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Why the Tough Schedule Is a Blessing


I know I've read a lot of people lamenting the Cheifs' difficult schedule, particularly the run of NFC East teams that we have in the first half of the season.  If you really look at a rebuilding team that is trying to change a losing culture, this is the best possible thing that could ever happen.

I have written about this before, but I am a former high school coach and I had the opportunity to attend a wrestling coaches' clinic at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.  While we were touring the facilities, they mentioned that the swimming pools have a harness that will literally pull the swimmers through the water at world record speed so they can tell how far off world record pace they are.  It gives them a physical measuring stick by which to judge themselves.

The Chiefs' 2009 schedule will do the exact same thing -- it will give the team a measuring stick to see how much they have to grow and get better.  I hope McNabb is healthy when we play the Eagles.  As a coach I would want these teams to be full strength when we play them.  It's all about competing and if you are going to change the culture of the organization you have to compete against the best the NFL has to offer.  If you want to be a Superbowl team you need to play the Superbowl champions.  As a coaching staff we used to find the best possible competition for our kids, even if we had to travel to find it.  It makes them better.  The AFC West is in a downturn at the moment, a shell of what it was in the 90s.  Getting the NFC East and the AFC Central is the best thing that could have ever happened.

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.

0 recs  |  Comment 20 comments

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I think Vick will be a bigger test if McNabb is not healthy

Flacco danced around like crazy in the pocket. Vick will take off down the field.

by Ren on Sep 14, 2009 12:04 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

If you want to be the best,

you have to beat the best.

The Chiefs aren’t in a position for either of those to happen. Lack of talent and ability on the team honestly. All facets of their game is riddled with holes, and no high caliber player to help in masking the deficiency.

Lots of wasted and ill-used draft picks throughout this decade have crippled us for a good couple years to come.

by IISaiNtII on Sep 14, 2009 12:05 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

couldn't agree more saint

Lots of wasted and ill-used draft picks throughout this decade have cripled us for a good couple years to come.

wheres that picture of the dead horse being beaten again?

by CHIEFER on Sep 14, 2009 12:06 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

ok that didnt work out- anyway

i agree with that statement lol. i would like to see us sign runyan this week tho- we can use him.

by CHIEFER on Sep 14, 2009 12:07 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Me personally I want to play the best

At this point though we havent won many games for the last 3 years we need atleast a taste of victory to show off the fruits of what we are doing. HOpefully we can do that against the raiders we played a hell of a game yesterday even though the yardage was way out of control we had a chance to win the game.

FOUR F'S FIND UM FEEL UM FUGUM FORGET UM.

by sexassassin on Sep 14, 2009 12:13 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I agree

Plus, we are not in a position to make a run at a wild card anyways. Any chance that we make a sniff at a playoff run will be in the AFC West where we have the easiest schedule.

And so, Craig finds himself leaping from blog to blog, striving to put right what once went wrong, and hoping each time that his next leap, will be the leap home.

by craig in calgary on Sep 14, 2009 12:14 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

but it is true i remember a couple years ago we had an awsome record we played the weakest

teams we looked great that was when dante hall was running everything back priest was dominating with a great oline and offense but our d was very average. Once we got to the play offs thats when we lost to the colts 99 to 100 in the final seconds of the game . that hurt more because i thought we were good we just played crappy talent all year long and AND WE THOUGHT WHO WE THOUGHT WE WERE. and lost because we werent up to par with play off competition.

FOUR F'S FIND UM FEEL UM FUGUM FORGET UM.

by sexassassin on Sep 14, 2009 12:17 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

+1

This year is going to be tough for the first 1/2. This team will be tested in a big way starting yesterday. The stretch against the NFC East is going to make a difference for us down the stretch. We’ll improve as the season goes on and we will be able to win all the games we are supposed to win and who knows, maybe we can pull out an upset or two in the process. I just want to see us winning at home. We need to get the Arrowhead advantage back.

by Chiefsfan1970 on Sep 14, 2009 12:17 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Cowboys I think we have a chance against

the other 3…. now I’m starting to think not so much.

by IISaiNtII on Sep 14, 2009 12:20 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

But hey

any given Sunday, right?

by IISaiNtII on Sep 14, 2009 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think dallas and Washington are both winnable games but...

Only if we improve defensively and Coach Haley gets a little more aggressive with the Offense.

Casel and Flowers returning will be a big difference maker. I think we may have played our toughest opponent already besides maybe the Steelers. I know, I know, don’t forget Philly but, I think the Ravens at home is even tougher than Philly, especially in week one on the road when our O-line has had no time to gel.

by Chiefsfan1970 on Sep 14, 2009 12:27 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

ya we need to be way more aggressive on the o side

man we need to just let brodie wing it who cares he has the cannon he just needs to play stop holding back i hope cassel can help us out more.

FOUR F'S FIND UM FEEL UM FUGUM FORGET UM.

by sexassassin on Sep 14, 2009 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I watched the 'Skins/Giants

and I didn’t think the Redskins looked that bad. Giants defense is better than Baltimore I think. That’s going to be a hard offensive game for the Chiefs.

by IISaiNtII on Sep 14, 2009 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

That's exactly what I am saying though.

Sometimes a HC just has to say “fuck it” and throw the damn ball around. you can’t win in this league playing Martyball anymore. You HAVE to be aggressive. If we are going to win just ONE game against the NFC East, we will win because we unleashed the passing game. Otherwise, we will lose every one of them.

by Chiefsfan1970 on Sep 14, 2009 12:54 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Philly is beatable

They’ve had a TON of injuries already…not even counting McNabb. Not saying it’ll be easy, or likely, but I really doubt KC will give them the game the way Carolina did yesterday.

by jmcgoblue on Sep 14, 2009 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

exactly

I think you’re right and why not play them now to give all the young players a look at where they need to get to?

by ZakInOmaha on Sep 14, 2009 12:24 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

anything can happen look at the rams that superbowl year

it was crazy they came out of nowhere not saying we have that magic but if we can play as a team and our offense showed some sort of life yesterday we might have had a chance to win that game.

FOUR F'S FIND UM FEEL UM FUGUM FORGET UM.

by sexassassin on Sep 14, 2009 12:25 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

and honestly i rather struggle a couple years than be stroked off all year

the way the dallas cowboys and tony romo do to their fans they are just way out of control they havent won a play off game as long as we have but every year they are suppose to win the superbowl . they even show signs of life that they can be champs but then always choke the first round of the playoffs hahaahhhahahah jerry jones really knows how to stroke his fans hahahah .

FOUR F'S FIND UM FEEL UM FUGUM FORGET UM.

by sexassassin on Sep 14, 2009 12:28 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I look at the Chiefs schedule this way

There are 4 games on the schedule we shouldn’t win based on our talent level vs. the other team’s talent level (and one of them is already in the record book). A win vs one of these would be great, but no real shame in losing.

Shouldn’t win: @Baltimore, @Philly, NYG, and Pittsburgh.

On the other side there are 4 games we SHOULD win if we want to be seen as anything other then one of the worst teams in the NFL. A loss in one of these will really hurt.

Should win: Oakland, Denver, Buffalo, and Cleveland (all at home)

The other 8 games I see as games we could win if we play well and/or get a few breaks. If we could find a way to win half of them I would be more then happy. Some are harder then others, but no single loss on this list is a major set back. Losing all 8 would be hard.

Could win: Dallas, @Washington, SD, @Jax, @Oakland, @SD, @Cin, and @Den.

The Good: Finally cutting Sackintosh
The Bad: Not cutting Copper
The Ugly: People FREAKING OUT about Pollard

by KCporkchop on Sep 14, 2009 3:47 PM CDT reply actions   1 recs

You've got a veteran presence in Vrabel

He’s won against every team on your schedule. That helps cure the “oh shit, we’re screwed” mentality. You guys went toe to toe with the playoff caliber Ravens, they’ll spin that in the locker room. There are problems that need to be fixed. Now you get to see if the head coach can fix them.

The Chiefs are going to be tried by fire, but they’ll be a better team for it. Playoffs this year? We’ll see when you play the Bolts. Playoffs in the next few years? I think so. You guys are definitely on the upswing.

The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.

by SlotMachinePlayer on Sep 14, 2009 5:00 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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