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."

[Redcoats58]

Originally Posted by FringeNC

And Croyle played in this offense in college....

You're missing the point. No one is saying experience doesn't matter. Herm is making an assertion that our offense is too complicated for our young players to learn. The reality of the situation is that our offense is too complicated for someone as IQ-challenged as Herm Edwards to understand. Herm simply does not understand the concept of game theory (optimal strategies), and thinks football is only about hitting people in the mouth.

Herm still has that old school players mentality.

[FringeNC]

Originally Posted by doomy3

There is a HUGE difference between Pace and Black learning the system. Or Holt and Jeff Webb.

Why? Do we draft low IQ guys? Did Webb have a bad Wonderlic? Sure, he may not have the talent of Holt, but that doesn't mean he can't learn the offense.

[Taco John]

You guys would finish in last place if you had Croyle starting this, or next year.

He's a talented kid, but he's got a lot of development to go through, including physical, before you want to put him in charge of an offense. The only thing starting him too early is going to do is destroy his confidence.

If he was a guy who could be ready in year one or two, he'd have been a first or second round pick. The reason he fell to the third round is that everyone in the league knew he was a developmental prospect. He could be a solid starter someday with that arm if he's given the time he needs to fill out and get up to speed.

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by doomy3

Are you serious right now? Warner had been around football much longer and picked many more offenses than Croyle. There is something to be said for experience. Warner had played several years in football after college, unlike Croyle. Plus, Croyle was hurt for most of camp.

Kurt played in the arena leagues most of his career, which isn't exactly the NFL.

[doomy3]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

Kurt played in the arena leagues most of his career, which isn't exactly the NFL.

I agree, but it is still something. He had to learn new offenses when he played arena. There is something to be said about experience. The point is that he wasn't a 21 year old kid out of college that was making the jump from a simple college offense to the most complex offensive scheme in the NFL. Especially, like TJ said, when you are talking about a 3rd round QB, one who was hurt all through training camp at that.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by Taco John

You guys would finish in last place if you had Croyle starting this, or next year.

He's a talented kid, but he's got a lot of development to go through, including physical, before you want to put him in charge of an offense. The only thing starting him too early is going to do is destroy his confidence.

If he was a guy who could be ready in year one or two, he'd have been a first or second round pick. The reason he fell to the third round is that everyone in the league knew he was a developmental prospect. He could be a solid starter someday with that arm if he's given the time he needs to fill out and get up to speed.

Agreed. We're much better off going with an old fart veteran for at least another season.

Hopefully Croyle eventually bursts forth from the clipboard-holding cacoon and turns out to be a great QB

[tk13]

Croyle needs to bulk up. He needs to go through a healthy training camp first, take the reps, have the game slow down for him. Even in the little action he got, he made some rookie mistakes. Plus, I like the idea of working rookie QB's in slowly.

I don't think Kurt Warner is a fair comparison to anybody. How many Kurt Warners are there out there? You don't see too many guys walking in off the street at any position and putting up HOF numbers.

[FringeNC]

My hope going into the season was that Mike Solari could be a good care-taker on offense. The Roaf retirement and Green injury screwed up that. Now that we have to teach new players the system -- that's when we are going to miss the expertise of Vermeil and Saunders. Vermeil and Saunders taught the players well. Unfortunately, they're gone, and there is no one left to teach it. All this shit was so predictable, other than the accelerated rebuilding timetable, and that is hardly a shocker.

The offensive minds are gone, and we're screwed.

[FringeNC]

Originally Posted by tk13

How many Kurt Warners are there out there? You don't see too many guys walking in off the street at any position and putting up HOF numbers.

Missing my point. Not saying Croyle can put up HOF numbers. He's no Kurt Warner. My point is that Herm's argument that young players can't pick up this offense is bullshit. Drew Brees was *okay* in it his first year.

The real reason we have to simplify the offense is that no one on our staff is capable of teaching it, along with the fact that Herm thinks playbooks are unnecessay. Solari is capable of running it -- but running it and teaching it are two different things.

[Coach]

Hey Coach Dumbass Edwards, the scheme is not the goddamn problem, the players already know it and set RECORDS WITH IT. Use your goddamn head, if you have one!

Only a f**king moron could take over this team, watch the offense flop, then blame the SYSTEM for it. I mean... the offensive system has always been a problem right?

I now like Herm even less, but so long as it's nothing that's HIS fault... see? It's Vermeil's fault for the system that's to complicated for 11 players who were in the same offense last season. What?!

This clown makes no sense, I'm already tired of him. We need some personell upgrades... change is not always improvement.... in this case it's a way of skirting blame for a piss poor gameplan.

How can they 'keep' a play action passing game that was nearly non existant all this season?!

[Halfcan]

THIS JUST IN:

Herm promises to fix the Royals, Global Warming, and create Peace on Earth.

"Its okaaayyy man, it really is. As we speak these things are being addressed. I promise that things will be okay, it really will okay. When its darkest before the dawn, the silver lining will shine brighter than a bag of...... shiny things and it will be just fine.

[beer bacon]

If Herm wants to have a successful offense he needs to find some tackles that can actually block. It is that simple.

[el borracho]

Originally Posted by BWillie007

I say we have Trent Retire. Make him Offensive Coordinator. Trent really couldn't do anything he wanted to do on offense. He made all of those plays when he was hurt and not a one of them used. Bring up Brodie, and let him chuck it.

Herm is pretty clear that Solari will be the O Coordinator. Everyone can stop wishing for a new GM, a new head coach and new coordinators. It is not going to happen.

[el borracho]

Originally Posted by RedBull

I agree. He did the exact same thing when Vermeil was here. Peterson is the kinda GM that'll ride the pines of the coaches.

Every coach we had from Marty, Vermeil, to Herm...Each one of those coaches had specialized on 1 side of the ball, and was lackluster on the other. Peterson of course rode the pine, and didn't support ANY of these coaches for their lack of knowledge on 1 side of the ball. As a result, were always dominating on 1 side of the ball, crap on the other.

Ever notice that with the Chiefs? They either have a good defense or a good offense. It's one or the other. That's why we always been mediocre. It's not a coincedence. It's an imcompetent GM riding the pine of the coaches. And not being able to take control of the team and properly and throughly build it the way a competent GM would.

*But I think its also the organization for being stupid enough to keep him here. Why keep a GM who consistently builds mediocre teams? It tells you something about this organization as a whole in general.

What does "ride the pine" mean?

[Eric]

Really interesting !!!!!!!

Why isn't this in the KC STAR ?