anaeelbackwards
10-31-2007, 02:54 PM
Coach: Chiefs haven't necessarily caught a scheduling break
By DOUG TUCKER
AP Sports Writer
Oct 31, 2007 - 08:51:47 CDT
Related Media
Chiefs Schedule (http://dailyjournal.stats.com/fb/teamstats.asp?yr=2007&tm=12&submit=Go&type=schedules)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Coming off a bye week and playing a team that played at Denver just six days earlier, the Kansas City Chiefs might seem like they have caught a scheduling break.
Not necessarily, Kansas City coach Herm Edwards said Tuesday. He remembers having a road game following a Monday night road game when he was with the New York Jets and says it was no problem.
Besides, he added, the Green Bay Packers come into Kansas City 6-1 after an uplifting overtime victory at Denver on Monday night that infused them with confidence and momentum.
“When you start winning like that, you can’t wait to start playing again,” Edwards said. “It’s a feeling you know as a coach. When you get that feeling in your locker room with your players, it’s fun coaching then. It’s always fun coaching, but it’s a lot easier then. The players run the deal. ‘Hey, we’re going good. We’re humming. We got the stick in our hands.”’
Edwards said the way Green Bay has been playing, there’s little chance the Packers will be weary when they kick off at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, with the Chiefs (4-3) trying to make it six straight over them dating back to a 21-3 victory in Kansas City on Nov. 22, 1987.
“It sounds like they’re tired. But they’re 6-1,” he said. “What are they going to be tired about? Winning? They’ve been winning. They aren’t going to be tired. I promise you that.”
While players and coaches alike were taking the weekend off, Edwards holed up in the film room at Arrowhead and studied every play the Chiefs have run in their first seven games. He said he saw both good and bad that he hadn’t noticed before.
“There are some guys you expect more out of, and you wonder why they’re not playing up to their ability,” he said. “Then you have to ask, are you asking this guy to do something that he’s not capable of doing? That’s the whole key. I always put it back on coaches. You always put it back on the coach: This guy is underachieving. Why? If you’re asking them to do something he can’t do you have to eliminate that.”
He also acknowledged there were position groups that have not been performing as well as expected. Again, he refused to be specific.
“Some guys you’re pleasantly surprised; some guys you’re a little bit disappointed in because of the fact you know they can play better,” he said. “How can you help them play better? That’s the whole key.”
Meanwhile, Kansas City signed linebacker Pat Thomas to the 53-man roster on Tuesday and added guard Rob Smith to the practice squad. Thomas was originally a sixth-round draft pick of Jacksonville in 2005. He saw spot duty with the Jaguars before being released on Oct. 26. Smith entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with the Cleveland Browns. He started one game in 2006 and was released before the start of this season.
By DOUG TUCKER
AP Sports Writer
Oct 31, 2007 - 08:51:47 CDT
Related Media
Chiefs Schedule (http://dailyjournal.stats.com/fb/teamstats.asp?yr=2007&tm=12&submit=Go&type=schedules)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Coming off a bye week and playing a team that played at Denver just six days earlier, the Kansas City Chiefs might seem like they have caught a scheduling break.
Not necessarily, Kansas City coach Herm Edwards said Tuesday. He remembers having a road game following a Monday night road game when he was with the New York Jets and says it was no problem.
Besides, he added, the Green Bay Packers come into Kansas City 6-1 after an uplifting overtime victory at Denver on Monday night that infused them with confidence and momentum.
“When you start winning like that, you can’t wait to start playing again,” Edwards said. “It’s a feeling you know as a coach. When you get that feeling in your locker room with your players, it’s fun coaching then. It’s always fun coaching, but it’s a lot easier then. The players run the deal. ‘Hey, we’re going good. We’re humming. We got the stick in our hands.”’
Edwards said the way Green Bay has been playing, there’s little chance the Packers will be weary when they kick off at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, with the Chiefs (4-3) trying to make it six straight over them dating back to a 21-3 victory in Kansas City on Nov. 22, 1987.
“It sounds like they’re tired. But they’re 6-1,” he said. “What are they going to be tired about? Winning? They’ve been winning. They aren’t going to be tired. I promise you that.”
While players and coaches alike were taking the weekend off, Edwards holed up in the film room at Arrowhead and studied every play the Chiefs have run in their first seven games. He said he saw both good and bad that he hadn’t noticed before.
“There are some guys you expect more out of, and you wonder why they’re not playing up to their ability,” he said. “Then you have to ask, are you asking this guy to do something that he’s not capable of doing? That’s the whole key. I always put it back on coaches. You always put it back on the coach: This guy is underachieving. Why? If you’re asking them to do something he can’t do you have to eliminate that.”
He also acknowledged there were position groups that have not been performing as well as expected. Again, he refused to be specific.
“Some guys you’re pleasantly surprised; some guys you’re a little bit disappointed in because of the fact you know they can play better,” he said. “How can you help them play better? That’s the whole key.”
Meanwhile, Kansas City signed linebacker Pat Thomas to the 53-man roster on Tuesday and added guard Rob Smith to the practice squad. Thomas was originally a sixth-round draft pick of Jacksonville in 2005. He saw spot duty with the Jaguars before being released on Oct. 26. Smith entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with the Cleveland Browns. He started one game in 2006 and was released before the start of this season.