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."

[KCJake]

[QUOTE=Halfcan]Cut down on the number of plays???

Instead of Run right, left, then middle-we go to run it up the middle every time.
QUOTE]

Yeah no shit!

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by 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

let's hope you are correct, Mr. Fax.


... scratch that


let's hope and pray that you are correct, Mr. Fax

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by patteeu

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?

i understand, but Al saunders has been in this offensive system for years ... clear back to Dan Fouts. He's been wide receivers coach,assistant head coach,head coach ... all with basically the same offensive system.




~Al Saunders (partial bio)

Al Saunders played Defensive Back at San Jose State University (SJSU) from 1966-1968 where he was a three-year starter, team captain and Academic All-American. Saunders also played Wide Receiver for the San Jose State Spartans.

In the 1970's, Al Saunders joined the coaching staff at San Diego State University (SDSU), whose SDSU Aztecs were then under the control of Head Coach Don Coryell. Saunders would go with Coryell to NFL when Coryell became the Head Coach of the San Diego Chargers.

From 1983-1986, Saunders was the wide receivers coach for the Chargers.

He was tapped as the Charger's Interim Head Coach when Coryell resigned during the middle of the 1986 season.

Saunders would eventually replace Coryell as the Head Coach from 1986-1988.

From 1989-1998, Saunders was with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he served as the Assistant Head Coach and Wide Receivers Coach under Marty Schottenheimer.

Saunders would then join the St. Louis Rams coaching staff. From 1999-2000 he served as the Wide Receivers Coach under Dick Vermeil and later as Assistant Head Coach under Mike Martz. During this period, the Rams won Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000.

Saunders would rejoin the Kansas City Chiefs in 2001 as the Offensive Coordinator when Vermeil came out of retirement. In his second stint with the Chiefs, Saunders built the NFL's top offense, which was ranked #1 in the NFL from 2002-2005.

On January 19, 2006, he joined the coaching staff of the Washington Redskins as the Associate Head Coach - Offense, reuniting him with fellow "Air Coryell" alumn~

[Easy 6]

Jaws just nailed it on ESPN "no motion, no creativity of formation, no trickery" as plain as vanilla pudding.

[dannybcaitlyn]

How about the patriots offensive scheme? There backup receivers look like stars during the jets game. Seems like it takes like two years for our receivers to even get a grasp on our current system.

[KCJohnny]

Originally Posted by scott free

Jaws just nailed it on ESPN "no motion, no creativity of formation, no trickery" as plain as vanilla pudding.

No trickery? You mean just lining up in the I-Formation and handing it to Larry wasn't clever? I was stunned at how few PA passes were attempted. At least fake the fake, y'know?

[GoHuge]

Originally Posted by FringeNC

Sure, they had talent, but that's not the issue. They had a lot of young players who didn't know the system.....yet immediately learned it and were able to execute it flawlessly...and Herm is telling us that's impossible...

So does this mean our young guys are all stupid? Please don't tell me the reason that Jeff Webb can't get on the field is he's too dumb to figure out the offense. WTF difference does it make? The guys that know it can't catch anyway. HERM!! I'll just stop now.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by KCJohnny

No trickery? You mean just lining up in the I-Formation and handing it to Larry wasn't clever? I was stunned at how few PA passes were attempted. At least fake the fake, y'know?

\

I'm in full agreeance KCJ, thats why i REFUSE to be shouted down around here by some who think the players should be able to make ANY turdburger the coaches throw out work to perfection.

*in the voice of the goombah who wacked Pesci in Goodfellas*

And THATS THAT...

[PastorMikH]

From the sounds of this article, next season we will be even more "vanilla" [cough]predictable[/cough] than this season. If so, next season is already a loss.




I'm thinking that we need to get 15 OL, all over 300# that can run 4.7 or faster, 3 more RB's and a couple of fast QBs - they don't need an arm or accurate pass 'cause they won't be throwing.

Here's the plan...

We line up a QB (Only needed for option play or choosing which RB gets the ball), 2 RB, and 8 OL. That way, we can force our will to run on any opponent.

We could put in turf for better footing and call our new O "3 yards and a cloud of lint".

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by scott free

Jaws just nailed it on ESPN "no motion, no creativity of formation, no trickery" as plain as vanilla pudding.

Damn I didn't even recognize that.

Saunders always used shifting and motion and try to trick the D.

Alright Herm and Solari need to be....well I can't really say it in public.

[Silock]

Originally Posted by FringeNC

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...

Improved, but far from the best in the league. It's Detroit... how hard can it possibly be to improve that offense?

[Silock]

Originally Posted by FringeNC

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.

Fine, call it mobility.

[KCJohnny]

Originally Posted by scott free

\

I'm in full agreeance KCJ, thats why i REFUSE to be shouted down around here by some who think the players should be able to make ANY turdburger the coaches throw out work to perfection.

*in the voice of the goombah who wacked Pesci in Goodfellas*

And THATS THAT...

You're a Long Tabber or a Ranger, right? I'm 82nd. There are people on here with 50,000 posts who are basically PC nerds that guard this place like it was mama's purse. I come here to talk football a few times a year. I appreciate what you and all others who want to talk football have to say.


A Soldier knows that a turd of an operation plan is rarely rescued by heroic fighting alone.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by KCJohnny

You're a Long Tabber or a Ranger, right? I'm 82nd. There are people on here with 50,000 posts who are basically PC nerds that guard this place like it was mama's purse. I come here to talk football a few times a year. I appreciate what you and all others who want to talk football have to say.


A Soldier knows that a turd of an operation plan is rarely rescued by heroic fighting alone.

Crank up the oven, Ma.
Monday night is PIE NIGHT!!!

[KCJohnny]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

Crank up the oven, Ma.
Monday night is PIE NIGHT!!!

PC Nerd.