Chiefs Whitlock: I LOVE YOU HERM - Page 8

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.

**DaneMcCloud** · 11-10-2008, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TommyHawk69

I don't want any part of your debate just want to say when Thigpen started the game against Atlanta he was just keeping the seat warm for when Brodie came back. The offense was tailored for what Brodie could do well. He could not stay on the field and out of the trainers room. When he went down they had to tailor everything for Thigpens strengths which is the spread.

Thigpen only ran the spread for one season in college and he's said that he's completely comfortable running a traditional offense.

TommyHawk69 · 11-10-2008, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Thigpen only ran the spread for one season in college and he's said that he's completely comfortable running a traditional offense.

I know that but it is run in college so much because it is easier to run and hides some of there weaknesses. I love Thigpen and think it would be great if he turns into a pro bowler. Just stating that the coaches think it is a strength for him and that is why they changed. The other style of offense was for BRODIE'S strengths thats all.

picasso · 11-10-2008, 06:24 PM

Fact of the matter is we shouldn't have had be in a position to have to go for two. Again we got a lead and again we played conservative bullshit. Over a minute on the clock before half and we waste it out with bullshit.
It was obvious that the coaching staff put them in a position to have to force a win and they failed to do so. Better for us right? Higher draft pick right. FUGGIN STUPID GAME!!!
Rebuilding is the excuse I hear when we are 3 games out of winning the division with half a season to go. So what if we are not playoff caliber, that is what you play for. Play to win the game my ass.
Stupid ass coaching and I can't believe some of you guys are standing up for it.
fuck Herm Edwards!

**MahiMike** · 11-10-2008, 06:59 PM

While I agree w/Herm's decision to go for 2, agreeing with the man once in his career doesn't deem him worthy of any respect, let alone keep from being fired. He's still 1fer in his last 18.

**DaneMcCloud** · 11-10-2008, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TommyHawk69

I know that but it is run in college so much because it is easier to run and hides some of there weaknesses. I love Thigpen and think it would be great if he turns into a pro bowler. Just stating that the coaches think it is a strength for him and that is why they changed. The other style of offense was for BRODIE'S strengths thats all.

Brodie wasn't on the field long enough to have a "strengths".

Brodie's super power was being injured.

Reerun_KC · 11-10-2008, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Brodie wasn't on the field long enough to have a "strengths".

Brodie's super power was being injured.

Then why draft him and pimp him up to be the QBOTF? Seems like bad judgement to me...

**DaneMcCloud** · 11-10-2008, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoReerun_KC

Then why draft him and pimp him up to be the QBOTF? Seems like bad judgement to me...

Of course it does

The other 31 NFL teams = GOOD

Chiefs = BAD

You're a jagoff. Why do you even bother?

Hell, why do I even bother with you?

Reerun_KC · 11-10-2008, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Of course it does

The other 31 NFL teams = GOOD

Chiefs = BAD

You're a jagoff. Why do you even bother?

Hell, why do I even bother with you?

You know there is that little feature called ignore or cpiggy.... Try it, it works very well...

Were did I say that Chiefs = Bad and everyone else is perfect?

Dude you are working yourself up again for no reason... Its a simple discussion, nothing to get pissed about. Seriously, if you get pissed at a message board posting, you might need to seek therapy...

**KcMizzou** · 11-10-2008, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Brodie wasn't on the field long enough to have a "strengths".

Brodie's super power was being injured.

Heh. Nice.

**DaneMcCloud** · 11-10-2008, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KcMizzou

Heh. Nice.

That's EXACTLY who I was thinking of when I wrote that:

Mr. Glass.

Great minds think alike.

Reerun_KC · 11-10-2008, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

That's EXACTLY who I was thinking of when I wrote that:

Mr. Glass.

Great minds think alike.

Fill me in, I am not following that?

whoman69 · 11-10-2008, 08:04 PM

Making improvement using a system that will be taken out and replaced with the same old 2 yards and a cloud of dust offense as soon as we can put another QB on the field. Are we making improvement on defense? Despite the fact that we are not 3 and out on 70% of our possessions the defense is still allowing 26 points a game in those three games while giving up more than 350 yards/gm. One step forward, yet were still in the same place we were. The only difference is now were not getting embarrassed.

Reerun_KC · 11-10-2008, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whoman69

Making improvement using a system that will be taken out and replaced with the same old 2 yards and a cloud of dust offense as soon as we can put another QB on the field. Are we making improvement on defense? Despite the fact that we are not 3 and out on 70% of our possessions the defense is still allowing 26 points a game in those three games while giving up more than 350 yards/gm. One step forward, yet were still in the same place we were. The only difference is now were not getting embarrassed.

Thats food for thought...

Sweet Daddy Hate · 11-10-2008, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whoman69

Making improvement using a system that will be taken out and replaced with the same old 2 yards and a cloud of dust offense as soon as we can put another QB on the field. Are we making improvement on defense? Despite the fact that we are not 3 and out on 70% of our possessions the defense is still allowing 26 points a game in those three games while giving up more than 350 yards/gm. One step forward, yet were still in the same place we were. The only difference is now were not getting embarrassed.

Good God I hope not! I don't want to go back to dreading watching the Offense again.

**DaneMcCloud** · 11-10-2008, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoReerun_KC

Fill me in, I am not following that?

Man, I kind of hate to do that because it would ruin an excellent movie (IMO - people that watch it either love it or absolutely hate it).

11-10-2008, 06:24 PM	#108
picasso That's a GOOD boy!! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Seattle Casino cash: $10004900	Fact of the matter is we shouldn't have had be in a position to have to go for two. Again we got a lead and again we played conservative bullshit. Over a minute on the clock before half and we waste it out with bullshit. It was obvious that the coaching staff put them in a position to have to force a win and they failed to do so. Better for us right? Higher draft pick right. FUGGIN STUPID GAME!!! Rebuilding is the excuse I hear when we are 3 games out of winning the division with half a season to go. So what if we are not playoff caliber, that is what you play for. Play to win the game my ass. Stupid ass coaching and I can't believe some of you guys are standing up for it. fuck Herm Edwards!
Posts: 871

11-10-2008, 06:59 PM	#109
MahiMike He's Mahomie! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Jax, FL Casino cash: $10023443	While I agree w/Herm's decision to go for 2, agreeing with the man once in his career doesn't deem him worthy of any respect, let alone keep from being fired. He's still 1fer in his last 18.
Posts: 17,387