Post by MizzouTiger on Jan 19, 2008 12:28:47 GMT -5
www.kansascity.com/sports/chiefs/story/451314.html
COMMENTARY
Whoops; I have reconsidered Gailey's hiring
By JASON WHITLOCK
The Kansas City Star
As you well know, I’m far from infallible. But what I like to do is be the first to point out my blatant mistakes. It frustrates my critics, raises my credibility and gives me an easy column once every two or three years.
I regret what I wrote about Chan Gailey a couple of days ago.
At one point I wrote that Gailey had never been labeled an “innovator.” I was wrong. He was the offensive coordinator at Pittsburgh when the Steelers introduced the Kordell “Slash” Stewart offense.
That was pretty innovative. Gailey took a mediocre quarterback and turned him into a weapon. Stewart would play a little receiver. He’d run quarterback draws. He might line up in the slot and get the ball on a reverse or throw a receiver pass. The Steelers found ways to move the chains with Stewart under center, split in the slot or out wide.
“You never take all of the credit for something,” Gailey said when asked about Pittsburgh’s “Slash” offense. “Our entire staff came up with it, but I happened to be the coordinator at the time. We just tried to take a good player and let him do what he could do.”
When Gailey was announced as Kansas City’s new offensive coordinator, I simply forgot about Kordell Stewart and the fact that Gailey was there at that time. Friday morning I flipped on the radio, heard Gailey’s Pittsburgh tenure/Kordell Stewart innovation being discussed and was embarrassed.
It was the final piece of evidence that I hadn’t been fair to Gailey. I judged him too harshly simply because he’s a retread, mid-50s, wealthy and ran a relatively conservative offense with never-developed Reggie Ball at Georgia Tech. I stereotyped, which is something I try to avoid because it happens to me too often. Women see my good looks and sexy frame, read my columns and just assume I don’t have a brain. It’s very frustrating. Just once, I’d give anything for a woman to take the time to get to know me rather than rush me into an intimate relationship.
On a more serious note, a member of the Chiefs’ public-relations staff poked the first holes in my rant against Gailey. He made the argument about why Herm needed an experienced, confident play-caller to deal with a young quarterback, moody running back and frustrated, in-transition offensive unit.
After that conversation Thursday and what I overheard Friday morning on the radio, I went to Gailey’s introductory news conference in a regretful mood.
Today, I’m officially neutral on Chan Gailey. I’ll judge his reign as offensive czar with an open mind.
“To me, the successful people in our business take guys with ability and put them in position to be successful,” Gailey said. “If you have to pick a philosophy, that’s my philosophy. There is no name for our offense, we are just trying to take whoever we have and put them in a position to be successful.”
That’s a good start. Gailey said what I wanted to hear. Herm, on the other hand, was still caught up in talk of “toughness.” He repeated his claim that the highest compliment he could pay Gailey is that Gailey is tough. And then Herm started rambling about running on fourth and 1.
Hey, Herm is what he is, a defensive-minded football coach who earned his way into the league as a player because he was tougher than everyone else. Nothing wrong with that.
But offensive coaches need to be smart. Offense is the cerebral side of football. It’s played with your head more than your heart. Gailey, from all accounts, is a smart dude. He can help Herm identify a “franchise” quarterback, which has taken on great importance thanks to the influence of “new” owner Clark Hunt.
Hunt wants the Chiefs to develop a franchise quarterback.
Well, between now and the draft, no one is more qualified to dissect Brodie Croyle’s game film and evaluate the top QB draft prospect, Boston College’s Matt Ryan.
The Chiefs will draft in the top five. Some NFL scouts believe Ryan is a franchise quarterback, and he might be available when the Chiefs pick. Right now, Edwards would prefer the Chiefs select an offensive tackle, probably Michigan’s Jake Long.
As the head coach at Georgia Tech, Gailey spent the last few years working in the same conference as Ryan. Gailey prepared the Yellow Jackets to play against Ryan this season, and Gailey has watched Ryan play dozens of times against other ACC opponents.
If the Chiefs pass on Ryan and stick with Croyle, at least it will be a well-informed decision/possible mistake.
COMMENTARY
Whoops; I have reconsidered Gailey's hiring
By JASON WHITLOCK
The Kansas City Star
As you well know, I’m far from infallible. But what I like to do is be the first to point out my blatant mistakes. It frustrates my critics, raises my credibility and gives me an easy column once every two or three years.
I regret what I wrote about Chan Gailey a couple of days ago.
At one point I wrote that Gailey had never been labeled an “innovator.” I was wrong. He was the offensive coordinator at Pittsburgh when the Steelers introduced the Kordell “Slash” Stewart offense.
That was pretty innovative. Gailey took a mediocre quarterback and turned him into a weapon. Stewart would play a little receiver. He’d run quarterback draws. He might line up in the slot and get the ball on a reverse or throw a receiver pass. The Steelers found ways to move the chains with Stewart under center, split in the slot or out wide.
“You never take all of the credit for something,” Gailey said when asked about Pittsburgh’s “Slash” offense. “Our entire staff came up with it, but I happened to be the coordinator at the time. We just tried to take a good player and let him do what he could do.”
When Gailey was announced as Kansas City’s new offensive coordinator, I simply forgot about Kordell Stewart and the fact that Gailey was there at that time. Friday morning I flipped on the radio, heard Gailey’s Pittsburgh tenure/Kordell Stewart innovation being discussed and was embarrassed.
It was the final piece of evidence that I hadn’t been fair to Gailey. I judged him too harshly simply because he’s a retread, mid-50s, wealthy and ran a relatively conservative offense with never-developed Reggie Ball at Georgia Tech. I stereotyped, which is something I try to avoid because it happens to me too often. Women see my good looks and sexy frame, read my columns and just assume I don’t have a brain. It’s very frustrating. Just once, I’d give anything for a woman to take the time to get to know me rather than rush me into an intimate relationship.
On a more serious note, a member of the Chiefs’ public-relations staff poked the first holes in my rant against Gailey. He made the argument about why Herm needed an experienced, confident play-caller to deal with a young quarterback, moody running back and frustrated, in-transition offensive unit.
After that conversation Thursday and what I overheard Friday morning on the radio, I went to Gailey’s introductory news conference in a regretful mood.
Today, I’m officially neutral on Chan Gailey. I’ll judge his reign as offensive czar with an open mind.
“To me, the successful people in our business take guys with ability and put them in position to be successful,” Gailey said. “If you have to pick a philosophy, that’s my philosophy. There is no name for our offense, we are just trying to take whoever we have and put them in a position to be successful.”
That’s a good start. Gailey said what I wanted to hear. Herm, on the other hand, was still caught up in talk of “toughness.” He repeated his claim that the highest compliment he could pay Gailey is that Gailey is tough. And then Herm started rambling about running on fourth and 1.
Hey, Herm is what he is, a defensive-minded football coach who earned his way into the league as a player because he was tougher than everyone else. Nothing wrong with that.
But offensive coaches need to be smart. Offense is the cerebral side of football. It’s played with your head more than your heart. Gailey, from all accounts, is a smart dude. He can help Herm identify a “franchise” quarterback, which has taken on great importance thanks to the influence of “new” owner Clark Hunt.
Hunt wants the Chiefs to develop a franchise quarterback.
Well, between now and the draft, no one is more qualified to dissect Brodie Croyle’s game film and evaluate the top QB draft prospect, Boston College’s Matt Ryan.
The Chiefs will draft in the top five. Some NFL scouts believe Ryan is a franchise quarterback, and he might be available when the Chiefs pick. Right now, Edwards would prefer the Chiefs select an offensive tackle, probably Michigan’s Jake Long.
As the head coach at Georgia Tech, Gailey spent the last few years working in the same conference as Ryan. Gailey prepared the Yellow Jackets to play against Ryan this season, and Gailey has watched Ryan play dozens of times against other ACC opponents.
If the Chiefs pass on Ryan and stick with Croyle, at least it will be a well-informed decision/possible mistake.