Not
your father's Chiefs
9/6/2001
by CK Rairden
Landmark columnist
These aren’t your father’s Kansas
City Chiefs.
-Gone is the Marty/Gunther smash-mouth conservative
game plan.
-Gone is the slow-witted lock on the same
receiver QB.
-Gone is the fullback turned running back—turned
running back-by-committee.
-Gone is offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye’s run,
run, play action pass and punt, non-ball control offense.
-Gone is defensive coordinator Kurt Schottenheimer‘s
bend-and- break defense.
Meet the new Chiefs.
• • •
Enter head coach Dick Vermeil. Vermeil is an old school
coach who has evolved and learned to coach in today’s
NFL environment. Vermeil took on the head coaching job
of the Chiefs without closely examining the Chiefs situation
in reference to the NFL salary cap. Once he learned of
the awful cap situation Vermeil didn’t cry (well
at least publicly). He just helped the team organize and
bring in who they could with the available cap funds.
The Chiefs had no legitimate QB and no top-flight running
back when Vermeil arrived in town. He contributed to the
off-season moves that the Chiefs made in personnel and
has surrounded himself with quality coaches.
Changes you will notice on game day—
Vermeil will facilitate duties to his staff. A game plan
will be in place for game day.
• • •
Enter QB Trent Green. Green is an accurate QB who understands
the offense that the Chiefs will employ. He came to the
Chiefs with a surgically repaired knee and questions surrounding
his health and his abilities. His knee has held up so
far, and he began immediately taking on a leadership role.
He had a good camp and pre-season and has adjusted well
to the personnel in this offensive scheme. He continues
to attempt to make the 2001 Chiefs his team. Questions
will continue to surround his durability, but not his
leadership.
Changes you will notice on game day—
A more accurate QB. A QB who uses multiple receivers.
A leader under center.
• • •
Enter RB Priest Holmes. A RB who has always produced,
but has been given few opportunities. With a career average
of 4.6 yards per carry, and the ability to make catches
and plays out of the backfield, Holmes is a nice fit for
this offense. He’s never had a good opportunity,
but if he can block well and pick up the blitz, his opportunity
is now.
• • •
Changes you will notice on game day—
A running back, not a converted fullback. The ability
to hit a hole quickly with a burst. Enough speed and vision
to score from anywhere on the field.
• • •
Enter offensive coordinator Al Saunders. Saunders spent
the last two seasons coaching the St. Louis Rams’
receivers and learning that offensive system. Saunders
has already proven that he can make adjustments to his
offense. He has begun by tweaking the system to fit the
personnel. A concept not seen in KC for some time.
Changes you will notice on game day—
Multiple offensive sets. An unpredictable offense that
can adjust on the fly to game situations. An offense that
controls the ball.
• • •
Enter defensive coordinator Greg Robinson. Robinson was
the leader of the Broncos defense for the last five seasons
and brings a gambling in your face style defense to Arrowhead.
He likes to blitz at times that are not predictable and
use a variation of defensive sets.
Changes you will notice on game day—
Defensive players put in position to make
plays. Defensive players put in position to make mistakes.
A chance for the defense to create turnovers.
• • •
The changes being implemented will take time. There will
be obvious growing pains that will show up on the field.
But for those who grew tired of the Chiefs beating their
collective heads against the wall with the old system,
it’s a welcome change.
|
