Teicher: No changes in defensive coaching staff
 

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/10668159.htm

Vermeil: Defensive coaches staying

By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star


Despite pressure to improve a defense that finished next to last in yards allowed, Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil said Monday that he will make no changes to his defensive staff.

Vermeil was encouraged by president/general manager Carl Peterson to make some moves, particularly at defensive back. Peter Giunta and Vernon Dean coached a secondary that allowed more passing yards than any other NFL team.

Vermeil took the two weeks since the Chiefs' season-ending loss in San Diego to ponder changes. He returned to his Arrowhead Stadium office Monday, saying that while all of his assistants would be welcome to return, he also expected better results next season.

“The only way any football coach is evaluated is on how many games they won,” Vermeil said. “Since we won only seven games, everybody on this staff, including me, is evaluated as below average. An 8-8 record would have meant we were average.”

Although the Chiefs played poorly on defense since he joined the Chiefs in 2001, Vermeil has remained steadfastly loyal to his assistants. He resisted pressure from Peterson to replace coordinator Greg Robinson two years ago.

The only defensive staff changes were made last year when Vermeil accepted Robinson's resignation and linebackers coach Joe Vitt left for the Rams.

Giunta and Dean are under scrutiny after many of the defensive backs had poor seasons. The play of safeties Greg Wesley and Jerome Woods slipped noticeably. Young cornerbacks William Bartee and Julian Battle failed to develop into reliable players.

Vermeil said his coaches weren't to blame.

“Peter Giunta is no more guilty now than he was 100 percent responsible for the Super Bowl championship defense and the secondary he coached with the Rams,” Vermeil said. “They coached the players we give them to coach to the best of their ability. Do I blame them if a guy blows a coverage or breaks down fundamentally? No.

“If I thought they were doing a poor job of that, I would handle that. But I don't think that's true.”

Vermeil last year replaced Robinson with Gunther Cunningham and Vitt with Fred Pagac, but otherwise made few changes to defensive personnel. The Chiefs were even worse defensively. They allowed 103 more points and 330 additional yards and forced 17 fewer turnovers.

The Chiefs would have a second offensive staff departure if quarterback coach Jason Verduzco departs. He is a candidate to become offensive coordinator on Robinson's staff at Syracuse, where he recently became head coach.

Tight-ends coach Keith Rowen left two weeks ago to become offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals. He is replaced by Terry Shea, a former Chiefs assistant who spent one year with Chicago.

The ****?!?! The only way a football coach is evaluated on MY staff is how they performed on their ****ing side of the ball. #31 out of 32 is slightly below ****ing average. Slightly.

I'm growing less fond of Dick Vermeil by the hour.

GUNTA needs to go, our dbacks suck ass, hello.

ROFL Yeah, this should cause a riot. I will be famous on ChiefsPlanet for starting a riot.

Actually, hopefully that this is a bit of good news in that he pretty much says we have to get the coaches better players to coach.... hopefully.....

What he said.

I didn't get to that part before my head exploded.

If it were possible to be top 5 in the league in defense and offense and STILL go 7-9, Dick Vermeil would be talking about how his coaches were amongst the top ****ing 5 in the league instead of below average.

He is such a gunt. Wow, that pisses me off. Does he think people are really that stupid?

Well, I guess we can look forward to 8-8 next year.

I'm a homer by nature, but I agree. We've got to do something... anything. If they pull off a big FA move or two, at least I'll feel like they tried. This is really getting depressing. We'll see...

I swear to God the next time I see Dick Vermeil in public, rather than shaking his hand, I will kick him in the shins. Mark my words. I may chicken out at the last moment and make it appear as though it were an accident, but either way DICK VERMEIL WILL BE RUBBING HIS SHINS AND CRYING.

hah haah... :deevee:

yeah, Im all excited about the 2006 season. Perhaps I should change my avatar to 2006? heh.

Does the ring go by the year of the season or the SB? This Superbowl is the one in '05.

Dick cannot leave soon enough!

Watch that goofy little bastard cry this team into a superbowl win this year, too. Gawd, won't we feel like dipshits?

Yeah, this is really the only good part of the article I imagine in most people's minds...

I think it's pretty obvious what that means, hopefully they follow through. I think they will.

Man, I hope so. I can handle feeling like a dipshit.

He'll sue your ass.

Have you even shaken his hand, anyway?

Just flip him off.

So if we win the Super Bowl I won't feel any different?

You'll feel like an insanely happy dipshit.

Just like me.

Yeah. Stevieray and I had our picture taken with him. He left the impression that he couldn't get away fast enough. I'm sure it was me, but maybe he's not quite the people person everybody thinks he is....

Hey Phob.. if you could pick our next coach, who would it be?

I don't have any point to this... I'm just curious.

its based on teh season, as the real ring was 1969... Im thinking of making one that is 2028, cuz i think that is prolly more accurate.

Good thing we are Jayhawk fans, eh? I feel like a Patriots fan... cuz Bill Self is so young. We are gonna be awesome for years!!! woo hoo.

Anybody who isn't a Marty disciple. Really. I don't follow the entire league as closely as I used to, but I do know that Marty disciples don't win superbowls. I'd like somebody who doesn't hug players who fumble and draw flags. It think that's kinda important to instilling discipline despite what Dick Vermeil would lead us to believe in his bullshit, joke press conferences.

I'd rather watch Dr. Phil 10x a day than one Dick Vermeil press conference. Hold me to that, it's no bullshit.

yeah, you were kinda rank both times that I have hung out with you. Its called deoderant dude....

just saying.

http://www.ironcircus.com/tmyk.jpg

The handle is "Phobia", not Donger, dude. I have no hygiene issues.

ROFL

Yeah man I know. Bill is the shit, and (according to Phobia) unlike DV he is genuinely nice.

I'd like the Chiefs to find a guy like Jack Del Rio.

I watched that preseason show about the Jaguars training camp on HBO and I think he's exactly what the Chiefs need. Smart off the field, tough on the field.

maybe the Chiefs need a head coach whose name starts with Bill?

Parcells, Walsh, Belichek... :hmmm:

Oh CHRIST.

You though Skip Towne hated you before?

Wait until he sees this one. Holy shit. I think I'm gonna have to email him. ROFL

Jack Del Rio

You do know that Jack was a Scab who assaulted the Chiefs most beloved WR in '82, don't you?

I had no idea.

I still think he's a good head coach.

I think it was '86, but your point still stands...

Oh. Well. Thanks.

who? Stephone Paige? Or Carlos Carson? Or JJ Birden? Or uh, Lake Dawson?

86?

I thought Otis Taylor was the most beloved WR.

So are you talking about Carson or Paige?

Head coach JACK DEL RIO played LB for Chiefs from 1987-88

Otis. He worked in the FO at the time.

thank you google...

New Panthers coach mixed it up with Chiefs legend
By JEFFREY FLANAGAN

Former Chiefs linebacker Jack Del Rio is expected to be introduced as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars today. When you mention the name Del Rio in these parts, you can't help but think of Otis Taylor as well.

Del Rio and Taylor were involved in one of the ugliest incidents in the 1987 NFL strike, the last time the NFL went on strike.

Del Rio, along with several other players, was picketing outside the stadium offices when Taylor, then a Chiefs scout, tried to walk through the line with some replacement players he had scouted.

Del Rio did not recognize Taylor and thought he was a replacement player, too. Taylor said Del Rio called him a "dirty scab" and a "lowlife."

A scuffle ensued, and witnesses reported that Del Rio got Taylor in a headlock and body-slammed him to the ground. Another striking player, Dino Hackett, and sports agent Charles Meek eventually separated the players.

Kansas City Star sportswriter Randy Covitz was covering the strike story and was on the scene. He said once Del Rio finally recognized Taylor, Del Rio said, "Hey, Otis, I used to love watching you. You were a great player."

Taylor did not take the incident lightly and filed a criminal complaint against Del Rio. But the Kansas City prosecutor did not file charges.

Taylor then filed a $1 million lawsuit against Del Rio, player representative Nick Lowery and the NFL Players Association. The case was settled out of court two years later.

Taylor, who recently retired from Blue Cross and Blue Shield, could not be reached for comment Thursday.

It doesn't matter who we have coaching our defensive backs as long as we have scrubs like McCleon, Bartee, and Battle back there.

We need to upgrade the defense by adding more talented players. We tried the "coaching" change last offseason. It didn't work.

Hey! You're that bastard that started the rumor about Trotter!

That's crap. You seen the DB's the Patriots are fielding lately?

The Patriots could put me in the defensive backfield and hold the Colts to 10 (I'd probably give up at least 1 TD to Marv).

Just as we say this, the Super Bowl video from Vermeil's SB loss with the Eagles is on ESPN right now.... if only we could trade our defense for that team's defense...

Believe it or not, the Patriots defensive backfield even with their injuries, has alot of talent in it. Granted, it's YOUNG talent, but they have done a great job of drafting.

Their front seven and the game conditions helped them alot against the Colts though.

Dude, they're playing an undrafted rookie and a WR as their 2nd corner and nickel.

Wow.. DV looks really, really young.

Obvious I know...

yeah but if we traded our defense for theirs, we would be complaining about how old our defense is.


bah dum- pah....ching

Yeah, believe it or not if you look up the stats on that team you'd see that they were the #1 defense in the league, a couple years running too... he always had better defensive teams, until he came here of course.

Har har. Hopefully he's not here all week folks. :)

I know. They're talented guys. And that Eugene Wilson is pretty good too.

We put either one of them in our backfield and you're BEGGING for Bartee and McCleon back.

It's not the DB's.

I saw Manning get protection numerous times the other night. He stood in the pocket for five, six, seven seconds...no one was open.

Do you seriously believe an undrafted rookie and a WR can cover as well as Bartee? Nothing on that entire Patriot team relies exclusively on individual talent.

After reading every post in this thread, there's 10 minutes I'll really miss, I've decided this.I think the defensive failures are a combination of players and coaching. Every aspect of that defense could and should be upgraded, with the defensive backs and linebackers taking priority. I also think there's a lack of fire and emotion on the field. If there is emotion, it's gentle and loving emotion, not "I'm going to rip your head off and shit down your throat" emotion. I used to really admire and respect the head coach, now I can't wait for him to retire. The only problem is once that happens, the team as we know will probably be dismantled and yet another rebuilding will occur.

Yup. More importantly, no leadership on that side of the ball. Erica Hicks is supposedly the defensive captain. I've heard/seen him squeak up twice in 7 years, once when begging off training camp for his wife to experience a complicated childbirth and the other time to cuss a female reporter, Rhonda Moss. Yeah, he's a great leader. Is it any wonder our defense hasn't made a play since 1998?

Start the god damn petition for this old bag to leave and never come the F back.

So basically Gunita, who has always sucked monkey balls, gets a pass because he won the 1999 Super Bowl with Vermeil?

Greg Robinson won 2 SBs with the Broncos and Shanahan threw him under the bus when he started to suck.

I love it. Does he blame the coaches if a player breaks down fundamentally and blows a coverage? I will say it again, how do we expect these players and coachs to be held accountable for their actions when the head coach wants to make excuses and have a no accountability policy?

Vermeil is the WORST thing that could of happened to this organization.

If I was Gunther, I would tell him to shove his 1999 ring up his ass. He won it because he had an easy schedule - he's basically said that every time he cries about how hard his schedule is.

Amen.

I was very disappointed to hear this on the news this morning. My wife and I are this close >< to saying FU to Carl and Dick and not renew our season tickets.

I rarely post anymore. As an avid follower of the Chiefs since my high school days in the early 60's, I found this season and this coaching staff to just seemingly suck all of the joy and expectations out of my body.

If Vermeil says it's not the coach's fault then why did we stand pat and sign all the underachievers to new contracts last year? Vermeil is senile and can't buy a clue. I, too, am sick of him making excuses every time for this pathetic defense. The Chiefs will remain a one-demensional mediocre team as long as this "Dick" is allowed to remain head coach.

I seriously doubt we make much of a splash in the free agent market, but even one or two players aren't enough for this grotesque abortion that calls itself an NFL defense.

I feel like we have a one year window left for a miracle to happen; then the house-cleaning starts again. Thanks Dick............for nothing. You did wonders for the offense, but oh my God, what it cost the defense. At least let your DC pick the coaches he wants to work with. I will happily kiss your @ss goodby.

Interesting. I was sure that Gunther and CP had decided to make some staffing changes. I'll be curious to see if DV truly has the final word on this one.

None of this should be surprising to anyone, as a functioning team we have a very lopsided organization and that entire organization hasn't proven to know anything about defense the last few years.

Many of us have said that having even a middle of the pack defense would get us deep into the playoffs and I would consider only the AFC & NFC Championship games to mean "deep". A look back over the last 4 years to reflect DV's tenure compared to teams in this years lineup for the Championship games, I don't think that a middle of the pack D will cut it. DV needs to wake up and realize that serious changes are needed and his decision to keep his coaches coupled with Carl's comments the other night about not cutting vets because of contract accelerations doesn't bode well for this season at all.

The Defensive rankings of the 4 teams in the Championship games compared to ours.
Steelers #1 in yards, #2 in rushing, #4 in passing, #1 in scoring
Eagles # 10 in yards, #16 in rushing, #12 in passing, #2 in scoring tied
Falcons #14 in yards, #8 in rushing, #22 in passing, #14 in scoring
Patriots # 9 in yards, #6 in rushing, #17 in passing, #2 in scoring tied
KC # 31 in yards, #12 in rushing, #32 in passing, #29 in scoring

We have a huge mountain to climb and to say that I don't think this offseasons changes or additions will be enough to get us there is an understatement.

our Offense compared to those teams:
Steelers #16 in yards, #2 rushing, #28 passing, #11 in scoring
Eagles #9 in yards, #24 rushing, #7 passing, #8 in scoring
Falcons #20 in yards, #1 rushing, #30 passing, #16 in scoring
Patriots #7 in yards, #7 rushing, #11 passing, #4 in scoring
KC #1 in yards, #5 rushing, #4 passing, #2 in scoring

A lot of good being a good offense does us, or Indy, Minnesota, Green Bay, St Louis, Denver or Seattle. All are ranked in the top 10 in offensive yards and just like us having a good O doesn't mean squat.

DV of all people should know better than anyone that defense is key because it was one of the biggest reasons he got his ring.

Looking at the teams still in it, the defense is what has got them this far, but their drafts have been fairly well balanced on both sides of the ball and each team had players who haven't performed up to expectation, whether it was just from being a bust or injury or whatever.
Steelers
2001 - Casey Hampton DT, Kendrell Bell LB
2002 - Kendall Simmons OG, Antwaan Randle El WR
2003 - Troy Polamalu S, Alonzo Jackson DE
2004 - Ben Roethlisberger QB, Ricardo Colclough CB
4 defensive picks in the first 2 rounds & 3 offensive
Not sure that Jackson has made any impact, but other than that pretty good.
Hampton was a hella starter til injury same for Bell & Simmons. Add the 3 of them plus BR, & Polamalu & that is 5 starters.

Eagles
2001 - Freddie Mitchell WR, Quinton Caver LB
2002 - Lito Sheppard CB, Michael Lewis S
2003 - Jerome McDougle DE, LJ Smith TE
2004 - Shawn Andrews OT, no 2nd
4 defensive picks in the first 2 & 3 offensive
Caver was obviously a bust there & McDougle hasn't done jack considering they traded up to get him. Then again playing behind Kearse...
Mitchell only became a starter by default of TO and Andrews got hurt before the season really got started
Lewis, Sheppard are the only 2 to have helped this year.

Falcons
2001 - Vick QB, Alge Crumpler TE
2002 - TJ Duckett RB, Will Overstreet DE
2003 - no 1st, Bryan Scott CB
2004 - DeAngelo Hall CB, Michael Jenkins WR
4 offensive picks & 3 defensive
Duckett hasn't lived up to the hype, but fits well in the offense, Overstreet has been hurt.
Vick, Crumpler, Scott & Hall are starters

Patriots
2001 - Richard Seymour DT, Matt Light OG
2002 - Daniel Graham TE, Deion Branch WR
2003 - Ty Warren DT, Eugene Wilson CB, Bethel Johnson WR
2004 - Vince Wilfork DT, Ben Watson TE, Marquise Hill DE
5 defensive picks & 5 offensive
Seymour, Light, Graham, Branch, Warren & Wilson are starters

Chiefs
2001 - Trade Trent Green QB, Trade DV
2002 - Ryans Sims DT, Eddie Freeman DT
2003 - Larry Johnson RB, Kawika Mitchell LB
2004 - no 1st, Junior Siavii DT, Kris Wilson TE
4 defensive picks & 2 offensive plus the 2 traded picks to pick up Green and the offensive minded DV.
Green is a starter but when you trade a 1st for a vet, he'd better be.
Mitchell & Sims are the only drafted starters.

It's obviously easy to look at the stats & amount of starters drafted in the first 2 rounds and say that New England is the best run organization, but point blank they've gotten 6 starters in 4 drafts. It's hard to compare that to our 2 starters because you have to consider that DV & Green were traded for also but it just goes to show that we are far from being worthy of a ring.

Like most of, a job change is inspiring and motivates you to give it your all. To say that Guinta & others can't be a good coach is probably shortsighted, but to say that they can't be a good coach here is probably very true. They've become complacent under DV because they know he doesn't hold them accountable so they aren't motivated to do a good job and that may not necessarily be obvious to DV. However a new staff that is just coming together is generally more excited about building something together.

This is sad news, but it is what I expected of him. With all the coaches and staff only signed for the next year, I see why DV did this.

As a coach, who wants to come to KC for 1 year, a year where there is a good chance to meet failure ?

I might also add that this is object lesson #1 in why it's not a good idea to hire your friend and good buddy to be head coach. If Marty or Gun pulled this same crap they'd be gone already, but Carl can't (or won"t) fire his good buddy Dick.

The players need to change, not the coaches. No coach teaches not to turn your head around and look for the ball. Or to blow assignments. We need players that play better and understand the defense and where they are suppose to be at.

Firing is too good for this gray haired old fuck.

His complete lack of respect and accountability to and for this franchise, along with its fans, deserves a savage fucking beating and a one way ticket back to his p#ssy a$$ ranch in PA.

He's done absolutely nothing for this organization.

And to think I was excited when he landed here. This fuck is more worried about his "friends" on the coaching staff than winning a championship - its that simple. I'm glad that we've become a haven for the "limber dick club" of NFL coaches. It really makes me want to go out and pay even more cash for tickets and merchandise (sarcasm).

The sooner we get "Dick" and his loser buddy Carl out of this town, the better.

What a complete b!tch.

OK fine Dick, then if this is the case, admit that you guys were dumbasses for sticking with Bartee and drafting Battle and go out and get new corners if these guys are such excellent coaches.

And here I was thinking that a coach is SUPPOSED to teach fundamentals and get his lessons across in a way where the guy won't be breaking down fundamentally time and time again. I guess this is an admission that this is the DUMBEST group of DB's in the history of the league too.

I'm sure he also wasn't responsible for the last place defense the Rams fielded the very next year either, once John Bunting left as the co-defensive coordinator. At least Martz had the balls to get rid of the guy.

All I know is this: in 1999 the Rams front office stepped in and forced Vermeil's hand to change his staff. Since Carl isn't doing the same thing here and forcing Vermeil's hand, it is ultimately Carl's responsibility. So Carl, you damn well better have the offseason of your life and get these brilliant coaches some players, otherwise you're gonna be sending your dream coach home with a broken legacy instead of riding off into the sunset...

so I take it everybody is now ready to take seriously what I posted LAST week, from Holthus?

Vermeil = Gunther

How many times did we hear Dick say that they failed as coaches to prepare the players to play? Fans and the media were too tough on the players, because they have talent. Dick saw it on the practice field every day.

Now that it means that his friends may have to go, it is the players fault for not being talented enough.

Which is it Dick? Either way changes need to be made and Dick doesn't seem to have the balls to do it. He doesn't want to move outside of his comfort zone to build something truly great and Carl doesn't want to upset his buddy. Hooray for mediocrity.

I wonder what Gunther has to say about all of this. I wonder what Lamar has to say.

Well maayyyyyybe Dick is finally admitting that the players aren't good enough. Now if we could just get him to believe that he and the defensive coaches aren't good enough we might start getting somewhere.

If after every loss you say that you as a coaching staff need to do a better job at coaching the players, well, who is the real problem?

Oh well, I can almost guarntee that the reason that DV doesn't want to make any changes is because he knows it is his last year here and doesn't think he would be able to get anyone good to come in here for what is basically a one year job.

Gunther and Carl need to step in and tell DV that they gave him a chance to do it, but they need to make the changes anyway.

100% agree. He had to be forced in St. Louis and it won them a Super -Bowl. It needs to be done here.

Dick would make a great offensive coordinator.

Shouldn't Gunther have a say in who the defensive coaches are going to be? There was nothing said about how Gun feels and that frightens me a little bit :hmmm:

This just pisses me off. Every fucking time that Vermiel brings up a Super Bowl that him or one of his coaches won elsewhere, I just wanna fucking strangle him.

Dick would make a great RETIRED HEAD COACH.

I am glad this is dicks last year, i really hope we win it all and he goes out on top again but its time for another HC.

I'm tired of everything that comes out of this old goat's mouth. I don't pay attention anymore. Just STFU, upgrade the talent and win a Super Bowl.

I'm getting sick to DEATH of half-measures.

Two years ago we tried to fix this broke-ass defense by bringing in some new blood while keeping all the coaches. Didn't work.

Then we tried to fix it by bringing in a new DC while keeping all the old sorry players and assistant coaches. Didn't work.

It's time to fix blow this thing up and go for broke by letting Gunther pick his own assistants and players. GR had to use Vermeil's chosen assistants Gunther had to use Vermeil's chosen assistants, and it's not WORKING!

1 Year. Make or break.

There are plenty of good young minds out there that would be happy to take a shot under Gunther to make their reputation.

I wonder how much Gunther regrets coming back.

Even better.

I just can't believe that Dick is willing to go out on a sour note. Why doesn't he want to do whatever he can to make a real run at a championship in his last year? He should be going for broke. Instead he's still perfectly happy with mediocrity. Unbelievable.