New GM Dorsey brings energy, enthusiasm to first training camp with Chiefs

[mdchiefsfan]

http://www.kansascity.com/2013/07/19...nthusiasm.html

July 19
BY VAHE GREGORIAN
The Kansas City Star

The sheer, sincere energy radiates, almost enough to make you flinch or squint, as John Dorsey walks in the room and introduces himself.

As the new Chiefs general manager prepared to embark Friday for an inspection of the operation at Missouri Western, where the team begins training camp with a trickle Monday and in earnest on Friday, it was hard not to get reeled in by his boyish enthusiasm.

He spoke of the franchise being a “crown jewel” once it’s awakened and vowed he “will not rest” until then. He talked of an organization that is “symmetrically aligned” and of the good people he is working with — “You can feel that around here ” — in the aftermath of a reign of error that he isn’t interested in addressing.

“I don’t live in the past; I live in the present and look forward to the future,” Dorsey said. “I’ll learn from the past, but I won’t live in it. I am who I am.”

And who he is couldn’t contain his anticipation of the home opener against Dallas on Sept. 15.

“Here’s what I can’t wait to hear,” he says, before bellowing out a somewhat disturbing, impossible-to-describe roaring sound. “These fans are unbelievable. I mean, I just want to hear them cranked up.”

Toward that end, here’s what he says fans should look for in the first year of the new regime of Dorsey and head coach Andy Reid.

“Everybody should expect a team that will be very competitive, that will represent the brand of the Kansas City Chiefs and what it stands for,” he said. “You’re going to see a bunch of guys that are excited and competitive and are going to compete their (tails) off for the AFC West — and rightfully so.

“That’s what you should be doing. That’s why you’re in the business.

“And you’re going to see a group of guys who are going to come together like a big family,” he adds, meshing the fingers of both hands together, “and the closeness in the locker room can buy you (victories).

“We’re all in this together; everybody’s on the same page.”

If that proves true in the long haul, it will an achievement in itself after the splintering within under predecessor Scott Pioli.

But by way of example, Dorsey points first to Chiefs owner Clark Hunt and president Mark Donovan, speaking of each with admiration and later illustrating the flow chart by finding four Styrofoam plates and arranging them with Hunt represented at the top and Donovan, Reid and himself on the same line.

“The structure that Clark has set up, it works, it really does,” he said, adding that they have worked to create a “belief system” together. “Listen, not one guy has all the answers, but collectively, if you can take everybody together, the fist is much more powerful than (a finger).”

He added, “I know my strengths and weaknesses, but I’ll find the solution. Does that make sense? Just give me a little time and some patience, and I’ll use every resource available and I’ll find the solution.”

While Dorsey stressed the essentials of cooperation and communication throughout the organization, top to bottom, the dynamic that will be most evident and likely most vital to the franchise’s future after years of futility will be the one between Reid and him.

The duo became close during their time together in Green Bay, where Reid was an assistant from 1992-98 before his 14-year run as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles ended with a 4-12 campaign a year ago.

“Andy and I talk three times a day, even on vacation; we’re like two brothers,” he says, pulling out his cell phone to show a picture of his 2-year-old, “Baby Jack,” eating watermelon that he recently texted Reid. “That’s what we share; that’s part of the friendship, and that’s we do.

“We communicate. In the positions were in, and this includes Clark and Mark as well, we’re in constant communication. Constant communication makes effective organizations, and that’s the way it is.”

For a more tangible illustration of how that plays out, Dorsey retraced the steps of how they went about going after quarterback Alex Smith from the 49ers.

“The coaches did their evaluation, overall assessment of the team. We (in personnel) did our overall assessment of the team,” said Dorsey, who had spent most of the last two decades making his mark with the Packers in that capacity. “That way everybody gets a separate, objective opinion. Then Andy and I sat and talked, and it was interesting because we both were spot-on … about our needs.

“So then I assessed all of the quarterback pool there was, in the NFL and in college. I assessed it, then I ranked them, I broke them down. And it wasn’t even close. Alex Smith was the only option.”

The division of labor, Dorsey said, also should benefit Reid.

“I think it’s huge. His plate was full when he was in Philly, now; I mean, really full,” he said. “And the way that Clark has structured it, my job is to bring the chess pieces to the game and say, ‘There you go, big boy, let’s go play.’ ”

With a smile, he added that Reid is a “pretty good offensive schemer” — who will have more time for that again — among his other attributes.

“He is a gentleman; he is a leader. Andy’s really good at molding young men,” he said. “You know why? Because he is honest, he’s truthful. Guys believe in him. He’s going to tell it like it is, good or bad.”

His own upbeat aura notwithstanding, Dorsey has that in him, too.

He knows he’s in a honeymoon phase, of course, and he might prefer to undersell and overdeliver.

“I just wish the fans would taper down,” he said, smiling but maybe not quite joking. “I know they’re excited, but this is a marathon, not a sprint. It can’t happen overnight.”

That may most aptly be summed up by the fact that 53 of the 90 names on the Chiefs’ training camp roster are new.

“I’m just throwing this number out there flippantly, but the average shifting is probably 20,” Dorsey said. “But when you’re 2-14, you better do something.”

But even if he does consider himself a realist, even if he acknowledges “you never know what you have” until you see it, Dorsey is thrilled to be in the thick of the transition on the eve of his first Chiefs camp.

“It’s a new season,” he said. “I want to see this team (and) who they really are.”

And no matter who it is and how far it has to go, he adds, “When we wake up in the morning, that’s why we’re here, to not only make ourselves better but make our community better. Let’s do something special today.”

[milkman]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Considering this team went 7-9 without Berry, Charles and Moeaki, along with starting schlubs like Cassel, Palko and Orton, with quite possibly the worst head coach in Chiefs franchise history, I'm guessing that Reid, Dorsey and Hunt feel that the playoffs are within their reach with their 2013 moves.

It's calculated risk and hopefully it pays off.

Neither Frank Ganz nor Romeo Crennel were roaming the sidelines in 2011.

[splatbass]

Originally Posted by milkman

If I go to a car lot for a used Honda, and there's someone else willing to overpay for said Honda, I am not going to overpay for that Honda.

We overpaid because someone else was willing to.
That's just stupid.

We should have let them overpay and moved on the used Toyota.

I would agree if the Toyota was equal to the Honda. But in this case there was no Toyota that was anywhere near the Honda.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by O.city

Considering the AFC is actually pretty weak overall, they need to not only push for the playoffs but make them IMO for this to be a successful year.


If they fall just short, it won't be a huge disaster, but it won't be considered a "good" season.

And I really don't want to hear about this "they were 2-14 last year" BS either. If they really felt that they were that bad and it was going to take a while to build it back, they went about it the wrong way.

I wouldn't say the AFC is weak at all.

I'll tell you right now what our playoff chances rely on. We're gonna be fighting against the 2nd and 3rd best AFC North teams and the 2nd best AFC South team for a wildcard spot.

That Colts game game in week 16 is going to be a huge determining factor. Glad it's at home.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by BossChief

Absolutely.

They went all in with this offseason with pocket 9s.

Let's hope they hit trips.

In the AFC:

Manning
Luck
Roethlisberger
Dalton
Flacco
Brady

However you want to rank them, there's your AA-99.

Schaub is likely 88.

Rivers is likely 77.

So at best, using your analogy, we went all-in with pocket 6's.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by RunKC

I wouldn't say the AFC is weak at all.

I'll tell you right now what our playoff chances rely on. We're gonna be fighting against the 2nd and 3rd best AFC North teams and the 2nd best AFC South team for a wildcard spot.

That Colts game game in week 16 is going to be a huge determining factor. Glad it's at home.

The AFC is weak. Look around.

The East is the Pats and the unknown Dolphins.

The North is tough, but I don't think the Steelers and Ravens are what they have been, both are beatable. Yes, I realize the Ravens just won a SB.

The South is the Texans and a Colts team that IMO, was overrated last year.

The Broncos are the cream of the crop in the AFC.

The AFC is considerably weaker than normal and really weak compared to the NFC.

[O.city]

And FWIW, I take that back, I think the Bengals might be the best team in the AFC this year.

[Ace Gunner]

Originally Posted by O.city

Considering the AFC is actually pretty weak overall, they need to not only push for the playoffs but make them IMO for this to be a successful year.


If they fall just short, it won't be a huge disaster, but it won't be considered a "good" season.

And I really don't want to hear about this "they were 2-14 last year" BS either. If they really felt that they were that bad and it was going to take a while to build it back, they went about it the wrong way.

this.

the chiefs are as talented as any in the AFC and if they are not somewhere in the second week of playoffs, this has been a poor match up between staff and personnel.

This is what reared it's ugly head for Pioli -- by the 2011 season, we saw a team that was just not playing together well. we went from cassel bad to palko bad and that was Pioli's idiocy & legacy.

[Ceej]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

In the AFC:

Manning
Luck
Roethlisberger
Dalton
Flacco
Brady

However you want to rank them, there's your AA-99.

Schaub is likely 88.

Rivers is likely 77.

So at best, using your analogy, we went all-in with pocket 6's.

I agree with all of this except Rivers. Dude is like pocket ducks.

[splatbass]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

I'll gladly take near-elite. I'll gladly take a guy with the potential to become near-elite.

And that's the thing - while people defending Alex Smith to the death continue to claim there are only 4-5 elite QB's, they conveniently do not mention that there are many more guys that are near-elite or have the talent to become elite/near-elite.

Love him or hate him, Jaws was spot on with his assessment of AS as the 20th best starting QB in the league. And that's not good enough.

Of the available QBs, who would you have taken that would be good enough?

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by CJizzles

I agree with all of this except Rivers. Dude is like pocket ducks.

I think you're blinded by his shitty attitude. He's easily the 2nd most talented QB in the division.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by splatbass

Of the available QBs, who would you have taken that would be good enough?

The question wasn't directed to me, but for me, since my only goal is to find a QB that I belive we can win a SB with, and I don't believe that Alex Smith is thatt guy, any availble QB would have good enough for stop gap purposes.

[Ceej]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

I think you're blinded by his shitty attitude. He's easily the 2nd most talented QB in the division.

It's a what-have-you-done-for-me league.

I think you overvalue Rivers.

Just my opinion.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by O.city

Maybe they're playing blackjack?

hope they hit a tres?
Posted via Mobile Device

[splatbass]

Originally Posted by milkman

The question wasn't directed to me, but for me, since my only goal is to find a QB that I belive we can win a SB with, and I don't believe that Alex Smith is thatt guy, any availble QB would have good enough for stop gap purposes.

It is clear that Dorsey and Reid didn't choose Smith to be a stop gap QB. What better "win now" QB would you have taken, since that is their strategy?

[BossChief]

I'd trade Alex Smith for Phillip Rivers in a second.

Alex has never played at the level Rivers has shown to be capable of.

Not even close