KCStar- Herman Edwards guest commentary

**Tribal Warfare** · 07:28 PM

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...as_city_chiefs

The Colts are here because of defense

Chiefs coach Herm Edwards faced the Colts a month ago in a 23-8 loss in the playoffs. Edwards is very close friends with Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy, which at first made him hesitant to do the annual Super Bowl scouting report. But he took time out this week to talk about Indianapolis with The Star.

Defenses win games. I keep telling people that, and they don’t believe me.

When you look at the playoffs, that’s what won it for these guys, is their defense. Both teams have played good defense in the playoffs. Both of them had shootout games, too. Lovie (Smith) and those guys had a shootout game against Seattle, and Tony had a shootout game against New England. But in the other games against us and Baltimore, they played good defense.

It’s the playoffs, and you knew their defense was going to play better. I knew that when we got ready to play them. And I kept telling our team: “These guys are going to play different. They’re going to play with much more resilience.”

Their defense did a good job on third downs getting off the field, and they’re taking the ball away. So to me, that was the key of how they played in the playoffs. Their first game was at home against us. I think that game gave them a lot of confidence, and then they went to Baltimore, and basically it was the same way.

New England was more of an open game, but at the end, their defense still made plays. (Bob Sanders) has made a big difference. Because he is kind of like the lightning rod for those guys. The players believe in him, and when he came back, it kind of sparked them.

Their ends are going to get you. You can’t block ’em. You can’t block (Dwight) Freeney and the other guy (Robert Mathis). Freeney runs a 4.45, and the other guy runs a 4.5. There are no tackles in the league who can block them by themselves. So they’re going to run around and hit the quarterback. And they’re going to play Cover 2 so you can’t throw the ball down the field. So, bam, the quarterback gets hit, the ball falls out, now you’re down three scores. So what have you got to do? You can’t keep running the ball because the fans start booing you.

You’ve got to throw the ball and, oops, interception. Now you’re down four scores, game over.

Peyton is playing better. It was just a matter of time because he’s that kind of quarterback. To me, a key for both teams is special teams because they both have good return guys. And then how (Rex) Grossman plays against those guys. If he doesn’t turn the ball over, they’ll be in the game. If he turns the ball over, that’s not good.

02-03-2007, 05:41 PM	Topic Starter
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-3007187	KCStar- Herman Edwards guest commentary http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...as_city_chiefs The Colts are here because of defense Chiefs coach Herm Edwards faced the Colts a month ago in a 23-8 loss in the playoffs. Edwards is very close friends with Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy, which at first made him hesitant to do the annual Super Bowl scouting report. But he took time out this week to talk about Indianapolis with The Star. Defenses win games. I keep telling people that, and they don’t believe me. When you look at the playoffs, that’s what won it for these guys, is their defense. Both teams have played good defense in the playoffs. Both of them had shootout games, too. Lovie (Smith) and those guys had a shootout game against Seattle, and Tony had a shootout game against New England. But in the other games against us and Baltimore, they played good defense. It’s the playoffs, and you knew their defense was going to play better. I knew that when we got ready to play them. And I kept telling our team: “These guys are going to play different. They’re going to play with much more resilience.” Their defense did a good job on third downs getting off the field, and they’re taking the ball away. So to me, that was the key of how they played in the playoffs. Their first game was at home against us. I think that game gave them a lot of confidence, and then they went to Baltimore, and basically it was the same way. New England was more of an open game, but at the end, their defense still made plays. (Bob Sanders) has made a big difference. Because he is kind of like the lightning rod for those guys. The players believe in him, and when he came back, it kind of sparked them. Their ends are going to get you. You can’t block ’em. You can’t block (Dwight) Freeney and the other guy (Robert Mathis). Freeney runs a 4.45, and the other guy runs a 4.5. There are no tackles in the league who can block them by themselves. So they’re going to run around and hit the quarterback. And they’re going to play Cover 2 so you can’t throw the ball down the field. So, bam, the quarterback gets hit, the ball falls out, now you’re down three scores. So what have you got to do? You can’t keep running the ball because the fans start booing you. You’ve got to throw the ball and, oops, interception. Now you’re down four scores, game over. Peyton is playing better. It was just a matter of time because he’s that kind of quarterback. To me, a key for both teams is special teams because they both have good return guys. And then how (Rex) Grossman plays against those guys. If he doesn’t turn the ball over, they’ll be in the game. If he turns the ball over, that’s not good. Last edited by Tribal Warfare; 02-03-2007 at 07:28 PM..
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