Edwards promises offensive changes for Chiefs

[Oz_Chief]

...but Solari stays.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercu...s/16406684.htm

By Adam Teicher

McClatchy Newspapers

(MCT)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - One day after a pathetic performance bounced his team from the playoffs, Herm Edwards promised offensive changes for the Chiefs in 2007.

Edwards said he couldn't be specific about many of the changes because they are still to be decided. But he indicated they would probably include a different scheme_and maybe a new starting quarterback.

They won't include a new coordinator. Edwards said Mike Solari would continue in that job no matter what type of offense the Chiefs use.

Edwards also said defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham and the rest of his assistant coaches would be welcome to return next season.

Edwards has contemplated changes through the course of a bumpy offensive season. Saturday's 23-8 loss to the Colts in a first-round playoff game in Indianapolis helped drive home the point.

The Chiefs had 126 yards and failed to get a first down until their eighth possession.

"We didn't handle their speed real well," Edwards said.

"We have to take a hard look at ourselves. You have to be realistic and ask yourself if we're really capable of (successfully running their current system). I want to make sure of one thing: Whatever type of system we run, young players have to be able to play. They can't wait a year or two to get on the field. I don't want to be in a situation where young guys who have some talent can't play because the system is too complex.

"There are some things we do very well. There are things we can do even better. That's what I'm talking about here: How do we do these things better? It's not a laundry list of things. These are just things that allow us to get the football to the right players."

Edwards said the Chiefs would keep their power running game centered on Larry Johnson and a play-action passing game. But they will simplify by cutting back on the number of plays and their complexities.

Those changes would be aimed toward making things easier for younger players. Edwards wouldn't identify those players he would like to play more next season, but he may have been talking about rookie wide receivers Jeff Webb and Chris Hannon and perhaps even rookie quarterback Brodie Croyle.

"I just know it has to be player-friendly," Edwards said. "It has to be something that young players at all positions can play. I want to give the quarterback even more ability to change some things at the line of scrimmage. I want him to have the ability to get to anything we have right now.

Edwards wouldn't address the issue of whether Trent Green would return as the starting quarterback. Green's play dropped off significantly this season after he missed eight games because of a concussion.

"That's not even something we're discussing right now," Edwards said. "There are a whole lot of other things we have to do as far as the program before we start worrying about player situations. That's second on the agenda."

But his refusal to back Green, who will turn 37 next summer, speaks loudly. The conservative Edwards believes in ball control above all. Green committed three turnovers in the final regular-season game against Jacksonville and three more in the loss to the Colts.

He had no such hesitation about supporting Solari, a career offensive-line coach until promoted to coordinator by Edwards this season.

"I told Mike today that he did a good job for his first year," Edwards said. "That's a tough seat he's sitting in. A lot of the things that happened to us - losing some players, losing the quarterback_affected him. He had never called an offensive play. That's hard. He will be so much better next year. It won't even be close.

"Mike's the guy. He's going to be a heck of an offensive coordinator. Next year will be a lot different for him. I was so much better my second year as a head coach. He'll gain more confidence. He knows me better now. Mike had to learn the passing game. You don't learn that in a year unless you're a coordinator. He was an offensive-line coach. That's something he had to go through."

Edwards also said he was pleased with how he and Cunningham worked together.

"We think a whole lot alike as far as the things we want to get done," he said. "I know people think he's blitz-crazy, but he's really not. He's got to do what the players allow him to do."

[KCJohnny]

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

That's encouraging. I guess we'll be looking at some sort of hybrid perhaps.

We never ran a pure Left Coast offense here. It was always a hybrid based on our consistent strengths being OL, FB, and TE.

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

That's encouraging. I guess we'll be looking at some sort of hybrid perhaps.

Everything I've always heard about Solari (besides the stuff I hear from disgruntled fans) is that he's a pretty sharp guy and the players like him so I'm optimistic that he can be effective.

[WilliamTheIrish]

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

You are nuts if you think they aren't going to put forth a serious effort to upgrade the OL this offseason.

Originally Posted by WilliamTheIrish

When you say upgrade, I want you to dream big and tell me who the Chiefs would go after.

let's get it out here and then we'll see how 'nuts' I am when the season rolls around.

I'm waiting.

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by Laz

it's possible ... but i have still yet to seen any indication from Herman that the change that's going to be made is let Solari do more of what he wants ... more importantly what he knows.


so next year our offensive coordinator is gonna be basically creating a new offensive system and teaching a new offensive system at the same time.

Herm admitted that Solari was only JUST learning the passing game THIS year.

So tell me how good is the passing part of the offense gonna be?

when Solari is such a n00b about it AND is gonna be learning and teaching a new passing game after only 1 year of passing OC experience.


you don't do this ... you don't take this kind of risk


if you want a new offensive system then you go out and hire an offensive coordinator who is an expert in that offensive system.

Hot coordinators leave their teams to become head coaches not to be coordinators elsewhere. Obviously, Al Saunders was an exception to this rule of thumb, but after being passed over for head coach here for the second time, it's not really surprising that he left.

Every single one of the hot coordinators in the league was at one time a first year coordinator without any experience in coordination. Hell, Al Saunders wasn't a coordinator before getting the job here was he? I know he was a head coach for a year and he had lots of coaching experience, but was he ever actually calling plays before he came here? Maybe as head coach, but otherwise I don't think he did.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by patteeu

Hot coordinators leave their teams to become head coaches not to be coordinators elsewhere. Obviously, Al Saunders was an exception to this rule of thumb, but after being passed over for head coach here for the second time, it's not really surprising that he left.

Every single one of the hot coordinators in the league was at one time a first year coordinator without any experience in coordination. Hell, Al Saunders wasn't a coordinator before getting the job here was he? I know he was a head coach for a year and he had lots of coaching experience, but was he ever actually calling plays before he came here? Maybe as head coach, but otherwise I don't think he did.

i understand ... a new offensive coordinator has to start somewhere.


but to have solari ... deal with an aging offense, learn a new system , teach that new system and deal with a system that doesn't fit the players is just setting him up to fall flat on his face.

it's too much

solari should of learned the passing game BEFORE becoming OC ... and even then he should run with the same system for awhile before he's ready to build an offense himself.

[MahiMike]

yawn. He sure didn't seem to mind it during the game. Looked like he threw the game for his buddy. Hopefully that's the case and he's not really incompetent. A guy can only hope...

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by Laz

i understand ... a new offensive coordinator has to start somewhere.


but to have solari ... deal with an aging offense, learn a new system , teach that new system and deal with a system that doesn't fit the players is just setting him up to fall flat on his face.

it's too much

solari should of learned the passing game BEFORE becoming OC ... and even then he should run with the same system for awhile before he's ready to build an offense himself.

I personally think the whole "learning the passing game" is overblown. I do think we have to expect some growing pains for a guy calling plays for the first year, but I suspect that learning the passing plays wasn't the problem.

Let's see how things go after he gets a full offseason to learn from this year and have some input into whatever the scheme turns out to be next year.

[dirk digler]

The problem I have is I believe Solari is Herm's lackey and Herm's know as much about offense as DV does about defense.

[FAX]

Learning the passing game ain't rocket surgery.

There are middle school coaches that could call better game plans than we did against the Mannings.

That offensive display was beyond bad. Well beyond.

FAX

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by FAX

Learning the passing game ain't rocket surgery.

Originally Posted by patteeu

I personally think the whole "learning the passing game" is overblown.

then why was important enough for Herm to bring up?

why do people all throughout the league struggle with it?

why are owners throughout the league paying OC's millions to do what a monkey should be able to do?


we are flirting with disaster to basically give our offensive coordinator "on the job" training .... especially since he's under a offensively challenged Head coach.


i'm just sayin'


bad mojo in this move

[FringeNC]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

After a playoff game like that, I think it's possible Carl sticks his nose into the situation. We've seen it before...

If that were the case, I'm not sure Carl would have had Gretz take Herm's side and throw the players under the bus. The Gretz article suggests to me that Herm is in complete control, and that there is going to be a purge of anyone supportive of the old guard.

[FAX]

My take, Mr. Laz, is that the "learning the passing game" comment is more Hermjawflappage. He has to say something, you know. I mean, to explain why we sucked so much.

An argument can be made that many coaches and assistants and coordinators are overpaid, but that's not the context, as I see it.

The bottom line is that, your OC had better know how to design game plans that include an effective passing strategy. That's pretty basic stuff. Especially if the enemy is expecting the run. If not, you really shouldn't be paying him a dime.

FAX

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by Laz

then why was important enough for Herm to bring up?

why do people all throughout the league struggle with it?

why are owners throughout the league paying OC's millions to do what a monkey should be able to do?


we are flirting with disaster to basically give our offensive coordinator "on the job" training .... especially since he's under a offensively challenged Head coach.


i'm just sayin'


bad mojo in this move

I'm not saying that learning the passing game is easy enough for an internet QB like you or me to figure out, I'm saying that Mike Solari has been an offensive coach in this league for well over a decade and I don't think it's a stretch for him to figure it out. As a line coach, he's had to coach the line on passing plays as well as running plays. It's not like he was only aware of running plays. How could a WR coach like Al Saunders ever grasp the running game in his first year as a coordinator?

[KCJohnny]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

The problem I have is I believe Solari is Herm's lackey and Herm's know as much about offense as DV does about defense.

Stop it! You're scaring the children!!!!!

[boogblaster]

Simple fix...Bring in more WRs..Keep Gonzo..Keep Wilson..Throw more to LJ, if that means early to camp for him..OTs a must..Look for some young speed with good hands to back-up LJ..QBs we need another quality back-up..If Huard stays which I doubt he'll work fine..The ability to change plays has to happen also..DTs need upgraded some..And last GAME-DAY coaching has to change..You have to take what the D.. gives you, till you make them change.. BOOG OUTT ...