AFC West: Dedric Ward
Pendergast will not return to Kansas City
The announcement that sticks out is that former defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast is no longer with the team. He was replaced by Romeo Crennel two weeks ago. At that time, Kansas City head coach Todd Haley said he wanted Pendergast to stay with the team in some form.
Pendergast’s unit struggled last season, but he is a solid secondary coach and the Chiefs could have benefitted from his presence on the 2010 staff.
Former tight ends coach Bob Bicknell and receiver coach Dedric Ward are officially parting from the team.
Richie Anderson was named receivers coach. He worked heavily with the unit during the season. Anthony Pleasant, a 14-year NFL defensive lineman, was named a defensive assistant. Former defensive quality control coach Pat Perles is now the assistant offensive line coach.
We had a runaway winner in our “You pick it” feature this week.
Readers went with the big Week 6 for the AFC West. Oakland and Kansas City beat NFC East competition and Denver beat San Diego on Monday night. It was the first time since Week 16 of 2006 that three teams from the division won on the same weekend.
The other candidates were San Diego cutting starting safety Clinton Hart and Kansas City coach Todd Haley demoting receivers coach Dedric Ward. It was the second time Haley demoted an offensive coach in two months.
If Haley continues to gas coaches, that will be a major story, but for now I’m going with the big Week 6. I agree with the readers. It was a special weekend for a division that has struggled recently.
Below are some of your responses. Thanks to everyone who participated:
Chris from St. Louis, Mo.: It has to be the three teams winning in the same weekend. Not because three teams did it, but because Oakland and KC are so bad. They're going to win so few games this year that the odds of them winning on the same weekend were...well, I never would have bet on it.
Scooby Dude from Dallas, Texas: I understand that you cover all 4 AFC West teams, and that this could possibly be the last win of the season for either Oakland or KC, and it will almost certainly be the last time they BOTH win. However, the story of the week in the division is not "Big Week 6 for AFC West". It's "Broncos all-but clinch division", or at least some version of "changing of the gaurd". When we look back at the end of the season, Monday night's game will be the most important game in the division this season. It should be the stand-alone headline of the week.
Shawn from Scott City, Kan.: My chiefs getting their first W in forever is the storyline of the week my man! (I guess if you have to include the Donkeys and Raiders as your Big Week 6 story that's ok...)
Don Parsons from Hamilton, Ontario: Hi Bill,In my mind its got to be the cutting of Clinton Hart for several reasons. 1) This is a starting safety, on a long term deal of good money who was unceremoniously released. Not benched or so forth, just cut in the middle of the season.2) It has been seen before where AJ Smith holds onto mistakes too long and when he cuts one like this its big.The other stories in my mind don't really compare. Having 3 of 4 teams win is laudable but it isn't a big 'story' of any sort in my mind. As for Haley changing his coaching staff... In his short time there he has shown that he is willing to change it a lot so it isn't a big story in my mind.
Jason from Parker, Colo.: The storyline of the week has to be that 3 out of 4 AFC West teams won this week. Because 3 out of 4 of the teams in this division are looking absolutely terrible this season!!Even bigger is that the one who lost is San Diego who was supposed to be the front-runner for another ACF west divisional championship.BTW, GO BRONCOS.. DOUBTERS BEWARE.. BANDWAGONERS STAY AWAY.. Bronco country is only for those who stand by a team no matter what!!
You pick it: AFC West storylines
The candidates are:
Big Week 6: Three AFC West teams -- Denver, Kansas City and Oakland -- won in Week 6. It marked the first time since Week 16 of 2006 that three of the four teams in the division won on the same weekend.
Hart cut: San Diego came off its bye week by cutting starting safety Clinton Hart, who has struggled since last year.
Haley shakes up staff: Chiefs coach Todd Haley demoted receivers coach Dedric Ward prior to Week 6. It was the second demotion Haley made on the offensive staff since August.
Chose your story of the week and hit my mailbag with your thoughts. I will post some of your responses later in the week.
Haley shakes up coaching staff again
Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson
In his search to bring life to his anemic offense, Kansas City coach Todd Haley on Thursday made the second change to his offensive staff in less than two months.
Haley demoted receivers coach Dedric Ward and replaced him with Richie Anderson, according to the Kansas City Star. Anderson was on the Chiefs’ staff as part of a minority coaching fellowship program. Ward remains on the staff.
Prior to the season, Haley relieved offensive coordinator Chan Gailey of his duties. Haley is now the offensive coordinator of the 0-5 Chiefs.
Thursday’s move was made to spark a porous group of receivers. Cleary, Haley liked the way Anderson was working and wasn’t pleased with Ward’s progress.
Haley has to be careful. In-season assistant coaching staff changes are rare in the NFL. For two changes to happen before the sixth game is truly remarkable. Haley, an offensive coach, just can’t keep changing coaches during the season. After all, he hired Gailey and Ward.
Haley is obviously doing everything he can to improve the offense and that is admirable. But sooner or later these desperate changes are going to start reflecting poorly on him if positive results aren’t seen.
Carthon joins Haley's staff in Kansas City
Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
New Kansas City coach Todd Haley just added to his staff by adding a third coach he worked with in Arizona, Cardinals' running backs coach Maurice Carthon. Meanwhile, the team officially announced Chan Gailey will remain as offensive coordinator.
Carthon will be Haley's assistant head coach. Haley was Arizona's offensive coordinator and Carthon was the running backs coach. It wouldn't be a surprise if Carthon also worked with the running backs. Earlier this week, Haley brought in former Arizona defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast, who was fired this month, will be a defensive assistant and former Arizona assistant Dedric Ward who will coach the receivers.
Thus, Haley's top offensive assistants will be Carthon and Gailey, who was the team's offensive coordinator under former head coach Herm Edwards in 2008. It wouldn't be a surprise if Haley, known as one of the more aggressive offensive coaches in the league, calls his own plays.
With Gailey retained, the Chiefs can keep some continuity to an offense that was solid at times last season. If the team decides to stick with quarterback Tyler Thigpen, who started in the second half of the season, there will be some familiarity between him and Gailey.
Gailey often held the reins on Thigpen so it will be interesting to see if Haley unleashes him some if Thigpen is brought back as the starter.
Kansas City also disclosed the responsibility of some of the coaches it hired earlier this week. They are: Bob Bicknell (tight ends), Joe D'Alessandris (assistant offensive line), Steve Hoffman (special teams) and Bill Muir (offensive line).
Chiefs announce coaches, big questions remain
Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
The Kansas City Chiefs, suddenly one of the NFL's most mysterious teams, have spoken.
But we're not sure what they have said.
The team announced a large portion, or maybe even the entire staff, as the team begins the Scott Pioli and Todd Haley era. The odd thing is, the Chiefs didn't announce what positions the coaches will have in Kansas City. Shortly after the release was sent out, a team spokesman said the Chiefs will not be announcing specific positions at this time.
OK.
Tuesday's peculiar move continues a quiet offseason by the Chiefs. Both the decision to hire Pioli as general manager and Haley as head coach were shrouded in secrecy. Tuesday's move to assemble the assistant coaching staff comes 51 days after the Chiefs' season ended. All of the new coaches are listed on the team's Web site without specific job titles.
Here, courtesy of the Chiefs, is the coaching staff:
The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Tuesday that the club has made several additions to head coach Todd Haley's coaching staff. The following coaches have been retained by the Chiefs: Bob Bicknell, Joe D'Alessandris, Chan Gailey, Tim Krumrie, Brent Salazar and Cedric Smith. The following assistant coaches are joining the Chiefs staff:
Joel Collier -- Collier owns 17 seasons of experience coaching in the professional ranks. He most recently enjoyed a three-year stint with New England (2005-07). Prior to joining the Patriots, he spent 11 seasons with Miami ('94-04). Collier served his first tour of duty with New England from '91-93, spending time on the coaching staff and as a pro scout. He began his NFL career as an offensive assistant with Tampa Bay ('90) after serving as a graduate assistant at Syracuse ('88-89).
Gary Gibbs -- A 29-year coaching veteran, Gibbs most recently served a three-year stint as defensive coordinator with New Orleans (2006-08). He entered the NFL ranks as linebackers coach with Dallas (2002-05). Gibbs broke into the coaching profession at his alma mater, the University of Oklahoma, as a graduate assistant in '75 and was eventually promoted to linebackers coach ('78-80), defensive coordinator ('81-88) and head coach ('89-94) He also served as defensive coordinator at Georgia (2000) and LSU (2001).
Steve Hoffman -- Hoffman owns 19 years of NFL coaching experience. He most recently spent a two-year tour with Miami as kicking coach (2008) and assistant special teams coach (2007). He served as assistant special teams coach with the Atlanta (2006) after a 16-year association with Dallas ('89-04), where he served as kicking coach ('89-98) and kicking/defensive quality control coach ('99-04). He began his coaching career at the University of Miami ('85-87).
Bill Muir -- Muir is a veteran of 31 NFL seasons and owns a total of 44 seasons of coaching experience. He most recently served as the offensive coordinator/offensive line coach for Tampa Bay (2002-08). He has also enjoyed NFL coaching stops with the N.Y. Jets ('95-01), Philadelphia ('92-94), Indianapolis ('89-91), Detroit ('85-88) and New England ('82-84). He began his NFL career in the player personnel department with Tampa Bay ('78-81). He coached collegiately at SMU ('76-77), Idaho State ('72-73), Rhode Island ('70-71), Delaware Valley ('66-67) and Susquehanna ('65). The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native also coached professionally for Houston/Shreveport ('74-75) of the World Football League.
Clancy Pendergast -- Pendergast owns 14 seasons of experience in the NFL coaching ranks. He spent the past five campaigns as a defensive coordinator with Arizona (2004-08). Prior to guiding the Cardinals defensive unit, Pendergast spent one season with Cleveland (2003) after enjoying a seven-year tenure with Dallas ('96-02). He began his NFL coaching career with Houston ('95). He began his coaching career in the collegiate ranks as a graduate assistant with Mississippi State ('91) and enjoyed stops at Southern California ('92), Oklahoma ('93-94) and Alabama-Birmingham ('95). Pendergast graduated from the University of Arizona in '90.
Pat Perles -- Perles owns 21 years of coaching experience, including two years in the NFL. He spent the previous six seasons at North Dakota State (2003-08), including the final four campaigns as the offensive coordinator. Perles previously served as the offensive line coach at his alma mater of Michigan State (2000-02). He spent six seasons in the Canadian Football League with Hamilton ('98-99), Winnipeg ('97) and Saskatchewan ('94-96). He began his NFL coaching career with the L.A. Rams ('92-93) after working as the defensive line coach for three years with Toledo ('89-91).
Dedric Ward -- Ward spent the past two seasons as a member of Arizona Cardinals offensive coaching staff along with current Chiefs head coach Todd Haley. In 2007, Ward served as a quality control coach, working intensely with the Cardinals wide receivers. In 2008, the Cedar Rapids, Iowa native entered his second season as a quality control coach, working closely with the club's running backs. Ward began his coaching career as wide receivers coach at Missouri State University in 2006.
It is being speculated that either Gibbs, fired last month as New Orleans' defensive coordinator, will be the defensive coordinator. Pendergast, just fired as Arizona defensive coordinator, is going to be a defensive assistant. There is also talk around the league that Gibbs may be the linebackers coach if Pioli can get former Cleveland head coach and former New England defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel to be the coordinator. Until official titles are announced, speculation will continue.
It is also being speculated that Gailey, who already was under contract for this season, is being retained to be the offensive coordinator. He was Herm Edwards' coordinator last season. Haley is expected to call the plays so expect the Chiefs' offense to take on the personality more of Haley than Gailey. Haley was known for a vertical game when he was the offensive coordinator of the explosive Arizona Cardinals.
The belief is that Muir will coach the offensive line and that Bicknell will coach the tight ends.
Yes, it is murky but that is clearly how the Chiefs prefer to do business these days.

