What are the Chiefs?

Offensively we have seen two distinct game plans this season.  The two game plans that we have seen this season is rooted in both West Coast philosophies and a version of the Coryell.  Both have resulted in two diverse outcomes.  This presents a problem and I want to present perhaps some reasons why these issues exist.

Before I move forward allow me to move back.  Under Vermiel and Saunders the game plan was to protect the Quarterback.  Which meant an emphasis on talented TE, H-Backs, Running Backs, and Fullbacks in order to protect the ball with the run and to max protect with the use of only 3 primary route runners that ran deep routes.  The running back was usually the only short read and because of the route design and play development the running back had a lot of space.

Herm Edwards came in and that philosophy was slowly being changed.  Although he wanted to maintain the Coryell principles he wanted a different approach.  Saunders was all about attacking space.  With his zone blocking and his route development.  He wanted to play a smash mouth style.  He wanted to acquire physically superior athletes that could win one on one matchups and a strong armed Quarterback that could take advantage of it.  In came Dwayne Bowe one of the most physically gifted WR in Chiefs history.  In came Brodie Croyle one of the strongest arms to ever wear a Chiefs jersey.

We see that style have success around the NFL.  Malcolm Floyd and Vincent Jackson depend on physical ability to make Norv Turner's scheme work.  Brodie Croyle was drafted to get the ball deep to Bowe, and another potential pick.  Larry Johnson was extended to be that power runner.  TG was retained to be the Antonio Gates to take advantage of the coverages that Bowe's ability and Brodie's arm power would have forced.  The nature of the NFL is that sometimes what a coach wants doesn't work out.  Your strong armed QB can't stay on the field.  You spend the next few years trying to make it work with a journeyman QB and Thigpen.  That cost coaches their jobs.

In comes Todd Haley and Matt Cassel.  Todd Haley has spent his early stages of his career with power arms that played in Coryell systems.  Matt Cassel is a product of a very different philosophy that we haven't seen around here.  Cassel comes from New England where they used ball control passing.  Perhaps it's the reason why Haley was high on Croyle because what he truly wants to do, it would require a Croyle skill set.  Currently we are a team offensively in transition.

You see it in the 4 games this season.  We attacked Detroit with zone blocking, screens, draws and had some success.  We attacked San Diego with a down hill running game and short 3rd down passes.  We attacked Minnesota in the first half the way we did Detroit and in the second half we used a Coryell system with in-line (man to man) blocking and 5 steps.  This happens to a team unable to dictate their terms.  This happens to a team who has only 2 draft picks in 3 years offensively getting playing time on your roster.  Currently we are a team with talent that does not compliment each other's skill set, an offense still in transition.

It's simple really, the reason why we don't have consistency is because this offense isn't built to compliment the skills of the QB.  When you have a QB that depends on accuracy to be successful then get him a receiver that compliment accuracy.  That means a receiver that is quick out of breaks that can get open quickly for the type of throws that are quick and accurate (Titus Young).  If you have a QB that depends on power then get him a receiver that gives the QB range and margin for error (Jon Baldwin, Calvin Johnson, Brandon Marshall).

What we have in Kansas City is a poorly constructed offense with no identity and a GM and Coach that clearly aren't seeing eye to eye from a game plan and player standpoint.  You see it in our roster.  We have long range targets (Bowe, Baldwin, and Moeaki) for a short range passer.  We have a head coach that has never coached a variation of the West Coast passing offense.  Throughout the game we can see this team 3 years in still changing game plans and never having an identity.

My post is what are the Chiefs and sadly I leave you with more questions than answers.