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By DOUG TUCKER

The Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- There's no comparison between coaching in the NFL and commanding military aircraft in a war zone, as Mike Priefer knows well. He's done both.

Priefer will draw one parallel, however, between piloting Navy helicopters in the Persian Gulf and coaching special teams for the injury-battered Kansas City Chiefs.

"When you're in the military, you're given the resources and told to get your job done," said the graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, his jaw hardening. "It's the same thing here. As special teams coach of the Chiefs, here are my resources. We're told to get our job done. We haven't been doing that lately."

With players shuffling in and out and secretaries hardly able to keep up with the paperwork on almost three dozen player transactions, the past four weeks have seen the Chiefs (1-9) lose four games after taking a lead. The losses included one in overtime and one on an errant 2-point conversion try.

A defense missing at times as many as six injured starters has been the most glaring problem. As of last Thursday, the Chiefs had recorded a staggering 34 player transactions the previous three weeks while integrating various former players and league castoffs into the system.

But Priefer's special teams have also suffered. With all the new players on punt and kickoff units every week, special teams breakdowns have contributed to every one of the last four losses.

"We can't make injuries an excuse to ourselves," said Jon McGraw, the captain of the special teams. "But I don't think even during a game we've kept the same whole unit together."

Special teams made a big difference in Sunday's 30-20 loss to New Orleans. Courtney Roby took the kickoff after the Chiefs' first touchdown and ran 54 yards, setting up a Saints field goal.

Then New Orleans kicked off and rookie Dantrell Savage dropped the ball, picked it up and dropped it again. As a result, the Chiefs started their drive on the 11 and quickly punted, giving the Saints a short distance to cover for their first touchdown.

Even usually reliable punter Dustin Colquitt has been having difficulties after missing two games with an injury. In addition, long snapper Thomas Gafford, signed off the street when the regular long snapper went out for the year, bobbled the snap on an extra point attempt in San Diego on Nov. 9. As a result, the Chiefs needed a 2-point conversion instead of an extra point to secure a win after scoring a late touchdown and when a pass failed, the Chargers escaped with a 20-19 win.

Then there were Tampa Bay's 97-yard touchdown return on Nov. 2 and the 37-yard punt return that helped fuel a come-from-behind victory by the New York Jets.

"Every week we've got new guys filling in at different positions," said McGraw. "So a lot of times, it's the first time they've ever played there. It's really difficult to have that in so many different positions.

"You can handle one or two guys, but when there are four or five positions on those special teams units that are completely different than what the week before, it's really hard to get guys on the same page," he added. "Our coverage units are really struggling the last few weeks giving up big returns, which has put our defense on short fields.

"We're a handicap right now."

Injuries, Priefer insisted, are obstacles to be overcome -- just like in the military.

"To be honest with you, that's the job of the special teams coordinator in the NFL. (Injuries) happen all over the place, all over the league. I don't know if we have any more injuries than anybody else," he said.

"I don't even count that. I don't track that. I need to do a better job of coaching the guys they give me."

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