We are an 8-8 team right now.

Go back to this time last year. 

Todd Haley had just been hired after the Superbowl, and had scrambled to assemble a coaching staff.  He fired Chan Gailey, instead of wasting a season running an offense he didn't believe in. 

Scott Pioli and Todd Haley have now put in place an All Star coaching staff, and have a full season to evaluate a young team, and determine what our needs are.  There will be continuity within the system, on both sides of the ball, as Weis and Crennel share Haley's philosophies and utilize virtually the same system.  We have a good core of young players, most who are in their 2nd to 4th year on the team, and now have played for Haley for an entire season. 

Haley has a year of head coaching under his belt, and he admits it was invaluable to him, and that he made mistakes.  He instilled discipline and a team first mentality, that wasn't easy for some to accept, especially some veterans who were used to some preferential treatment and perks.  I think he learned to communicate better with the players, as the season progressed, and to better balance his emotions.  The team seemed to play hard for him for 16 games, and had probably their best game on the final Sunday. 

We have an easier schedule this season.  We started last season against 3 or 4 playoff teams, at a time when the team was trying to learn a new system, and build confidence.  The AFC West has every team going through a transition phase, and the Chiefs may actually be ahead of the others, as far as stability. 

I think considering all of the factors I have mentioned, we are an 8-8 team right now, with no personnel changes.  The players that Pioli and his coaches bring in will determine if we can rise from mediocrity and make a serious playoff run this season. 

We are now in the Free Agency period, and there were no major splashes for the Chiefs in the first couple of days, and there likely won't be.  I am not one that believes in signing players to 80 million dollar contracts, unless they are a franchise quarterback.  I think the Chiefs will be smart in Free Agency, but will add some pieces and fill some holes that definitely need filled, but will continue to focus mainly on the draft. 

I was frustrated when I saw no signings the first couple of days, except for a couple of our own players, but I shouldn't have been surprised, as it is Scott Pioli's way.  The Patriots weren't built by spending massive amounts of money on Free Agents, nor will the Chiefs be. 

However, this is a pivotal year for our team, as if we don't see a good team on the field, that is in the playoff hunt late in the season, what direction do we go?  I don't think any of us can survive another housecleaning and rebuilding plan, that may take years to complete.  Fortunately, I don't think we will have to endure that, as I feel we have an underrated group of young players, and just need to add some pieces to be a playoff contender not only this season, but for seasons to come. 

I think Scott Pioli builds teams for now, and 5 years from now, and we have a chance to be good for a long time, if the guys that make the decisions do it right.