Whitlock: Herm covering Carl's gigantic blunder - Page 2

tk13 · 01-02-2007, 02:43 AM

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/16363662.htm

Herm covering Carl’s goof
JASON WHITLOCK
Kansas City Star

Well, Chiefs fans finally got their you-play-to-win-the-game moment from Herm Edwards, who always preaches with a purpose.

Less than 24 hours after qualifying for the playoffs, Edwards opened his New Year’s Day news conference ranting about how his Chiefs didn’t luck into or back into the playoffs.

“Let’s not get this thing twisted and think we backed into this deal,” Edwards preached with the necessary emotion to catch the eye of ESPN producers. “We didn’t lose, we won. Every team that played this weekend played at home and had an opportunity to get into the playoffs just like us. We just happened to win. What’s wrong with that? So, let’s not get it twisted and say, ‘Well, they’re lucky.’ We didn’t get lucky. We won.”

Why the unprovoked rant? Edwards said he wanted to transfer his attitude to his players and he could sense that some people thought the Chiefs were lucky.

“I’m not irritated,” Edwards said. “I’m just making a point. It’s playoff time now. I’m in a different mode, I think a real different mode all of a sudden. I’m in a different frame of mind.”

Hmm. That’s one way to look at it. There’s also another way to view Herm’s tirade.

Maybe Herm thought it was important to convince his players, the local and national media and Kansas City football fans that the Chiefs weren’t lucky because he knows Carl Peterson sent the clear message he didn’t think the Chiefs would qualify for postseason play when he placed Jason Dunn and Kyle Turley on injured reserve before the Jacksonville game.

Marinate on that for a moment.

The Chiefs won’t have the services of one of the league’s top run-blocking tight ends in a playoff game that likely will hinge on KC’s ability to control the clock with Larry Johnson.

Peterson, in my opinion, made a gigantic tactical error.

He placed Dunn, Turley and Rich Scanlon on injured reserve so the Chiefs could elevate practice-squaders Casey Printers, Chris Hannon and William Kershaw to the 53-man roster. By placing Printers, Hannon and Kershaw on the final 53-man roster it protects the Chiefs from an opposing team poaching one of the three players from KC’s practice squad this offseason.

Teams are justifiably paranoid about losing their practice-squad players. A couple of years ago, the Chiefs cut guard Ryan Lilja with the hopes they could place him on their practice squad. The Colts scooped up Lilja, and he’s been a regular starter in Indy for two years.

The Chiefs said they placed Dunn on IR because doctors won’t clear him to play now that they miraculously discovered he has a herniated disk in his back in week 16.

Dunn told me Monday that he’s played with the injury for six weeks. When he entered Arrowhead Stadium on Monday for a brief team meeting, Dunn told me he hoped the Chiefs could reverse the decision. When Dunn left Arrowhead, he told me that assistant general manager Denny Thum told him that the Chiefs regretted placing Dunn on IR and they wouldn’t have done it if they thought they were going to qualify for the playoffs.

Dunn was visibly disappointed.

“I could play four more games,” said Dunn, who admitted he’ll undergo surgery this offseason. “I’ve been playing with it.”

Dunn’s absence Saturday will place more pressure on Tony Gonzalez and Kris Wilson. Gonzalez will have more blocking responsibility.

Wilson will pull double duty between fullback and tight end. Linemen John Welbourn and Chris Bober will get some time at tight end.

Dunn’s absence hamstrings the offensive coaching staff. Dunn has never been a big part of KC’s passing game, but he’s always been a threat in KC’s pass offense. And blocking on the edge against outside linebackers and working up to safeties requires a combination of strength and athletic ability that few offensive linemen possess.

Dunn’s absence is big. But that probably won’t get talked about on ESPN this week because Herm created a nice little distraction. Herm is smart, and he’s a team player. He fell on Carl Peterson’s grenade.

JBucc · 01-02-2007, 08:45 AM

It sure woulda been nice to have him blocking for LJ and over to help out with Freeney or Mathis. Bigfoot is now even more important unless we have someone else in mind to fill that role. Turley could have but he's out too.

FringeNC · 01-02-2007, 08:45 AM

I'm going to cover for Carl on this one. He can't predict the future. We had a one in fifty chance of making the playoffs. Had we not made the playoffs, and those guys got snatched up, Whitlock would have called that a blunder, too.

Carl makes way too many legitimate blunders -- let's just not bash him when he actually makes the right call (or at least, a very reasonable call).

JBucc · 01-02-2007, 08:49 AM

Just think how Jason Dunn feels. He's not exactly young, he's played here for about 7 years now, only our second shot in the playoffs, and he gets put on IR when he apparently could have played.

Zouk · 01-02-2007, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBucc

Just think how Jason Dunn feels. He's not exactly young, he's played here for about 7 years now, only our second shot in the playoffs, and he gets put on IR when he apparently could have played.

Excellent point.

And were we that worried about protecting Chris Hannon?

The only way this makes sense to me is if Jason Dunn graded out badly while playing with this back injury over the last few weeks. I have no idea if that's the case or not, but Whitlock is correct to term this a major blunder if it is not.

mikey23545 · 01-02-2007, 09:43 AM

I certainly hope jspchief is doing a little reading on the Planet today....

bkkcoh · 01-02-2007, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FringeNC

I'm going to cover for Carl on this one. He can't predict the future. We had a one in fifty chance of making the playoffs. Had we not made the playoffs, and those guys got snatched up, Whitlock would have called that a blunder, too.

Carl makes way too many legitimate blunders -- let's just not bash him when he actually makes the right call (or at least, a very reasonable call).

Agreed. It was such a slim chance that the Chiefs would have made the playoffs in the first place........

01-02-2007, 10:09 AM

Whitlock included a glaring error in this column. There is no practice squad in the offseason. You're either on the roster or you're not. I've never seen a player lifted from a practice squad in the offseason because it simply doesn't exist. Those guys were elevated to get them game experience and a game check.

Wile_E_Coyote · 01-02-2007, 10:10 AM

the slimmer chance of damned if you do, damned if you don't, bit them in the ass

Chiefnj · 01-02-2007, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

Those guys were elevated to get them game experience and a game check.

You can't get much game experience when you are inactive for the game.

01-02-2007, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefnj

You can't get much game experience when you are inactive for the game.

Kershaw got PT. I don't know about the other two.

**BigRedChief** · 01-02-2007, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

Kershaw got PT. I don't know about the other two.

Printers didn't thats for sure.

Chiefnj · 01-02-2007, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

Kershaw got PT. I don't know about the other two.

THe other two were inactive.

Protecting Hannon doesn't make much sense. If he couldn't crack the lineup against the existing sorry lot of WR's, I don't think there is much hope for him.

In other words, I'd rather risk "losing" Hannon for eternity than not having Dunn in to block in the postseason.

Zouk · 01-02-2007, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

Whitlock included a glaring error in this column. There is no practice squad in the offseason. You're either on the roster or you're not. I've never seen a player lifted from a practice squad in the offseason because it simply doesn't exist. Those guys were elevated to get them game experience and a game check.

Right - but after the season ends, all players on the practice squad are free to sign with any other team, while players on your 53-man roster are not. During the season, if you sign a guy off another's team practice squad you have to make him one of your 53. But after the year, you have something like 85 spots for contracted players. They were trying to protect these guys.

DMAC · 01-02-2007, 10:37 AM

Listen, it would be nice to have Dunn, but don't forget...we just put up 170 rushing yards against the no.2 D in the league.

We are not doomed.

oops...forgot about the reverse pshycology, we are doooommmeedd!!

crazycoffey · 01-02-2007, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMAC

Listen, it would be nice to have Dunn, but don't forget...we just put up 170 rushing yards against the no.2 D in the league.

We are not doomed.

oops...forgot about the reverse pshycology, we are doooommmeedd!!

Thank you!!! Man - more of us need to keep carrying the positive vibe torch.

01-02-2007, 02:43 AM
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $-1767500	Whitlock: Herm covering Carl's gigantic blunder http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/16363662.htm Herm covering Carl’s goof JASON WHITLOCK Kansas City Star Well, Chiefs fans finally got their you-play-to-win-the-game moment from Herm Edwards, who always preaches with a purpose. Less than 24 hours after qualifying for the playoffs, Edwards opened his New Year’s Day news conference ranting about how his Chiefs didn’t luck into or back into the playoffs. “Let’s not get this thing twisted and think we backed into this deal,” Edwards preached with the necessary emotion to catch the eye of ESPN producers. “We didn’t lose, we won. Every team that played this weekend played at home and had an opportunity to get into the playoffs just like us. We just happened to win. What’s wrong with that? So, let’s not get it twisted and say, ‘Well, they’re lucky.’ We didn’t get lucky. We won.” Why the unprovoked rant? Edwards said he wanted to transfer his attitude to his players and he could sense that some people thought the Chiefs were lucky. “I’m not irritated,” Edwards said. “I’m just making a point. It’s playoff time now. I’m in a different mode, I think a real different mode all of a sudden. I’m in a different frame of mind.” Hmm. That’s one way to look at it. There’s also another way to view Herm’s tirade. Maybe Herm thought it was important to convince his players, the local and national media and Kansas City football fans that the Chiefs weren’t lucky because he knows Carl Peterson sent the clear message he didn’t think the Chiefs would qualify for postseason play when he placed Jason Dunn and Kyle Turley on injured reserve before the Jacksonville game. Marinate on that for a moment. The Chiefs won’t have the services of one of the league’s top run-blocking tight ends in a playoff game that likely will hinge on KC’s ability to control the clock with Larry Johnson. Peterson, in my opinion, made a gigantic tactical error. He placed Dunn, Turley and Rich Scanlon on injured reserve so the Chiefs could elevate practice-squaders Casey Printers, Chris Hannon and William Kershaw to the 53-man roster. By placing Printers, Hannon and Kershaw on the final 53-man roster it protects the Chiefs from an opposing team poaching one of the three players from KC’s practice squad this offseason. Teams are justifiably paranoid about losing their practice-squad players. A couple of years ago, the Chiefs cut guard Ryan Lilja with the hopes they could place him on their practice squad. The Colts scooped up Lilja, and he’s been a regular starter in Indy for two years. The Chiefs said they placed Dunn on IR because doctors won’t clear him to play now that they miraculously discovered he has a herniated disk in his back in week 16. Dunn told me Monday that he’s played with the injury for six weeks. When he entered Arrowhead Stadium on Monday for a brief team meeting, Dunn told me he hoped the Chiefs could reverse the decision. When Dunn left Arrowhead, he told me that assistant general manager Denny Thum told him that the Chiefs regretted placing Dunn on IR and they wouldn’t have done it if they thought they were going to qualify for the playoffs. Dunn was visibly disappointed. “I could play four more games,” said Dunn, who admitted he’ll undergo surgery this offseason. “I’ve been playing with it.” Dunn’s absence Saturday will place more pressure on Tony Gonzalez and Kris Wilson. Gonzalez will have more blocking responsibility. Wilson will pull double duty between fullback and tight end. Linemen John Welbourn and Chris Bober will get some time at tight end. Dunn’s absence hamstrings the offensive coaching staff. Dunn has never been a big part of KC’s passing game, but he’s always been a threat in KC’s pass offense. And blocking on the edge against outside linebackers and working up to safeties requires a combination of strength and athletic ability that few offensive linemen possess. Dunn’s absence is big. But that probably won’t get talked about on ESPN this week because Herm created a nice little distraction. Herm is smart, and he’s a team player. He fell on Carl Peterson’s grenade.
Posts: 56,667

01-02-2007, 08:45 AM	#16
JBucc MVP Join Date: Oct 2005 Casino cash: $10004952	It sure woulda been nice to have him blocking for LJ and over to help out with Freeney or Mathis. Bigfoot is now even more important unless we have someone else in mind to fill that role. Turley could have but he's out too.
Posts: 12,016

01-02-2007, 08:45 AM	#17
FringeNC MVP Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: NC Casino cash: $-1663986	I'm going to cover for Carl on this one. He can't predict the future. We had a one in fifty chance of making the playoffs. Had we not made the playoffs, and those guys got snatched up, Whitlock would have called that a blunder, too. Carl makes way too many legitimate blunders -- let's just not bash him when he actually makes the right call (or at least, a very reasonable call).
Posts: 10,234

01-02-2007, 08:49 AM	#18
JBucc MVP Join Date: Oct 2005 Casino cash: $10004952	Just think how Jason Dunn feels. He's not exactly young, he's played here for about 7 years now, only our second shot in the playoffs, and he gets put on IR when he apparently could have played.
Posts: 12,016

01-02-2007, 09:43 AM	#20
mikey23545 MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $10015321	I certainly hope jspchief is doing a little reading on the Planet today....
Posts: 12,314

01-02-2007, 10:09 AM	#22
Phobia Guest Casino cash: $	Whitlock included a glaring error in this column. There is no practice squad in the offseason. You're either on the roster or you're not. I've never seen a player lifted from a practice squad in the offseason because it simply doesn't exist. Those guys were elevated to get them game experience and a game check.
Posts: n/a

01-02-2007, 10:10 AM	#23
Wile_E_Coyote avatar down for remodel Join Date: Jul 2001 Casino cash: $10004900	the slimmer chance of damned if you do, damned if you don't, bit them in the ass
Posts: 6,009

01-02-2007, 10:37 AM	#29
DMAC MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Springfield, MO Casino cash: $10008735	Listen, it would be nice to have Dunn, but don't forget...we just put up 170 rushing yards against the no.2 D in the league. We are not doomed. oops...forgot about the reverse pshycology, we are doooommmeedd!!
Posts: 11,651