Rich Gannon Weighs in on the Chiefs Before Redskins Game

by Joel Thorman on Oct 17, 2009 9:33 AM CDT in 2009 Campaign Comment 23 comments

Former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Rich Gannon will team with Ian Eagle to once again call the game against the Washington Redskins this weekend. Gannon, normally of CBS and Sirius Satellite Radio, joined the Morning Rush on 610 Sports to talk Chiefs.

I've gone through a lot of what Gannon said, and while none of it is groundbreaking, it's some pretty interesting stuff.

Since Gannon's calling the game, so he couldn't go Theismann on us and pick against his former team. He says the Chiefs can win on the road tomorrow. He's one of the optimistic ones when it comes to the Chiefs future and some of their valuable assets, mainly Matt Cassel. However, an 0-5 record doesn't come with its faults.

"The thing that bothers me right now is their inability to run the football," he said. "That's a problem they have to get straightened out."

With no running game to speak of, what about the passing game and Cassel?

"I think he's starting to realize he doesn't have the same talent around him as last year," Gannon began, "but I really think this guy's got a chance to be an elite quarterback in the NFL. I really believe that."

"With Todd Haley," he said, "I get the sense there's some frustration and that happens with play callers. If you're not having success running the ball early, you have a tendency to go to the no-huddle or throw the ball. You're always looking for a tempo change and something to jump-start your offense and get you into a rhythm in a little bit"

Good and bad news on the Chiefs chances Sunday.

"They've gotten off to a terrible start. They've scored one first quarter touchdown all season. In fact, they've scored just six points in the first quarter. They can't start games that way against football teams and expect to win. Now, the good news is that the Redskins have not started games particularly well either and they have their own issues, particularly along the offensive line."

This is some interesting stuff on the HC/OC/QB coach for Haley.

"When you look at a guy like Matt Cassel, it's difficult enough for him to learn a new system, now he has a new play caller, new guy in your ear. The struggle that Matt Cassel's going to have with Haley is ust getting enough time with him. You wanna sit next to the play caller in the meetings, have in the quarterback meetings, you wanna get him before practice and talk to him before a series of plays and that's sometimes very difficult when the playcaller is also the head coach. The play caller and the quarterback have to be joined at the hip.

"They have to have a very unique relationship, a special bond where the communication is there and be able to talk and share with each other with what they're hearing, seeing and feeling."

Some praise for an 0-5 coach?

"I'll say this about Todd Haley. I like the fact that if it's not the way he wants it, he's going to make a change. He won't hesitate to do that. It's important enough to him do that. He's done some things that are very uncharacteristic of some head coaches, but this is a guy that believes in a certain system and structure and a way of doing things, and if it's not that way he's willing to make a change."

Bottom line:

"I think this is going to be an interesting game and, quite frankly, a game the Chiefs can win on the road."

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610 MNF @ Qudos

has anybody else been down to 610’s Monday Night Football @ Qudos Bar?

Nick Wright hosts it and is a pretty cool guy, I’ve been the last couple weeks and I dont remember if it got mentioned but he is indeed the “Derrick Johnson Question Guy” from last week lol

Young, dope & flashy.

by Young Ace on Oct 17, 2009 9:42 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, Nick Wright kind of lost me

when he went on his gun control spew after the death of Steve McNair. Short version, everbody should just go to the nearest police station, and turn in their guns. Anyway that is a good endorsement for Cassel, Gannon is a guy that fought, and worked hard to make it in the NFL, he would know the combinations that work.

We have to run the gauntlet over the next few weeks, we will be better for it. Pioli is not done with the roster, he will improve it. LJ is getting ready to start whining again.

by Eric Allen on Oct 17, 2009 9:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I always liked Rich Gannon

And I always thought the Chiefs slighted him a little.

Desperately hoping for Desperate Measures

by averagegatsby on Oct 17, 2009 10:04 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Gannon will always tell it like it is and most of his commentary is very well thought out (unlike a lot of former players who get commentator gigs). If Jon Gruden gets the Washington Redskins job next season as a lot of people are speculating, I think it would be interesting to see either Gannon or Brian Billick in the MNF booth to replace him.

Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Predictions for 2009

1. Todd Haley's going to struggle with managing his staff in his rookie year as head coach.
6. The Chiefs will go 7-9 in 2009, good for 2nd in the AFC West. Revision: We go 5-11 and finish behind Oakland.
7. Ryan Succop will not perform better in 2009 than Connor Barth did in 2008.
8. The Chiefs will have a bottom 10 defense this year.
9. RB will be a problem area this season on offense.

by UCrawford on Oct 17, 2009 10:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Daniel Snyder needs to make a serious change.

At some point he has to look in the mirror and say what is the one constant involved in their stretch of sub par mediocrity, and he would have to assume its the way he runs the show. He really needs to get a great GM and just let that guy do his job.

But getting to what you said I doubt it would be Gannon, they already have a former player in Jaws. So I would imagine they would either go with a coach or a personality, not another former player. Not saying it would be a bad move, but there isn’t a lot of outside the box thinking in such matters.

Desperately hoping for Desperate Measures

by averagegatsby on Oct 17, 2009 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Probably Scott Van Pelt, that guy seems to be the ESPN anchor of choice lately....

Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.

by BigRedChief on Oct 17, 2009 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

SVP IS AWESOME!!!

But Im not sure that would be the case. I tell you who I would love would be Erik Kuselias

Desperately hoping for Desperate Measures

by averagegatsby on Oct 17, 2009 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like Kuselias

but I don’t think he’s a big enough name. As long as its not Stuart Scott I’m good.

It's a good thing Pioli and Haley aren't running AP or a lot of you guys would of been traded or cut for cast offs from the Pats Pulpit.

by KCporkchop on Oct 17, 2009 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I dont think it has to be a big name...

His work speaks for himself. The guy really Knows football, and he is incredibly smart also.

Desperately hoping for Desperate Measures

by averagegatsby on Oct 17, 2009 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Plus, I wouldn't say Tony Kornhieser was a big, household name and he did alright.

Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.

by BigRedChief on Oct 17, 2009 12:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Korneiser has been around forever though.

And he has been very successful in radio and print. I loved the old Tony Kornheiser show on ESPN radio.

Desperately hoping for Desperate Measures

by averagegatsby on Oct 17, 2009 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I may be the only one, but I really like Gruden in the booth

I think Gannon would do a good job too. I am not a fan of Billick, as a coach or commentator.

It's a good thing Pioli and Haley aren't running AP or a lot of you guys would of been traded or cut for cast offs from the Pats Pulpit.

by KCporkchop on Oct 17, 2009 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Me2

Stupid decision not to start him for elvis after he won how many straight games for us that year very underrated we had a superb qb there so naturally they let him go it’s sabotage

by krayfish on Oct 17, 2009 11:05 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

He should've started over Bono before that.

But Marty abhorred INTs, even though he set his QBs up to throw through the whole 2nd half. Gannon almost pulled off some great comebacks, but the turnovers in games against JAX, in particular, sank Gannon’s boat.

Chiefs never should’ve acquired Grbac in the first place. Like the current regime (I hate to say), they wanted the QB, but didn’t know how to build a team around him that’d enable him to succeed. Grbac would’ve been ok, if he’d had better tackle play. Gannon could’ve won more games without the better tackles, but Chiefs teams of that era simply couldn’t find a pair of bookend tackles.

At least the current regime seems to have LEFT tackle pretty much set, my jury’s out on O’Callaghan. I think you need DOMINANT players to anchor the ends of the line. Fix that, and finding G and C isn’t nearly as tough.

No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.

by hmills110 on Oct 17, 2009 2:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here's a little somethin'...

This is the O rankings for the Skins opponents so far:
NYG-2
DET-21
TB-26
CAR-27
STL-28
As you can see the Skins D may not be as good as the numbers suggest.

by idahochieffan on Oct 17, 2009 10:55 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes, but

our offense ranks right there with those last four teams so our results may not be much better. Then again, we’ve gone against legit top 10 D’s so far so we’ll have to wait and see.

It's a good thing Pioli and Haley aren't running AP or a lot of you guys would of been traded or cut for cast offs from the Pats Pulpit.

by KCporkchop on Oct 17, 2009 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

They really only have Haynesworth

so as long as Haley’s pride doesn’t get the best of him and we dont run right at the guy 25 times I like our chances.

Desperately hoping for Desperate Measures

by averagegatsby on Oct 17, 2009 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Haynesworth ain't ALL they have.

Rankings can be sketchy after only 5 games. Stats don’t tell the whole story. Who’ve these guys faced. You could argue that NYG are overrated because of the competition they’ve faced. You could also argue that the other teams listed are underrated because of whom they faced.

I just hope that Haley figures out that against great lines, you need to make ‘em pursue wide more often. Running at Haynesworth isn’t going to wear him down, but if you make ‘im run to the edge a bunch in the early going, he’ll tire out, same as anybody.

No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.

by hmills110 on Oct 17, 2009 2:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

agreed

and if you look at their OL, its worse t han ours with their injuries, they just added ANOTHER OL today to the injury report as questionable…..this is the game that dorsey or jackson gets their first sack, and hali may get 2….SHOULD get 3-4 as a team…

offensively….Maybe its just me, but it seemed like Cassel finally was able to see Bowe and get a connection with Bowe late in the cowboy game…he had hit em for a TD pass but…in this game he finally looked for him instead of using bowe as a 3rd option…..I know the skins have a nice secondary, so Cassel may be picked off once or twice…but we just need a win…please…a win.

by SDChief on Oct 17, 2009 12:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Bowe's close. His reads still aren't at an elite level.

Cassel would be able to look for him sooner if

Haley’s giving him responsibility and authority to change his routes based on obvious formation telltales.
Bowe MAKES the read and plays SMART.

I think Haley wants Bowe to make those reads and make those adjustments. He was ridin’ ’im pretty hard in the last game for apparently failing to help Cassel out with some smart situational football – not down/distance/clock so much as seeing the blitz and finding the soft spot. I think that has something to do with changes in coaching staff.

No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.

by hmills110 on Oct 17, 2009 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs