Pioli Deserves Props

[Hoover]

The NFL draft is a lot like Christmas morning. There is a lot of anticipation leading up to the big day, and when the time finally arrives to see what’s under the tree for us we can sometimes be a little disappointed.

We all remember the Christmas that we got everything we wanted. For Chiefs fans that was last year. We got a QB, WR, DBs, and LBs. Heck we even liked the more practical gifts like a Rodney Hudson. Frankly, the 2011 draft gave us a lot to play with, and we used them.

After a big year like 2011, some of you seem down. Sure we got the big present we always talk about (NT), but its’ not as cool as we thought it would be. We also ended up with some more practical gifts than we expected.

Here is how I view this draft, and to be honest I’m pretty stoked about it.

After having a draft like we did in 2011 where we seemed to hit on almost every pick, it wasn’t necessary for the Chiefs to snag additional pass rushers to sit behind guys like Hali and Houston. While we are still a little shallow when it comes to the safety position and could use some depth at center, the Chiefs are well positioned. In fact, I think the practicality of the 2012 Chiefs draft will allow them the flexibility in future drafts to aggressively seek out play makers to add to this team.

If there is one thing that I think Pioli deserves credit for, it’s rebuilding the Chiefs offensive live. While Albert was already hear when he arrived, Pioli not only filled a glaring hole at RT when he signed Eric Winston, but his last three drafts has set the Chiefs on a course to maintain a quality offensive line for years to come.

Many on this board recoiled at any suggestion that the Chiefs should use their first round pick on a lineman. After all the heated debates about the value of DeCastro, Pioli seems to agree with those who don’t want to invest first round picks on the line. Maybe instead of bitching that we didn’t have the Steelers’ draft, some of you should praise Pioli for doing exactly what you advocated for.

In the last three years, Pioli has taken four offensive linemen in the 2nd and 3rd rounds of the draft. Asamoah and Hudson are now starters. Jeff Allen is going to push Ryan Lilja for a starting spot at guard, but is more likely to be seasoned for a year before finding a permanent home on the life. I know it’s sometimes hard to get excited about the offensive line, but Pioli obviously has a process that seems to be working really well.

Picking back-to-back tackles isn’t as exciting as drafting guys like Justin Houston or Javier Arenas, but it feeds a system that can produce quality linemen that allows the Chiefs not use first round picks on offensive tackles, guards, or centers. It also means that the Chiefs will not be forced to commit free agent dollars on those positions either.

We are lucky to have landed Winston this offseason. Without him there would probably be no Poe. I like how Pioli is building this team. While I continue to be frustrated about Cassel, finding a franchise QB is never easy. We have had three solid drafts under Pioli and we can already see the results. Yes we need to find a QB, but at least we are building a strong team while we continue to look for him.

[Trivers]

Originally Posted by saphojunkie

Let's count all the reasons Pioli sucks:

Scott Pioli inherited a 2-14 team stockpiled with some of the worst players in the NFL. In three seasons, he has rebuilt it into a perennial playoff contender. He hired Todd Haley, boo hoo. Todd Haley and his staff actually took players like Dwayne Bowe, Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson and got them to reach their potential. Glenn Dorsey was a lost cause until Haley showed up and made him work off the gut.

When the relationship with Haley was unsalvageable, Pioli cut ties. He has drafted well, even when you don't like it. The only bad draft we've had with him has been the Tyson Jackson year, which was atrocious, but the guy had three months with the scouts to pick these guys. Scouts are out ALL year looking for the types of players you want. It was also an historically weak draft.

Pioli traded for Matt Cassel, yeah. And it was a great trade. We got Mike Vrabel, who was absolutely instrumental in our transition to the 3-4, and a starting quarterback for a second round pick.

Did Cassel have a pro bowl year? Where he threw 27 TD to 7 INT? Where he took us to the playoffs? Yes. Okay, then. I'll take that for a second round pick any time.

The fact that Cassel has proven, OVER TIME, to not be the answer at QB is in no way an indictment of Pioli. We didn't know he wasn't the answer! He sure as hell looked like it in 2010. But oh boy, now that we know, we sure are ready to put Pioli in the doghouse for bringing him in. Hindsight is 20/20, and you have lasers coming out of your eyes. Settle down.

Pioli is going to be around for a LONG TIME. And frankly, I couldn't be happier. To be a good team, you have to have consistency, and that includes the front office. This team was one blocked field goal away from the playoffs last year, and that's after losing Berry, Charles, Moeaki, firing the head coach and losing the starting QB, and without their #1 draft pick for several weeks. And against a first-place schedule.

This team is getting really good. Yes, we need a new QB, but did you really want Kirk freaking Cousins? Nick Foles? Come on, man. If we're taking a quarterback, it is going to be the best in the draft, not the seventh guy off the board with a noodle arm.

[BossChief]

There is no question that he wasnt ready, but how much worse off could we possibly be right now if Stanzi was the starter over Cassel from the outset last year?

What has Cassel done that we wouldn't get from an average rookie?

[Ming the Merciless]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Cassel.

But I also would have actually made an effort to get somebody in the offseason.

Like who man? Where are these HoF franchise guys just falling out of trees?

Don't just say you wouldve got SOMEBODY. Say who and how.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by milkman

In 2010, Cassel had 27 TDs with 7 ints.

That's the number everyone points to prop him up.

But he passed for just over 200 yards per game, a number enhanced by a 469 garbage time yards in a blowout loss.

He completed less than 60% of his passes, and averaged fewer than 7 ypa, a number propped up by yac from his receivers.

And he only won one game against a playoff opponent, a 7-9 Seahawk team.

And I would add to this... in all 10 of our wins that season, not once did we pass the ball more times than we ran it. Not once! That is kind of mind boggling in its own right.

[BoneKrusher]

Originally Posted by Pawnmower

That is the only come back you have for people proving your list was stupid?

Herp Durp

that's your Opinion.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by saphojunkie

Let's count all the reasons Pioli sucks:

Scott Pioli inherited a 2-14 team stockpiled with some of the worst players in the NFL. In three seasons, he has rebuilt it into a perennial playoff contender. He hired Todd Haley, boo hoo. Todd Haley and his staff actually took players like Dwayne Bowe, Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson and got them to reach their potential. Glenn Dorsey was a lost cause until Haley showed up and made him work off the gut.

Agreed. People point out that Pioli didn't bring in a bunch of superstars on his own, but on a shoestring budget, he's managed to turn this team from one with tons of holes to a team that has only a few. And now is starting to add bench depth.

When the relationship with Haley was unsalvageable, Pioli cut ties. He has drafted well, even when you don't like it. The only bad draft we've had with him has been the Tyson Jackson year, which was atrocious, but the guy had three months with the scouts to pick these guys. Scouts are out ALL year looking for the types of players you want. It was also an historically weak draft.

The relationship was unsalvageable because Pioli purposely sabotaged the relationship. That's childish for a GM to do that. And frankly, I think it cost us the opportunity to hire good coaches in the offseason and I sure hope it doesn't affect our ability to hire Phil Emery's replacement. As for your second point, Pioli arrogantly froze out Peterson's scouts. Scouts drive your picks in the 3rd round and beyond. That was an absolutely arrogant move and it cost him--that second day of the draft was embarrassingly bad.

Pioli traded for Matt Cassel, yeah. And it was a great trade. We got Mike Vrabel, who was absolutely instrumental in our transition to the 3-4, and a starting quarterback for a second round pick.

50/50 on this one. I hate the trade now, but appreciate the aggressiveness to make it.

Did Cassel have a pro bowl year? Where he threw 27 TD to 7 INT? Where he took us to the playoffs? Yes. Okay, then. I'll take that for a second round pick any time.

If anything, it set us back by setting true fan expectations that Cassel was a franchise QB, even though any trained eye would tell you that any average QB should have been markedly better than Cassel given what he was given.

The fact that Cassel has proven, OVER TIME, to not be the answer at QB is in no way an indictment of Pioli. We didn't know he wasn't the answer! He sure as hell looked like it in 2010. But oh boy, now that we know, we sure are ready to put Pioli in the doghouse for bringing him in. Hindsight is 20/20, and you have lasers coming out of your eyes. Settle down.

I don't have a problem with trying out Cassel and giving him time to prove if he was/wasn't the answer. I can't stand the arrogance of the front office to not bring in competition year after year after year. After Cassel's rough 2009, we should have drafted a QB, even if only in the second or third round. We should have brought in a veteran QB. we didn't do any of those things. And it sure seems like it was arrogance to prove he was right on the trade more than anything.

Pioli is going to be around for a LONG TIME. And frankly, I couldn't be happier. To be a good team, you have to have consistency, and that includes the front office. This team was one blocked field goal away from the playoffs last year, and that's after losing Berry, Charles, Moeaki, firing the head coach and losing the starting QB, and without their #1 draft pick for several weeks. And against a first-place schedule.

He's a terrific personnel guy. But he has to learn lessons and we haven't seen proof that he will. He hires coaches only from his tree, while successful GMs are comfortable looking outside of it. He has shown no ability or urgency to fill the most important positions on the field... QB. He waited 4 years to show the urgency to fill the most important position on defense. He is sabotaging the good things he does with mind-numbingly bad decisions.

This team is getting really good. Yes, we need a new QB, but did you really want Kirk freaking Cousins? Nick Foles? Come on, man. If we're taking a quarterback, it is going to be the best in the draft, not the seventh guy off the board with a noodle arm.

It's been 3 years. 4 drafts. And the best we have to show for it at QB is a longshot veteran in Brady Quinn and a 5th round pick to be the future that Cassel is not.

[Ming the Merciless]

Originally Posted by BoneKrusher

that's your Opinion.

[Dayze]

I don't think Pioli deserves shit.
Call me when we win a playoff game at minimum. Otherwise everything is just BS and a waste of time.

I'll start getting excited when we win a playoff game.

[Ming the Merciless]

Originally Posted by Dayze

I'll start getting excited when we win a playoff game.

Start? I'll ****ing finish all over your mom's couch. It will be a joyous day.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Pawnmower

Like who man? Where are these HoF franchise guys just falling out of trees?

Don't just say you wouldve got SOMEBODY. Say who and how.

Orton. That's easy, he was on our roster and he's better than Cassel if anything.
Drew Stanton
Matt Moore
Troy Smith
Dennis Dixon
Shaun Hill


We could have drafted Dalton, Skelton, McCoy, Mallett, Yates, Kafka, Osweiler.

Again, we're not talking about Quarterbacks who are necessarily franchise. We're talking about at least filling your pipeline with QBs who can compete for a starting job and maybe surprise somebody. None of those QBs would have costed anything. Maybe a few of them might have really shined in KC. But at least you made some effort instead of waiting three years.

Brady Quinn is a perfect example of a move they should have made years ago.

[Dayze]

Lol Pawn

[Thunder1boss]

If we're healthy, I think Cassel can manage the games without screwing it up...With talent around him....He can do it...the key is STAYING healthy. and even THIS time, we have some quality backups at skill positions!

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by saphojunkie

Let's count all the reasons Pioli sucks:

Scott Pioli inherited a 2-14 team stockpiled with some of the worst players in the NFL. In three seasons, he has rebuilt it into a perennial playoff contender.

No reason to take this post seriously past this point.

[aturnis]

Originally Posted by milkman

There's 2 picks that I actually like in this draft.

Menzi and Gray.

Beyond that, the rest are guys that are head scratchers, at best.

I think Jeff Allen has potential, but keneche Osemele would have been a better pick.

Donald Stephenson has huge potential, but Bobbie Massie would have been a better pick for the immediate needs of this team.

Poe is a huge question mark.

I have a problem with statements like this. When the Talking heads make them during the draft and definitely from Milkman, who should know better.

Of course there were better guards on the board. Problem is, guys like Osemele and Cordy Glenn don't really fit our zone blocking system.

It's easy to say they should have taken a higher rated player at the same position, but it would have been the wrong move for the Chiefs.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Thunder1boss

If we're healthy, I think Cassel can manage the games without screwing it up...With talent around him....He can do it...the key is STAYING healthy. and even THIS time, we have some quality backups at skill positions!

The problem is that this team has become so good around him especially with Charles on offense that we pass "squeaking by" as being good, when in fact any average QB could come in and do Cassel's job a whole lot better. The defense is basically handing Cassel the keys to a productive season, and Cassel is doing everything he can to steer the car into the tree.