No surprise, Gretz, Rufasssss, Whitlock & Solari are all circling the wagons to save Herm’s job. Normally their comments would be pretty funny if this team wasn’t setting record lows.
Chiefs 7, Denver 41
I saw three good things, and they all came on one drive:
1) Jason Dunn pushing the Kolby Smith forward for the 1st down when he was stopped short on 4th and short.
2) Going for it on 4th down three times.
3) Tony G’s touchdown.
Going for it on 4th down? Isn’t that what crazy Air Saunders would do? Maybe if they would have played like that before, we might have won a couple more games (*cough* Indy, Baltimore ‘06 *cough*).
I saw many, many, many bad things, and once again, Herm keeps setting new lows:
1) This game was the worst Chiefs loss to Denver ever. EVER!!
2) Jay Cutler became the first Bronco quarterback to win his first two starts against KC ever. EVER!!
3) This was also Denver’s biggest blowout win against anyone in seven years. SEVEN!!
4) 129 offensive yards was the Chiefs worst output in 28 years. TWENTY-EIGHT!!
5) 16 rushing yards were the Chiefs 4th worst output ever. EVER!! (2nd worst ever was 10 yards, which also came this year against the Jags)
Frank Ganz didn’t do any of that. As a matter of fact, Frank Ganz only lost his two games against John Elway’s Broncos by a COMBINED point total of 9 points. They lost 17-20 and 11-17. Ganz was also 1-0 vs. Elway at Arrowhead (the other home game vs. Denver was a strike game).
This game comes one year after the worst Chiefs loss in 23 years, 45-7 at Pittsburgh, and the Chiefs lost that game WITHOUT Bill Kenney.
I have not seen or read Herm’s post-game quotes, but I think at this point we all know what he will say. So, okay class, all together now:
1) Give Denver credit.
2) The defense needs to play better.
3) The players gotta make plays.
CROYLE: “That’s bad execution on my part.” (on a bad throw to Jeff Webb)
JD: Brodie, hasn’t Herm taught you anything? Never take responsibility when you can blame someone else!
It’s so funny to hear people talk about this year as a rebuilding year. What a load of crap. It only became a rebuilding year when we lost five in a row. For people to complain about the talent level on the Chiefs is kind of like the guy who killed his parents and then begged the judge for mercy on the grounds that he was an orphan.
The Chiefs went three-and-out eight times and had three turnovers. Yep, the Chiefs defense is the one to blame.
How is it that the fans support Herm more than the players? I’ll ask Herm supporters this again, what makes you think next year will be any better than this? We are looking at Herm’s second 4-12 season in three years. THREE!!!
Anyone watch Todd Collins and Air Saunders light it up against the Bears last Thursday?
Anyone think John Tait might’ve made a difference this year? We can all thank King Carl for running him out of town. Thanks Carl!
Jason Whitlock
Mr. Whitlock wrote a column on Saturday defending the great Herm Edwards and his five game losing streak. Here are some excerpts.
WHITLOCK: “This city has not been fair to Herm.”
JD: Are you kidding me? Herm has now lost six in a row, averaging 12 points a game, he lies and contradicts himself almost every other sentence and people STILL think he should be given more time.
WHITLOCK: “Dissatisfaction with Herm is not a racially divisive issue in this town.”
JD: Then why make that sentence? Racial issues will never heal if you insist on bringing them up when they are not a factor.
WHITLOCK: “The man deserves four years. His resume demands that.”
JD: Actually it doesn’t. I covered this last column, and it surprises me that people can look at his spotty record and think he is a good coach.
WHITLOCK: “Herm is not an offensive-minded coach.”
JD: And who’s fault is that? How can you say he’s good, when he shows no interest in touchdowns, which is what you need to win games.
WHITLOCK: “What Herm can do is identify talent, develop it, motivate players and construct a strong defense. That’s enough to be a highly successful head football coach.”
JD: Except that Herm says the team isn’t good because the players aren’t good. Herm’s defenders contradict what Herm himself says. How strong has the defense been the last three weeks? Why hasn’t he developed any offensive line talent? If he can only develop talent on one side of the ball, then that proves yet again he is not head coaching material.
WHITLOCK: “Finding a head coach is not an easy thing to do. You don’t give up on one who has four playoff appearances without ever being blessed with a franchise quarterback. Herm hasn’t found his guy, so he looks really awkward at times.”
JD: Blessed? You just praised him for being a good talent evaluator/developer, yet you give him a pass because he can’t identify, develop & motivate a quarterback.
WHITLOCK: “We’ve wanted a true rebuilding year for a long time. We have one. Let’s give Herm a chance to rebuild. We have no real reason to doubt his eye for talent.”
JD: Uh yes we do, he had a 66% chance of drafting a good kicker, missed, and REFUSED to address the problem until it cost him a couple of games. Herm wants to run a field goal offense, yet showed no interest in addressing the kicker position. Good coaches don’t do such stupid things. WHO has wanted a true rebuilding year? Only bad teams use the word rebuilding.
Bob Gretz
Bob Gretz wrote this on December 7th about the great Herm Edwards and his five game losing streak. Here are some excerpts.
GRETZ: “All those folks that got so annoyed this season because Herm Edwards was so conservative on offense, do you understand now?”
JD: Actually, I’ve understood for several years, Herm plays for field goals. Period.
GRETZ: “Did you watch the Chiefs-Chargers game last Sunday?”
JD: Unfortunately.
GRETZ: “Did you see what happened when the Chiefs “opened” up their offense and went back to pass 48 times in the game? Damon Huard and Tyler Thigpen went down eight times in 48 pass plays. That’s a sack every six passing plays. That’s disaster.”
JD: Gee Bob, your co-worker Len Dawson, has been one of the most vocal supporters of “opening up” the offense. Are you saying a Super Bowl winning quarterback who called his own plays doesn’t know what he’s talking about? Just because it didn’t work the first time you tried it in game 12 doesn’t mean it’s a bad philosophy. Herm’s field goal philosophy hasn’t worked in nine games this year, but that hasn’t stopped him from continually going to it.
GRETZ: “Edwards has tried to keep the Chiefs offense conservative all year because of what we have seen all season.”
JD: What a load of crap. You’ve ripped on the playcalling several times this year, but now that it suites you, you are defending the playcalling. Pick a side of the fence Bob.
GRETZ: “…the Chiefs can’t protect the quarterback on a consistent basis. It’s been that way from the season opener until now. The right side of the offense has been a virtual highway to the passer.”
JD: Then why has the General Manager neglected to fix the problem the last several years? I love all the double-talk from all the Herm supporters, they say he’s a great talent evaluator/developer, yet excuse him from losing because the offense has no talent. PICK A SIDE OF THE FENCE PLEASE.
Solari blames players
Mike Solari blamed the players for the Chiefs problems, yet the 11/27 KC Star headline was “Solari Takes Some Blame For Struggles.” OKAY!
SOLARI: “Every week I believe I’m putting players in position to make plays. But we’ve had so many situations when it’s been third and 12 or third and 15. It’s been a situation where we’ve made some mistakes, and it’s tough to make some calls in situations like that.”
JD: How F’N hard is it to call a play that goes for 12 or 15 yards? Besides, it’s your stupid calls on 1st and 2nd down that puts them in 3rd and long.
SOLARI: “When you don’t win, there’s frustration. Sometimes the easiest thing to do is point to playcalling.”
JD: When you average 12 points a game, play for field goals, call draws on third and long, and don’t take shots downfield, then yes, you point to playcalling.
SOLARI: “Our responsibility is to put them in position to make the plays. When they’re called up, they’ve got to make the plays.”
JD: Yep, you’re right, it’s the players fault for not running for 18 yards on 3rd and 18. What a dick.
SOLARI: “We knew the situation against the Raiders (a recent history of close games), so we knew in the fourth quarter we’d have to make plays. We had a chance to do it on that fourth and 1, and we didn’t get it done.”
JD: Maybe since you know this “situation”, you’d try to put the game away early, and not wait until the 4th quarter to “make plays.”
Ruffass
RUFFASSSS: “Search the pages online in most NFL cities and you will see we live in a veritable tsunami of discontent. Coaches who just a few years ago were the answers to prayers are now considered outcasts and stories appear as to who their successors might be. To hear tell it, Brian Billick should be out in Baltimore, John Fox in Carolina, both coaches in New York, and, yes, even poor Cam Cameron, after only one year in Miami, has been reported as being on the way out along with GM Randy Mueller.”
JD: Well, DUH!!! Coaches are paid to be successful. When you are not, then you get replaced. “Veritable tsunami of discontent”, how long did it take you to come up with that line, Mr. Wordsmith?
RUFFASSSSS: “We’ve followed the Peterson-must-go rhetoric long enough on these pages to have to recount it again. He’s not going anywhere given his record whether you believe that’s bunk or not and it’s not because he’s making the team lots of money, if indeed he is, or that he’s bungled drafts or hasn’t signed some free agent that some media type believes is the answer to every team problem, or that the Kansas City Star believes he has overstayed his welcome. He simply hasn’t lost enough. That’s it.
JD: If he hasn’t lost it, then maybe he never had it. No championships to speak of and no playoff wins for 14 years doesn’t sound like someone who “has it.” And if you don’t think he’s making the team lots of money, then that’s another reason he needs to go.
RUFFASSSS: “But despite his general pleasant mood, way of approaching his profession, and a reasonable resume of success, Edwards’ ways don’t seem to have caught on here in Kansas City. He’s already equaled Dick Vermeil’s playoff record here but it would be a stretch to say he even approaches his old coach’s public level of love and respect.
JD: That’s because Dick Vermeil was honest and took responsibility for problems, where as Herm lies, makes things up and blames everyone but himself.
RUFFASSSSS: “Why has Edwards continued to draw so much negativity here, or at least perceived negativity? The media details are thin and much of it springs from their own usual animus.”
JD: Actually the details are NOT thin, and the media types give pretty good reasons for giving Herm a hard time, but nice try.
RUFFASSSS: “But some of it appears to be (Herm’s) decision to take the hard and seldom loved path to revamp what has been an aging team for almost 20 years now.
JD: Who’s fault is that? Isn’t Carl responsible acquiring players? I love how Gretz and everyone else have painted themselves into a corner defending Carl and Herm. Starting a 34 year old quarterback (Damon Huard) is not a way to revamp an aging team.
RUFFASSSS: “Whether Edwards called two timeouts in a game against the Raiders then is truly meaningless in the big picture.”
JD: No, it shows he doesn’t know how to coach effectively during a game.
RUFFASSSS: “The Chiefs’ problems would still be there even if the refs had given the team a first down or Kolby Smith had made the yard, and the team had gone on to win. They’re an old team that’s been old and continues to play old.
JD: Gee, when people praise Herm, everyone points to all the rookies and young players who are contributing, including at quarterback, running back and wide receiver, but since you’re defending Herm, then it’s an “old” team. OKAY!!!
RUFFASSSS: “It’s the players not the plays. They must face up to it. Edwards and Peterson have but no one seems to be listening, or wants to.”
JD: I thought Herm was great at developing players? Why can’t he develop what he has? Peterson acquired these players that are not making plays, then by your words, he’s not doing his job.
Hermisms
EDWARDS: “I was talking to a guy earlier on the radio and, you know, people always question you when you have a record like this and where you’re at. I think people fail to realize this: the record makes a difference as to where you’re going to go at the end, whether you’re going to be in the playoffs or not. But I think the point that people miss is the preparation you put in regardless of your record every week to try and win a game. That’s what this all about: preparing every week trying to win a game.”
JD: You are so right! We should get the newspapers to get rid of those silly Wins and Losses columns and replace them with Preparation columns! We’d be undefeated just like New England!!!
EDWARDS: “We’ve been close in some games but the second half gets away from us for some reason and we have to do a better job.”
JD: For some reason? You’re the head coach, don’t you know what’s going on?
Q: Aren’t you getting tired of saying that?
EDWARDS: “Yeah, but it’s the truth. All I can do is speak the truth. If it was anything else I would say it, but it’s the truth.”
JD: He said the word “truth” three times in three sentences. Honest people do not need to continually try to convince everyone about it.
EDWARDS: “It really boils down to a couple of things. In the last four games we’ve scored an average of 12 points. Very difficult to win football games when you’re averaging 12 points a game in the National Football League. Our inability to score is hindering us and it’s disappointing. We’ve got to find a way to score some points obviously.”
JD: You’ve been saying that ALL YEAR. Obviously you don’t know how to do it. When you say stupid things like “21 points is a lot”, you lose all credibility when you say you want to score points.
EDWARDS: “[Baltimore] is in our situation having lost five or six in a row. But the way those guys played (vs. New England) is a tribute to the National Football League. They were a 13-3 team last year but for some reason they’re not this year.”
JD: They’re not 13-3 this year because they’ve lost eight games. Are you a moron or do you just play one on TV? But if you want me to get specific, they were over-rated last year and their coaches have made stupid decisions. Sound familiar?
EDWARDS: “With that being said, we’ll go into Denver with one thing in mind: to try and win a football game for ourselves and for all our fans. We put in a lot of work and it starts in the off-season, to the draft, the OTAs, the mini-camps, whatever we may have and then culminates throughout the season. Every game is important because every game is another opportunity to win.”
JD: No. Try not. Do… or do not. There is no try.
Q: Your thoughts on Jared Allen’s touchdown grab last week.
EDWARDS: “Two way player. Now he’s trying to get a pass play where he can throw a pass. He’s a good football player and there’s no doubt about it. I know how he was drafted here. A lot of people are taking credit for him but I know the true story. The guy came in as a long snapper. They were looking for a long snapper. Don’t let anybody twist the story. I heard the story and heard it from Jared.”
JD: Yah, OK. We drafted a long snapper and lucked into getting a great defensive end (I’m rolling my eyes if you can’t see). Continued ripping on Dick Vermeil’s tenure does nothing to help yourself.
Q: Did you call the play and not [offensive coordinator] Solari?
EDWARDS: “No, we talked about it going in. But I said check with Jared. But I called the first play on offense.”
JD: Really! Herm is now calling offensive plays? The one guy who knows less about offense than Mike Solari is calling plays? Unbelievable. Keep backing him Herm supporters, I hope it’s worth it when we sludge thru another 4-12 season next year.
