The Million Dollar Question: Pioli/Haley/ and the KC Roster.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Observing and taking part in the several threads that have sprung up due to Whitlock, I have finally crystallized the boiled-down essence of what this team and season is all about.



The Million Dollar Question is:



Can you evaluate and establish culture with this roster and win games simultaneously?


Without your best players on the field, I don't think you can. And it will be interesting to see as the season unfolds which of these two aspects is going to take precedence.

What do you think?

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by DaWolf

The key is "this roster".

I think people want to see us turn into Miami or Atlanta this year, but there are a few issues:
1) The roster situation inherited here is different.
2) The schedule we play this year is far harder than the one either of those teams played last year.

However, I think it is paramount that this team does start to win games, because the reality is that part of the culture they are trying to establish is winning games, and expecting to win games, not being close in games.

I don't expect this team to be any better than 5-11, which would match Pioli's initial New England team, however these guys have got to learn to win some games, and have some momentum going into next year. This gives credibility to the entire program and process. So winning is relative. I don't think they need to be a winning team *this* year, but they do need to show a lot of improvement over last year, especially in the W column...

I think people want to see us turn into the Miami/Atlanta of 2008 NEXT year.

However, it seems that many of those folks feel that the majority of the moves that have been made over the past 6 months aren't going to improve us in the future - just spin our wheels.

Time will tell who's right, I guess.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by DaWolf

The key is "this roster".

I think people want to see us turn into Miami or Atlanta this year, but there are a few issues:
1) The roster situation inherited here is different.
2) The schedule we play this year is far harder than the one either of those teams played last year.

However, I think it is paramount that this team does start to win games, because the reality is that part of the culture they are trying to establish is winning games, and expecting to win games, not being close in games.

I don't expect this team to be any better than 5-11, which would match Pioli's initial New England team, however these guys have got to learn to win some games, and have some momentum going into next year. This gives credibility to the entire program and process. So winning is relative. I don't think they need to be a winning team *this* year, but they do need to show a lot of improvement over last year, especially in the W column...

Right. Nothing unreasonable. Hell, when I say "win games too", I mean win three if we're lucky.
There is no way in hell I expect Miami-like results because like you, I understand how thin we are.
Now that said, I believe putting the legitimate talent that we DO have on our roster in the best possible position to win is just as important as any "philosophical" aspect of the overall program, and I'm wondering if we're doing that or not.

There's a lot of players who will be gone after this season, but the talent that stays and comprises the core of our team RIGHT NOW needs to get in to the habit of winning sooner rather than later.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

I think two million dollar questions are:

1a) Can Cassel be a franchise guy?
1b) Can we build a top 5 defense?

Those two are what we need to happen to accomplish what we want.

The 60 million dollar question.

We really like questions in KC.