Herm Speaks 11/18
Another week and another session with the media horde for Herm Edwards. At this point in a 1-9 season, there’s only so much he can talk about.
We pulled the best from the 20-minute session.
ON WHAT HIS TEAM NEEDS TO DO NOW
“It’s just a matter of making the play. It’s the little plays, the little things that you do that get you off the field on defense or continue the drive on offense. It’s not always the obvious play. It’s plays that happen along the way that don’t get done. We talked about it Monday. We went through the last game and what took place and it wasn’t the obvious plays, it was the plays that go unnoticed that you kill drives with … penalty, dropped balls, missed tackle, those things that creep into the game that you can’t allow to happen if you are going to win, especially for us. We don’t have a lot of room for error.”
Analysis: The Chiefs youth, inexperience and injuries cut their chances of victory every week. It becomes a very fine line the team must walk to have a chance at winning the game. That’s a line that few teams can travel without falling down. Former NFL head coach Chuck Knox talked about the six plays that decide football games that nobody remembers or talks about. He always felt his team had to win four of those plays to win the game. Last week, the Chiefs were probably zero-for-six on those plays.
ON WHETHER LOSING IS A HABIT
“Sure, it can get to the point where bad things start happening and you say, ‘Oh here we go.’ You hate to say that to yourself, you know ‘Here we go again’ or ‘Oh oh, we just fell behind.’ That’s part of questioning yourself and we can’t question ourselves when we get in those situations. We have to have a mindset that this happened to us and we have to rally and come back. We have been very competitive. We have to find a way to get over the hump. When you do, then it clicks. Right now, we haven’t been able to overcome those situations.”
Comment: It’s human nature to say ‘oh no, here we go again.’ Veteran players say that. But veteran players also know that continuing to perform their duties as assigned is the only way to reverse the direction of events. This is not something that can be taught. It can’t be diagrammed on a blackboard and committed to memory. The only way to achieve the mental and emotional status that Edwards is talking about is going through tough situations.
ON PROBLEMS WITH HIS SPECIAL TEAMS
“We’ve had a lot of guys in and out. We have a lot of young guys playing special teams. Every week it seems like there are guys changed, in and out. There will probably be some more changes this week. You never get the same group of guys and that’s always difficult, especially on coverage teams. That seems to raise its head … special teams is not like offense or defense; you only get one chance at the ball. If you make an error it’s big, real big.”
Translation: The lack of continuity is killing the special teams. There are multiple changes every week and that hurts the productivity of these units. The week of the season opener, here were the players on the kick coverage unit: Brandon Carr, Jon McGraw, Turk McBride, Jackie Battle, Maurice Leggett, Nick Novak, DaJuan Morgan, Pat Thomas, Erik Walden, Dimitri Patterson and Devard Darling.
This same unit going into last Sunday’s game against New Orleans had: McGraw, Walden, Darling, and Kevin Robinson, Rocky Boiman, Oliver Celestin, Connor Barth, Dantrell Savage, Demorrio Williams, Wes Dacus and Ricardo Colclough. Eight of the 11 positions were different.
On the punt coverage team, it’s nine of the 11 are different. The only holdovers are McGraw and punter Dustin Colquitt, but then he missed two games because of injury and is not physically 100 percent right now.
ON PLAYING AGAINST THE BUFFALO SPECIAL TEAMS
“The real scary part is kicking the ball to these guys (Buffalo). It’s really scary. You almost might as well kick the ball out of bounds and give I t to them at the 40 and get it over with, rather than trying to kick it deep, or place the ball. You have to try and do a lot of things. You have to try and punt it to certain parts of the field … they’ve always had good special teams in Buffalo.”
Analysis: I don’t expect Edwards to have Connor Barth kick the ball out of bounds and give Buffalo field position at the 40-yard line. But the Chiefs will have to get creative in the kicking game this week, especially with their coverage units. The Bills are the NFL’s No. 1 team in kickoff return average at 26.4 yards. They are second in punt returns with a 14.5-yard average. Rookie Leodis McKelvin is the league’s leading kick returner, averaging 29 yards a return with a TD. Roscoe Parrish is the league’s No. 2 punt returner, with an average return of 14.7 yards and a TD. When Edwards says it’s “scary” believe it.
tranlsation:
“this is who I’m throwing under the bus this week…”
Analysis:
Herm couldnt coach himself out of a box.
If the chiefs end up winning another game this season it will be because some team (like Cinci) wants to lose even more than KC.
Sure was classy of Herm to throw his players under the bus today. November’s the time when it’s up to the players to play? Well when is it time for the coaches to coach? Because I haven’t seen it since Vermeil left, outside of Gailey for the last couple of weeks. And I’m sick of hearing Herm talk about having no clue about how to get the team to be successful for two halfs. Stay on the field for halftime? Who are you, Donovan Mcnabb? You have no clue. The coaches playing against you seem to have one, because they seem to have no problem motivating their team for the second half. Herm says if he knew what the problem is he’d fix it. Well it’s your job to find out, isn’t it?
And if the players aren’t getting it done, why is that? Herm’s obviously not accepting any responsibility for the coaching, so did we draft players that lack motivation or talent? Whose fault is this? It’s the players. Who drafted the players? Uhhh. It’s the same old circle. Crappy play and no accountability.
Reporters: ask some goddamn follow up questions when Herm says things this stupid. And quit letting him get away with being condescending towards you and the fans. I know you’re doing a poor job most of the time (especially you, Babb, if you even go to press conferences), but not as poor as Herm. Everybody thinks they’re a special team’s coach, Herm says condescendingly. Well, the funny thing is, the KC fans are probably the only ones in the league who actually are as qualified to be a coach as the current staff. How about you win a game and get a clue before implying that other people are idiots?
Oh, and if our pass rush is this f-ing bad, at least coach the DL to bat down some f-ing balls. What’s the point in slow grinding the OLmen all game?
Damn Graeme, you’re harsh. I think this site is probably the most informed, in depth place to go to for Chiefs info. Should he make such an ass of himself to Harm and everyone else there at Arrowhead that he’s not welcome and we lose the best, insider line we have?
Every chiefs fan feels your pain as much as you do, and I agree Harm needs to be held accountable, but to suggest Bob needs to attack attack attack and basically torpedo his own position isn’t well thought out.
As for Harm being condescending, I’d have to agree with you. I don’t know what the solution would be. I don’t bother listening to him anymore due to that very fact. I can’t stand to listen to him talk to us as if we’re just stupid fans that don’t know what we’re talking about and have no idea. Like we don’t feel the loss any worse than the rest of the team would. It pisses me off to tell the truth.
Herm sometimes seems annoyed that there even ARE fans to begin with. How dare we impede on his little project and question his decisions? Graeme is harsh as hell and to be quite frank, I think a growing number of fans are feeling this way with every loss.
I just find it hard to believe that he has supporters left and how passionate they are. You can even tell that Bob Gretz himself is getting a little cheesed off by this whole thing. Bob’s not going to attack Herm in a press conference and that’s fine with me. I like that Bob is in a position to get the best insider knowledge and that he’s willing to share it here with us. The guys who post here regularly are all truly hardcore fans and while we all don’t agree with each other, we all care alot about this franchise. Most times, it seems WE care alot more than Herm and Carl and Clark, and that’s why Herm’s tone is so infuriating.
Keep up the good work Bob, and leave the degrading, attacking questions to Whitlock.
Does anyone here think that maybe Rhonda Moss lost her job because she was the only reporter who would go after Herm and others and force them to answer questions they didn’t want to answer straight? I’m beginning to wonder myself.
Damn good question colby. She was pretty pushy when she got an interview. You know she’s still have her job if she were doing the same thing in NY.
My post was intended to be harsh, but not towards Bob (perhaps some of you thought I meant Bob when I was criticizing Kent Babb). Bob’s one of the few who actually do provide good information. But someone needs to step up and ask some questions and not let Herm’s little hissy fits make them too nervous to criticize. Maybe Bob can shed some light on this for us: are reporters denied press credentials if they ask too useful (i.e. pointed) of questions. There’s a big difference between degrading, attacking questions and actual straight-shooting. It seems many of the reporters get their questions misinterpreted (intentionally or otherwise) by Herm and aren’t given a follow-up, and we get the same stupid drivel from Herm every week. Does it seem to anyone else that he seems like he’s annoyed at answering such stupid questions, when the answer he’s giving doesn’t even suit the question asked? He just meanders on some cliche-filled, pointless sidetrack and it’s frustrating as hell.
And I have nothing personal against Kent Babb, but his articles are pure sh#t.
And for as much flak as Whitlock gets, at least he’s got the guts to call out the Chiefs for their poor management and coaching.
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-affirmed Herm’s The Man!
Gee Rin,
Haven’t you posted that exact same statement at least one time per every article Bob posts? Do you have any new and insightful thoughts you’d like to share with us?
I’m glad you like the job Harm has done up to this point, but I think you’re in the minority with that one.
Rin is just trying to see if any one reads coments . Herms the lawnmower , the last few games are the grass !
Back to RED ZONE ,( 2 tight ends & 1 WR same side — TEs fade together ,WR gets in front - float pass over TEs , crowds out def. )
Rin is an idiot, people. His response to anything you say to him will be something completely out of context and asinine. I think if we all ignore him he’ll go away.
Lets ship Herm and Carl to the Lions next season!
Yes, the Lions need to win a couple of games. Herm and Carl could offer them that very thing. A COUPLE of games.
Red and GoldRice (and with green-eyes flashing)
Kiss my ‘Gretz’…you too J, a true idiot savant -minus the savant part.
Rin has his opinions, ans shall continue to post them…deal with it ye small minded. We are all guests here in Bob’s house as it were - and all should act accordingly. Yet on the other Rin has never been one to turn tail & run from bullies - any.
Someday when you get your own blog, you can play a proprietary Hitler therein…& cast away those who cause you consternation… here, you will do nothing but take it, ‘it’ being the opine others.
heh heh heh
Hey Rin let em vent! Better here then taking it out on their families. Somebody has to provide the chaff that will make this team strong. Coaches and players alike. It might as well be the small minded fans. Everybody has a purpose.
It is good to here that Herm is holding his players accountable! They will learn to do the little things right and this team will be good!
Okay now this is enough-This goes to you Herm. First you blamed it on rebuilding, now you are blaming the “Players”. When do you take responsibilty that it might just be “YOU”? and your not so wonderful side-kick “Carl”.
Hey does Clark ever read these comments, maybe he should. Are the season ticket holders getting refunds since we paid full price for our tickets and now anyone can purchase tickets for hardly nothing? Can we get free MU, KU tickets to make up for the mess that Herm and Carl have caused?
Rin is the new Rufus Dawes
Herm will NEVER take responsibility. That’s what a competant head coach does. Herm will bury assistants, Co-ordinators, those above him in the front office, the press, players, but it is NEVER Herm Edwards fault, never. And the press lets him get away with it because he charms their pants off. Rhonda Moss lost her job? Sad, because she was one of the few that actuially held Herm’s feet to the fire, once in a great while.
Here’s a Coach that takes responsibility for his team and his actions, Jim Fassel, in 2001 when he was Coaching the Giants, and took it on hiself to get them to the playoffs.
Here’s Jim Fassel’s words Coaching the Giants in 2001:
”I am driving the train,” he said.
”This is a horse race, and we’re coming around the far turn and I see the finish line.
”This is a poker game. I’m shoving my chips to the middle of the table. I’m raising the ante.”
Then Fassel made the boldest guarantee of his tenure with the Giants: ”This team is going to the playoffs. This team’s going to the playoffs. I’m going to define where we’re going. I’m not afraid to say one thing: we’re going to the playoffs.”
That’s a Coach that accepts leadership, accepts blame, in fact invites it. Not an excuse maker, not a blame shifter. Hopefully we can get one of those Coaches after the season.
WANTED
NFL Head Coaching Job…applicant has some prior experience though have been gainfully unemployed as an NFL Head Coach for going on, what - half a decade now.
If interested, please contact: Jim Fassel, living under the bridge next to the yum-yum tree where I threw myself years ago…HELP!
Wow. Good one, Rin. Think of that one yourself? Highly doubtful.
“Wow”
- weeeeeeeeeeee
“Good one, Rin”
- I can also show you a nice windmill that you can tilt at…
“Think of that one yourself”
- well if you’re not certain…since that head injury a suffered result your ‘trying’ to open those cans with “the easy opening top”, you’ve been even more a dullard than the consistently palsied self you indicate…you ok?
“Highly doubtful”
- yes…your cognitive fund be in ‘arrears’ as it were or impacted at another level at any, appears.
heh heh heh
Context. Your lack of understanding of the concept is mind-boggling.
“Context.”
- that’s ‘CONTACT’, those tiny time released time capsules…you’re sick J, get some - today!
“Your lack of understanding”
- you don’t pay me enough to care…
“of the concept is mind-boggling.”
- run-on sentence, try again you IDJIOT
heh heh heh
Again, say it with me, Rin. “CONTEXT”. Go grab the Webster’s Dictionary from the “Big Kids” Bookshelf in your mother’s bedroom (I know it’s a long ways from that basement hole you reside in) and look it up. Practice using “CONTEXT” in your next asinine retort.
Jim Fassel has one thing Herm Edwards will NEVER sniff. A superbowl appearence as a head coach. If Fassel gets the Oakland job, he immediately becaomes the 2nd best Coach in the division by default, as long as Bums like Herm and Norv are still employed.
I don’t understand Mark where you get off saying Herm’s not taking responsiblity for the team losing. I keep hearing him say we drop ball and we missed tackles and not they drop balls and missed tackles. Thats responsibility to me. Truth is players do have to make plays. Herm’s no longer playing the NFL. He’s coaching it. The players do need to step up and want it more than the other team.
You kill the coaching but I what point are you going to hold the players accountable. I remember when Vermeil was here and the defense was just awful. I never got mad at Vermeil for the defense being so bad. I got mad at the players for getting pushed around on the defensive line or linebackers missing tackles. I didn’t blame Vermeil. ONly responsibility I put on Vermeil was not getting rid of those bums after the season,but continuing to bring the same clowns back the next year.
The truth is on Sunday the players has to want to win it more than Buffalo. Bottom line.
And as for the Raiders and Fassel it want make a differance as long as Al Davis is the owner. They have all the talent in the world right now and still can’t get it done. They haven’t won over 4 games in the last 5 years a streak that will continue into 2010.
When Herm says something like the following:
“It’s up to the players at the end of the day and you know that. The coaches put them in position and from there they’ve got to go on and win. They’ve been in position the last couple of weeks and we haven’t found a way to do it.
“It just comes from putting them in position. In the last four weeks we’ve done that; we’ve been in position to make some plays in either phase of the game and we haven’t quite done it. The players have to do that. The coaches can make a call and put them in position but they have to pull the trigger and do it. They’re getting closer.”. He also said something like, The systems in place, it’s Novemember, now the players have to perform.
Herm is notorious for throwing assistants, co-ordinators, those above him, and those below him, under the bus, to make himself look better. No w he’s adding young players to that mix. Where is he taking responsibility?
Sure the players take some blame, but again, overwhelmingly thsese are Herm’s players. Eiher they stink, which is on him, they lack desire, which is on him, or he can’t motivate them properly, which is on him. He is 1-18 his last 19, with a whole different set of players. At some point, he has to be held accountable, instead of trying to deflect the blame to every conceivable place except where it rightfully belongs.
ED
What Mark is saying (in essence) is that a parent should be responsible for the actions of his kids nee children; alas, all of Herm’s kids range from 22 to 35 years of age, so, bad ‘parenting’ any is become non sequitur.
If they never grew up, that is not the fault of the parent UNLESS the parent never expected the child to take responsibility & stand on his own two feet. Herm has, in fact he’s done everything shy of asking them to “take off the diapers”, as such proving he is more patient than Vermeil was.
Herm has done everything short of dying for their sins, & fortunately appears Clark Hunt ‘gets it’ as such…it took Jesus 33 years - Herm is only in the midst year three his.
As for Josh, he’s a textbook example of what we call an incorrigible…pay him no mind - no one does. In fact, if he was one of Herm’s kids, he would likely spend extra time after practice in the corner…standing in said a good while afore aft working on them - for, as Herm has affirmed, the corners are the most important of all (just look what Herm has gotten from Carr & Flowers.)
: )