http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/13845102.htm
Former line coach Solari also has a passing fancy
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
In his first public words since being hired as offensive coordinator, Mike Solari sought to dispel any notion he would veer the Chiefs from a course set by predecessor Al Saunders.
“We’ll make a few changes, but when I say a few changes I truly believe you won’t notice it,” Solari said Friday. “There’s not going to be a lot of changes. This is the Kansas City Chiefs offense, and we’re going to do what we do.
“We want to move forward and improve.”
That should come as relief to the legions of Chiefs fans concerned that Solari, a career offensive-line coach, would return the Chiefs to their Neanderthal offense from the pre-Saunders days.
Maybe a few players, too. Some assumed the combination of the hiring of the defensive-minded Herm Edwards as head coach and the promotion of Solari meant otherwise.
“Our offense will be more run-oriented,” tackle Willie Roaf said recently. “The good thing about Saunders is that he opened up the game a lot more with his passing packages.”
It’s all part of what Solari is battling, the perception that offensive-line coaches don’t make for good offensive coordinators. He’s heard it before when he’s been considered for coordinator openings elsewhere: offensive-line coaches neither understand nor appreciate the passing game.
He’s determined to prove that at least one does.
“I’ve been told that offensive-line coaches don’t know the passing game,” Solari said. “It’s not an issue. I’ve been in this league (17) years.
“I believe offensive-line coaches know the protections. I believe the offensive-line coaches know the run game. I believe offensive-line coaches that have a history in the league know the passing game. Do they know it as well as a quarterback coach or a receiver coach? No, that’s not their expertise. But why can’t he prepare and know it as well within four of five months?”
In fact, Solari said he believes his background — 17 seasons as an NFL line coach, the last nine with the Chiefs — will help rather than hinder.
“The game is won up front,” he said. “You’ve got to run the ball to win games. You’ve got to be able to pass the ball to win a championship but to win a game, you’ve got to be able to run the ball in the fourth quarter.”
Edwards needed no convincing. He once tried hiring Solari as his offensive coordinator when Edwards was head coach of the Jets.
“The first thing you’d better know about offense is how to get ’em blocked,” Edwards said. “I think we lose sight of that. Mike knows how to do that very, very well.”
“Will Mike have some growing pains? Yeah. You know what I tell him? ‘Whenever you get yourself in a jam … just turn around and give it to the runner, and you’ll be OK.’ That’s how we’ll handle the rough times.”
Solari resisted not only that earlier offer by Edwards but others. It wasn’t because Solari didn’t feel he had coordinator qualifications.
“There were a couple of times I didn’t feel I had the right to go,” Solari said. “I promised (former head coach Dick Vermeil) as the offensive-line coach that I would help bring a championship to the Kansas City Chiefs. I failed also. I didn’t get the job done.”
Solari’s ability as an offensive-line coach has never come under question. The Chiefs are generally acknowledged to have the NFL’s best line. They had three linemen — Roaf and guards Brian Waters and Will Shields — selected to play in the Pro Bowl for the second straight season.
“I’d say he’s the best I’ve ever worked with,” Roaf said. “He doesn’t do a lot of technique work with the younger guys, so from a technical standpoint, I’ve worked with some line coaches who help more with the fundamentals.
“But as far as us knowing our assignments — we’ve probably one of the best lines in not making mental errors — he does a great job with that.”