Herm knows what he’s doing when it comes to cornerbacks

RedThat · 04-21-2006, 07:49 AM

Herm knows what he’s doing when it comes to cornerbacks
JASON WHITLOCK
The Kansas City Star

Jason Whitlock
Previous columns
T he Chiefs held their annual predraft news conference Thursday afternoon inside Arrowhead Stadium.

Why?

Can’t say for sure. As usual, nothing of interest was said. At one point, Chiefs coach Herman Edwards, as bored with the news conference as anyone, tried to engage The Star’s Randy Covitz in a verbal battle.

Herm’s a fine talker, but he’s absolutely no match for the Muhammad Ali of sports journalism, Randy “The Lip” Covitz. To no one’s surprise, “The Lip” ran his unbeaten streak to 3,235 confrontations.

Seriously, by the time Edwards, Carl Peterson and the Chiefs’ new vice president of player personnel Bill Kuharich were done cleverly and enthusiastically saying nothing, I’d concluded the reason for the event was so Peterson could appear in front of a Kansas City crowd without being booed.

We, the media, have a reputation for abusive behavior, but we’re still much too polite to boo Peterson (in the offseason).

About the only thing I could discern from Thursday’s proceedings was that Edwards has little concern about KC’s No. 2 corner opposite Patrick Surtain, which makes me believe the Chiefs will use their first-round pick on a wide receiver or defensive end.

Edwards did not say he was unconcerned about the spot vacated by Eric Warfield. Or did the Chiefs fumigate their secondary by letting Warfield walk to New England for virtually no money?

Whatever the case, Edwards seemed like an extremely confident man when it came to identifying, drafting and developing cornerbacks. He pointed out that when he was an assistant in Tampa Bay the Buccaneers got major production from young corners selected in the second and third rounds (Ronde Barber, Brian Kelly).

Now, this could all be a smokescreen. Edwards admitted the Chiefs, just like most teams, were sending out misinformation about their draft desires.

But here’s why I believe Peterson and Kuharich will let Edwards pick a corner in the second or third round rather than the first.

No one in football knows more about what it takes to play corner in the NFL than Edwards. He scouts the position better than anyone, and he coaches the position better than anyone. That’s the advantage of having played the position, worked as a scout and having coached the position.

Edwards picking a corner is the equivalent of putting a blindfold on me, setting eight slabs of ribs on a table and asking me to identify the slab prepared at a Gates. It wouldn’t be fair to call it work.

As much as I’d like to see the Chiefs acquire free-agent corner Ty Law, I have no doubt that Edwards will identify and develop a solid No. 2 corner. It might be someone already on the Chiefs’ roster. Maybe Julian Battle will play up to his physical skills. Or Bennie Sapp will play over his head. Or the Chiefs will draft someone in the second or third round who will step in and contribute right away.

So I guess I’m leaning toward the Chiefs drafting a defensive lineman. Of course, we know the Chiefs stink at drafting defensive linemen. Yes, they plucked Jared Allen out of the fourth round of the 2004 draft. But there’s still Ryan Sims, Junior Siavii, Eric Downing and Eddie Freeman to explain.

Maybe Kuharich’s ascension in the organization will fix KC’s inability to find defensive linemen. There’s considerable celebration within the Chiefs organization in general and the coaching staff in particular about Lynn Stiles’ decision to step aside for Kuharich.

Stiles is best remembered as the man who fell in love with Trezelle Jenkins’ wingspan and overlooked his clumsy footwork and lack of mental toughness. To be fair, Kuharich, who made his bones with the Saints, is best remembered as the man who fell so madly in love with Ricky Williams’ size and speed that he overlooked the size of Ricky’s bong and weed.

I’d like to see the Chiefs take Boston College defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka. Most draft experts have Kiwanuka pegged as a late first-rounder. He should be available. Then the Chiefs can take a cornerback. I also love Western Michigan receiver Greg Jennings, a projected second- or third-rounder. Jennings will be an NFL star.

04-21-2006, 07:49 AM	Topic Starter
RedThat Banned Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Earth Casino cash: $10004900	Herm knows what he’s doing when it comes to cornerbacks Herm knows what he’s doing when it comes to cornerbacks JASON WHITLOCK The Kansas City Star Jason Whitlock Previous columns T he Chiefs held their annual predraft news conference Thursday afternoon inside Arrowhead Stadium. Why? Can’t say for sure. As usual, nothing of interest was said. At one point, Chiefs coach Herman Edwards, as bored with the news conference as anyone, tried to engage The Star’s Randy Covitz in a verbal battle. Herm’s a fine talker, but he’s absolutely no match for the Muhammad Ali of sports journalism, Randy “The Lip” Covitz. To no one’s surprise, “The Lip” ran his unbeaten streak to 3,235 confrontations. Seriously, by the time Edwards, Carl Peterson and the Chiefs’ new vice president of player personnel Bill Kuharich were done cleverly and enthusiastically saying nothing, I’d concluded the reason for the event was so Peterson could appear in front of a Kansas City crowd without being booed. We, the media, have a reputation for abusive behavior, but we’re still much too polite to boo Peterson (in the offseason). About the only thing I could discern from Thursday’s proceedings was that Edwards has little concern about KC’s No. 2 corner opposite Patrick Surtain, which makes me believe the Chiefs will use their first-round pick on a wide receiver or defensive end. Edwards did not say he was unconcerned about the spot vacated by Eric Warfield. Or did the Chiefs fumigate their secondary by letting Warfield walk to New England for virtually no money? Whatever the case, Edwards seemed like an extremely confident man when it came to identifying, drafting and developing cornerbacks. He pointed out that when he was an assistant in Tampa Bay the Buccaneers got major production from young corners selected in the second and third rounds (Ronde Barber, Brian Kelly). Now, this could all be a smokescreen. Edwards admitted the Chiefs, just like most teams, were sending out misinformation about their draft desires. But here’s why I believe Peterson and Kuharich will let Edwards pick a corner in the second or third round rather than the first. No one in football knows more about what it takes to play corner in the NFL than Edwards. He scouts the position better than anyone, and he coaches the position better than anyone. That’s the advantage of having played the position, worked as a scout and having coached the position. Edwards picking a corner is the equivalent of putting a blindfold on me, setting eight slabs of ribs on a table and asking me to identify the slab prepared at a Gates. It wouldn’t be fair to call it work. As much as I’d like to see the Chiefs acquire free-agent corner Ty Law, I have no doubt that Edwards will identify and develop a solid No. 2 corner. It might be someone already on the Chiefs’ roster. Maybe Julian Battle will play up to his physical skills. Or Bennie Sapp will play over his head. Or the Chiefs will draft someone in the second or third round who will step in and contribute right away. So I guess I’m leaning toward the Chiefs drafting a defensive lineman. Of course, we know the Chiefs stink at drafting defensive linemen. Yes, they plucked Jared Allen out of the fourth round of the 2004 draft. But there’s still Ryan Sims, Junior Siavii, Eric Downing and Eddie Freeman to explain. Maybe Kuharich’s ascension in the organization will fix KC’s inability to find defensive linemen. There’s considerable celebration within the Chiefs organization in general and the coaching staff in particular about Lynn Stiles’ decision to step aside for Kuharich. Stiles is best remembered as the man who fell in love with Trezelle Jenkins’ wingspan and overlooked his clumsy footwork and lack of mental toughness. To be fair, Kuharich, who made his bones with the Saints, is best remembered as the man who fell so madly in love with Ricky Williams’ size and speed that he overlooked the size of Ricky’s bong and weed. I’d like to see the Chiefs take Boston College defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka. Most draft experts have Kiwanuka pegged as a late first-rounder. He should be available. Then the Chiefs can take a cornerback. I also love Western Michigan receiver Greg Jennings, a projected second- or third-rounder. Jennings will be an NFL star.
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