Evaluating Coordinators...

[Luzap]

With all the energy being invested in the Gunther good/bad debate, I thought it might be interesting to throw some info/opinions on the table that I'm not seeing expressed...

Injuries and Schedule
The two most important criteria in determining success in the NFL are injuries and strength of schedule. This is my opinion, but it is shared by many respected names in the game. There are aberations, when you get an offensive or defensive squad that is so dominating it rises above any level of competition or can overcome some injuries.

The problem is that to get a squad that dominating, you have to sell out to that side of the ball ~ and there are penalties. The Chiefs offense is a good example of this. Our money has been tied up on the O. The results are arguably the best offense in the NFL. The penalty is a defense that has suffered dramatically. Until 2005, we had not had a significant infusion of talent (read: money) in a large number of years.

Our Defense Hasn't Improved?
Let's look at this in light of Injuries and Schedule.
I think everyone would agree that in 2003 we had very limited talent on the defensive side of the ball. Most would agree that GRob's scheme was outdated. Yet we still went 13-3. The fact that we had a creampuff schedule that year cannot be ignored. Injuries were not much of a factor.

In 2004 we had a much harder schedule, a new DC and defensive scheme to learn, and the same players. We went 7-9. Injuries were not much of a factor on D. WRs were dropping to injuries like flies, but the O was able to overcome it.

In 2005 we had a killer schedule ~ the worst I've seen in years. We finally spent some money and brought in some D talent, but they were all playing in a new scheme. For the first time since 2002, injuries really hurt us. Roaf's missing games handicapped the O immensly. Keyeron Fox/Griffin going down prevented us from swithing in and out of the 3-4 scheme that Gun was starting to use so effectively, and Sims (in what was effectively a contract year and having the best offseason, preseason, and season start to his career) went down in the first game. Yet we still improved our record to 10-6.

IMHO, Gun has done what a DC is supposed to do. He got the most out of what he had, and improved the defense even in the face of huge adversity: injuries and schedule.

There will always be the type of fan that is more invested in defending their own opinion than in exploring the truth/ reality of a situation. I am not here to argue with them. I am writing this for the consideration of those that aren't really sure what to make of Edwards retaining Gun. IMO, it is a no brainer. I am sure that Edwards has defensive minds that he is close to and would love to have here, but you don't roll the dice when you already have a DC that is accomplishing everything you can expect in a tough situation. In other words, Gun has the defense going in the right direction and it would be silly not to see how far he can take it.

Luz
injuries and schedule...