JoPo: Carl has us all fooled - Page 2

siberian khatru · 12-19-2006, 07:54 AM

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/16270526.htm

Let’s face it — Chiefs aren’t that good

JOE POSNANSKI
The Kansas City Star

Picture, if you will, a football team. This is not any ordinary football team. This is a team that has made the playoffs one time in the last nine years. Once. In nine years. This obviously is not a particularly good football team.

In those nine years, this team has been led by four different head coaches (three defensive guys, one offensive guy), guided by four quarterbacks (all backups from other teams) and has finished, on average, 22nd in the league in total defense.

You have pictured a team in total disarray, yes? Let us divulge that team also has been miserable away from home — a 25-46 road record over those nine years. No toughness. This team has had just one of its drafted defensive players make the Pro Bowl over that nine-year drought (and that was a fluke, he was on the bench the very next year). This team has not been to a Super Bowl in Lance Armstrong’s lifetime.

This team embarrassed itself with a Monday night meltdown on national television. This team’s defensive slapstick inspired the commissioner to joke about them during his annual state of the NFL speech. This team had one coach quit suddenly and go into broadcasting, one coach resign to spend time with his grandkids and a third coach dismissed rather coldly and then brought back to be defensive coordinator.

Close your eyes. You are picturing one of the NFL dregs, right? The Detroit Lions? The Arizona Cardinals? The Houston Texans?

Of course, you know by now — you’ve known all along — that we are talking about the Kansas City Chiefs. And yet, somehow the Chiefs have avoided being considered one of those NFL dregs. Every home game sells out. People all over town wear red to work every Friday. Every July, no matter how many years since the team has tasted playoff success, Chiefs fans hope again.

How is this possible? You have entered the Chiefs zone.

•••

It’s strange. We all lived through every one of those Chiefs failures the last nine years. I was there for every one of them. And yet, until they were all piled up one after another like dominoes, I did not quite realize exactly how bad it has been. One playoff in nine years? Four coaches? Four backup quarterbacks? That bad a road record?

If the idea of the NFL is to make the playoffs — and I suspect most of us would say that’s the idea — the Chiefs are right there with the Lions, Cardinals and Browns.

But it doesn’t feel that way, does it? I suspect this has a lot to do with Chiefs president/CEO/general manager Carl Peterson. I know many people believe that he is somehow content with losing (as long as the stadium is filled), but I have never bought that. I think he wants very much to win. He has done everything he knows to win.

The truth of course is that under Peterson, the Chiefs haven’t won. In the early years, they couldn’t quite win playoff games. And over the last nine years, they haven’t even won enough to make the playoffs. Why not? I think the answer is more complicated than “he isn’t trying” or “he doesn’t care.” My quick explanation is that the hardest thing to do in football is a build a team with the right balance between offense and defense, and Peterson has never found that balance. Good teams can beat you more than one way. The Chiefs, under Peterson, have not had that variety.

But what Peterson has done — I think better than anyone in sports — is convince everyone that his mediocre teams are actually good and promising. How? He has kept the Chiefs from having one of those comical 3-13 seasons. He has always found players with star quality — Derrick Thomas to Joe Montana to Marcus Allen to Tony Gonzalez to Priest Holmes to Larry Johnson. And the Chiefs have just missed the playoffs enough times to keep everybody coming back for more.

I’ll bet if you asked big NFL fans to name the four teams that have made the playoffs just once since 1998, everybody would get Detroit. Most would pick Arizona. Most would pick Cincinnati (though the Bengals look on pace to make the playoffs this year and get out of this league of losers).

And I suspect very few would name Kansas City. They seem better than that.

This year’s team is a perfect example. These Chiefs were once 7-4 and two touchdowns ahead of Cleveland. They looked to be a playoff team for sure. They looked to be a team on the rise. Everybody in town was excited. Truth was, they were playing over their heads. They have lost three straight, and really they were not too competitive the last two.

Monday, someone asked me this simple question: If you had a choice to build for the future, would you take this year’s Chiefs team or the 4-11-1 team from 1988 that Marty Schottenheimer inherited?

The obvious answer is that you would take this year’s team. That was my thought.

But look again: That 1988 team had three defensive Pro Bowlers — Dino Hackett, Albert Lewis and Deron Cherry. Defensive end Neil Smith was about to emerge, cornerback Kevin Ross had Pro Bowl years ahead, and the Chiefs had a high draft pick (which Peterson used to take Derrick Thomas). That team also had a powerful running back (Christian Okoye), a solid offensive line, two productive wide receivers and a veteran quarterback (Steve DeBerg). There were some pieces there. And the Chiefs won.

Now, look at this year’s team. They will likely have no defensive Pro Bowlers this season. It’s way too early to predict that any of the young defenders will emerge the way Smith, Ross and others did. The Chiefs will have a mediocre draft pick, so they probably will not get a franchise player like Thomas. They do have the great running back, but the offensive line — especially at tackle — struggles. Hall of Famer Will Shields may retire. Trent Green doesn’t look the same after his injury, and he will be 37 before next season. The Chiefs do have the fabulous Tony Gonzalez, assuming they re-sign him. Otherwise, their receiving corps is shaky and aging fast.

The point is, this Chiefs team really isn’t very good. But, like always, they had people around town (at least for a while) believing they were good. Heck, I believed it, too. This is what the Chiefs do well. They get everyone to believe. Trouble is, they’re going to miss the playoffs again. And they do that well too. Too well.

FAX · 12-19-2006, 08:46 AM

Waita justa danga minute, here, Luigi.

A 13 and 3 team isn't good? A 10 and 6 team isn't good? We've had good teams in the last 9 years. Two of them to be exact.

FAX

Kerberos · 12-19-2006, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott free

I agree with everything except the accuracy part, accuracy is Trents strongest suit.

I'm inclined to go with KCJones on this one.

Trents accuracy has never been DEAD ON ... he is no Payton Mangina.

He has lost his nerve in the pocket due to suspect protection that has led to the decline of his quick release. Top that with our receivers inability to make separation quickly it makes Trent hold the ball longer.

It was Trents quick release and receivers actually catching the ball that made a lot of plays in the past.

If anything the quick release he was always good for has been hampered by rushing LBackers and protection that sucks. I don't know that we miss Willie Roaf as much as we miss T-Rich and Priest blocking behind the rest.

Just IMO.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAX

Waita justa danga minute, here, Luigi.

A 13 and 3 team isn't good? A 10 and 6 team isn't good? We've had good teams in the last 9 years. Two of them to be exact.

FAX

Our 13-3 team in 2003 had one of the most PUD schedules the first 9 games in the NFL. Look at the Bears schedule this year.... I think you will see that had they actually had to play MORE good teams (above .500) that thier record may not be as good as it is now. We were an above average team with pud schedule IMO.

.

**dirk digler** · 12-19-2006, 08:53 AM

Great article by JoPo we definitely need to clean house and I hope Clark will do this now that he is in charge.

**Easy 6** · 12-19-2006, 08:59 AM

His percentages here were nothing to scoff at. The STL system he was supposed to run demands great accuracy as well.

**Skip Towne** · 12-19-2006, 09:16 AM

"Defensive slapstick".

hawkchief · 12-19-2006, 09:17 AM

The only line JoPo forgot was "fool me for 18 years, shame on me".

I tired of Peterson's transparent act 3 years ago, quit buying season tickets and thusly quit being a "real fan". More people need to do the same and Clark will get the message that Carl has overstayed his welcome (by about a decade).

stevieray · 12-19-2006, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawkchief

The only line JoPo forgot was "fool me for 18 years, shame on me".

I tired of Peterson's transparent act 3 years ago, quit buying season tickets and thusly quit being a "real fan". More people need to do the same and Clark will get the message that Carl has overstayed his welcome (by about a decade).

Do you think people will do that, considering Lamar passed and the stadium is getting rennovated?

tomahawk kid · 12-19-2006, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevieray

Do you think people will do that, considering Lamar passed and the stadium is getting rennovated?

I'd say its definitely increased the odds.

stevieray · 12-19-2006, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomahawk kid

I'd say its definitely increased the odds.

why?

InChiefsHeaven · 12-19-2006, 09:22 AM

This article is amazing. I think I'm going to puke.

If I could, I'd Rep JoPo for saying all of this...

King_Chief_Fan · 12-19-2006, 09:23 AM

He paints the picture that Chiefs fans are ignorant rubes who likes a constant kick in the nuts.

tomahawk kid · 12-19-2006, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevieray

why?

I can't give you a specific reason.

When I read the Clark Hunt's interview in this weekend's paper, I got the impression that he wants to bring some new folks into the organization.

I'd say that Lamar's passing, coupled with my perception based on the KC Star article, contributes to my thought of Carl moving on.

I could be totally out in left field though....or wishful thinking.

FringeNC · 12-19-2006, 09:32 AM

Tough times ahead. We have a below-average GM and a below-average head coach. The previous five years you had Vermeil and Saunders in charge of the offense -- that's why it didn't suck. Now you have Carl and Herm in charge of it. There's no brain power at Arrowhead anymore on either side of the ball. Herm and Carl are not complete morons, but they're hardly difference makers, either.

StcChief · 12-19-2006, 09:33 AM

If it works to have ClarkHunt DUMP or Demote Carl Peterson it will be worth it.

DMAC · 12-19-2006, 09:35 AM

This article could be way shorter. Here...

The reason Chiefs fans keep coming back is because we are ALMOST good every year.

We may even say "tough times ahead"...but you know they will make a push for the playoffs next year, YOU KNOW THEY WILL. But, they will be 8-8 or 9-7.

The end.

12-19-2006, 07:54 AM
siberian khatru 21st Century Schizoid Fan Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The Gates of Delirium Casino cash: $-1375050	JoPo: Carl has us all fooled http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/16270526.htm Let’s face it — Chiefs aren’t that good JOE POSNANSKI The Kansas City Star Picture, if you will, a football team. This is not any ordinary football team. This is a team that has made the playoffs one time in the last nine years. Once. In nine years. This obviously is not a particularly good football team. In those nine years, this team has been led by four different head coaches (three defensive guys, one offensive guy), guided by four quarterbacks (all backups from other teams) and has finished, on average, 22nd in the league in total defense. You have pictured a team in total disarray, yes? Let us divulge that team also has been miserable away from home — a 25-46 road record over those nine years. No toughness. This team has had just one of its drafted defensive players make the Pro Bowl over that nine-year drought (and that was a fluke, he was on the bench the very next year). This team has not been to a Super Bowl in Lance Armstrong’s lifetime. This team embarrassed itself with a Monday night meltdown on national television. This team’s defensive slapstick inspired the commissioner to joke about them during his annual state of the NFL speech. This team had one coach quit suddenly and go into broadcasting, one coach resign to spend time with his grandkids and a third coach dismissed rather coldly and then brought back to be defensive coordinator. Close your eyes. You are picturing one of the NFL dregs, right? The Detroit Lions? The Arizona Cardinals? The Houston Texans? Of course, you know by now — you’ve known all along — that we are talking about the Kansas City Chiefs. And yet, somehow the Chiefs have avoided being considered one of those NFL dregs. Every home game sells out. People all over town wear red to work every Friday. Every July, no matter how many years since the team has tasted playoff success, Chiefs fans hope again. How is this possible? You have entered the Chiefs zone. ••• It’s strange. We all lived through every one of those Chiefs failures the last nine years. I was there for every one of them. And yet, until they were all piled up one after another like dominoes, I did not quite realize exactly how bad it has been. One playoff in nine years? Four coaches? Four backup quarterbacks? That bad a road record? If the idea of the NFL is to make the playoffs — and I suspect most of us would say that’s the idea — the Chiefs are right there with the Lions, Cardinals and Browns. But it doesn’t feel that way, does it? I suspect this has a lot to do with Chiefs president/CEO/general manager Carl Peterson. I know many people believe that he is somehow content with losing (as long as the stadium is filled), but I have never bought that. I think he wants very much to win. He has done everything he knows to win. The truth of course is that under Peterson, the Chiefs haven’t won. In the early years, they couldn’t quite win playoff games. And over the last nine years, they haven’t even won enough to make the playoffs. Why not? I think the answer is more complicated than “he isn’t trying” or “he doesn’t care.” My quick explanation is that the hardest thing to do in football is a build a team with the right balance between offense and defense, and Peterson has never found that balance. Good teams can beat you more than one way. The Chiefs, under Peterson, have not had that variety. But what Peterson has done — I think better than anyone in sports — is convince everyone that his mediocre teams are actually good and promising. How? He has kept the Chiefs from having one of those comical 3-13 seasons. He has always found players with star quality — Derrick Thomas to Joe Montana to Marcus Allen to Tony Gonzalez to Priest Holmes to Larry Johnson. And the Chiefs have just missed the playoffs enough times to keep everybody coming back for more. I’ll bet if you asked big NFL fans to name the four teams that have made the playoffs just once since 1998, everybody would get Detroit. Most would pick Arizona. Most would pick Cincinnati (though the Bengals look on pace to make the playoffs this year and get out of this league of losers). And I suspect very few would name Kansas City. They seem better than that. This year’s team is a perfect example. These Chiefs were once 7-4 and two touchdowns ahead of Cleveland. They looked to be a playoff team for sure. They looked to be a team on the rise. Everybody in town was excited. Truth was, they were playing over their heads. They have lost three straight, and really they were not too competitive the last two. Monday, someone asked me this simple question: If you had a choice to build for the future, would you take this year’s Chiefs team or the 4-11-1 team from 1988 that Marty Schottenheimer inherited? The obvious answer is that you would take this year’s team. That was my thought. But look again: That 1988 team had three defensive Pro Bowlers — Dino Hackett, Albert Lewis and Deron Cherry. Defensive end Neil Smith was about to emerge, cornerback Kevin Ross had Pro Bowl years ahead, and the Chiefs had a high draft pick (which Peterson used to take Derrick Thomas). That team also had a powerful running back (Christian Okoye), a solid offensive line, two productive wide receivers and a veteran quarterback (Steve DeBerg). There were some pieces there. And the Chiefs won. Now, look at this year’s team. They will likely have no defensive Pro Bowlers this season. It’s way too early to predict that any of the young defenders will emerge the way Smith, Ross and others did. The Chiefs will have a mediocre draft pick, so they probably will not get a franchise player like Thomas. They do have the great running back, but the offensive line — especially at tackle — struggles. Hall of Famer Will Shields may retire. Trent Green doesn’t look the same after his injury, and he will be 37 before next season. The Chiefs do have the fabulous Tony Gonzalez, assuming they re-sign him. Otherwise, their receiving corps is shaky and aging fast. The point is, this Chiefs team really isn’t very good. But, like always, they had people around town (at least for a while) believing they were good. Heck, I believed it, too. This is what the Chiefs do well. They get everyone to believe. Trouble is, they’re going to miss the playoffs again. And they do that well too. Too well.
Posts: 71,919

12-19-2006, 08:46 AM	#16
FAX testing ... 1, 2, 3 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Tennessee Casino cash: $6753759	Waita justa danga minute, here, Luigi. A 13 and 3 team isn't good? A 10 and 6 team isn't good? We've had good teams in the last 9 years. Two of them to be exact. FAX
Posts: 44,492

12-19-2006, 08:53 AM	#18
dirk digler Please squeeze Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Clinton, MO Casino cash: $114644	Great article by JoPo we definitely need to clean house and I hope Clark will do this now that he is in charge.
Posts: 67,118

12-19-2006, 08:59 AM	#19
Easy 6 pie is never free Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: the drivers seat Casino cash: $-192225	His percentages here were nothing to scoff at. The STL system he was supposed to run demands great accuracy as well.
Posts: 98,504

12-19-2006, 09:16 AM	#20
Skip Towne Supporter Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: T-Town Casino cash: $10004900	"Defensive slapstick".
Posts: 69,689

12-19-2006, 09:17 AM	#21
hawkchief Veteran Join Date: Oct 2005 Casino cash: $-641400	The only line JoPo forgot was "fool me for 18 years, shame on me". I tired of Peterson's transparent act 3 years ago, quit buying season tickets and thusly quit being a "real fan". More people need to do the same and Clark will get the message that Carl has overstayed his welcome (by about a decade).
Posts: 1,919

12-19-2006, 09:22 AM	#25
InChiefsHeaven Rockin' yer FACE OFF! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Omaha, Nebraska Casino cash: $585437	This article is amazing. I think I'm going to puke. If I could, I'd Rep JoPo for saying all of this... __________________ We have a million reasons for failure, but not one excuse... Die Donks, DIE!! Holy Crap fellas!!! We did it!!! THREE TIMES!!!
Posts: 27,259

12-19-2006, 09:23 AM	#26
King_Chief_Fan Praise Him Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: none ya Casino cash: $4755486	He paints the picture that Chiefs fans are ignorant rubes who likes a constant kick in the nuts. __________________ No Jesus No Peace Know Jesus Know Peace Ephesians 2:8-10 English Standard Version (ESV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Posts: 12,362

12-19-2006, 09:32 AM	#28
FringeNC MVP Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: NC Casino cash: $-1783986	Tough times ahead. We have a below-average GM and a below-average head coach. The previous five years you had Vermeil and Saunders in charge of the offense -- that's why it didn't suck. Now you have Carl and Herm in charge of it. There's no brain power at Arrowhead anymore on either side of the ball. Herm and Carl are not complete morons, but they're hardly difference makers, either.
Posts: 10,234

12-19-2006, 09:33 AM	#29
StcChief Playing for #1 Draft Pick Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Just West of Lambs land Casino cash: $10004900	If it works to have ClarkHunt DUMP or Demote Carl Peterson it will be worth it. __________________ sig test for this screwy schema
Posts: 25,901

12-19-2006, 09:35 AM	#30
DMAC MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Springfield, MO Casino cash: $10008735	This article could be way shorter. Here... The reason Chiefs fans keep coming back is because we are ALMOST good every year. We may even say "tough times ahead"...but you know they will make a push for the playoffs next year, YOU KNOW THEY WILL. But, they will be 8-8 or 9-7. The end.
Posts: 11,651