Kerberos
09-12-2005, 05:38 AM
http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2005/09/12/gretz_playing_vermeil_ball/
There are two foundation pillars to what Dick Vermeil believes in football. He calls it playing smart and playing tough.
On a hot, muggy opening day afternoon at Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs played Dick Vermeil football to the core. Their victory over the New York Jets was built on Vermeil football and a Gunther Cunningham defense that showed again that things are different on that side of the ball.
Not even Vermeil expected what he got against the Jets. The Chiefs head coach admitted during the days leading up to the opener that he was anxious, out of sorts, a little concerned about how it was all going to come together. There were some – yours truly included – that couldn’t understand how the offense could come out and be expected to play to its normal level of execution with so little time together in the pre-season.
The Chiefs proved that concern was misplaced. In their first three offensive possessions, they rolled down the field and scored on a 35-yard Larry Johnson TD run, a 3-yard Priest Holmes TD run and a Lawrence Tynes field goal. Early in the second quarter the game was 17-0 and the Jets had no chance to catch up.
That’s because Vermeil’s team played Vermeil football. Last year, the Jets under Vermeil protégé Herman Edwards played smarter and tougher football better than the Chiefs did. That’s one reason they were only a field goal away from making the AFC Championship Game.
That wasn’t the case this time.
Cunningham’s defense allowed 390 yards and the Jets threw for 333 yards. But Chad Pennington was harassed during his time on the field, turning the ball over three times on a pair of fumbles and a Patrick Surtain interception. Overall, the Jets fumbled the ball seven times, with Pennington having six of those.
Three different times the Jets got inside the Chiefs 10-yard line and came away with no points, giving the ball up on a fumble and twice on downs. The defense was flying to the ball and there were not the missed tackles so prevalent over the last few seasons. They had problems handling tight end Chris Baker, who burned them for seven catches and 124 yards and the only New York touchdown of the game with less than a minute remaining to play.
The only discouraging notes from the game were the injuries that popped up. Willie Roaf left in the first quarter with a pulled hamstring, Tony Richardson was removed because of a right knee sprain, Surtain finished off his interception return with a concussion and Ryan Sims left in the first quarter with a right foot injury.
But for a regular season opener, it doesn’t get much better than what the Chiefs got accomplished against the Jets. If they keep playing Vermeil football, there should be more successful Sundays ahead.
:D
.
There are two foundation pillars to what Dick Vermeil believes in football. He calls it playing smart and playing tough.
On a hot, muggy opening day afternoon at Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs played Dick Vermeil football to the core. Their victory over the New York Jets was built on Vermeil football and a Gunther Cunningham defense that showed again that things are different on that side of the ball.
Not even Vermeil expected what he got against the Jets. The Chiefs head coach admitted during the days leading up to the opener that he was anxious, out of sorts, a little concerned about how it was all going to come together. There were some – yours truly included – that couldn’t understand how the offense could come out and be expected to play to its normal level of execution with so little time together in the pre-season.
The Chiefs proved that concern was misplaced. In their first three offensive possessions, they rolled down the field and scored on a 35-yard Larry Johnson TD run, a 3-yard Priest Holmes TD run and a Lawrence Tynes field goal. Early in the second quarter the game was 17-0 and the Jets had no chance to catch up.
That’s because Vermeil’s team played Vermeil football. Last year, the Jets under Vermeil protégé Herman Edwards played smarter and tougher football better than the Chiefs did. That’s one reason they were only a field goal away from making the AFC Championship Game.
That wasn’t the case this time.
Cunningham’s defense allowed 390 yards and the Jets threw for 333 yards. But Chad Pennington was harassed during his time on the field, turning the ball over three times on a pair of fumbles and a Patrick Surtain interception. Overall, the Jets fumbled the ball seven times, with Pennington having six of those.
Three different times the Jets got inside the Chiefs 10-yard line and came away with no points, giving the ball up on a fumble and twice on downs. The defense was flying to the ball and there were not the missed tackles so prevalent over the last few seasons. They had problems handling tight end Chris Baker, who burned them for seven catches and 124 yards and the only New York touchdown of the game with less than a minute remaining to play.
The only discouraging notes from the game were the injuries that popped up. Willie Roaf left in the first quarter with a pulled hamstring, Tony Richardson was removed because of a right knee sprain, Surtain finished off his interception return with a concussion and Ryan Sims left in the first quarter with a right foot injury.
But for a regular season opener, it doesn’t get much better than what the Chiefs got accomplished against the Jets. If they keep playing Vermeil football, there should be more successful Sundays ahead.
:D
.