Top tier team within the next three years?
Absolutely. I think this team is getting the pieces in place to be a force, just not quite yet. When you remember half the reason we lost so many games last year was awful coaching. The talent is not as bad as our record.

I think so. In New England he functioned as the General Manager, despite his title – that was his description of his duties. A disciple of Pioli himself has fared well in the past and we got the real deal. I am confident in him…

Can a first year head coach lead us to the promise land?
I think he has what it takes, yes. I think people make far too much of him arguing with players on the sidelines…Those same players say they would walk through fire for him.

Will the team we currently have on the roster be able to adapt to the 3-4 defense.
I am not too optimistic. As we all know we are very weak and old at the most important position of the 3-4, linebacker, but I am not as worried as most. It is going to be our base defense, yes, but it will not be the defense we are in the majority of the time. Count on it.

What about the O-Line?
The O-Line, I think, will benefit greatly both from the addition of Mike Goff and the continuity of playing their new positions. Remember, both of our tackles had never played that position before (or not much)

I thought Arizona’s D wasn’t that good, is that D-Coordinator any good?
I felt similarly when we hired him…but if you look back at their performance, especially in the playoffs, they did ok. A coordinator can only do so much with the talent he has.

The Cassel thing is played out, but do you think he is a one-hit wonder?
First, I would say the Cassel thing is not “played out.” In the story featured on the main page yesterday we discussed the fact that he is not under contract long term and what the implications of that might be. Second, no I don’t think he will be a one-hit wonder. However, I also don’t believe he will be the top 10 QB Adam Schefter predicted. He has shown great leadership and work ethic. He also has proven himself in games that were very important. I don’t pay much attention to those who say he was a backup for a reason to say that he is over-rated. Yes, he had reasons: Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Tom Brady…yes, two Heisman winners and a Super Bowl MVP…

Is the offense gonna stink with out TG
Not as much as people think. We are losing a lot of receptions but it isn’t like they are going away completely. Yes, some of the more amazing grabs will be gone completely but that is not near the majority.

Is LJ gonna stop spitting drinks on bitches he thinks are trash and run people down like he used to?
No. Not after the season starts and he gets paid. He is a punk…

1. I think this team is, for the first time in 4-5 years, finally on the right track but far from reaching its destination. We have a strong base of very talented young players in a lot of key positions and alot to build around. There are still alot of holes and questions(as your post would suggest) when it comes to this team but considering the state that it was left in theres more then one offseason of work here.

2. I think Pioli is the real deal. I just can’t get myself to think that he’s not. Even if Belichek was the #1 guy in New England, Pioli at the very least was learning very closely with the best in the game right now. I think though that as important as Pioli and his office is you need a coaching staff to complement and develop the pieces you put in place. Which leads us to….

3. I think Haley has the poise and attitude to succeed as an NFL coach but the jury is still out until we see him coach a game. I love his approach to things, I think it works right now with younger players and veterans who know where he’s coming from but over time he will have to losen the reigns to keep the respect of his players. If he can find a way to make this team as it stands now a pretty competitve team this year then we’re in good hands. If he can’t then we’re in for more growing pains.

4. The defense as it stands today will have its problems changing to the 3-4 scheme. The change in itself even with the “right” players is a big transition. I think it will take someone outstanding coaching and some real unexpected defensive standouts for it to be successful this year. With another offseason or two of tweaking and more experience with it we’ll be fine moving forward. Look for major adjustments at LB the next 2 seasons.

5. O-Line is patchwork. Its the only word I can think of when I see this question. We have a great young LT and beyond that we have patchwork to get us through one season at a time. We Have two guards that have limited time left in their careers, a center who really I don’t think will be a starter in this league for much longer, and a RT that we really don’t know what to expect from. Like the LB position I expect this to be a large focus in draft and FA/Trades over the next couple years.

6. I don’t like Pendergast any more then Gunther. He got the job by default because the guy Haley wanted wasnt going to coach this year and its a shame because Crennel at the head of our defense would be awesome. I think all the coaches are good in individualized specialty coaching positions but we dont have a great coordinator.

7. Cassels here to stay and will be a top 10 QB within a couple years. Just an opinion but to me this guy is all about football, came from a place the develops players better then any other team in the league and he has the physical skills and other intangibles to be a great QB in this league. To compare him to someone I would say that Matt Cassel is everything that Jamarcus Russell is not and thats a good thing.

8. Good Riddance TG.

9. LJ is done with the drama and will put up a decent year but I expect this moreso to be the year of the Charles.

I’d say give his team two years. Only a true Chief fan could see all the talent on this team. When Scott Pioli came in and did hardly anything to the roster through free agency it was a pretty heavy testament to his faith in the current roster.. The biggest holes were plugged, LB and QB were a given. I still find it funny that analyst criticize the Chiefs for taking two DE’s with their top picks after coming off the worst sack campaign in league history.

Pioli is all that.. The dude knows football players and the entire Patriots front office will vouch for him if a question of his ability is ever brought up. Such endorsements rarely were handed out to the post Bellichek failures as coaches, even if they were it was always “as a coordinator” that they’d be missed. Like Woody said Pioli assumed all the roles a GM would in NE. We have the real deal.

This team is so far from the 3-4 it’s scary. I still am hesitant about our NT and the mystery spot opposite T Jack and our LB core will be lucky to be mediocre after this season. Next years free agency is going to be very important.

Honestly I believe O line will be an asset more than a liability this year all pending on whether or not Bian Waters plays. The luxury of having two solid guards is one we have and this will improve the play of our entire offensive line. There’s a reason why we passed on O linemen in the draft all but once.

I think Pendergast’s leash is short especially with Romeo Crennel having been linked back to having interest in holding some role in a defensive capacity with the Chiefs when he comes off recovering from hip surgery next season. If he isn’t the D coordinator for the Chiefs next season it means one of two things, Pendergast shocked Chief nation by posting a solid 09 defensive campaign, or Crennel is the Defensive eyes from the box.

Cassel will be a solid QB. He shows lot’s of Trent Green like talent and if we could get that we’ll be poised to have a scarier offense than the one Green ran. He’s been cut so short, how is it that Mark Sanchez who played one season in college gets more credibility than Matt Cassel who played a year in the NFL? It’s all the media NFL coaches will tell you Cassel is poised to be the starter for the Chiefs for a long time

TG would have been unhappy in this new offense. When was Todd Haley ever known to use a TE as a receiving threat? We didn’t need him we have our blocking TE in Brad Cottam

I hope LJ realizes this will be his last huge contract if he keeps acting this way… Either way a Javarris Williams/ Jamaal Charles tandem will suit us just fine in the absence of LJ.

I’m not going to answer all these one by one, I’m just going to say I honestly believe the Chiefs are taking the correct steps to become a much better team then they have been. I’m glad the question gave us 3 years to get to the top tier, because I think it might take that long, not because we don’t have some talent, but because to really be top tier you have to have the respect of the rest of the league. Even if we somehow make it to the Super Bowl this year we won’t have that respect we will be a fluke, just like how many people see Miami and AZ, after how well they both did, no one is picking them to win it all this year. I think in 3 years the Chiefs will be the team expected to win the AFC West every year, and if we don’t there will be more questions of why we didn’t rather than why we did. I’m not a kool-ade guy, Yes I want my Chiefs to win every year, but I also know it takes talent and coaching to get there. I think we now have the tools needed to build that kind of team, and a draft plan to keep it going.

I realize I’m just a dumb chick when it comes to all the in’s and out’s of the game…I watch cuz I love the game & love to see the plays being made. So reading these posts are highly educational for me…THANKS for that guys!

So here’s my question….what’s the 3-4 mean??

It does help…I have the visual now. And now I know what you’re all referring to. THANKS :)

The chiefs could be a good team this year…… if the o line steps up and plays better. faster and smarter. getting in shape will be a good start to this. The D will be better because of this years draft picks. LJ will do better also because He knows that under this new leadership He could get the ax.