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."

[FringeNC]

Originally Posted by Silock

He had talent. Look at Detroit. They're a far cry.

Yeah, let's do take a look at Detroit. Completely changing schemes, going from a West Coast offense to a Coryell offense, Detroit improved quite a bit -- 40 yards per game and 4 points per game. Yeah, the offense is just too ****ing hard to learn...

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by Bob Dole

Those two paragraphs illustrate Herm's brilliance.

Instead of giving an experienced QB who could recite the playbook in his sleep the option to audible this season, let's go with an inexperienced QB and give him more flexibility next year.

Nobody will expect it. Pure brilliance!

With the shifts this offense does you can not audible out of a play. There is not time.

[FringeNC]

Originally Posted by DaWolf

For goodness sakes, look at the damn roster.

NO Willie Roaf
A 37 year old QB
A 34 year old No 1 receiver
A 36 year old guard
A revolving RT position
A 33 year old center
NO TRich
NO Priest Holmes

This is not the same damned team that broke records and kept missing the playoffs. They are older, slower, broken. This #$%^ing system is built on SPEED. We don't have speed anymore. We started losing it last year, the cracks were showing, and this year we totally lost it.

What, did the system look so damned good in 2001 when Al Saunders and Vermeil took over and we went 6-10 with Snoop Minnis catching the ball?

ANY offensive system will look good as long as you have the players with the ability to EXECUTE the system. When the QB is getting killed, is turning the ball over, when we can't block, when the receivers aren't outrunning opponents anymore, it doesn't fit. Use a system that will fit the players and will win ballgames. And get better players, get younger players who can keep up.

What, the Steelers and Pats have been winning the last few Lombardis with a record setting offense?

What I am sick of is pansy ass players who go out and get hit in the mouth by the other team and fold. This offense has been as SOFT as our defense has been, and that's why we have ZERO postseason wins since 1993. We need a damn offense which goes out there and pushes the other team around and a defense that does the same. This team needs to get rid of all the damned wusses playing on it and get some football players who will go out there and lay some wood and win some important games on the *&^%ing road...

When was this team ever FAST? This team was certainly not built on speed. We were setting records on offense despite one of the worst WR corps in the league. Under the old regime, the offense was greater than the sum of their parts. No longer. It's that simple.

[EM31]

Originally Posted by King_Chief_Fan

thanks for coming over. You know you wasted your breath. LOts of yahoos on this board were hanging Jets fans who tried to tell them ahead of time. Don't be surprised to hear more yahoos tell you to get lost, or yeah we know, etc. etc.
congratulations on a good year post Herm. We hope to have one soon.

I think it is probably like Paul (3rd-and-long draw play) Hackett, the gift that seems to keep on giving. He still plying his trade in Tampa last time I checked. There is a bit of a "greater fool" theory going on where there is always someone else it seems who is willing to give him a job.

In one sense Herm provided the (what looks to be good) timing that led the Jets to Mangini. He also provided the 4th rounder that was well spent on Leon Washington. In that sense Herm had his pluses.

The playoffs this year I think will lead to several more years of Herm at Arrowhead. I don't know how strong the ownership is in KC but many teams would not want to expose themselves to the accusation that they are racially motivated in getting rid of a coach. Fortunately for the Jets, the manner of Herm's departure saved us from those charges.

[Reerun_KC]

Originally Posted by DaWolf

For goodness sakes, look at the damn roster.

NO Willie Roaf
A 37 year old QB
A 34 year old No 1 receiver
A 36 year old guard
A revolving RT position
A 33 year old center
NO TRich
NO Priest Holmes

This is not the same damned team that broke records and kept missing the playoffs. They are older, slower, broken. This #$%^ing system is built on SPEED. We don't have speed anymore. We started losing it last year, the cracks were showing, and this year we totally lost it.

What, did the system look so damned good in 2001 when Al Saunders and Vermeil took over and we went 6-10 with Snoop Minnis catching the ball?

ANY offensive system will look good as long as you have the players with the ability to EXECUTE the system. When the QB is getting killed, is turning the ball over, when we can't block, when the receivers aren't outrunning opponents anymore, it doesn't fit. Use a system that will fit the players and will win ballgames. And get better players, get younger players who can keep up.

What, the Steelers and Pats have been winning the last few Lombardis with a record setting offense?

What I am sick of is pansy ass players who go out and get hit in the mouth by the other team and fold. This offense has been as SOFT as our defense has been, and that's why we have ZERO postseason wins since 1993. We need a damn offense which goes out there and pushes the other team around and a defense that does the same. This team needs to get rid of all the damned wusses playing on it and get some football players who will go out there and lay some wood and win some important games on the *&^%ing road...

Great post and rep to you,

But you have to have a coach that can get the players to play for him... That can get his coordinators to plan and scheme their opponents. One that trust his staff...

Can we have one of those coaches?

[patteeu]

I like what he's saying here. Face it, people, we don't have the personnel anymore to run the Al Saunders variant of Air Coryell. Willie Roaf is gone and Will Shields (along with everyone else) is a year older. The line can't pull for the stretch play anymore and the center is undersized for power running (not to mention the absence of a top notch blocking fullback). Trent Green was great when he had solid protection from his pass blockers, but he struggled in both years when Willie Roaf didn't anchor that line. What Herm seems to be saying is that he's going to consider modifications to the scheme to fit the talent he has available. I think that's a great idea.

[Archie Bunker]

Originally Posted by patteeu

What Herm seems to be saying is that he's going to consider modifications to the scheme to fit the talent he has available. I think that's a great idea.

It needs to be done.

[Fire Me Boy!]

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.

Shoulda done that this year with Trent...

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Taco John

The reason he fell to the third round is that everyone in the league knew he was a developmental prospect..

No. He fell to the third round because of injuries. The guy played in a pro-style offense at Alabama.

I think he'll compete for the starting job this year - just as Montana did his second year. How was Montana any more ready in his second year? If I'm not mistaken Montana played sparingly in college.

[Hammock Parties]

Good article, BTW. Herm has us headed in the right direction. I liked this part:

I want to give the quarterback even more ability to change some things at the line of scrimmage.

[Reerun_KC]

Originally Posted by patteeu

I like what he's saying here. Face it, people, we don't have the personnel anymore to run the Al Saunders variant of Air Coryell. Willie Roaf is gone and Will Shields (along with everyone else) is a year older. The line can't pull for the stretch play anymore and the center is undersized for power running (not to mention the absence of a top notch blocking fullback). Trent Green was great when he had solid protection from his pass blockers, but he struggled in both years when Willie Roaf didn't anchor that line. What Herm seems to be saying is that he's going to consider modifications to the scheme to fit the talent he has available. I think that's a great idea.

That is pretty laughable..

Herm and offense in the same sentence...

[BIG_DADDY]

**** Herm. When he came here the offense worked. All he needed to do was fix the D but nooooooooo not Herm he wanted to fix the #2 offense in football. Congratulations Herm.

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

That is pretty laughable..

Herm and offense in the same sentence...

Herm and offense did not appear in the same sentence anywhere in that post.

[WilliamTheIrish]

Originally Posted by bill parcells

The problem is Peterson...he has to be shit canned...he's drinking the Hermy Kool-aid just like Bradway did..

Really? No kidding? Peterson? No shit? Peterson? I love it when fans from other teams tell me about a problem this team has had for 17 years as though I didn't know it existed.

[KCJohnny]

Getting younger, more athletic, faster players involved in offense is a priority. Reducing a truncated play book baffles me. Herm identifying Solari as using an entire regular season to "learn the passing game" is shocking.

There is no doubt in my mind that young athletic WRs and OLmen are in demand. With the right scheme, KW could do a lot that TG is doing now if TG left and we had cap room to shop for some younger talent. The "win now" window is closed. DAWolf is correct. Its time for a youth movement. If that means a new scheme, so be it. I would prefer Huard stay and run that new scheme until Croyle matures, unless Croyle can beat him out in camp.

Let's not forget that DV brought his Rams QB, his Rams coaches, his Rams playbook and a few Rams players with him when he made that journey on I-70 West in 2001. This roster is NOT capable of running even a run-heavy version of the GSoT anymore.