Chiefs 0, Panthers 34

After last weeks dominating win over the Broncos, the “Forever Herms” made their first appearance of the season around the Chiefs community. I’m sure they’ll be a little less adventurous after we were embarrassed by the Panthers, but this past week brought out some “oldie but goodie” Herm excuses by his most stubborn of supporters. This week I’ll review some of the falsehoods and lies that have recently re-emerged from the Herm apologists.

The Claim: Vermeil’s “circus” offense scored “too quickly” and put too much pressure on the defense. Herm’s “ball control” offense is the only way to win consistently.

The Reality: Vermeil’s teams had a much BETTER time-of-possession (TOP) average than Herm’s teams. Vermeil’s Chiefs were one of the best in time-of-possession in the NFL, especially in 2004-2005 when they averaged 32:11 minutes a game. In all, in five years of Vermeil, we averaged a TOP of 30:30 a game. Herm’s Jets in those same five years averaged 29:09. Herm’s average TOP with the Chiefs is a little better than that with the Jets, but still below average at 29:55.

VLTC: This may be Herm’s boldest lie, or worst bout of ignorance, of all time. It is also his most successful lie in that most of the Chiefs community thinks this is true. It’s hard to believe no one in the mainstream media called him on these blatant lies.

The Claim: I’m sick of just being slightly above mediocre. Herm’s the man to take us all the way.

The Reality: Based on what? This claim is often given by someone who quotes Herm’s four “playoff” teams as proof of his ability. All four of those teams were wild card teams with only nine or ten wins and often “lucked” into the playoffs. They also never won a divisional playoff game.

VLTC: If that’s not just “slightly above mediocre”, then what is? Didn’t Vermeil go to the Super Bowl twice? Yet somehow his philosophy is wrong to some of these people compared to Herm’s?

The Claim: Herm hasn’t had enough time to build his team.

The Reality: After three years of Herm, we’re still heading DOWNWARD. Three years is plenty of time to at least be heading in the right direction. Vermeil re-made the Chiefs in one year and they were almost immediately competitive. The Dolphins gutted management this off-season and they’re already improving.

VLTC: How long does it take to start improving? Or how long until we at least stop getting worse? For Herm, I think he needs to hit rock bottom and then they’ll have nowhere but up and he’ll “improve” by default. Oh, and if these aren’t “his teams”, then you better stop spouting his playoff appearances, because three of the four came within his first two years with a team.

The Claim: Herm can develop players and isn’t afraid to play young players.

The Reality: Yes, Herm gives jobs to young players. That doesn’t mean they deserved it. That doesn’t mean they’d be starting for ANYONE else in the league. Removing competition doesn’t make them better.

VLTC: As pointed out in a previous article (“The Value of ‘Earned’”), giving players a job too early can stunt their development as much as it helps them to have playing time. Just because a draft pick is starting doesn’t necessarily make that pick a success. Besides, even if Herm can draft well, that doesn’t make him a good head coach: That makes him a good scout.

The Claim: Herm inherited an old team; there was nothing he could do.

The Reality: The Chiefs were old, but not unusually old. As pointed out in the commentary “The Blame Game Continues”, Vermeil inherited just as old of a team as Herm did, yet he was able to rebuild and be competitive within one year.

VLTC: This is a lame “cover all” excuse. This was not an unusual situation. If anything, Herm was blessed to inherit a good team that took him to the playoffs in his first year. Oh, and as I’ve also written about before, Vermeil also inherited just as “bad” of drafts as Herm did. Again, nothing unusual there.

The Claim: Herm has a plan. Have patience.

The Reality: Herm’s plan is to never act surprised and pretend it was all expected and pretend it was the plan all along. Herm’s plan is to be stubborn on things that don’t work (e.g. game planning) and frivolous on others (week to week philosophy change on QBs).

VLTC: If Herm actually has a plan, he sure doesn’t seem to care to tell anyone about it. The only thing he’s willing to tell you is that he has one. I guess that allows him to always claim things retroactively and cover his behind. He spends an equal amount of time telling us to “get over it”.

The Claim: Rebuilding through the draft takes time.

The Reality: Most draft picks are eligible to become free agents after four years. If your plan is significantly longer than that, you have a problem as there’s no end to the “rebuilding”. See: Lions. Considering we are in year three and still heading downward, I don’t think we’re going to suddenly win the Super Bowl in year four.

VLTC: Rebuilding JUST through the draft is not a plan… that’s the default minimum for every team in the NFL. You have to build a team using all means: draft, free agency, and trades. Anything short of that and you’re just waiting to get lucky.

VLTC’s Off-The-Cuff Grades

Warning: Being the disaster it was, it was hard to concentrate on individual positions and I don’t think I want to watch it again. So take the grades for what they’re worth.

QBs: F
- Huard had possibly the worst game of his career.
- Looked much less comfortable/brave in the pocket this week.

RBs: F
- Not entirely their fault, but didn’t step up either.

WR/TE: D
- Hard to grade in a game like this, but didn’t get a lot of separation.
- Bowe/Huard miscommunication was especially embarrassing.

OL: F in neon
- All started with the right side forfeiting the first drive and downhill from there.

DL: F in blinking neon
- Again, absolutely no pressure from the front four, despite playing against TWO backup offensive tackles.
- Gutted by the run.

LB/DB: D
- Was hard to concentrate on everyone in such a horrible game. D for participation.

ST: C+
- Colquitt’s leg might fall off by the end of the year.
- Novak could have gone home after the initial kickoff.
- Coverage/returns were acceptable.

Coaching: F as in Fired
- Credit where credit is due.