Showing posts with label Kansas City Chiefs Blog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kansas City Chiefs Blog. Show all posts

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Chiefs Sign WR Steve Breaston

Heading into this year's crazy free agency period, the Chiefs knew that WR was an area that still needed to be addressed. Kansas City added some much needed help to its wideout corps today by signing former Arizona Cardinal WR Steve Breaston to a five year deal.

This deal makes a lot of sense for both Kansas City and Breaston. The Chiefs needed a player who has some experience, but still has a fairly long career ahead of them. Breaston has been in the league for only four years, but has been productive. He was slowed by injuries last season, but still managed to post 47 receptions for 718 yards (despite having Derek Anderson as his quarterback). Breaston's best season came in 2008, when he snagged 77 receptions for 1,006 yards.

Breaston also finds himself in a much better situation in Kansas City. He has played for Todd Haley before and knows the coach's offense. Better yet, he is going to a team that has a lot of offensive firepower and an established quarterback.

Now that Kansas City has addressed its biggest need on offense, the team can focus on giving its defense a boost. Expect the Chiefs to make a run at a nose tackle or linebacker sometime over the next couple of days.

Friday, April 29, 2011

Chiefs Select Jonathan Baldwin

As predicted, Kansas City ended up trading down in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft to select Pittsburg WR Jonathan Baldwin. Kansas City passed on some talented defensive players and a few offensive lineman to get Baldwin, which has led to some debate as to whether or not this was the right move.

Whether you agree with grabing Baldwin or not, Kansas City's first round strategy was sound. The Chiefs likely sold themselves on getting Baldwin and giving their wide receiving corps a much needed boost, and knew he would be available later on in the first round. The Chiefs' trade not only gives them help at WR, but also allows them to address depth issues on the offensive line with an extra third round pick. I would be surprised if the pick Kansas City aquired from the Browns isn't used on a guard, which could be a valuable addition in the third round. Yes, there were a lot of other routes the Chiefs could have taken, and Baldwin has been labled one of the biggest "boom or bust" candidates in the draft, but credit Scott Pioli with finding the player he wanted and getting an extra third round pick.

As for Baldwin, he appears to have the tools to be a quality NFL receiver. He has great size and should provide Matt Cassel with another red zone target. Drafting a wide receiver in the first round is always a huge gamble, and teams have been able to find outstanding NFL wideouts in the second round in previous drafts.

The Chiefs could have added much-needed help to its defensive front seven or offensive line, but Pioli addressed a need, and was smart to trade down and acquire an extra third round pick. Look for Kansas City to add a guard with its upcomming picks and try to find a sleeper it can develop at outside linebacker.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Looking Back on Last Year's Draft

With the 2011 NFL draft a day away, the Chiefs could benefit from taking a look at its 2010 draft class. Many experts deemed Kansas City's 2010 draft a success before the rookies strapped on shoulder pads, and the group lived up to the hype. If the Chiefs hope to repeat the success the team enjoyed in 2010 and continue to build a winning foundation, another strong draft is critical.

A team's draft is dictated on who they grab with their first pick, and the Chiefs finally got a game changever with its top selection last year. Eric Berry made an immediate impact for Kansas City, blossiming into a pro bowl safety in his first season. Just imagine if the Chiefs had found two other pro bowlers with its first round picks rather than take Glenn Dorsey or Tyson Jackson. The Chiefs now find themselves without a top five pick, meaning they could take the best player available rather than address a specific need. Hopefully Kansas City finds another player who is ready to make an impact with its top pick, and former first round picks Dorsey and Jackson start to live up to their draft selection.

A team can get good in a hurry if it finds starters in the middle rounds of the draft, and the Chiefs did that last year. Kansas City injected its team with much needed speed by drafting Dexter McCluster and Javier Arenas. McCluster added a playmaking spark to the offense while giving the return game a much needed boost, while Arenas showed the potential to be a solid defensive back and showed flashes of being a dangerous returner as well. Tight end Tony Moeaki also had a successful rookie season and appears to be the Chiefs tight end of the future.

Last year, the Chiefs were able to find quality starters while adding depth, the two ingredients for any successful draft. After years of bad drafts, Kansas City now finds themselves one good draft away from having a talented core of young players mixed with capable veterans. Hopefully the Chiefs will keep the momentum going from last year's draft and hit another home run tomorrow.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Jim Zorn New Quarterbacks Coach for Chiefs

Todd Haley completed his 2011 coaching staff Tuesday with the announcement of Jim Zorn as his new Quarterbacks Coach. Mr Wonderful hinted that this might happen two weeks ago in a post about the new Offensive Coordinator. Zorn has over 20 years experience in the NFL as a quarterback and a coach. He spent last season coaching Joe Flacco for the Baltimore Ravens. Prior to that, he was the Head Coach in Washington after serving 10 years as Quarterback coach in Seattle and Detroit. He has worked with Quarterbacks Matt Hasselbeck and Charlie Batch as well as Flacco. All have been successful under his watch. He has also coached Quarterbacks in college.

Zorn was the Seattle Seahawks starter at Quarterback for 7 seasons before Dave Krieg took over in 1983. As an undrafted Free Agent in 1976 he was voted the AFC Offensive Rookie of the year. He was the second Seahawk to be voted into the team's Ring of Fame.

With last week's promotion of Bill Muir to Offensive Coordinator, the Chiefs needed a coach for Cassel as Coach Wiess did both last year. Muir's area of expertise is Offensive Line, so it was important to get a coach in here that knows the quarterback position. Bad haircut not withstanding, Zorn is that man. I think it's a good hire if he can get on the same page with Haley who is fast earning a reputation as being hard to get along with.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Bill Muir Named Offensive Coordinator For Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs named Bill Muir their new Offensive Coordinator today. He has been the Offensive line coach for the Chiefs since 2009. Muir was also the Offensive Coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers under Head Coach Jon Gruden. He obviously has the experience, and a Super Bowl ring. I would imagine Jon Gruden also did a lot of play calling, so Muir would also fit in with the idea that Haley wants to have a hand in the Offense. While in Tampa Bay, Muir also coached the Line and I could see him doing this as well. In his 33 years of coaching experience, many of it in the NFL, he has also coached defenses, including a stint as Indianapolis Defensive Coordinator in the late 80s.

Sounds like a good fit for Haley, a guy who will take a back seat and is a career assistant coach. He certainly has lots of experience. The next move for the Chiefs Coaching Staff is a good Quarterbacks Coach to assist with Cassel's development.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Chiefs Pound Titans - AFC West Champs 2010

Merry Christmas Chiefs Fans. The Chiefs dismantled the Titans on Sunday 34-14 - and the Chargers choked at Cincinnati losing to an awful Bengals Football team. Your Chiefs are going to the NFL Playoffs after completing an unlikely two year turn around under Head Coach Todd Haley and General Manager Scott Pioli.

The offensive game plan was exceptional, and execution was spot on. The way we came out throwing was great. When the passing game is working (i.e. Receivers catching the ball), this team is unstoppable. It creates such a problem for the defense - who do you stop? The Chiefs scored on their first four possesions and had a 24-0 lead before the Titans scored on a long pass to Britt. A quick 3 and out by the Chiefs and for a second I was worried they might let Tennessee get back in this one. That's when rookie Safety Eric Berry intercepted an ill-conceived Kerry Collins pass and made an incredible run back to the endzone.

Defensively, the Titans never could get anything going. Our front seven played determined and I think the refs could have called holding or illegal block on just about every play for Tennessee. Our guys just manhandled them and the Titans line was having a tough time. Barring a couple of plays where they were out of position, our secondary played quite well. Remember, both of our Safeties are Rookies and they will only get better - the physical tools are obviously there.

Kansas City Chiefs, AFC West Champs - I like the sound of that. A home playoff game - that sounds nice, too. Now lets go beat the Raiders!

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