Chan Gailey named Chiefs new OC

What struck me immediately upon reading Chan Gailey's biography was that he started out his coaching
career as a secondary coach for Troy State and later served as the defensive coordinator for Air Force. He first served as a defensive assistant and special teams coach with the Denver Broncos but later transitioned to tight ends coach, then quarterbacks coach and eventually the offensive coordinator position in 1989 where he remained for two seasons. He coached the Birmingham Fire of the World League and served as head coach of Samford University before returning to the NFL as wide receivers' coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers, eventually taking over the offensive coordinator's job in 1996 and then again in 1997.

"In his four seasons with the Steelers, the team won the AFC Central Division crown each time, appeared in the AFC Championship Game on three occasions and reached the Super Bowl. Pittsburgh finished second in the NFL in rushing offense in 1996, averaging 143.7 yards per game. In Gailey's final season with the Steelers, he presided over the league's top-ranked rushing team, averaging 154.9 yards per contest." --from the Geogria Tech website. During his two seasons as offensive coordinator with Miami in 2000 and 2001, Gailey improved the scoring offense from 16th in his first year to eighth the following year, after which he took the head coaching job with Georgia Tech. He is known popularly as a offensive coordinator who builds very successful ground games -- The Bus & Company in Pittsburgh would be the prime example. .

Jason Whitlock wrote a column about how this hire is typical King Carl-- go with a "retread" rather than an exciting, up-and-coming kid with something to prove like Dallas' Jason Garrett or New England's Josh McDaniels. He mentions that there are a lot of so-called NFL experts who think Cincinnati's quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese might be the next rising son in line for NFL hot-shot greatness.

A safe pick? Sure. It would seem that he will revivie our rushing attack, which finished dead last in the NFL at a piddly 78 yards per game, by drafting and signing big boys on the O-Line. His offensive philosophy is in perfect harmony with Herm's own, so this should be a pretty unified team going forward into the rebuilding process.

Wakarusa Announces Initial 2008 Lineup

Wakarusa just released their lineup for this year's festival, which will be expanded as the winter progresses.
Here she is:
The Flaming Lips
Keller Williams
Leftover Salmon
CAKE
Galactic
Buckethead
Lotus
David Grisman Quintet
Old 97's
Alejandro Escovedo
Tea Leaf Green
Ozric Tentacles
Brett Dennen
Blackalicious
Dr. Dog
State Radio
Betty LaVette
Split Lip Rayfield
The Avett Brothers
Yard Dogs Road Show
The Gourds
Steel Train
Trombone Shorty
Chicago Afrobeat Project
The Heavy Pets

I've highlighted the bands/performers I'm particularly jazzed about, and certainly expect
others to be named in the coming weeks. I hope that Keller Williams doesn't remain the
second "biggest act" of this festival--certainly another would have to surface.

NOT PAUL HACKETT?!?!?!?

Herm Edwards has sacked four offensive coaches and is in the market for a new offensive coordinator. Mike Solari, wide receiver coach Charlie Joyner, running backs coach James Saxon and offensive line coach John Matsko were all fired yesterday by Edwards, who was not available for comment on the firings or the rampant speculation that he will replace Solari with Paul Hackett, who served as Edwards' offensive coordinator in New York.
Money Quote: "Solari indicated he would return to coach the line for another team next season." What about the Chiefs, Mike? We need an O-Line coach and you need a job.
Chiefs fans are understandably concerned about Hackett taking over the reins from Solari, especially since Hackett was once the offensive coordinator in this fair city. I found a NY Times article that pretty much lays out the argument against Solari: he's too predictable and conservative. Hmmm, that sounds a lot like another offensive coordinator I know.
Money quote: "'I've been as innovative as anyone in football,' Hackett said."
Another good quote: "He has been described as stubborn to a fault, unwilling to alter his plans as some think he should when the flow of the game may call for it, or to properly utilize all the players in the Jets' arsenal." That sounds like Mike Solari and Herm Edwards in the Colts playoff game from last season.
Carl Peterson has the habit of recycling old coaches and personnel that he has worked with in the past: Herm Edwards, Dick Vermeil, Gunther Cunningham, Al Saunders and now maybe Paul Hackett. The hiring of Hackett would be a classic example of why so many fans and sports commentators are calling for Peterson's job — he is unable or unwilling to change the course of this football team and instead relies on old cronies and band-aids to win just enough to sell-out Arrowhead Stadium. He seems unable to lead this team in a new direction, something this organization desperately needs considering this past season and the personnel questions that still need to be answered.