New-Look Chiefs Turning Attention to NFL Draft

[FringeNC]

http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireSto...inglePage=true

The wholesale overhaul of the Kansas City Chiefs is nearly complete.

Andy Reid has been hired to replace Romeo Crennel as coach, and longtime Packers personnel man John Dorsey has replaced Scott ***** as general manager. Most of the assistant coaches are on board, and now the Chiefs can start turning their attention toward the rebuilding job.

That includes preparation for the NFL draft.

The Chiefs finished 2-14 last season, matching the worst record in their 53-year history. But the byproduct of all that on-field suffering is that they have the No. 1 pick for the first time, giving Kansas City a good place to start turning around the team.

"We're in a unique position," said Dorsey, who will work closely with Reid but have final say over personnel decisions. "We all know there is some pressure involved in that."

It is pressure unlike anything he's ever experienced.

Dorsey began his career as a scout for the Packers, and eventually rose to direct of college scouting and director of football operations. But his primary responsibility was assembling the draft board, and the final decision ultimately came down to the Packers' GM — Tom Braatz early in his career, Ron Wolf and Mike Sherman after that, and most recently Ted Thompson.

Now, when the final seconds are ticking away on April 25, all eyes in the Kansas City draft room will turn toward Dorsey for a decision that could shape the future of the franchise.

"Ultimately, we're just trying to win Super Bowls. That's what we're trying to do," said Dorsey, adding that he plans to use a similar blueprint to Green Bay.

"History and time has proven — and that's all I know — but this system works," Dorsey said Monday. "That's what I'm going to try to implement."

Examining the Packers' drafts over the past two decades yields a few ideas about how Dorsey will proceed: He'll likely choose the best player of available, regardless of position needs, but also understands the importance of drafting for depth at quarterback.

Many outsiders panned the choice of quarterback Aaron Rodgers when Brett Favre was firmly ensconced in Green Bay, and Rodgers has turned into a Super Bowl champion. Matt Flynn was picked in the seventh round and became a valuable commodity as a backup, while other guys such as Matt Hasselbeck and Aaron Brooks developed into starters elsewhere in the NFL.

"What we've always tried to do is develop a third guy," Dorsey said, "and develop him and see if he can be a 2 or a 1."

By contrast, the Chiefs have spent only one pick — a fifth-rounder — on a quarterback in the past six drafts, and the result has been disastrous play at the game's marquee position.

Matt Cassel is still under contract, even though he was benched last season. Brady Quinn played just as poorly, while Ricky Stanzi never saw the field during the regular season.

"Any time when you begin to build a franchise, let's be real, the quarterback is a very important part," Dorsey said. "As you note the last couple weeks in the playoffs, the quarterback position is a very important position to the long-term success of the organization."

Important enough to spend the No. 1 overall pick on it?

Not necessarily.

Dorsey and Reid both insisted they plan to draft the best player available, and that may not be a quarterback. West Virginia's Geno Smith is widely considered the best prospect at his position, but some draft analysts believe he's only worthy of a late first-round selection.

"My draft philosophy, you'd love to get good players. That's the primary thing," Reid said. "As the general manager comes in, that's what he's going to do. That's his responsibility."

It's not as if the Chiefs don't have other needs.

Left tackle Branden Albert and wide receiver Dwayne Bowe can both become free agents, and there are gaping holes along the defensive line, at linebacker and in the secondary. And it just so happens that some of the best available players fit those needs: Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel, Florida State defensive end Bjoern Werner and George linebacker Jarvis Jones.

One thing that Dorsey made clear is that he won't reach for a player.

"Philosophically, you stay true to your board," he said. "You spend all those months staying true to your board, and all of a sudden you have to jump a player due to positional needs? I don't think you do that. Historically, we have proven you don't do that."

Dorsey plans to keep the Chiefs scouting department intact through the draft, but he's also bringing with him an entire season's worth of his own scouting work from Green Bay.

That will be augmented by work done at college all-star games, various pro days organized by schools, the annual scouting combine and from hour upon hour of highlight tapes.

"It's going to be a focus of our fans, the media and our personnel department here for the next three or so months," Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said of the No. 1 pick. "It's very important we get that pick right."

———

[jAZ]

For myself and other defer-to-the-professionals fans: I will support drafting whoever they think is the best player.

For Geno fans: If there is no clear #1, then any of a number of players could be drafted #1. Tie goes to the QB.

[Ugly Duck]

Originally Posted by IAmABabySeal

Nassib and Wilson are my fav QB's in the draft personally. I also like Scott and Dysert. If I had no choice but to select a QB #1 overall, I would say Nassib

QBs that BabySeal would pick ahead of Geno....


Ryan Nassib, Syracuse....... GBN QB Rank #6


Tyler Wilson, Arkansas....... GBN QB Rank #3


Matt Scott, Arizona.... GBN QB Rank #11


Zac Dysart, Miami...... GBN QB Rank #11

[IAmABabySeal]

Wilson has a neck beard so you know he's legit...hater

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

And Green Bay traded for Favre.

I just wouldn't get too worked up about anything until after the draft actually happens.

In 1992...

What happened in 2005?

What did Andy Reid do in 1999?

[Saccopoo]

As an FYI, 12 of the last 15 #1 picks in the draft have been QBs.

And only one of 10 since 2000 could be considered a complete bust. (Jamarcus Russell, and it was the Raiders picking, so you know that was going to be completely ****ed up from the start.) The worst after that has been David Carr, and he's still in the league after starting five years for Houston. (And being absolutely bludgeoned like no other QB in the history of the league has for five straight years.)

People in the biz understand the importance of the position.

All this blustering about a tackle or linebacker or defensive tackle to the Chiefs is just that.

Get your Geno on bitches!

[Mecca]

I have a really hard time seeing 2 guys who's best success came with 1st round QB's would be inclined to not take one.

[Ugly Duck]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

All this blustering about a tackle or linebacker or defensive tackle to the Chiefs is just that.

Now Gil Brandt of NFL.com is blustering:

Senior Analyst
Published: Jan. 15, 2013 at 07:17 p.m.

Pick No.1 KC Luke Joeckel

The Chiefs, who are likely to lose offensive lineman Branden Albert to free agency, take the best player available in the draft.

Pick No.2 JAC Bjoern Werner

The Jaguars need a pass rusher, and Werner is the best prospect in this class at getting after the quarterback.

Pick No.3 OAK Geno Smith

With lots of needs, the Raiders take their chances with Smith, who carries some risk, but offers a significant potential reward.

[Mecca]

Gil Brandt is a senile mother****er man. If you ever listen to him talk it's the most ridiculous shit. I'm surprised he didn't say he liked Joeckel because 32 years ago he went fishing with his grandpa and caught a gator.

That's the type of shit he talks about, it's never about talent it's about some stupid story that happened before 1980.

[splatbass]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

That fish in your avatar is smarter than you.

I don't have an avatar, what are you talking about?

[RealSNR]

Please stay for awhile this time, Mecca. The four horsemen will ride again!

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by SNR

Please stay for awhile this time, Mecca. The four horsemen will ride again!

I may do that, draft time is always good for me.

Especially when i get to make fun of Gil Brandts takes, I swear people say NFL people have more cred than fans or people with websites...he kinda ruins that.

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by KC Tattoo

Yes because of 30 years of not drafting a QBotf for thirty years has worked so well for us. I wouldn't be as up set if we draft Barkley or Wilson but stilll pissed off if we don't draft a QB with our first pick.

This is a tricky math question, right? Thirty years of 30 years... that's like 900 years of not drafting QBOTF.

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by KC Tattoo

I am going be one pissed off mother ****er if we don't draft Geno Smith. ****ing bull shit if we don't.

For the love of christ he's not worth the 1st overall pick.

Geno Smith at #1 would be a Tyson Jackson type of reach.

[bevischief]

[-King-]

Originally Posted by munkey

****ing Genobators just can't handle the truth....he's not the #1 pick of the draft...#1 QB? Maybe...not #1 pick...

#1 QB = #1 pick.
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