Chiefs Can this team improve next year and be competitive in TWO? YES.

dallaschiefsfan · 10-20-2008, 10:05 AM

I say this with the caveat that it's unlikely (based on recent comments at face value) that Clark has the courage to do this...but hey, I can dream. The Chiefs CAN make progress next year and be extremely competitive in 2 years. It happens all the time, but needs some key things to happen in this order:

1. Immediately announce the firing of Carl Peterson and conduct a search for young, talented front office people (a team Pres AND a separate GM). The GM is most important and must be someone that has been intimately involved with the player personnel side of a consistently winning organization. Why this move first? This will a.) get a head start on putting a plan in motion for next year and b.) Communicate to the fans that ownership has the courage to make bold moves and cut bait when it's not working.

2. Announce the retention of Germ Edwards for the remainder of the season. At this point, I want the ineptness that is Germ to finish the season so as to seal his fate as an NFL fraud of a head coach. I don't simply want him to be let go mid-season with excuses for his horrendous coaching...I want him humiliated...untouchable by every NFL organization except for the Faiders and Al Davis.

3. Once the season is over, announce the firing of Germ Edwards 30 minutes after his final post-game presser. Waste no time. Let the new GM get his guy. Don't care who...because at this point, if they hire a good GM, the choice will be well-thought out. A good HC and coaching staff that excludes Dick Curl will do wonders for the 2008 draft pics. The one area Germ has succeeded (CB's Carr and Flowers) must be built upon. Whoever the coach is, they need to be someone that sells out to bleed Chiefs red and be the greatest advocate for stoking the fire of the "12th man". Marty was excellent at this...and I'm convinced this was as key as anything in rebuilding the franchise in the 90's.

4. Obtain a solid vet QB in free agency that will be a one year transition guy. If our goal is to draft and go with a young QB early, I believe the best chance of getting him up to speed fast is by having a vet run the offense for a year while transitioning our newly drafted guy into the mix. Manning is an exception...most guys do better behind a vet for the first year. Warner and Garcia seem to be the most likely candidates. They would IMMEDIATELY give your offense an opportunity to move forward while simultaneously giving your new rookie QB time to learn NFL speed and the new offensive system.

5. Sign the best available UFA kicker. I am absolutely stunned that Herm "I prefer field goals" Edwards hasn't put a full court press on getting a competent kicker in his 3 years.

6. Sign the best UFA line backer/s available. This is an area we are really, really weak. We have to spend money AND draft to get improvement. This can't be fixed by better coaching...but I believe our D-line and Safeties can get better with competent coaching. We have a LARGE amount of money under the cap and need to spend some on this area. I don't like Ray Lewis...and don't advocate bringing him in, necessarily...but let's be honest, he wouldn't put up with this shit.

7. Sign either an UFA center or guard that has played competently at the NFL level. Jones is a weak link and Nicewonger is probably out of position. The better option is probably center...and move Nicewonger to right guard. At that point, Herb Taylor at RT and with better coaching and a decent mid-round G or T draft pick and you might be ok.

8. Draft an F'ing QB in the first round and draft another in the mid rounds. Always be developing QB's. Draft a value QB every year. When Jimmy Johnson took the Cowboy job, he was very smart to draft Aikman AND Walsh. Walsh didn't work out, but he gave them added competition in landing their QBOTF. Keep competition alive at this position and always have someone in the shoot. After transitioning to the QBOTF, never have a vet backup again. Develop guys for the "just in case" scenarios.

9. Continue building the team through the draft. I agree with this...but you can't go cold turkey and expect to develop winning as a cultural reality. Young guys like Neil Smith, Okoye and Dino Hackett and vets like Cherry, Lewis, Ross etc. did NOT become winners until Marty brought in some veteran band-aids to stop the bleeding. I'm convinced that none of those players would have reached their full potential exclusively surrounded by other rookies. Winning is cultural...and so is fundamental NFL professionalism. This team needs competent NFL vets along the way to successfully build from the draft. Herm does NOT seem to GET THIS.

There's no reason that a team couldn't be competitive in two years under this scenario...but the GM and coaching piece is easily the most important part of the whole equation. This is a poorly managed organization with a poorly coached team on the field. Once those two items are addressed, we might be surprised how many players are salvageable for future use toward competitiveness.

|Zach| · 10-20-2008, 10:05 AM

I agree, not because the Chiefs are that great or anything but just because of the nature of the NFL.

Deberg_1990 · 10-20-2008, 10:07 AM

The Rams turned around their season with a HC change in two weeks.

So yes, progress can be made immediatly, but once your an employee of the Chiefs its "4 Life" it seems.

**ChiefGator** · 10-20-2008, 10:07 AM

Absolutely agree with this 100%.

Not much point in cutting Herm if we don't have anyone we can replace him with, and I look around and don't see anyone decent, even as an interim.

Chiefnj2 · 10-20-2008, 10:09 AM

Why would someone want to take over GM duties at this point in the season? You can't do anything and you have a lame duck staff. It's pointless.

dallaschiefsfan · 10-20-2008, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

Why would someone want to take over GM duties at this point in the season? You can't do anything and you have a lame duck staff. It's pointless.

I disagree. You basically let the season carry on while making evaluations of player personnel so as to make your plan of attack for the off-season. Player evaluations are the greatest asset of coming in mid-season. Decide who is a bust and who's simply coached poorly. This isn't brain surgery...of course a GM would benefit by being here for the rest of the season.

Deberg_1990 · 10-20-2008, 10:14 AM

Didnt Parcells go into Miami during the middle of last season?

Brock · 10-20-2008, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Didnt Parcells go into Miami during the middle of last season?

No.

triple · 10-20-2008, 10:17 AM

two years is not enough time to replace the entire front office, the entire coaching staff, and all but 5-10 players

dallaschiefsfan · 10-20-2008, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by triple

two years is not enough time to replace the entire front office, the entire coaching staff, and all but 5-10 players

Absolutely it is. Culture is huge. Your 5-10 players is ridiculous number. You can't throw all these players under the bus when they've been coached by this coaching staff. At some point, you simply don't know how many of these guys are salvageable until you change the organization culture and coaching staff. That takes ONE off-season. Bill Parcells is proving that...

SDChief · 10-20-2008, 10:28 AM

Possible, but it's got to be the right guy. You can't just change for change sake to some other guy that doesn't have a clue and expect it to get better. Clark has to start looking at some choices right now. there is no reason to have a lame duck gm and staff next year. It will accomplish nothing.

Chiefnj2 · 10-20-2008, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dallaschiefsfan

I disagree. You basically let the season carry on while making evaluations of player personnel so as to make your plan of attack for the off-season. Player evaluations are the greatest asset of coming in mid-season. Decide who is a bust and who's simply coached poorly. This isn't brain surgery...of course a GM would benefit by being here for the rest of the season.

You can do that on film. Quite frankly it really doesn't matter because every coach wants to bring in his own players anyway.

dallaschiefsfan · 10-20-2008, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

You can do that on film. Quite frankly it really doesn't matter because every coach wants to bring in his own players anyway.

Film later vs. watching the players now? Doesn't make sense to me when you can start working a plan now vs. doing it in a shortened period of the off-season. A new GM should have a plan in place the minute Free Agency period begins. I doubt they'd be able to review enough film from the end of the season until the free agency period.

And while coaches might want to bring in some of their own players, it's silly to believe that they would do this with no discretion for the players already under contract. Marty walked in when Neil Smith was being touted as a possible bust. He saw a guy that just hadn't been developed fully...made the right call and the rest is history.

Shag · 10-20-2008, 11:37 AM

Assuming your GM is going to come from some other team, trying to hire that position mid-season would be difficult, I would think. The available talent pool would likely be significantly larger in the offseason...

dallaschiefsfan · 10-20-2008, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shag

Assuming your GM is going to come from some other team, trying to hire that position mid-season would be difficult, I would think. The available talent pool would likely be significantly larger in the offseason...

Not really. Most teams will give permission if an asst. GM or similar has an opportunity to be full GM. Now...if you want a GM that is about to get fired at the end of the season, you're correct. However, I fail to see how the talent pool is diminished otherwise. Besides, why would you want another team's cast-off?

10-20-2008, 10:05 AM
dallaschiefsfan Herm is the worst...horrible Join Date: Sep 2000 Casino cash: $4418850	Can this team improve next year and be competitive in TWO? YES. I say this with the caveat that it's unlikely (based on recent comments at face value) that Clark has the courage to do this...but hey, I can dream. The Chiefs CAN make progress next year and be extremely competitive in 2 years. It happens all the time, but needs some key things to happen in this order: 1. Immediately announce the firing of Carl Peterson and conduct a search for young, talented front office people (a team Pres AND a separate GM). The GM is most important and must be someone that has been intimately involved with the player personnel side of a consistently winning organization. Why this move first? This will a.) get a head start on putting a plan in motion for next year and b.) Communicate to the fans that ownership has the courage to make bold moves and cut bait when it's not working. 2. Announce the retention of Germ Edwards for the remainder of the season. At this point, I want the ineptness that is Germ to finish the season so as to seal his fate as an NFL fraud of a head coach. I don't simply want him to be let go mid-season with excuses for his horrendous coaching...I want him humiliated...untouchable by every NFL organization except for the Faiders and Al Davis. 3. Once the season is over, announce the firing of Germ Edwards 30 minutes after his final post-game presser. Waste no time. Let the new GM get his guy. Don't care who...because at this point, if they hire a good GM, the choice will be well-thought out. A good HC and coaching staff that excludes Dick Curl will do wonders for the 2008 draft pics. The one area Germ has succeeded (CB's Carr and Flowers) must be built upon. Whoever the coach is, they need to be someone that sells out to bleed Chiefs red and be the greatest advocate for stoking the fire of the "12th man". Marty was excellent at this...and I'm convinced this was as key as anything in rebuilding the franchise in the 90's. 4. Obtain a solid vet QB in free agency that will be a one year transition guy. If our goal is to draft and go with a young QB early, I believe the best chance of getting him up to speed fast is by having a vet run the offense for a year while transitioning our newly drafted guy into the mix. Manning is an exception...most guys do better behind a vet for the first year. Warner and Garcia seem to be the most likely candidates. They would IMMEDIATELY give your offense an opportunity to move forward while simultaneously giving your new rookie QB time to learn NFL speed and the new offensive system. 5. Sign the best available UFA kicker. I am absolutely stunned that Herm "I prefer field goals" Edwards hasn't put a full court press on getting a competent kicker in his 3 years. 6. Sign the best UFA line backer/s available. This is an area we are really, really weak. We have to spend money AND draft to get improvement. This can't be fixed by better coaching...but I believe our D-line and Safeties can get better with competent coaching. We have a LARGE amount of money under the cap and need to spend some on this area. I don't like Ray Lewis...and don't advocate bringing him in, necessarily...but let's be honest, he wouldn't put up with this shit. 7. Sign either an UFA center or guard that has played competently at the NFL level. Jones is a weak link and Nicewonger is probably out of position. The better option is probably center...and move Nicewonger to right guard. At that point, Herb Taylor at RT and with better coaching and a decent mid-round G or T draft pick and you might be ok. 8. Draft an F'ing QB in the first round and draft another in the mid rounds. Always be developing QB's. Draft a value QB every year. When Jimmy Johnson took the Cowboy job, he was very smart to draft Aikman AND Walsh. Walsh didn't work out, but he gave them added competition in landing their QBOTF. Keep competition alive at this position and always have someone in the shoot. After transitioning to the QBOTF, never have a vet backup again. Develop guys for the "just in case" scenarios. 9. Continue building the team through the draft. I agree with this...but you can't go cold turkey and expect to develop winning as a cultural reality. Young guys like Neil Smith, Okoye and Dino Hackett and vets like Cherry, Lewis, Ross etc. did NOT become winners until Marty brought in some veteran band-aids to stop the bleeding. I'm convinced that none of those players would have reached their full potential exclusively surrounded by other rookies. Winning is cultural...and so is fundamental NFL professionalism. This team needs competent NFL vets along the way to successfully build from the draft. Herm does NOT seem to GET THIS. There's no reason that a team couldn't be competitive in two years under this scenario...but the GM and coaching piece is easily the most important part of the whole equation. This is a poorly managed organization with a poorly coached team on the field. Once those two items are addressed, we might be surprised how many players are salvageable for future use toward competitiveness.
Posts: 2,012

10-20-2008, 10:05 AM	#2
\|Zach\| For The Glory Of The City Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $5316768	I agree, not because the Chiefs are that great or anything but just because of the nature of the NFL.
Posts: 53,435

10-20-2008, 10:07 AM	#3
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3914454	The Rams turned around their season with a HC change in two weeks. So yes, progress can be made immediatly, but once your an employee of the Chiefs its "4 Life" it seems. __________________ Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning: Matt once made a very nice play in Seattle where he spun away from a pass rusher and hit Bowe off his back foot for a first down. One of the best plays Matt has ever made.
Posts: 66,914

10-20-2008, 10:07 AM	#4
ChiefGator Can these boys not play? Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Northcentral Florida Casino cash: $7722956	Absolutely agree with this 100%. Not much point in cutting Herm if we don't have anyone we can replace him with, and I look around and don't see anyone decent, even as an interim. __________________ - Mark
Posts: 4,597

10-20-2008, 10:09 AM	#5
Chiefnj2 In Search of a Life Join Date: Mar 2007 Casino cash: $7873688	Why would someone want to take over GM duties at this point in the season? You can't do anything and you have a lame duck staff. It's pointless. __________________ Mismanaging the clock.
Posts: 22,393

10-20-2008, 10:14 AM	#7
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3914454	Didnt Parcells go into Miami during the middle of last season? __________________ Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning: Matt once made a very nice play in Seattle where he spun away from a pass rusher and hit Bowe off his back foot for a first down. One of the best plays Matt has ever made.
Posts: 66,914

10-20-2008, 10:17 AM	#9
triple Stop saying &quot;This.&quot; Join Date: Aug 2008 Casino cash: $10004900	two years is not enough time to replace the entire front office, the entire coaching staff, and all but 5-10 players __________________
Posts: 2,110

10-20-2008, 10:28 AM	#11
SDChief Starter Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Rapid City, SD USA Casino cash: $9997775	Possible, but it's got to be the right guy. You can't just change for change sake to some other guy that doesn't have a clue and expect it to get better. Clark has to start looking at some choices right now. there is no reason to have a lame duck gm and staff next year. It will accomplish nothing.
Posts: 292

10-20-2008, 11:37 AM	#14
Shag MVP Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: San Diego, CA Casino cash: $2153342	Assuming your GM is going to come from some other team, trying to hire that position mid-season would be difficult, I would think. The available talent pool would likely be significantly larger in the offseason...
Posts: 5,149