Hunt has done so far has been brilliant and a good sign of things to come.