FloridaMan88
01-09-2006, 08:27 PM
http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2006/01/09/dick_vermeil_on_head_coach_herman_edwards/
DICK VERMEIL ON HEAD COACH HERMAN EDWARDS
Jan 09, 2006, 2:30:47 PM
Q: How tough is it to hire one friend (Edwards) as the head coach when you recommended somebody from your staff (Al Saunders)?
VERMEIL: “I have no control over who they hire. I made a recommendation and I think he would have been hired here if (President) Carl (Peterson) couldn’t get Herman (Edwards). When Carl had the opportunity to get Herman, he did something he has always wanted to do, have Herman be his head football coach. If he would not have been able to do that and the Jets would not have released him I think Al (Saunders) would have had a heck of a shot at the job. I said when I retired that Carl would do what he thinks is best for the organization. It may not go along with what I think. I think he has made a tremendous decision. I have tremendous respect for Herman.”
Q: Is today kind of a mixed blessing?
VERMEIL: “I talk to Herman every week. I have known him for a long time.”
Q: If Al (Saunders) does not get a head coaching job do you think he can still be the offensive coordinator here?
VERMEIL: “You would have to ask him. I think he could do it. He and Herman are friends. They have worked together.”
Q: How flattering is it to hear how Herman talks about you?
VERMEIL: “I am not a big ego guy. I know how Herman feels about me and he knows how I feel about him. There are no secrets. We talk all of the time. Sometimes you don’t always say it in front of large groups, but I do and have. He does and has. I have tremendous feelings for this young man. He is part of the Vermeil family.”
Q: How is retirement?
VERMEIL: “I have been trying to clean out my office. I did not realize how much stuff I accumulated.”
Q: How much longer do you think you will be around?
VERMEIL: “I will be here for another week and a half or so.”
Q: Are there any coaching candidates out there that you are rooting for to get one of the remaining spots?
VERMEIL: “I would like Al Saunders to get a head coaching job.”
Q: Any feel for where he may go?
VERMEIL: “I know he is still a candidate in Houston and he is being interviewed in Detroit. I don’t know anything more than that.”
Q: What was your reaction when you saw Herman today?
VERMEIL: “There are some things you say to people that you don’t what in the newspaper. It was special. It is like seeing your older son doing something he deserves the right to do. We know he will do it well. Will he please everybody? No, he won’t try to. He will do a helluva job.”
Q: As a new coach somewhere what is it like interviewing the current staff to see if you want to keep them?
VERMEIL: “It is uncomfortable. It is very uncomfortable. You as a head coach know you have some guys in mind that you would like to get if you can. You don’t know many guys on the staff. I have always kept guys off of the staff. I have always found out from people who is doing a good job. Sometimes I knew already. When I went to UCLA as my first major job I hired seven assistants right off of the staff, including Carl Peterson. If I had not done that I would not have been exposed to Terry Donahue, Dick Tomey, Lynn Stiles, Carl Peterson, great football coaches. Great football people. Sometimes you maintain continuity and they teach you what has been going on the last few years. They know the personnel and all of that. They know the strengths and weaknesses. It gives you a real jump. You have to have confidence in your own ability to make those kinds of decisions. I kept people when I came here. I kept Joe Vitt, I kept Bob Karmelowicz and Mike Solari. I sort of like to do that. Plus it takes you off the hook sometimes.”
Q: Would you recommend he keep the entire offensive staff?
VERMEIL: “It would be great, but I don’t think it will happen. Some of these people know other people that are going to be head coaches that have personal connections with like Herman has Tony Dungy. You want to work for them.”
Q: Is (offensive line coach) Mike Solari ready to be an offensive coordinator?
VERMEIL: “He is ready. If Mike did that he would have somebody with him that is involved deeply in the passing game. Mike has really been zeroed in on pass protections and the running game and not so much with pass patterns and the quarterback. Mike Solari is unlimited.”
Q: What struck you by what Herman said today?
VERMEIL: “I know what he thinks. I know what he believes. I know what he says. I have heard him say it before. I have heard him say it to me on the phone. I have heard him say it out having dinner. I know what goes through his mind, what he brings and where his priorities are. He did not say anything today that surprised me. He said it very well and very defined so he could not be misunderstood.”
Q: How closely does he mirror you in your relationship with his players?
VERMEIL: “Very close. First off it is a reflection that he enjoyed his relationship with me that we had when he was a player. He obviously feels that was important to him. When it was important to you as a player you normally bring that on to as being important as a coach.”
Q: What does the term players’ coach mean to you?
VERMEIL: “Number one they know you care. They are more than just a jersey number. They are more than just a position on the roster. They know you are trying to teach them to be better players and better people so they can make a better contribution to the football team. And last long and make more money.”
Q: Do you ever fear that may not play as hard for you?
VERMEIL: “I know this. I have been a protected person of the person I care for the most the hardest. I have always believed that. If you can move the commitment from the head to the heart you have a little better chance. Some people don’t even care. They are not wrong. They are not right. Nobody ever said this is the way you have to do it.”
DICK VERMEIL ON HEAD COACH HERMAN EDWARDS
Jan 09, 2006, 2:30:47 PM
Q: How tough is it to hire one friend (Edwards) as the head coach when you recommended somebody from your staff (Al Saunders)?
VERMEIL: “I have no control over who they hire. I made a recommendation and I think he would have been hired here if (President) Carl (Peterson) couldn’t get Herman (Edwards). When Carl had the opportunity to get Herman, he did something he has always wanted to do, have Herman be his head football coach. If he would not have been able to do that and the Jets would not have released him I think Al (Saunders) would have had a heck of a shot at the job. I said when I retired that Carl would do what he thinks is best for the organization. It may not go along with what I think. I think he has made a tremendous decision. I have tremendous respect for Herman.”
Q: Is today kind of a mixed blessing?
VERMEIL: “I talk to Herman every week. I have known him for a long time.”
Q: If Al (Saunders) does not get a head coaching job do you think he can still be the offensive coordinator here?
VERMEIL: “You would have to ask him. I think he could do it. He and Herman are friends. They have worked together.”
Q: How flattering is it to hear how Herman talks about you?
VERMEIL: “I am not a big ego guy. I know how Herman feels about me and he knows how I feel about him. There are no secrets. We talk all of the time. Sometimes you don’t always say it in front of large groups, but I do and have. He does and has. I have tremendous feelings for this young man. He is part of the Vermeil family.”
Q: How is retirement?
VERMEIL: “I have been trying to clean out my office. I did not realize how much stuff I accumulated.”
Q: How much longer do you think you will be around?
VERMEIL: “I will be here for another week and a half or so.”
Q: Are there any coaching candidates out there that you are rooting for to get one of the remaining spots?
VERMEIL: “I would like Al Saunders to get a head coaching job.”
Q: Any feel for where he may go?
VERMEIL: “I know he is still a candidate in Houston and he is being interviewed in Detroit. I don’t know anything more than that.”
Q: What was your reaction when you saw Herman today?
VERMEIL: “There are some things you say to people that you don’t what in the newspaper. It was special. It is like seeing your older son doing something he deserves the right to do. We know he will do it well. Will he please everybody? No, he won’t try to. He will do a helluva job.”
Q: As a new coach somewhere what is it like interviewing the current staff to see if you want to keep them?
VERMEIL: “It is uncomfortable. It is very uncomfortable. You as a head coach know you have some guys in mind that you would like to get if you can. You don’t know many guys on the staff. I have always kept guys off of the staff. I have always found out from people who is doing a good job. Sometimes I knew already. When I went to UCLA as my first major job I hired seven assistants right off of the staff, including Carl Peterson. If I had not done that I would not have been exposed to Terry Donahue, Dick Tomey, Lynn Stiles, Carl Peterson, great football coaches. Great football people. Sometimes you maintain continuity and they teach you what has been going on the last few years. They know the personnel and all of that. They know the strengths and weaknesses. It gives you a real jump. You have to have confidence in your own ability to make those kinds of decisions. I kept people when I came here. I kept Joe Vitt, I kept Bob Karmelowicz and Mike Solari. I sort of like to do that. Plus it takes you off the hook sometimes.”
Q: Would you recommend he keep the entire offensive staff?
VERMEIL: “It would be great, but I don’t think it will happen. Some of these people know other people that are going to be head coaches that have personal connections with like Herman has Tony Dungy. You want to work for them.”
Q: Is (offensive line coach) Mike Solari ready to be an offensive coordinator?
VERMEIL: “He is ready. If Mike did that he would have somebody with him that is involved deeply in the passing game. Mike has really been zeroed in on pass protections and the running game and not so much with pass patterns and the quarterback. Mike Solari is unlimited.”
Q: What struck you by what Herman said today?
VERMEIL: “I know what he thinks. I know what he believes. I know what he says. I have heard him say it before. I have heard him say it to me on the phone. I have heard him say it out having dinner. I know what goes through his mind, what he brings and where his priorities are. He did not say anything today that surprised me. He said it very well and very defined so he could not be misunderstood.”
Q: How closely does he mirror you in your relationship with his players?
VERMEIL: “Very close. First off it is a reflection that he enjoyed his relationship with me that we had when he was a player. He obviously feels that was important to him. When it was important to you as a player you normally bring that on to as being important as a coach.”
Q: What does the term players’ coach mean to you?
VERMEIL: “Number one they know you care. They are more than just a jersey number. They are more than just a position on the roster. They know you are trying to teach them to be better players and better people so they can make a better contribution to the football team. And last long and make more money.”
Q: Do you ever fear that may not play as hard for you?
VERMEIL: “I know this. I have been a protected person of the person I care for the most the hardest. I have always believed that. If you can move the commitment from the head to the heart you have a little better chance. Some people don’t even care. They are not wrong. They are not right. Nobody ever said this is the way you have to do it.”