Chan Gailey Given the Keys to L.J. and Co.
Well, I’m eating my words right now, aren’t I? Chan Gailey has officially been named the Chiefs offensive coordinator. There’s not much I can do after ripping him earlier today, so I’ll let commenter Double D do the spin on this one:
Whoa! Here’s a little slice of Gailey’s resume to chew on:While member of Denver’s coaching staff: 3 Super Bowls As Pittsburgh OC (96-97): 2 Division crowns, AFC Champion (i.e., in the Super Bowl) . ‘96 Season, #2 in rushing.As Dallas HC (98-99): 2 playoffs, 1 Division Crown. Both yrs top 5 in fewest turnovers and fewest interceptions. 1998 - #1 in both categories.As Miami OC (00-01): 2 playoffs, Division Crown in ‘00, tied NE at 11-5 in ‘01 (lost tie breaker for division crown). At Miami, achieved NFL #8 ranking in total offense. And who was on that offense? Jay Fiedler at QB, Lamar Smith at RB, plus Orande Gadsen and James McKnight as receivers. Quite a stellar lineup there, huh? Damon Huard was the backup fwiw.I, for one, have no problem mind handing him the keys to LJ, TG, DB, and a yet-to-be-named wideout behind a what we all hope will be an improved OL and see where he can take it.
I think Zach and I just wanted a younger guy, someone more imaginative and, well, fresh. While this isn’t a sexy pick, it’s a safe one that has a fair chance of improving the Chiefs’ offense immediately. Chan has accomplished quite a lot, it’s just hard to see that when he’s been canned from two of his last three jobs, I guess.
Don’t expect an aggressive Vermeilian offense, though. That is not going to happen under Gailey. The Chiefs now have three head coaches on their staff. If the Chiefs don’t dramatically improve during the next two years, then King Carl will have to hit the road.
The last point I want to make is this shows that the Chiefs aren’t necessarily 100% committed to Brodie Croyle. Jim Fassel is seen as a QB guru, and Eric Price and Mike Shula both worked with Brodie in college. I wonder how Chan feels about Brodie. Only time will tell, I suppose.
I’m trying to be positive, everybody. Trying is the operative word.
Well, now that he is on the CHiefs!!! He is my favorite offensive coordinator!!!!!! I hope in time, I will have to eat my words, just like you Adam. GO CHiefs and Go Gailey!!!!
January 16th, 2008 at 6:09 pmYep. Have to be supportive now. Until he screws up and starts doing run-run-pass-punt Mike Solari football. Then we can blast him at will. I’ll give him the chance to prove me wrong, though.
January 16th, 2008 at 6:11 pmAdam, I’m not sure where you get the assumption that he’ll run a run/run/pass/punt offense. He’s been a coordinator for a very long time in this league and obviously has impressed multiple teams with his playcalling. His playcalling probably will be more conservative, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be even remotely as predictable as Solari’s.As for the comment about preferring youth, I thought so at first too, but the last week or so I’ve completely changed my tune. The Chiefs don’t need that on offense. The Chiefs didn’t need a young playcaller. What they needed was an experienced playcaller who was so experienced that Herm Edwards would hand over the keys to him and let him run with the job. Gailey is too experienced a coach to let Herm interfere with what he wants to do.The Chiefs’ strengths are easily their defense and their running game. In the first half of the season, they went over .500 on defense alone. As for their running game, Gailey is an O/C that has always, always built powerful, terrific running games, even if it might come at the expense of an aerial attack. Essentially, this is a guy who runs a Marty-ball offense but knows how to win using it. While Marty’s offense held him back, Gailey’s offense has seen plenty of success in the postseason. I’m ecstatic about the hiring. I think it keeps Herm completely off the offense and back to what he does best–coaching defense.
January 16th, 2008 at 9:18 pmJust a thought, this could be seen as a vote of confidence in Croyle. They didn’t hire any of the three QB focused coaches, they took the guy that could do the most with the entire offensive unit. All that knowing that the only legit QB they have right now is Brodie Croyle (I don’t think DH counts.) The draft doesn’t guarantee that a franchise QB will be available and none of the FA’s out there are worth much with the possible exception of Derek Anderson, and if they wanted him there’s no guarantee they’d get him. The point here is that it would be a horrible business decision to base your OC decision on what you might get. (Save the King Carl or Herm is an idiot lecture, because I honestly don’t believe they would have gotten this far if they were really that dumb) Anyway, I think its a great hire, and I think Croyle will be fine if he can stay healthy. Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Brett Favre would have all done about the same with our O-line and lack of run game. So I’m on board, the D is getting better and if Chan can get an O-line we’ll be in business.
January 16th, 2008 at 9:49 pmGo back and look at what he did for the Steelers. This is a good move. I imagine it came down to experience or giving another inexperienced guy (Price) a shot. Herm took a chance with Solari, with Gailey, we are getting a proven winner. Period. Herm wanted a man that would take the abilities of the players and utilize them to the fullest. There wasn’t a bunch of dinking and dunking to Calvin Johnson did you? NO. He took his abiltiy to burn everyone and send him down the field. He inherits one of the best RB’s in the league, a 2nd year WR in Bowe with a TON of potential and a HOF Tight End, I believe Chan, more than any of the others interviewed, will know exactly what to do with them. Good Hire.
January 17th, 2008 at 5:55 amI’ll take a stab at the issue of why Gailey has been fired at 2 of his last 3 jobs. First off, the Dallas firing shouldn’t count for much because ever since Landry retired, pretty much every Cowboys coach eventually gets fired no matter how many games they win or lose - it’s a ownership/system issue there imo.As for G Tech, he went to 6 bowls in his 6 years. Multiple Bowl appearances notwithstanding, the rumor is that the G Tech AD only cares about one thing - beating their #1 rival, the Bulldogs. He didn’t do that, he had to go. A good analogy might be the obsession that MU has with KU in that it’s pretty much a sure bet that if Mizzou fails to regularly beat the Jayhawks, the Tigers start cranking up the interview process.
January 17th, 2008 at 11:12 amThe only thing I have to say is this: I’m a Chiefs fan living in Atlanta who’s seen Chan Gailey coach at Georgia Tech. The one huge knock on him here (besides his 6 year streak against UGA) was his inability to develop his young QB’s. I just don’t see how he’s supposed to be the answer in the growth of Brodie as a NFL quarterback.
January 17th, 2008 at 11:19 amI have a ton of respect for Bill Cowher, after everything he’s done. And if Bill says Chain Gailey was one of the best, if not THE best, offensive coordinator he ever had, then I’m glad to have him. Six bowl-games, in six years? I’m happy with that, means he had a winning record, even though never beating the Georgia team is like us losing to the Donkeys every year, twice. But as long as we make the playoffs, I’m also cool with that, too. As long as he doesn’t line up in power formations and try running his heart out, we’re fine. Spread the offense out a little bit, utilitize the tools we have, and let LJ get some more downhill running in a 2-3-4 receiver set, instead of stretches/sweeps/tosses in a power formation set. If Chan is smart enough to see that, we’re back baby!
January 17th, 2008 at 11:51 amThe Broncos had Chan Gailey at the top of their list but couldn’t move quickly enough to secure the veteran coach. After two interviews in Kansas City, the second coming Tuesday, Gailey quickly was named the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator Wednesday afternoon. The Broncos are expected to turn their attention to former UCLA coach and Broncos assistant Karl Dorrell - he coached receivers for three seasons (2000 to 2002) under Shanahan. Dorrell was fired by UCLA after last season. — Rocky Mountain News
January 17th, 2008 at 11:53 amYou know what, this might be the best thread of reader comments I’ve ever read on the site.
Jon, Jay, Steven, Double D, Sean, XXXLP and Jeremy, you guys have really started to sway me. I think I’m even going to do a "Thoughts on Chan" post and feature your comments.
I’m a little worried about him being conservative, but love the thought of Herm completely turning over the keys. That was an oversight on my part.
I also liked the Calvin Johnson point, and the Jerry Jones point, for that matter. After doing more homework and reading your comments, it is clear that he is a good hire.
It just isn’t a very sexy pick, and I was wanting someone who could mix it up like they have in Dallas, Green Bay or New England this year. Instead, I expect our offense to be more like what you see The New York Giants or Pittsburgh Steelers running, or even Jacksonville.
I was also concerned about us hiring him out of desperation to beat out Denver, but I’m not overly concerned there.
Lastly, I don’t think this is a vote of confidence for Croyle at all. Fassel was a QB guru, and the other two had worked with Croyle before. If it is a vote of confidence, it would be an incredibly strong one, and I don’t think Brodie deserves that at this point. I’d bet that we are looking at bringing in another guy either through the draft or FA to compete with him. When I say that I don’t necessarily mean a star either.
January 17th, 2008 at 2:58 pmChiefs fans really know their stuff, I’ll add. I think we’re definitely in the top five fan knowledge wise. I think we’ve got the most knowledgeable fans. I really do, and this thread helps prove that.
January 17th, 2008 at 3:00 pmDefinitely Adam. I’ve been swayed by many comments before. I slept on the Gailey signing and feel good about the decision.
January 17th, 2008 at 3:28 pmWhat to do about with the QB situation is I think the trickiest piece of the offensive puzzle to figure out over the next year (or two). As far as bringing in a QB through the draft goes, I heard Clark Hunt respond today by saying he completely supports Edwards’ approach to developing Croyle into a franchise guy but also expects the Chiefs to draft a QB either this year or next (Dennis Dixon in the 5th round anyone?). In any event, I’ll be most eager to see how Edwards, Gailey, et al go about addressing offensive needs come March / April. Truth be known, I’m inclined to think this offseason may be a whole lot more interesting to watch than the regular season that ensues. :)
January 17th, 2008 at 4:17 pmChris, I am definitely felling better myself about it, and reading comments on both sites has aided that process.
DD, I think we might be able to get a good QB in round two. The problem there is that if we do that, then we obvioulsy need to draft a tackle in round one. Then what about our DT and CB situation? CB can be addressed via free agency, but DT probably can’t. Still, I think DT is the least glaring hole, especially with Tank and Turk still being so young.
So… Colt Brennan in round two? Joe Flacco in round three?
What does everybody think?
January 17th, 2008 at 4:29 pmUnless they have the stones to go for Matt Ryan in round 1, I would be really pissed to see Chiefs put their #34/35/36 - whatever - overall pick on any QB. There way too many guys projected for late round 1 / early round 2 I would rather have. Flacco in the 3rd would be okay but only if the Chiefs somehow manage to get an additional 2nd or 3rd round pick via trade, etc. If rounds 1-3 are single pick rounds, at least 2 of those 3 better be spent to rebuild key positions (i.e., OL, WR, CB, DT, LB) .
January 17th, 2008 at 4:48 pmOk, I am ready to weigh in. I am ok, not thrilled, but ok with Chan. I agree with Herm that we don’t need a ’system guy’. We do need someone who will take control of the offence and build it around the players we have. The biggest benefit I see in hiring someone like Chan versus hiring the ‘hot young coordinator’ is that he is less likely to leave for a HC job. I still remember losing Bill Cowher. I still think we had serious super bowl chances had he not taken the Steeler’s job.
January 17th, 2008 at 5:33 pmMerlin, that’s a great point on Cowher. A great point.
January 17th, 2008 at 7:06 pmI don’t see much chance of us drafting a QB in the top 3 rounds, unless we do it in the first, and I think if we do it in the first we are screwed anyhow. NO quarterback short of a Vince Young style guy, will survive a full season behinid a patchwork offensive line like ours. We need stability, we need youth, and we need some power in there. Damien will be an ‘not amazing, just bleh, ok’ right tackle, so our right guard needs to have some ummph. Our left guard is a monster (if we don’t move him to center!) and so our left tackle (hopefully a top pick) doesn’t need to be STELLAR this year, just solid.
January 17th, 2008 at 9:17 pmI am still sore over the loss of Fujita and Mitchell in the linebacking corps the last few years. All they did was make plays all over the field. Maybe not the most spectacular plays, but they each led our team in tackles at least once while they were starters for us. I think the Chiefs lack a decent MLB, Napoleon didn’t show me anything at all last year. A rookie could have done what he did, and a late round pick at that. Only difference is, the rookie has more upside. Anyone ever though about Kendrell Bell at MLB? He played inside ‘backer in Pittsburgh, in the 3-4, so he might be better suited in the middle anyway. We’re paying him a decent contract and right now he’s a backup. I don’t like when that happens. If you’re getting the cheese, show up on the field. Maybe a little competition for Napoleon will either get his butt in gear, or tell us we can let some rookie set behind Kendrell and learn for a couple years, then take over the reigns. Outside of that- one thing I think no one is remembering, is that we MUST and NEED to get Jared Allen re-signed. Before ANY free agents are brought in, before anyone gets any great ideas, we NEED our best defensive player to get his money and be happy, and stay motivated for us.
January 17th, 2008 at 9:22 pmhahahahaha bell what a joke…all I have ever seen him do is watch as a play go on five feet from him and do absolutely nothing…hahahahaha
January 18th, 2008 at 10:46 pm