ENDelt260
09-20-2004, 05:52 PM
Q&A with Dick Vermeil
Sep 20, 2004, 6:40:01 PM
DICK VERMEIL: “Eddie Kennison has a moderate strain behind the knee and that’s why he came out of the ballgame. It bothered him a little bit prior to that and he tried to play. When he went on the deep pattern it didn’t pull or anything but he had to pull up.
“Priest Holmes has a sore ankle. After the ballgame I talked to him and was concerned about his knee because I saw him get it bent back. But it turned out this morning that his ankle was a little sore as the end result. It’s nothing serious but it may cost him to miss some time during the week…hopefully, not the ballgame.
“I’ve been through all three phases of the game and there were periods in the game where we played like a very good football team and there were periods where we did not. Therefore, you get beat by another good football team.
“I thought defensively we did some very, very good things. We gave them a 17-yard run on the second run of the ball game and then they never got another one the rest of the half. Then we had a breakout run in the second half that has sort of been part of our MO. But I feel that we’re gaining on the defense overall within the scheme.
“Offensively, we’re still having trouble converting third down situations which is sort of surprising to me. But we weren’t great at third-and-seven plus last year, but we were pretty good. It only takes a few to be much better when you break down third down situations.
“I look at those two fourth down situations. I’ve won games when I’ve gone for them and I’ve lost games because I’ve gone for them in the past. I lost one here one time right before the half in the Oakland game going for it and didn’t make it. I think I made a mistake. I should have more confidence in my offensive line to make one yard. The rule of thumb is when you’re down there early in the ball game and you’re playing a good football team make sure you get three points. I should have shown more confidence in my football team and let them try to make it. I think that wears you out sometimes emotionally, too. If I had it to do over again I would have done it the other way. Sometimes you can have too much experience. I second-guess myself and we could have possibly put on 10 points.
“Being 0-2 isn’t something we’ve been for a while. In 2001 we were 0-2 and went to the Redskins and won big. But our expectations are so much higher now, so it hurts a little bit more. But I do believe after looking at the defensive tapes that we’re getting closer. A lot of people played better this week than they did the week before. That third quarter drive they converted three third-down situations that we’ve got to find a way to stop. I think we’ll eventually get to a point where we can be more efficient.”
Q: Overall offensively are you able to put your finger on why you haven’t been able to operate as efficiently?
VERMEIL: “After two games we’re playing two better defensive teams than we played last year after two games. That’s part of it. I’ve had some concerns and I still have them. We’re not as functionally coordinated in scheme right now – sort of bouncing around. I think that’s because people have seen us within the scheme. That helps them.
“For a while there (vs. Carolina) you can’t execute the play-action passing game better than Trent Green did it. He did a real nice job. But we’re not in rhythm with ourselves as an offensive team right now. I think that’s the blend of the run with the pass and the coordination of them. Then we turn it over twice in the second half. Normally when you get two turnovers and score on defense you should win the football game.”
Q: If you were in the same situation are you going to go for it on fourth down?
VERMEIL: “I’m not going to say that because every game has its own profile and personality. Right now as I look at the tapes and see it as it was, yes, but when it happens you have no idea how the rest of the game is going to be or how you’re going to play. Carolina had a great profile of playing three point or less games and winning last year that I wanted to make sure we got three points.”
Q: What will you do at wide receiver this week without Kennison?
VERMEIL: “I’m not sure yet. Wait to see a little more of a report on Eddie Kennison. But probably Dante Hall would step up and take his place.”
Q: And then get a guy up from the practice squad?
VERMEIL: “Not necessarily. Just have to wait and see. Samie Parker is still questionable.”
Q: But if Sammie’s not ready, then do you go outside or to the practice squad?
VERMEIL: “I don’t know. I can go with three receivers. Some people only suit up three game day.”
Q: Was Richard Smith a disappointment yesterday?
VERMEIL: “He made a mistake. He dropped the ball. But maybe that’s to be expected. It always disappoints you when he drops one and it disappoints you when he makes a mistake.”
Q: How much has the unsettled situation on offense been with the wide receivers missing?
VERMEIL: “It hasn’t been unsettled. We know who they are. They just missed training camp and it affects their stamina. Yesterday it hurt us. Gradually allowing the right tackle to grow into playing the position as it was played a year ago is unsettling. You do things within your scheme and what you call and how you run your offense overall. That’s some of it too, but John Welbourn did some things better yesterday and he did some things that have to be done better. We’ve got to be patient.”
Q: When did you know that Priest was hurt? Did you find out today when you came in?
VERMEIL: “This morning.”
Q: Why wasn’t he in the game at the end yesterday?
VERMEIL: “Just left him out because it was the kind of stuff that we were doing that Derrick Blaylock can do and do well in the kind of situation in the game.”
Q: Is it an ankle twist, is it a sprain?
VERMEIL: “Just a slight sprain, just a slight swelling. Nothing to do with a high ankle sprain or anything like that.”
Q: Do you expect him to play on Sunday or is that yet to be determined?
VERMEIL: “I don’t know. I just got the report today and I know that it’s not a serious ankle sprain. I don’t know how long it takes him to recover. John Tait used to get an ankle sprain and play on Sunday. But every guy’s a little bit different and every ankle’s a little bit different.”
Q: Is Priest the kind of guy who maybe could go all week without practicing and then play?
VERMEIL: “He could, he could do that. He could work late and go. But we’ll be prepared to go without him if he can’t go. It’s not serious, it’s just how quickly he can mend.”
Q: Is the diagnosis process over with? Have the doctors looked at it?
VERMEIL: “Yeah. Mild soreness (reads a long medical evaluation). Moderate swelling.”
Q: So his knee’s bad too?
VERMEIL: “No, it was just sore from getting bent back. But it’s fine.”
Q: Who plays for him assuming Priest doesn’t play?
VERMEIL: “Blaylock would and then Larry (Johnson) would get ready to go.”
Q: What packages do you have that don’t involve Priest?
VERMEIL: “Nothing.”
Q: Then why wasn’t he in the game? I’m not sure I understand why he wasn’t in the game….
VERMEIL: “Because we didn’t want him in the game at the time. Is that a good enough answer? It had nothing to do with his injury because I walked right up to him and asked him and that’s the only thing I can tell you. The truth. That’s why he wasn’t in the game. The situation in a game like that down by 11 we just left him out of there.”
Q: Can you describe the difficulty that Trent’s having getting any timing down not being able to work with his receivers in training camp?
VERMEIL: “That has nothing to do with it. That has nothing to do with it. He’s in rhythm with our wide receivers when we throw them the ball. One got knocked down; one got picked off. Smith dropped one. Dante dropped one on a quick out. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen him sharper in a first quarter throwing very, very difficult balls. Sometimes defenses take things away from you. There were a few times I think he forced the ball downfield which are low percentage completions and maybe a little higher risk of interceptions. He could have checked it down and put the ball in the hands and let the guy advance it from the line of scrimmage.”
Q: As you look at the film do you see receivers getting good separation or is it not where you want it yet?
VERMEIL: “I don’t know if there is ever as much separation as I would like. But this was not a big time man-to-man coverage team. They play a lot of three-deep zone, double zone. It really wasn’t that kind of a problem.”
http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2004/09/20/qa_with_dick_vermeil/
Sep 20, 2004, 6:40:01 PM
DICK VERMEIL: “Eddie Kennison has a moderate strain behind the knee and that’s why he came out of the ballgame. It bothered him a little bit prior to that and he tried to play. When he went on the deep pattern it didn’t pull or anything but he had to pull up.
“Priest Holmes has a sore ankle. After the ballgame I talked to him and was concerned about his knee because I saw him get it bent back. But it turned out this morning that his ankle was a little sore as the end result. It’s nothing serious but it may cost him to miss some time during the week…hopefully, not the ballgame.
“I’ve been through all three phases of the game and there were periods in the game where we played like a very good football team and there were periods where we did not. Therefore, you get beat by another good football team.
“I thought defensively we did some very, very good things. We gave them a 17-yard run on the second run of the ball game and then they never got another one the rest of the half. Then we had a breakout run in the second half that has sort of been part of our MO. But I feel that we’re gaining on the defense overall within the scheme.
“Offensively, we’re still having trouble converting third down situations which is sort of surprising to me. But we weren’t great at third-and-seven plus last year, but we were pretty good. It only takes a few to be much better when you break down third down situations.
“I look at those two fourth down situations. I’ve won games when I’ve gone for them and I’ve lost games because I’ve gone for them in the past. I lost one here one time right before the half in the Oakland game going for it and didn’t make it. I think I made a mistake. I should have more confidence in my offensive line to make one yard. The rule of thumb is when you’re down there early in the ball game and you’re playing a good football team make sure you get three points. I should have shown more confidence in my football team and let them try to make it. I think that wears you out sometimes emotionally, too. If I had it to do over again I would have done it the other way. Sometimes you can have too much experience. I second-guess myself and we could have possibly put on 10 points.
“Being 0-2 isn’t something we’ve been for a while. In 2001 we were 0-2 and went to the Redskins and won big. But our expectations are so much higher now, so it hurts a little bit more. But I do believe after looking at the defensive tapes that we’re getting closer. A lot of people played better this week than they did the week before. That third quarter drive they converted three third-down situations that we’ve got to find a way to stop. I think we’ll eventually get to a point where we can be more efficient.”
Q: Overall offensively are you able to put your finger on why you haven’t been able to operate as efficiently?
VERMEIL: “After two games we’re playing two better defensive teams than we played last year after two games. That’s part of it. I’ve had some concerns and I still have them. We’re not as functionally coordinated in scheme right now – sort of bouncing around. I think that’s because people have seen us within the scheme. That helps them.
“For a while there (vs. Carolina) you can’t execute the play-action passing game better than Trent Green did it. He did a real nice job. But we’re not in rhythm with ourselves as an offensive team right now. I think that’s the blend of the run with the pass and the coordination of them. Then we turn it over twice in the second half. Normally when you get two turnovers and score on defense you should win the football game.”
Q: If you were in the same situation are you going to go for it on fourth down?
VERMEIL: “I’m not going to say that because every game has its own profile and personality. Right now as I look at the tapes and see it as it was, yes, but when it happens you have no idea how the rest of the game is going to be or how you’re going to play. Carolina had a great profile of playing three point or less games and winning last year that I wanted to make sure we got three points.”
Q: What will you do at wide receiver this week without Kennison?
VERMEIL: “I’m not sure yet. Wait to see a little more of a report on Eddie Kennison. But probably Dante Hall would step up and take his place.”
Q: And then get a guy up from the practice squad?
VERMEIL: “Not necessarily. Just have to wait and see. Samie Parker is still questionable.”
Q: But if Sammie’s not ready, then do you go outside or to the practice squad?
VERMEIL: “I don’t know. I can go with three receivers. Some people only suit up three game day.”
Q: Was Richard Smith a disappointment yesterday?
VERMEIL: “He made a mistake. He dropped the ball. But maybe that’s to be expected. It always disappoints you when he drops one and it disappoints you when he makes a mistake.”
Q: How much has the unsettled situation on offense been with the wide receivers missing?
VERMEIL: “It hasn’t been unsettled. We know who they are. They just missed training camp and it affects their stamina. Yesterday it hurt us. Gradually allowing the right tackle to grow into playing the position as it was played a year ago is unsettling. You do things within your scheme and what you call and how you run your offense overall. That’s some of it too, but John Welbourn did some things better yesterday and he did some things that have to be done better. We’ve got to be patient.”
Q: When did you know that Priest was hurt? Did you find out today when you came in?
VERMEIL: “This morning.”
Q: Why wasn’t he in the game at the end yesterday?
VERMEIL: “Just left him out because it was the kind of stuff that we were doing that Derrick Blaylock can do and do well in the kind of situation in the game.”
Q: Is it an ankle twist, is it a sprain?
VERMEIL: “Just a slight sprain, just a slight swelling. Nothing to do with a high ankle sprain or anything like that.”
Q: Do you expect him to play on Sunday or is that yet to be determined?
VERMEIL: “I don’t know. I just got the report today and I know that it’s not a serious ankle sprain. I don’t know how long it takes him to recover. John Tait used to get an ankle sprain and play on Sunday. But every guy’s a little bit different and every ankle’s a little bit different.”
Q: Is Priest the kind of guy who maybe could go all week without practicing and then play?
VERMEIL: “He could, he could do that. He could work late and go. But we’ll be prepared to go without him if he can’t go. It’s not serious, it’s just how quickly he can mend.”
Q: Is the diagnosis process over with? Have the doctors looked at it?
VERMEIL: “Yeah. Mild soreness (reads a long medical evaluation). Moderate swelling.”
Q: So his knee’s bad too?
VERMEIL: “No, it was just sore from getting bent back. But it’s fine.”
Q: Who plays for him assuming Priest doesn’t play?
VERMEIL: “Blaylock would and then Larry (Johnson) would get ready to go.”
Q: What packages do you have that don’t involve Priest?
VERMEIL: “Nothing.”
Q: Then why wasn’t he in the game? I’m not sure I understand why he wasn’t in the game….
VERMEIL: “Because we didn’t want him in the game at the time. Is that a good enough answer? It had nothing to do with his injury because I walked right up to him and asked him and that’s the only thing I can tell you. The truth. That’s why he wasn’t in the game. The situation in a game like that down by 11 we just left him out of there.”
Q: Can you describe the difficulty that Trent’s having getting any timing down not being able to work with his receivers in training camp?
VERMEIL: “That has nothing to do with it. That has nothing to do with it. He’s in rhythm with our wide receivers when we throw them the ball. One got knocked down; one got picked off. Smith dropped one. Dante dropped one on a quick out. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen him sharper in a first quarter throwing very, very difficult balls. Sometimes defenses take things away from you. There were a few times I think he forced the ball downfield which are low percentage completions and maybe a little higher risk of interceptions. He could have checked it down and put the ball in the hands and let the guy advance it from the line of scrimmage.”
Q: As you look at the film do you see receivers getting good separation or is it not where you want it yet?
VERMEIL: “I don’t know if there is ever as much separation as I would like. But this was not a big time man-to-man coverage team. They play a lot of three-deep zone, double zone. It really wasn’t that kind of a problem.”
http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2004/09/20/qa_with_dick_vermeil/