My Birthday List:
Today was my birthday, and while I loved going out and eating a giant Chipotle burrito to celebrate and then getting a brand new pair of Ray-Bans, I want more (I’m an only child so selfishness comes naturally). So I decided to make a list of things I want from the Chiefs this season. I do realize I can’t get everything I want, but I think I’ve put together a list that reflects what this team needs most.
1. Signs of coaching life. Going back to my post yesterday, Herm just didn’t cut it. He got a great team in place, but couldn’t do anything with it. And I’ll go ahead and jump on the Haley/Pioli bandwagon in saying that I think those two guys are absolutely great choices to turn this team around. Pioli can find the best coaches around, and Haley is for sure one of them. Hopefully they won’t let us down.
2. A second receiving threat. For the last couple years its been pretty simple: If the Chiefs pass it’s gonna go to Gonzalez or Bowe. We lost Gonzalez. We need a replacement. Like most, I don’t think Engram will be a huge hit, so who will step up? Will it be Cottam? Maybe Jeff Webb will surprise us all. If somebody steps up though then we’ve made serious progress.
3. A motivated team. This kind of goes along with my first request, but I honestly think the Chiefs need to get a fire lit beneath them. Fast. These last two years they’ve looked sluggish, lazy, and not willing to give 100%. That has to stop. I place that not fully on the coaches, but on the veterans and captains of the team too. We lost a leader in Gonzalez, and he has to be replaced. If Haley and his selected leaders can get this done, I’d go so far as to say playoffs might be in order.
Now I like lists to come in fives, as you’ll all probably see in the future. But this seems like a great topic to let the Addicts sound off on. I have two more choices, but if anybody brings up a great wish or two, I’ll be more than inclined to include it in my top 5.
What do you think?
Welcome To AA!
I want a pass rush. I want the other guys jerseys to get real dirty. I want to see hurried passes, and scrambling QBs. I want to see our D in their backfield mucking up the joint. I want fire in our defense. Maybe this is partly your wish No. 3, but specifically I want more than just a flash of dominance every so often. I just know that right now its a wish.
Like Bob Hoskins said in “Enemy at the Gates”, ‘I want our boys to stand up and fight. I want them to stop shi**ing in their pants.” I hoped Vrabel could be the guy to help them raise their heads, but it might be Zack Thomas. Keep your eye on him I say.
June 29th, 2009 at 11:15 pmI want to win more games than the Broncos. Period. Happy birthday, David!
June 30th, 2009 at 12:14 amsgt_ducttape,
I think you may get your wish. I think a new scheme on defense and adequate coaching combined with new defensive personnel is going to make a huge difference. Vrabel and Thomas both are going to bring huge intangibles to the table. You can’t beat veteran backers for good play and cunning, if they can still play. That is my only concern. When our defense figures out they can not only play with the big boys, but dominate, they will be a force to be reckoned with.
Also, I think Mike Goff is going to make a big difference in our offensive line. If you add Goff’s presence for young guys like Colin Brown, I think you are going to see a major upsurge in the learning curve.
Welcome David! Glad to see a non Herm person like myself ready to jump right in there!
June 30th, 2009 at 7:29 amI would love a winning season record and LJ to earn his pay.
June 30th, 2009 at 8:35 amPS welcome to AA and thanks for the posts.
June 30th, 2009 at 8:36 amI would like to an O line that protects and stays healthy for Cassel and Johnson, and Anquan Boldin as our #1 reciever…I just get a little worried at Bowe being the #1 reciever. Everything else is pretty much in place…at least I think.
Coaches…? Defense…? Check! Now we need this Offense tweaked and we are good to go!
June 30th, 2009 at 8:52 amWe absolutely, positively need another receiving threat!
Second, and almost more importantly, we need a good KR/PR!!! Special Teams have sucked for far too long.
June 30th, 2009 at 10:05 amI would like to see Cassel be as effective as we all hope he is. That way I don’t look like an ass for wearing my new Cassel jersey that I’ve already ordered. I would also like to see Thigpen utilized in the offense, dude has some talent. And last but not least, I want to see the Chiefs beat the Ravens and the Redskins , because I will be at both of those games since I live close by!!
June 30th, 2009 at 5:00 pmI hate to sound repetitive but….RECIEVER.
Second (and this may help the receiver situation) I want Hayley realize the beast he has in LJ. Get LJ pissed off and hand him the ball. Its like nurturing a rookie QB, if you can run the ball enough to keep the pressure off of cassel, he will become more comfortable in the pocket. Long story short – I want LJ to have (another) break out season like he did a couple years ago. He is going to be a sleeper in my fantasy league.
June 30th, 2009 at 5:31 pmBoy, I am going to have to update my list I guess.
Ducttape / Hammer : A pass rush would be nice. Really nice. Any sort of pseudo-intimidating defense would make me immensely happy. And both Vrabel and Thomas are two outstanding veterans that should be able to train this young squad of ours.
Fan in CT : Thanks a lot! Glad to see we’re on the same page too; if we can be motivated this season we might just play into late January.
Mortis : I do think we have our coaches in check, but as far as our defense…I just don’t know. Remember that we lost Gunther, so the defense is going to play different AND run a different scheme. While the talent is in place, they’re still young, and young guys need more time to learn so many things in just one offseason. But you couldn’t be any more right about the O-line. If we can get it to what it was like 3-4 years ago, we’ll be stellar.
Jeremy : Straight up we do. I can’t wait to see the new Dante Hall! (in his prime of course)
vbchief : Yeah, quarterback development is key to this new team. We got lucky in that Haley specializes in that among other things, so I bet we’re sitting pretty as far as that goes. Have fun at those games too! I’m jealous of your jersey AND of those tix.
parrothead : You’re not repetitive, you’re just helping to emphasize the fact that it’s a HUGE weakness of our right now. And if LJ can come out strong, a dominant receiver would just make our offense that much more fun to watch.
July 1st, 2009 at 4:41 pm