New-Look Chiefs Turning Attention to NFL Draft

[FringeNC]

http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireSto...inglePage=true

The wholesale overhaul of the Kansas City Chiefs is nearly complete.

Andy Reid has been hired to replace Romeo Crennel as coach, and longtime Packers personnel man John Dorsey has replaced Scott ***** as general manager. Most of the assistant coaches are on board, and now the Chiefs can start turning their attention toward the rebuilding job.

That includes preparation for the NFL draft.

The Chiefs finished 2-14 last season, matching the worst record in their 53-year history. But the byproduct of all that on-field suffering is that they have the No. 1 pick for the first time, giving Kansas City a good place to start turning around the team.

"We're in a unique position," said Dorsey, who will work closely with Reid but have final say over personnel decisions. "We all know there is some pressure involved in that."

It is pressure unlike anything he's ever experienced.

Dorsey began his career as a scout for the Packers, and eventually rose to direct of college scouting and director of football operations. But his primary responsibility was assembling the draft board, and the final decision ultimately came down to the Packers' GM — Tom Braatz early in his career, Ron Wolf and Mike Sherman after that, and most recently Ted Thompson.

Now, when the final seconds are ticking away on April 25, all eyes in the Kansas City draft room will turn toward Dorsey for a decision that could shape the future of the franchise.

"Ultimately, we're just trying to win Super Bowls. That's what we're trying to do," said Dorsey, adding that he plans to use a similar blueprint to Green Bay.

"History and time has proven — and that's all I know — but this system works," Dorsey said Monday. "That's what I'm going to try to implement."

Examining the Packers' drafts over the past two decades yields a few ideas about how Dorsey will proceed: He'll likely choose the best player of available, regardless of position needs, but also understands the importance of drafting for depth at quarterback.

Many outsiders panned the choice of quarterback Aaron Rodgers when Brett Favre was firmly ensconced in Green Bay, and Rodgers has turned into a Super Bowl champion. Matt Flynn was picked in the seventh round and became a valuable commodity as a backup, while other guys such as Matt Hasselbeck and Aaron Brooks developed into starters elsewhere in the NFL.

"What we've always tried to do is develop a third guy," Dorsey said, "and develop him and see if he can be a 2 or a 1."

By contrast, the Chiefs have spent only one pick — a fifth-rounder — on a quarterback in the past six drafts, and the result has been disastrous play at the game's marquee position.

Matt Cassel is still under contract, even though he was benched last season. Brady Quinn played just as poorly, while Ricky Stanzi never saw the field during the regular season.

"Any time when you begin to build a franchise, let's be real, the quarterback is a very important part," Dorsey said. "As you note the last couple weeks in the playoffs, the quarterback position is a very important position to the long-term success of the organization."

Important enough to spend the No. 1 overall pick on it?

Not necessarily.

Dorsey and Reid both insisted they plan to draft the best player available, and that may not be a quarterback. West Virginia's Geno Smith is widely considered the best prospect at his position, but some draft analysts believe he's only worthy of a late first-round selection.

"My draft philosophy, you'd love to get good players. That's the primary thing," Reid said. "As the general manager comes in, that's what he's going to do. That's his responsibility."

It's not as if the Chiefs don't have other needs.

Left tackle Branden Albert and wide receiver Dwayne Bowe can both become free agents, and there are gaping holes along the defensive line, at linebacker and in the secondary. And it just so happens that some of the best available players fit those needs: Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel, Florida State defensive end Bjoern Werner and George linebacker Jarvis Jones.

One thing that Dorsey made clear is that he won't reach for a player.

"Philosophically, you stay true to your board," he said. "You spend all those months staying true to your board, and all of a sudden you have to jump a player due to positional needs? I don't think you do that. Historically, we have proven you don't do that."

Dorsey plans to keep the Chiefs scouting department intact through the draft, but he's also bringing with him an entire season's worth of his own scouting work from Green Bay.

That will be augmented by work done at college all-star games, various pro days organized by schools, the annual scouting combine and from hour upon hour of highlight tapes.

"It's going to be a focus of our fans, the media and our personnel department here for the next three or so months," Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said of the No. 1 pick. "It's very important we get that pick right."

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[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by munkey

I know nothing about him... That should tell you something...IMO he's not a #1 draft pick...

That seems odd. If you don't know anything about him, what are you basing your opinion on?

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

That would basically be like us trading for Brock Osweiler in April. Can you imagine the reaction? It would be amazing to behold.

I imagine the reaction to the Chiefs 2013 first round selection will be amazing to behold. This forum is so polarized that it's certain there will be a massive meltdown, regardless of the choice made.

[RustShack]

Originally Posted by munkey

****ing Genobators just can't handle the truth....he's not the #1 pick of the draft...#1 QB? Maybe...not #1 pick...

#1 QB = #1 pick. This is the NFL, football is all about the QB now.

[Dylan]

Originally Posted by IAmABabySeal

right here scro!!!

why didn't you help them and list the Eagles' top draft picks?

what does scro mean?

it better mean something fantastic.

[IAmABabySeal]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I imagine the reaction to the Chiefs 2013 first round selection will be amazing to behold. This forum is so polarized that it's certain there will be a massive meltdown, regardless of the choice made.

It's the same on our end...suggestion for ya
On our end we have a thread that's dedicated to basically football talk. It's masked as the Eagles Blog, but we have a fine bunch of people who stay in there and there only and despite being open to the rabid hordes of stupid people, it's pretty secluded. I'd suggest creating and forming one. You can keep rolling discussions going for a long while. IDK if you guys have one.

[NJChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I imagine the reaction to the Chiefs 2013 first round selection will be amazing to behold. This forum is so polarized that it's certain there will be a massive meltdown, regardless of the choice made.

I think the national media reaction will be quite interesting as well if it's a QB.

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I imagine the reaction to the Chiefs 2013 first round reaction will be amazing to behold. This forum is so polarized that it's certain there will be a massive meltdown, regardless of the choice made.

It doesn't seem all that polarized to me. I think there's some trolling going on, a few people playing Denise in the Geno Smith thread for kicks and just to be contrary. I don't think there will really be all that negative a reaction if they take a QB, whether it's Smith or someone else. I do think there will be a massive meltdown if they take Joeckel or Star, because the perception will be that the front office has been wiped out yet nothing has changed. Obviously there's a segment of the fanbase that's been brainwashed by the King Carl way of doing things, and they'll be thrilled by it.

This is predicated on the idea that one of the QBs will be firmly entrenched as the #1 by the time workouts are over. Which I believe will be the case, based on history. And once the press is on board, the fans will be on board.

[RustShack]

There are no elite prospects other than maybe a guard. There is no reason whatsoever you don't take the QB, especially considering its far and away this teams biggest weakness... And easily the most important position in football.

[IAmABabySeal]

Originally Posted by Dylan

why didn't you help them and list the Eagles' top draft picks?

what does scro mean?

it better mean something fantastic.

I'm not privileged enough to post links....but it's like a variation of bro. IDK if you've seen Idiocracy

[IAmABabySeal]

Originally Posted by RustShack

There are no elite prospects other than maybe a guard. There is no reason whatsoever you don't take the QB, especially considering its far and away this teams biggest weakness... And easily the most important position in football.

Somebody tried to tell me that Warmak wasn't the best G on Bama's squad

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by munkey

I know nothing about him... That should tell you something...IMO he's not a #1 draft pick...

So your ignorance makes him not good? And people say I'm arrogant.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by RustShack

There are no elite prospects other than maybe a guard. There is no reason whatsoever you don't take the QB, especially considering its far and away this teams biggest weakness... And easily the most important position in football.

This is bullshit, judging a draft in January and making statements like this is a sure fire way to look stupid.

I guarantee numerous guys will have super high grades by the draft.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by munkey

I know nothing about him... That should tell you something...IMO he's not a #1 draft pick...

It only tells me you don't really pay attention.

[Ugly Duck]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

BS.

Dorsey has never been a GM before, so he does NOT get the benefit of doubt. If they let Albert Walk and then replace him with Joekoff, then Dorsey can go **** himself.

So Dorsey's a n00b... at least give him a chance to develop into something. Remember what the Green Bay Packers Blog said about why he was promoted in Green Bay in the first place:

"While his title is director of football operations, he was only promoted last year when Reggie McKenzie was hired by the Raiders to become their GM, and he had been in charge of college scouting for the past decade."

[ChiefSuspect]

Originally Posted by RustShack

That's like saying ***** didn't have full control of the Chiefs. ***** had more say than just GM duties. Banner was running the Eagles even if he didn't have the GM title.

But you still don't get it. It doesn't matter who had what title. Reid has been president of football operations with final say over all personnel matters since 2001. That doesn't mean that Banner had no input. Banner had a lot of input and influence, as did others, but the buck always stopped with Reid. And the only power struggle between the two would have ended with Reid prevailing last summer.

I can't be any more clear: Reid never relinquished final say over all personnel matters once he got it.