Getting to Know the Chiefs 2009 Coaching Staff: Maurice Carthon

by Joel Thorman on Feb 19, 2009 5:02 PM CST in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Offseason

Just today, the Kansas City Chiefs announced the hiring of Maurice Carthon as assistant head coach. He played running back in the USFL blocking for Herschel Walker and also as a fullback in the NFL for the New York Giants and the Indianapolis Colts (click here for his career stats). He is 47 years old.

He's been coaching in the NFL since 1994. Most recently, Carthon was the Arizona Cardinals running backs coach. Let's take a look at his full coaching resume.

Year	Team	Position
1994-96	New England Patriots	Running Backs Coach
1997-2000	New York Jets	Running Backs Coach
2001-02	Detroit Lions	Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs
2003-04	Dallas Cowboys	Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs
2005-06	Cleveland Browns	Offensive Coordinator
2007-08	Arizona Cardinals	Running Backs Coach

Carthon has been tabbed as the assistant head coach and judging from his resume could focus on the running backs.

His time with New England appears to be inconsistent. Below are the Patriots rank in attempts and rushing yards during his tenure.

1994: 11th/27th
1995: 12th/10th
1996: 22nd/26th

The spike in the 1995 statistics is largely due to the presence of Curtis Martin.

In 1997 he followed Bill Parcells (again) and became the New York Jets running backs coach. Below are the Jets rank in attempts and rushing yards during his tenure.

1997: 20th/25th
1998: 5th/13th
1999: 8th/11th
2000: 19th/24th

Again, Curtis Martin arrived in New York in Carthon's second season. Each year he helped produce a 1,000 yard rusher including Adrian Murrell prior to Martin's arrival. And much like New England, his time in New York appears to be largely inconsistent.

After his 4 year tenure in New York, he was hired as the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator. Below are the Lions offensive rank in total points and total yards.

2001: 26th/16th
2002: 26th/28th

He also coached the running backs his first year when the Lions ranked 31st in attempts and 28th in yards.

From there he moved to Dallas where he was the offensive coordinator for two more seasons. Below are the Cowboys offensive rank in total points and total yards during that time.

2003: 21st/15th
2004: 25th/14th

He did some double duty in Dallas also focusing on the running backs. In 2003 the Cowboys ranked 4th in attempts and 12th in yards (no 1,000 yard rusher) and in 2004 they ranked 14th in attempts and 20th in yards (no 1,000 yard rusher).

Next stop is Cleveland where he was again an offensive coordinator. Below are the Browns offensive rank in total points and total yards during his tenure.

2005: 32nd/26th
2006: 30th/31st

In early 2007 he was hired by the Arizona Cardinals to become their new running backs coach. We know all too well the running woes of the Arizona Cardinals from our Todd Haley coverage. Below are the Cardinals rank in attempts and yards.

2007: 25th/29th
2008: 32nd/32nd

After seeing this resume and pile of statistics, I find myself thinking why in the world is Maurice Carthon being added to the Chiefs staff? There is nothing above that would indicate to me that he's capable of successfully running an offense (or in this case assisting an offense).

Chiefs Connection

Ahh...this is why he was hired. The connection to Haley/Pioli/Parcells is this:

Played for Parcells in New York
Coached under Parcells in New England
Coached under Parcells in New York
Coached under Parcells in Dallas
Coached with Haley in Arizona

Believe me, I'm all for the Parcells connection. He has an uncanny ability to turn franchises around. But there is nothing here that tells me this is a good hire.

I sure hope this hire was made for the benefit of the organization and not the continuation of the Carl Peterson good-old-boy network.

Here is how the current coaching staff is set up:

Defense		Offense		Other
Defensive Coordinator	Gary Gibbs/Clancy Pendergast	Offensive Coordinator	Chan Gailey	Special Teams	Steve Hoffman
Defensive Backs	Joel Collier	Offensive Line	Bill Muir	Special Teams Assistant	???
Linebackers	Clancy Pendergast/Gary Gibbs	Assistant Offensive Line	Joe D'Alessandris	Assistant Strength and Conditioning	Brent Salazar
Defensive Assistant	???	Tight Ends	Bob Bicknell	Strength and Conditioning	Cedric Smith
Defensive Line	Tim Krumrie	Running Backs	Maurice Carthon?	Manager of Football Operations/Player Development	Nate Wainwright
		Quarterbacks	???	Assistant Head Coach	Maurice Carthon
		Wide Receivers	Dedric Ward
		Assistant Offensive Coach/Quality Control	Pat Perles

Poll

What do you think of Maurice Carthon on the Chiefs coaching staff?

I like it

213 votes

I dislike

135 votes

Ambivalent

180 votes

528 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I Not Only Dislike This Hire

I fucking hate it. 3.5 yards per carry for the Cardinals’ running backs this season, 3.6 last season. And a bottom three offense when he was OC for the Browns…during which time he personally alienated most of the offensive players with his assholeishness.

If this is the best running back coach that Todd Haley could find, why the fuck did we hire Haley? Because if this is the cream of his coaching network, his coaching network is not just limited, it’s for shit.

Predictions for 2009

1. Todd Haley's going to struggle with managing his staff in his rookie year as head coach.

by UCrawford on Feb 19, 2009 5:10 PM CST reply actions

I guess he is being consistent with his hires.

"Help Wanted:

Applicants must have finished in the bottom of their field for multiple years. Prior history of underachieving at your field, regardless of level, is desired.

Parcells/Belichick incestuous lineage will be given priority."

"and peep this ethiopian queen from philly taking classes abroad, she studying film and photo flash focus record"

I don't have religion. I have Baduizm.

by DThomasReigns on Feb 19, 2009 5:49 PM CST up reply actions

I want to know

who was barry sanders running back coach or walter paytons running back coach or terrel davis. With all the numbers those guys put up did any of those coaches ever become head coaches.

by sexassassin on Feb 19, 2009 6:52 PM CST up reply actions

I'm not impressed with this hire at all

I was fine with the Muir, Perles, and Ward hires, but this one is a head scratcher.

by oldchiefsfan on Feb 19, 2009 5:42 PM CST reply actions

To be fair

A lot of these guys sucked at positions that they do not hold with the Chiefs. For the most part, our new coaches failed at positions of more responsibility.

Peter Principle all the way. Let’s hope they don’t suck after their demotions.

Arrowhead Pride

by Chris Thorman on Feb 19, 2009 5:56 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

My reaction, superficially, is aimed at those who have shown they have underachieved.

Biggs
Pendergast (One of them is probably DC or LB)
Carthon
Krumrie

And these are coming on the side of the ball on which we need the most help. I am definitely concerned.

"and peep this ethiopian queen from philly taking classes abroad, she studying film and photo flash focus record"

I don't have religion. I have Baduizm.

by DThomasReigns on Feb 19, 2009 6:01 PM CST up reply actions

Sorry, meant to note those posted above have proven mediocrity or worse at their projected position(s).

"and peep this ethiopian queen from philly taking classes abroad, she studying film and photo flash focus record"

I don't have religion. I have Baduizm.

by DThomasReigns on Feb 19, 2009 6:05 PM CST up reply actions

Valid point

Arrowhead Pride

by Chris Thorman on Feb 19, 2009 6:32 PM CST up reply actions

also,

these might be 1 year hires. maybe somebody’s good buddies with holmgren or cowher or something. just taking a flyer

current Chiefs roster + 1 premiere LB FA + Crabtree + defensive draft = CONTENDAHS

"at least we don't need a punter"

by nayjevin on Feb 20, 2009 12:40 PM CST up reply actions

I'd be interested in hearing from one of the voters

who actually like this hire

The only measure of true success in the NFL is the Vince Lombardi trophy. Anything less is a rationalization.

by sm7600 on Feb 19, 2009 5:57 PM CST reply actions

So would I

Not sure how Carthon made the grade for Haley and the Chiefs.

Arrowhead Pride

by Chris Thorman on Feb 19, 2009 5:58 PM CST up reply actions

I would like to know how some of these hires were pitched to Clark, if he hasn't stepped back already.

"and peep this ethiopian queen from philly taking classes abroad, she studying film and photo flash focus record"

I don't have religion. I have Baduizm.

by DThomasReigns on Feb 19, 2009 6:02 PM CST up reply actions

I like the hire

chemistry between coaches is important and they all have the Parcells/Pioli/Haley connection. Why is it his fault that he’s worked with bad rushing offenses? The running backs coach doesn’t call the plays or control the holes the offensive line opens, so I don’t see how he is to blame for the bad rushing seasons his teams had. Plus there was a few good seasons in there too so I highly doubt he’s a good coach one year and a bad coach the next. The important thing is that he can work with the other coaches and that he has a lot of experience with running backs, which he does.

by Vince D on Feb 19, 2009 6:05 PM CST reply actions

There is merit to that, but

You can’t dismiss his responsibility for his position. If his/their influence was so minimal, isn’t that admitting they aren’t effective at their jobs?

I agree, you can’t blame him for the running game when he is RB Coach and again when he is OC, but don’t you have to display some sort of real achievement for once.

Additionally, many of those mediocre years were under Parcells as HC. So, Carthon can’t shovel the blame uphill too much.

We, here, were almost unanimously happy with the thought of new coaching blood, especially on defense. These guys may prove us wrong, but the larger point is that they have yet to prove anyone wrong in the past in a similar “chemistry” environment.

Why should we believe they are going to suddenly do it now? And with the lack of talent we have on D?

"and peep this ethiopian queen from philly taking classes abroad, she studying film and photo flash focus record"

I don't have religion. I have Baduizm.

by DThomasReigns on Feb 19, 2009 6:14 PM CST up reply actions

What exactly does an Assistant Head Coach do anyway?

by RoyalChief8569 on Feb 19, 2009 6:22 PM CST reply actions

Adds Another Bullet To His Resume

From what I can tell, it’s a job to make somebody look like they’re doing something essential.

Predictions for 2009

1. Todd Haley's going to struggle with managing his staff in his rookie year as head coach.

by UCrawford on Feb 19, 2009 6:26 PM CST up reply actions

Yeah

Al Saunders was Asst. Head Coach and you see where that got him. I liked Big Al.

To be the man you got to beat the man!!!!

by Major Tom on Feb 19, 2009 6:59 PM CST up reply actions

Worked For Herm

DB coach and asst head coach in Tampa.

Predictions for 2009

1. Todd Haley's going to struggle with managing his staff in his rookie year as head coach.

by UCrawford on Feb 19, 2009 7:39 PM CST up reply actions

hopefully

only what he excels at. If Pioli knows what he’s doing, that is.

current Chiefs roster + 1 premiere LB FA + Crabtree + defensive draft = CONTENDAHS

"at least we don't need a punter"

by nayjevin on Feb 20, 2009 12:42 PM CST up reply actions

I think I am going to wait until Jan 12th at 2:42am to give my opinion

of all the Asst coaching hires.

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 Feb 19, 2009 6:28 PM CST reply actions

Love this Hire!

Carthon has been one of Parcells go-to offensive guys over the years. From all reports he’s highly organized, a great game plan assistant, and an experienced quality control guy. I think he’s really well suited to be assistant head coach and the team will be better off for having him.

by RedNose on Feb 20, 2009 10:21 AM CST reply actions

Lord have mercy

The quality of analysis around here is really starting to go downhill.

Are you seriously trying to make the case that the RUNNING BACKS COACH was responsible for where the rushing offense of the Jets, the Cardinals, and any of these other teams ranked?

Here’s what a running backs coach does: he works with the backs on making the right reads, hitting the right holes, making sure they hold onto the ball, picking up their blocks.

Here’s what a running backs coach does NOT do: call plays, pick players, run the offensive line.

Let’s stop a think a moment. Did the Jets, just to name one example from the list, have a weak running game because their backs were running into their own blockers and/or constantly fumbling? Or did they have a bad running game because the line couldn’t block, the players weren’t very good, the playcalling was predictable or pass-happy, or any combination thereof?

I will take a wild guess and suggest it was because of those latter reasons. Why? Because if it was the first reason, the guy coaching their running backs wouldn’t have had a job for very long.

If you go to a restaurant that buys ingredients that aren’t fresh, and the chef who works there isn’t a good cook, guess what? The food isn’t going to taste good. It’s not going to matter how skilled the guy who comes up to your table with the pepper grinder is. That’s about the impact that an RB coach has on the overall running game: he’s the pepper grinder.

Carthon did suck as a coordinator, but unless he’s calling the plays here, it’s not something anyone has to worry about.

by SlipperyPete on Feb 20, 2009 11:43 PM CST reply actions

And How Well Did He Coach The Running Backs In Arizona?

Can’t really make the argument that they were devoid of talent at running back. Can’t really make the argument that their offense was horrible either. But their running game sure was and their backs were pretty unproductive.

Is that all Carthon’s fault? Maybe, maybe not. But he hasn’t done a thing in the last four years to distinguish himself as a good hire and that’s the point.

Predictions for 2009

1. Todd Haley's going to struggle with managing his staff in his rookie year as head coach.

by UCrawford on Feb 21, 2009 12:25 AM CST up reply actions