Having admired several NFL organizations over the years and being a longtime media watcher (journalism major) leads me to the following conclusions regarding the Clark/Scott/Todd approach. I also played HS Football in Mississippi and know the "baseline"  difference of the mental and physical make up of players from that region and the SEC.

First - NO MEDIA FLUFF.  Scott/Todd have experienced first hand - two of the most successful era's in NFL history. Their intimate knowledge of the construction of the Steeler's and Patriots (and the Parcell influence is also VERY evident) is showing. These era's are 2 of the 4 most impressive ever (others, Packers and 49's).

Their bland - all business - no PR BS approach is entirely similar to the leaders in other classic eras. No fluff for the media permeates the atmosphere and is critical. Lombard, Noll, Walsh, Billecheck, Parcell's....none ever showed much respect for the media. The players see this and know that their leader is a for real (in their uncompromising determination) in ALL of their relationships and such better be taken seriously. This is quite different than the series of Chiefs coaches who seem to have wanted to impress the media with glib personalities. Folksy, clever personalities become known to the players and shows weakness. How many of these type of coaches have had long, successful careers?

Players begin to think that "this guy really isn't the guy we fear and respect.....he really is a nice guy - let's work him our way - the media has!" Conscious or sub-conscious, these young guys with huge paychecks only respect the no BS way NOT the Gunther, Dick and Herm PR type effort.

Second -  STRONG SEC EMPHASIS. Few SEC players didn't originate in the South where Football is cultural. At birth - literally every boy is viewed as a potential Football player. Most fathers admire the sport more than anything. A player who has survived youth ball and enters HS advances to a lifestyle unparalleled in other geographic areas. Southern HS's practice hard in the Spring. Therefore there's no spring dilution for Baseball and few FB guys play Basketball (no time for summer ball with FB camps every week). 3 sport situations like the Starling kid (Gardner Edgerton QB) are very ,very rare. Football is Life in the South. Incidentally, there are a lot of Texas guys on the Chiefs roster as well. Very similar.

This also plays to the SEC weather and competitive factor. A player who practices in the Spring and in August in "Southern" heat most of his life is better condition mental and physically. Case in point: Glenn Dorsey. He sniffed out that the Herm regime might except less commitment to fitness and he slacked. He admits it as much. Now that he's back in shape he's a load...the same kind of shape he was in to star in the heat at LSU. NOTE: if you're not in shape and motivated you have no chance to rise to the top in the south - or it appears for Todd Haley.

More on "Southern" heat. It's damn challenging but it separates the player who dominates in September. The Chiefs have long been terrible going into Florida and South early in the season. In fact, they've never played well in Florida anytime really. Moving camp back into the heat isn't hard on SEC guys ....it's all they've ever known, A little mentioned fact associated with the Defenses improvement is how much better conditioned they appear to be. Condition breeds aggression in Football, again think Dorsey who now thanks Haley publicly for his program and mentions positively "how hard we work in practice" in every interview. Could this have been a factor with Derrick Johnson as well?

Thanks Clark for seeing it in these guys approach. It's for real.  Congratulations on the beginning of your era,. your dad would be very proud.

There are at least six reasons and this is coming from a guy who normally prefers defense. An exciting playmaker at LB would be fun but it would not be the most prudent choice at this time. Chiefs fans may need to see the Cassel trade as their exciting moment of this off season while one of the most basic needs is addressed (for years to come) with the #1.

1. The Cassel trade must work. If that trade bust out, the remaining foundation of the Chiefs Fan base may throw in the towel. A loss of confidence in the young  Clark-Scott-Todd Show would likely be the result and they could become known as the "Three Stooges" of KC Sports. More OL help would significantly mitigate this possibility.

A blown pick would be disasterious. A failure with the Cassel trade and a blown (or misplaced) first #1 pick would be catostrophic.

2. The Chiefs offense, which late in the year showed some life, is closer to correction than the other side of the ball. Taking another potential Pro Bowl OL would make more progress toward accepability (at least on offense) than what one LB would do with the defense.

3. The LJ situation. If it is impossible to move him for at least some value, MAYBE a reinvestment in the OL will re-motiovate him. When his head is right he is a quality player. If he still wants to be babied, release him and clear as much cap as possible.

4. Another OL could help in the needed suck up to rearrange Brian Waters head.  Losing Waters would be a disaster. If Water's is resolved and Albert continues to emerge, the Chiefs could soon have 4 Pro Bowl quality players on Offense. Waters, Albert, New OT, Gonzales. Throw a successful QB Cassel and more growth from Bowe and it could be 6. The key to this is another high quality lineman which in course would elevate the potential of the skill guys in the group.

5. Cinch QB's and Left Tackles are really the only postitions worthy of an overall #3. LB Curry is also being called a cinch but LB is generally a position where personnel guys can pull "rabbits out of the hat". Rarely do OL (especially Tackles) emerge from  lower picks or the trash heap of free agency.

Offensive Tackles are special. They are very hard to develop. They're either huge guys who must control their weight to be athletic enough or larger TE types who must get comfortable out of the skill group (ie ego) and bulk up. Good - Pro Level OT's are very tough to find.

Remainder of the premise:

Go defense heavy with the rest of the '09 and '10 drafts. Add the "rabbit out of the hat" free agent guru (GM Pioli) factor for fill in. This point is the #1 wild card and will be the difference in how soon the ballclub returns to week end - week out competitiveness. Although mostly forgotten, this factor was also the key to the re-emergence of the Chiefs in the late 80's early 90's. All Pioli has to do is be as successful with Free Agents as the deposed 'King" was (early on) and it'll all work.

It'll actually be better if his young QB is what he thinks he is. Which bring us back to the beginning point. Cassel must work out and a OL helps to assure that his addition will.

Drafted as a QB (Iowa - 1969) #14 became a decent RB, HB option and Special Teams threat. He had 350+ yards vs Miami on Christmas Day 1971.

Thig is actually more elusive than Eddie...(of course today's LB's are too). His QB throwback TD last season was impressive.

Crazy as hell but worth throwing out there. The great way things are going how about a little creativity to go along? I'm old but creative!

Thig seems like the kind of kid (former HS RB) who'd do about anyhting to stay in the league.

<Also posted earlier with a poor headline>

Kick this around...Gonzo and LJ packaged together for a No. 1. Might be tough on a teams cap but could bring a lot of talent to a team that's close to the crown.

This would allow for both the LB (Curry) and another OT (deep draft) in the first round. Add a reciever (Rd 2) another OL and more defense along the way. RB? Let our new guru GM fish one out of Free Agency or by trade ('10 pick). This plan could lead to the playoffs in a weak AFC West

Kick this around...Gonzo and LJ packaged together for a No. 1. Might be tough on a teams cap but could bring a lot of talent to a team that's close to the crown.

This would allow for both the LB (Curry) and another OT (deep draft) in the first round. Add a reciever (Rd 2) another OL and more defense along the way. RB? Let our new guru GM fish one out of Free Agency or by trade ('10 pick). This plan could lead to the playoffs in a weak AFC West.