When the Kansas City Chiefs have moves this offseason, well, they’ve been plentiful, if nothing else. Signing Joe Cullen as the new defensive line coach, moving Brenden Daly to linebacker’s coach with ex-LB coach Matt House moving on, seeing Ryan Poles, who is the former director of Player Personnel for K.C. move on to take the GM position with the Bears, with Mike Kafka, the Chiefs former QB coach moving on to become the offensive coordinator for the Giants while signing the Bears former HC, Matt Nagy to be their QB coach and assistant head coach, plus re-singing Eric Bieniemy to once again be their OC… it all shows the Chiefs organization has been busier than a beaver. Let’s take a look at the significance of some individual moves.
Joe Cullen Influences
Joe Cullen was not rehired at the conclusion og the Jags 2021 season on Jan. 9th but wasn’t hired in K.C. until Feb. 3rd or 4th… in the meantime, the Chiefs old LB coach was hired as LSU’s DC on December 28th, well before the Chiefs season ended. The conversation must have been interesting, if Brendan Daly wanted to make the move to LB coach so he could get some experience there before moves on to become a DC, you can understand that. If Daly was told: “you’re moving to LB coach, that’s another thing.
What we do know is that Joe Cullen has served as a DL coach for some time now.
David Bell and I have spoken frequently about the size, weight, and speed, requirements which Cullen may expect out of his Defensive Linemen and just how that may be different than what Daly called for. Since Cullen was a DC last year in Jacksonville, he may have more say so as to the defensive set Steve Spagnuolo is running as well. The Jags were 16th in passing defense (which is half bad-or half good, depending on how you view the glass) but if you’ve followed them at all this year you know it was their offense that was the problem. Big enough problems on offense to make trouble for their defense, which spent the second most time on the field in 2021.
Joe Cullen should have a big voice in the room when it comes to who the Chiefs sign, or re-sign as Free Agents and, the prospects drafted for the defensive line. There’s no reason to think that won’t be true.
Daly Dose at Linebacker
Is there anyone who doesn’t believe that the presence of Brendan Daly didn’t have something to do with the release of Anthony Hitchens? Let’s look at it this way: if Daly had wanted him to return — I mean, really wanted him back — do you think there was any way for Veach to make that happen? Yeah, me too. David Bell and I have spoken about the possibility that Daly wants to get some Linebacker coaching experience so that if he wants to, one day in the future, he can move on to take over as a Defensive Coordinator. After that, who know, maybe a head coaching position? He’s only 46 years old so there’s plenty of time for him to do that, plus, he worked for two of the best HC’s in NFL history in Bill Belichick and Andy Reid.
Let’s not pretend that his voice isn’t being heard by Steve Spagnuolo and futher up the chain of command in Andy Reid, Brett Veach, and his team of evaluators. Before Daly was with the Vikings he had many years of experience in college with: Villanova, Illinois State, Oklahoma State, Maryland and Drake and most that was on the offensive side of the ball. His pro career as a coach looks like this:
While he was a defensive line coach in his last season at Villanova, that’s likely the reason he was brought to the Viking in 2006, and ever since then he’s been strictly defense. So, does Daly have a voice in the room when it comes to Free Agents and drafting prospects? I’d say so.
Eric Bieniemy and Matt Nagy
Does anyone else find it interesting that Eric Bieniemy was re-signed one day… and… Matt Nagy was signed the very next day. The Chiefs may have been preparing Eric Bieniemy for a new coaching position elsewhere — for years now — the question is: what are they doing with Matt Nagy? Yes, I know he’s not just the new QB coach but he also brings along the label of “Senior Assistant” which is a title i find vague at best. So, what Nagy’s roll? We know he’s a familiar face for Patrick Mahomes, and his input for PMII may be very helpful but it’s this other role I’m a little leary about. If Nagy once served as OC, which is the position EB now holds, doesn’t that cloud the responsibilities? Could this be a way to assist Nagy in his quest to return to the Head Coach fraternity… or is it a possible way to deal with Reid or Bieniemy’s exit a year or two down the line? Reid turns 64 later this month so… who knows.
Combine Information
The NFL Combine actually began yesterday. Reid, Veach and crew were there beginning on Sunday, I’m guessing. The media coverage doesn’t begin until this Thursday afternoon. Here’s what’s happening on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday:
Here’s the NFL Combine events offered from Thursday through Sunday, with the media days — TV coverage — seen in red:
Andy Reid and Brett Veach will speak to the media this afternoon — Tuesday — and we’ll let you know what they’ve said later today.. Also, let’s not forget that the 2023 NFL Draft will be held in Kansas City, Missouri on April 27–29, 2023.
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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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