Is Scott Pioli Overrated?

In the NFL, hope plays an important role. The top 10 teams hope to win the Super Bowl and the bottom 10 teams hope to make the playoffs.

It’s no surprise that Kansas City fans and media were feeling pretty good about their 2-14 team after turning the hopeless duo of Carl Peterson and Herman Edwards into Scott Pioli and Todd Haley.

Why? Because it’s Scott Pioli, the mastermind behind three Super Bowl teams, a great  eye for talent in draft and free agency with consecutive “Executive Of The Year Awards” from 2003-2004 to boot.

So let’s take a look at what his impact on the Chiefs has been so far and what KC fans should expect from his drafts.

• The Chiefs have switched to a 3-4 defense:

This is an odd decision when you consider that a lot of personnel doesn’t the 3-4. Why are the talents of the best three technique prospect since Warren Sapp being wasted at nose tackle or five technique? Tamba Hali at outside linebacker? Yuck.

How badly will Brandon Flowers get burned playing press man coverage? Sometimes we get too excited about the potential deceptiveness of a 3-4 pass rush and forget that 4-3 teams like the Colts and Bengals have made their pass rush unique and deceptive too.

• Traded 34th pick for Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel:

I’ve never been a fan of Cassel. I feel like he’s a spread system QB that wasn’t needed since they already had one of those in Tyler Thigpen. Maybe I’m wrong, but let us see what he can do without Welker and Moss.

Not much needs to be said about Vrabel. He’s a bad contract that couldn’t get many sacks in the linebacker friendly defense of the Patriots.

• Signed guys like Bobby Engram and Mike Goff while pissing off Brian Waters:

These are stop gap guys, but at least they can start. On the other hand, Brian Waters is an all-pro and might be the best left guard in the NFL.

Now look at some Patriot Drafts:

1/32 – Logan Mankins, Guard
3/84 – Ellis Hobbs, Cornerback
3/100 – Nick Kaczur, Right Tackle
4/133 – James Sanders, Safety
5/170 – Ryan Calridge, Outside Linebacker
7/230 – Matt Cassel, Quarterback
7/255 – Andy Stokes, Tight End

Most analysts will agree that getting three starters out of a draft class is considered good, with anything more being great. Keep that in mind as you look at these classes. Logan Mankins has worked out great.

Ellis Hobbs, Nick Kaczur and James Sanders are solid contributors even though each could be upgraded this year. Matt Cassel is an incredible pick when you consider that they turned the 230th pick into the 34th. I just wonder why it had to be Pioli’s 34th?

1/21 – Laurence Maroney, Running Back
2/36 – Chad Jackson, Wide Receiver
3/86 – David Thomas, Tight End
4/106 – Garrett Mills, Fullback
4/188 – Stephen Gostkowski, Kicker
5/136 – Ryan O’Callaghan, Tackle
6/191 – Jeremy Mincey, Linebacker
6/205 – Dan Stevenson, Guard
6/206 – LeKevin Smith, Defensive Linemen
7/229 – Willie Andrews, Cornerback

I think we can officially call Laurence Maroney a bust. He’s oft-injured and a ballerina in the backfield. We know Chad Jackson is a bust because he got kicked to the curb last training camp. Stephen Gostkowski, a kicker, is the only solid contributor.

1/24 – Brandon Meriweather, Safety
4/127 – Kareem Brown, Defensive End
5/171 – Clint Oldenburg, Tackle
6/180 – Justin Rogers, Linebacker
6/202 – Mike Richardson, Cornerback
6/208 – Justise Hairston, Running Back
6/209 – Corey Hilliard, Tackle
7/211 – Oscar Lua, LB
7/247 – Mike Elgin, Guard/Center

Brandon Meriweather hasn’t shown up as the Top-15 talent with character problems that he was billed as back in 2007. The four interceptions can give Pat fans hope though. Patriots have gotten nothing other than that though.

They did get Wes Welker and Randy Moss from this draft though.

1/10 – Jerod Mayo, Linebacker
2/62 – Terrence Wheatley, Cornerback
3/78 – Shawn Crable, Linebacker
3/94 – Kevin O’Connell, Quarterback
4/129 – Jonathan Wilhite, Cornerback
5/153 – Matthew Slater, Wide Receiver
6/197 – Bo Ruud, Linebacker

Winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year makes Jerod Mayo’s future look promising. He is a little overrated because his skills at shedding blocks are below average. I don’t think we should expect much out of the rest of these picks because they were all reaches. Terrence Wheatley was an especially confounding pick.

All in all, Scott Pioli has made some questionable decisions so far and his recent drafts have proven to be lackluster. Scott Pioli might not be the right guy to turn this team around. But at least Kansas City fans can still hope.