Chiefs Chiefs’ Chan Gailey takes a time-honored approach to offense

C-Mac · 05-29-2008, 06:02 AM

Chiefs’ Chan Gailey takes a time-honored approach to offense
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star

Chan Gailey wouldn’t let up.

The Chiefs’ new offensive coordinator sat down last month with first-round pick Branden Albert and talked about the future and which position the youngster would play. Albert had played guard at Virginia, and Gailey was talking about moving the rookie to tackle — left tackle, one of any NFL team’s marquee and highest-pressure positions.

Albert was listening, but Gailey kept saying it.

“He sat me down and told me, ‘You’re going to play left tackle for us,’ ” Albert said Wednesday. “He was real stern about it. He said, ‘You’re going to play. You’re going to get it.’

“You’ve got to trust him. You’ve got to go with it.”

The Chiefs are going with a lot of what Gailey has suggested since he replaced Mike Solari in January. After arriving in Kansas City, he started changing anything that looked like it might have caused last year’s 4-12 record.

The Chiefs attempted 563 passes last year, 11th-most in the NFL. Gailey’s offense centers on power running and play-action, which coaches hope will relieve pressure on second-year starting quarterback Brodie Croyle.

Gailey simplified the playbook. He wanted a younger, defined offensive line. One of those young players was Albert, and his move to left tackle squeezed veteran Damion McIntosh to the right side. It hasn’t been easy for McIntosh.

“I played left tackle for eight years. I’ve never played right tackle. You tell me if it’s hard or not,” McIntosh said. “They ask me to do something, and regardless of whether I like it or not, I’ve got to try it.”

That’s what Gailey said he has asked of the Chiefs’ veterans: Give his offense, and all the changes, a chance.

“I told the players: I don’t have any kind of magic offense,” Gailey said. “I don’t have any pixie dust that I sprinkle and all of a sudden we become good. We have to work at it. There’s nothing magic about what we’ve got.”

Until last year, Gailey was Georgia Tech’s head coach. He had been the Dallas Cowboys’ head coach for two years in the late 1990s. He’s now in his third NFL coordinator job.

“You can tell he’s an O-coordinator,” McIntosh said. “That’s what he’s built for; that’s what he knows.”

Gailey’s offense is not glamorous or tricky but instead is a throwback. Gailey is a 56-year-old football guy, a man who talks about toughness and pride in a thick Georgia drawl. Offense, in Gailey’s opinion, isn’t about fooling defenses; it’s about beating them.

“I believe in running the football,” Gailey said. “I believe you have to be a physical football team to win. It’s a tough game for tough people.”

Edwards couldn’t help but laugh this week when asked to describe Gailey’s offense.

There’s no style or signature; it’s just simple and efficient — kind of like Gailey himself, Edwards said.

“I love Chan because he says: ‘Hey, I’m not a genius. Don’t label me a genius. I never wanted to be a genius. I’m just a football coach,’ ” Edwards said. “The players like that.”

And it has gotten their attention. Sure, McIntosh is uncomfortable at right tackle, but he says he’s learning and adjusting. And yes, Albert is trying to become what Gailey sees in him. Players are getting used to the changes and the man who spearheaded them.

Whatever works, Gailey said, as long as last year doesn’t happen again.

“We’re trying to score one more point than the other guy,” he said. “We’re going to put our players in position to be successful. That’s our whole job, to let them be successful. We’re just going to try and be as good as we can be.”

Extra Point · 05-29-2008, 06:44 AM

Good read. Simple and efficient.

**mlyonsd** · 05-29-2008, 07:06 AM

Am I alone thinking Gailey is just ho-hum? I fear for this offense.

kc rush · 05-29-2008, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C-Mac

Chiefs’ Chan Gailey takes a time-honored approach to offense
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star

The Chiefs are going with a lot of what Gailey has suggested since he replaced Mike Solari in January. After arriving in Kansas City, he started changing anything that looked like it might have caused last year’s 4-12 record.

The Chiefs attempted 563 passes last year, 11th-most in the NFL. Gailey’s offense centers on power running and play-action, which coaches hope will relieve pressure on second-year starting quarterback Brodie Croyle.

I wonder how many, or what percentage of those passes were late in the game because the Chiefs were down. Anyone know where to find something like that?

Reerun_KC · 05-29-2008, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kc rush

I wonder how many, or what percentage of those passes were late in the game because the Chiefs were down. Anyone know where to find something like that?

Not sure where to find that info, but you can rest assure we wouldnt be passing with a 3 point lead...

Fish · 05-29-2008, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McIntosh

“I played left tackle for eight years. I’ve never played right tackle. You tell me if it’s hard or not,” McIntosh said. “They ask me to do something, and regardless of whether I like it or not, I’ve got to try it.”

I was wondering how he was taking being reassigned. Sounds like he isn't happy. Hope he actually makes the effort. Not that he'd be the difference maker or anything, but when healthy he's proven more than adequate.

mikey23545 · 05-29-2008, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlyonsd

Am I alone thinking Gailey is just ho-hum? I fear for this offense.

You've got to be ****ing kidding me.
After last year, you "fear" for this offense?

Ho-hum would be about a 1000% improvement over last year.

StcChief · 05-29-2008, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kc rush

I wonder how many, or what percentage of those passes were late in the game because the Chiefs were down. Anyone know where to find something like that?

If stats had attempts with game clock (like a play by play) it could be done easy....

tyton75 · 05-29-2008, 09:09 AM

The only thing I'll say is it makes me nervous moving a bunch of players into positions they aren't comfortable with and making them live or die by it... I hope it works out; but I can't think of many times when it has been

Hammock Parties · 05-29-2008, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyton75

The only thing I'll say is it makes me nervous moving a bunch of players into positions they aren't comfortable with and making them live or die by it... I hope it works out; but I can't think of many times when it has been

A bunch? McIntosh is the only one if you ask me.

**DaKCMan AP** · 05-29-2008, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kc rush

I wonder how many, or what percentage of those passes were late in the game because the Chiefs were down. Anyone know where to find something like that?

It wouldn't be as high as you'd think. I'm not going to break down the numbers, but you can go to NFL.com and bring up gamecenter for each game last season and look at the play-by-play to calculate the run/pass ratio by possession, quarter, half, situation, etc.

Pasta Little Brioni · 05-29-2008, 09:20 AM

Ya the run, run, pass, punt crap is way overblown. This team didn't execute plain and simple.

**Manila-Chief** · 05-29-2008, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PGM

Ya the run, run, pass, punt crap is way overblown. This team didn't execute plain and simple.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlyonsd

Am I alone thinking Gailey is just ho-hum? I fear for this offense.

I took note of the "trying to score one more point than the other guys" comment. This is no longer the 60's/70's ... I understand the concept of being tough, but it seems to me if you try to put as many points as possible on the board it make it easier for the team to win. Maybe I'm just wrong.

This article and the Herm Q & A article spoke about making things simple. Seems to me if a team does that they make it much easier for the defense to know what is coming and will more easily stop it. So, look for more run, run, short pass, punt offense.

I was kinda excited (and drifting back a little more toward homerism) about Chan until reading this article. I was hoping he was coming in to develop his own offensive philosophy ... but, it seems to me that this is the Herm "I'm afraid to score too many points" philosophy. I'm back to "doom & gloom" until all these guys leave town.

Someone above mentioned that Chan's offense will me much better than last year. I agree ... but, the real question is will it get us to the S.B.??? I don't think it will. How is 6-10 any better than 4-12.

Oh as far as OL chaning positions ... Albert is moving from guard to LT. I like the move just saying Big Mac is not the only one changing positions.

Hammock Parties · 05-29-2008, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manila-Chief

Oh as far as OL chaning positions ... Albert is moving from guard to LT. I like the move just saying Big Mac is not the only one changing positions.

I think Albert is comfortable at LT.

Chief Pote · 05-29-2008, 09:53 AM

“I believe in running the football,” Gailey said. “I believe you have to be a physical football team to win. It’s a tough game for tough people.”

I'll take this as a starting point for improvement.

05-29-2008, 06:02 AM
C-Mac Lurker Extraordinaire Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Wally World Casino cash: $-1096301	Chiefs’ Chan Gailey takes a time-honored approach to offense Chiefs’ Chan Gailey takes a time-honored approach to offense By KENT BABB The Kansas City Star Chan Gailey wouldn’t let up. The Chiefs’ new offensive coordinator sat down last month with first-round pick Branden Albert and talked about the future and which position the youngster would play. Albert had played guard at Virginia, and Gailey was talking about moving the rookie to tackle — left tackle, one of any NFL team’s marquee and highest-pressure positions. Albert was listening, but Gailey kept saying it. “He sat me down and told me, ‘You’re going to play left tackle for us,’ ” Albert said Wednesday. “He was real stern about it. He said, ‘You’re going to play. You’re going to get it.’ “You’ve got to trust him. You’ve got to go with it.” The Chiefs are going with a lot of what Gailey has suggested since he replaced Mike Solari in January. After arriving in Kansas City, he started changing anything that looked like it might have caused last year’s 4-12 record. The Chiefs attempted 563 passes last year, 11th-most in the NFL. Gailey’s offense centers on power running and play-action, which coaches hope will relieve pressure on second-year starting quarterback Brodie Croyle. Gailey simplified the playbook. He wanted a younger, defined offensive line. One of those young players was Albert, and his move to left tackle squeezed veteran Damion McIntosh to the right side. It hasn’t been easy for McIntosh. “I played left tackle for eight years. I’ve never played right tackle. You tell me if it’s hard or not,” McIntosh said. “They ask me to do something, and regardless of whether I like it or not, I’ve got to try it.” That’s what Gailey said he has asked of the Chiefs’ veterans: Give his offense, and all the changes, a chance. “I told the players: I don’t have any kind of magic offense,” Gailey said. “I don’t have any pixie dust that I sprinkle and all of a sudden we become good. We have to work at it. There’s nothing magic about what we’ve got.” Until last year, Gailey was Georgia Tech’s head coach. He had been the Dallas Cowboys’ head coach for two years in the late 1990s. He’s now in his third NFL coordinator job. “You can tell he’s an O-coordinator,” McIntosh said. “That’s what he’s built for; that’s what he knows.” Gailey’s offense is not glamorous or tricky but instead is a throwback. Gailey is a 56-year-old football guy, a man who talks about toughness and pride in a thick Georgia drawl. Offense, in Gailey’s opinion, isn’t about fooling defenses; it’s about beating them. “I believe in running the football,” Gailey said. “I believe you have to be a physical football team to win. It’s a tough game for tough people.” Edwards couldn’t help but laugh this week when asked to describe Gailey’s offense. There’s no style or signature; it’s just simple and efficient — kind of like Gailey himself, Edwards said. “I love Chan because he says: ‘Hey, I’m not a genius. Don’t label me a genius. I never wanted to be a genius. I’m just a football coach,’ ” Edwards said. “The players like that.” And it has gotten their attention. Sure, McIntosh is uncomfortable at right tackle, but he says he’s learning and adjusting. And yes, Albert is trying to become what Gailey sees in him. Players are getting used to the changes and the man who spearheaded them. Whatever works, Gailey said, as long as last year doesn’t happen again. “We’re trying to score one more point than the other guy,” he said. “We’re going to put our players in position to be successful. That’s our whole job, to let them be successful. We’re just going to try and be as good as we can be.”
Posts: 5,661

05-29-2008, 06:44 AM	#2
Extra Point MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Prairie Village, KS Casino cash: $10004900	Good read. Simple and efficient. __________________ "Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits." --Satchel Paige
Posts: 7,845

05-29-2008, 07:06 AM	#3
mlyonsd Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Spink, SD Casino cash: $-2236238	Am I alone thinking Gailey is just ho-hum? I fear for this offense.
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05-29-2008, 09:09 AM	#9
tyton75 Veteran Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: KC North Casino cash: $3698386	The only thing I'll say is it makes me nervous moving a bunch of players into positions they aren't comfortable with and making them live or die by it... I hope it works out; but I can't think of many times when it has been __________________
Posts: 3,336

05-29-2008, 09:20 AM	#12
Pasta Little Brioni Consuming CP souls Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: U.S.A. Casino cash: $158880	Ya the run, run, pass, punt crap is way overblown. This team didn't execute plain and simple.
Posts: 73,012

05-29-2008, 09:53 AM	#15
Chief Pote Veteran Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Undercover..... Casino cash: $6872638	“I believe in running the football,” Gailey said. “I believe you have to be a physical football team to win. It’s a tough game for tough people.” I'll take this as a starting point for improvement.
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