Replacing Gonzalez proving to be a chore in K.C.
 

http://www.profootballweekly.com/200...-a-chore-in-kc

Replacing Gonzalez proving to be a chore in K.C.
Posted July 11, 2009 @ 6:50 p.m.
By Michael Blunda

Nobody in the Chiefs' organization thought it would be easy to replace departed TE Tony Gonzalez, a 10-time Pro Bowler and surefire Hall of Famer, but they probably didn’t think it would be this difficult, either. In one of the more surprising developments of the team’s recent minicamp, head coach Todd Haley declared the competition for the starting tight end job wide open, dispelling the widely believed thought that the spot belonged to Brad Cottam. From what we hear, Cottam, a 2008 third-round pick by the Chiefs and the favorite to capture the job, struggled mightily during offseason workouts, frequently dropping catchable passes. His failure to seize the opportunity has opened the door for others — like veterans Sean Ryan and Tony Curtis and seventh-round rookie Jake O’Connell — to enter the mix for starting duties. Although the Chiefs aren’t expected to utilize their tight ends as receivers very often, the offense would be lacking without a skilled pass catcher at that spot. Thus far, Cottam has “dropped the ball.”

Getting rid of Tg was a ****ing stupid move. Stupid I tell ya. He has had his best years as of late and would have taken a lot of pressure off Cassel.

Oh no! The Chiefs will have to use their wide recievers! http://www.msnheaven.com/content/emo...scared0012.gif

that wouldn't be good to have Ryan or Curtis as your featured TE. I had hopes for Cottam.... not that he could replace Gonzo, bu that he would be good enough to be the featured TE. Anyone else have an opinion about Ryan or Curtis that provides any hope?

Yeah, I have an opinion.

They suck !

winning the lockerroom is key. More of salary cap is going to younger players because vets can be head cases and can ruin team chemistry. I think Haley and Pioli know what they're doing. He's a talent but our GM thinks his attitude effects the whole team.

we aren't even trying to replace Tony....omg we don't have another Tony already on the roster! who knew???

but your cut and paste skills remain elite....

IMO, the best leadership comes from those who lead by example. Do we have another example of that on our team? Sure vets can be headcases but I don't mind HOF headcases who work extremely hard and take incredible pride in their body/accomplishments. Trading Gonzo sets us back significantly on offense, IMO. He's not a god, but he would have made installation of the new offense a hell of a lot easier, and helped build a lot of confidence in Cassell.

If we wanted a great receiver at TE we wouldn't have traded him. Gonzalez replacement will come from the WR position.

Todd Haley has said numerous times that every position is "wide open"

This

Why do i get the feeling that KnoMo is really just a Chiefs fan that like screwing with people? He posts more Chiefs stuff than half the posters here.

Yes, Tony worked hard, but he was a selfish player and selfishness is never a good influence in a team atmosphere.

I will miss all the Super Bowl Trophies TG brought to KC....

not sure but having guys who don't want to be here for camp sends a tone to others.

these new vets Haley has signed up sets a bar for rooks.

I will miss all of his playoff wins.

I'll miss how he never whined about anything.

I'll miss Baja Fresh the most.

He did not want to play here. How long could he play for a team that was going no where? I'd have wanted out too.

How hard is it to catch a football. And TE's passes are generally 5-15 yard pass routes.

Embaressing. We need all offensive weapons seen as threats, not our TE as a blocking tool only.

Don't worry, I'm sure there will be ample whining from the Chiefs in his absence. No team has ever had a shortage of that.

I hope Gonzo gets a superbowl ring, he certainly deserves one. Maybe Atlanta can do it.

Yea trading a old tight end for a 2nd round pick is a stupid. How many playoff games did the Chiefs win with Gonzalez?

how many playoff games have the chiefs won?

None with Gonzalez. Only Chiefs fans would think tight ends are important. Can you even name the the tight ends of the super bowl teams? The last team with a stud tight end was Shannon Sharpe with Baltimore.

Thats the point..

less talent is always better than more talent apparently

You're right, a 2nd round draft pick has more value then a tight end. Second round picks are gold in the NFL. They are starters who are much cheaper then first round picks. Engram will fill in for Gonzalez on third downs and LJ will fill in for Gonzalez in the red zone.

I can't believe how much value people here give the TE position.

i could give a **** about tes. engram is a monster we're set at wr baby

But how else are we going to run Herms 3 yard at a time offense?

herms not our coach anymore dude

So why do you want to stick with the philosphy of the tight end is important to an offense?

If Jared Allen could do it, give Tamba a try.

youre not too bright are you?

1. You can't replace the best TE in the history of the NFL. The premise is dumb.

2. You don't build teams around a TE...unless, you're Carl Peterson and you're a stupid asshole and a failure. TE's are generally finishing pieces. If you have one great, if not, you can always draft one next year.

And trading Tony for a 2nd next year is the best thing Pioli has done since becoming GM. That pick will have incredible value for us next year when Haley and Pioli will have a much clearer idea about what our needs are, plus the pick gives us leverage to move up and down.

It will be rare for TE's to see more than one pass come their way under Haley.

This coming from someone who thinks trading a 33 year old tight end for a 2nd round pick is stupid.

ROFL

Right out of the PFW handbook: taking something somebody said over a month ago (Haley's shocking statement that there will be competition) and trying to turn it into "news".

heh. Chiefs fans will be complaining for years how we need a Superstar TE again. Even if we win the next 3 ships in a row, they will still complain. I cant wait.

The best post of the day

comprehension is not your friend

I'd rather focus on drafting a star WR than TE. Actually I'd rather get a star QB, RB, OT, OG, C, DE, NT, OLB, ILB, S, CB before I worry about getting a star TE.

:clap:

Gonzales: "I've never won a playoff game"( boo-hoo-hoo for the 8-millionth time ).

ROR: "Keep your ****ing feet in-bounds, shit-for brains".

Yea. I think Pioli drafted the franchise NT & DE this draft. If so this draft was a success.

Who?

If throwing to the TE takes away from the WR then no matter how good the TE is the team is falling short of its potential. The TE should be an outlet for the QB or the play should be designed to catch the defense off gaurd.

Alex Magee.

He's not a NT

that doesnt matter to pioli. he will be the greatest non-nt nt ever drafted by the chiefs

He's not playing NT.

If we're playing the Zona 3-4 defense he is.

CYP

Not according to the coaching staff and the media, he's not.

He's an end in a 3-4...he's right around 300lbs.

I'm curious why people don't think he can be, yet those people want Tyler to be. Magee is an inch taller and weighs about five pounds less right now with room to grow...

i just told you he was

There's been no indication that he's even been tried in the middle - has there?

Is this anything but wishful thinking?

Only because our best, most consistent player during most of the last 12 years or so has been a tight end, Mr. RustShack.

The fact is that a Pro Bowl caliber TE can be a tremendous asset to an offense. That's why guys like Ozzy and Shabbomofft were highly valued. We'll miss TG and the odds of us acquiring a player with that 2nd round pick that comes anywhere close to equaling his overall contribution to the team are slim.

I'm okay with getting younger, etc. I'm not okay with continually trading away our best players (see Drunko the Bull Runner) when we have precious few studs in the stable to begin with and the local villagers are storming the ranch with torches and naughty words.

FAX

In a traditonal 3-4 your right but look at Zona's 3-4. He's 15 pounds bigger then Dockett and an inch shorter. He played both at Purdue. Meh either way if he contribute thats a nice 3rd round pick.

Well we don't have one, no one really wants to hear how we're missing key pieces so we may go 3-13 or something.

I think Ron Edwards will be the guy this year, but I just think its funny that people who think Tyler should be but someone with similar size can't.

I seriously hope they don't think it's a good idea to run that Zona defense which was pretty marginal with much better talent than we have.

Well he was really fat once people remember that...

Me either. Wade Phillips will be a DC next year yanno.

Also going from cover 2 to any variant of the 3-4 is going to be an issue, we're going to see several guys who don't have a spot anymore.

You mean Herm lied about the team being 85% built? Dammit

Quite a few, ultimately. Like ... maybe all but two or three.

FAX

That was so laughable when he said that, several of those guys were shitty in the system they were drafted for.

We have no linebackers, our secondary is really marginal, Flowers is pretty good Carr I'm not totally sold on, everyone knows I think we need new safeties...comically bad pass rush and that doesn't even mention offense.

Bullshit. Two words:

Hall. EEE.

Probably but I was being nice I didn't wanna get into a major argument about it.

Just another Mecca ball licker...

I hate Tamba Hali, If I was hired as GM I'd cut him 5 seconds after I was announced.

Really? I like a washed up Thomas & Vrbael more then Pat Thomas and whoever else. I think DJ might do good in the 3-4 and maybe if they just use Hali on obvious throwing downs. The Secondary yea I like Flowers, will be curious to see if Donald Washington is any good, and like I said before Mike Brown is a play maker when he plays.

Thank you, everyone. It's a pleasure to be here. First, I'd like to say that Tamba Hali has been released. Now, regarding my appointment...

I think the title is misleading. We'll only know if it's going to be a chore when the regular season hits.

I'm curious to see what Hali can do back at 250.

I'll be surprised if Vrabel and Thomas play 16 games but that's the nature of the position we're in.

This team is a major work in progress missing several key positions.

I'm going to guess that it will involve getting injured and some announcer talking about his "bad feet".

Actually, the title is one of the more obvious statements that I've seen made on this forum for awhile, well, at least today.

It's going to be a chore to replace the greatest TE ever to play? No ****ing shit...

Now, the real question is whether our new offense will necessitate a TE of this caliber. All money is on no, so it's a bit of a moot point.