USA Today: Chiefs Roster Needs and Moves

[Fish]

Kris Wilson, of course, finished the season as a fullback, but frequently split out. His athleticism gets him open, but he is prone to dropping passes and hasn't necessarily shown much ability to make yards after the catch.

Whaaa? I'd say Wilson drops fewer passes than anybody besides maybe Gonzo....

[Archie Bunker]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

I know, it sounds absurd.

But ...

From an epic Redskins season-ender in the Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...010201192.html

When the Redskins hired Al Saunders to run their offense last winter, one NFL assistant said Williams was troubled by the move, not from any dislike for Saunders but because he worried that Saunders's frenetic offense, which often produced touchdowns quickly, would put pressure on Williams's defense. With the pace of the game accelerated, the defense would naturally give up more yards and points and its ranking would suffer.

"I can't do this," the assistant said Williams told him. The assistant asked that he not be identified by name because he considers both men to be friends.

When asked about this, Williams said he has a high regard for Saunders going back to Super Bowl XXXIV, when Saunders's Rams beat Williams's Titans. In fact, Williams is convinced he's the reason Saunders is with the Redskins, having gone through his file on the coach while he himself was on several lists for head coaching openings last January. He decided if he were to be offered a job, Saunders would be his first choice for offensive coordinator, a fact he said he mentioned to Gibbs one day.

A few days later, Gibbs walked into Williams's office and said he had hired Saunders, shocking Williams, who never knew the Redskins were courting him.

"I hired him because of what you told me about him," Williams remembered Gibbs telling him.

Williams smiled. "He's here because of me bragging on him to Coach" Gibbs, he said.

Either way, to outsiders, Saunders's offense has in fact affected the Redskins' defense -- a lot. Cowboys Coach Bill Parcells mentioned as much in a New York Times magazine article in the fall. While watching game tape of the Redskins, he noted how little regard Saunders seemed to have for his defensive coordinator. The NFL assistant who said Williams fretted about the hiring has watched the Redskins this season specifically to see how Williams would deal with the faster pace of the offense. He agreed with Parcells's assessment, adding that it was the biggest reason for Washington's defensive collapse.

The same league assistant who spoke of Williams's stubbornness has broken down the Redskins' game tapes and said defensive players weren't getting time to rest because Saunders's offense was not putting together sustained drives, as it did in 2005. Either Washington scored fast or the complex system stalled, pushing the offense off the field after three plays. Neither was conducive to defensive dominance, the assistant said.

"Scoring points in this league is great," the assistant said. "But sometimes you can score too quickly."

Interesting read

[FringeNC]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

I know, it sounds absurd.

But ...

From an epic Redskins season-ender in the Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...010201192.html

When the Redskins hired Al Saunders to run their offense last winter, one NFL assistant said Williams was troubled by the move, not from any dislike for Saunders but because he worried that Saunders's frenetic offense, which often produced touchdowns quickly, would put pressure on Williams's defense. With the pace of the game accelerated, the defense would naturally give up more yards and points and its ranking would suffer.

"I can't do this," the assistant said Williams told him. The assistant asked that he not be identified by name because he considers both men to be friends.

When asked about this, Williams said he has a high regard for Saunders going back to Super Bowl XXXIV, when Saunders's Rams beat Williams's Titans. In fact, Williams is convinced he's the reason Saunders is with the Redskins, having gone through his file on the coach while he himself was on several lists for head coaching openings last January. He decided if he were to be offered a job, Saunders would be his first choice for offensive coordinator, a fact he said he mentioned to Gibbs one day.

A few days later, Gibbs walked into Williams's office and said he had hired Saunders, shocking Williams, who never knew the Redskins were courting him.

"I hired him because of what you told me about him," Williams remembered Gibbs telling him.

Williams smiled. "He's here because of me bragging on him to Coach" Gibbs, he said.

Either way, to outsiders, Saunders's offense has in fact affected the Redskins' defense -- a lot. Cowboys Coach Bill Parcells mentioned as much in a New York Times magazine article in the fall. While watching game tape of the Redskins, he noted how little regard Saunders seemed to have for his defensive coordinator. The NFL assistant who said Williams fretted about the hiring has watched the Redskins this season specifically to see how Williams would deal with the faster pace of the offense. He agreed with Parcells's assessment, adding that it was the biggest reason for Washington's defensive collapse.

The same league assistant who spoke of Williams's stubbornness has broken down the Redskins' game tapes and said defensive players weren't getting time to rest because Saunders's offense was not putting together sustained drives, as it did in 2005. Either Washington scored fast or the complex system stalled, pushing the offense off the field after three plays. Neither was conducive to defensive dominance, the assistant said.

"Scoring points in this league is great," the assistant said. "But sometimes you can score too quickly."

Seems an odd argument to make given that Saunders' Chiefs were always near the top in TOP and number of offensive plays run. Haven't looked at the numbers pre-and-post Saunders for the Redskins.

Edit: Additionally, we really weren't a quick-strike team like the 99-01 Rams. The Rams had a terrible defense in 00, but the #1 or #2 defense in 01 under Lovie Smith.

[Wile_E_Coyote]

The Vermeil & Saunders lovers will be shooting the rapids of the river de-nile(copy&paste the article for '63). Edwards made the same remarks about the O scoring to quickly & was laughed at

[Direckshun]

Great article.

But.

The author makes the same mistake as many Chiefs fans do regarding Dante Hall. Hall is not to be thought of as a circus freak superstar anymore, he's a solid role player, ideal for gaining three to ten yards on quick slants and reverses. He may not be the kick returner we need (although I'm not sold on the idea that he should lose that job just yet), but he's a great option for short yardage receiving, and the threat of Dante running a reverse can keep a defense honest on a play or two.

The article did not mention how well Sampson performed once he got time to get settled at RT. Again, not a superstar, but he did his job very well for the two or three games that he got to own his position.

Sammy Knight isn't the fastest guy on the team, but he's the best tackler in the secondary and he poses a legitimate threat for a blitz when he's out there. He loves to hit and he could further bring Mr. Pollard along.

I'm not sold on Wesley either way. He's a good tackler, he has great hands, but he makes a lot of mistakes on coverage. Page has proven his hands and he's proven them by playing expert coverage -- but his tackling is still a question mark. Who gets the job?

[TRR]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

Great article.

But.

The author makes the same mistake as many Chiefs fans do regarding Dante Hall. Hall is not to be thought of as a circus freak superstar anymore, he's a solid role player, ideal for gaining three to ten yards on quick slants and reverses. He may not be the kick returner we need (although I'm not sold on the idea that he should lose that job just yet), but he's a great option for short yardage receiving, and the threat of Dante running a reverse can keep a defense honest on a play or two.

The article did not mention how well Sampson performed once he got time to get settled at RT. Again, not a superstar, but he did his job very well for the two or three games that he got to own his position.

Sammy Knight isn't the fastest guy on the team, but he's the best tackler in the secondary and he poses a legitimate threat for a blitz when he's out there. He loves to hit and he could further bring Mr. Pollard along.

I'm not sold on Wesley either way. He's a good tackler, he has great hands, but he makes a lot of mistakes on coverage. Page has proven his hands and he's proven them by playing expert coverage -- but his tackling is still a question mark. Who gets the job?

I disagree with your assessment of Dante Hall. KC could bring just about anyone in off the street to pick up 200 yards receiving, and run gadget plays like Hall does. His kick/punt returning is why Hall is on the team, and he just doesn't have it anymore. Jeff Webb could replace Hall in a hearbeat.

Sammy Knight is a LB playing Safety. In KC's cover two, They need someone with more speed to help Law and Surtain. Pollard hits just as hard, and tackles just as well, he just lacks knowledge of the cover two.

I thought Page, in three games alone, outplayed Wesley's 16+ game season. Wesley played better this season than in years past, but he still is a liability in coverage, and doesn't like to hit nearly as much as he used to.

[crazycoffey]

Originally Posted by TRR

I disagree with your assessment of Dante Hall. KC could bring just about anyone in off the street to pick up 200 yards receiving, and run gadget plays like Hall does. His kick/punt returning is why Hall is on the team, and he just doesn't have it anymore. Jeff Webb could replace Hall in a hearbeat.

Sammy Knight is a LB playing Safety. In KC's cover two, They need someone with more speed to help Law and Surtain. Pollard hits just as hard, and tackles just as well, he just lacks knowledge of the cover two.

I thought Page, in three games alone, outplayed Wesley's 16+ game season. Wesley played better this season than in years past, but he still is a liability in coverage, and doesn't like to hit nearly as much as he used to.

since sammy's slowing down, but still hits hard, could he convert to LB and fill in for Bell's inept ass?

just saying, for worse case scenerios.

[Bob Dole]

Tynes had a bad year, even before he missed a 23-yard field goal, in a dome, in the playoffs. He has plenty of leg...

HAHAHAHAHAHA.

If you consider kickoffs consistently fielded beyond the 5 yard line "plenty of leg".

Tynes sucks.

[cookster50]

This article makes you realize once again how old the team is.

[Halfcan]

Score too quickly??? Well good thing we didn't have that problem in the Playoffs.

[crazycoffey]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

Score too quickly??? Well good thing we didn't have that problem in the Playoffs.

QUITE TRYING TO MAKE SENSE!!!!

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

Score too quickly??? Well good thing we didn't have that problem in the Playoffs.