Chiefs Gretz: Time to Toughen Up

Kerberos · 05-27-2008, 05:22 AM

http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2008/05...to_toughen_up/

Time to Toughen Up
May 26, 2008, 2:34:47 AM by Bob Gretz - FAQ

When taking about what his team lacked during last year’s disappointing 4-12 season, Herm Edwards has frequently used the word toughness.

“We were not a tough enough team,” said the Chiefs head coach.

Frequently, that type of comment gets translated into meaning the Chiefs were not physically tough. That’s not what Edwards is talking about.

He speaks of mental toughness. That’s what was missing from the 2007 Chiefs, and the 2006 Chiefs before them.

Part of that lack of mental toughness is understandable, because the Chiefs have been a team without an identity for two seasons now. When Edwards took over for Dick Vermeil, there was an attempt to maintain continuity, especially with the offense.

But even though Edwards played for and learned a lot from Vermeil, he is very much his own man, with his own ideas and his own basic beliefs in what a football team needs to be successful.

The veterans on the team, especially on the offensive side of the ball, had a new head coach but the same mentality in play calling and approach as the previous regime. It was an identity crisis.

That’s one of the first things that Edwards is trying to change in the OTA workouts that are currently going on at the Truman Sports Complex.

“We need to establish our identity,” he said.

As part of that identity, the head coach wants a team that’s physically tough, and more importantly mentally tough.

“They’ll be confident, they’ll be tough and they will be disciplined,” Edwards said of the 2008 Chiefs. “They will play together as a team. Those are the things that I see and envision in these guys. They will be confident. They won’t be cocky, but they will be sure of themselves and their teammates. They will have a trust in each other that they are going out to do something special.

“Most of all, they will be tough, mentally tough.”

That type of toughness can show up in a number of areas:

Turnovers: Last year the Chiefs were 22nd in fewest giveaways in the league, losing the ball 33 times. They were tied for sixth with the most interceptions with 20 and their 13 fumbles lost tied for the 11th most in the league. Those are unacceptable numbers for a successful team. Overall, the Chiefs finished minus-11 in the turnover ratio during the 2007 season. In the AFC, every team that made the playoffs was even or on the plus side when it came to takeaways vs. giveaways.
Penalties: The Chiefs 101 penalties last year left them tied for 23rd in fewest penalties. Their 697 yards lost to penalties ranked them 18th in the league in fewest yards penalized. The average team last year had 91.6 penalties and 720 yards lost due to flags.
Win on the Road: The Chiefs were 2-6 on the road last year, winning at San Diego and Oakland and losing at Houston, Chicago, Indianapolis, Denver, Detroit and the New York Jets. In those six defeats, the Chiefs averaged 10 points per game. Those last two defeats were the most telling. The Lions finished 7-9 and the Jets were 4-12.

“Those are the type of things we are going to address from the very start,” said Edwards.

“There’s nothing more basic in football than holding onto the ball. We have to be smart. We have to be disciplined. We have to be mentally tough.”

The opinions offered in this column do necessarily reflect those of the Kansas City Chiefs Since Bob is a mouth piece for King Carl.

FAX · 05-27-2008, 05:25 AM

Two-week-old Fig Newtons out of the package tough, by God.

FAX

Fish · 05-27-2008, 07:36 AM

Show me.

StcChief · 05-27-2008, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Fish

Show me.

that's right
here in the Show ME state we will believe it when we see it.

DTLB58 · 05-27-2008, 10:15 AM

Carl Peterson, that's one tough son of a bitch......oh, wait, that's with player agents and contract stuff.....

FAX · 05-27-2008, 10:37 AM

Wait just a dad blammed blat dab minute here. Herm is saying we have to be mentally tough? The guy who manages timeouts like a stumped, lumpen, lumpish lumper? The guy who uses words like "flustrated" and "swole"? The guy who blames everybody else for a failure before he even thinks about taking responsibility himself? The guy who refuses to learn to use the internet thing? The guy who mails it in when you're behind by 3 points with a first down, the ball on the 40, and 2 minutes left in the half?

Give me a break.

FAX

King_Chief_Fan · 05-27-2008, 10:44 AM

I see Herm is still an idiot. Lack of aggressiveness turned that bunch into a shadow of its former self. Everything the Chiefs did last year set these guys to be mentally soft.

picasso · 05-27-2008, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAX

Wait just a dad blammed blat dab minute here. Herm is saying we have to be mentally tough? The guy who manages timeouts like a stumped, lumpen, lumpish lumper? The guy who uses words like "flustrated" and "swole"? The guy who blames everybody else for a failure before he even thinks about taking responsibility himself? The guy who refuses to learn to use the internet thing? The guy who mails it in when you're behind by 3 points with a first down, the ball on the 40, and 2 minutes left in the half?

Give me a break.

FAX

Oh and one more thing, the guy who claims he hasn't watched a Superbowl since he was in one as it's clear he doesn't understand what it takes to get to the big show.

blueballs · 05-27-2008, 11:04 AM

No -Herm left them out to dry
like deer jerkey in the August sun

crazycoffey · 05-27-2008, 11:06 AM

oh, toughen up fellows....

Deberg_1990 · 05-27-2008, 11:09 AM

I suggest the Chiefs hire Steve McNair as an assistant to help toughen these guys up.

picasso · 05-27-2008, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

I suggest the Chiefs hire Steve McNair as an assistant to help toughen these guys up.

Uh....I remember Marvcus Patton breaking his sternum. Not that tough IMHO.

Brock · 05-27-2008, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by picasso

Uh....I remember Marvcus Patton breaking his sternum. Not that tough IMHO.

Leslie O Neal.

**J Diddy** · 05-27-2008, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brock

Leslie O Neal.

wrong

it was duane clemons

Brock · 05-27-2008, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Diddy

wrong

it was duane clemons

No.

05-27-2008, 05:22 AM	Topic Starter
Kerberos Chiefs Baby Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Henderson, NV Casino cash: $10000632	http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2008/05...to_toughen_up/ Time to Toughen Up May 26, 2008, 2:34:47 AM by Bob Gretz - FAQ When taking about what his team lacked during last year’s disappointing 4-12 season, Herm Edwards has frequently used the word toughness. “We were not a tough enough team,” said the Chiefs head coach. Frequently, that type of comment gets translated into meaning the Chiefs were not physically tough. That’s not what Edwards is talking about. He speaks of mental toughness. That’s what was missing from the 2007 Chiefs, and the 2006 Chiefs before them. Part of that lack of mental toughness is understandable, because the Chiefs have been a team without an identity for two seasons now. When Edwards took over for Dick Vermeil, there was an attempt to maintain continuity, especially with the offense. But even though Edwards played for and learned a lot from Vermeil, he is very much his own man, with his own ideas and his own basic beliefs in what a football team needs to be successful. The veterans on the team, especially on the offensive side of the ball, had a new head coach but the same mentality in play calling and approach as the previous regime. It was an identity crisis. That’s one of the first things that Edwards is trying to change in the OTA workouts that are currently going on at the Truman Sports Complex. “We need to establish our identity,” he said. As part of that identity, the head coach wants a team that’s physically tough, and more importantly mentally tough. “They’ll be confident, they’ll be tough and they will be disciplined,” Edwards said of the 2008 Chiefs. “They will play together as a team. Those are the things that I see and envision in these guys. They will be confident. They won’t be cocky, but they will be sure of themselves and their teammates. They will have a trust in each other that they are going out to do something special. “Most of all, they will be tough, mentally tough.” That type of toughness can show up in a number of areas: Turnovers: Last year the Chiefs were 22nd in fewest giveaways in the league, losing the ball 33 times. They were tied for sixth with the most interceptions with 20 and their 13 fumbles lost tied for the 11th most in the league. Those are unacceptable numbers for a successful team. Overall, the Chiefs finished minus-11 in the turnover ratio during the 2007 season. In the AFC, every team that made the playoffs was even or on the plus side when it came to takeaways vs. giveaways. Penalties: The Chiefs 101 penalties last year left them tied for 23rd in fewest penalties. Their 697 yards lost to penalties ranked them 18th in the league in fewest yards penalized. The average team last year had 91.6 penalties and 720 yards lost due to flags. Win on the Road: The Chiefs were 2-6 on the road last year, winning at San Diego and Oakland and losing at Houston, Chicago, Indianapolis, Denver, Detroit and the New York Jets. In those six defeats, the Chiefs averaged 10 points per game. Those last two defeats were the most telling. The Lions finished 7-9 and the Jets were 4-12. “Those are the type of things we are going to address from the very start,” said Edwards. “There’s nothing more basic in football than holding onto the ball. We have to be smart. We have to be disciplined. We have to be mentally tough.” The opinions offered in this column do necessarily reflect those of the Kansas City Chiefs Since Bob is a mouth piece for King Carl.
Posts: 5,638

05-27-2008, 05:25 AM	#2
FAX testing ... 1, 2, 3 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Tennessee Casino cash: $6753759	Two-week-old Fig Newtons out of the package tough, by God. FAX
Posts: 44,492

05-27-2008, 07:36 AM	#3
Fish Ain't no relax! Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $2308919	Show me. __________________
Posts: 47,478

05-27-2008, 10:15 AM	#5
DTLB58 DT CARD COLLECTOR Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: ManCave Casino cash: $10005837	Carl Peterson, that's one tough son of a bitch......oh, wait, that's with player agents and contract stuff..... __________________ 667 Different DT cards and counting
Posts: 7,574

05-27-2008, 10:37 AM	#6
FAX testing ... 1, 2, 3 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Tennessee Casino cash: $6753759	Wait just a dad blammed blat dab minute here. Herm is saying we have to be mentally tough? The guy who manages timeouts like a stumped, lumpen, lumpish lumper? The guy who uses words like "flustrated" and "swole"? The guy who blames everybody else for a failure before he even thinks about taking responsibility himself? The guy who refuses to learn to use the internet thing? The guy who mails it in when you're behind by 3 points with a first down, the ball on the 40, and 2 minutes left in the half? Give me a break. FAX
Posts: 44,492

05-27-2008, 10:44 AM	#7
King_Chief_Fan Praise Him Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: none ya Casino cash: $5915486	I see Herm is still an idiot. Lack of aggressiveness turned that bunch into a shadow of its former self. Everything the Chiefs did last year set these guys to be mentally soft. __________________ No Jesus No Peace Know Jesus Know Peace Ephesians 2:8-10 English Standard Version (ESV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Posts: 12,178

05-27-2008, 11:04 AM	#9
blueballs Banned Join Date: Feb 2006 Casino cash: $10004900	No -Herm left them out to dry like deer jerkey in the August sun
Posts: 14,233

05-27-2008, 11:06 AM	#10
crazycoffey .......... Join Date: Dec 2006 Casino cash: $5207901	oh, toughen up fellows....
Posts: 28,330

05-27-2008, 11:09 AM	#11
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3914454	I suggest the Chiefs hire Steve McNair as an assistant to help toughen these guys up. __________________ Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning: Matt once made a very nice play in Seattle where he spun away from a pass rusher and hit Bowe off his back foot for a first down. One of the best plays Matt has ever made.
Posts: 66,914