Chiefs Joe Posnanski: big SI Scott Pioli feature - Page 4

**Reaper16** · 11-30-2010, 09:59 PM

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vau...10/1/index.htm

Story broken up amongst 8 pages, so I'm not going to copy/paste the full text here.

Figured this would be of interest to us all here.

**BossChief** · 12-01-2010, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gif Horse

That's all well and good, but it's not going to sustain the franchise over the long haul.

Pioli's first draft was a D. His second draft looks like a C+. We need a B+ or better next year.

Dude, this 2010 draft will go down as a B+ AT WORST...to call any draft that yields 5 potential starters (figuring a nickle corner as a starter in todays NFL game) and a guy that is a threat to score every time he touches the ball a C+ is a joke.

Thats not even counting the contribution Sheffield could have made...go back and watch him ABUSE some guys that are playing very well in the NFL right now during the senior bowl...its a shame we lost him to injury cause we could surely use him right now.

A C+ draft yields 2-3 contributors and only one being a good starter.

This draft was graded as a A+ by many guys in the business.

chiefzilla1501 · 12-01-2010, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

I didnt call Bowe an underachiever. I even put a sidenote to his addition to the list because he was productive, but he is a totally new player under Haley and hiring Haley was 100% Piolis call, so he is due the credit for taking Bowes game to the level its at right now where he has a real chance to break or at least threaten the single season record for TD receptions.

2 more TDs and Bowe has equaled his total from his first three years here combined. Credit is surely due.

Same goes for Hali, he was at a new season high at the midway point this year and was playing at a level he hadnt gotten to before. I agree that it wasnt by much as I see it as the players around him allowing him to play in beast mode like he is (though he has seemed to level off the last couple weeks, I wonder if he is hiding an injury) but he has surely stepped his game up and, again, you have to give credit to Haley and ultimately Pioli for demanding so much and making the players seemingly step it up a notch or two.

From the moment Haley got here, he set the tone with the players by not even allowing them to practice till they got into the type of shape he expected of them as professionals.

I dont think that any of these guys would be playing at the level they are playing at if the bar wasnt set almost unrealistically high, as Haley has done.

And look at what's going on with the Miami Heat. They have a young disciplinarian coach surrounded by talented douche bags with no concept of team or work ethic. How do you think young players on the Heat respond to Bosh saying the team just wants to chill or Lebron goofing around at practice. Because of these egomaniacs, nobody respects the coach who is trying to create sense of discipline.

Haley's done a good job of setting the tone, but his job is 100 times easier because the front office has largely been uncompromising in terms of bringing leaders in who care enough to be disciplined. Can you imagine Haley being a disciplinarian to a guy like TO or Jamarcus Russell?

**BossChief** · 12-01-2010, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

And look at what's going on with the Miami Heat. They have a young disciplinarian coach surrounded by talented douche bags with no concept of team or work ethic. How do you think young players on the Heat respond to Bosh saying the team just wants to chill or Lebron goofing around at practice. Because of these egomaniacs, nobody respects the coach who is trying to create sense of discipline.

Haley's done a good job of setting the tone, but his job is 100 times easier because the front office has largely been uncompromising in terms of bringing leaders in who care enough to be disciplined. Can you imagine Haley being a disciplinarian to a guy like TO or Jamarcus Russell?

Haley was interviewed for the Dallas job after Parcells and he told JJ that he couldnt win with TO on his team (as he was his position coach)

Could you imagine that Dallas team and all of its talent if JJ had chosen to get rid of TO and make Haley his coach back then?

I bet they would have won a championship by now.

Hammock Parties · 12-01-2010, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

There's no way you can call this a C+ draft.

Yes you can.

You can't draft complementary players in the second round.

Maybe it's a B if Asamoah turns into a starter.

Hammock Parties · 12-01-2010, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

a guy that is a threat to score every time he touches the ball a C+ is a joke.

The idea that McCluster is a threat to score every time he touches the ball is the real joke.

Every Chiefs fan is overrating this guy just because he has some quicks and took back one punt against the worst special teams unit ever.

I bet he doesn't score again this year.

-King- · 12-01-2010, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gif Horse

Yes you can.

You can't draft complementary players in the second round.

Maybe it's a B if Asamoah turns into a starter.

How the hell are they complementary players? A nickel corner is damn near a full time starter in the NFL now and so is a slot WR. Everytime Dex stepped out on the field, defenses were forced to go into nickel or dime because of his abilities. That helps the offense immensely. I'd say he's worth a 2nd round pick.
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chiefzilla1501 · 12-01-2010, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

Haley was interviewed for the Dallas job after Parcells and he told JJ that he couldnt win with TO on his team (as he was his position coach)

Could you imagine that Dallas team and all of its talent if JJ had chosen to get rid of TO and make Haley his coach back then?

I bet they would have won a championship by now.

Exactly.

I think about stuff like that and the fact that Tony Romo chose to go on a vacation before a ****ing playoff game. Dallas is a classic example of why stacking your team with talent doesn't guarantee shit. Talent is important of course, but do you really want guys like TO or Romo leading this group of players and setting the example? Are we really going to suggest that Jamarcus Russell or Vince Young are coachable?

I've been involved with a talent planning/recruitment process. There is a ton of science behind it and fit is often weighed in almost as much as talent.

**RealSNR** · 12-01-2010, 01:46 AM

Question:

Why isn't Tyson Jackson successful?

His work ethic? Character? Was he just never that talented?

Also, shouldn't Pioli have foreseen this if it was an attitude problem?

-King- · 12-01-2010, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gif Horse

The idea that McCluster is a threat to score every time he touches the ball is the real joke.

Every Chiefs fan is overrating this guy just because he has some quicks and took back one punt against the worst special teams unit ever.

I bet he doesn't score again this year.

So he isn't a threat to score when be touches the ball? Is Jamaal a threat to score then?
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chiefzilla1501 · 12-01-2010, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gif Horse

Yes you can.

You can't draft complementary players in the second round.

Maybe it's a B if Asamoah turns into a starter.

Really? Because about 75% of teams can't draft a starter, let alone a complementary player. Calling Arenas a complementary player at this juncture is ridiculous. He plays well over half of the defensive snaps. McCluster--we have yet to see, but if he serves in the slot, same deal. If they both play as expected, I wouldn't call them great picks, but you certainly can't call them bad ones.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 12-01-2010, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Total and utter BS. As a student of organizational behavior, I can assure you there are a bajillion books written on the subject of leadership and cultural fit. And almost every book will tell you you manage out the ones who don't fit and who don't respond to leaders and coaches, and you build up those who bring the best out of others. There are a ton of players who are simply uncoachable and others who are much less capable of being coached. The reason our players respond so well to coaching is that we have a culture of leaders. We have Thomas Jones showing Charles the ropes of the NFL on and off the field. You have Hali treating the gym like it's his second home. You have guys like Cassel who spent countless hours watching film. You have locker room leaders who tactfully get Dwayne Bowe to shut up and focus.

This is a team that took a blowout loss, played their asses off in that second half, and then bounced back next game as if the loss never happened. This is a team that walked into training camp without a single player out of shape. This is a team that cares deeply about winning. They are overachievers. One day talent will catch up with that.

Generally it's easy to bounce back when you play two of the worst teams in the NFL back-to-back.

chiefzilla1501 · 12-01-2010, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SNR

Question:

Why isn't Tyson Jackson successful?

His work ethic? Character? Was he just never that talented?

Also, shouldn't Pioli have foreseen this if it was an attitude problem?

I haven't seen him practice. But my hunch is that the guy doesn't care as much about getting better as he should. That pick as well as most of the 2009 draft was driven by the ridiculously stupid decision to let 2 guys, Pioli and one area scout, control all the personnel decisions. Like Jamarcus Russel, his work ethic should have been a well known fact.

Hammock Parties · 12-01-2010, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KcChiefsKing

How the hell are they complementary players?

Don't confuse "complementary" with "not a starter."

When you spend a second round pick on someone it'd be nice if they were a true IMPACT player.

McCluster isn't, and neither is Arenas.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

I wouldn't call them great picks, but you certainly can't call them bad ones.

They aren't bad picks.

They just aren't impact players. Pioli damn sure needs to find some.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 12-01-2010, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevieray

that's not always true....you sound like you're giving the credit to the players while marginalizing the coaching.

No, I'm marginalizing the player personnel acquisitions.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 12-01-2010, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

I haven't seen him practice. But my hunch is that the guy doesn't care as much about getting better as he should. That pick as well as most of the 2009 draft was driven by the ridiculously stupid decision to let 2 guys, Pioli and one area scout, control all the personnel decisions. Like Jamarcus Russel, his work ethic should have been a well known fact.

Or maybe, given that he was never an impact player in college, he just isn't that good.

11-30-2010, 09:59 PM
Reaper16 Eat/Sleep/Procrastinate/Repeat Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dystopia Casino cash: $10017397	Joe Posnanski: big SI Scott Pioli feature http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vau...10/1/index.htm Story broken up amongst 8 pages, so I'm not going to copy/paste the full text here. Figured this would be of interest to us all here.
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