Teicher: Vermeil can see the light

tk13 · 09-30-2004, 01:13 AM

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...ts/9793854.htm

Vermeil can see the light
Chiefs coach says season is not lost

By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

From all corners of Kansas City, in the privacy of living rooms and in public venues like sports bars, Dick Vermeil continues to take shots for the decisions leading to the Chiefs' 0-3 record.

Why call timeout after Houston's first down late in the first half Sunday? Why try on fourth and 2 rather than take the sure field goal? Why not insist the Chiefs import some defensive players and a wide receiver during the off-season?

As critical as any fan who saw dreams of a Chiefs Super Bowl season crash and burn — and with the luxury of an extra day this week because of the Monday night game in Baltimore — Vermeil is asking himself the very same questions.

He just might not be coming to the same conclusions, even as he acknowledged that many of his long-term and game-day choices don't look very good right now.

“Am I any different than I was last year at 3-0? I'm probably doing a better job now than I did last year at 3-0,” Vermeil said Wednesday. “Maybe I overlooked some things or I planned wrong or I let some things go because we were so good last year and won 13 games and maybe I said, ‘It's not broke, so I'm not going to fix it.' But in this business, you either get better or you get worse, and right now, we're not better. We're getting better from where we started the season.

“We can be a better football team than we were last year. I still believe that. I'm not saying we're going to win 13 games. I've said all along we could be a better team and not win as many games. But I'm not going to go back on what I thought.”

The Chiefs were, relatively speaking, improved on offense and defense against the Texans, even though they were beaten at home by a winless, third-season expansion team. Whether that's the first step in a dramatic turnaround or a product of the competition will be revealed in Baltimore against a 2-1 team that dominated its two most recent opponents.

If such a turnaround is going to come, it better happen quickly. The combined record of the Chiefs' next four opponents — games against Jacksonville, Atlanta and Indianapolis follow — is 10-2.

“I came into the season with what I think is going to be a good football team,” Vermeil said. “It's not as good as I thought it would be after three games. What I have to do is get it to the level I expected them to be.

“I also have to live in the real world. I knew playing three of the first four games against playoff caliber-teams, two of them on the road, would be a real tough thing to do because it's been a real tough thing to do for every other team that's had to do something like this.”

Like any veteran coach, Vermeil has experience at situations like this. He saw much darker days during his time in St. Louis.

Vermeil's Rams won a total of nine games in his first two seasons. Then, he was on a seat much hotter than the one he occupies now. His fortunes turned dramatically when he abruptly and unexpectedly, in his third season, guided the Rams to the Super Bowl championship.

“This is my third team,” he said. “At all three, I went through terrible periods of time. It's not going smoothly right now. But I don't know of one coach in the Hall of Fame that hasn't lost three in a row at some point. So I'm not going to jump off a bridge. I'm going to respond to our problems like I expect my players to respond to our problems.”

The difference for Vermeil is that until this season, he's never had a team that fancied itself as a Super Bowl contender go up in flames. His 1982 Eagles finished 3-6 a year after making the playoffs as a wild card and two after reaching the Super Bowl, but a strike that interrupted the season for several weeks can explain that.

Vermeil has no such crutch now. The Chiefs opted for continuity rather than upheaval during the off-season and at least so far are paying the price.

“We talked to Warren Sapp and we talked to the cornerback who came in here (Troy Vincent), but they were out of our ballpark moneywise,” he said. “Otherwise, who were we going to find as better players than the ones we already had?

“We wanted a wide receiver, and we wanted to get a first-round pick. But they were gone, so we didn't get one. You don't go out and buy a Mercedes with a busted axle. If you do, then you get him here and he's not as good as the guy you want him to replace. We haven't made many wrong decisions (in free-agency). I compare our free-agent signings and production with any team in the National Football League. It comes from not being impulsive and not being misled.”

It's not Vermeil's style to shake up the lineup, call out assistant coaches publicly or make any other such moves. Such things are, in his view, cosmetic and the result of panic.

“I don't attack people in this environment,” Vermeil said. “I attack the problems. Too many football teams jump ship on people and players and coaches and schemes just at the verge of when they were going to come through and get to that next level. I believe that will happen to our defense and our entire team. Maybe I'm wrong, but that's what I think.”

**Tribal Warfare** · 09-30-2004, 03:52 AM

Quote:

We wanted a wide receiver, and we wanted to get a first-round pick. But they were gone

Are you f ucking kidding me. KC had a chance to get Rashaan Woods but botched the effort.

htismaqe · 09-30-2004, 05:15 AM

Of course Vermeil can see the light.

He can retire after this season and be rid of the entire mess.

We're not going to make the playoffs this season.

**Rausch** · 09-30-2004, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Of course Vermeil can see the light.

He can retire after this season and be rid of the entire mess.

We're not going to make the playoffs this season.

You're not allowed to quit on this team. It's against the ****'n rules...

Mark M · 09-30-2004, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

KC had a chance to get Rashaan Woods but botched the effort.

They also has a chance to get Taylor, Vincent or Winfield to help the secondary.

Oh well ... there's always next year.

Just to **** with Rausch

MM
~~

htismaqe · 09-30-2004, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rausch

You're not allowed to quit on this team. It's against the ****'n rules...

I haven't "quit" on this team. I'll be in front of my team every Sunday cheering them on.

I'm simply acknowledging the statistical probability of an 0-3 team making the playoffs...

Frankie · 09-30-2004, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

Are you f ucking kidding me. KC had a chance to get Rashaan Woods but botched the effort.

Any stats on how Woods is doing?

KCTitus · 09-30-2004, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frankie

Any stats on how Woods is doing?

He's been busy keeping the bench warm...

http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/493126

Hammock Parties · 09-30-2004, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

I haven't "quit" on this team. I'll be in front of my team every Sunday cheering them on.

I'm simply acknowledging the statistical probability of an 0-3 team making the playoffs...

What do you think's going to happen in the offseason? I thinK Vermeil will stick around for one more season.

Mr. Laz · 09-30-2004, 11:13 AM

Quote:

But in this business, your either get better or you get worse, and right now, we're not better.

pretty much

Frankie · 09-30-2004, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCTitus

He's been busy keeping the bench warm...

http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/493126

Man, them stats are impressive.

Mark M · 09-30-2004, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Vermeil can see the light

Sometimes, that light at the end of the tunnel is just an oncoming train ...

MM
~~

htismaqe · 09-30-2004, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBret

What do you think's going to happen in the offseason? I thinK Vermeil will stick around for one more season.

To be perfectly honest, I hope we go 4-12.

I hope we get the #1 pick in the draft.

I hope Dick Vermeil retires in disgust.

And finally, I hope Peterson goes to San Diego to re-team with Marty.

nmt1 · 09-30-2004, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

And finally, I hope Peterson goes to San Diego to re-team with Marty.

Gotta think the first order of business in San Diego would be to show Marty the door.

The Rick · 09-30-2004, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCTitus

He's been busy keeping the bench warm...

http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/493126

No wonder San Francisco sucks so much this year...

09-30-2004, 01:13 AM
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $-1677500	Teicher: Vermeil can see the light http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...ts/9793854.htm Vermeil can see the light Chiefs coach says season is not lost By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star From all corners of Kansas City, in the privacy of living rooms and in public venues like sports bars, Dick Vermeil continues to take shots for the decisions leading to the Chiefs' 0-3 record. Why call timeout after Houston's first down late in the first half Sunday? Why try on fourth and 2 rather than take the sure field goal? Why not insist the Chiefs import some defensive players and a wide receiver during the off-season? As critical as any fan who saw dreams of a Chiefs Super Bowl season crash and burn — and with the luxury of an extra day this week because of the Monday night game in Baltimore — Vermeil is asking himself the very same questions. He just might not be coming to the same conclusions, even as he acknowledged that many of his long-term and game-day choices don't look very good right now. “Am I any different than I was last year at 3-0? I'm probably doing a better job now than I did last year at 3-0,” Vermeil said Wednesday. “Maybe I overlooked some things or I planned wrong or I let some things go because we were so good last year and won 13 games and maybe I said, ‘It's not broke, so I'm not going to fix it.' But in this business, you either get better or you get worse, and right now, we're not better. We're getting better from where we started the season. “We can be a better football team than we were last year. I still believe that. I'm not saying we're going to win 13 games. I've said all along we could be a better team and not win as many games. But I'm not going to go back on what I thought.” The Chiefs were, relatively speaking, improved on offense and defense against the Texans, even though they were beaten at home by a winless, third-season expansion team. Whether that's the first step in a dramatic turnaround or a product of the competition will be revealed in Baltimore against a 2-1 team that dominated its two most recent opponents. If such a turnaround is going to come, it better happen quickly. The combined record of the Chiefs' next four opponents — games against Jacksonville, Atlanta and Indianapolis follow — is 10-2. “I came into the season with what I think is going to be a good football team,” Vermeil said. “It's not as good as I thought it would be after three games. What I have to do is get it to the level I expected them to be. “I also have to live in the real world. I knew playing three of the first four games against playoff caliber-teams, two of them on the road, would be a real tough thing to do because it's been a real tough thing to do for every other team that's had to do something like this.” Like any veteran coach, Vermeil has experience at situations like this. He saw much darker days during his time in St. Louis. Vermeil's Rams won a total of nine games in his first two seasons. Then, he was on a seat much hotter than the one he occupies now. His fortunes turned dramatically when he abruptly and unexpectedly, in his third season, guided the Rams to the Super Bowl championship. “This is my third team,” he said. “At all three, I went through terrible periods of time. It's not going smoothly right now. But I don't know of one coach in the Hall of Fame that hasn't lost three in a row at some point. So I'm not going to jump off a bridge. I'm going to respond to our problems like I expect my players to respond to our problems.” The difference for Vermeil is that until this season, he's never had a team that fancied itself as a Super Bowl contender go up in flames. His 1982 Eagles finished 3-6 a year after making the playoffs as a wild card and two after reaching the Super Bowl, but a strike that interrupted the season for several weeks can explain that. Vermeil has no such crutch now. The Chiefs opted for continuity rather than upheaval during the off-season and at least so far are paying the price. “We talked to Warren Sapp and we talked to the cornerback who came in here (Troy Vincent), but they were out of our ballpark moneywise,” he said. “Otherwise, who were we going to find as better players than the ones we already had? “We wanted a wide receiver, and we wanted to get a first-round pick. But they were gone, so we didn't get one. You don't go out and buy a Mercedes with a busted axle. If you do, then you get him here and he's not as good as the guy you want him to replace. We haven't made many wrong decisions (in free-agency). I compare our free-agent signings and production with any team in the National Football League. It comes from not being impulsive and not being misled.” It's not Vermeil's style to shake up the lineup, call out assistant coaches publicly or make any other such moves. Such things are, in his view, cosmetic and the result of panic. “I don't attack people in this environment,” Vermeil said. “I attack the problems. Too many football teams jump ship on people and players and coaches and schemes just at the verge of when they were going to come through and get to that next level. I believe that will happen to our defense and our entire team. Maybe I'm wrong, but that's what I think.”
Posts: 56,600

09-30-2004, 05:15 AM	#3
htismaqe 'Tis my eye! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Chiefsplanet Casino cash: $8179900	Of course Vermeil can see the light. He can retire after this season and be rid of the entire mess. We're not going to make the playoffs this season.
Posts: 104,292