Tribal Warfare
12-28-2007, 10:48 PM
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chiefs/story/422308.html
Chiefs coach Edwards’ old team has a new look
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
Herm Edwards’ current team, the Chiefs, have 11 losses, and his former team, the New York Jets, have 12. Should he get the blame for 23 defeats, surely a one-season record in any league?
“Put that one on me, too,” Edwards said this week, referring to New York’s pile of losses. “I’ve got big shoulders.”
Edwards actually can’t take any more blame for the mess in New York than Dick Vermeil can for the disarray in Kansas City. The Jets quickly moved on after Edwards jumped from New York to the Chiefs two years ago.
It’s difficult to tell that the Jets, who play the Chiefs on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J., were coached by Edwards as recently as 2005. Some key players imported by Edwards remain, but otherwise his stamp from five seasons of coaching in New York has quickly disappeared.
“They’re definitely different from when Herm was there,” said offensive tackle Adrian Jones, who was recently released by the Jets and picked up by the Chiefs. “It’s a different offensive coordinator, and he does things differently. He likes a lot of motion and to spread things out. It’s a new defensive coordinator, and it’s a whole new system.”
Edwards’ replacement, Eric Mangini, took the Jets in a different direction from the way they were headed under Edwards, just like Edwards did with the Chiefs to distance himself from Vermeil.
Mangini junked Edwards’ ball-control offense for a more wide-open system. He discarded Edwards’ Cover 2 defensive scheme for a 3-4 look.
Mangini guided the Jets to the playoffs last season, a year after they finished 4-12 in Edwards’ last season. But they collapsed this year and are 3-12.
“I was looking at it in terms of the things that we were trying to do and (not) the things that he brought,” Mangini said. “It’s more of a function of what I was trying to do with the program and how we were trying to move it forward in that direction.”
The Jets reached the playoffs three times in Edwards’ five seasons and won twice in the postseason. But the same factors that anger Chiefs fans — his ultraconservative style, boring football and a four-win season — also riled Jets partisans.
Edwards could get a harsh reception at the Meadowlands today.
“It’ll be interesting,” Jets quarterback Chad Pennington told reporters in New York.
“Probably a mixture. Knowing New York fans, when you’re the opponent, no matter what happens you’re probably going to receive a few boos.”
Edwards will get nothing but love from many of the Jets. Key players such as receivers Jerricho Cotchery and Chris Baker; defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson; linebackers Victor Hobson, Bryan Thomas and Eric Barton; and safety Kerry Rhodes all came to the Jets when they were coached by Edwards.
“A lot of guys on the team I know are going to be excited to see him,” said Cotchery, who leads the Jets with 74 receptions and 1,054 yards.
“I know I will be because he drafted me and I’m very appreciative of him for that because he’s the guy that had a big impact on a lot of guys in this locker room, including myself. We appreciate him for that.”
Edwards went through the Jets’ roster this week and counted familiar names. But when he popped in some Jets video, he didn’t see a familiar team.
“There are about 18 players left,” he said. “Some of them are still playing. A lot of them are still playing, actually. But that philosophy has changed, too. They’re a 3-4 defense now and a spread offense most of the time. They’ve changed quarterbacks, and they’re trying to go with the young guy. They’ve changed, and you knew that was going to happen when (Mangini) walked in there. He’s going to do what he feels comfortable doing.”
Chiefs coach Edwards’ old team has a new look
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
Herm Edwards’ current team, the Chiefs, have 11 losses, and his former team, the New York Jets, have 12. Should he get the blame for 23 defeats, surely a one-season record in any league?
“Put that one on me, too,” Edwards said this week, referring to New York’s pile of losses. “I’ve got big shoulders.”
Edwards actually can’t take any more blame for the mess in New York than Dick Vermeil can for the disarray in Kansas City. The Jets quickly moved on after Edwards jumped from New York to the Chiefs two years ago.
It’s difficult to tell that the Jets, who play the Chiefs on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J., were coached by Edwards as recently as 2005. Some key players imported by Edwards remain, but otherwise his stamp from five seasons of coaching in New York has quickly disappeared.
“They’re definitely different from when Herm was there,” said offensive tackle Adrian Jones, who was recently released by the Jets and picked up by the Chiefs. “It’s a different offensive coordinator, and he does things differently. He likes a lot of motion and to spread things out. It’s a new defensive coordinator, and it’s a whole new system.”
Edwards’ replacement, Eric Mangini, took the Jets in a different direction from the way they were headed under Edwards, just like Edwards did with the Chiefs to distance himself from Vermeil.
Mangini junked Edwards’ ball-control offense for a more wide-open system. He discarded Edwards’ Cover 2 defensive scheme for a 3-4 look.
Mangini guided the Jets to the playoffs last season, a year after they finished 4-12 in Edwards’ last season. But they collapsed this year and are 3-12.
“I was looking at it in terms of the things that we were trying to do and (not) the things that he brought,” Mangini said. “It’s more of a function of what I was trying to do with the program and how we were trying to move it forward in that direction.”
The Jets reached the playoffs three times in Edwards’ five seasons and won twice in the postseason. But the same factors that anger Chiefs fans — his ultraconservative style, boring football and a four-win season — also riled Jets partisans.
Edwards could get a harsh reception at the Meadowlands today.
“It’ll be interesting,” Jets quarterback Chad Pennington told reporters in New York.
“Probably a mixture. Knowing New York fans, when you’re the opponent, no matter what happens you’re probably going to receive a few boos.”
Edwards will get nothing but love from many of the Jets. Key players such as receivers Jerricho Cotchery and Chris Baker; defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson; linebackers Victor Hobson, Bryan Thomas and Eric Barton; and safety Kerry Rhodes all came to the Jets when they were coached by Edwards.
“A lot of guys on the team I know are going to be excited to see him,” said Cotchery, who leads the Jets with 74 receptions and 1,054 yards.
“I know I will be because he drafted me and I’m very appreciative of him for that because he’s the guy that had a big impact on a lot of guys in this locker room, including myself. We appreciate him for that.”
Edwards went through the Jets’ roster this week and counted familiar names. But when he popped in some Jets video, he didn’t see a familiar team.
“There are about 18 players left,” he said. “Some of them are still playing. A lot of them are still playing, actually. But that philosophy has changed, too. They’re a 3-4 defense now and a spread offense most of the time. They’ve changed quarterbacks, and they’re trying to go with the young guy. They’ve changed, and you knew that was going to happen when (Mangini) walked in there. He’s going to do what he feels comfortable doing.”