CHICAGO | That’s how you get fired. That’s how you lose credibility in your locker room, with your fan base, with members of the media and the man who signs your check.
You throw a fade to Samie Parker, your smallest receiver, on third and 1 deep inside Bears territory late in the fourth quarter when Rex Grossman is desperately trying to let you back in the game.
In that situation, given your running back, a pass play is indefensible, a floater to Parker is a fireable offense, and the subsequent interception is exactly what you deserve.
Chiefs fans have every right to jump ship on head coach Herm Edwards, offensive coordinator Mike Solari and offensive manipulator/assistant head coach/locker-room snitch/clock manager Dick Curl.
Sunday’s 20-10 loss to the Bears was an offensive coaching nightmare.
“We’re playing like a bad team right now, especially on offense,” surmised guard Brian Waters.
It’s bigger than one play, but the fourth-quarter throw to Parker was a doozy.
Edwards said the play was designed to go to tight end Tony Gonzalez and that Parker was the third option. Quarterback Damon Huard said he threw to Parker because the defensive alignment — man-to-man on Parker with a safety in the middle of the field — pretty much dictated a throw to Kansas City’s 5-foot-9, 180-pound receiver.
I say: So what?
Why was a pass play called? Did anyone consider the Bears might’ve run that scheme in hopes of baiting the Chiefs into throwing the ball to Parker? It worked in the Bears’ favor in the first quarter when Huard tried to hit Parker deep on third and 2 at the Chicago 42.
“We were trying to make a play,” Huard said.
Why not try and make one with your $45 million running back/rapper, Larry Johnson? Didn’t the Chiefs give him all that money to make plays on third and short? If you’re going to throw a fade, why not put Dwayne Bowe and/or Jeff Webb in Parker’s slot? Bowe and Webb are both 6-2 and over 200 pounds.
Next week look for the Chiefs to run toss sweeps with Jason Dunn. The Vikings will never see that coming.
Poorly coached teams try too hard to be “unpredictable.” It doesn’t happen naturally, and the teams wind up looking completely foolish. Kansas City’s offensive game plan was high school-ish.
Yes, in order to beat the Bears, you have to occasionally throw when they’re expecting run and run when they’re expecting pass. But the Chiefs threw on third and short three times and they ran on third and long too many times to count.
Edwards, Solari and Curl owe their players an apology. I can’t find fault with the effort of any of Kansas City’s players with the exception of return man/punt-coverage gunner Eddie Drummond, who got destroyed on Devin Hester’s TD return. Drummond is 0-2 (a fumble in the season opener) and should be released this week.
I don’t have a problem with Huard. There’s going to be a quarterback controversy this week because Brodie Croyle came in at mop-up time and completed four passes, including a 34-yarder. No quarterback can fix this offensive coaching mess.
I certainly don’t have a problem with Kansas City’s defensive players. They did exactly what they were supposed to do. Donnie Edwards and Napoleon Harris intercepted Rex Grossman. Bernard Pollard ripped the ball from the arms of a Chicago receiver. The Bears sustained one drive.
The Chiefs are 0-2 and a laughingstock because their offense stinks. The knock on Herm Edwards is that he can’t put together a sound offensive team. It’s the same knock that chased his mentor Tony Dungy out of Tampa Bay and into the loving arms of Peyton Manning and Indy offensive coordinator Tom Moore. It’s the same knock that is dogging Lovie Smith, another Cover 2 defensive coach who can’t produce an offense.
Do the Chiefs have a Peyton Manning to save Herm? Are the Chiefs moving to the horrid NFC anytime soon?
Herm better find an offensive clue soon or he’s going to get swept out of town by the same hurricane that’s coming for King Carl Peterson. __________________
Jason Whitlocks and my theme for 2007:
he does make a good point. now i feel like i need a shower for agreeing with him.
Bookmarks