The #1 reason CP should say YES to Al Saunders - (And the main reason he won't)

[B_Ambuehl]

Forget about the fact that he's coordinated the top offense in the nfl the last 4 years. Forget the fact that he's obviously the best candidate available and already on the staff. Forget the fact that whether he stays or goes could decide whether hall of famers on the offensive line stay or go.

The real reason Saunders should be named head coach is right here. The real reason Saunders WON'T be named head coach is also right here as well.

This was from last summer and I bookmarked it for future reference.

Some of you may recall a guy from the coalition by the name of "former db" from training camp last year. He's a media guy and former football player from Pittsburgh who is also a die hard chiefs fan. He covered the Chiefs training camp last year and provided some really good interviews and info. Anyway, he had this to say about a conversation with Frank Ganz last summer:

http://www.chiefscoalition.com/Forum...=29295&hl=ganz

Some of you already know I'm up here in Pittsburgh. Frank Gantz Sr. lives here too and we're very familiar with each other because he is, of course the former coach and he knows me from my job as a television reporter.

Now that thats out of the way, I spotted Gantz and his wife in a grocery store, Whole Foods (bunch of healthy stuff).
He was wearing Chiefs shorts, t-shirt and cap, he made me laugh.

Anyway here are some of the things he shared with me based on the conversations he has with Vermeil about three times a week.

NEW COACH:
Gantz believes Herman Edwards will get strong consideration as the next Chiefs head coach, for a couple of reasons. First, he says head coaches wear out their welcome very fast, even if they're winners. Most importantly, he says the Chiefs front office is enamored with Edwards. Al Saunders will be considered too HOWEVER... HOWEVER, Saunders and Carl Peterson are the two primary parities in regards to the political in-fighting within the organziation. Gantz says the Saunders doesn't back down to Peterson, gets in his face and will tell him his ideas are wrong. They don't share the same philosophy in regards to player evaluations either. I got the strong impression, and Gantz feels this too, that Saunders would be the person to knock Peterson's ego sideways. So Gantz wouldn't be surpirsed if Saunders is passed over as Vermeil's successor.

LARRY JOHNSON:
He says the Chiefs are very sorry Derrick Blaylock is gone. They say that Larry Johnson can't do nearly as many things as Blaylock. They must reconfigure a lot of packages minimize Johnson's short-comings. Gantz says Johson can run, but there's a lot more to the game than just running the rock.

BOOMER GRIGSBY:
May be a starter. Gantz and I had fun talking about the MLB position, as does everyone else. Vermeil told him that Boomer is awesome and that Vermeil isn't letting on to how well this guy REALLY is to the media. Apparently, Boomer is ALWAYS, ALWAYS in position to make the tackle and his technique is flawless. Here's the funny part of our conversation, Gantz asked me why did Grigsby last until the 5th round. I'm like, DUHHHHH!!! He laughed like hell. Gantz and I both think the battle at MLB is between Boomer and Scanlon. He really likes Kawitka Mitchell but it doesn't seem like he's the answer. Everybody is caught up with Boomer's mentality and core toughness to play the position. I informed Gantz of Boomer's gymnastics background and he was even further impressed with the kid.

KENDRELL BELL:
He's NOT healthy from what Vermeil shared with Gantz. Now I thought Bell came back to practice after straining his groin. Perhaps Vermeil is keeping his health undercover but Gantz' voice was noticably grim when talking about Bell's health.
I just hope he is 100 percent by training camp.

GANTZ:
We plan on bumping into each other at training camp because Vermeil asked him to address the team and Gantz is excited to do so. He and I both believe the Chiefs were brilliant in drafting the punter in the third round. Now, while we talked for about 20 minutes, his wife was smoothly filling the cart. She's a wonderful lady, very understanding of two football nuts talking Chiefs football at the deli counter.

[stevieray]

Larry Johnson doesn't make or break Al Saunders.

[jspchief]

I guess my question is, what exactly has Saunders done to make anyone think he can fix this team? What aspect of coaching is better than Vermeil at?

[jjchieffan]

Originally Posted by jspchief

I guess my question is, what exactly has Saunders done to make anyone think he can fix this team? What aspect of coaching is better than Vermeil at?

WHat has Saunders done to make anyone think he cant fix this team is my question. We dont know what he would be better than Vermeil at until we guve him the chance.

[Hammock Parties]

We should stop debating this nonsense. Saunders isn't our new HC.

[tk13]

Originally Posted by jspchief

I guess my question is, what exactly has Saunders done to make anyone think he can fix this team? What aspect of coaching is better than Vermeil at?

We probably aren't going to hire a coach that's better than Vermeil. I think you're going to be able to say this with anybody we hire.

[jspchief]

Originally Posted by gochiefs

We should stop debating this nonsense. Saunders isn't our new HC.

Fine by me.

I can live with him getting the job, but I would much rather get the rebuilding started now rather than in two years when it's critical.

But I agree that he'll not get the job. Then all the Saunder-baters can start their boo-hoo campaign for the next 9 months.

[jspchief]

Originally Posted by tk13

We probably aren't going to hire a coach that's better than Vermeil. I think you're going to be able to say this with anybody we hire.

Better than a losing record and only one (losing) play-off appearance in 5 years? It's not like that's a lofty goal.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by tk13

We probably aren't going to hire a coach that's better than Vermeil.

Bullshit. If we can't hire someone that is capable of making the playoffs more than once in five ****ing years, blow up Arrowhead stadium.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by jspchief

Then all the Saunder-baters can start their boo-hoo campaign for the next 9 months.

I can see the threads now if our offense has a bad game.

"WE SHOULD HAVE KEPT AL"

[tk13]

I'm not advocating him getting the job, I think he should be considered though. I think he deserves another shot somewhere. If Gregg Williams deserves another shot, Al Saunders sure as hell deserves another shot.

But I don't think we'd have to go a massive rebuilding job either though. We're young on the defensive side of the football, and Waters/Wiegmann/Black/Welbourn make up a decent 4/5ths of the line. Just need a WR and a LT, we're good to go.

Some of you people are way too eager to trash everything and spend another 3 years starting from scratch. I think you're all nuts. All that will accomplish is wasting LJ's best years and the last few good years of Gonzalez's career.

[Hammock Parties]

We don't have to trash anything. If Al can swallow his pride, he should stay as the offensive coordinator.

[tk13]

Originally Posted by jspchief

Better than a losing record and only one (losing) play-off appearance in 5 years? It's not like that's a lofty goal.

I'm talking accomplishment-wise. You asked what has Al proven he can bring to the table that's better than Vermeil. You'll be able to say that with anyone we hire...

Saunders: Waited 20 years to prove he can be a HC again... great offensive mind, unproven in building an entire team.

Carroll: Had some success at the NFL level, considered too rah-rah by some though for the NFL. Will want complete control of football operations most likely.

Stoops: Won with other people's recruits, not quite as good since they left, doesn't have the NFL experience other college coaches do.

Ron Rivera: Very young in terms of coaching experience, is getting talked up based on one good year with a defense with numerous Dick Jauron draft picks.

Gregg Williams: Team fell apart in first HC gig, players questioned him, may have learned from that (could say the same with Saunders) but apparently has no interest in coming to KC though.

Butch Davis: Totally lost control in Cleveland, quit, made lots of bad decisions, poor draft picks, team didn't trust him at all.

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by gochiefs

We don't have to trash anything. If Al can swallow his pride, he should stay as the offensive coordinator.

In all likelihood his choices are a $2 million paycheck somewhere as a head coach, college or pro, or 1.5 million to stay here as OC. Staying wouldn't be swallowing his pride, it would be swallowing Carl's.

[jjchieffan]

Originally Posted by gochiefs

We don't have to trash anything. If Al can swallow his pride, he should stay as the offensive coordinator.

Would you? He has ran the nfl's best offense for 5 years, and has turned down HC opportunities in the past for this team. He was already passed over by CP for Gunther when Marty left. As much as I would like to see AS stay with this team, If he gets passed over again, and someone else offers, he would be a fool not to leave, even just to be OC somewhere else. If CP is too arrogant to see what he has in AS, then that is one more reason why Clark needs to get a new GM

[DTLB58]

Originally Posted by tk13

I'm talking accomplishment-wise. You asked what has Al proven he can bring to the table that's better than Vermeil. You'll be able to say that with anyone we hire...

Saunders: Waited 20 years to prove he can be a HC again... great offensive mind, unproven in building an entire team.

Carroll: Had some success at the NFL level, considered too rah-rah by some though for the NFL. Will want complete control of football operations most likely.

Stoops: Won with other people's recruits, not quite as good since they left, doesn't have the NFL experience other college coaches do.

Ron Rivera: Very young in terms of coaching experience, is getting talked up based on one good year with a defense with numerous Dick Jauron draft picks.

Gregg Williams: Team fell apart in first HC gig, players questioned him, may have learned from that (could say the same with Saunders) but apparently has no interest in coming to KC though.
Butch Davis: Totally lost control in Cleveland, quit, made lots of bad decisions, poor draft picks, team didn't trust him at all.

Curious, where did you hear that Willimams has no interest in coming to KC?