Kansas City Chiefs
Owner: Hunt Family (Clark Hunt, chairman)
Founded: 1960
Stadium: Arrowhead Stadium
2010 record: 10-6
Last playoff appearance: 2010, 10-6, AFC West Champs, L30-7 BAL
General Manager: Scott Pioli (2009 – current)
Head Coach: Todd Haley (2009 – current, 14-18 record)
Offensive Coordinator: Bill Muir
Defensive Coordinator: Romeo Crennel
Defensive alignment: 3-4
2010 NFL Rankings:
OFF: 22.9 PTS (14th) 349.7 YDS (12th) 185.5 PASS (30th) 164.2 RUSH (1st)
DEF: 20.4 PTS (11th) 330.2 YDS (14th) 219.9 PASS (17th) 110.2 RUSH (14th)
Pro Bowlers: Matt Cassel QB, Jamaal Charles RB, Dwayne Bowe WR, Brian Waters OG, Tamba Hali OLB, Eric Berry SS
2011 schedule:
1 Sep 11 vs. Bills 1:00 PM Tickets
2 Sep 18 at Lions 1:00 PM Tickets
3 Sep 25 at Chargers 4:05 PM Tickets
4 Oct 02 vs. Vikings 1:00 PM Tickets
5 Oct 09 at Colts 1:00 PM Tickets
6 Bye
7 Oct 23 at Raiders 4:05 PM Tickets
8 Oct 31 vs. Chargers 8:30 PM Tickets
9 Nov 06 vs. Dolphins 1:00 PM Tickets
10 Nov 13 vs. Broncos 1:00 PM Tickets
11 Nov 21 at Patriots 8:30 PM Tickets
12 Nov 27 vs. Steelers 8:20 PM Tickets
13 Dec 04 at Bears 1:00 PM Tickets
14 Dec 11 at Jets 1:00 PM Tickets
15 Dec 18 vs. Packers 1:00 PM Tickets
16 Dec 24 vs. Raiders 1:00 PM Tickets
17 Jan 01 at Broncos 4:15 PM Tickets
TEAM NEEDS: OT, MLB
Potential Free Agents:
Brodie Croyle QB
Tim Castille FB
Kevin Curtis WR
Terrance Copper WR - re-signed – 3 yrs
Leonard Pope TE
Ryan O’Callaghan OT – re-signed
Casey Wiegmann C – re-signed – 1 year
Rudy Niswanger C
Charlie Anderson OLB
Tamba Hali OLB – re-signed – 5 yrs, 60 million, 35 million guaranteed
Corey Mays MLB
Travis Daniels CB
Jon McGraw FS – re-signed –
Free agent acquisitions:
Steve Breaston WR (Cardinals) – 5 yrs
Le’Ron McClain FB (Ravens)
Kelly Gregg NT (Ravens) –
Brandon Siler LB (Chargers)
Free agent losses:
Chris Chambers WR
Shaun Smith DE – Signed by Titans
Ron Edwards NT – signed by Panthers
Mike Vrabel OLB – retired
Picks in 2011 NFL Draft: (overall draft grade: A-): Prior to the 2010 season, Jon Baldwin was considered one of the top wide receivers eligible for the 2011 draft. He was right up there contending with AJ Green and Julio Jones. Unfortunately, the Pitt Panthers fell flat and Baldwin struggled right along with the offense. His character and skills came into question and caused his stock to drop to the second round. However, Chiefs’ GM Scott Pioli still sees that top wide receiver potential in Baldwin. Baldwin’s value wasn’t in the first round, but the upside could pay off for Pioli. After the Baldwin pick, there was great value in the 2011 Chiefs draft class. Rodney Hudson will bring excellent technique, youth, and versatility on the inside for KC and some valuable pieces on defense were added as well.
(! Indicates draft pick who was interviewed, had a private workout, etc. prior to the draft according to my compiled list):
Rd 1, Pick 26 (26) Jonathan Baldwin WR, Pittsburgh – I like the pick, but it wasn’t good value. The Chiefs needed a wide receiver quite a bit and Baldwin was the last of the potential number one wide receivers on the board.
Grade: B- Rated: 45
Rd 2, Pick 23 (55) Rodney Hudson OG, Florida State – smaller prospect, but this is right where I had him rated. Could move to center, Casey Wiegmann and Brian Waters are getting older.
Grade: A Rated: 52
Rd 3, Pick 6 (70) Justin Houston LB, Georgia! – GM Scott Pioli had one of the better drafts this year and here’s another gem. Houston will give some more pass rush capability to the KC defense and they could be losing four linebackers to free agency.
Grade: A Rated: 36
Rd 3, Pick 22 (86) Allen Bailey DE, Miami (FL)! – Bailey has very good athleticism, but he’s a ‘tweener. I think his best fit is at 3-4 end, which is where the Chiefs will play him. He doesn’t have the explosiveness for end and lacks the bulk for inside.
Grade: A Rated: 58
Rd 4, Pick 21 (118) Jalil Brown DB, Colorado – has the size and speed to be an NFL corner, but still needs some work before he’s ready to start. There wasn’t much behind Flowers, Carr, and Arenas at corner for the Chiefs.
Grade: B+ Rated: 133
Rd 5, Pick 4 (135) Ricky Stanzi QB, Iowa – Ricky Stanzi QB, Iowa – Stanzi was a favorite of mine prior to the draft. His improved numbers and decision making from his junior to senior season and his clutch performances impressed me.
Grade: A Rated: 87
Rd 5, Pick 9 (140) Gabe Miller OLB, Oregon State – upside pick as he’s only played on defense since 2009.
Grade: D Rated: NR
Rd 6, Pick 34 (199) Jerrell Powe NT, Mississippi! – nose tackle prospect with work ethic concerns.
Grade: A+ Rated: 98
Rd 7, Pick 20 (223) Shane Bannon FB, Yale – hard worker, will create some fullback competition.
Grade: D Rated: NR
2010 Chiefs Draft review:
Pioli had a reputation in New England for trading a lot during the draft. He said he could guarantee that there were three times as many conversations about possible trades as there were of actual trades that went through. He loves to trade because it creates opportunity and it comes down to if you have a trading partner or not. Sometimes trade value charts can be distracting. According to him, it all comes down to how much you want the player that you’re trying to maneuver to get to. Pioli after Berry was picked: Berry was a position of need and the best player there. Berry has tremendous character. Reporter brought up that he only had one penalty during his whole career at Tennessee. Had a number of calls come in for possible trades for fifth pick and if they wanted to trade up into first round for another pick. Pioli after day two of the draft: when they (Haley and Pioli) took over KC, they aimed to improve the “team speed” and they did with their picks on day two. Javier Arenas matches up great with the slot receiver. He’s one of the best blitzing defensive backs that Pioli’s seen. They traded up to get Tony Moeaki. Pioli and Haley after 2010 Draft: When they draft, Pioli says it’s a mix of need and best available player. Drafting a return man was a “must.” Leading up to the Arenas pick, it was discussed how many plays would he be able to be in on? He’d be in on 50-60, taking into consideration special teams plays, too. Most nickel corners are playing about 50 snaps a game according to Pioli.
Rd 1, Pick 5 (5) Eric Berry SS, Tennessee – 16 starts, 92 TCK, 2 SCK, 9 PD, 4 INT, 1 TD, 1 FF
Rd 2, Pick 4 (36) Dexter McCluster RB/WR, Mississippi – 11 games, 7 starts, 21 REC, 209 YDS, 10 AVG, 1 TD, 18 ATT, 71 YDS, 3.9 AVG, 1 FMBL LOST, 26 KR, 527 YDS, 20.3 AVG, 36 LNG, 13 PR, 15.5 AVG, 1 TD, 94 LNG
Rd 2, Pick 18 (50) Javier Arenas CB, Alabama – 16 games, 2 starts, 43 TCK, 3 SCK, 8 PD, 1 FF, 24 KR, 509 YDS, 21.2 AVG, 35 LNG, 39 PR, 8.3 AVG, 36 LNG
Rd 3, Pick 4 (68) Jon Asamoah OG, Illinois – 15 games, 1 start
Rd 3, Pick 29 (93) Tony Moeaki TE, Iowa – 15 games, 15 starts, 47 REC, 556 YDS, 11.8 AVG, 3 TD
Rd 5, Pick 5 (136) Kendrick Lewis FS, Mississippi – 12 games, 10 starts, 30 TCK, 7 PD, 3 INT, 1 FF
Rd 5, Pick 11 (142) Cameron Sheffield OLB, Troy – IR
Looking back at my grades for the 2010 Chiefs draft class: After the 2010 draft, I gave the Chiefs an overall grade of B. Eric Berry (A) was the best available pick on basically everybody’s boards and he turned out to be a great player. He made it onto everybody’s All-Rookie teams. I liked the McCluster pick (A), but I can now say that I was off a little bit on the grades given to Arenas (C+), Moeaki (B-), and Lewis (C). Respectively, I think their grades should be B, A, and A. Pioli got great production and playing time out of this class and is undoubtedly one of the best GMs in the league. 51 starts from seven draft picks show that Pioli and his staff have done a great job of rebuilding the Chiefs. This class deserves an A grade after seeing what they contributed to the Chiefs in 2010.
Last Five First Round Picks: Eric Berry S, Tyson Jackson DE, Glenn Dorsey DT, Brandon Albert OT, Dwayne Bowe WR, Tamba Hali OLB
2010 Stat Leaders
Matt Cassel 262-450 58.2% 3116 YDS 6.9 YPA 27 TD 7 INT 93.0 RTG
Jamaal Charles 230 ATT 1467 YDS 6.4 YPA 80 LNG 5 TD
Dwayne Bowe 72 REC 1162 YDS 16.1 YPR 75 LNG 15 TD
Ryan Succop 20-26 76.9% 53 LNG
Derrick Johnson 121 TCK
Tamba Hali 14.5 SCK
Eric Berry 4 INT
Out of Season Storylines (Because there is no offseason)
Charlie Weis Leaves To Become Offensive Coordinator at UF
Bill Muir Hired To Replace Weis