“Nobody ever could have, or would have, predicted that one play could cost multiple teams playoff spots and Super-Bowl winning coaches their jobs and change the course of NFL history.   But it did…”  

Sliding doors….

IMHO, this is a home run from both Clark Hunt and Denny Thum.  Certainly Pioli is the man with the greatest pedigree.   He is a four time NFL Executive of the Year.  He has three rings.  His assistant, former Chiefs,Thomas Dimtroff was responsible for getting Atlanta back on track this year.   And perhaps most important, is his ability to discern talent.   Remember, Tom Brady was a 6^th round pick.  And Matt Cassel was a 7^th rounder who was a backup in college behind two Heisman Trophy winners.    But the single greatest benefit is just what Chiefs fans need most – HOPE!

Do I think Mr. Pioli success is given?  Of course not, but I believe in Denny Thum’s ability to have and build synergy with the former Patriot.  As with any manager, you live and die by those you pick to trust.  And the Patriots synergy through this decade has certainly payed a fantasic dividend.

Here is what Robert Kraft (Patriots owner) has to say about Mr. Pioli:

“Scott Pioli was an integral part of the many championships the New England Patriots have celebrated this decade and I would like to thank him for his countless contributions throughout the past nine seasons.  Scott is a great evaluator of talent.  He is thorough in his evaluations, extremely organized and has done a tremendous job mining all possible resources to help Coach Belichick and his staff field the players needed to win consistently.  He has played an important role in building a championship tradition with players that I am proud to call Patriots.  On behalf of the entire Patriots organization, I wish Scott continued success in his new role and offer best wishes to his wonderful wife Dallas, and their beautiful daughter Mia.  I think Clark Hunt and the Kansas City Chiefs have made a very wise hire.”

Here’s to 2009!!

And dropped passes…what kind of SHOW is that?

Enter the silver lining….Tyler Thigpen’s success in this league may just be tied to his health.  If he is fortunate enough to stay healthy, I believe Tyler will become a playmaking quarterback that we haven’t seen here in KC in some time.  There are two plays in particular I would like to point out: 

The first was a design option play.  Tyler makes a quick post-snap read on the middle line-backer and defensive line.  When I say quick…I mean quick.  Within the span of 9 frames of video (which is approximately 1/3 of a second), Thigpen assesses whether or not the middle linebacker breaks on the Y receiver’s route…AND…if the defensive line is stunting or not.  During the Saints game, the Chiefs ran this play twice.  Thigpen read it perfectly for a short completion and for a huge QB keeper.  The first part that amazes me is how quick this read must be made.  And even if you want to believe he guessed right both times – he still beat the corner to the outside on the keeper.  THAT IS PLAYMAKING!

On another play, Thigpen scrambles right.  He is setting, pumping, and doing everything he can to cause the defense to balk.  Seeing no safety in the middle of the field, and Will Franklin breaking, Tyler throws across his body for a 40 plus yard gain.  Now every coach out there will tell you, Quarterbacks cannot throw back across their body while running the other direction.  Quarterbacks, maybe not…PLAYMAKERS…OH YEAH!

I truly believe an average quarterback, with only 6 games experience would have thrown this ball away.  Thigpen waits to the last second and then makes a perfectly safe throw to an area where only a Chief could catch it.

Here’s hoping he finds his first win against the Bills this weekend.

Monday night I’m fortunate enough to spend some one-on-one time with Herm Edwards. Throughout the last nine weeks, it has been almost a constant evolution of “what could go wrong!” Undaunted, Herm keeps slowly sewing seams in the fabric of problems that plague his team week in and out – as well as patching the latest rips caused from the previous games.

But the last three weeks have each reinforced this feeling inside me that something special is going to happen. And I’ve come to trust some of this intuition.

In 2003, the Chiefs were 9-0. Everyone was clawing their way on to the bandwagon. It was as if we were on an unprecedented path to greatness. Yet the entire time, I felt we were undeserving of this record. Not that we weren’t a good team, but we got lucky a few times. And that made us look GREAT…instead of the reality of just good. And as the law of averages often do, they applied themselves to the remaining 7 games and post-season play. Don’t think about it, it will just depress you again.

In our ultimate desire to win a Super Bowl, our 13-3 record did nothing but send us to the bottom of the draft and hand us a difficult 2004 schedule. And don’t say…”Yes, but it was entertaining!” Because, if you have been watching the last three weeks and haven’t been entertained, go immediately to an urgent care facility!

In much the same way the 2003 Chiefs weren’t 9-0 perfect, the 2008 Chiefs are not 1-8 losers. And I believe that just as the 2003 record bore little resemblance to the 2004 Chiefs, our current 1-8 record doesn’t provide any indication of the Chiefs of 2009. Trust your gut!

THE OFFENSIVE LINE
Another decent week for the offensive line. There are still problems, but the solid play of Tyler and the revolving running backs seem to be getting it done. It will be interesting to throw Larry Johnson back into the mix this week. Larry may have to find a way to fit into the place the offense has gone to.

TYLER THIGPEN
I think it’s early to call Tyler a franchise player. But he has no doubt earned the phrase “it’s his to lose.” Three solid outings without one interception. I also think he has earned a “get out of jail free” card for a game that goes south on him.

THE DEFENSE
Interestingly enough, much of the rag-tag make-shift defense did pretty good with gap protection – stopping a very good player in LT. In particular, I thought John McGraw and Rocky Boiman stepped up. I’ll also state for the record, I believe Bernard Pollard had his finest game of the season thus far. Also for the record – Bernard Pollard needed to have his finest game of the season thus far!!

Perhaps everything you need to know about life, you can learn from Bill Murray movies. In particular, “What About Bob?!” Bob Wiley had three simple mechanisms for combating life’s fears and difficulties:

• “If I fake it, I don’t have it!”
• “Baby Stepping”
• “Death Therapy”

Last Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs continued to baby step their way!

The Chiefs had five areas plaguing them game in and game out throughout September and October. These were:

1) Poor defending 3rd downs
2) Can’t stop the run
3) Play of the Offensive line
4) Quarterback position
5) Special Teams coverage

That last two weeks, they have performed much better on third downs. The last two weeks, Tyler Thigpen has done more than expected and enough to say he deserves the starting quarterback role.

This week against Tampa Bay, the offesensive line had their best game of this season. And FINALLY, the chiefs play a game in which the oppponets longest run is only 10 yards.

That just leaves special teams coverage. “Paging Coach Priefer. Coach Mike Priefer, please report to fan accommodations.”

TYLER THIGPEN
Against the Jets, the play of OUR number 4, was a welcome surprise. But this surprise came with a certain amount of skepticism.  Mainly, could he do it again? This time, against a better team with film study that New York didn’t have (save Atlanta). The answer was yes.

Thigpen seems to be a very complete player. He’s physical, mechanically sound, fundamentally strong, and mentally prepared. Several weeks ago Tyler and Len Dawson began discussing Tyler’s play in the locker room and on the team charter. While Lenny certainly has a lot to teach, Tyler reaching out to Len indicates his desire to learn and improve.

Thigpen’s play against the Bucs was prepared and poised. Proof he is studying and learning. He is doing his homework. If there is one lesson I’ve learned from 20 years with Lenny…it is players can get beat physically; players can get beat mentally; but it is tough to beat a player both ways.

Tyler’s growth is a process and I’m sure he’ll have a moment of … we’ll… ugly (or two) before the season ends. After all, even Dawson still holds the record for most fumbles in a game (7 against San Deigo-1964: spooky huh?).

BERNARD POLLARD
I really want to like 49. I do. I do. No, I really do. But here is the problem. I’m genetically pre-disposed to be intolerant when no progress is evident. Here is an example from last week’s game against the BUCs. In overtime, Tampa Bay is in the shotgun, 1st and 10 from their own 26. Jeff Garcia threw a short pass to Michael Clayton, who proceeded to bounce off 49 and YAC his way down to the KC 45.

BP is charging Clayton with his arms and head down. This is football 101. Always see what you are tackling, if for no other reason than safety!! Second, his arms at his side do absolutely no good. Had he even partially wrapped Clayton, the results would almost asurdely have prevented the YAC.

Although there were a half dozen different plays that could have swung the BUCs/CHIEFs contest. Pollard’s lack of fundementals continue to hurt the defense.

KOLBY SMITH
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Kolby. Man, this is a sad injury. Kolby seems to be a team oriented player who finally got the chance to show some skills. And he was! One minute you’re having a great game, and the next minute you through for the year. The toughest part of my day is worrying about lunch at halftime.

Then…BAM!

It comes and goes like a lit rocket…and we’re Wile E. Coyote standing in the exhaust wondering what happened.  And just like Wile E., the smoke clears revealing the ACME truck that is about to hit us smack in the face.  Only in this case, it is the 5-0 Tennessee Titans.  Remember the Titans?

They have the best record in the NFL right now.  They’re on an eight game winning streak (regular season).  And they’re just coming off a week of rest too!

I can’t watch!