Nitpicking the Kansas City Chiefs and the handling of positional coaches

The offseason abounds in unnecessary questions and stale NFL talking points. Why not add one more for good measure?

At this very moment, you’re reading this headline and wondering how I’d dare to question a coaching staff that has won two of the last four Super Bowls. I’m sure you think it’s just a slow “news day.” We are in a bit of a dead spot with three-plus weeks to go before the 2023 NFL Draft. I assure you, that’s not the reason I’m writing this article. Although, I do concede that I’m picking nits to even broach the subject.

It’s an earnest inquiry though. I’m genuinely curious if the Kansas City Chiefs could benefit from a more straightforward approach to the appointment of position coaches on this staff. Remember last week, when I suggested the Chiefs continue to feed defensive line coach Joe Cullen? I’m persuaded that doing so will maximize their return on investment with young defensive line prospects. Outcomes for rookie receivers in Andy Reid offenses may be yet another clue. The evidence is clear. In Year One, rookies rarely make a major, immediate contribution in Kansas City.

The explanation for that has always been singular — Reid tasks incoming receivers with learning each unique receiver role AND with learning a relatively dense playbook. Is it possible that the steep learning curve can be shortened by a more knowledgeable, veteran receivers coach? Think about it. This season, Connor Embree takes over as the team’s receivers coach. This is while former NFL receiver Todd Pinkston coaches running backs. Allow me to put that into perspective for you. Connor Embree is a former running back at the college level who only coached WRs at the high school level. Pinkston, on the other hand, played the position in the National Football League and has coached it at all three levels. Wouldn’t it make sense for him to assume that role?

Hang on for a second. I’m sure you’re annoyed again at the mere thought that I could question the decisions of a first-ballot Hall of Fame head coach in Andy Reid. I get it. He’s forgotten more than I’ll ever know about professional football. There’s nothing I can tell him about managing his staff. Maybe I am just bored, but I think it’s a legitimate question. When you think of the best position coaches on this football team, who comes to mind? Chances are, it’s Joe Cullen, Andy Heck, and Dave Merritt. What if I told you that with Merritt as the lone exception, those other coaches played the position at the NFL level? Let me take that a step further. Merritt played linebacker in the NFL, but he’s coached secondary for close to 20 years. Do you think that’s a coincidence?

Last season, Greg Lewis (former NFL wide receiver) was charged with coaching running backs in Kansas City. If I’m honest, I understand that. I believe Andy Reid was actively grooming him to become the next offensive coordinator in Kansas City before Matt Nagy returned and mucked up the pipeline. There may be some truth there, as Lewis defected and moved on to the Baltimore Ravens. So perhaps that’s the answer here? Maybe Reid has coaches ostensibly out of position to help diversify their experiences. We know how much Reid has been invested in cultivating his coaches for bigger and better opportunities over the years. He has one of the most impressive coaching trees in the history of the NFL.

Again, there’s evidence such is the case for Reid and company. Joe Bleymaier was formerly Kansas City’s receivers coach and now he’s the passing game coordinator. Having a host of different roles sure would look good on a resume if you’re looking to climb the ranks in the NFL. Maybe that’s the wisdom that escapes my layman’s perspective? It might be bigger than football. However, I just wonder: could the Chiefs get more from certain positions with better coaching? I can’t answer that question from my limited vantage point, but it’s early April and we’ve got a few weeks left before the draft talk picks up. I figured now was a good time to ask.