Dean: Chiefs due for changes.

[Coogs]

Published Tuesday, November 30, 2004

Chiefs due for changes

By Rick Dean
The Capital-Journal
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Despite another miserable day at the office Sunday, Willie Roaf -- a guy who could walk away from his job at any time knowing that he's financially set for life -- reported back to work Monday with the vigor of a kid just starting out.

"He's one of our older guys, yet our people in the weight room this morning told me he was moving iron around like a rookie, even after taking a lot of snaps yesterday," said Dick Vermeil, Roaf's immediate supervisor with the Kansas City Chiefs. "He's still got a lot of pride left."

Roaf's current position, mind you, is considerably more secure than a lot of his teammates on the Chiefs, a 3-8 team due for some restructuring after an entire season of underperformance.

Easily one of the best left tackles ever to play in the NFL, the 34-year-old Roaf has a job with the Chiefs for as long as he wants it. The only question on the mind of his employers: How long does he want to work?

Tackle Willie Road (77) is one of few Kansas City Chiefs players with job security.
Click here to check for reprint availability.Roaf will get back to them sometime after this current season ends. He worries, though, that some of his co-workers likely won't get the chance to go out on their own terms. He worries more that some of them act like they don't understand that.
"Guys have to understand that we're playing for our jobs now and the coaches are coaching for their jobs," the future Hall of Fame player said Sunday after the Chiefs' 34-31 home loss to San Diego. "You've got to feed your family. When it goes down like this you have to keep fighting through it because you know there's going to be some changes.

"They'll understand that at the end of the season if they don't know it now."

Indeed, changes seem inevitable around Arrowhead in the next couple of months, though Vermeil said he plans on being around to make them. Nothing has happened yet, he said Monday, to make him abandon his plan to fulfill the final year of his contract next season.

While not yet ready to talk about the changes that are almost mandatory when a 13-3 team becomes a 3-8 one in less than a year, Vermeil understands the public demand for personnel upgrades -- especially on a 30th-ranked defense that has been one of the NFL's worst for three consecutive seasons.

"I don't necessarily see it that way," he said when asked if there were players who should worry about remaining employed. "But these guys know there's no job security in this league. Some are more secure than others, but overall, everyone is trying out for next year."

Vermeil only wishes that restructuring a football team was as easy as Joe in Raytown thinks it is as he vents his rage on talk radio. Adding new talent while retaining proven people who can still play -- like Roaf -- is a delicate balance difficult to achieve under NFL salary cap limitations.

"There's no easy way to rebuild," he countered. "There aren't 15 All-Pros willing to come to Kansas City and fit under our salary cap, or anyone else's cap. There are teams now who've got $98 left (under the cap) who will have to get rid of players.

"Personally, I don't think we're that far away from being better on defense," Vermeil added. "We'd have been better yesterday if not for some technical mistakes we made."

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by Vlad Logicslav

I would love for him to say honestly,

We do not have the talent we need to win. We as coaches and as a Front Office staff have done a poor job evaluating talent and a poor job of selecting a coaching staff to develop our talent. It is time for a housecleaning, we cannot continue to field a defense ranked in the last 3 to 4 slots in the league it is unacceptable to me and I realize it is unacceptable to the fans.

I don't mind some of the positive spin, but to still be defending some of the choices is crap... it's not even about hindsight... some of choices were just dumb to begin with, and it would be much more logical for him to take responsibility for being 3-8 instead of the same old "If only this, this, this, and this had happened, we'd be a playoff-bound team".

Now that I think about it, it's similar to what the Rams have done over the past few years.... after every loss, didn't matter who... Warner, Faulk, Bruce.... they would all talk about how they "beat themselves". They lost the SB, and there wasn't a word mentioned about how the Patriots beat them. It was all about how they beat themselves.

[Dr. Johnny Fever]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

I don't mind some of the positive spin, but to still be defending some of the choices is crap... it's not even about hindsight... some of choices were just dumb to begin with, and it would be much more logical for him to take responsibility for being 3-8 instead of the same old "If only this, this, this, and this had happened, we'd be a playoff-bound team".

Now that I think about it, it's similar to what the Rams have done over the past few years.... after every loss, didn't matter who... Warner, Faulk, Bruce.... they would all talk about how they "beat themselves". They lost the SB, and there wasn't a word mentioned about how the Patriots beat them. It was all about how they beat themselves.

The organization seems to be in denial.

[2bikemike]

I don't know what you are all bitching about. Our defense is close to getting better. There are 53 guys on the team and we only need about 8 new defenders. Thats close isn't it?

[Logical]

Originally Posted by 2bikemike

I don't know what you are all bitching about. Our defense is close to getting better. There are 53 guys on the team and we only need about 8 new defenders. Thats close isn't it?

As long as those 8 are starters, I suppose you have a point.

[Carlota69]

Its been awhile since I've been onthe board--however, I just want to say I still love my boys and I still watch every game--every snap. I still travel 30 minute one way just to watch the game. I Love the boys in red and gold.

Hope all is well with everyone and GO Chiefs! ( And Get a f'n defense while you're at it!)
Peace,
Carlota!

[tk13]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

it would be much more logical for him to take responsibility for being 3-8 instead of the same old "If only this, this, this, and this had happened, we'd be a playoff-bound team".

Just to look at it from a different perspective because I'm an asshole like that, that above statement is the truth is it not? This organization is cursed, we're what, probably 5 plays away from being 8-3 instead of 3-8. That's a fact. Look at last Sunday's game, if Dante hangs onto the ball on a kick return, we win the ballgame. That's it, if some freak chance thing doesn't happen in that scenario that has never happened before, the Chiefs win the football game. That's me though, after all the crap that happened in the playoff game last year (Priest's rare fumble, Morten's only under-40 FG miss of the season), I think I've just assumed this franchise is cursed, weird things are going to happen at the worst times, and we aren't going to win. That's how it goes I guess....

There are some things that can be fixed, and Vermeil has said since training camp that he didn't work the guys hard enough... he even alluded to it in his press conference today. Sometimes I think he's just thinking out loud when he says stuff like "if only we could've done this", because it's true, and it's his responsibility, and it didn't get done so it eats at him.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by beer me

The organization seems to be in denial.

The other day I was thinking about that picture (you know, that picture!).... the guy with his hands in the air that's been photoshopped a million times. The one that came to mind was after the Red Wings lost a playoff series a couple of years ago, and the caption was something like "The Red Wings did not lose. The Red Wings pounded their opponent and won the series.... deny, deny, deny....".

Anyone know what I'm talking about?

I might have it at home..... might need to photoshop

[KevB]

Originally Posted by tk13

Just to look at it from a different perspective because I'm an asshole like that, that above statement is the truth is it not? This organization is cursed, we're what, probably 5 plays away from being 8-3 instead of 3-8. That's a fact. Look at last Sunday's game, if Dante hangs onto the ball on a kick return, we win the ballgame. That's it, if some freak chance thing doesn't happen in that scenario that has never happened before, the Chiefs win the football game. That's me though, after all the crap that happened in the playoff game last year (Priest's rare fumble, Morten's only under-40 FG miss of the season), I think I've just assumed this franchise is cursed, weird things are going to happen at the worst times, and we aren't going to win. That's how it goes I guess....

There are some things that can be fixed, and Vermeil has said since training camp that he didn't work the guys hard enough... he even alluded to it in his press conference today. Sometimes I think he's just thinking out loud when he says stuff like "if only we could've done this", because it's true, and it's his responsibility, and it didn't get done so it eats at him.

I would agree, but it's not just a play here or there. Our turnover ratio, penalties, sacks, and red zone efficiency are all worse this year. That's why we are where we are, and we've had these problems consistently all year. That's not just bad breaks, that's just bad football.

[bogie]

There's nothing he can do this season except finish out the season. I was one that believed that bringing in GC was a good idea and I thought our D would improve a lot by changing the "scheme". I was wrong and so was DV and many people on the Planet. I do believe there will be some big changes in personnel. But we've got to wait for the season to end. I don't believe DV is such an idiot that he can't see it. I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt that he'll make some big changes.

[Logical]

Originally Posted by KevB

I would agree, but it's not just a play here or there. Our turnover ratio, penalties, sacks, and red zone efficiency are all worse this year. That's why we are where we are, and we've had these problems consistently all year. That's not just bad breaks, that's just bad football.

Exactly, talented teams overcome their problems, bad teams, untalented teams just become losers.

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by tk13

Just to look at it from a different perspective because I'm an asshole like that, that above statement is the truth is it not? This organization is cursed, we're what, probably 5 plays away from being 8-3 instead of 3-8. That's a fact. Look at last Sunday's game, if Dante hangs onto the ball on a kick return, we win the ballgame. That's it, if some freak chance thing doesn't happen in that scenario that has never happened before, the Chiefs win the football game. That's me though, after all the crap that happened in the playoff game last year (Priest's rare fumble, Morten's only under-40 FG miss of the season), I think I've just assumed this franchise is cursed, weird things are going to happen at the worst times, and we aren't going to win. That's how it goes I guess....

There are some things that can be fixed, and Vermeil has said since training camp that he didn't work the guys hard enough... he even alluded to it in his press conference today. Sometimes I think he's just thinking out loud when he says stuff like "if only we could've done this", because it's true, and it's his responsibility, and it didn't get done so it eats at him.

I'm with you tk13. Last season, nearly everything went right for the Chiefs and they got a few lucky wins on their way to a league high 13-3. This year, the law of averages caught up with a vengence and we've had some uncommonly bad things happen.

Our defense isn't what it needs to be, but we aren't losing games by 2 TDs on a regular basis. The idea that we need 8 new starters (as someone said earlier in the thread, perhaps TIC) is ludicrous. The difference between a playoff team and a team like this year's Chiefs (who are better than their record IMO) is pretty small.

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by KevB

I would agree, but it's not just a play here or there. Our turnover ratio, penalties, sacks, and red zone efficiency are all worse this year. That's why we are where we are, and we've had these problems consistently all year. That's not just bad breaks, that's just bad football.

True enough, but interestingly, the things you mention are as much (or more) the fault of the offense as they are the defense.

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by patteeu

I'm with you tk13. Last season, nearly everything went right for the Chiefs and they got a few lucky wins on their way to a league high 13-3. This year, the law of averages caught up with a vengence and we've had some uncommonly bad things happen.

Our defense isn't what it needs to be, but we aren't losing games by 2 TDs on a regular basis. The idea that we need 8 new starters (as someone said earlier in the thread, perhaps TIC) is ludicrous. The difference between a playoff team and a team like this year's Chiefs (who are better than their record IMO) is pretty small.

The reason we aren't getting killed in games is because our offense can score points.

The way you phrased this post it makes it sound like last years team didn't have flaws.

It had major ones that were exposed this year.

This team could use 8 new starters realistically. Will it happen? No, but that's what they need.

We've completely changed philosophies. We've gone from read and react to just react and neither have worked.

It's the talent and until it's overhauled we are never going to get where we need to be.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

The reason we aren't getting killed in games is because our offense can score points.

The way you phrased this post it makes it sound like last years team didn't have flaws.

It had major ones that were exposed this year.

This team could use 8 new starters realistically. Will it happen? No, but that's what they need.

We've completely changed philosophies. We've gone from read and react to just react and neither have worked.

It's the talent and until it's overhauled we are never going to get where we need to be.

Exactly. I honestly thought we had one of the worst defenses i had ever seen in 2002. They made the criminal mistake of not retooling the secondary after that season and its killing us now. I wouldnt miss one single player in our secondary if they all left. Not one.

[tk13]

Originally Posted by patteeu

I'm with you tk13. Last season, nearly everything went right for the Chiefs and they got a few lucky wins on their way to a league high 13-3. This year, the law of averages caught up with a vengence and we've had some uncommonly bad things happen.

Our defense isn't what it needs to be, but we aren't losing games by 2 TDs on a regular basis. The idea that we need 8 new starters (as someone said earlier in the thread, perhaps TIC) is ludicrous. The difference between a playoff team and a team like this year's Chiefs (who are better than their record IMO) is pretty small.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a ton of new guys on defense... at this point it just has to be done. I'm not condoning standing pat. Anything is possible, maybe with another year somehow some of these guys would get better, and the margin between teams is very small, but at this point you have to take the risk of bringing in free agents, I just hope we bring in guys who end up doing better than Holliday and McCleon and the guys we signed last time (or guys we would've signed like Hugh Douglas). I think if you added maybe three really good players to this team the defense would be much better... it's probably more likely that we'll add a stud player or two and overhaul the rest of the roster on defense. I do think this team has playoff-caliber ability. But with money to spend and one year possibly left in the "window" it's time to go all-out. At least I think that was Carl's plan and why he set up all the contracts signed for this year around that two year window...