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We've talked a little bit about how the lockout will affect the Kansas City Chiefs offseason preparations. It's hard to predict what will happen but from a national standpoint it appears folks think the lockout could end up hurting the Chiefs as we head into the 2011 season (well, if we even have a 2011 season).
John Clayton of ESPN.com recently wrote a story on 10 coaches that will be affected by the lockout. Coming in at No. 4 is Chiefs head coach Todd Haley.
The Chiefs won 10 games last year, but a tougher schedule and the lack of an offseason with players to drive them could cause the offense to backslide. That might lead to unfair judgments of Haley, who produced a playoff team in his first two years.
I think there are two ways to look at this.
It could be that...Haley's team is still young and the temptations to slide backward during the lockout are too great and all this time off will leave the Chiefs at a significant disadvantage.
Or it could be that...Haley spent the last two years instilling the right mindset in these players and the lockout won't leave a significant footprint in the Chiefs development.
As a Chiefs fan, I want to believe the latter. But realistically you have to consider the former as well. It's at a time like this that I'm glad the Chiefs have brought on a few veterans over the last couple years so guys like LB Mike Vrabel, among others, are helping the younger Chiefs through the process. That gives them a chance, I think.
For now, I'm just hoping there is a season because the early predictions say we'll miss at least some games.