#StanziTime

I was born a Kansas City Chiefs fan.  It's in my genes, which kind of makes the Chiefs part of my family.  However the 2012 version of this team has pushed disappointment and frustration to new levels.  Not only do the Chiefs not win games, but they look like they don't know what they are doing in the process.  The blowouts keep piling up, and with no improvement in sight the tensions between angry fans and front office are about to lead to a full-scale civil war.  They are completely hapless on the field, and we fans, (family), are saddened by it all.  It's like watching a close family member get overtaken by alcohol, become addicted to meth or crack, or vote democrat.  It hurts us.  It hurts us because we can't do a thing to fix it, and we want them to be successful and happy.

Now I totally understand that the problems with the 2012 Chiefs are vast.  From the front office all the way down to the beer vendors, there are issues contributing to the epic fail we see on the field each week.  They are like a car with multiple mechanical problems, from a slipping transmission and leaky brake lines, to the cracked windshield and broken steering wheel, and pieces keep falling off along the way.  (However, the radio works. Gotta have tunes!)  But perhaps instead of replacing one broken piece with another broken piece, why not try the shiny new piece that's sitting in storage?  I know it's not a name brand, but maybe it could work if given a chance.  It might even be enough to get your jalopy to the shop for an overhaul.

As of this moment, Matt Cassel has only thrown 6 touchdown passes but has thrown 12 interceptions.  He currently has a rating of 66.7.  Brady Quinn has thrown 0 touchdowns and 3 interceptions and carries a rating of 52.9.  The Chiefs are -21 in turnover ratio.  -21!  And the vast majority of ALL the Chief's turnovers this season can be attributed to Matt Cassel, who leads the universe in turnovers this year.  And let's not forget last season's superstar Tyler Palko, who managed to get all the playing time while Cassel was injured.  It's no secret that the quarterback play has been less than stellar.  But the Chiefs continuing to alternate between a dumpster fire and a train wreck at the quarterback position make the coaching staff look stupid.  What is preventing them from trying the perfectly good "rookie" sitting on the sidelines?

Ricky Stanzi

I'm talking, of course, of Ricky Stanzi, who the Chiefs drafted in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL draft.  The former Hawkeye has never been flashy, or even thought of as an elite quarterback, even in college, but all he did was win games.  The improvement in his play from his junior year to his senior year was so dramatic, it had to play a  roll in the Chiefs' decision to take him in the draft.  No one expected him to be the franchise quarterback for the Chiefs,  but I was absolutely thrilled he was drafted by Kansas City,  but for whatever reason, he hasn't been
able to crack that number 2 spot on the depth chart and couldn't even get on the field last season even though Tyler Palko was serving up interceptions like deep fried Twinkies on a stick while filling in for Matt Cassel.

What I want to know is.....why?  There is no possible way, scientifically, mathematically, alphabetically, or numerically he could do ANY worse than the current one-two punch of Cassel and Quinn.  If he is not good enough to play in the NFL, why keep him on the roster?  Cut him and let him go play somewhere else.  By playing Stanzi, the worst that could happen would be........pretty much what has already been happening week after week.  Maybe it could light a spark.  Who knows?  He has great familiarity with Tony Moeaki, who was also drafted out of Iowa by the Chiefs, (and is also criminally underutilized in the offense.)  Big targets in Bowe and Baldwin.  (who are both injured right now) . And still a pretty good running attack with Jamal Charles and company.  He doesn't need to be John Elway.  He could be Steve Deberg and that could be enough to get the offense clicking.  Maybe they're afraid Stanzi could have a little success, which would also make the staff look stupid for keeping him on the bench all season. 

Look, I'm not a football genius.  And there is a fair amount of homerism in me wanting to see Stanzi get some playing time.  (Go Hawkeyes!)  But you haven't tried everything until you've actually tried everything and by not putting Stanzi in the game, you're spinning your wheels.  Maybe instead of flying the "Fire Pioli" signs at the games, fans should be waving the "#StanziTime" signs.  I like Matt Cassel and Brady Quinn.  I want them to do well.  But they aren't and haven't been for some time now.  Give Stanzi a shot with the number 1 offense and see if there is anything that can be salvaged from this season.  Then maybe you can temporarily appease some of the fans.........like me.

Oh, and Stanzi's favorite target in college, Marvin McNutt, is on the Eagles' practice squad.  Might want to check him out.

P.S.  PAY BOWE!!!!!

Team of the Week: Mid Iowa Rollers

The Iowa Pro Sports featured sports organization this week is the Mid Iowa Rollers!

About

Strength…. Strategy… Sweat. Sisterhood.
The Mid Iowa Rollers originated roller derby in the state of Iowa. And when it comes to sheer athleticism, determination and drive, MIR continues to blaze the way. A handful of enterprising women with a true passion for the sport  launched Mid Iowa Rollers in 2006. Since then, the team has grown exponentially – not only in fan and player numbers, but also in competitive performance, civic reputation and mentoring newer derby teams.

On and off the track, MIR is a blue-streak of positive force.
In 2010, MIR was physically unstoppable with an impressive 8-0 record – the state’s only undefeated derby team. With its acceptance as an apprentice league of the sport’s international governing body, WFTDA, and through its partnership with the Iowa Events Center, the Mid Iowa Rollers are always reaching for the next level… but they are focused on what they do best. And that’s playing women’s flat track roller derby.

In 2011, MIR went through a coaching change and began training under Hall of Fame Coach Mark Muse. Although the season started out slow, with the inception of new players and strategies, they finished stronger than ever! In the fall of 2011 MIR was accepted into the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) as a full Class B member of the South Central Region and have been working towards gaining momentum in the rankings ever since.

In 2012, MIR took on their inter-city rivals, the Des Moines Derby Dames in a much anticipated “Derby Supremacy” bout. Finally putting the speculations as to who was the better team to rest, MIR dominated the bout with a final score of 206-99.  MIR also won the rematch in September.  August 3rd, WFTDA released their Quarter 2 rankings and MIR debuted at an impressive #11, just a single step away from qualifying for Regionals. An honorable entrance for such a young team.

Keep up with the Mid Iowa Rollers at their website: http://www.midiowarollers.com/

On their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MidIowaRollers1?ref=ts

And on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MidIowaRollers1

Team of the Week: Dubuque Fighting Saints

This week's featured Iowa sports organization is the Dubuque Fighting Saints hockey team!

The Dubuque Fighting Saints are a Tier 1 junior ice hockey team that began play in the United States Hockey League (USHL) during the 2010 season. Home games are played at the Mystique Ice Center. The new team was named to honor the original Fighting Saints which played in the USHL from 1980 until 2001. Jim Montgomery serves as the team's head coach and general manager. Games are aired on KIYX, with Zack Fisch handling play-by-play. The Fighting Saints won the 2011 USHL Clark Cup after defeating the Green Bay Gamblers three games to one in the best-of-five finals.

Here's something fun!  They aren't call the Fighting Saints for nothing!  Here is their first trip to Des Moines to play the Des Moines Buccaneers back in 2010!   Welcome to the USHL!

You can learn more about the Fighting Saints at their website: http://www.dubuquefightingsaints.com/

Or follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fightingsaints

or Twitter: https://twitter.com/Fighting_Saints

Hawks 'n' Chiefs

If you're a fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Kansas City Chiefs like I am, your head is flat on one side from beating it on the wall every week and you're running towards downtown Des Moines, hoping for a fortuitous DART bus accident to put you out of your misery, but being the level-headed (pun intended) Hawk and Chief fan that I am I may have a solution to appease both fan bases.

Kirk Ferentz really is a good coach, despite the 2012 Iowa season.  More often than not, he is able to get the Hawkeyes to overachieve, but this season, the injuries, defections, and lack of overall talent is proving too much to overcome.  Fans seem more restless than usual and their patience has grown thin.  The calls to "fire Ferentz" are louder and more frequent this season than any other.  Perhaps it IS time for him to move on.  But to where?

Perhaps he would be a nice fit in Kansas City.  His style of play could make pretty much any team competitive, occasionally even the competition, which has been a large part of the criticism of the Ferentz-led Hawkeyes.  With the disparity of talent in college football, it drives most of fans crazy when Iowa beats a top-10 team by a touchdown and then squirts by an FCS team by a field goal or even a blocked field goal,.........or lose to them.  "Why not just crush the 'cream puffs' and play the good teams tough?"  It has been the definition of "playing down to your competition".  Either way, it has "worked" for the most part and over the years has resulted in wins by the Hawkeyes that were not expected but also some losses and close-calls that should not have been.

If you were to transplant this to the NFL, where there is much more parody and evenness of talent, add a stout defense, you could win a lot of games.  Winning games 7-6, 17-14, 24-21, or even 77-76 is perfectly acceptable in the NFL.  It's all about winning.  When the Hawkeyes eek out a win against a much inferior opponent, it feels like a loss to fans.  When the Chiefs eek out a win over anybody, even the no-good-stinkin'-lousy Raiders, it's a good day.

 The Chiefs are loaded with talent, but it does not seem that anyone on the coaching staff knows how to make it work.  Bad quarterback play, questionable to ridiculous play calling, plus a severe lack of discipline are all throwing gasoline on the dumpster fire that is the 2012 Kansas City Chiefs.  Kirk Ferentz's specialty is offensive line, which has been a weakness for the Chiefs for several years now.  His Iowa teams generally are well-disciplined, regardless of the opponent.  They historically don't turn the ball over very often and they don't get penalized a lot.  They're usually pretty solid in playing fundamental football and, more times than not, they win.   I am not on the "fire Ferentz" bandwagon yet, but if he had to go, I would like to see what he could do for the Chiefs.  I know a lot of fans are also calling for Pioli to be fired in KC, but maybe with the right coaching staff he could be salvaged.  The Chiefs defense has actually been pretty solid much of this season, but they need the offense to score points or at least hold on to the ball longer than a three and out.......or less.

Also, right now the Chiefs have more turnovers than touchdowns for the season and, at 1-7, are completely out of any chances to make the playoffs.  Why not give Stanzi a shot?  What could he possibly do that every other quarterback on the roster hasn't already done........except maybe win a game.  Tony Moeaki is already there.  Sign Marvin McNutt from the Philadelphia Eagles' practice squad, (pay Bowe), start Stanzi.

It's practically a foregone conclusion that this Chiefs coaching staff will be history soon.  The Chiefs have become the laughing stock of all sports in this side of the Klingon Home World.  Might as well bring in a younger coach with some proven success and make two fan bases happy.....for a little while at least. 

Perhaps this whole blog can be summed up with a few hashtags for Twitter.  Just as long as we don't #Suck4Vandenberg

#FireFerentz #FireRomeo #HireFerentz #StanziTime #PayBowe