Chiefs Judgment day for Herm Edwards - Page 2

Mecca · 01-14-2009, 05:31 AM

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chi...ry/980118.html

Judgment day for Herm Edwards
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star

Herm Edwards presided over the two most dismal seasons of Chiefs football in 30 years. The Chiefs went 4-12 in 2007 and 2-14 in 2008, yet that might not have been the worst part of Edwards’ three-year tenure.

If new general manager Scott Pioli, as expected, decides to make a coaching change, Edwards can trace his downfall to 2006, when the Chiefs actually made the playoffs.

The Chiefs’ wild-card berth that season delayed Edwards’ plan to overhaul an aging team, and by the time his program was fully put into place this year, he tried to implement it with too much youth too soon and failed.

“We had a plan,” he reflected toward the end of a season-ending nine-game losing streak in 2007. “It just didn’t come about.”

Consequently, all signs indicate the Chiefs failed to make enough progress to retain Edwards, whose club lost 23 of the last 25 games.

When Edwards came to Kansas City in 2006, he inherited a 36-year-old quarterback in Trent Green, ancient cornerbacks in Ty Law and Patrick Surtain and some overmatched offensive tackles.

Once the 2006 season ended, the roster purge would begin.

But on the last day of the season, the Chiefs needed several scenarios to go their way to make the playoffs, including a victory over Jacksonville at Arrowhead Stadium and an unlikely Denver loss at home to a 6-9 San Francisco team.

That’s exactly what happened. The Chiefs, 9-7, reached the postseason and were promptly dispatched 23-8 by the eventual Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts.

The taste of the postseason was intoxicating to then-president/general manager Carl Peterson and, to a certain extent, Edwards. So they tried patching up the team with the hope of being good enough to do it again. They signed veterans such as offensive tackle Damion McIntosh, linebackers Napoleon Harris and Donnie Edwards and defensive tackle Alfonso Boone, putting the rebuilding plan on hold.

It backfired.

The Chiefs got off to a 4-3 start in 2007, but injuries to running back Larry Johnson and quarterbacks Damon Huard and Brodie Croyle led to nine straight losses to finish the season. The Chiefs never recovered.

“Your expectations get built up when you get in the playoffs, which is fine,” Edwards said late last season of the altered philosophy of 2007. “But as an organization, you know the reality of where you are. You get in the playoffs (in 2006), which was great, but it was basically the same team that was here before.”

• • •

Edwards has made some huge miscalculations as well.

With ownership’s blessing, Edwards hitched his future to Croyle, who had a history of injuries in both high school and at the University of Alabama, causing him to drop to the third round of the 2006 draft.

Edwards saw something in Croyle, who despite his slender build had a strong arm. Edwards likened Croyle to Chad Pennington, a cerebral but injury-prone quarterback who led Edwards’ New York Jets to the postseason in 2002 and 2004, when healthy.

The Chiefs cleared the way for Croyle by trading Green to Miami, and handed Croyle the starting job in training camp of 2007. But Croyle was so ineffective in the preseason that Huard, an 11-year journeyman, became the opening-day starter and kept the job for nine games.

Each time Croyle got a chance to play in 2007, he got hurt. He suffered a back injury in his second start, a hand injury in his fifth start.

Edwards still had faith in Croyle going into 2008 and not only failed to shore up the position in the offseason, he also didn’t give many preseason snaps to Huard to prepare him in the event Croyle might get hurt again.

Sure enough, Croyle, playing behind a shaky offensive line, didn’t make it out of the 2008 season opener at New England, where he suffered a separated shoulder in the third quarter. When Croyle returned five weeks later, he suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Tennessee Titans.

Croyle’s career record as a starter was 0-8. And his replacement this season, Tyler Thigpen, was 1-10.

• • •

Edwards has had a soft spot for young players, mainly because he was given a chance as an undrafted rookie free agent and played 135 consecutive games at cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles during 1977-85.

But he may have gone overboard in 2008. The Chiefs had 26 rookies and first-year players on their roster at the end of the season. Injuries played a role in that inordinate number, but so did philosophy.

The plan was to stockpile draft picks, but at what expense? It was one thing to trade an aging Green, an ineffective Dante Hall, an inconsistent Lawrence Tynes and little-used Michael Bennett for mid- to late-round draft picks.

But the signature deal of the 2008 season was a disaster — sending NFL sack leader Jared Allen, at just 26 years old, to Minnesota for a first-round selection (17th overall) and two third-round picks.

The players taken with those picks — offensive tackle Branden Albert in the first round, and running back Jamaal Charles and safety DeJuan Morgan in the third round — might turn out to be good players. Albert, in fact, started 15 games and showed he might be a cornerstone for the next 10 years.

But the trade of Allen left the Chiefs with no pass rush. They set an NFL record for sack futility with 10 all season, while Allen picked up 14 1/2 himself, giving him 30 for the last two seasons.

Edwards planned to move Tamba Hali into Allen’s rush end spot, but Hali, who has turned out to be a disappointment as Edwards’ initial first-round pick in 2006, could not handle it.

Edwards’ other two prized first-round picks, wide receiver Dwayne Bowe and defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, both out of LSU, also have had spotty starts to their careers.

Despite all the injuries and inexperience, or maybe because of it, the Chiefs lost eight games by seven points or fewer. But they inexplicably blew leads of 24-3 at home to Tampa Bay, and 21-10 in the fourth quarter at home to San Diego. And they simply failed to compete in lopsided losses to Oakland, Atlanta, Carolina and worst of all, a 54-31 loss at home to Buffalo, the most points allowed by any Chiefs team.

Maybe all those players Edwards brought in will fulfill his vision of building with youth. But will it be a new coach who benefits?

RINGLEADER · 01-14-2009, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kstater

Sounds like a bunch of excuses for failure.

That's exactly what I was thinking.

Otter · 01-14-2009, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FringeNC

I can't wait until this excuse machine is gone.

First, any coach who changes their offseason plan because backed into the playoffs and gave one of the most embarrassing performance in NFL playoff history is a complete moron.

Secondly, and more importantly, the talk about a delay in blowing up the roster is a red herring. You ****ing have to have a 53 man roster no matter what. Where are you going to get the players to fill the roster after you have blown it up? Every team blows up their roster every year. If the team sucks, drafts well, then it's possible for a large roster turnover. Herm had his 2006 draft, hence his opportunity to remake the roster to a certain extent.

You're going to see what a real roster makeover is with Pioli, and we are not going to be a bad team while in the midst of it. Herm / Carl were imcompetent. End of story. We've moved on.

CAN I GET AN AMEN!!!!

**Dave Lane** · 01-14-2009, 09:44 AM

That was the lamest revisionist history article I ever read, unbelievable anyone could make excuses for this moron.

**Scorp** · 01-14-2009, 09:49 AM

They just said on 810 that Herm is definately out. Herm knows it and his coaching staff knows it. They didn't give a source, only saying they have been told by their sources. The Chiefs are just waiting for Pioli to land in KC with his axe.

Woot!

**DeezNutz** · 01-14-2009, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

This piece is all about trying to make out like it's not really Herm's fault..he wanted Ty Law he wasn't saddled with him...

Some people will forever be snowed by Herm it appears.

This article is a scathing assessment of Herm's tenure. There's nothing even slightly redeeming for Edwards in this piece, not even a Carl excuse.

StcChief · 01-14-2009, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanilla Thunder

He's a great guy just not a great coach.

A couple of my friends are the only people I know that think he should be back. But they're black though so that's kinda why.

The case for AA should removed in NFL and everywhere. It's run it's course. Best man gets job.

FringeNC · 01-14-2009, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scorp

The Chiefs are just waiting for Pioli to land in KC with his axe.

Woot!

We need a photoshop of this.

Otter · 01-14-2009, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

This is not at all accurate.

This article is a scathing assessment of Herm's tenure. There's nothing even slightly redeeming for Edwards in this piece, not even a Carl excuse.

Except for the fact that it's missing many Herm created problems

* clock management
* crippling the offense with his 1960s philosophy
* game management

over and over and over

And that explanation doesn't do justice to how bad the Indy embarrassment was in reality.

Just get rid of the incompetent boob and let the healing begin.

Fat Elvis · 01-14-2009, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scorp

They just said on 810 that Herm is definately out. Herm knows it and his coaching staff knows it. They didn't give a source, only saying they have been told by their sources. The Chiefs are just waiting for Pioli to land in KC with his axe.

Woot!

You really need to find a better pic of that guy in the middle. He looks like Pioli is giving him a (Johnny) protological exam....

RedThat · 01-14-2009, 10:15 AM

Herm was given a tough situation when coming here because he inherited an old aging veteran team.

I think he had no other choice but to blowup the whole roster. It was the right thing to do at the time. With that being said, he brought the right idea to this organization by building this team through the draft. Not that by saying this Im covering up for Herm or making excuses for him or trying to imply that he should stay. Believe me, we have plenty of reasons as to why the man should be fired.

Imo rebuilding is good, but if you don't have the ability to coach up these young kids, rebuilding becomes pointless. It's one thing to say you're rebuilding, but if you can't coach up your young players how are they ever going to develop? Thats point A as part of the reason he needs to go.

Secondly, his record says enough. 6-26 his last 2 seasons. I was ok with 4-12 last year mainly because I understood that was considered the "official" year that he blewup the roster and installed a whole abundance of youth. So losses were expected when you're going to start the season with a whole bunch of rookies. but this year is no excuse because this team went from 4-12 to 2-14. The term "regressed" stands out here. He had his chances to coachup these young kids and failed miserably. Im ok with rebuilding as I said, but every typical fan expects progress. Thats point B as part of the reason he needs to go.

Lastly, as much as I agree Herm Edwards is a good guy, he's just not a game day coach. He mismanaged a lot of games and is a bad game strategist. A big point C right here.

**Scorp** · 01-14-2009, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FringeNC

We need a photoshop of this.

ok

64 Chief · 01-14-2009, 10:30 AM

Herm should go but why all the hate? He tried hard in a difficult situation but was feckless. I wish him well and and am thankful for the effort. It's time to move on, leave it at that.

Reerun_KC · 01-14-2009, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanilla Thunder

He's a great guy just not a great coach.

A couple of my friends are the only people I know that think he should be back. But they're black though so that's kinda why.

Oh Yeah he is just a wonderful ****ing guy! I call Bullshit..... He is willing to always chuck someone under the bus to save his own ****ing ass...

I dont care what color he is, he is classless coward piece of monkey poop.

Reerun_KC · 01-14-2009, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 64 Chief

Herm should go but why all the hate? He tried hard in a difficult situation but was feckless. I wish him well and and am thankful for the effort. It's time to move on, leave it at that.

Yeah okay... He FAILED miserably in NYJ and worse here... The difficult situation was just as much his fault as any... I dont wish him anything..

He has stolen 12 million dollars from the Chiefs and the fans of KC...

The only thing I think him for is "GET OVER IT, IT HAPPENS, ITS CALLED LIFE".

**Skip Towne** · 01-14-2009, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

Yeah okay... He FAILED miserably in NYJ and worse here... The difficult situation was just as much his fault as any... I dont wish him anything..

He has stolen 12 million dollars from the Chiefs and the fans of KC...

The only thing I think him for is "GET OVER IT, IT HAPPENS, ITS CALLED LIFE".

Hey Herm, you're fired. Get over it.

01-14-2009, 05:31 AM
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $-712950	Judgment day for Herm Edwards http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chi...ry/980118.html Judgment day for Herm Edwards By RANDY COVITZ The Kansas City Star Herm Edwards presided over the two most dismal seasons of Chiefs football in 30 years. The Chiefs went 4-12 in 2007 and 2-14 in 2008, yet that might not have been the worst part of Edwards’ three-year tenure. If new general manager Scott Pioli, as expected, decides to make a coaching change, Edwards can trace his downfall to 2006, when the Chiefs actually made the playoffs. The Chiefs’ wild-card berth that season delayed Edwards’ plan to overhaul an aging team, and by the time his program was fully put into place this year, he tried to implement it with too much youth too soon and failed. “We had a plan,” he reflected toward the end of a season-ending nine-game losing streak in 2007. “It just didn’t come about.” Consequently, all signs indicate the Chiefs failed to make enough progress to retain Edwards, whose club lost 23 of the last 25 games. When Edwards came to Kansas City in 2006, he inherited a 36-year-old quarterback in Trent Green, ancient cornerbacks in Ty Law and Patrick Surtain and some overmatched offensive tackles. Once the 2006 season ended, the roster purge would begin. But on the last day of the season, the Chiefs needed several scenarios to go their way to make the playoffs, including a victory over Jacksonville at Arrowhead Stadium and an unlikely Denver loss at home to a 6-9 San Francisco team. That’s exactly what happened. The Chiefs, 9-7, reached the postseason and were promptly dispatched 23-8 by the eventual Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts. The taste of the postseason was intoxicating to then-president/general manager Carl Peterson and, to a certain extent, Edwards. So they tried patching up the team with the hope of being good enough to do it again. They signed veterans such as offensive tackle Damion McIntosh, linebackers Napoleon Harris and Donnie Edwards and defensive tackle Alfonso Boone, putting the rebuilding plan on hold. It backfired. The Chiefs got off to a 4-3 start in 2007, but injuries to running back Larry Johnson and quarterbacks Damon Huard and Brodie Croyle led to nine straight losses to finish the season. The Chiefs never recovered. “Your expectations get built up when you get in the playoffs, which is fine,” Edwards said late last season of the altered philosophy of 2007. “But as an organization, you know the reality of where you are. You get in the playoffs (in 2006), which was great, but it was basically the same team that was here before.” • • • Edwards has made some huge miscalculations as well. With ownership’s blessing, Edwards hitched his future to Croyle, who had a history of injuries in both high school and at the University of Alabama, causing him to drop to the third round of the 2006 draft. Edwards saw something in Croyle, who despite his slender build had a strong arm. Edwards likened Croyle to Chad Pennington, a cerebral but injury-prone quarterback who led Edwards’ New York Jets to the postseason in 2002 and 2004, when healthy. The Chiefs cleared the way for Croyle by trading Green to Miami, and handed Croyle the starting job in training camp of 2007. But Croyle was so ineffective in the preseason that Huard, an 11-year journeyman, became the opening-day starter and kept the job for nine games. Each time Croyle got a chance to play in 2007, he got hurt. He suffered a back injury in his second start, a hand injury in his fifth start. Edwards still had faith in Croyle going into 2008 and not only failed to shore up the position in the offseason, he also didn’t give many preseason snaps to Huard to prepare him in the event Croyle might get hurt again. Sure enough, Croyle, playing behind a shaky offensive line, didn’t make it out of the 2008 season opener at New England, where he suffered a separated shoulder in the third quarter. When Croyle returned five weeks later, he suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Tennessee Titans. Croyle’s career record as a starter was 0-8. And his replacement this season, Tyler Thigpen, was 1-10. • • • Edwards has had a soft spot for young players, mainly because he was given a chance as an undrafted rookie free agent and played 135 consecutive games at cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles during 1977-85. But he may have gone overboard in 2008. The Chiefs had 26 rookies and first-year players on their roster at the end of the season. Injuries played a role in that inordinate number, but so did philosophy. The plan was to stockpile draft picks, but at what expense? It was one thing to trade an aging Green, an ineffective Dante Hall, an inconsistent Lawrence Tynes and little-used Michael Bennett for mid- to late-round draft picks. But the signature deal of the 2008 season was a disaster — sending NFL sack leader Jared Allen, at just 26 years old, to Minnesota for a first-round selection (17th overall) and two third-round picks. The players taken with those picks — offensive tackle Branden Albert in the first round, and running back Jamaal Charles and safety DeJuan Morgan in the third round — might turn out to be good players. Albert, in fact, started 15 games and showed he might be a cornerstone for the next 10 years. But the trade of Allen left the Chiefs with no pass rush. They set an NFL record for sack futility with 10 all season, while Allen picked up 14 1/2 himself, giving him 30 for the last two seasons. Edwards planned to move Tamba Hali into Allen’s rush end spot, but Hali, who has turned out to be a disappointment as Edwards’ initial first-round pick in 2006, could not handle it. Edwards’ other two prized first-round picks, wide receiver Dwayne Bowe and defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, both out of LSU, also have had spotty starts to their careers. Despite all the injuries and inexperience, or maybe because of it, the Chiefs lost eight games by seven points or fewer. But they inexplicably blew leads of 24-3 at home to Tampa Bay, and 21-10 in the fourth quarter at home to San Diego. And they simply failed to compete in lopsided losses to Oakland, Atlanta, Carolina and worst of all, a 54-31 loss at home to Buffalo, the most points allowed by any Chiefs team. Maybe all those players Edwards brought in will fulfill his vision of building with youth. But will it be a new coach who benefits?
Posts: 115,380

01-14-2009, 09:44 AM	#18
Dave Lane Space Cadet and Aczabel Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Kanab, UT, USA Casino cash: $9333275 VARSITY	That was the lamest revisionist history article I ever read, unbelievable anyone could make excuses for this moron. __________________ Thanks, Trump for the civics lesson. We are learning so much about RICO, espionage, sedition, impeachment, the 25th Amendment, order of succession, nepotism, separation of powers, 1st Amendment, obstruction of justice, the emoluments clause, conflicts of interest, collusion, sanctions, oligarchs, money laundering and so much more.
Posts: 40,584

01-14-2009, 09:49 AM	#19
Scorp Whiskey Tango Foxtrot OVER! Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hell Casino cash: $6629000	They just said on 810 that Herm is definately out. Herm knows it and his coaching staff knows it. They didn't give a source, only saying they have been told by their sources. The Chiefs are just waiting for Pioli to land in KC with his axe. Woot! __________________
Posts: 4,507

01-14-2009, 10:15 AM	#25
RedThat Banned Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Earth Casino cash: $10004900	Herm was given a tough situation when coming here because he inherited an old aging veteran team. I think he had no other choice but to blowup the whole roster. It was the right thing to do at the time. With that being said, he brought the right idea to this organization by building this team through the draft. Not that by saying this Im covering up for Herm or making excuses for him or trying to imply that he should stay. Believe me, we have plenty of reasons as to why the man should be fired. Imo rebuilding is good, but if you don't have the ability to coach up these young kids, rebuilding becomes pointless. It's one thing to say you're rebuilding, but if you can't coach up your young players how are they ever going to develop? Thats point A as part of the reason he needs to go. Secondly, his record says enough. 6-26 his last 2 seasons. I was ok with 4-12 last year mainly because I understood that was considered the "official" year that he blewup the roster and installed a whole abundance of youth. So losses were expected when you're going to start the season with a whole bunch of rookies. but this year is no excuse because this team went from 4-12 to 2-14. The term "regressed" stands out here. He had his chances to coachup these young kids and failed miserably. Im ok with rebuilding as I said, but every typical fan expects progress. Thats point B as part of the reason he needs to go. Lastly, as much as I agree Herm Edwards is a good guy, he's just not a game day coach. He mismanaged a lot of games and is a bad game strategist. A big point C right here.
Posts: 6,666

01-14-2009, 10:30 AM	#27
64 Chief Starter Join Date: Apr 2005 Casino cash: $4357487	Herm should go but why all the hate? He tried hard in a difficult situation but was feckless. I wish him well and and am thankful for the effort. It's time to move on, leave it at that.
Posts: 150