AADQ: What's Next? Or Should Be?

We are several pieces away

Offense: quarterback, second wide receiver to stretch the field, true hammer of a fullback, center, right guard, right tackle.

Defense: pass rushing DE, outside linebacker, middle linebacker, strong safety

I'd say we need 9 new starters. That doesn't even take into account the fact that we have no depth.

dbk301,

There are a few things which must happen between now and next season, but my assumption is a large percentage of those things will fall into place. When those things happen, KC will be a contender right away. There are not that many pieces of the puzzle missing. Once these young players come to the realization that they can play with the best, it will be off to the races. That is exactly what needs to happen. The sharks need to gather when there is blood in the water.

I think the Chiefs need to make a move in FA quickly. It will be a hard sale to get multiple big name free agents into town, especially after 6-26 and out vets wanting out. If Pioli goes out and gets a Haynesworth or Suggs right out of the gate, the will set a domino like affect in action letting the FAs know this team is serious about winning.

I'm curious to see how Pioli goes about this offseason, after saying it's not about sizzle. He's looking for pieces to plug into the new system and culture, but there is a lot of sizzle out there.

Of course he want to win, but Pioli seems like a very patient realistic man. I wonder what his expectation for this season is... 8-8? 11-5?

I think the Chiefs has a strong chance at the AFC West title next year, as LT was the main reason why the Chargers were getting it year after year. He's aging, and soon, won't be a factor for most DC's game plans.

If the Chiefs can grab the AFC West, who says they can't make the big game? The Cards did it, and nobody gave them a chance. The 08 playoffs were all about upsets, remember that.

I agree, DD. A good D coordinator shouldn't be a Zoolander -- they should be an ambi-turner. Gotta be able to adapt to your personnel.

Any Defensive Coordinator worth his salt can run either system. I believe the decision to go 3-4 versus 4-3 often has more to do with personnel than preference.

I think we need to find someone to run the defense and figure out if we are going to run a 4-3 or a 3-4. The Chiefs have to address LB and DE with the 1st 2 picks and of course run LJ out of town ASAP....

Tony G stays. Cut the trash. It's time to go a little crazy in free agency. Time to spend some money. I think I spotted Carl Peterson a few posts up.

First of all once Tony G. sees what Haley is all about he'll want to stay. Yes he deserves a superbowl, and yes he might have to wait a couple more years for it, but it has a good chance of happening here soon.
Secondly, DO WHATEVER IT TAKES to get rid of the cancer known as LJ. He has burned his bridge long before he crossed it. And whether he knows it or not he has damaged his chances of going to a contender with his attitude and off the field Smack-a-Hoe antics. Time to move on for both the Chiefs and LJ. We can do better.
Thirdly, we need to target big time D-line and LB free agents. Depending on whether or not we go 3-4 or stay with a 4-3 will depend on who we target. If we go 3-4 or 4-3 we should exhaust all possible ends to try to get Haynesworth. He's only been in the league 7 years, so he has alot of tread on his tires. Besides that he'll make Dorsey that much better next to him. We also need to get a good pass rusher. Possibly a Bertrand Berry outta Arizona. Peppers is gonna want to much money for his worth. Suggs will probably resign with Baltimore. Moving on to LB we could bring in Dansby. He's yong and consistantly improving his game.
The draft is where we should load up. If we could possibly move down a couple spots to pick up more picks we could land one of the top LB's in the draft and get more top 75 picks to load up on top end talent. Namely, Curry or Manaluaga. We could also go O-line but we need D help desperately. With the spread O that we ran last year and Haley's quick out short drop O scheme we could get by with what we have on the o-line right now. But I do suspect we will address it somewhere in free agency and or the draft.
All in all I think we can compete for the division next year with the right moves in free agency and the draft. GO CHIEFS!!!!

from styg50 over at AP

"My vote for most important need on the team goes to LB where, whether they go 3-4 or 4-3, they just do not have enough talent to go around. Veteran Donnie Edwards needs to get healthy and get a full season on the field, but lately, he hasn't been able to do that. Derrick Johnson is futility squared, and doesn't seem to have the "it" factor to go along with his talent. This team has needed his help more than ever the last two years, and he has been chronically underwhelming. Demorrio Williams and Boiman are pretty much interchangeable, and make good depth. I would love to see KC target some free agents, including Bart Scott of Baltimore, and even Johnathon Vilma. I really think Derrick Johnson would play better if he weren't the center of attention. Move him back outside and firm up the middle with Vilma, get some competition at OLB in the draft, and let the chips fall where they may. Two bodies minimum need to be ready to step up here."

Don't Trade Tony.. What is he going to do, not play? Can we rally replace him with a 3rd?

Trade LJ for 3rd rounder. If you can't get. Go Al Davis on his ass a la Marcus Allen. He can cooperate or sit on the freaking bench.

Peter King said it this morning, Pioli will not make a play for Cassell. Too much for him. would rather Develop a QB. I say no to Cassell. too.

Release, Surtain, D. Edwards, B. Croyle, D Huard (although don't be surprised to see him for one more year, since Pioli had him before in New England), Jeff Webb, John Mcgraw, to name a few.

Pick up free agent linebacker/defensive end. No need to go crazy with the free agents.

Draft two QBs after 1st round.

My take:

1)Hire co-ordinators and rest of staff now!

2)Have a Coaching retreat with them all this week to make sure everyone is all on same page. Decide what kind of team we want, and the players needed for that. Coaches stay behind to evealuate currrent personnel. Haleys' job

3)Pioli and the scouts hit the combine in 10 days. Scout the players with qualities the team wants. Pioli's job

4) Release and catch: Cut players, sign FA, re-sign other players. Pioli's job.

5) Draft.

6)Implement Offense, Defense, Special teams. Mini-Camp, and Camp

Seems simple to me.

The first thing that comes to my mind is what kind of offense the Chiefs will run under Haley. I'm going to go out on a limb a little bit here and suggest that he may well implement some form the spread as his base offense for a number of reasons. First off, he will have players already fairly comfortable with its no-huddle approach, etc. Secondly, in Gailey, if he choosed to keep him on board, he would have somebody who has already demonstrated a certain amount of success and proficiency with the strategy and who might perhaps be better equipped (than Haley) to address the running game. Thirdly, a significant number of QBs coming out of college are more suited to the spread and I expect that to continue to be the case for several years to come.

Additionally, coming from teams such as New England and Pittsburgh, along with his own proven effectiveness in the passing game, I would think that Haley would not only not be unfamiliar with this system but might even be inclined to gravitate towards it.

I totally agree hammer, too many unknowns in the NFL any given year to say we will or cant the next two years. Definitely can do it. The Cowboys are a perfect example of the unknown factors in my opinion.

dbk301,

I think a Super Bowl could be in Kansas City's future within the next two years. The impediment to this team winning has been removed. With good free agent acquisitions, a good draft, good coaching, and a winning philosophy the sky is the limit. Kansas City will be respectable and possibly a contender this coming season.

Trade Tony to a contender. He wants to win a Super Bowl and it won't happen here in the next two years. Give him a chance at a championship.

Cut LJ. Nobody is going to give up anything for him and if you cut him you can actually save money. If you trade him all the money he is owed hits the cap this year. If you cut him after June 1 you can separate it out over the 2009 and 2010 seasons (and since 2010 may be an uncapped year who really cares).

Bring in a plethora of free agents. This team not only lacked quality starters, but any depth as well. A lot of the top guys will be franchised and you will have to overpay for the ones that aren't. I think you bring in a bunch of the tier two and tier three guys and spend the money available on the entire roster and not just two positions. Then in the draft you take the BPA with every pick.

The Chiefs need to invest some money in the future (immediate) through free agency, draft the best possible players at #3 and #34 overall, and address remaining needs in the later rounds of the draft. If the Chiefs do that, Tony Gonzalez will continue to be the man and professional that he is and continue to give the team his best effort. Todd Haley needs to sit down with Larry Johnson and tell him he needs to take the diapers off. Its ironic the Dick Vermiel's "diaper" statement still seems to fit. LJ got his big payday from the Chiefs and he is set whether or not he plays another down in the NFL. Now LJ wants to move on to a more media intensive environment to exploit his celebrity. If Haley will level with Johnson and just say "hey this is the way it is", Johnson can make the choice as to whether the Chiefs trade him or not. If he stays, he needs to commit. If he goes, good riddance.

We need a very good QB and a talented offense to protect him or Haley will be here about as long as Herm. This hope and excitement thing Im feeling is cool. I always thought the fans would always come and Arrowhead would always be the same I didnt think about that much, you dont appreciate what you have until its gone or almost gone anyway.

I think there are only two real options next:

1) Make moves through FA and the draft, tell Tony G. that you do everything possible to get to a super bowl in "2" years. (Yes its possible even though the team is very far away right now, a lot can happen in two years).

2) Trade Tony G to a contender because he deserves it. Continue to build through the draft, sign a FA here and there but stay healthy under the cap.

In either case LJ needs to be traded, IMO.

Now while i would LOVE LOVE to see Tony G win a superbowl in his last game with the chiefs, i think based on the current direction option 2 is more likely. Tony does seem to believe in Thigpen so im guessing he would mainly want upgrades defensively and maybe on the oline.