COMMENTARY: A Big Lesson Left To Learn
From Arrowhead Stadium
Give it to these 2008 Chiefs. With every opportunity in the world to give up the season, they continue to fight and compete with the rest of the NFL. They are learning valuable lessons in how to play the game, how to be a professional and how to carry themselves.
What they haven’t learned however, is the most important lesson any athlete or team must comprehend. They haven’t learned how to win.
They had another chance against the Miami Dolphins. It didn’t work out.
Another week, another chance to play was wasted in pursuit of that ultimate of gifts: the ability to be successful as a team.
“I don’t care about how many yards we had today,” said Brian Waters when he was asked about the Chiefs racking up a season best 492 yards. “What do stats or records mean when you are 2-12?”
Or 2-13. That’s what the Chiefs are as they sit just a week away from the last game on the schedule. No one, not even the most ardent of supporters behind the rebuilding of this team expected anything like this. Tearing apart a roster and retooling with youngsters is a messy proposition.
But now, 15 games and 22 weeks into the project that began back in July in River Falls, one is left to wonder what has been accomplished.
That’s really not fair, because there have been a lot of little victories with the new faces on this team. Herm Edwards insists that progress has been made.
“You think about the Tennessee (lost by 24) and Carolina (lost by 34) games, they were lows for us,” Edwards said. “They were early. But when the quarterback became the same guy every week, we became more consistent as a football team.
“We’ve been very competitive, but we can’t finish and that’s a little bit of immaturity and a learning curve they have to go through. We have about 18 rookies on this roster and they’ve played a lot. This team will have a whole different mindset coming into next year.”
Everything about the Chiefs right now is about the future, because the most recent past is so ugly. Two and 13 on this season, six and 25 for the last two years and 2-22 in the last 24 games. That’s as bad as any organization in the league and certainly worse than at any point in Chiefs history.
That’s the lead of the 2008 story. But the sub-text can’t be forgotten. For the eighth time in 15 games they had the chance to win.
But just as they did before, they couldn’t make it happen. Against New England in the opener they set the trend for the season, losing by seven. Against the Jets they fell by four, versus Tampa Bay they dropped the overtime outcome by three points and in the last three weeks they lost by seven at Oakland, seven at Denver and one to San Diego.
And now by seven points to Miami.
“It’s just a play here or there,” said FS Jarrad Page for about the millionth time this season. “We only need somebody to make a play and we should win some of these games.”
Let me repeat again, victory is not a play or two away. It’s a player or two, or three, or a half-dozen away. They will learn how to win when they have more players who can contribute when necessary in the second half for the offense, or in any half for the defense.
How does a football team learn how to win? They don’t learn from a book, although any book store is filled with various volumes of how to be successful in business, love, life, investments, etc.
A team learns by doing. First a team must put itself in position to win. The Chiefs can do that. It’s the next step of producing in the clutch that isn’t getting done. This year’s Chiefs have had every opportunity to learn that lesson. It isn’t happening. Right now, they have enough players to be competitive and to challenge on almost every Sunday for a victory. But there’s no denying the obvious that comes from eight games lost by seven points or less.
They simply don’t have enough players.
I’ve said all along I would be OK with giving Herm one more year, but, If the team just can’t learn these “lessons”, maybe it’s time for all new teachers.
Herm can do a lot a things well, but he cannot coach on gameday. He does not know how to make adjustments once a game has started and certainly not at halftime. He will be fired at the end of the season so I guess he served the purpose of finding and playing good young talent. In the end, he just could not coach them.
They simply don’t have a good enough Head Coach. But that’s going to change in the offseason, thank you Clark and the new GM for that.
The Chiefs have come this far in 2008 so perhaps they’ll come a little further and lose the season ender next week and be in a position, I hope, for the #2 overall pick in the 2009 draft.
Because, the spread offense and Thigpen, while entertaining and at least competitive, aren’t the longterm answers, I’m afraid. The new GM will most likely want to start his own legacy, put his fingerprints on the team, and what better way to do it than draft a franchise QB which the Chiefs should have a shot at drafting with the #2 overall choice.
This assumes to two top guys come out, as expected from OK and GA. This season, with all its ups, downs, hopes, dispairs, building on youth and so on, suggests something else. It’s time for a seachange in Chief’s-Land so let’s get that train moving.
Chiefs are guaranteed of having their worst season in franchise history. That quite an accomplishment for Herm.
The Chiefs offense produced 28 first half points, and 31 pts altogether. The offense the chiefs run can obviously produce in the NFL.
The defense cant stop anyone. It is worse than when Vermiel was here.
I’m tired of ‘moral victories.’ Firing Herm should be this teams last moral victory, and should start us back on the road to winning again.
Bob,
I love your inside knowledge and access; however, your treatment of Herm as an infallible figure is increasingly annoying.
Isn’t it the coaching staffs responsibility to prepare the players in how to play in the second half? In game adjustments are the coaches responsibility, not the players.
Its absolutely true the we need more players and much blame falls on them. But the inability for you (or Herm) to place a single ounce of accountability to the coaching staff is so disappointing.
You know, I think if we had a decent pass rush we might be a 500 team. Can’t win with cover 2 and no rush. 31 points should win us a game
A great coaching effort by Herm Edwards with his out-manned Chiefs staying right with Miami – now with 1 game to go in 2008 Herm can soon turn his attention to the 2009 draft and free agency when as Chiefs Head Coach he will add another layer to the foundation now in place…good luck with the Chiefs in 2009 Coach!
Keep up the great work Coach Edwards. ALL of KC is behind you and we know that you will lead us back to glory very soon now.
AND NOW, Clark Hunt has RE-RE-affirmed Herm’s The Man!
I hate to break it to you guys who are so dead set on firing Edwards, but it’s not going to make any difference. We are virtually guaranteed to make big strides in the off season. We will be getting a pass rusher, a big play linebacker (probably two) in both free agency and the draft. With another year of growth and experience, coupled with a full off season in a pro-strength program with all the OTAs and another training camp, this team will be far better next year. Whoever the coach is, we’ll be better off- THANK GOD!
Right on MDChief, it would be hard to imagine getting any worse than 3-13 next year. Most units should see improvement on some level. The only big hit we could potentially take is if we dump LJ and lose Tony G to a trade. Losing both those guys could definitely set back our offense and counteract any positive strides made.
See you back in KC as Chiefs Head Coach in 2009 Herm!
MD Chief. Of course it makes a difference who the Head Coach is. There are great Head Coaches, good Head Coaches, poor Head Coaches, and Laughingstock Head Coaches. We are stuck with the latter, and when/if we get one in the first or second category, we’ll improve alot more than we might with one in the 3rd and 4th category. The Head Coach is THE most important person on a Football team, followed very closely by the GM. We’re about to improve DRASTICALLY in both positions, because we can only go in one direction, and ALL Chief fans should be thrilled, because one would think ALL Chief fans want the best people they can get in those positions. It’s amazing that guys like you try to minimize Herm’s role in a 2-22 debacle.
We’ve lost a lot of these games due to player errors, but also due to coaching errors. And let’s not forget the fact that this defense is not improving as the season goes on. That is all coaching. All teams have to deal with injuries. The fact that we find new ways to regress week after week rests on the coaching, and guess what, young players, old players, it’s been the same old story for pretty much this entire decade.
if any one thinks we can start over with a new system and win you must be crazy we need to stay with herm and install the run game like we should be doing and use the spread as a extra package this d is getting better in areas even if just experience for the young guys we made great strides this year under herm we need a few key players to be a winner i would like to see a dominate take control defensive player drafted to control the run and support our d line from the middle put dj back he needs the man in the middle to bring up his game to the bb level our secondary will be the best in the league next year with rookies 1yr older we had better get a qb that can handle both the spread and under center because next year the o line will be dominate running the ball because it all starts upfront i see good things coming if we stay the course and build a winner playoffs next year by way of division you all know it we had the bolts and donkeys this year the difference is coming this off season that will put a serious advantage in to our team already looking forward to the draft make sure we all support herm for another term its the time to be jolly because this time next year i will be buying playoff tickets and traveling to kc for the games the new gm has to see where this team is at and who we hire will keep herm for another term
So you think a new coach will “Set us back”? How far did it set back Miami this year? 1-15 to maybe 11-5, wow what a setback!
The only good thing about Herm Edwards as Coach is you can’t be “set back” by replacing him. There’s no downside to replacing him, unless you’re hiring Norv Turner, and that’s a wash. When you replace Herm, there’s no place to go but up.
Keep up the great work Coach Edwards. ALL of KC is behind you and we know that you will lead us back to glory very soon now.
AND NOW, Clark Hunt has RE-RE-affirmed Herm’s The Man!
Clark,
NOW WILL YOU GET RID OF HERM (LOSER)? AND GUNTHER AND ALL THE REST OF WHAT THEY CALL THEMSELVES COACHES?
HOW DO YOU EXCEPT TO GET ANY AND LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN ANY MONEY FROM THE FANS TO COME TO THE 2009 GAMES. WHAT A BROKEN TEAM!
People say what you want about Herm but the Jets made the playoffs 3 out of his 5 years. Now Manjeni now how only made it one out of 3 years with might I add a much better roster this season. When Herm’s had a complete roster he’s gotten it done as a head coach. IN 2006 we one all our games down the strectch and got into the playoffs. At the end of the day this guy has a team that is not nearly as good as the competition almost beaten good playoff teams you can only hope in the offseason with a few more vets will be kicking butt next year. Matter of fact you can count on it.
PLEASE NO MORE EXCUSES FOR HERM-THERE IS NONE LEFT THAT ANYONE CAN MAKE. HERM HAS RUN OUT OF EXCUSES.
No one is making excuses for the guy. Frankly I believe if anyone else had coached this team this year with Tyler under center you would have seen more games like the Panthers and Titans games we’ve played. I don’t know how anyone with a little football knowledge honestly think this roster we have playing now is good enough to beat all these quality teams we been losing to. If anything the last 8 games this team has overachieved based on the injuries this year and the quarterback situation. GET REAL PEOPLE
Welcome back in 2009 as Head Coach of the Kansas City Chiefs Hermmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Edwards!
YAY!
GET REAL PEOPLE. Herm Edwards is 2-22 in his last 24 games. He’s lost with an old roster, he’s lost with a young roster. He’s lost with old QB, he’s lost with young QB. At some point. He’s a loser, and losers do what they do, lose, and foster a culture where loing is OK as long as supposed progress is being made. It’s always an excuse with Herm and blind Herm supporters. Luckily, after next week there are no more excuses and we begin with a new GM and new Head Coach.
Clark Hunt: “I hope Herm comes back.”
Herm: “I expect to be back.”
Conclusion: Herm’s comin’ back!
Herm Edwards Chiefs Head Coach today, tomorrow, forever! He’s The Man!
This says it all-I don’t care what Herm did elsewhere it is what he did not do for the Chiefs.
Everything about the Chiefs right now is about the future, because the most recent past is so ugly. Two and 13 on this season, six and 25 for the last two years and 2-22 in the last 24 games. That’s as bad as any organization in the league and certainly worse than at any point in Chiefs history. Isn’t he the one that pushed for Brody and what a mess that was. Tyler is a good QB. Now I said good not great, but better than Herm’s pick of Brody.
As Coach (and I use that word loosley with Herm):
“Your record reflects the coach you are.”
So that will sum this discussion up!
hahaha…. I will so love to see the chiefs organization honor the contract that they had printed up and signed when they brought Herm on. He has 1 more year on his contract, they should allow him to stick with the rebuild… I dont think another high draft pick will hurt the team any, I do believe drafting a QB in the first round is about dumb though. For every Manning, there are 5 Leafs…