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

[Quesadilla Joe]

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.”

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Mecca

Oh great a high pick TE.

It's been done here before + high pick DE = count nothing out.

[Mecca]

If Burress is smart he'll sign with the Jets...perfect fit.

[JohnnyV13]

Originally Posted by RustShack

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

Its not exactly like Gonzalez is a run of the mill tight end. He's a possession receiver and a very good one, which is clearly a valuable offensive commodity.

We DO need to replace Gonzalez, but not necessarily with a tight end.

For all the people who try to dismiss Gonzalez's value by saying "how many playoff games did we win with him", well...how many playoff games did we win with Willie Roaf? Obviously, left tackle is a meaningless position.

How many playoff games did we win with Priest Holmes? Obviously, a multi-faceted running back like Holmes is meaningless.

How many super bowls did we win with Derrick Thomas? Obviously, a pass rushing linebacker is worthless.

How many playoff games did James Hasty win in KC? Obviously, a physical shut down corner is irrelevant to our playoff success.

How many playoff games did we win with Deron Cherry? Obviously a useless player that wasn't really meaningful to building a championship squad.

Championship teams can be built in many ways. Priest Holmes and Tony Gonazlez were the two weapons that drove our dominant offenses during the frist half of the millenium. Holmes and Gonzalez reallly strained the linebackers and safeties, which opened things up for mediocre receivers like Eddie Kennison to make plays. An unusual way to build a dominant offense, but certainly it worked. That offense was good enough to win a championship, but we didn't develop the other side of the ball.

Hell, the "Vermeil strategy" failed not due to philosophy, but due to bad drafting.

The fact is, Vermeil had an incredible year and a half run of offensive talent acquisition.

He added Trent Green, Eddie Kennison, Willie Roaf, Priest Holmes, and Casey Weigman within a very short span of time. The only real mistake was WR Johnny Morton. Most of those guys were spare parts, only Roaf was a starter.

If we had any kind of reasonable drafting, the "Vermeil plan" would have worked. About the only useful players drafted under Vermeil were LJ and Jared Allen (plus maybe Scott Fujita).

[RustShack]

Originally Posted by JohnnyV13

We DO need to replace Gonzalez, but not necessarily with a tight end.

Willie Roaf? Obviously, left tackle is a meaningless position.

How many playoff games did we win with Priest Holmes? Obviously, a multi-faceted running back like Holmes is meaningless.

How many super bowls did we win with Derrick Thomas? Obviously, a pass rushing linebacker is worthless.

How many playoff games did James Hasty win in KC? Obviously, a physical shut down corner is irrelevant to our playoff success.

How many playoff games did we win with Deron Cherry? Obviously a useless player that wasn't really meaningful to building a championship squad

We did replace our possession receiver TE with a possession receiver WR. Our team still has those sure hands in the middle now. As for your statements about the positions, it was said the last team with a premier TE was Sharpe and you go ahead and say other positions suck because the Chiefs haven't done it.. sad

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Mecca

If Burress is smart he'll sign with the Jets...perfect fit.

They definitely want him. The fans aren't against it either.

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by RustShack

Maybe, just maybe Pioli plans on signing Burress.

Burress antagonized two great NFL organizations enough that they both let him go. He's a pain in the ass. Pioli isn't going to bring that sort of garbage into the fold. He can't change the culture of the team for the better if he brings in turds like Buress.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

Burress antagonized two great NFL organizations enough that they both let him go. He's a pain in the ass. Pioli isn't going to bring that sort of garbage into the fold. He can't change the culture of the team for the better if he brings in turds like Buress.

Receivers are by and large prima donnas. You're going to get The Stupid in some way, shape, or form to varying degrees.

There's no getting around this.

[Rooster]

Cottam needs to change his ghey facemask. It would help him catch the ball.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Rooster

Cottam needs to change his ghey facemask. It would help him catch the ball.

Worthless without...you know.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by Raised On Riots

Receivers are by and large prima donnas. You're going to get The Stupid in some way, shape, or form to varying degrees.

There's no getting around this.

There are lots of receivers who aren't bitches. Elite ones even.

Wayne
Fitzgerald
Andre Johnson
Welker
Calvin Johnson
Bowe (hopefully)
Roddy White (except when he was bitching about Vick, but that's acceptable)
Greg Jennings

I'm sure I'm missing some. You don't have to be a dumb **** to be a WR. It isn't prerequisite.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

There are lots of receivers who aren't bitches. Elite ones even.

Wayne
Fitzgerald
Andre Johnson
Welker
Calvin Johnson
Bowe (hopefully)
Roddy White (except when he was bitching about Vick, but that's acceptable)
Greg Jennings

I'm sure I'm missing some. You don't have to be a dumb **** to be a WR. It isn't prerequisite.
Posted via Mobile Device

I'm willing to bet there are two bitches for every one name on that list.

[Rooster]

Originally Posted by Raised On Riots

Worthless without...you know.

It just bugs me.

[MVChiefFan]

Originally Posted by Rooster

It just bugs me.

That's that "Revolution" design...I hate it too.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Meh. It's not that bad:

http://www.nflfootballhelmetshop.com/kacich2.html

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by RustShack

We did replace our possession receiver TE with a possession receiver WR. Our team still has those sure hands in the middle now. As for your statements about the positions, it was said the last team with a premier TE was Sharpe and you go ahead and say other positions suck because the Chiefs haven't done it.. sad

Engram at this stage of his career is a replacement, but he is a major downgrade. They are two entirely different players. Engram is a sure-handed option who runs crisp routes and will throw anything you throw at him, while Gonzalez is a crisp route runner, gigantic target, and a guy who can make plays happen. Gonzalez is a guy who draws double- and triple-teams; Engram is a guy who typically benefits off of other receivers.

I like Engram in a Ricky Proehl type role, but at his age, he is not even close to the calibre of player Gonzalez is.