Pondering Pioli’s Offensive Options

By John Silva

When Todd Haley was hired three years ago he was the hot candidate credited with the offensive output by Arizona during their amazing playoff run. He was supposed to bring an exciting, high scoring brand of football to Kansas City. Instead of a return to the kind of offense the Chiefs had under Al Saunders, the Chiefs instead have been a schizophrenic bunch.

Now that Haley is gone one would think new head coach Romeo Crennel would welcome a change in philosophy. Not much has come out of the offices of 1 Arrowhead Drive where Crennel and GM Scot Pioli have had conversations about Crennel’s ideal staff. One name that has surfaced is Brian Daboll as a potential coordinator. He held that position in Miami last year and had a modicum of success with journeyman Matt Moore as the Dolphins starting quarterback and did divise a gameplan that carved up the Chiefs defense last year at Arrowhead.

Could the Chiefs be waiting for the Super Bowl to end to bring in a member of one of the league championship staffs? Josh McDaniels is returning to New England snuffing out one potential target (much to most Chiefs fans’ delight) but what about a positional coach with ties to Pioli and/or Crennel? It could also be possible the Giants’ staff might have a target on hand from their balanced offense.

Another option that went off the board was an offensive coordinator from last year’s Super Bowl who owns a ring as a coordinator and another as a wide receiver’s coach. Pittsburgh ousted Bruce Arians who had built a strong aerial attack with Ben Roethlisberger’s arm and a fleet set of receiver’s legs. His innovative plays were forced into retirement by Art Rooney II and that status lasted a week before he was snatched up by Indianapolis to run the offense there.

That leaves former Colts head coach Jim Caldwell as one of two wildcards which could get Chiefs fans excited. If Caldwell were to come aboard it would bring with him rumors of Peyton Manning coming to town. The Colts’ icon is stuck in limbo as his neck surgery still has not healed sufficiently to guarantee a commitment from the Colts. In early March, Indy will pay him 28 million dollars bonus if he is on the roster. If they feel he will not be able to produce as the Manning of old then they are likely to release him and take their chances with whichever quarterback they take with the overall number one pick in this year’s draft.

It could be until the summer before Manning is ready to play or it could be any day that those nerves start to respond positively. This could create a market for Manning as the most coveted quarterback in the free-agent market ever. There are already reports coming out of the Jets and Dolphins organizations that they would be interested in him if he were available. How could Pioli and Clark Hunt not be interested in one of the two quarterbacks who have defined the new millennium of NFL football? The price tag would be high but Manning would be the kind of field general that would make KC not only a contender for the division but for the conference as well.

How many tickets would his name sell? How many number 18 jerseys would fly off of the shelves in Kansas City? How would Dwayne Bowe and other free agents not want to be part of a team that has a Super Bowl champ and multiple MVP who virtually runs his own offense? Scot Pioli has repeatedly said he believes in Matt Cassel, but he would have to convince no one about such a statement concerning Manning. Perhaps Pioli believes Cassel is the right man and will consider bringing no one in to replace or challenge him, but you can bet that such a bold move as bringing in a sure fire Hall of Famer would be the kind of move that would justify to Chiefs kingdom the reputation Pioli brought when he came to KC.

It all starts with the choice of offensive coordinator. The other wildcard, which would not preclude Manning but would not be as big of a link, would be Hue Jackson. The former head coach and coordinator in Oakland put up big numbers by the bay and was done dirty by the Raiders after only one year at the helm. How badly would he want to help KC sweep them next year? How many yards could Jamaal Charles put up in his offense? It’s another intriguing possibility and one which will be closely watched and hopefully celebrated next season.

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