Chiefs Chiefs’ Chan Gailey takes a time-honored approach to offense - Page 2

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.”

Programmer · 05-29-2008, 10:01 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's got to be somewhere. They keep statistics on everything in the NFL, even how many gallons you piss during the season.

The Chiefs probably have that information on their website, if they don't, every team they play this year has that information available to them. I don't think there are many secrets in the NFL.

Micjones · 05-29-2008, 10:06 AM

I'm still not quite sure how I feel about Chan Gailey.

I realize that he'll make for an improved offense, but that isn't saying much.

**cdcox** · 05-29-2008, 10:17 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?

ESPN has various splits at the player level.

Here are Croyle's attempts per quarter: 36, 49, 58, 81

Here are Huard's: 66, 91, 89, 86

Total: 102, 140, 147, 167

So yes, a lot of the passes came late in the game.

Reerun_KC · 05-29-2008, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdcox

ESPN has various splits at the player level.

Here are Croyle's attempts per quarter: 36, 49, 58, 81

Here are Huard's: 66, 91, 89, 86

Total: 102, 140, 147, 167

So yes, a lot of the passes came late in the game.

Well we were aways behind, late in the game.

Problem is the other NFL teams failed to get the same memo that Herm and Co received. They believe you should score everytime you touch the ball... Sure didnt stop them from handing us our hats weekly..

So silly NFL posers, Scoring each time you touch the ball...

Lets see how they stack up against the real NFL teams?

**DaKCMan AP** · 05-29-2008, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manila-Chief

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.

Do you think ANY offense will get this team to the Super Bowl? The answer is no. This season is all about improvement and player development.

**DaKCMan AP** · 05-29-2008, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdcox

ESPN has various splits at the player level.

Here are Croyle's attempts per quarter: 36, 49, 58, 81

Here are Huard's: 66, 91, 89, 86

Total: 102, 140, 147, 167

So yes, a lot of the passes came late in the game.

Those numbers are meaningless without the rushing attempts per quarter splits as well.

Reerun_KC · 05-29-2008, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

Do you think ANY offense will get this team to the Super Bowl? The answer is no. This season is all about improvement and coaching development.

Lets see if our coaching staff can take the much needed steps forward to prove they are legitimate NFL quality coaches....

**DaKCMan AP** · 05-29-2008, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

Lets see if our coaching staff can take the much needed steps forward to prove they are legitimate NFL quality coaches....

What do you consider proof of legitimate quality NFL coaching? Overall record? Playoff appearances? Playoff victories? SB victories?

Demonpenz · 05-29-2008, 10:26 AM

Pound the rock throw some play action when the time comes. Run some screens and play Defense. Pretty much what champions do

**Tribal Warfare** · 05-29-2008, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

Pound the rock throw some play action when the time comes. Run some screens and play Defense. Pretty much what champions do

That's what the 90's Cowboys did, and they did alright

**cdcox** · 05-29-2008, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

Those numbers are meaningless without the rushing attempts per quarter splits as well.

Well, since the statistic quoted in the article was based on number of passing attempts, it shows that most of the attempts came late.

You are asking a different question, which is pass freqency by quarter. I'm in the process of putting together those stats both by quarter and by down.

**CosmicPal** · 05-29-2008, 10:29 AM

Quote:

“We’re trying to score one more point than the other guy,” he said.

Well, Herm's gotta love that.

Whatever happened to, "We're going to blow the doors on these fuggers and score 'til they bleed and leave Arrowhead with their tail between their legs!"

Hammock Parties · 05-29-2008, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

That's what the 90's Cowboys did, and they did alright

Cowboys ran the same offense we did under Vermeil. Just called it differently to suit their personnel.

By the way, Aikman's YPA was fairly high during the SB years, because the Cowboys threw the ball down the field. Not a hallmark of Herm's offense.

Micjones · 05-29-2008, 10:40 AM

The fact that this team may or may not be competitive this season is no reason to install an offense that won't benefit them once they've turned the corner.

We should still be taking positive steps in the right direction.

Fish · 05-29-2008, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CosmicPal

Well, Herm's gotta love that.

Whatever happened to, "We're going to blow the doors on these fuggers and score 'til they bleed and leave Arrowhead with their tail between their legs!"

We're a rebuilding team with an offensive line full of guys that haven't played with each other.

What happens when Gailey says yeah we're gonna score 50 more points than those fools....

And then the offense struggles, which is very likely with this young group....

Everybody would be calling for his head after the 2nd or 3rd game....

"You said you were going to score a bunch of points. You suck Chan! Liar"

People are reading into this waaaay too much...

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, 10:06 AM	#17
Micjones Whose house? Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: KCMO Casino cash: $10005180	I'm still not quite sure how I feel about Chan Gailey. I realize that he'll make for an improved offense, but that isn't saying much.
Posts: 15,344

05-29-2008, 10:26 AM	#24
Demonpenz Woman should only make babies Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Apartment "G UNIT!" Casino cash: $-413864	Pound the rock throw some play action when the time comes. Run some screens and play Defense. Pretty much what champions do __________________
Posts: 54,957

05-29-2008, 10:40 AM	#29
Micjones Whose house? Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: KCMO Casino cash: $10005180	The fact that this team may or may not be competitive this season is no reason to install an offense that won't benefit them once they've turned the corner. We should still be taking positive steps in the right direction.
Posts: 15,344