Chiefs Whitlock: I LOVE YOU HERM - Page 5

BigRock · 11-10-2008, 12:18 AM

I was so looking forward to the reaction to these columns. But nobody's posting them! So I figured I gotta get on that.

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/col...ry/882946.html

Quote:

Chiefs are heading in the right direction

Bad news for devout Herm Haters:

In losing 20-19 to San Diego on Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs played a near-flawless game and gave the strongest testimony to date Herm Edwards might deserve at least one more season to lead the Chiefs.

Sorry. I absolutely loved Sunday’s game, especially the decisive decision to go for two points and the victory in the final minute rather than a game-tying extra point. And, to be totally honest, I loved the fact the two-point conversion failed.

The Chiefs’ single mission this season is improvement. As fans, we should have two missions: 1. Improvement; 2. Securing a draft pick high enough to pluck the best quarterback in the 2009 draft (Ball State’s Nate Davis if we’re lucky).

For the third week in a row, the Chiefs demonstrated dramatic improvement without jeopardizing a shot at the league’s No. 1 pick. Only the irrational would argue the Chiefs aren’t making progress.

“Yes, yes, I think we are,” Edwards said.

“As a team we feel like we’re going the right direction,” Tyler Thigpen added.

“We feel like we’re going the right way,” Brian Waters said.

Playing with its junior-varsity defense due to injuries to Turk McBride, Derrick Johnson, Brandon Flowers and Tamba Hali, Kansas City throttled San Diego’s LaDainian Tomlinson-powered running game, baffled quarterback Philip Rivers, produced two turnovers and forced the Chargers into a critical three-and-out with the game on the line late in the fourth quarter.

Safety Bernard Pollard starred, grabbing an interception and delivering pulverizing hits throughout the afternoon.

Offensively, Kansas City’s playmakers — Dwayne Bowe, Tony Gonzalez, Mark Bradley and Chan Gailey — made plays.

Yes, I put offensive coordinator Chan Gailey in the same classification as KC’s receivers. Gailey’s a playmaker. His spread offense is the innovation of the season. More than a quarterback, the Chiefs have discovered a style of play since losing Brodie Croyle to an injury and Larry Johnson to thuggery.

Bowe, Gonzalez, Bradley and the spread should be a permanent part of Kansas City’s offensive philosophy. When/if Larry Johnson returns, he’ll need to make far more adjustments than KC’s playbook. Obviously he can no longer be the centerpiece of the Chiefs’ offense.

Gonzalez (10 catches, 113 yards and two TDs), Bradley (nine for 81 yards and a TD) and Bowe (six for 72) key the Chiefs’ offense this season and next.

As for Tyler Thigpen (266 passing yards and three TDs), I like what he’s doing, but I’m far from sold on him as anybody’s quarterback of the future. He’s not Rich Gannon. He’s a good backup. The ability to improvise and an instinctive swagger define starting NFL quarterbacks. I don’t see those qualities in Thigpen.

On the two-point conversion, he momentarily froze when the Chargers took away his primary target, Gonzalez, and then Thigpen floated a duck in Gonzalez’s direction. Nope. I can be convinced otherwise, but right now he’s a good No.2 at best.

A bogus defensive pass-interference call put the Chiefs in position to win the game, setting the Chiefs up at the 2.

The fortunate PI, KC’s one-win record and the injuries on defense made Herm’s decision to go for two points a no-brainer. There was no reason to throw Kansas City’s banged-up defense out on the field for overtime.

It was the perfect loss.

The last three weeks make me wonder how much of a role Johnson’s poor attitude and big contract played in Kansas City’s horrific start to the season. What we’ve witnessed since his absence is a clear case of addition by subtraction. With Johnson out of the lineup, Gailey was free to use his full imagination in reshaping Kansas City’s strategy. With Johnson either out of the locker room or demoted to scout team, it’s clear, too, that Herm has the attention of his young team.

We all need to take a step back and re-evaluate Edwards’ performance. He is not perfect. But he’s been hamstrung by a set of problems not his own making. He’s beginning to dig out from those problems.

The Chiefs are building an identity. We can afford to look at these final seven games with a fresh set of eyes. We have nothing to lose.

Reerun_KC · 11-10-2008, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T.B.A.

Reading is such a lost art. I stated that we have had marked improvement in the last 3 weeks. Did we play the Raiders in the last 3 weeks?

Did I call you out or something?

eazyb81 · 11-10-2008, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rausch

I pretty much agree with the article only I don't think for a minute Herm will allow this team to be built around Chan's pass-2-set-up-the-run Spread-similar offense.

It's a temporary thing due to injuries and talent but clearly not Herm's idea of an offense.

This is pretty much my thought process as well. I love what I'm seeing from this offense, but I'm not convinced this will be a permanent change. If we have a rough game on offense, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Herm go back to the three yards and a cloud of dust.

burt · 11-10-2008, 11:01 AM

[QUOTE=GoReerun_KC;5207069]Oh so now its all Chan... Dude you flip around more on people that anyone on this board.. Stay consistant...

QUOTE]

Almost impossible when your wisdom keeps making us question ourselves!

burt · 11-10-2008, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoReerun_KC

Did I call you out or something?

No, I am just having fun. But I state how much we improved, and you rebutted with Oakland? 8 weeks ago? I was sarcastically pointing that out. And trying to be humorous....I ain't mad at no one nor will I be! Lighten up Francis.......

chiefzilla1501 · 11-10-2008, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eazyb81

This is pretty much my thought process as well. I love what I'm seeing from this offense, but I'm not convinced this will be a permanent change. If we have a rough game on offense, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Herm go back to the three yards and a cloud of dust.

And yet, this team has gone for 2, threw a pass last week on 3rd down when they should have milked the clock, has played 3 straight games with a spread offense. If Herm was interested in dictating his offense to his coach, he wouldn't have hired a veteran like Gailey to coach his offense.

It's not so much giving credit to Herm for letting chan do his thing, it's that even when the offense is doing well the haters are still finding ways to claim that Herm is screwing it up. Give it a rest. This is not a Herm offense right now. And that's a really good thing. And for three weeks we've heard about how Herm was going to put a wrecking ball to it, but he hasn't. it's funny that every time we have a great drive it's because Gailey took the keys from Herm, but when we have a poor drive, we are so convinced that Herm edwards is stealing Gailey's headset and forcing him to call certain plays. Even in light of the offense throwing over 70% passes in the 2nd half, we're still convinced that Herm was intervening. Really?

That's a pretty strong teflon coat. When anything goes wrong, blame the head coach. When anything goes right, praise the offensive coordinator and find a way to blame the head coach. Herm doesn't deserve a lot of credit per se, but he certainly doesn't deserve the kind of blame he's getting for the offense.

Reerun_KC · 11-10-2008, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T.B.A.

No, I am just having fun. But I state how much we improved, and you rebutted with Oakland? 8 weeks ago? I was sarcastically pointing that out. And trying to be humorous....I ain't mad at no one nor will I be! Lighten up Francis.......

Dude I dont get mad on this message board... Its okay. Thanks for the jab...

I was being sarcastic about running the option in the NFL with a practice squad WR...

Its all good!

Reerun_KC · 11-10-2008, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

When anything goes wrong, blame the head coach. When anything goes right, praise the offensive coordinator and find a way to blame the head coach. Herm doesn't deserve a lot of credit per se, but he certainly doesn't deserve the kind of blame he's getting for the offense.

Yep that is correct...

Herm blows and will always blow... If you dont like it, then keep defending him. I dont like him, his coaching style, or his press conferences. I dont like the fact he never shoulders any blame and will sell out players, coaches, waterboys, parking attendants, anyone to save his own skin.

He is a coward, gutless, spinless coach, One call at the end of a meaningless game isnt enough to crown him.. If you want to crown him, then crown his ass and we will continue to clown him....

burt · 11-10-2008, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoReerun_KC

Dude I dont get mad on this message board... Its okay. Thanks for the good natured jab...

I was being sarcastic about running the option in the NFL with a practice squad WR...

Its all good!

FYP. But on a serious note, I truly am excited about our future for the first time this year. 1 game we got better, I was not happy. 2 games, still not happy. But give me 3 games of improvement, I become optimistic. And then again, I am usually very Homerish!

Reerun_KC · 11-10-2008, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T.B.A.

FYP. But on a serious note, I truly am excited about our future for the first time this year. 1 game we got better, I was not happy. 2 games, still not happy. But give me 3 games of improvement, I become optimistic. And then again, I am usually very Homerish!

I used to drink the kool-aid and was one of the biggest homers.... I cant wait to get back to that.

I love to see the improvement of players, I just wish there was someone else leading the charge... I just feel that Herm isnt a superbowl quality coach. His gametime management will cost this team dearly in the future... He has proved that in the past time and time again.

Mr. Laz · 11-10-2008, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Diddy

Oh I know it was ****ed when he rolled and phillips crashed hard. It was all he could do to get it in the air.

it was a bad playcall

we had run that bootleg before and San Diego just ignored the run threat. So why should we expect it to work on the goal line.

StcChief · 11-10-2008, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laz

it was a bad playcall

we had run that bootleg before and San Diego just ignored the run threat. So why should we expect it to work on the goal line.

I like the thought/ guts of going for 2 there.... Thiggy go left instead?

If D was outta gas, depending on coin flip? W coin flip and Barth a 40+ yard FG?

Future Chan play use gonzo/bradley as decoys can Albert catch on T eligible... Now that we are "wild hogs" on O why not.

Fish · 11-10-2008, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

And yet, this team has gone for 2, threw a pass last week on 3rd down when they should have milked the clock, has played 3 straight games with a spread offense. If Herm was interested in dictating his offense to his coach, he wouldn't have hired a veteran like Gailey to coach his offense.

It's not so much giving credit to Herm for letting chan do his thing, it's that even when the offense is doing well the haters are still finding ways to claim that Herm is screwing it up. Give it a rest. This is not a Herm offense right now. And that's a really good thing. And for three weeks we've heard about how Herm was going to put a wrecking ball to it, but he hasn't. it's funny that every time we have a great drive it's because Gailey took the keys from Herm, but when we have a poor drive, we are so convinced that Herm edwards is stealing Gailey's headset and forcing him to call certain plays. Even in light of the offense throwing over 70% passes in the 2nd half, we're still convinced that Herm was intervening. Really?

That's a pretty strong teflon coat. When anything goes wrong, blame the head coach. When anything goes right, praise the offensive coordinator and find a way to blame the head coach. Herm doesn't deserve a lot of credit per se, but he certainly doesn't deserve the kind of blame he's getting for the offense.

Mr. Laz · 11-10-2008, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StcChief

I like the thought/ guts of going for 2 there.... Thiggy go left instead?

If D was outta gas, depending on coin flip? W coin flip and Barth a 40+ yard FG?

Future Chan play use gonzo/bradley as decoys can Albert catch on T eligible... Now that we are "wild hogs" on O why not.

going for it was fine ... it's just the particular play call that i didn't like.

that bootleg won't really work unless you can run the ball for the fake

a bootleg immediately cuts the field in half

the bootleg demands a "quick decision" by a young QB

just spread the field and force the chargers defense to cover the entire field AND force the QB decision imo.

Duck Dog · 11-10-2008, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

It's actually the third game in a row.

But during that time, we've seen major improvements from our young defensive tackles, still continuous improvement from our starting corners, a good young QB who could be our QBOTF (by the way, I can't believe people took Whitlock's joke about the Ball State QB seriously), 2 outstanding young receivers, vastly improved play from our offensive line...

Our mission this season was to improve, not win games. And if we lose games because of an injury to our long snapper, and where we are using our 4th string RB, 2nd string MLB, OLB, DE, and CB, then so what?

As long as we continue to show improvement. However, history tells us a different story.

burt · 11-10-2008, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoReerun_KC

Yep that is correct...

Herm blows and will always blow... If you dont like it, then keep defending him. I dont like him, his coaching style, or his press conferences. I dont like the fact he never shoulders any blame and will sell out players, coaches, waterboys, parking attendants, anyone to save his own skin.

He is a coward, gutless, spinless coach, One call at the end of a meaningless game isnt enough to crown him.. If you want to crown him, then crown his ass and we will continue to clown him....

I like the way you hold back on your feelings!

I don't want to crown him, but I am optimistic.