SLAG
09-24-2006, 07:06 PM
Notice this Posting on kcchiefs.com does not carry the -
"The opinions offered in this column do not necessarily reflect those of the Kansas City Chiefs."
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In Their Own Words
Sep 24, 2006, 4:56:09 AM
The Chiefs slow start has some fans wondering how someone who played under Dick Vermeil and enjoyed success on his teams could express such different views on the game. In all his public statements, Herm Edwards has emphasized defense whereas his mentor put his stamp on the offense.
Now, Edwards has been quick to say that the Vermeil we know in Kansas City espoused different views in Philadelphia during the decade of the ‘70s. Calling his offense “perimeter friendly,” Vermeil’s approach here had its roots in the offensive systems of Don Coryell and Ernie Zampese with later refinements courtesy of Norv Turner and Mike Martz.
By contrast, Herm Edwards can point to his time with defensive coach Tony Dungy, who he worked with in Kansas City and later in Tampa Bay. Dungy took his cues from his former coach, Chuck Noll, who built the Pittsburgh Steelers into a four-time Super Bowl champion.
In so many words, here’s what the two men have to say about how they approach the game. It is told in their own words rearranged from quotes culled from this web site dating back to 2001.
The Vermeil model
“I don’t like playing a game so close from an offensive standpoint that one play…gets you beat or one mistake…gets you beat. You have to score. Our plan is to attack, try to get a lead, and then run the ball. We’re trying to get some points on the board and secure a lead.
“If you’re going to move the ball in this league and score points the wide receivers have to get the ball in their hands. You’re not going to score any points unless your receivers have the ball. We’re not thinking about four yards at a time. We’re thinking stretching the field and going vertically up the field with the passing game. The number one thing is to get the ball in the hands of the wide receivers earlier in the ball game and downfield.
“You have to be productive in the passing game. For us to be successful we’ve got to throw the ball in the 60 percent area…we’ve got to complete 20 out of 34 completions and even more from time to time…be a quality third-down conversion team…stay out of a lot of third-and-longs. How you do that is have a fewer number of third down situations by converting on first down or first down on second down.
“We’ll gradually build up the running game…and eat up the clock. You’d get a lead then you would build up the run reps within that time period to eat up the clock.
“You have to score. I am not hung up on offensive points scored or defensive points given up. I’m hung up on winning margin points. I’m not of the mindset of just playing and hoping nothing bad happens and the defense will win it for you.“
- Dick Vermeil, Chiefs head coach, 2001-2005
The Edwards model
“If you look at the playoffs obviously defense wins. You have to be able to run the ball and play some defense – particularly in scoring defense (points given up).
“It’s come to a point where people bring so much pressure all the time that offensively it’s very difficult to say you’re going to sit back (in the pocket) and say you’re going to throw the ball a bunch. The way people attack you on defense it’s almost a blitz frenzy now…a mindset that we’re going to bring pressure – we’re not only going to bring pressure on first down but on all kind of downs and from everywhere. It’s become a fast-moving league of defensive guys trying to attack the line of scrimmage by different means. If you can’t hit a big play on offense it’s going to be a minus play…you’ve got to get ‘em in minus situations to be successful.
“The first thing you’ve got to do to get your defense better is get your offense staying on the football field. The more you can keep (opposing) teams off the field the better chance you have. You don’t want them to have a lot of possessions. To just go four or five plays and make tons of yards and all of a sudden it’s 35-to-40; you don’t want to play in those types of games. You want to control the clock; your offense has to move the ball; we have to stay on the field. Your offense has to make positive yards on first down. That’s key. First and third downs are very, very important. If you make positive yards on first down you stay out of third and long. If you don’t you’re in third and long and when you’re in third and long in this league you’ve got problems.
“It’s a field position game (and) if you do it enough times and a short field comes your way…you’ve got to score. You’ve got to score a touchdown or a field goal. When you’re in range to kick field goals you kick them. If your offense has the ball on the 50-yard line you only have to go 50 yards to score. You make two first downs and you’re in field goal range already.
“You’ve got to take the ball away…you’ve got to put (your) offense in position…so we’ve got to do something to create a short field so we have an opportunity to win, or we’ve got to stop ‘em.
“You never want to be more than one score down on the road. You have to stay out of two score situations. When you’re only one score down you’re always in the game. You’re a play or two away. But don’t get down by two scores and at the end have to throw the ball every play. You need big chunks (of yardage) and when you need big chunks you have to hold onto the ball. You’ve got to manage the game a little better.
- Herm Edwards, Chiefs head coach, 2006-
"The opinions offered in this column do not necessarily reflect those of the Kansas City Chiefs."
___________________________________________________
In Their Own Words
Sep 24, 2006, 4:56:09 AM
The Chiefs slow start has some fans wondering how someone who played under Dick Vermeil and enjoyed success on his teams could express such different views on the game. In all his public statements, Herm Edwards has emphasized defense whereas his mentor put his stamp on the offense.
Now, Edwards has been quick to say that the Vermeil we know in Kansas City espoused different views in Philadelphia during the decade of the ‘70s. Calling his offense “perimeter friendly,” Vermeil’s approach here had its roots in the offensive systems of Don Coryell and Ernie Zampese with later refinements courtesy of Norv Turner and Mike Martz.
By contrast, Herm Edwards can point to his time with defensive coach Tony Dungy, who he worked with in Kansas City and later in Tampa Bay. Dungy took his cues from his former coach, Chuck Noll, who built the Pittsburgh Steelers into a four-time Super Bowl champion.
In so many words, here’s what the two men have to say about how they approach the game. It is told in their own words rearranged from quotes culled from this web site dating back to 2001.
The Vermeil model
“I don’t like playing a game so close from an offensive standpoint that one play…gets you beat or one mistake…gets you beat. You have to score. Our plan is to attack, try to get a lead, and then run the ball. We’re trying to get some points on the board and secure a lead.
“If you’re going to move the ball in this league and score points the wide receivers have to get the ball in their hands. You’re not going to score any points unless your receivers have the ball. We’re not thinking about four yards at a time. We’re thinking stretching the field and going vertically up the field with the passing game. The number one thing is to get the ball in the hands of the wide receivers earlier in the ball game and downfield.
“You have to be productive in the passing game. For us to be successful we’ve got to throw the ball in the 60 percent area…we’ve got to complete 20 out of 34 completions and even more from time to time…be a quality third-down conversion team…stay out of a lot of third-and-longs. How you do that is have a fewer number of third down situations by converting on first down or first down on second down.
“We’ll gradually build up the running game…and eat up the clock. You’d get a lead then you would build up the run reps within that time period to eat up the clock.
“You have to score. I am not hung up on offensive points scored or defensive points given up. I’m hung up on winning margin points. I’m not of the mindset of just playing and hoping nothing bad happens and the defense will win it for you.“
- Dick Vermeil, Chiefs head coach, 2001-2005
The Edwards model
“If you look at the playoffs obviously defense wins. You have to be able to run the ball and play some defense – particularly in scoring defense (points given up).
“It’s come to a point where people bring so much pressure all the time that offensively it’s very difficult to say you’re going to sit back (in the pocket) and say you’re going to throw the ball a bunch. The way people attack you on defense it’s almost a blitz frenzy now…a mindset that we’re going to bring pressure – we’re not only going to bring pressure on first down but on all kind of downs and from everywhere. It’s become a fast-moving league of defensive guys trying to attack the line of scrimmage by different means. If you can’t hit a big play on offense it’s going to be a minus play…you’ve got to get ‘em in minus situations to be successful.
“The first thing you’ve got to do to get your defense better is get your offense staying on the football field. The more you can keep (opposing) teams off the field the better chance you have. You don’t want them to have a lot of possessions. To just go four or five plays and make tons of yards and all of a sudden it’s 35-to-40; you don’t want to play in those types of games. You want to control the clock; your offense has to move the ball; we have to stay on the field. Your offense has to make positive yards on first down. That’s key. First and third downs are very, very important. If you make positive yards on first down you stay out of third and long. If you don’t you’re in third and long and when you’re in third and long in this league you’ve got problems.
“It’s a field position game (and) if you do it enough times and a short field comes your way…you’ve got to score. You’ve got to score a touchdown or a field goal. When you’re in range to kick field goals you kick them. If your offense has the ball on the 50-yard line you only have to go 50 yards to score. You make two first downs and you’re in field goal range already.
“You’ve got to take the ball away…you’ve got to put (your) offense in position…so we’ve got to do something to create a short field so we have an opportunity to win, or we’ve got to stop ‘em.
“You never want to be more than one score down on the road. You have to stay out of two score situations. When you’re only one score down you’re always in the game. You’re a play or two away. But don’t get down by two scores and at the end have to throw the ball every play. You need big chunks (of yardage) and when you need big chunks you have to hold onto the ball. You’ve got to manage the game a little better.
- Herm Edwards, Chiefs head coach, 2006-