Walterfootball.com: Chiefs Offseason Needs
 

Season Summary:
Despite the team's horrendous 2-14 record, I thought the Chiefs played really well down the stretch. Ever since Tyler Thigpen took over at quarterback on Oct. 26, Kansas City was competitive in all but one contest. They won just a single game, but their margin of defeat in that span was: 4, 3, 1, 10, 23, 7, 1, 7 and 10. The Chiefs have a young team, so even though they won just two tilts, the fact that they were competitive bodes well for the future.


Offseason Moves:
Chiefs hire HC Todd Haley


Offseason Needs:
Right End: It was a running joke in my 2009 NFL Mock Draft that the Chiefs couldn't get any sacks. They were stuck on six sacks so long that when they finally managed their seventh, I said that there was going to be a parade in Kansas City. Tamba Hali was moved back to left end during the season, so the Chiefs have to acquire a potent right end who can get to the quarterback. This could be someone like Michael Johnson, Paul Kruger or Connor Barwin atop Round 2. If the Chiefs move to the 3-4, they'll need two rush linebackers.


Nose Tackle: Glenn Dorsey struggled in 2008, so hopefully he'll improve. Tank Tyler, meanwhile, could be upgraded. This has become a top need with the expected move to the 3-4.


Linebacker: This can be a strongside or a middle linebacker, depending on the scheme the Chiefs use, who's available and where Kansas City wants to use Derrick Johnson. Several mocks have the Chiefs taking Aaron Curry, but linebackers simply aren't drafted in the top three. Click here for a history of the Top Three NFL Draft Picks.

Center: Rudy Niswanger needs to be upgraded along with more than half of Kansas City's offensive line.


Right Tackle: Damion McIntosh, 32 in March, gave up seven sacks last year.


Right Guard: No surprise that the combination of Adrian Jones and Wade Smith didn't work at right guard. Yet another position that must be addressed.


Wide Receiver: This depends on whether or not the Chiefs decide to go with Tyler Thigpen next year. Mark Bradley works as a WR2 in the shotgun spread offense, but he'll need to be upgraded if Kansas City decides to return to a pro-style attack.


Cornerback: Depth is needed behind Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr.


Running Back: Jamaal Charles is a nice change-of-pace back, so the Chiefs will need an every-down runner to replace the lethargic Larry Johnson. Johnson's pretty much done and I wouldn't even deal a late-round selection for him, but hopefully Kansas City will find a dumb general manager as a trading partner.


Quarterback: I like Tyler Thigpen. He has some detractors because he's a shotgun spread quarterback, but the fact remains that the Chiefs averaged 21.6 points per game with him at the helm. I want to see him have a shot in 2009. However, I'll concede that Thigpen's lacking arm strength means that his ceiling is Chad Pennington - which isn't that high. The Chiefs will look at Mark Sanchez with the third-overall pick, and considering that they have a new coaching staff and front office in place, it appears as though the USC product will be the selection.


Special Teamers: The Chiefs surrendered a touchdown, 23.6 yards per kickoff and 9.3 yards per punt return. Those numbers aren't awful, but they can definitely improve.

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Why does everyone think we might still go to a 3-4? We don't have the personel or the defensive coaches to run it. Am I missing something?

We have the coaches.

We can switch now because, conveniently, we also don't have the personnel to run the 4-3.

Both of our possible D-coordinators came from teams that ran the 4-3 last year.

And they have past experience in the 3-4, too.

Arizona ran the 3-4...

did they seriously just compare Thigpen's arm to Chad Pennington's?

Thigpen has a comparable arm to Tony Romo...

The could have attacked his accuracy, his sketchy decision making, the fact he might not be able to run a pro style offense...

But instead they attack the one area of his game that is above average...

Oh brother :shake:

I believe this whole thing started with the Pioli hire. Peeps started talking about how he was particularly skilled at evaluating players that fit the 3/4 defense, Mr. Rigodan. It kind of snowballed from there like a rumor avalanche cascading downhill and carrying countless Planeteers with it down the mountain of common sense, across the ravine of panic, and finally coming to rest in the valley of utter confusion.

After that, some NFL pundit figured that, since he didn't have anything else to write about, he would unequivocally declare that the Chiefs had decided to convert to that scheme.

It's kind of like that time Mr. Rain Man decided to open up a cooking school in his kitchen for aspiring lesbian sous chefs. It sounded like a real good idea until he realized he had to have a license.

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