Teicher: No changes in defensive coaching staff

[tk13]

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/10668159.htm

Vermeil: Defensive coaches staying

By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star


Despite pressure to improve a defense that finished next to last in yards allowed, Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil said Monday that he will make no changes to his defensive staff.

Vermeil was encouraged by president/general manager Carl Peterson to make some moves, particularly at defensive back. Peter Giunta and Vernon Dean coached a secondary that allowed more passing yards than any other NFL team.

Vermeil took the two weeks since the Chiefs' season-ending loss in San Diego to ponder changes. He returned to his Arrowhead Stadium office Monday, saying that while all of his assistants would be welcome to return, he also expected better results next season.

“The only way any football coach is evaluated is on how many games they won,” Vermeil said. “Since we won only seven games, everybody on this staff, including me, is evaluated as below average. An 8-8 record would have meant we were average.”

Although the Chiefs played poorly on defense since he joined the Chiefs in 2001, Vermeil has remained steadfastly loyal to his assistants. He resisted pressure from Peterson to replace coordinator Greg Robinson two years ago.

The only defensive staff changes were made last year when Vermeil accepted Robinson's resignation and linebackers coach Joe Vitt left for the Rams.

Giunta and Dean are under scrutiny after many of the defensive backs had poor seasons. The play of safeties Greg Wesley and Jerome Woods slipped noticeably. Young cornerbacks William Bartee and Julian Battle failed to develop into reliable players.

Vermeil said his coaches weren't to blame.

“Peter Giunta is no more guilty now than he was 100 percent responsible for the Super Bowl championship defense and the secondary he coached with the Rams,” Vermeil said. “They coached the players we give them to coach to the best of their ability. Do I blame them if a guy blows a coverage or breaks down fundamentally? No.

“If I thought they were doing a poor job of that, I would handle that. But I don't think that's true.”

Vermeil last year replaced Robinson with Gunther Cunningham and Vitt with Fred Pagac, but otherwise made few changes to defensive personnel. The Chiefs were even worse defensively. They allowed 103 more points and 330 additional yards and forced 17 fewer turnovers.

The Chiefs would have a second offensive staff departure if quarterback coach Jason Verduzco departs. He is a candidate to become offensive coordinator on Robinson's staff at Syracuse, where he recently became head coach.

Tight-ends coach Keith Rowen left two weeks ago to become offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals. He is replaced by Terry Shea, a former Chiefs assistant who spent one year with Chicago.

[ck_IN]

100% agree. He had to be forced in St. Louis and it won them a Super -Bowl. It needs to be done here.

But in St. Lou the GM had intentions of staying and had no intention of letting DV bring him down. Their GM forced the issue. Our GM won't. If CP were to go gay it would be for DV and there's no way he'll force DV's hand in anything.

DV in turn won't change his coaches because its just not in him. Look at the whole Robinson saga and how DV was so teary eyed about it. There's no way DV would've fired Robinson and the same goes for the rest of this sorry crew.

The Chiefs have basicly wasted 4 years and counting on what could've been a rebuild with a coach dedicated to building a team that was his.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by beer me

I wonder how much Gunther regrets coming back.

I wonder how much Gunther regrets letting pride get the best of him not once, but twice...

[Hammock Parties]

I wonder if Gunther can sit there and be satisfied with the coaches Vermeil is shoving in his lap.

If Gunther doesn't demand that serious upgrades in talent are brought in, he should just resign.

There's way too many egos at One Arrowhead Drive. Sheesh.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by ck_IN

100% agree. He had to be forced in St. Louis and it won them a Super -Bowl. It needs to be done here.

But in St. Lou the GM had intentions of staying and had no intention of letting DV bring him down. Their GM forced the issue. Our GM won't. If CP were to go gay it would be for DV and there's no way he'll force DV's hand in anything.

DV in turn won't change his coaches because its just not in him. Look at the whole Robinson saga and how DV was so teary eyed about it. There's no way DV would've fired Robinson and the same goes for the rest of this sorry crew.

The Chiefs have basicly wasted 4 years and counting on what could've been a rebuild with a coach dedicated to building a team that was his.

There is a subtle implication here that is good news...

In St. Louis, the GM had intentions of staying. That's why he stepped in. Perhaps Carl has no intention of staying...

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by GoatCheese

I wonder if Gunther can sit there and be satisfied with the coaches Vermeil is shoving in his lap.

If Gunther doesn't demand that serious upgrades in talent are brought in, he should just resign.

There's way too many egos at One Arrowhead Drive. Sheesh.

Gunther agreed to take the job, knowing that he would be given no say over coaches.

Once a foot-shuffling porter, always a foot-shuffling porter...

[Wile_E_Coyote]

CP will have to retire after this year, If the BB can no longer see him as a selfish prick...there is no hope

[bricks]

The more and more I hear about the Chiefs, and the way they handle their off-season problems, the more and more I think they're a joke. The way I hear the head coach speak, the more I think he's a contradiction. Not only a contradiction, but, an egotistical bastard as well. He's absolutely senile, has no balls, or toughness. The GM is arrogant. Can't even over-rule a HEAD COACH.
the Chiefs deserve to be what they are, 7-9, 8-8. simply cause of the FO down. I can't wait for an entire new over-haul. Here's to 2006

[Lzen]

Every time I hear something out of DV about the defense, I lose more respect for him. It's obvious that this defense is broken. And major changes need to happen this offseason. Why not give Gun the tools he needs? C'mon DV, stop feeding us BS and do your job that you're being paid to do.

[Chiefnj]

"Vermeil was encouraged by president/general manager Carl Peterson to make some moves, particularly at defensive back. "

At least Peterson can see there is a problem. To bad he can't force a change.

[Bowser]

How many times has it been posted here......

We are wasting a Super Bowl winning caliber offense!

Over what? Pride? Loyalty? Look at Bellichick in New England. You think anybody on that team, coaches or players, feels that their job is safe after Lawyer Milloy and Drew Bledsoe get the axe? Fear is one hell of a motivator, and unfortunately, nobody has a fear of losing their jobs on this team. Vermeil's players all love the guy to death, but I would guess being in your players' good graces doesn't necessarily make you a good coach (or doesn't mean you'll always make the right decisions).

Vermeil is always saying how he doesn't get in his coordinators way. He needs to prove it now by letting Gunther do what he wants to do to that defensive staff. Let him revamp the coaches and the players as he sees fit. Vermeil holding onto these coaches is just a joke.

[Chiefnj]

IMHO, perhaps the best thing for the organization would be for Peterson to demand coaching changes, have Vermeil refuse and retire and throw money at Romeo to come over to the west.

[ck_IN]

I'm glad my subtlety wasn't lost htismaqe.

Contrast Bill Parcells with DV. I pick up the sports page this morning and see where Parcells is trashing his assistant coaching staff. Two (IIRC) heads chopped and perhaps more to come.

DV on the other hand not only keeps his but is appearing to make excuses for them. Now Bill might or might not find better heads to replace those chopped but at least he sees a problem and is doing something about it. Is Dick?

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj

IMHO, perhaps the best thing for the organization would be for Peterson to demand coaching changes, have Vermeil refuse and retire and throw money at Romeo to come over to the west.

Crennel's deal in Cleveland is all but done, IMO.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by ck_IN

I'm glad my subtlety wasn't lost htismaqe.

Contrast Bill Parcells with DV. I pick up the sports page this morning and see where Parcells is trashing his assistant coaching staff. Two (IIRC) heads chopped and perhaps more to come.

DV on the other hand not only keeps his but is appearing to make excuses for them. Now Bill might or might not find better heads to replace those chopped but at least he sees a problem and is doing something about it. Is Dick?

Am I the only one that noticed?

You gave me hope, Chuck! Hope that Carl Peterson may yet be on his way out!

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Am I the only one that noticed?

You gave me hope, Chuck! Hope that Carl Peterson may yet be on his way out!

Scott Pioli has said that he's staying though thew end of his contract next year and then he would reevaluate his situation after next year.

DV and King Carl ride off into the sunset together after next year and Pioli comes into KC to start a new era. Hey, it's a possibility.