Ten Wild Predictions for the 2001 Chiefs

[KCJohnny]

Well, its the off season and not much is happening, so might as well stir up some controversy with my wild, highly subjective speculations.
1. Trent Green will be leading the NFL in every passing category except TDs when (God forbid) he gets injured (not necessarily his knee). Todd Collins comes in and picks up right where Trent left off leading the Chiefs to their second consecutive 4,000+ yd season.
2. KC will set a franchise record for TD passes ALLOWED (current record: 25).
3. Donnie Edwards will barely miss being named the AFC Defensive player of the year due to the team's middle-of-the-pack overall defensive ranking. He will win the AFC defensive player of the week no less than twice.
4. Rich Gannon goes down scrambling early in the season as KC sweeps Gruden.
5. Jamar Threatt (currently in NFLE) will emerge as a huge star in the KC interior defensive line.
6. By week 10, Dick Vermiel will be feeling the heated scrutiny of the KC fan base/media reporting. He will keep his cool and his job.
7. Chiefs will be swept by Denver (Gosh, that hurts). Shanny rejoicing now that Gun is gone (Shanny 0-4 vs. Gun). Typical score: Donx 41, Chiefs 36.
8. Bubby retires during camp.
9. Al Saunders looks like, well, a rookie offensive coordinator for the whole month of September, but gets on track due to the suddenly emergent rushing attack, led by...


10. ...an extremely productive RBbC led by Tony Richardson, but featuring EVERY RB in the stable (not my idea! It's History at work!).

KCJ
Blind, deceived homer

[keg in kc]

Right on Gaz. Stats can prove anything, especially when you only choose to use a portion of them. They're also very misleading unless you use them with an eye on the individual games and even individual situations.

[California Injun]

Here's a "stat"

The Chiefs have not made the post-season since 1997 and have not won a play-off game since the 28-20 win over Houston in 1993.

The only rotisserie I'm interested in is the one supporting my BBQ chicken over an open flame.

[KCJohnny]

I could use the same arguments as you guys. I SAW Donnell Bennett creaming people in '99 fairly frequently, yet the stats showed him to be a middle-of-the-pack tailback. I SAW him run over the Raiders on the final day of the Chiefs '99 season yaet the stats say he gained about 84 yards. This thing works two ways, men.

Milkman, I apologize to you. I never intended to club anybody with stats. Please forgive me if I have bullied my points.

Finally, when your team is missing the post season, stats point to positive and hopeful signs of future progress and achievement. The other thing to keep in mind is, some of us have careers or financial limitations that keep us from seeing every game, and stats become the lifeline. I grew up as a boy literally computing the batting averages of the Orioles (as an 11 year old!) each night based on the boxscores in the paper because I could not see the games on TV. Just an old habit.

FWIW, Dick Vermiel is a HUGE believer in stats and used them extensively to build his columns for Realteam.com.

KCJ
Knows there is no stat for planting the enemy on his 4th point of contact (that's airborne lingo for butt).

[California Injun]

Well then, I like the "stat" that Dick Vermeil has taken two different teams to the Super Bowl in his coaching career.

He helped revolutionize the offense schemes by using an attacking style that throws the ball to every available receiver.

He loves using a single back offense.

He replaced the Three Stooges.

But somehow these "stats" are blasphemous to certain Old School fans who are prediciting doom and gloom before the first ball is snapped.

Go figure.

[KCJohnny]

I was going to let this thread die, but then I saw the parting shot about doom and gloom.
My 10 predictions are posted above for everyone to see. Hardly doom and gloom.
You decide.

It's the major sportswriters who are predicting the Chiefs will be bottom feeders. My prediction is posted above.

KCJ:confused:

[California Injun]

I've decided....

DOOM and GLOOM

Green get injured.
Defense sets record for giving up over 25 TDs
Donnie gets screwed out of Pro Bowl because of bad defense.
Vermiel feeling media heat by week #10
Broncos will sweep Chiefs.
Chiefs sweep Raiders because Gannon is hurt.
We end up with the dreaded RBBC by seasons end.

7-8 predictions out of your 10 is negative.

Try hitting the spin cycle on your dryer instead of this thread.

[KCTitus]

mmmm...cut and paste material. :)

[KCJohnny]

Negative?
Depends on your perspective.

1. Positive. Chiefs lead league in passing. Collins performs.
2. Negative. What do you see that suggests otherwise?
3. Positive. Donnie is a star.
4. Positive. We sweep Raiders. How can that be negative????
5. Positive. Chiefs discover a new star right at home.
6. Neutral. Just what happens 'round here.
7. Negative. I calls 'em as I sees 'em.
8. Positive. Bubby has no future here.
9. Positive. Saunders struggles for 1 month, is on track for 3 months. How can that be negative?
10. Positive. Chiefs discover potent rushing attack. How can that be negative????

7 positives, 2 negatives, and one facts-of-life observation. Sorry, that's not exactly a negative read to me.
Ta ta!
KCJ
:cool:

[keg in kc]

One thing I just remembered, Johnny. It's a minor point, really, but if I'm not mistaken (and I might be wrong about this...), Saunders was an offensive coordinator for a year with the Chargers prior to being head coach (in '84 and part of '85 maybe). Point being that while there may be struggles with the offense at the start of the season, I don't think it will be from a lack of experience on Saunder's part. The guy's been coaching in the NFL for 18 years...

[KCJohnny]

Kyle:
I didn't say that Saunders would fail. I certainly laud his impressive (KCCHiefs) credentials.
I just speculated that with a new QB, a new system and some key new players (Weigeman, Holmes, Horne/Minnis, etc...) against some stout opponents (check the Chiefs' Sept schedule) that Saunders will look mortal.
KCJ

[keg in kc]

Okay, I was only referring to your label of Saunders as a "rookie offensive coordinater" (which he may be, I could be wrong...).

I've said a number of times that the offense may take a few weeks to completely gel, that's just the way things are. Then again, they might come together completely during training camp. We should be able to tell in August how things will play out in September, and, frankly, I'm more worried about the defense than the offense. We have a higher level of talent to work with on the offensive side of the ball (IMHO) which should help to expedite the process...

It will be interesting to watch it all play out. I've never watched a training camp with as much scrutiny as I will this fall.

[KCJohnny]

Kyle, I'm 95% sure that Al Saunders has been a positions coach for the past 12 years. Even if he has been a coordinator or an HC, its been a while.

As for training camp, I hope that the new O will come together. They's have about 5-6 quarters to play together before opening against the Raidas. I'll be VERY surprised if there aren't SOME growing pains.

KCJ