I know homers like me ALWAYS see the silver lining LONG before seeing the black cloud, especially in the offseason, when every training camp catch is OBVIOUSLY the first step on the path to a HOF career and every fumble is just one stupid fumble, for Pete’s sake!

I don’t quite see it as disingenuous. Maybe “self-delusional.” Heh.

Anyhoo, I wasn’t one talking LAST year about how great the LBs would be in ’08. So don’t lump me into that group. My points are based on the players I see and what I hear about how they intend to use ‘em.

And I DO think Dorsey was drafted largely in hope that he could bring a little Warren Sapp to the Tampa-2 for the Chiefs, so they could send 4 pass rushers all day, and keep 7 guys back in coverage all day.

I like what I see Pioli doing with personnel. I don’t see the Chiefs breaking the bank for the sake of man-love for a particular player. What I’m seeing is solid team-building and good no-nonsense coaching.

The proof will be in the pudding. I hope and expect you’ll still be here in November admitting you were off-base a few times, or, like everyone you accuse, will you conveniently forget your sour-puss attitude?

DD: The reason I make my prediction about the LBs is because I see the scheme using the d-line to occupy blockers and hold the middle, instead of being expected to finish plays in space. The d-line’s job is to set up the LBs (and Ss) so THEY can finish plays in space, instead of being expected to plug all the holes left behind by an overpursuing d-line AND play pass defense like oversized safeties.

For the first time in a long time, the Chiefs are letting their d-linemen be linemen and letting their LBs be LBs. To MY mind, the biggest question is whether the secondary is going to be as successful in the new scheme, which I don’t think will give them as much LB help in coverage.

You might be right about LB depth. Personally, I think the system will be such that they can rotate players more easily without trashing the whole scheme. I think the way the players’ roles are being defined will be much less confusing, and whomever the 8 or 9 guys we end up going with will, in contrast to the last couple years, actually understand their jobs and be able to contribute.

Your “delusional” remark is argumentative and unworthy. We can disagree without empty name-calling. OK. _I_ can disagree without name-calling.

Talk about deja vu.

I remember hearing almost the exact same prediction being popularly expressed prior to the start of ’08 season. What’s different this go round? Transition to the 3-4 and a couple of new faces. Just like last year, we’re expecting leadership and playmaking out of players whose best years are behind them (Vrabel, Thomas) who we desparately hope can stay healthy. Just like last year, we’re expecting younger players (Hali, McBride) to step in, step up and progress to the next level. Just like last year, we’re thinking DJ will finally emerge into the force we all thought he would be. Just like last year, we lack depth at LB.

It’s going to take the right coach, the right personnel and frankly more time to get our backers right. Anybody who believes otherwise is delusional.

As for herm’s draftees, they did not fit herms plans so there is no reason to believe they will be any good for Pioli/Haley. That is really to easy to say, most fail in the NFL anyway. One fault of Haley is to convert to a 3-4 without enough players who can fit. It will cost many games. It also mean most of most of the current players will be gone within a year, terrible waste. But again we get to live thru this as it seems Hunt gave the keys to Pioli/Haley.

Is it me or would it be better if we had a owner who actually paid attention to what was going on. The Hunt family have always stood back and let the GN/HC be the spear catchers for the organization. Perhaps that is why since winning one superbowl and a couple of one year runs at the playoffs, this team is a bottomfeeder in the NFL.