Tribal Warfare
06-17-2008, 12:27 PM
http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2008/06/17/theres_no_turning_back (http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2008/06/17/theres_no_turning_back)
There's no turning back
Jun 17, 2008, 6:06:44 AM by Jonathan Rand (http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/jonathan_rand/) - FAQ (http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2004/01/20/jonathan_rand_faq/)
The word “commitment” gets a vigorous workout in the NFL — for good reason. No team contends for a Super Bowl, much less wins one, without making a total commitment in time, energy, talent and resources.
That goes as much for the New York Giants, the defending Super Bowl champions, as for those teams trying to climb from the bottom. A total commitment is especially needed for the Chiefs, who’ve elected to knock down their house and rebuild from the foundation.
The 2007 Chiefs are just a teardown now. The 2008 team looks like a construction site.
Coaches have a million ways to preach commitment. Surely, you’ve heard the one about serving bacon and eggs. The chicken was involved but the pig was committed.
Herm Edwards promised to mold a young team and the 92 players who recently concluded spring workouts included only 14 who’ve played in the NFL more than four years. They include safety Greg Wesley, who’s expected to be traded or released. Five other players have been in the NFL exactly four seasons.
So barring any veteran signings, the Chiefs’ 53-man roster will include at least 35 players with three or fewer years of NFL experience.
Edwards has hatched a bold plan, which will seem even bolder as the Chiefs get closer to their regular-season opener at New England. In the spring, optimism and energy are at a high level. Even in training camp, nearly every team in the league thinks it can smell a championship.
When most of us sit down and make plans to get married, move to another city, or start a business, we set out under a full head of steam. But the closer we get to actually implementing the plan, the colder our feet become.
“Is this really going to work?” we wonder. Some wimp out. Most, hopefully, reassure themselves that they’ve spent too much time doing their homework for their plans to fail.
If Edwards has any doubts about the eventual success of his rebuilding program, he hasn’t hinted at them. So far, he sounds as if he couldn’t be more pleased with the talent that he’s assembled in three drafts, including the 12 picks from the latest one.
But his rookies have yet to put on pads in training camp or indicate how close they’ll be to NFL readiness. Inexperience is bound to create question marks at some key positions during the summer and cost the Chiefs some games in the fall.
Edwards, though, already has reached the point of no return. He’s committed to third-year quarterback Brodie Croyle, and young starters in most areas. Outside linebacker Derrick Johnson may seem like a grizzled veteran but in fact has played for only three NFL seasons.
Running back Larry Johnson, with five years’ experience, is a fixture. But backups Kolby Smith and rookie Jamaal Charles combine for just one season of experience.
Even if the Chiefs were tempted to push the panic button, it’s unlikely at this late date that they could find available veterans, except maybe a place kicker, more useful than the players they have now.
Chiefs watchers at some point inevitably will ask out loud: “Is this really going to work?” Many, undoubtedly, have already asked.
You can bet on Edwards’ aggressively affirmative answer. Once a coach commits to a course of action, he almost always stays with it, whether it gets him a Super Bowl ring or gets him fired.
If he succeeds, he’s lauded for staying committed. Otherwise, he’s considered just plain stubborn. Fact is, anybody who wins in the NFL has got to be both.
There's no turning back
Jun 17, 2008, 6:06:44 AM by Jonathan Rand (http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/jonathan_rand/) - FAQ (http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2004/01/20/jonathan_rand_faq/)
The word “commitment” gets a vigorous workout in the NFL — for good reason. No team contends for a Super Bowl, much less wins one, without making a total commitment in time, energy, talent and resources.
That goes as much for the New York Giants, the defending Super Bowl champions, as for those teams trying to climb from the bottom. A total commitment is especially needed for the Chiefs, who’ve elected to knock down their house and rebuild from the foundation.
The 2007 Chiefs are just a teardown now. The 2008 team looks like a construction site.
Coaches have a million ways to preach commitment. Surely, you’ve heard the one about serving bacon and eggs. The chicken was involved but the pig was committed.
Herm Edwards promised to mold a young team and the 92 players who recently concluded spring workouts included only 14 who’ve played in the NFL more than four years. They include safety Greg Wesley, who’s expected to be traded or released. Five other players have been in the NFL exactly four seasons.
So barring any veteran signings, the Chiefs’ 53-man roster will include at least 35 players with three or fewer years of NFL experience.
Edwards has hatched a bold plan, which will seem even bolder as the Chiefs get closer to their regular-season opener at New England. In the spring, optimism and energy are at a high level. Even in training camp, nearly every team in the league thinks it can smell a championship.
When most of us sit down and make plans to get married, move to another city, or start a business, we set out under a full head of steam. But the closer we get to actually implementing the plan, the colder our feet become.
“Is this really going to work?” we wonder. Some wimp out. Most, hopefully, reassure themselves that they’ve spent too much time doing their homework for their plans to fail.
If Edwards has any doubts about the eventual success of his rebuilding program, he hasn’t hinted at them. So far, he sounds as if he couldn’t be more pleased with the talent that he’s assembled in three drafts, including the 12 picks from the latest one.
But his rookies have yet to put on pads in training camp or indicate how close they’ll be to NFL readiness. Inexperience is bound to create question marks at some key positions during the summer and cost the Chiefs some games in the fall.
Edwards, though, already has reached the point of no return. He’s committed to third-year quarterback Brodie Croyle, and young starters in most areas. Outside linebacker Derrick Johnson may seem like a grizzled veteran but in fact has played for only three NFL seasons.
Running back Larry Johnson, with five years’ experience, is a fixture. But backups Kolby Smith and rookie Jamaal Charles combine for just one season of experience.
Even if the Chiefs were tempted to push the panic button, it’s unlikely at this late date that they could find available veterans, except maybe a place kicker, more useful than the players they have now.
Chiefs watchers at some point inevitably will ask out loud: “Is this really going to work?” Many, undoubtedly, have already asked.
You can bet on Edwards’ aggressively affirmative answer. Once a coach commits to a course of action, he almost always stays with it, whether it gets him a Super Bowl ring or gets him fired.
If he succeeds, he’s lauded for staying committed. Otherwise, he’s considered just plain stubborn. Fact is, anybody who wins in the NFL has got to be both.