Why Herm Should Not be Blamed for our Horrible Defense
Now before you to begin to bash me for protecting Herm, know this. I do not want Herm around next year. Whether or not he is a good coach, you cannot have the record that he has accumulated and expect to be the coach of the same team next year.
However...
I do not think that Herm should be held completely responsible for the atrocious defense that we fielded this year. As a head coach, Herms job is to make sure that practices are ran efficiently and effectively, as well as managing plays, and in some cases, calling plays near the end of a game. One might say that by the looks of how the Chiefs preformed this year, he did not do any of the above effectively. Now, to be honest, I have to agree with you. Herm failed to make the right call at the right time and it actually contributed to a few losses.
But, I do not think that Herm is as bad as he appears on paper. Before I go on, I will remind the reader once again that I do believe that Herm should be fired. I am writing this article for the sole purpose that I think Herm is a nice guy, and not nearly as bad of a coach as he seemed to be in KC. Anyways, back to the point. As a defensive coordinater, I understand the relationship between a HC and DC to a certain extent ( this obviously differs between college and NFL, as well the certain individual), but I do know, for the most part, how things operate. During the course of a season, the HC of my team never spoke to me about our defense. Despite starting of the season allowing 4 passing touchdowns (dont get me started...), the HC did not ask a single question. He did come up with ideas, but in no way forced me to act upon them. This is what you would classify as trust. My boss trusted me to come up with a way to fix our defensive woes despite having his job on the line. Eventually, we did figure out what the problem was and fixed our defense, but that the ONLY reason why that was is because my boss trusted me enough to let me continue to coach and fix the issues that we were experiencing.
When it comes to Herm, I believe that he experienced the same dilemma. This season, I believe that Herm put his trust in Gunther and ol' Gunny let him down (mind you, I have never been a fan of Gun). I know that some of you will quick to blame Herm for trusting Gun in the first place, and that is fair. However, I will ask you have you ever had a girl/ guy cheat on you when you thought you could trust them? The point is that no matter if Herm made the right decision or not, I believe he made his decision based on trust, and gun let him down. If we had fielded a competent defense, would we had lost as many games as we did? Probably not. However, our HC made a mistake and trusted the wrong guy, resulting in him being on the hot seat for only winning two games in a season.
I am not trying to campaign for Herm to keep his job, nor am I saying that he did a bad job. The point of this article is to say that when it comes to our defense, I do not think it was entirely Herms fault. Yes, he failed to bring in necessary talent to challenge players for their position (hello Pat Thomas), and he also didn't give the defense much of a shot at all at the beginning of the year with the offense we fielded. However, in terms of the defensive state of the Chiefs, I believe it was Gunther, not Herm, who led us to failure as a defensive unit.
So, call for Herms head all you want. Chances are, I'll be with you. Just please make sure that when you are doing this, you have a picture of Gunny up there just as high as Herms head because I strongly believe that he is as responsible for the Chiefs short-comings as Herm Edwards is himself. The only difference between the two is that Herm should get a secoind chance somewhere else, and Gunther should not.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.
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24 comments
Comments
good point
however, this is herm’s second chance
Hello Pioli........ goodbye Herm!!!!
by cx2chad on Jan 15, 2009 9:25 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
It's not President Nixon's fault
…it’s all those that entered the Watergate hotel. He shouldn’t be held accountable although he knew what they were doing. It wasn’t his call in the end although he was the leader and saw what they were going to do and was fully aware of “the plan”.
Sound familiar?
When you don’t hold “the leader” of the team accountable for his subordinates decisions and actions when he/she is fully aware of the situation and can act upon to correct those decisions….that’s a dereliction of duty.
I can argue thus that we don’t need a HC. Let’s just have an Offensive Coach, Defensive Coach and ST coach. Each can do their own thing since it doesn’t impact the other coach’s players while they’re on the bench.
If you as a HC don’t have control then you end up with a Buddy Ryan punching another coach on the sidelines in Houston…or a situation in Oakland where everyone does their own thing.
Bill Parcell’s: "You are what your record says you are."
Thigpen WILL NOT be the Chiefs starting QB next year IMO. He can compete for the job and should be 2nd or 3rd string.
by THE_TRUTH on Jan 15, 2009 9:26 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Resisting the bait
All I’ll say is this: accountability. At some point Herm has to have it for the team’s performance under his watch. As a man, his personality and likeability are great. As a football coach they’re irrelevant.
"Gentlemen, it is better to have died a small boy than to fumble this football"
- John Heisman
by Maddogmag on Jan 15, 2009 9:51 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
I understand your point but...
This is to big of a problem for him not to take the brunt of the blame. Yes they played with young players. Yes they had a lot of injuries. What team doesn’t. They have worked together now for 3 years and Herm brought this style of defense and Gun hd to run it. Gun gets a lot of the blame as well. The point is we sucked so bad that these players need a fresh slate and some need to go.
AFC West Champs in 2009? Mayyybee.
by cmpotter on Jan 15, 2009 9:56 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Can you imagine this conversation
Herm: “Gun, we’re not producing the results we need on D”. “We need to look at our deficiencies and address them ASAP”. “I have some ideas and here they are.”
Gun: “Wait a sec.” “Am I the Defensive Coach?” “If I am, then I’m in charge of the Defensive prep of players, choosing the starters and choosing the plays.” “We’re going to do it my way, because I’m the coach of the Defense.” “You just stand on the sidelines and root and let me worry about the defense.”
Herm: “OK Gun, was just trying to help us be better and perhaps win more games since we’re on a losing streak.” “Guess, you’re right.” “You can make the calls.”
Am I oversimplifying? Sure. But isn’t Gun a direct report to Herm? Isn’t the title HEAD coach meant to infer that the other coaches report directly to him with their thoughts, game plan and actions. Does he have a headset on the sidelines to simply lessen the crowd noise or is it to listen to the play calls and have a direct line to the Offense and Defense to “veto” any calls?
It’s not like we’re blaming him for the ticketing department folks not selling season tickets and hitting their quota….unless they’re a direct report to the HC as well. (sarcasm)
Bill Parcell’s: "You are what your record says you are."
Thigpen WILL NOT be the Chiefs starting QB next year IMO. He can compete for the job and should be 2nd or 3rd string.
by THE_TRUTH on Jan 15, 2009 10:07 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I was under the impression that Carl made the decision to keep Gun around...
and that Herm wasn’t given a choice in the matter… course this is just hearsay from some of the players…
by KCFanatic on Jan 15, 2009 12:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
If that's the case...and I'm not saying it isn't
Gun still reported to Herm since he’s the HC. Gun didn’t report to Carl so Herm has the final say for onfield decisions.
Bill Parcell’s: "You are what your record says you are."
Thigpen WILL NOT be the Chiefs starting QB next year IMO. He can compete for the job and should be 2nd or 3rd string.
by THE_TRUTH on Jan 15, 2009 12:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
by The Truth
We need a future defensive leader, his name is James Laurinaitis and he can be selected in round 1 of the upcoming Draft.
"But what do I know, I’m like an empty room with a large ECHO"
by Lanier63 on Jan 15, 2009 3:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
For THE_TRUTH, so help me God
Bill Parcell’s: "You are what your record says you are."
Thigpen WILL NOT be the Chiefs starting QB next year IMO. He can compete for the job and should be 2nd or 3rd string.
by THE_TRUTH on Jan 15, 2009 5:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Herm chose to keep Gun
He hired his coaches and decided Gun would do a good job when he came in.
AFC West Champs in 2009? Mayyybee.
by cmpotter on Jan 17, 2009 12:09 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
So when Hermie
came into town, blowing his own horn about his strengths as a defensive minded coach and his strong point being defensive minded, he wasn’t going to impinge on the defense at all?
He didn’t come into an already established defense and change that to something he wanted to do as opposed to what the existing DC had already done?
Yes, he did.
Herms fingerprints are all over this sad sack defense.
Not only does Mr Herm “loves me defense” Edwards deserve a truckload of blame for the dismal failure of HIS defense, but the abysmal performance of the entire team.
Herm is the head Coach, it’s time for him to suck it up and realize he is in over his head.
"Hit the road Herm, and don’t ya come back no more, no more, no more, no more… "
Big Bear
by bigbearomaha on Jan 15, 2009 10:38 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Look at Gunther's defenses prior to
coaching with Herm Edwards and afterwards. Gun’s successful defenses were based on blitzing and aggressive play prior to coaching with Herm Edwards. Now in the abysmal Cover Two or Tampa Two (whatever you want to call it), Gun’s defense is anything but aggressive. Gun has never been comfortable running the Cover Two and it shows. Offensive coordinators have worked against the cover two for years and know how to beat it. The problem is Herm’s fascination with the Cover Two. Herm was there at the inception of the Cover Two in Tampa Bay with Tony Dungy. Herm still mistakenly believes this is a front line NFL defense and runs it nearly exclusively. The Cover Two’s time has come and gone and should be sh*tcanned with Herm.
by G.L. on Jan 15, 2009 10:39 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
using your logic
president bush is not at fault for whats happened in iraq…….
by paratrooper on Jan 15, 2009 12:43 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Exactly
We could blame “poor intelligence” like he did in regards to not finding WMD’s, but ultimately he bears the responsibility, doesn’t he?
And before anyone ostracises me for being a Democrat, I’m not. I’m an Independant that voted for him in the first election and against in the second. I call it like I see it.
True leaders take responsibility for their decisions including “correcting” or “not correcting” their subordinates.
Bill Parcell’s: "You are what your record says you are."
Thigpen WILL NOT be the Chiefs starting QB next year IMO. He can compete for the job and should be 2nd or 3rd string.
by THE_TRUTH on Jan 15, 2009 12:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
im a republican
and a veteran of the iraq war… and i feel that bush was wrong in almost all of his judgment calls.. Much in the same way Herm has been wrong with his calls on the field.
by paratrooper on Jan 15, 2009 12:53 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Thanks for serving!
Bill Parcell’s: "You are what your record says you are."
Thigpen WILL NOT be the Chiefs starting QB next year IMO. He can compete for the job and should be 2nd or 3rd string.
by THE_TRUTH on Jan 15, 2009 1:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
How bout the fact that herm drafted
our entire defensive line…Yeah and no I didn’t even bother to read your arguement at all because this fact that I just presented can’t be argued at all..Herm drafted and taught this defensive line..
Take care
by CALIFAN1986 on Jan 15, 2009 1:04 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
My question is
How can Herm NOT be blamed for our defensive play…Geez we let him off the hook for the offense and got a new coordinator and now it’s the defense…Herm drafted all of the guys on the line and is teaching them..He is also teaching Dorsey and look at how well that has gone…..
You probably don’t believe herm is at fault either for our play the last two season..How about investing time and resources into Brodie Croyle..haha Herm doesn’t deserve another year
by CALIFAN1986 on Jan 15, 2009 1:07 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
We have numerous players on both offense
and defense who have underachieved. At whose door might we lay the blame? Perhaps Herman Edwards? With a real coach some of these players could develop into great players. Who has excelled/advanced on the team who has talent? DBowe started out well last year and went downhill this year. Coaching? Tamba H. has declined over the past three years. Coaching? The defensive backfield has played relatively well. That was where Herm Edwards played when he was a player. Coaching? Herm Edwards would make a great defensive backs coach at the pro level or perhaps a head coach at the college level. He may even be a great coach at the college level. I have no malice towards Herm and hope he succeeds with something somewhere else. But, the man has no business being a head coach in the NFL.
by G.L. on Jan 15, 2009 2:06 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
The blame
falls on the players…. at least that is what ive been force fed all year. oh and no problem truth.. just keep paying ur taxes so i can keep going to college!
by paratrooper on Jan 15, 2009 3:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I can excuse
some of the losses due to the inexperience and youthfulness of the team, but I believe one of the most important jobs of a head coach is clock management at the end of the game. For the most part the coordinators should be allowed to do their jobs, of course with input from the HC. However, the complete inability of Herm to manage the end of nearly every game this season is inexcusable and that alone is reason enough to fire him. For a coach that has been around for as many seasons as Herm has, to be as bad at the most crucial point in a game (especially for a young team) as he is is not allowable.
by JComp11 on Jan 15, 2009 4:15 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
If Marty can be fired after a 14-2 season
then you can bet your sweet ass we can blame herm for our terrible defense
by CALIFAN1986 on Jan 15, 2009 5:04 PM CST reply actions 0 recs





















