Chiefs Players: Don't Blame Herm

[KCJohnny]

Chiefs Players: Don't Blame Herm

• Among the players lobbying for Herm Edwards’ retention as Chiefs coach was QB Tyler Thigpen, whom Edwards has identified as his anticipated starter in 2009 should he be around to make that decision.

“I hope we’re not playing for his job,” said Thigpen, who saw the Chiefs build the “Pistol” offense around his spread-quarterback abilities at midseason.

“We’ve had some tough ones this year, but I don’t think his job should be in jeopardy,” Thigpen added. “He’s done what he should have done this year. Don’t blame him at all. If anyone wants to say that, come take it up with me.”

• Added Pro Bowl G Brian Waters, who was selected to his fourth Pro Bowl last week:

“Herm, without a shadow of a doubt, is the most resilient person in this organization. He understands the cards he was dealt when he got here (in 2006), and he understands what he has to deal with this season.

“If anybody leads by example, it’s him. He comes to work every day with the same energy, and he has not let this situation affect him one way or another. I don’t know of many coaches that could hold it together through the things we’ve had to go through for the past three years. I think a lot of coaches in that situation would be looking for the door.”

Reading the tea leaves, if Edwards is retained, Thiggy could be his guy. With Quinn Gray as a similarly styled athletic shotgun QB, the mold could be set for Pistol II. Chan Gailey is somehow omitted from the article, the true architect of the KC Pistol. I am wondering if Gailey's style of offense is ultimately welcome in Herm's scheme of maneuver. The low TOP figures (a mere 25 minutes last Sunday) and low rushing attempts (just 15 carries for RBs) are not BucBall.

I think that if Herm is retained (as some players seem to support) that Gailey should be given a blank check and maybe even some more weapons. Clearly, the emerging strength of the team is it's offense. Makes you wonder what a new GM/HC tandem might do with the Chiefs' roster...

[WilliamTheIrish]

Originally Posted by Brock

I don't care who the players like or want as a coach. The Giants used to hate Tom Coughlin, until he made them into superstars who never have to pay for another meal in NY.

Sometimes you have to go from taskmaster (Marty) to motivational/emotional guy (Dick), to player's coach (Herm) and back to taskmaster.

It happens all the time. And that time has come.

[kcfanXIII]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

Or last weekend against Sad Diego. What mistake directly attributable to Herm made the difference in the game? This was asked last week, and nobody could provide an answer beyond "Herm sucks"....

head coach is the one ultimatly responsible for wins and losses. they are in charge of game planning. if you blame the execution of the players, well, they're herm's players so again falls on him.

how many second half points have we scored in the last two weeks, or a better question is how many second half points have we given up all season. how many leads have slipped away? in indy in '06, how many times was LJ ran right up the center or guard's ass? why does he stick with the cover 2? (its well known cover 2 won't work without pass rush, and we traded that away.)

[Fish]

Originally Posted by beach tribe

I want to win a SUPER BOWL. Herm is a Marty clone, only he isn't HALF as good as Marty. I don't care about a PO appearance, or 1 PO win. I don't want a coach who makes the POs, and plays not to lose. I do not dislike Herm. I just don't have any faith in him winning a SB. How hard is that to understand? I'm sorry but unlike you, and Carl, I don't consider making the POs a success. There is only 1 winner every year, and I don't think Herm will ever be the last man standing. It's nothing personal.

This is literally word for word what used to be said about Cowher.... before he won the Superbowl. That's not a defense of Cowher(don't want him, don't want him), but an example of how impatient fans can be with a head coach.

I want to win a Superbowl too. I want that very badly. But it isn't simply a head coach that's holding this team back from winning a Superbowl. If that were the case, I would gladly agree with you. The team still needs pieces. And a new head coach isn't going to wave a magic wand and get us to the Superbowl more quickly. I think Herm is the right type of coach for a team in this phase of development. And if the new GM has a coach in mind with the same mindset for building a team, then bring him on in. That wouldn't disappoint me at all. I just don't want to lose the philosophy of building through the draft. I don't want to lose patience now, and make things worse. I understand that there are other coaches who would support a rebuild, but I know there are a lot more who would go in a different direction.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

I consider not going for a short 4th down and thus costing us a win a pretty horrible decision. I remember yelling at the TV at the time what an idiot he was for putting the game in the D's hand. He has done this a couple of times this season.

But as far as the TO's go and stuff like that I haven't seen that bad side of Herm since he has been here except for the occasional incident. This year he has been a ton better with reviews that is for sure.

INMVHO the main reasons why Herm should be fired is his 14-27 record in 3 years and his inability to fix the D like he said he would.

The 4th down calls are very questionable criticism. If they were called the same way each time, you might have a point. But we've tried some, and declined to try some. I've agreed with many more 4th down decisions this year than I've questioned. And I've seen the same trend in many other posters here...

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by CrazyCoffey

what mistake did he make this weekend, on the sideline - gameday.

I agree that his game management/clock management "skills" are often wrongfully attacked.

There are two HUGE reasons why a coaching change is needed:

It's all about the performance of the D. #32 gets you the door, especially when this was your calling card when you took the job.

Couple this with putting too much of his (and the organization's) faith in Croyle, and he has to go.

[StcChief]

well if GM is deciding on Herm....as Clark says we will likely be waiting awhile.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

The 4th down calls are very questionable criticism. If they were called the same way each time, you might have a point. But we've tried some, and declined to try some. I've agreed with many more 4th down decisions this year than I've questioned. And I've seen the same trend in many other posters here...

There is no question he has gone for it more but that is because we only have won 2 games. He had a couple of instances earlier in the season and chose not to go for it and put the game on the D's shoulder when it was obvious they couldn't stop shit. What that tells me is if we were a .500 team he would hardly ever go for it.

There is no reason no to go for it when you are the 2nd worst team in the NFL because you have nothing to lose.

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

This is literally word for word what used to be said about Cowher.... before he won the Superbowl. That's not a defense of Cowher(don't want him, don't want him), but an example of how impatient fans can be with a head coach.

I want to win a Superbowl too. I want that very badly. But it isn't simply a head coach that's holding this team back from winning a Superbowl. If that were the case, I would gladly agree with you. The team still needs pieces. And a new head coach isn't going to wave a magic wand and get us to the Superbowl more quickly. I think Herm is the right type of coach for a team in this phase of development. And if the new GM has a coach in mind with the same mindset for building a team, then bring him on in. That wouldn't disappoint me at all. I just don't want to lose the philosophy of building through the draft. I don't want to lose patience now, and make things worse. I understand that there are other coaches who would support a rebuild, but I know there are a lot more who would go in a different direction.

I think CLARK is ultimately the one who decided he wanted to build through the draft, and I don't see that changing with or without Herm, but I agree with just about everything you're saying. I just really don't have any faith in Herm. I'm just a football fan with an opinion though. I think Kuharich is the man that is ultimately going to build this team, and I't's going to take another coach to get our boys fitted for rings.

[Kerberos]

Originally Posted by KCJohnny

Maybe I'm just a delusional homer, but statements made in the combat zone often have a serious, sincere quality. Vets, help me out here.

"Charlie Don't Surf"?

[Fish]

Originally Posted by kcfanXIII

head coach is the one ultimatly responsible for wins and losses. they are in charge of game planning. if you blame the execution of the players, well, they're herm's players so again falls on him.

how many second half points have we scored in the last two weeks, or a better question is how many second half points have we given up all season. how many leads have slipped away? in indy in '06, how many times was LJ ran right up the center or guard's ass? why does he stick with the cover 2? (its well known cover 2 won't work without pass rush, and we traded that away.)

The coach is certainly responsible for wins and losses. But that has to come with some understanding of what the team makeup is, and the level of talent currently on the team. You have to factor in the team youth and inexperience. You could pick your favorite head coach and put him in charge of the youngest team in the league, and his record would be less than his coaching average. Lots of people point to the overall record as proof positive of failure, but you have to keep in mind what the expectations were before the season started. Most everyone saw what the team was going to be made of before the season started and picked us to win 0-5 games. Now our 2 wins are being held as justification for failure, even though it was seen as expected growing pains beforehand.

Second half point are a concern. But I see us doing the same things in the second half that we're doing in the first, and not executing them the same way. LJ is no longer running up the center's ass, so that has changed since last year. Cover 2 is a failure with this personnel, and a big negative on Herm's philosophy.

[kcbubb]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

This is literally word for word what used to be said about Cowher.... before he won the Superbowl. That's not a defense of Cowher(don't want him, don't want him), but an example of how impatient fans can be with a head coach.

I want to win a Superbowl too. I want that very badly. But it isn't simply a head coach that's holding this team back from winning a Superbowl. If that were the case, I would gladly agree with you. The team still needs pieces. And a new head coach isn't going to wave a magic wand and get us to the Superbowl more quickly. I think Herm is the right type of coach for a team in this phase of development. And if the new GM has a coach in mind with the same mindset for building a team, then bring him on in. That wouldn't disappoint me at all. I just don't want to lose the philosophy of building through the draft. I don't want to lose patience now, and make things worse. I understand that there are other coaches who would support a rebuild, but I know there are a lot more who would go in a different direction.

I agree! What about Tony Dungy??? Does Herm not remind anyone of Tony Dungy?

[Brock]

Originally Posted by kcbubb

I agree! What about Tony Dungy??? Does Herm not remind anyone of Tony Dungy?

Dungy has only had one losing season in his career. So no, not so much.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

There is no question he has gone for it more but that is because we only have won 2 games. He had a couple of instances earlier in the season and chose not to go for it and put the game on the D's shoulder when it was obvious they couldn't stop shit. What that tells me is if we were a .500 team he would hardly ever go for it.

There is no reason no to go for it when you are the 2nd worst team in the NFL because you have nothing to lose.

So there's no question he has gone for it more, because we only have won 2 games..... but we should go for it more because we are the 2nd worst team in the NFL?

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

Second half point are a concern. But I see us doing the same things in the second half that we're doing in the first, and not executing them the same way. LJ is no longer running up the center's ass, so that has changed since last year. Cover 2 is a failure with this personnel, and a big negative on Herm's philosophy.

We ARE doing the same things in the second half as the 1st. The other teams are making halftime adjustments, and we are not, and have not ALL SEASON.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by kcbubb

I agree! What about Tony Dungy??? Does Herm not remind anyone of Tony Dungy?

No he doesn't. I understand they came from the same "tree". But I think it ended when they fell from the tree.

Ask me again in 10 years......