Viril - How to fix the Chiefs
 

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How To Fix The Chiefs

By John Viril
Warpaint Illustrated Columnist
Posted Dec 20, 2006

Now that the Chiefs are all but eliminated from the 2006 playoff picture, everyone has their own theory on how to fix this team. Joe Posnanski from the Kansas City Star suggests we need a true losing year to land premium draft picks. Jonathan Rand from KcChiefs.com has voiced the opinion that fixing the team “won't be easy.”

I am not quite so pessimistic. This team actually has some good pieces to build around. One outstanding offseason could actually do the trick.

That, of course, is the rub. Having an offseason in which every move works is a difficult trick for a NFL general manager to pull out of his hat. Eighteen years without a Super Bowl appearance makes one doubt that Carl Peterson can accomplish such a feat.

The key is to focus on the obvious area which plagued the team this season: the offensive line. That's it. The decline in line play has turned Kansas City's once dominant offense into a mediocre unit. While a playmaking receiver would help, Tony Gonzalez and Larry Johnson are effective enough to power a top-notch unit.

In San Diego, Antonio Gates and LaDanian Tomlinson are the core of the NFL's No. 1 scoring offense. The Chargers have surged to this position behind the shrewd pick of left tackle Marcus McNeil in the second round of the 2006 draft.

While the Chargers were fifth in scoring in 2005 with veteran journeyman Roman Oben at left tackle, San Diego is No. 1 with Marcus McNeil after replacing quarterback Drew Brees with a first year starter in Philip Rivers. Rivers would never have been able to enjoy such success without solid protection from the backside.

Kansas City needs to pull a similar coup.

The Cleveland game showed that Trent Green can still pick apart a defense. His problem against the Ravens and Chargers was his protection. Green has been sacked 11 times in the last two games. Not surprisingly, the team scored 19 points despite solid performances from running back Larry Johnson.

But the Chiefs problems are deeper than one offensive line player. With Will Shields likely to retire, and the constant turnover at right tackle since John Tait left in free agency after 2003, there are two more positions that Carl Peterson needs to address.

It can be done and again San Diego is the model. In 2004, a down and out Charger team coming off a 4-12 season changed all five offensive line starters. They gelled well enough to fuel a 12-4 record and an AFC West title. Two of those linemen were rookie draft picks Nick Hardwick (center, third round) and Shane Olivea (right tackle, seventh round). They brought in journeyman Roman Oben at left tackle and coached the heck out of them.

While the Chiefs likely can't follow San Diego's example exactly, they need a combination of draft picks and free agent additions to solidify their offensive line.

After fixing the offensive line, the rest of the picture becomes clear. The Chiefs desperately need a playmaker at defensive tackle, which will likely require a high round pick. This time, Carl Peterson has to get it right. The Chiefs should skate at corner and hope to get another year out of Patrick Surtain and Ty Law. Replace safeties Greg Wesley and Sammy Knight with the speedy Jarrad Page and Bernard Pollard, then cut dead-weight weakside linebacker Kendrell Bell.

Insert Keyaron Fox in the lineup, or pick up a veteran like Donnie Edwards to fill in for a year. The team then needs at least another competent wide receiver with excellent hands. Move Samie Parker to the slot.

All these changes will be financed by cutting Ryan Sims, Kendrell Bell, Greg Wesley and the retirement of Will Shields. Furthermore, what the Chiefs cannot afford to do is stay the same age on offense, particularly on the offensive line.

Done properly, the Chiefs could be younger and in the playoffs as soon as next season.

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Am I misremembering or did the Chiefs take Pollard instead of McNeil?

good article--and he's correct... if we shoot the moon and hit on every move this offseason, we could contend next year (god, I've turned into a cubs fan--'maybe next year')... however, when has CP ever shown he has the ability to hit on every move in the same offseason??

Agree that offensive line is the #1 priority this offseason. Agree that we need a playmaker at defensive tackle.

However, I also agree that Carl will likely screw it up. Rebuilding your hogs is a tough job that takes gelling time and lots of reps as a unit. One rookie may pan out on the line, but two is a stretch. Getting a high-profile guy through free agency is a whole nother bunch of shit.

Herm was successful at drafting defense last draft. Let's hope he's able to pick out a nice defensive tackle to go along with Hali.

Don't think so. The Chargers picked ahead of us.

One thing in our favor is that the Chiefs may have some of the missing pieces sitting on the bench in Page and Pollard. We haven't seen enough yet to say they will but if even one of them become a solid contributor next season then we could probably add one DT and have a respectable defense. That should leave plenty of draft picks for the Oline and a WR.

Oh, now I remember. It wasn't McNeil I was thinking of- it was Justice. I was hoping the Chiefs would draft Winston Justice (who ended up going to Philly in the second).

I don't blame the scouting department on this one Roaf and Welbourne fucked us right before TC. Since Welbourne is off the roids his play has dropped severely

The key isn't to get a world-beating defense, it's to get this one in the top ten, which could be done with a top shelf DT and another above average DT. Reed, Edwards, and Wilkerson are backups/rotational players. Spend a mid-rounder on another OLB, hoping for depth. Use the 2nd on WR, OT, DT, even OLB if the value is there...but it's quite apparent that we need an LT and we need one badly.

The odds of things breaking like that are so slim......if they're lucky they can get 1 tackle the odds of getting 2 in 1 year is so slim.

You should be able to get one tackle if you specifically target that as a position of need...getting 2 isn't really necessary. You hope Wellbourne, Sampson, or Terry pans out. If they are only 4-1 each to pan out and be solid, you've got a better than 2-1 shot there...:shrug:

Hopefully Carl will do the right thing and step aside in the offseason.

Check it out....I sneezed on Kevin Sampson and he's out 6 months.

I don't think the best player on the board when we pick is going to be an OT and we frankly have to many holes to reach to fill that one.....

I know we have holes, but the odds that we draft a need like a OLB or a WR is very slim. I'll eat my hat if we don't draft an OL or a DL