Meet the Gang, Part 3- Dave Culley

Boy, does Andy Reid love reunions or what? Yet again, the Chiefs make another hire that brings a former Eagles coach to Kansas City. I'm not complaining, though. Not yet. It's not as if trying to emulate a different franchise has ever bit this team in the ass before. Oh wait.

Yeah, sorry. I know it's all about hope and good vibes and cuddles right now, but do you remember all that talk about the Patriots of the Midwest? It all sounded great until Matt Cassel and Company proved it to be completely ignorant. Are you ready to aim towards being the Kansas City Eagles? So far, Andy Reid is following the same philosophy for hiring coaches that Scott Pioli used to screw this franchise up in the first place. Maybe I'm just paranoid. I hope I am. There's nothing to signify that these hires won't form the foundation of a perennial playoff contender. Until there's actual proof, though, I'll continue to chomp my fingernails into to a fine, bitter powder. Alas, there is hope to be found in every new member of this revamped Chiefs coaching staff, so let's get right into it. Without (too much) further paranoia, let's get to know Kansas City's new wide receivers coach- Dave Culley.

Culley brings over 30 years of coaching experience to this painfully unproductive offense. Dave began his career in 1978 as a running backs coach for Austin Peay. He then coached quarterbacks and wide receivers for numerous colleges until '94, when he joined the Buccaneers as their wide receivers coach. Culley spent two seasons in Tampa, then took a job at the same position in Pittsburgh. Under his supervision in '97, Yancey Thigpen gained the most single-season receiving yards in Steelers history.

Then, in 1999 Culley teamed up with Andy Reid in Philadelphia. Together, they ran one of the best offenses in recent history. With receivers like Terrell Owens, Desean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, the Eagles passing offense ranked in the top ten league-wide from 2004-2011. So, the statistics show that whenever Reid and Culley have talent to work with, they produce an elite passing offense. The Chiefs has several talented skill players for the coaches to utilize, but will it be enough? With Dwayne Bowe's future largely undecided, and nothing but question marks at the quarterback position, it is too early to say if Culley can make a noteworthy impact. It's not insane to envision an elite passing attack taking the field at Arrowhead next year. It's not skeptical to think about how all this could go wrong, either. As with many things regarding Chiefs football nowadays, fans are left in anticipation to see which decisions make the team stronger, and which decisions will threaten its promising future.

Meet the Gang, Part 2 (of Many)

They've cleaned house in Kansas City, and the rehiring process happens fast. When a team cans all but two major members of the coaching staff, there's a lot of work to be done in a small frame of time. Thanks to the aggressive attitude Clark Hunt brought to this off-season, that time-frame is being used wisely. Already now, we have too many new names and faces to familiarize ourselves with in one comfortable sitting. I'll be back here daily to introduce the fans to a small portion of this busload of new assistants at at a time. Today, we'll start with two coaches hoping to improve this woeful Chiefs offense.

Doug Pederson- While the hiring of Dave Toub was an understated improvement, the impact of this signing may be underwhelming. Andy Reid already announced that he will call the plays in 2013. In truth, Andy will act as the full time OC for this team, and that's a very good thing. Dorsey will be determining the personnel side of the team, so Pederson will have little effect on who suits up on offense. To me, it seems that Pederson was hired on to fill some sort of supportive role with Reid, where-in he would be a teacher, a calm veteran voice, and a mentor to the next franchise QB hopeful. The experience that comes from playing behind guys like McNabb, Marino and Favre should be much-appreciated.

Eric Bieniemy- Here, we have yet another hiring that reunites Andy Reid with a former employee. Bieniemy played 9 seasons with four NFL clubs, including Andy's '99 Eagles team, as a slash back, kick returner and punt returner. He began his coaching career by returning to his Alma-mater for two years as the Colorado running backs coach. Eric was hired in 2003 to the same position in UCLA, and after three years in Los Angeles, he was offered the same job in the NFL by the Vikings organization. Under Eric's coaching, Adrian Peterson exploded onto the scene and quickly became the most powerful rushing force in football. After briefly returning to Colorado to coach the Buffaloes' offense, Eric now returns to the NFL to mentor another elite running back. The Chiefs roster also includes Shaun Draughn, Nate Eachus and Cyrus Gray- three young rushers with 2 combined starts and 71 combined carries.

Although Bieniemy can claim all the impressive achievements of Adrian Peterson as proof of his own coaching success, he still arrives in KC as an unproven coach with a short resume. Just like nobody can stop AD from being a beast, fans in Chiefs Kingdom know that Jamaal is going to be Jamaal. No running backs coach in the league is going to influence what he does on the field- nor should they. So, this means the attention turns to the aforementioned youngsters and the impact Eric can have on their productivity. That's where the unproven part comes in. The year before the Vikings drafted Peterson, Chester Taylor averaged 4 yards per rush with 303 carries. Then, AD took the starting job and became the engine of the offense for the rest of Eric's tenure in Minnesota. After Peterson's arrival, no other running back recorded more than 157 carries for the Vikings in a season.

There's nothing in the stats that definitively says Eric is a bad choice. But, there's nothing to say that he'll make a big impact, either. Andy Reid seems confident in Eric's abilities, but the rest of us simply have to wait and see. Fans will be waiting with excitement and hope as they put all their faith in Andy Reid. I have a feeling it won't be the last time I say that, either. Each one of these hires is a major test of Reid's ability to scout for talent at the coaching level. Building a franchise from the ground up like this is something I've never seen before. Both as a fan and an analyst, I'm excited to witness what happens next in this high-profile experiment. You should be too, so come back tomorrow for further test-study analysis.

Meet The Gang, Part 1: David Toub

 Clarke Hunt knows this league well. He knows the fast-paced and ruthless nature of the NFL, and he's reacting to it with impressive panache and decisiveness. With Reid and Dorsey's input, the Chiefs have hired new coordinators for the offense, defense and special teams, as well as two new offensive line coaches. Talk about clearing house, wow. These are a lot of changes to analyze. Let's get started today with a hire that may go under the radar, but may also be the upgrade that takes KC to the playoffs.

On the 15th, the Chiefs took another step in the rebuilding process by hiring Dave Toub as their new special teams coordinator. Toub had an impressive run with the same job in Chicago, where his group led the league in kick return TDs and total return yardage. This move reunites Dave with Andy Reid, who spent two years with Toub in Missouri and three more with him in Philadelphia.

Toub began his coaching career as a graduate assisant at the University of Texas El-Paso and immediately earned a job there as the strength and conditioning coach. Dave then spent nine years at a similar position with the University of Missouri, where he and Andy Reid first met. Reid then hired Dave on to his staff in Philly in 2001, reuniting Toub not only with Andy, but also with the team that selected him in the 9th round of the '85 draft as an offensive lineman. In 2004, Lovie Smith hired Toub to take control of the special teams in Chicago. Dave's contract was meant to retain him through the 2013 season, but Bears GM Phil Emery allowed him to interview with other teams. Sources from the Chicago Tribune explain that Toub didn't wish to work under a new coach while competing with him for the head coaching position.

At a glance, the statistics might make this look like a lateral move. After all, the Chiefs ranked in the top ten for kickoff and punt returns for the past five years, and two of those years they ranked higher than Toub's Bears. But, if you look closer, it becomes clear that this hire marks a significant improvement. During Toub's 9 year tenure in Chicago, the Bears totaled 19 return TDs, averaging 2.1 per season. During the same time, the Chiefs averaged only 0.67 returns per year, managing to score only 6 return touchdowns under 4 different special teams coaches. The Bears ran back 11 TDs in two years, from '06 to '07. The Chiefs haven't returned a punt or a kickoff for a score since September 13, 2010.

Maybe Toub can turn McCluster or Wylie or somebody into the next Devin Hester, maybe he can't. Either way, he brings consistency to a job where the talent is already established. All the tools are there, with all these young, athletic special teams guys, to bring back the X-Factor this team hasn't had since the times of Dante Hall. That's something for which we can all be truly excited.

Dorsey and The Domino Effect

 So, another piece of the puzzle falls into place. This Monday, John Dorsey signed on to fill the confusing co-general manager position here in KC. The signing ends a long stint with the Packers, where Dorsey spent 12 years as Director of College Scouting, then earned a position as Director of Football Operations just last year. Dorsey will report only to Hunt, but for the first time in franchise history, the head coach will also report directly to the team owner. Clark explained to the press that Dorsey will have control of personnel decisions, while Andy has full control over the team on the field.

This move reunites Dorsey and Reid after they worked together in Green Bay from '92 to '97. The Packers averaged nearly 11 wins per season over that time, and never ranked lower than 6^th league-wide in total points scored. Their final three seasons together include a Super Bowl win, a Super Bowl loss, 7 playoff wins and 37 regular season wins. Those years brought some legendary moments, with Elway and Favre simultaneously playing their best football. But, as much as I love thinking back to those times, the nostalgia brings with it more proof of a very important point.

Andy Reid has a strong resume and loads of success in the NFL. That much is clear. But, his presumed expertise is the ability to engineer a pass-happy, top-shelf offense. He is generally well-respected in the league, and his reputation is strong enough to improve the resume of others around him. The NFL had enough faith in Andy to offer head coaching jobs to five coaches he hired previously. But forget about all that respect and reputation nonsense, and look at the numbers. Andy Reid is a successful coach, but he has never succeeded without an elite quarterback. In the four seasons of coaching without McNabb or Favre starting at QB, teams led by Reid average 6.75 wins in the regular season. In those four years, Andy Reid has exactly zero playoff victories.

So what does that mean? Are we screwed? Are we really back to a situation where indecision at the quarterback spot is this team's biggest flaw? Oh god, what if we sign Michael Vick? The realization of Reid's limitations brings up plenty of unnerving questions. Sadly, many of them will go unanswered until this year's draft, unless a bold move is made in the free agency market before then. But either way, I'm either gullible or wise enough to believe it will work. Even though looking at the options we have for improving at QB makes me weep softly, I think this duo will make the team a winner. There are just too many pieces, too many uber-talented skill players on the offense for Dorsey and Reid not to make something good out of it. John Dorsey earned this job by providing vital insight for the draft. His impressive list of draft choices include Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews, BJ Raji, Jermichael Finley, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and AJ Hawk. Reid has utilized players similar to Jamaal and Bowe and Moeaki well enough to make them all Pro Bowlers. It sounds crazy, but if you take the misused offensive weapons from last year and supplement them with the first pick in every round of the draft, this team is already a winner on paper.

Obviously, all this hinges on Dorsey and Reid's communal choice of a franchise QB. Considering how quickly Mr. Hunt made his moves for coach and GM, one would assume he'll be prompt in bringing a new QB to Kansas City. The options are plentiful, but nobody stands out as a special franchise quarterback. There will be a lot of rumors and a lot of time to analyze the possibilities, especially if the team waits until this April to draft their next QB. For now, I see one option as being markedly more interesting than any other:

First, wait until the 49ers season is over, and figure out what they're doing with Alex Smith. Then, if and however we can, offer him a contract. After Smith is signed on, spend your second draft pick on Matt Barkley, who many project to fall as far as the third round. Now, you have two competent, highly motivated guys to compete for the starting job. Imagine it: in one corner is Smith, who went to the Pro Bowl this year and was then benched for an unproven young QB. At the season's end, he gets (hypothetically) cut or traded or whatever, then he ends up in Kansas City fighting against another young unproven QB to take back his starer position and avoid holding the clipboard yet again. Then, in the other corner, there's Matt Barkley. Will he finally be the USC quarterback that lives up to expectations? Will he live the rest of his life regretting coming back to college for his senior year? With all those questions weighing on him, Barkley has all the reasons in the world to succeed.

With this option, we have a Pro Bowl QB fighting for his pride against an elite college prospect with everything to prove. Sounds better than Tebow to me. At this point, I'd be happy knowing that only one of those guys will be given a chance at the starting spot next season. Are we really so down on Barkley that we'd rather see Cassel or Quinn? Again? Seriously? There's no way that can happen. So, as we keep this pie-in-the-sky idea in mind, we can only kick back and wait for the rumors to spread. We'll hear a lot of names in the next few weeks, from Matt Flynn to Geno Smith to Jason Campbell to Mike Glennon. But, amidst the plethora of options, Smith and Barkley's battle for respect still stands out as the most intriguing possibility.  

A Chance To Believe

 Hallelujah, Chiefs fans. A new era is beginning. The rebuilding process starts now, and this time, it comes with little objection from a hungry, excitable fan-base. A regime that brought only misery and broken dreams ends here, and an experienced, successful leader takes control. Like many have already said, all the credit here goes to the team's owner, who was wise enough to promptly sign the most successful coach available. In doing so, Mr. Hunt showed a commitment to keep this team relevant, and for that, he deserves every fan's gratitude.

With these inspiring changes taking place, a fan can already look back on this train-wreck of a season with less bitterness and more appreciation for historical value. Instead of holding on to a clearly outmatched coach, Mr. Hunt fired not only an unproductive employee, but a man this entire city has grown to respect on a moral level. That could not have been easy, but it was clearly necessary. Instead of playing things out in Pioli's final contract year, Clark embraced change and agreed to pay two GMs. That decision gives the franchise hope, and guarantees fans that their voices are heard. Instead of deliberating on coaches or playing things slow, Mr. Hunt decisively pinned down the best guy available and made him an offer before he could leave town. Regardless of what happens next, it should be clearly stated that Clark has made bold decisions to make this team a winner. After all, this wasn't the first time he's made an impressive, news-worthy move to keep the team relevant. Who wouldn't have been excited to hire that guy who built a dynasty in New England?

That being said, there are already reasons to limit your expectations and curb your enthusiasm. Things can always go wrong. Even if everything sucks, it can always get worse. This team sucks, and if it doesn't give Jamaal the ball often, it sucks a whole lot more. Fans and coworkers back in Philly complain about Reid's time management skills and late-game coaching decisions, as well as a frustrating rigidity in his ways. If he sticks to his old methods with the running game, and Jamaal gets his hands on the ball less often, Chiefs fans will be quick to berate him for that same stubbornness. And as always, there's more to it than just X's and O's here. Many in the league wonder if a year off wasn't the best choice for a man who just lost his son to a heroine overdose this August. All I can say is, the man knows what he wants more than anyone else, especially anyone in sports media. If devoting himself to Chiefs football is how he wishes to cope and move on, I'll be all-the-more eager to root for him and his team.

Even with the looming questions about the running game and the quarterback situation, Andy Reid already brings excitement and an heir of professionalism to the league's worst team. In his 14 years as the Eagles' head coach, Reid won his division 7 times and a playoff berth 9 times. In 2004, he led Philly to an NFC championship, losing only to the Patriots by one field goal in The Big Game. He still stands as one of only three coaches in the NFL with the title or executive power of general manager. The other two, Bill Belichick and Mike Shanahan, have five Super Bowl wins between them. Reid boasts a 130-93 regular season record in his tenure with Philadelphia- the most wins in team history. Within the same time-frame, the Chiefs have 98 regular season wins. Andy has 8 seasons with 10 or more wins in 14 years. Since the franchise's inception in 1963, the Chiefs have only done this 14 times.

So, yes, there are reasons to be cautious, but there are plenty more reasons to be excited- to be, dare I say it, hopeful. Following the worst season in team history, the Chiefs immediately fixed their two biggest problems and hired a consistent winner with playoff experience and an obvious will to push through any adversity with success. What's not to love? So remember, as we enjoy the playoffs this weekend, we get the wonderful opportunity to realistically fantasize about the Chiefs earning a Wild Card spot in 2013. We get the opportunity to hope, and we all have Clark Hunt to thank for it.

And The (Off)Season Starts With a Bang

Andy Reid met with the Chiefs today, after an immediate termination by Philly at the season's end. According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, “the Chiefs were trying to close a deal.” Reid did not travel to Arizona later to meet with Cardinals personnel as scheduled. Mortensen continued to explain that he was “ going to be surprised if Andy Reid was not the Chiefs coach.” This sounds like inspiring news, but Chiefs fans have now learned to respond to any kind of change with cynical analysis. So, let's analyze. Here's a very unscientific list of Pro's and Con's, ordered only by which came to mind first.

PROS-

1. He's a winner- maybe not a Super Bowl winner, but a consistently successful coach with 10 postseason victories and a four-year streak of winning his division with the Eagles.
2. He's willing to embrace the league as it stands right now. The NFL is a passing league now, and the teams winning playoff games understand this. So does Andy Reid.
3. Mortensen also explained that Reid should be more willing to sign with KC than with Arizona because Clark Hunt would allow him to build the team from the ground up and take more control. Any decision to take power of out Scott Pioli's hands makes me happy.

CONS-

1. For the same reasons Reid appreciates this pass-happy era in football, he may fail to appreciate this team's most talented member. Jamaal Charles' skills  absolutely cannot be wasted. With a strong-armed, competent quarterback, Andy Reid loves to pass the ball all day. Hopefully, he knows better than to ignore the most effective tool in the new toolbox.
2. Andy Reid hitched his wagon to Michael Vick, for better or worse. If Vick is looking for a job in the coming weeks, will Andy feel obliged to make a case for him to Clark Hunt? Are Chiefs fans ready to truly accept Michael Vick, both as a franchise quarterback and as a man? Are you tired of me asking questions yet? Are you sure?

The Chiefs have picked a terrible time to be so terrible. They have the number one overall draft pick locked up, they desperately need a quarterback, and this is the worst QB draft class in years. They spent money and time and sweat on a powerhouse running game, while the rest of the league accepted rushing in its new, limited role, and embraced the now all-important pass-attack. Now, Kansas City has to quickly choose a new head coach from a list full of special teams and college coaches. The organization is dancing on the razor's edge here- if they make the wrong choice, the franchise sinks further into the abyss, but if they hesitate, they're only wasting time and frustrating fans, while competent men sign contracts elsewhere. Working out a deal with a nearly-annual playoff contender is SO far from the worst thing that could happen.

If Mr. Hunt makes the right decision and hires Andy Reid while he has the chance, I'll be right back here to excitedly see what comes next.

If he doesn't, we'll go back to the drawing board together.

UPDATE: According to ESPN, the deal is all but done. "The major decisions have been discussed and agreed upon," apparently. Stephen A Smith's already telling the world how stupid it is. Let the discussion begin.