Are the Chiefs Offensive Coaches Sticking Around?
by Chris Thorman on Jan 17, 2009 11:39 AM CST
in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Offseason
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I came across a good observation by DocBarnabee at Chiefs Coalition in regard to the Kansas City Chiefs coaches that I wanted to mention.
Doc pointed out that only the Chiefs' defensive and special teams coaches have been pursuing/are being pursued by other NFL teams. Gunther Cunningham has been rumored to be a solid candidate for the Detroit Lions defensive coordinator job. David Gibbs, the Chiefs' defensive backs coach, was hired by the Texans recently. And our special teams coach Mike Priefer is reportedly going to accept the same position with the Denver Broncos.
That's buzz around three defensive coaches and nothing from the offensive side. Zip. Not even a hint of news. Do you remember our defense last year?
It would appear, as Doc pointed out, that the defensive coaching staff has been told to find other employment whether Herm is the coach or not. Denny Thum and Clark Hunt may have decided that no matter who the GM was or who the head coach was, this defensive staff needed to be allowed to interview for other jobs while teams were hiring. Obviously, the team would have no problem if probably any defensive coach left.
The fact that Cunningham and Priefer can walk into new jobs is crazy to me. It just goes to show how incestuous the NFL coaching pool is. Despite having quite literally no achievements to point to this decade, Cunningham will quickly get another job. I don't know. It just seems nuts to me.
Okay back to the topic at hand. We could also assume from this disparity that the Chiefs' offensive coaches have been given some sort of reassurance about their job in KC. That's because if any coaches from the 2008 Chiefs should be interviewed for other positions, it's the offensive staff that should be getting the calls. If the staff was unsure about their future, they'd have already put feelers out there and floated their name. It is possible that they have done this and we just haven't heard about it.
And here is the full offensive staff, in case you were wondering.
Offensive Coordinator - Chan Gailey
Offensive Line - Bob Bicknell
Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks - Dick Curl
Assistant Offensive Line - Joe D’Alessandris
Tight Ends - Jon Embree
Defensive Backs - David Gibbs
Running Backs - Curtis Modkins
Offensive Assistant/Quality Control - Kevin Patullo
Wide Receivers - Eric Price
If we want to jump to more conclusions, we can also assume that if the offensive staff is safe, Clark Hunt likes the what the Chiefs are doing on offense. And, let's keep going further, that could mean that Tyler Thigpen is going to be given the best possible chance to be the starter in 2009.
Or this could mean nothing. Fun to think about though.
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Interesting!
Interesting observation that completely makes sense. Although injuries had some play in it the defense did not improve in the way the offense did. I have my doubts about Curl but Thigpen did step up his play. Was it Curl? Gailey? I am not sure. If I were the Chiefs I would look at teams with successful defenses such as the Steelers and Ravens and go after an up and coming position coach that could be a DC.
It was the spread
that made thigpen look so good. I think Dick Curl should be fired but my opinion is skewed just because of his name. Honestly.
by black mamba on Jan 17, 2009 11:52 AM CST up reply actions
Agreed
Of all the offense coaches Curl needs to go.
yes I don't like the face
or the look of “I don’t know what the fuck just happened”
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You don't like the face
Yet you like the face HERM has on every game? I just don’t understand!
by We Got Pioli on Jan 17, 2009 2:56 PM CST up reply actions
namist
his name shouldn’t sway you… at least his real name (but come on, every one of you has snickered at it at least once).
The name that should cause serious bias is his nickname… “Father Time”. This is old, but this article here talks about Curl and Herm formulating a plan for every conceivable clock situation. That was back in 2004. I hate to say it but to me our clock management has been pretty pathetic in the Herm years. If they built this plan 5 years ago then maybe it’s time to let it go… either because they realize it’s flawed or they’re incapable of executing it effectively.
Father Time can take a hike.
I still like Gailey as OC, and I think he will be given the opportunity to stay… I’m not sure who I would prefer actually, but I don’t know who’s available either.
by Ochophosphate on Jan 18, 2009 10:08 AM CST up reply actions
I'd Been Wondering About That
I can’t imagine, though, that the Chiefs were so in love with the 25th ranked offense that they’re locking everyone down for jobs. I suspect that a more likely reason would be that nobody’s really getting interest because either they don’t have a contact with a job opening like Gunther did or because the offense was non-descript enough this season not to attract a lot of attention from outside those coaches’ circles.
The Priefer hiring was a laugher though…I’m so glad he went to a division rival. Best coaching departure for us since Dave Adolph left to go fuck up the Raiders defense.
Herm Edwards will not be the Chiefs' head coach next season.
We were successful
Running an offense that hardly any other team runs.
by Joel Thorman on Jan 17, 2009 4:28 PM CST up reply actions
Chan can stay
but Dick Curl must go. I have a feeling that we might end up with Stafford at the 3 spot and id rather have somebody that seems to know what their doing with QB’s if thats the case.
No Stafford in KC - bet on that - Lions will get him
I would take Aaron Curry, Oher (or Smith as a RT with Albert saying put), or even Crabtree. Otherwise, trade down please!
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I want curry
as well! i got the idea of Stafford at the 3 spot from i think a post by DJ. The more i think about it the more it makes sense. They take the top LT in the draft and pick up Sanchez with their extra rd1 pick. Something to think about at the very least
by paratrooper on Jan 17, 2009 12:46 PM CST up reply actions
No
The Loins will be like they have for the last decade so my bet is they take Crabtree. Because they have a boner for wide recievers.
Yeah but coach quotes importance of QB - boner gone
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Do you all want Stafford?
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speaking of boners
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aBun-fJmULo/RpfdsfiSi6I/AAAAAAAAAUI/CISfdDNybtQ/s1600-h/teebowbf9.jpg – Stafford’s sister a Gator
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I've got no problems with us picking Stafford with our pick.
Opinions are like A--holes, everyones got one.
by aPacificChief on Jan 18, 2009 9:14 PM CST up reply actions
Who is "they"?
The owner? The Lions have (finally) cleaned house. There is no telling what they will or won’t do this draft.
just keep matriculating the ball down the field !
Thats a laugh
All they did was fire the GM and coach. Then they promoted from WITHIN an 0-16 organization for the new GM spot. That’s not cleaning house.
With Gun out - doesn Pioli bring in the 3-4?
It is a very real possibility. I am a clairvoyent (sp?) and it was channeled to me that Chiefs will go 3-4 and answer my prayers.
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but we don't have the personnel
I know. We’re in a rebuilding mode though. So now’s the time.
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My opionion as to why...
I agree that most/all of the defensive staff is gone. The offensive staff on the other hand really comes down to one thing; how much input did the coaches on the offensive staff have on the accumulation and use of the talent? If the answer is little to none (which I believe to be the case) then you have to admit those “chef’s” cooked a gourmet meal with peanut butter and jelly this passed season. In this, I speak primarily of the fact that the RB’s when LJ was out, the O-line, and the QB were patchwork players.
Give ‘em some ingredients, we’ll be eatin’ good!
just keep matriculating the ball down the field !
Gailey and Bicknell deserve praise...
… for resurrecting offensive line play and convincing Herm to become more “hands off” with the offense by utilizing the strengths of the players they had.
Before this season, our offensive line had been abysmal for two seasons. It was easily the WORST part of our team— on either side of the ball. Gailey and Bicknell came in, and said, “Lets put together a group of guys and stick with them— no shifting and constant substitutions..” Well, it worked. Brandon Albert helped too.
Then by the middle of the season, Gailey must have convinced Herm that the offense needed to go another direction, because suddenly we started throwing the ball around and Herm made comments about his willingness to change.
Honestly, if two people on this team deserve an oppurtunity to stay, it’s Gailey and Bicknell.
And at the very least Gailey. From an outsider’s perspective, he often looked like the only guy who know what the heck he was doing.
Curl will remain as long as Herm does I'd wager
Those two are the Rasputins of the NFL right now – no matter what they (or you) do, they can’t be killed. How else do you go 4-12 followed by 2-14 and have thousands willing to line up and take a bullet for you?
"Gentlemen, it is better to have died a small boy than to fumble this football"
- John Heisman
Everyone please come back to reality
Spags is going to the Rams.
by BCRavenJHawkfan on Jan 17, 2009 3:52 PM CST reply actions
to the guy who said Lions would take Crab
you do know its an entire new management right? unless WR boners are contagious upon new hire?
New management same as the old management
Lions promoted from within an 0-16 team. You are never going to convince me the ineptitude was ALL Matt Millen.
They will take Stafford. He's too good to pass up. If not then we get him.
I want Aaron Curry or Crabtree!
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Stafford's gonna suck in the NFL.
And Curry and Crabtree would be reaches, IMO, at #3.
Take ORakpo or Maualuga, or trade down. Of course, if we (retardedly) switch to the 3-4, then that could easily change.
Explain why Stafford is going to suck in the NFL
I hear people say this about every QB candidate every year. I think its a knee jerk reaction. No one ever really have a reason for why they think that.
About The Only Reason I Could Come Up With
Is that early entrants into the NFL at QB have a major uphill battle, most of them don’t make it. For Stafford himself, the only criticism I have of the guy is that he’s only had one great year and two mediocre ones. So I’m leery of him. But there’s no guarantee he’ll bust either…he might be fine.
Herm Edwards will not be the Chiefs' head coach next season.
I'll give you an educated reason why people think that Staffords gonna bust...
Because he’s NOT PRETTY enough to sell stockings like Namath.
Forget about the intangibles like arm strength, the game experience, or the leadership qualitites. Matt’s eyes are too close to one another, and a few eye brow hairs short of forming a Uni-Brow.
So therefore he’s not going to make it in the pro’s.
Opinions are like A--holes, everyones got one.
by aPacificChief on Jan 17, 2009 11:12 PM CST up reply actions
Flacco's Got A Unibrow
He seems to be doing alright. :)
Herm Edwards will not be the Chiefs' head coach next season.
Why not all Matt Millen?
They went to the playoffs 6 of the previous 9 seasons prior to his arrival. And none during his time.
by Joel Thorman on Jan 18, 2009 1:25 PM CST up reply actions
It Was All Matt Millen
They were a below-average team before he got there, they were the worst team in the NFL while he was there.
Seriously, I think he was actually the worst general manager in the entire history of the NFL. His drafting alone was enough to qualify him for that title, and his trades were about the same. Absolutely and irredeemably incompetent in every way. The only other person who could be blamed was the team’s owner, William Clay Ford, and that’s only for his failure to fire Millen after the first five years.
Herm Edwards will not be the Chiefs' head coach next season.
-10
Maualuga over Curry… you are foolish.
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Honestly
I think nobody is that hot for the Chiefs pistol-on-the-one-yard-line offense.
Stafford's comp. % improved every year
61% is a solid %
Did you know that Stafford is the only other QB to start as a true freshman for Georia?
Also his comp % is freshman year was 53 % 7 td 13 int
his sophmore year was 56% 19 td 10 int
and his junior year he completed 61% 22 td 9 int
You can see improvement in his decision making from his freshman to junior years. Oh! and did I mention he’s got a canon for an arm? While still being able to throw a pass with touch.
Opinions are like A--holes, everyones got one.
by aPacificChief on Jan 18, 2009 12:05 AM CST up reply actions
This is one argument...
against wanting your team to play poorly for a higher draft pick, IMO.
Harder to trade down if you need to, players in the top 5 cost more, top 3 a lot more, IIRC. Plus the way the signings go, it’s hard to get them to ’Camp at the start of the pre-season. Not to mention that there are often not enough obvious top-5 picks that BPA is really as viable, either.
I’d love to see the stats on the top 5 vs the next 5 for value added to the teams that got them, as opposed to overall career. (To allow for teams forced to take BPA over need by their high draft picks)
I’m definitly starting to lose faith in the hype over drafting in the top 5.
If the O-line isn't built up, a rookie QB is gonna look bad next season. If the O-line is a lot better, Thigpen will look better next season.
A rookie QB drafted at #3 has less than a %5 chance of starting Game one of '09. Slotting holdouts will prevent him from competing with Thigpen.
by Bleedingredandgold on Jan 18, 2009 7:52 PM CST up reply actions
As Detroit, Cincinnati and Oakland Have Shown For Years
Having high draft picks is no guarantee of future success. Often it’s just a sign that the plan you’re following is flawed.
Herm Edwards will not be the Chiefs' head coach next season.
Still, i’m starting to suspect that the real value picks are 5-9, perhaps. top 5 and bottom five just ain’t worth it, but the top 5 just might do more harm to a team than good – especially if you are drafting there for a few years in a row
If the O-line isn't built up, a rookie QB is gonna look bad next season. If the O-line is a lot better, Thigpen will look better next season.
A rookie QB drafted at #3 has less than a %5 chance of starting Game one of '09. Slotting holdouts will prevent him from competing with Thigpen.
by Bleedingredandgold on Jan 19, 2009 2:21 AM CST up reply actions
I Think That The Examples I Named
Show that you don’t have to bottom out a team in order to make it better. In fact, bottoming out a team is just as likely to make your team suck in the future as it is to make it better.
especially if you are drafting there for a few years in a row
I suspect that when a team’s drafting there multiple years in a row that it’s more a sign that the team’s doing a lot of things wrong, rather than the pick itself being a bad deal. Basically, the high draft pick is a symptom of the problem rather than a cause.
Herm Edwards will not be the Chiefs' head coach next season.
Not the "cause"
But rather, the top-5 picks start doing more harm than good. That’s not to say that there are no underlying problems for such a team, of course.
Sure, those picks give you a chance to grab the “best” players in the draft, but given the hype machine, the task becomes more difficult. The picks cost a /lot/, it’s hard to get them into training camp in time to be useful throughout the season, and it’s harder to trade down if you can’t fill a need at that position, unless there’s a desperate team out there later in the rotation. The top 5 come with some baggage, and the top 3 picks come with Goodwill Store ’70s Samsonite luggage. In avocado.
At any rate, the important point is that while those picks might be slightly more valuable, they ain’t sufficiently more valuable to really /want/ your team to lose to jump up from pick 6 to pick 3. Not unless the reincarnation of Joe Montana is up there for the draft. Oh. Wait. Joe wasn’t drafted in the top 5, was he? ;-)
If the O-line isn't built up, a rookie QB is gonna look bad next season. If the O-line is a lot better, Thigpen will look better next season.
A rookie QB drafted at #3 has less than a %5 chance of starting Game one of '09. Slotting holdouts will prevent him from competing with Thigpen.
by Bleedingredandgold on Jan 20, 2009 7:35 PM CST up reply actions
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