Cunningham: "When you're backed up to your own end of the field, I told (offensive coordinator) Jimmy (Raye) and the quarterback, you don't start throwing the football around unless you take a play- action shot and go for it all on one play. What you do is protect your endzone. You get a couple of first downs or one first down and you put (punter) Todd Sauerbrun out there. We acquired Todd Sauerbrun who, I believe, has averaged over 50 yards a punt in pre-season. That makes you feel good as a head coach to get ‘em down at other end of the field and play defense, keep them there.


Personally I would prefer the philosophy: "Hey, if we're backup up in our own zone, we're going to drive 90 yards for the touchdown, whatever it takes."

Wolf,

I just read that article, and there are a bunch of crazy quotes in it! I don't know what he is thinking when he says those things!

I have no argument with playing for field position in that situation, BUT you still lose that game with "a yard-and-a-half and a cloud of dust". Gotta do something other than up Grunny's butt 3 times and punt.

B^2

All Raye bashers please take note. Raye is following Gun's orders!!

There's an element of truth in what Gunther says (i.e. protect your endzone), but if you play that way exclusively you limit your options and their D will stuff you like a trophy bass. There's a difference between playing not to lose and playing to win!

A big key to successful offense is unpredictability - doing something that their D hasn't accounted for. I can only hope that Gun is setting up our opponents for something like that when he talks like this...

Kokanee
hoping against all hope...

That doesn't sound like a new game plan at all to me. maybe his "record has a scratch on it"...someone give him a bump before we repeat last season.

If they win Sunday, Gun can talk all the crazy **** he wants.... http://www.ChiefsPlanet.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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joe
"Sex on television can't hurt you... unless you fall off."

I am starting to listen more to what Gun doesn't say...

Has anyone else besides me been longing for the 15-35 yard passes that other teams use (instead of the 5-10 yard passes we seem to like)?

Maybe this is what Gun means (combined of course, with solid running)?

Luz
somehow i just don't see gun being as conservative this year...

This reminds me of the Schottenheimer "Our main goal on offense today is not to turn the ball over" quote.

I'm hoping that he's just putting some stuff out there to mess with Indy's DC's head. Because if he really feels this way, as Kokanee stated below, this is playing not to lose, rather than to win.

Hopefully, this is yet another example of Gunther saying one thing and doing another. I, personally, don't think Jim Mora is scanning the web looking for KC strategy on the game but it's fun to see Gun taking every detail so seriously! Do you really think it matters to the Manning/Harrison conncetion whether Atkins or Wesley is playing strong safety? http://www.ChiefsPlanet.com/ubb/smile.gif




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AZChief

Remember Kansas City's hero, Joe Delaney #37.

ChiefNJ - I agree. Although I have not spoken out much against Gunther, I am about out of rope with him. When he was first named to the position, I was frustrated. I thought the coaching organization should have been gutted. However, I sucked up my pride and gave him a shot. His decisions this year make him a do or die as far as I am concerned....

However, that still does not let the 3 stooges off the hook.

I too have been giving Gun every benefir of the doubt but I'm realizing now that he just might be part of the problem.

I'm still willing to give him the benefit of a doubt. But if this team isn't responding and is playing lackluster ball by or around the bye, I predict Gun will be fired and Willie Shaw takes over on an interim basis...

I've had my misgivings about Gun since his decision to retain The Three Stooges. This qoute, though, doesn't take Raye off the hook. He has a history of failure. I was disapointed when he was chosen over Al Saunders for the position of OC, and he has done nothing since his promotion to ease that disapoitment.

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Red Eyes
[i]Chinn Up, it ain't nothin' but a thang.</I>

This is playing not to lose. When you do this, you lose. It's the same as the prevent defense.

The object of the game is to score points. Points are needed to win the game. The other team will score points, therefore, you will need to score some as well.

Suffice it to say, this has really sapped my confidence in Gun and the other 'coaches'. I think it's going to be a long year.

Welcome to Guntherball. Choosing Rich as the HB instead of a Cloud/Rich combo ensures we'll see lots o 8 man fronts. This quote ensures we'll see lots of slams into those fronts.

Gunther seems intent on proving some kind of macho 'I'm a tough guy' thing. Unfortunately we'll be the ones showing our macho as we watch the parade of 3 and outs.

I agree with Wolfman. I have held in my true feeling about Gun for my love of the team. However, he is making it hard to respect him. I have thought since day 1 that he has no business as a head coach. I will stick by him though, just as he has done with Grbac. If nothing is produced soon, I say they both go.

This quote isn't the only one he has made lately that has me scratching my head. Forget the fact we lost all games in preseason, what did we learn, from those games, player evaluation, I guess that will be decided. This team looked down, that is the only term I can use, as it took the field in the SF and Tampa game, and even going into the opening game, I am sensing, complete disarray. The decision to cut Rison, which I agreed with, was met with some doubts, by other players. I think Warfield himself, was the most astounded by Dishman, which I also liked. I think the veterans all rallied around Gun last year, and really overachieved, this year I just get the feeling that loyalty and admiration is lacking. By the way, I don't know what his personal problems are, but he had better get his head into the season fast.

I think what Gun is trying to say is this: The game of football is a game of field position. You don't want to have a pass intercepted when you are backed up near your own goal line. Better to chuck a long one (if its intercepted its like a punt) and then it must be setup by play action.

With a good punter the battle for field position should swing in our favor then we can open it up and punch it in.

Just trying to give Gun the benefit of the doubt, but I do think this is a correct approach to coaching. Not taking a sack or interception deep in your own territory is a good idea!

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Still I dream of a cold frosty day probably too far away when the Chiefs are still playing football in mid January

Chiefnj: you said,
All Raye bashers please take note. Raye is following Gun's orders!!

I am the king when it comes to bashing Raye. This is an example of how Gun has to give him the most simple of instructions about protecting their own end zone. Gun's comment is obvious to everyone but Raye. <BR>

I want to see long passes for exciting touchdown runs. I am tired of up the gut for little or no gain runs that go nowhere!!!

Gun is talking about special teams. He likes what he sees out of Saurbrun (Sp?). So if we do have a 3 and out like all teams have Todd can move the ball back to their end of the field. His comments are not reflecting his thoughts on our offense.

Hoover
Read the whole story, not just a quote.

[This message has been edited by Hoover (edited 08-30-2000).]

Hoover your correct some of these people jump to conclusions so much on incorrect or incomplete information. It's laughable.

It appears to me that if the Chiefs offense managed a "few first downs" that would put them around their own 30 yard line.

Wouldn't you then be able to "throw the ball around" more effectively?

Actually if you look at last season, the entire gameplan when going into Baltimore and Tampa was to protect the ball when we got it deep in our zone, which is why we barely scored in either of those games in the first half. They kept running the ball and punting hoping the D would create some turnovers. I hope we've moved beyond that this year...