In poll after poll, Chiefs fans have blamed Haley and the coaches for the last two weeks’ disastrous games. In addition to his hobo beard failing us, the Chiefs have come out flat on both sides of the ball, unable to stop defenses and too inept to get things going on offense – or at least nullifying their good work with penalties when lightning did strike.

However, if there is someone to blame, I don’t think it is Haley. Although he has undoubtedly made mistakes – the nursing-home-paced training camp, and a series of questionable play calls – I do still think he has mostly gotten the best out of what he has to work with.

Cassel has also gotten a lot of flak for his performance, and again, much of it is deserved. As it stands now, Cassel’s season stats are – and may end up permanently being – 10 TD, 9 INT, CMP% 59.5, RAT 76.6. He has had his moments, but essentially has shown that he can’t put the team on his shoulders when the run game is ineffective. I have long made my opinion known that he is a pretty much the definition of a mediocre quarterback. He can manage the game well with play-action passes and has the arm to hit a few strikes a game as long as the defense is biting on the run. But, if it’s all left to him, he will sputter. Still, he’s not the person to blame for our perpetual woes this season.

I’ll tell you who the culprit is after the jump: (more…)

Suffice to say that I am the new guy, and I have been brought onto the team just in time to toss out some pre-draft opinions for all of you to laud, decry, praise or generally throw poo at.

First of all, I think there has been some great draft discussion going on here, particularly surrounding the irate Green Giant, Phil Taylor. But to follow my fellow columnists‘formula, this is how I see it in a nutshell:

The Chiefs …

Will Pick: NT Phil Taylor

Should Pick: Gabe Carimi

Por que? Para que I have a strong suspicion that all of the best pass rushers and O-linemen are going to go FAST. Even if guys like Robert Quinn and Aldon Smith make it out of the top 10, the league’s two worst defenses (Washington and Houston) pick at 10 and 11. Then you have the Jags, Chargers and Bucs — all of which need DE’s — so there goes Kerrigan, J.J. Watt, and Cameron Jordan (who likely wouldn’t make it past New England at 17 anyway). Bowers doesn’t fit KC and has a broken knee. The Cowboys, Lions, Rams, Dolphins and Giants all want O-linemen, and Gabe Carimi is ranked as perhaps the most NFL-ready trench guy in the draft. I love him, but a pure right tackle isn’t worth trading up for, and Mike Pouncey is also likely to be gone. I could be wrong, and I hope I am, but it’s not looking too good. In fact, that’s exactly how things went down in the ESPN Football Today Superfan Super Mock Draft, in which I represent the Chiefs as the KC Superfan/Mock GM.

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Last week I previewed the Center position for the 2011 NFL Draft.  This week we move outside to the bookend positions of the offensive line, the offensive tackles.  Usually there is at least one OT who is a for sure top 10 pick.  This draft is unique in that it does not.  Current projection has the first OT going after the top ten.  Also, considering the quality that exists on the defensive side of the ball in this draft, it is possible that the OTs could slide.  Even if they don’t slide and they go where they are projected, the sweet spot seems to be in the bottom half of the draft to pick them.

What this means is that for the Kansas City Chiefs (who pick at 21) is that they may have an opportunity to take the best OT in this draft.  One might question why they might pick an OT with so many seemingly more important holes to fill.  I would argue that the Chiefs’ OTs aren’t good enough that an upgrade would be out of the question.  Especially at right tackle where both 2009 and 2010 starting RTs for the Chiefs will be free agents this offseason.  Left tackle Branden Albert hasn’t played well enough either to say that bringing in competition for his position would hurt.  It is true, though, that this is not quite a primary need for the Chiefs.  However, there could be good value at this position for the Chiefs at 21.

So what are some names of offensive tackles for Chiefs fans to know going into the draft?  Here are three.
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