It’s Herm’s defense now

[Hammock Parties]

http://kan.scout.com/2/754878.html

Everyone knows Herm Edwards was brought to Kansas City to restore the tradition of great defense. It was clear from his introductory press conference in January of 2006.

"If you’re going to win a championship you have got to have a great defense," Edwards said that day. "There is no doubt about it. Every team I have been involved with had good defenses."

Yes, it’s true that head coaches oversee the entire football team, but no one will soon accuse Herm Edwards of being an offensive genius. The Chiefs have spent six of their nine first-day picks under Edwards on the defensive side of the football. His primary mission as KC’s head coach has to been to rebuild a defense that ranked 25th the year before his arrival.

Some might argue Edwards has had enough time now. Jeff Fisher’s defense in Tennessee ranked near the bottom of the league in points allowed as recently as 2004 and 2005 and dead last in total yardage in 2006. But by reshaping his defensive roster (mostly the back seven) while Titans fans remained patient, Fisher saw his unit bolt to fifth in total defense a year ago, leading his team back to the playoffs despite a below-average offense.

Meanwhile, fans in Kansas City have also remained patient - the Chiefs have drafted 11 defensive players under Edwards’ watch and brought in a long list of free agents (Ty Law, Ron Edwards, James Reed, Alfonso Boone, Donnie Edwards, Napoleon Harris, DeMorrio Williams etc). The defensive coaching staff, save coordinator Gunther Cunningham, has been completely turned over from the Vermeil days.

When the Chiefs line up on defense against Tom Brady and Randy Moss this September, 10 of the 11 starters on the field will most likely have arrived in Kansas City under Edwards’ watch. Linebacker Derrick Johnson could be the only holdover from the previous regime (cornerback Patrick Surtain is another possibility, but there's a chance he'll be the third corner this year).

In fact, a quick check of KcChiefs.com reveals that Johnson and Surtain will be the only remaining defenders (factoring in the upcoming release/trade of safety Greg Wesley) from the Vermeil era on the entire defensive roster when this season begins.

Here is the point – this is Herm’s defense now. The cupboard has been swept clean of the stale fare of years past. There are no more Kendrell Bells or Eric Warfields. No one is waiting for Ryan Sims to turn into something.

Instead, we’re waiting for Tank Tyler, Turk McBride and Bernard Pollard to justify their draft position. We’re waiting for Herm to make good on the promise he delivered that same day he was hired.

"We are going to play defense because it’s important," he said. "I think especially in the National Football League in the months of November and December, especially when you make it in the playoffs, if you look at the teams that won, what did they do? Play defense."

Have the Chiefs been playing defense under Edwards’ watch? Well, no one can turn up their nose at KC's defensive rankings the last two seasons – 16th and 13th – but you know that’s not what Herm wants. He wants what he saw in Tampa Bay, the kind of defense that suffocates even the elite offenses and can carry a marginal offense deep into the playoffs, if not the Super Bowl.

It’s interesting that Edwards has built his current defense in that same Tampa Two mold. He now has his three-technique defensive tackle in Glenn Dorsey. The Chiefs see a little bit of John Lynch in Bernard Pollard. When Edwards drafted cornerback Brandon Flowers this April, he compared the rookie to the Cover Two corners the Buccaneers drafted during his time in Tampa – Ronde Barber and Donnie Abraham.

The Chiefs dealt their dominant outside pass rusher, their version of Simeon Rice (Jared Allen) this offseason, so there is still obviously work to be done. And more than you might think, when you consider those two months Edwards mentioned when he was hired – November and December – haven’t exactly been great times for Chiefs defenses the last two seasons.

During those late-season affairs (18 games in all), Edwards’ Chiefs defenses have given up 20.5 points per game and 343 yards per game. Respectable defense, perhaps, but you know that’s not the goal. The Chiefs want to be dominant. They want to field a championship defense.

Is Herm’s defense - full of his players, directed by his coaches, and the one he clearly must take full ownership of now – ready to restore the tradition of great defense in Kansas City? We’ll find out in November and December this year.

FRIDAY: Why the Chiefs might struggle to take the next step on defense in 2008.

[ChiefRon]

Originally Posted by BigRock

I don't think playing the nickel in a cover 2 is the kind of demotion that people seem to think it is. Obviously it means Surtain wouldn't be starting, but it's not because he can't play or because other guys are better. A lot of times last year they'd bring in a 3rd CB and he'd take Surtain's spot while Surtain covered the slot receiver.

If they want him to be the nickel, it's because they know they can put him on a receiver as opposed to just playing a zone. If Surtain had lost a step and couldn't cover anyone anymore... like, say, Ty Law... they'd never play him at nickel. They'd keep him right where he is, like how they never moved Law around.

If anything, I think it may be easier for young guys to come in and be the starters. There was a scene in Hard Knocks last year where David Gibbs was raving about Brackenridge (I think) because he was playing nickel in a cover 2 as a rookie. If it's that hard a job, at least compared to the starters, putting Surtain there while the young guys start makes a lot of sense.

Excellent post, you make some good points. Surtain is a pretty savvy veteran, I just think he's lost a step recently. Putting him man-man on some slot receivers would make me nervous - think Wes Welker in week 1 - but Gunther is pretty good at covering up weaknesses.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by ChiefRon

Excellent post, you make some good points. Surtain is a pretty savvy veteran, I just think he's lost a step recently. Putting him man-man on some slot receivers would make me nervous - think Wes Welker in week 1 - but Gunther is pretty good at covering up weaknesses.

Wes Welker is exactly why Surtain is going to the slot. He has the requisite quickness to cover a guy like Welker in the short-yardage area, Welker's speciality. He doesn't have the speed to run with Randy Moss anymore. You can't play Cover 2 on every down. At some point you have to man up.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by GOATSE

Herm has said for months now there's a good possibility two young corners will start.

So that'd be Flowers and one of Brack, Carr, Barksdale or Patterson.

Hope after a couple of seasons that they can play much better than our young Safeties have shown.

[whoman69]

Improving the defense is great, but if he forgets about the offense who gives a crap. We have only one good wideout, an aging TE, are relying on only two dependable o-lineman of which one injured a knee at the end of the year. Why can't we ever get a coach that believes in playing both defense and offense?

[DTLB58]

Is Herm’s defense - full of his players, directed by his coaches,

I'm still not convinced Gun is Herm's choice. I still think Carl shoved him down his throat.

Oh, wait, I should rephrase that. Ah wtf.....

[blueballs]

how far do people read before they stop and head for the responses
I rarely get beyond 3-5 sentences

[milkman]

Originally Posted by ChiefRon

Excellent post, you make some good points. Surtain is a pretty savvy veteran, I just think he's lost a step recently. Putting him man-man on some slot receivers would make me nervous - think Wes Welker in week 1 - but Gunther is pretty good at covering up weaknesses.

Gunt is an idiot.

He has this reputation as some kind of defensive genious(cps) to Chiefs fans because he had exceptional talent in his previous run as DC, and a good defensive mind to hold his hand in Marty.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by DTLB58

Is Herm’s defense - full of his players, directed by his coaches,

I'm still not convinced Gun is Herm's choice. I still think Carl shoved him down his throat.

Oh, wait, I should rephrase that. Ah wtf.....

I'm fairly certain that if Herman ****ing Edwards didn't want Gunt as his DC, he would have been given the green light to replace him by now, if Carl did shove him down his throat at the start.