Headed in the Right Direction

by KCking on Dec 8, 2008 8:36 AM CST Comment 35 comments

As I contemplate the Chief's loss yesterday while eating my warm cinnamon bun I feel hope and a new sense of vigor. Maybe it's because I received B's or higher on all of my finals this semester or maybe it's because I can see how the Kansas City Chiefs are improving.

I know that term "improvement" is tricky and difficult to define. It's kind of like equality or freedom they are hard to grasp with words but you know it when you see it. Yes, the defense looked dismal and the offense came up a yard short but I still see the light at the end of the tunnel. Why do I see that light? Because we are significantly better now than we were at the beginning of the season.

Don't believe me? Who will you believe? What about Brian Waters? In his interview with Kent Babb of the Kansas City Star Water's said the following:

“We’re as good as any team in our division right now. Were we at the beginning of the season? Probably not. But we are now.”

OK Brian Waters thinks we have improved but that's only one guy. Right? He could be wrong. What about Future Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez?

In an interview with ESPN's Bill Williamson Tony G talked about Thigpen and the status of the team.

"You already got your quarterback," Gonzalez said. "You get something else to help us."

So improvement at the QB position according to Gonzalez. What about the rest of the team and the offense in particular?

"We're close on offense, we're close," Gonzalez said. "I think they are going to get some pieces on defense so the defense can catch up with us, but we're close. Right now, I'm a Kansas City Chief and I know we're close." He goes on to say later, "I could see this being a playoff team next year," Gonzalez said. "I could see us turning it around."

Maybe I'm just in the Christmas spirit but I, like Gonzalez , can see us turning it around and becoming a playoff team next year.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.

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Have you looked at the schedule for next year?

Home:
Cleveland
Pittsburgh
Dallas
NY Giants
AFC East team TBD (The one that finishes last in their conference)…could be the Pats

Away:
Baltimore
Cin
Phil
Wash
AFC South TBD

Soooo…not counting the AFC West teams and consdering that we’ll be playing: Romo, Rothlisberger, Quinn(Maybe), and Manning at home not to mention Bal (awesome defense), Philly and Wash….all contenders

Where do you see the wins that’ll get us to the playoffs next year? I don’t think Tony has seen the schedule and if he REALLY beleives that then he shouldn’t ask for a trade in the off-season…then I’ll beleive him.

Bill Parcell’s: "You are what your record says you are."

The Chiefs need to be playoff contenders in 2009 for me to consider improvement. Clark wanted it in 2008...I'll give them an additional year.

by THE_TRUTH on Dec 8, 2008 9:13 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

This Team

Will be lucky to win six games next season. I could see us beating Cleveland (if Marty or Cowher aren’t there) and Cincinnati. I don’t see us beating anyone else outside of our division. If we split with Denver, San Diego, and Oakland that’s five wins for my realistic prediction.

If we had a good coach who could manage a game clock, develop talent and make smart lineup choices, I could see us beating Baltimore, Philly, maybe Washington, and Houston or Jacksonville (whichever is our AFC South draw) with the talent level on the team. Dallas, New York, Pittsburgh are out of our league. Buffalo looks to be the low man in the AFC East and I don’t think we beat them next year either, especially if they replace Dick Jauron with somebody good.

The Chiefs should win 5 to 6 games this year and no less than 4 for this season to be considered progress in any way. If he can't win at least 9 games next season, Herm's a joke.

by UCrawford on Dec 8, 2008 10:14 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed...like I've said before my stipulation in my sig. is an educated opinion and I never bet with my heart but I'll root for the Chiefs regardless

…having said that, it’ll be a long year in ’09 Chiefs football.

Bill Parcell’s: "You are what your record says you are."

The Chiefs need to be playoff contenders in 2009 for me to consider improvement. Clark wanted it in 2008...I'll give them an additional year.

by THE_TRUTH on Dec 8, 2008 10:24 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

if Tony G asks for a trade he was lying.

However, I have no reason to believe he is lying. Why would he lie? Lot’s has changed on the offensive side of the ball since week 6. One of those is Thigpen who Tony admittedly really likes.

I’m not at practice, I’m not in the locker room but Waters and Gonzalez are. I’ll take their word over yours any day. No offense, it’s just first hand evidence versus second hand evidence.

I think we can beat all of the AFC West teams next year but I’ll say we lose two. So 4-2 in the division,

We beat Cleveland, Pittsburgh and AFC East team at home. 3-2

I think Baltimore, Cin, Philly and Wash are winnable games. So I’ll say we split the away games 2-3

Let’s add it up: 4+3+2=9; 2+2+3=7

9-7 which will most likely win the division and get us to the playoffs.

I strive to be the person my dog thinks I am.

by KCking on Dec 8, 2008 3:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Depending on the draft, free agency, defensive coaching changes, MacIntosh and the state of the AFC West

It is possible we could win 9 games.
Cleveland
AFC East team TBD (The one that finishes last in their conference)…could be the Pats
Baltimore ( I think they wont be as good as this year)
Cincinnati
AFC South TBD
but we would have to sweep the West.

I am trying to be optimistic.

We need a future defensive leader, his name is James Laurinaitis and he can be selected in round 1 of the upcoming Draft.

"But what do I know, I’m like an empty room with a large ECHO"

by Lanier63 on Dec 8, 2008 10:52 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I'll give a toss up to Cleveland and Cinci since they'll be changing and "rebuilding" ;)

Sweeping the AFC West will be hard…the last time they did that was 1995 and they went 13-3 under Marty. They didn’t even sweep when they went 13-3 under Vermeil.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/kan/

Bill Parcell’s: "You are what your record says you are."

The Chiefs need to be playoff contenders in 2009 for me to consider improvement. Clark wanted it in 2008...I'll give them an additional year.

by THE_TRUTH on Dec 8, 2008 11:14 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

They did play 8 AFC West games then

right?

by PVChiefsfan on Dec 8, 2008 11:44 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No...they played 10

Seattle was in the AFC West then. My point is that they had 2 great teams both those years and finished 13-3 only once and were able to accomplish the sweep.
It’s hard to sweep…but it can be done with a 13-3 caliber team of players and coaches.

Bill Parcell’s: "You are what your record says you are."

The Chiefs need to be playoff contenders in 2009 for me to consider improvement. Clark wanted it in 2008...I'll give them an additional year.

by THE_TRUTH on Dec 8, 2008 12:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

We never played 10 AFC west games

we used to play 8, now we play 6…my point was that we could sweep the division and still go 6-10…in 1995 when you swept your division you went 0.500…

by PVChiefsfan on Dec 8, 2008 3:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

oops..yeah got the math wrong

But my INITIAL point was to Lanier where he indicated that we could sweep. All I said was that sweeping the AFC isn’t an easy task and of the two 13-3 teams we had only ONE was able to accomplish that.

So to sweep you have to have a 13-3 team and MAYBE you can sweep…that’s still iffy. We’re nowhere near a 13-3 caliber team like we were than.

Bill Parcell’s: "You are what your record says you are."

The Chiefs need to be playoff contenders in 2009 for me to consider improvement. Clark wanted it in 2008...I'll give them an additional year.

by THE_TRUTH on Dec 8, 2008 3:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

see I can't agree with that totally

in my post I indicated in the title, depending on the state of the AFC Worst, with a few good players added to our team now, it won’t be all that hard to sweep. But if San Diego and Denver get the collective expletive together, then it would be hard to sweep.

We need a future defensive leader, his name is James Laurinaitis and he can be selected in round 1 of the upcoming Draft.

"But what do I know, I’m like an empty room with a large ECHO"

by Lanier63 on Dec 8, 2008 3:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

But...

Could anyone have predicted that Miami would go 8-5 thus far; additionally, the status of the Falcons? I think we could be just as successful as they are next season depending on the draft and Free Agency.

by Dono on Dec 8, 2008 11:29 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I think there's a word for their success vs our potential success

Parcells

We need a future defensive leader, his name is James Laurinaitis and he can be selected in round 1 of the upcoming Draft.

"But what do I know, I’m like an empty room with a large ECHO"

by Lanier63 on Dec 8, 2008 12:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Lanier...Funny how having the right people making decisions can make the turnaround during ONE offseason

Bill Parcell’s: "You are what your record says you are."

The Chiefs need to be playoff contenders in 2009 for me to consider improvement. Clark wanted it in 2008...I'll give them an additional year.

by THE_TRUTH on Dec 8, 2008 2:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Let me say it now before even going into '09

…cause it’s going to be said by some on this board next year:

“We’re not doing well because we have the toughest schedule in the NFL and we’re rebuilding”

there we go…said it before the draft, FA, and the remainder of the ’08 season.

Bill Parcell’s: "You are what your record says you are."

The Chiefs need to be playoff contenders in 2009 for me to consider improvement. Clark wanted it in 2008...I'll give them an additional year.

by THE_TRUTH on Dec 8, 2008 2:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

you've given up on 2009

and that’s sad

by PVChiefsfan on Dec 8, 2008 3:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Whatever dude

…I feel for ya. I never said I was giving up on it. I was giving the excuses that some like yourself have given time and time but beat you to the point.
Still supporting the “rebuilding”…whatever that means and whoevers defining it I take it….lol

Bill Parcell’s: "You are what your record says you are."

The Chiefs need to be playoff contenders in 2009 for me to consider improvement. Clark wanted it in 2008...I'll give them an additional year.

by THE_TRUTH on Dec 8, 2008 3:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

How long and how many players does it take to rebuild a team?

If you’re Herm…a lot of time and too many players to count

If you’re Parcels…then an offseason is enough to turn around a 1-15 team and make them contenders…lol.

Bill Parcell’s: "You are what your record says you are."

The Chiefs need to be playoff contenders in 2009 for me to consider improvement. Clark wanted it in 2008...I'll give them an additional year.

by THE_TRUTH on Dec 8, 2008 3:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

makes me wonder how bad things really were in Miami

I kinda think it was one or two coaches or front office personnel holding the team back.

I SAID THAT CLARK, DID YOU HERE ME?

We need a future defensive leader, his name is James Laurinaitis and he can be selected in round 1 of the upcoming Draft.

"But what do I know, I’m like an empty room with a large ECHO"

by Lanier63 on Dec 8, 2008 3:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

And Don't Forget About The Falcons

As I pointed out once before the bottom five teams in the NFL last year (Miami, St. Louis, Atlanta, Oakland, Kansas City) were all in the same boat for how bad their teams were…rosters full of holes, questionable management, questionable coaching. And it’s not a coincidence that out of those five teams the two that got rid of the coaching staff and front office that presided over their decline (Miami, Atlanta) are the only two that improved this year, while the rest of them kept the same bozos in charge and they’re now just as bad as last year.

People may get sick of hearing it, but it’s the management…that’s it. People may want to blame bad luck but most of the time bad management creates its own bad luck.

The Chiefs should win 5 to 6 games this year and no less than 4 for this season to be considered progress in any way. If he can't win at least 9 games next season, Herm's a joke.

by UCrawford on Dec 8, 2008 4:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It is getting old

…but I absolutely agree and you can’t hide the cold hard facts. It’s tiresome yet true. For example if we want to compare this to other industries, most will admit that the airline industry is a fiasco. No profit, always looking for some type of assistance, nothing seems to go right, charge for bags, charge for blankets, etc. etc. Their mgmt. takes high salaries but they can’t get a profit and get things right….OR do they?
You look at ONE airline that has consistently shown profits and hasn’t been in the red for years. Southwest. So what’s the deal? -Mgmt.
AND…I haven’t seen any non-US auto companies asking for bailouts. They’re being affected as well by the poor economy.

But I digress…you want the Chiefs to succeed?…then don’t allow any millionaire to have a job for life that doesn’t produce results. Period. Oops…Carl does, he makes Hunt a huge profit and takes a very small slice comparatively to do so.

Bill Parcell’s: "You are what your record says you are."

The Chiefs need to be playoff contenders in 2009 for me to consider improvement. Clark wanted it in 2008...I'll give them an additional year.

by THE_TRUTH on Dec 8, 2008 7:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Or

Southwest hedged their oil years ago (but I think that’s about to expire).

by Joel Thorman on Dec 8, 2008 10:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Most Of The Problems With The Airlines

Have stemmed from the government getting balls deep in overregulating them, especially after 9/11…they’ve made air travel a misery in exchange for the illusion of safety.

I wasn’t a Ron Paul fan, but he made a great point about air travel…if the government really wanted to make the airlines safer they’d scrap the TSA and allow airlines to handle their own security and put their own armed personnel on planes instead of forcing them to depend on the underfunded and undermanned air marshal service. But most politicians aren’t as interested in making air travel safer as they’re interested in taking credit for making air travel safer so we get a massive bureaucracy that makes us more miserable and drives prices up.

The Chiefs should win 5 to 6 games this year and no less than 4 for this season to be considered progress in any way. If he can't win at least 9 games next season, Herm's a joke.

by UCrawford on Dec 9, 2008 12:52 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

So what?

Seriously, I knew that and wasn’t going to bring it up. They hedged their oil bet that the barrell would go up….GOOD FOR THEM and what a wise move, wasn’t it.
Guess what?…the price for a barrell is back down so they can do it again.

I wonder if the other airlines learned their lesson or will be asking for a handout later.

Good for Southwest for hedging the oil bet. Good business decision.

Bill Parcell’s: "You are what your record says you are."

The Chiefs need to be playoff contenders in 2009 for me to consider improvement. Clark wanted it in 2008...I'll give them an additional year.

by THE_TRUTH on Dec 9, 2008 8:01 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

TouchdownKansasCity Had It Right

The Chiefs are succeeding at their goal…to have a profitable football team. Wins and losses are largely coincidental.

The Chiefs should win 5 to 6 games this year and no less than 4 for this season to be considered progress in any way. If he can't win at least 9 games next season, Herm's a joke.

by UCrawford on Dec 9, 2008 12:53 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

that just bugs the crap out of me

to think what we could have here with the Chiefs

We need a future defensive leader, his name is James Laurinaitis and he can be selected in round 1 of the upcoming Draft.

"But what do I know, I’m like an empty room with a large ECHO"

by Lanier63 on Dec 8, 2008 3:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I Think We Could Have Had A Six Game Winner This Year

With a good coach. There’s talent here, but the coaching staff does a piss-poor job of developing that talent (exception for Chan Gailey, who’s presided over the only section of the team that seems to have improved in three years).

The Chiefs should win 5 to 6 games this year and no less than 4 for this season to be considered progress in any way. If he can't win at least 9 games next season, Herm's a joke.

by UCrawford on Dec 8, 2008 4:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Initally...

I said 9-7 or 10-6, but that schedule is brutal. Steelers Giants and Cowboys @ home wow, who did we piss off to get them @ home instead of the Eagles Redskins and someone else. that being said 6-10 would seem more in reach.

And to answer the Miami or Falcons comment of turning it around in a year, 3 big things factor into their turn around new Front Offices, Coaching Staffs and picking the right FAs to help facilitate a quick turn around. But hey let’s hope for the best in ’09.

When deep space exploration ramps up, it'll be the corporations that name everything, the IBM Stellar Sphere, the Microsoft Galaxy, Planet Starbucks.

I'd be fine with 9-7 or 10-6 and competiting for the divsion title

by madtheory on Dec 8, 2008 12:43 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I don't care what people say about the schedule being dependant on how you finish the previous year

The Chiefs almost always have it tough. That being said, we should be producing better teams (for ourselves) by playing better teams.

We need a future defensive leader, his name is James Laurinaitis and he can be selected in round 1 of the upcoming Draft.

"But what do I know, I’m like an empty room with a large ECHO"

by Lanier63 on Dec 8, 2008 1:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Great point

To be the best you have to beat the best.

I strive to be the person my dog thinks I am.

by KCking on Dec 8, 2008 3:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

you still have to go out and play the games either way

When deep space exploration ramps up, it'll be the corporations that name everything, the IBM Stellar Sphere, the Microsoft Galaxy, Planet Starbucks.

I'd be fine with 9-7 or 10-6 and competiting for the divsion title

by madtheory on Dec 8, 2008 1:52 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Absolutely

We are headed in the right direction….But, next year will be another tough year like everyone has been saying…Just because the schedule is so brutal…AFC West opponents have by far the toughest schedules next year…BUT, maybe with some of those top opponents we will get us a primetime game….IIIIIIIII doubt it….but I can dream…

by woodman212 on Dec 8, 2008 6:05 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

We will be better

I dunno how much better but if i keep telling myself that i’ll be able to deal with this season

"A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week."

by bigbe on Dec 8, 2008 7:15 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

When the offense was still

in the “run Larry Johnson up the offensive line’s butt” mode, there was no improvement. Then, miraculously the offense began to actually DO some things which make an offense successful. Why did the offense bungle through last year and the first few games of this year and then suddenly display a MARKED IMPROVEMENT? I think it is because Herm was keeping Chan Gailey handcuffed when it came to the offensive play calling. When Herm finally decided to abandon his idiot philosophy and actually allow the offense to play offense, was when the drastic improvement came. The same is true on defense. A marked improvement could be realized by sh*t-canning the cover two or Tampa Two defense (whatever you want to call it). Is Herm man enough to go all the way and admit his idiot philosophy on both offense and defense was wrong? Probably not. I expect the Chiefs to struggle with the remainder of this season and start the season pretty miserably next year. The struggles will probably continue through the season until such point as the season is lost, and then Herm may try to make a last desperate effort to save his job. At that point, four seasons of Chiefs history and Herm Edwards will be in the can.

by G.L. on Dec 9, 2008 9:09 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Several good points

The funny thing about Herm’s tampa 2 is that we don’t even run the damn thing anymore!!! Thats what is so funny, we ahve been running LOADS of man-to-man this year, i’m talking a large percentage of the snaps. It works, thats been proven by Monte Kiffin, but we don’t use it because we have a young secondary. I dunno who is calling the D at this point, I think we may see some coaching staff turnover for sure though…starting with the D.

"A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week."

by bigbe on Dec 9, 2008 4:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs