KC Football Sound Off

This post comes from Bodhisatva. It is well thought out and holds out a ray of optimism, which is sorely needed for this team. Already, Herm is saying the problem with these drafted players is that they are "young", which sound like a built in excuse for poor performance, but for now ... let's think about the possible upside.

Okay, after reviewing everything, here are my comments on the draft as a whole:

1) Our first two rounds could not have gone better. We got Dorsey, who is potentially the best defensive player in the draft. Our doctors cleared his leg fracture, so let us hope they are correct.

2) Branden Albert is a great pick at 15. There was not much left talent wise at OT, and we really wanted Albert anyway. I think from a character and work ethic stand point, he was a really solid pick. He's quick, especially given his size.

3) You say Flowers is a second tier player, however many analysts had him as the best CB in the draft. His physical nature and size make him an amazing pick for a cover two defense.

4) Now, I will say I was quite disappointed that we picked up a RB instead of an OT, C, DE or WR in the third round, and fully believe we could have waited on the TE until a later round, HOWEVER, after reviewing what was left at DE, OT and WR, and seeing the quality receivers we picked up later in the draft, the only disappointment I have is that we didn't grab John Sullivan C. Jamaal Charles is a home run type RB, and we did need a third RB. Given our recent track record of RB selections, and what I've read on this guy, I really like that pick now.

5) I can definetely agree that not taking a kicker in the later rounds could turn out to be a horrible move. Let's hope they have an eye on someone in free agency.

Overall, we helped ourselves a TON in this draft. We grabbed two explosive return men. We got a RB that could eventually be the next coming of Priest Holmes. We have some quality receivers to place opposite Bowe. We really strengthened our O line, though we could have used one more pick, the talent pool was really weak at G and C before the draft even started. I do NOT like that we took two TEs, one receiver type and one blocking type, however they are planning for TGs eventual retirement and replacing Jason Dunn. We really did get some nice WR steals late in the draft that made things look a lot better. If we can pick up a DE, G, OT and CB in free agency, we will be looking great. Do I agree that we didn't fill all of our holes? Most definetely. Do I believe we did the best with what remained in the draft? Yes, as much as it pains me to admit. I think Carl and Herm actually did an excellent job in the draft as a whole.

It's been awhile since the last post on the blog page. Still here and still dedicated, just new year, etc.

Read today's article in the Star's site:Star Article: Hunt-Herm

Although owner's opinions change over time so there may yet be hope, it appears that Hunt is backing Herm for the foreseeable future. Any hope that Herm would feel the need to coach like a man whose job is on the line, however, has been dashed. During Hunt's silence, it was possible to dream that his silence was a loud non-endorsement of Herm and that it may motivate Herm to change his losing ways. No more hoping; no more dreaming. Hunt is apparently ready for his central role in what will no doubt prove to be an extended nightmare of Herm as the head coach.

Any hope that Hunt would at least control, if not fire, Carl and Herm are out the door and with it the dream that fans will see their beloved team in the Big One anytime soon. Hunt's poor decision making earns him the spot in Herm's tolerance box.

Seriously, it appears that true fans will have to continue the financial boycott of the team - games, Arrowhead and their merchandise - to really get Hunt's attention. Even if he does not understand football, he must surely understand the almighty dollar.

It appears that fans are in for a long, hard slog through what appears will be a long reign of Horrible Herm.

This post is from Mattschiefs. It was selected because it recaps what seem to be criticisms commonly levied by fans. It's nice to be reminded that fans care even though the season is over for this year.

I did one of these posts with Herm I will now do one with Carl. This is an outline of why Carl Peterson has to go; Clark Hunt should get rid of him right away.

1st – Carl has been given plenty of time to deliver a super bowl to KC and has failed time and time again. One thing that any Carl supporter cannot say is that he has not been given time to win.

2nd – In a time when the O-line was starting to get older, a good 3-4 years ago while they were still playing well, Carl did nothing to prepare younger players as replacements. Football is simple – when a good group of players starts getting up there in age the team must develop players for the future. This is another part of the job that Carl has failed.

3rd – Carl has not done a good job of keeping talent that should be kept. There are plenty of players in the NFL that have been in the Chiefs camp that Carl should have done more to keep or that Carl traded for very little in return. Let me show you that just this year it has been done as it has been done many times before. First Dante Hall traded for a 5th round pick. Then Trent Green traded again for a 5th round pick. They even said that they were not conformable trading Trent for that low but well Carl caved and did anyway. One thing that is simple - if you have a player under contract you should keep that player, unless you are getting a good enough offer.

4th – There have been plenty of cases in which Carl has caused problems with players. Just go to youtube and you can hear “LJ’s Rap”. Even Tony G, who I think has always been a team-first guy, held out a few years ago. This again goes to point 3, that Carl does not know how to keep talent or how to keep them happy.

5th – This season. Carl has said that a bad coach’s job is safe, even as the losses piled up. Carl should be alerted that when a coach has a history of losing that it becomes a pattern. Carl should have fired Herm the second the season ended. Carl should learn that CHIEF FANS WILL NOT ACCEPT FAILURE. CLARK HUNT PLEASE, FIRE CARL PETERSON. He has had his chance and failed its time for a change.

-- Mattschiefs

It feels like the wind is being sucked out of Chiefs’ Planet sails … Fans’ anger and passion can only be sustained for so long before turning to apathy. Ironically, fans not caring about the team is worse for the club’s owners’ than fans being angry – because they will just tune out completely. Once lost, fans may not return. The empty, quiet seats at Arrowhead against the Titans speak loudly.

Those fans, like the ones on this site who remain interested, need to make sure that fans can be classified in only two categories: apathetic or dedicated. Even though it gets more difficult to care about Herm’s shortcomings, this site will not relent – when all is quiet, during the off-season, the draft – this site will ceaselessly fly it’s flag the same direction. FIRE Herm (and Peterson and Solari). So, in keeping with tradition, here’s why Herm belongs in his “tolerance box” after the Titans’ game.

1. Bringing back Drummond (in fact bringing in Drummond in the first place); 2. Fielding a poorly prepared team (for proof see, loads of penalties, missed tackles, and numbers 3 to the end in this section); 3. Inability to make half-time adjustments (in fact opening the second half with the ball and moving away from what was working in the first half and going 3 & out); 4. Calling the lateral out-pass for 2 yards more than once; 5. Failing to use success in the passing game to open up the running game more (bring balance); 6. Apparent lack of practice focusing on the passing game (Herm built the team around LJ and the run and now that LJ is gone practice should focus on routes and throwing and catching – all of which looked rusty), and; 7. Blowing out your promising defense by keeping them on the field too long with poor game planning.

Apathy abounds, but not here… Although “real life” gets in the way of posting sometimes, this site will remain a beacon to anyone awash in apathy. Keep finding your way back here.

This week's post was written by the venerable Snacks, who has many entertaining posts on the forum page. This particular post was selected for this week's fan post for more than it's entertaining point of view, because it identified structural reasons, rule changes and the the League's orientation towards more offensive action, as a reason why Herm-ball is outmoded. It makes sense, if the rules change, the coaching and philosophy must change - or continue to lose. Enjoy,

"Hi everybody, let old snacks, sum up the problem, all the while keepin' it real for y'all.

I don't understand (and by I, I mean everyone ) why the peeps in the local media are exclaiming that Herm's system is the right system, and that we are not smart enough to understand NFL football, and we are spoiled brats, who don't understand rebuilding. Well sir, the problem I have is, I don't buy into Herm's system, I think it is somewhat south of retarded. For the last 7 years, the NFL has been expanding the rules to integrate more offense and more scoring into the NFL. Has anyone noticed the number of yellow flags being thrown by the refs for anyone sniffing around the quarterback's jock strap?? The quarterback is better protected than G.W. Also, the number of pass interference calls, the number of face guarding calls, the contracted zone for hitting receivers before allowing them to release, defensive holding, ah hello, they now kick from the 30 yard line ... I could go on and on and on. Bottom line, 90% of new rules in the NFL are meant to expand offenses.

Herm, come over here, let me whisper something in your ear.... HELLOOO, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?... HAVE YOU BEEN IN A COMA?... THE NFL HAS CHANGED, IT HAS EVOLVED!!! THE NEW RULES MEAN, GOD FORBID, YOU HAVE TO SCORE MORE THAN 21 POINTS TO WIN!!! IT'S BUILT THAT WAY NOW, IT'S CALLED ENTERTAINMENT!!!!!!!

Even our good friend Marty, has realized this... this is the guy who invented the vanilla flavored offense with top 5 defense... Herm could not hold Marty's jock strap playing Martyball... and even Marty has stopped playing Marty ball. He realized that you have to emphasize the offense, and that is how he went 14 and 2 (and then granted, ran smack dab into the buzz saw of the offensive grand master, one, William Bellichick). Martyball is antiquated and out of date, and only produces a way to stumble into the playoffs every four years, only to receive a smack down by the playa haters, makin' it rain all around you, with a consummate offensive tsunami.

Now, my problem is, and why I have yanked out patches of hair contemplating this issue, why doesn’t anybody in the radio media understand this??? Now granted, these radio talking heads are the kind of morons that fake farts, and the art of the prank call is their ultimate outlet of comedy...but come on. Herm has a record compiled with the Jets, and it was a LOSER!!!! HE LEFT THE TEAM 4 AND 12, PLAYING HERMIE BALL!!! I just don't understand why these radio whack-bones think this guy's system is something special.... it's sub .500 ball backing into first round playoff losses. How can you ever say he can take a team to the Super Bowl, HE HAS NEVER SHOWN HE CAN!!! Also, his record playing Hermie ball is a loser, and this is not isolated over a season or two, it's seven seasons now.... the only way we get a Super Bowl trophy, is if they change it to the most mediocre team -- which they won't (or they might, how would I know ).

Now enough about Hermie Ball, it's a loser, it's outdated, and is painful to stomach. My suggestion, let's give the reins of this S.O.B. to one Josh McDaniel (3 Supa Bo'l rings, playa!) offensive coordinator of the globetrotting New England Patriot's, let's find an assistant g.m. sitting around Dallas, New England, Indy, with some sort of football playa analysis talent.. get his ass in here as our new g.m., and start a real yout' moo'ment. Gunther can keep his job, however, he's in the tolerance box after the Bronco's debacle.

Seacrest OUT!"

-- Snacks

Not to say, “told you so”, but told you so… If you note the date and time of the last post titled, “Herm to fans: “Get over it!”, you will see that it was posted at about 9:15 at night on 12/11/07. That’s the night before the 12/12/07 morning sports shows or the KCCHIEFS.com articles of Gretz and Dawes or the KC Star’s treatment of Herm’s press conference. It’s not like the blog got a “scoop” or anything, because the press conference was for the world to see. The point is not that the blog was first on the gaffe, but based upon fan’s reactions on 12/12/07 on the sports shows on other blog sites and forum posts on the Star, this blog accurately gauged what a monumental error Herm made with the fans. That phrase will likely haunt Herm for his entire tenure with the Chiefs, no matter how long or short that may end up being.

The fan reaction was almost universally angry toward Herm for that comment. It appears that even fans who had remained open to a wait-and-see approach to Herm have been alienated by his press conference. When Herm’s obit with the Chiefs is written (when he is terminated) surely this moment will be recorded as the tipping point in his career here. It seems now that, even if Herm can morph into a winner, fans would not want him to stick around. At this point, it seems a safe bet that no matter what Herm does with the team, fans will never like, trust, or accept him in KC. This is likely one of what will hopefully be the final nails in Herm’s coffin here in KC. In fact, it is probably in Herm’s own interest for him to not wait until he is fired and just resign. Maybe another team would pick him up still, but the lower he sinks in KC, the bleaker his future is as a head coach for any team in this league.

Despite the howl from KC fans, and some commentators, the Herm & Co. PR machine was taken off the leash to defend Herm’s inane and self-destructive press conference. A sampling of the commentaries reveals who is a Herm apologist and who has some semblance of journalistic integrity. Not surprising, Gretz and Dawes defended Herm and furthered the attack on the fan base. Gretz essentially wrote (paraphrased) echoing Herm (while acknowledging that fans won’t like Herm’s “Get over it” comment): “Join the club, everyone has a losing season. That’s what Herm said, you may not like it, but it’s true – so get over it.” Dawes went further by using callers’ comments as a foil for Herm’s defenses. Dawes essentially said, look at what happens to fools, like Mike Martz, whose teams pass in the red-zone, citing the Lions’ loss to the Cowboys as proof that running the ball and out the clock is the smart way to play the game. This ridiculous view ignores the fact that it was unlikely that the Lions’ could have run out nearly 11 minutes off of the clock, or that the game ended not with the passing game but a missed field goal. Defective evidence Carl – oops, Dawes. That also totally ignores the success of teams who can pass, e.g. Green Bay, Pats, Colts, ‘Boys. The slap at Martz is totally unwarranted when the Lions’ offensive production before Martz is compared to their offense after Martz. Check it out - the improvement with Martz on offense is undeniable. Link to yearly stats is here: NFL Team Stats. Dawes ended his post with the harshest rebuke of fans calling them vulgar, brutish, even mutants. Weir essentially cast fan’s reaction as grotesque hyperbole, referencing a fan’s comparison of the Chiefs’ season to the killing of children. If anything, right or wrong, this illustrates the same point made here – KC fans have paid for this team with taxes, bonds, sold out crowds, overpriced tickets and parking and take their team to heart. This is more than a game here; this town feels a sense of ownership – like they have a stake in this operation. They don’t get dividends, or million dollar salaries in return, nor do they expect that. Instead, fans expect a good product and an excellent organization of which they can be proud. The Herm apologists’ positions seem to be totally at odds with the rest of Chiefs Planet’s reaction. It’s simply not credible and won’t save Herm from himself with the fans.

It is not surprising that these writers, whose job – in some part – is to defend Carl Peterson, Herm Edwards, et al., sounded this note, but the Star’s coverage was not much better. In fact, Kent Babb’s headline, “Edwards, Peterson take blame for Chiefs [sic] woes” was down right misleading as it attempted to cast Herm’s comments as accepting accountability. Anyone watching the press conference or reading the full commentary realizes that Herm’s acceptance of blame was not genuine. It was like the classic non-apology, “IF you took offense at my comments, THEN I am sorry.” Herm said, IF you need to blame someone (which is what our sicko society does, even though it should not), THEN blame me. Bob Lutz, on the other hand, perceived the magnitude of the misstep with perceptive reporting. The link to that page is: Lutz's Story. USA Today commented generally on the debacle this season is and hinted that Edwards was lacking. That link is here: USA Today. As far as the official mouthpieces for Herm & Co., Rand, who queried, “How Long Is Long Enough”, posted the closest thing to a criticism. The post was slightly apologetic in that it argued that the 3rd year was the charm for even the great coaches and concluding, therefore, next year will be the critical year for Herm. That’s close, but still misses the mark.

For Herm & Co., it’s just too late, too little for most fans. The arrogance, the incompetence and the clever way of calling fans who don’t show up to the game “fair weathered fans” represent repeated slaps to the faces of the fans who have opened their wallets and hearts for years for this team. This is not New York. There is no divided loyalty between multiple teams here like in NY. There will be no reprieve in KC for this kind of coaching and behavior. The message in KC is becoming deafening: Fire Herm, Fire Solari, Fire Carl. Some still argue, what next? How can these guys be fired, because who can replace them? Simply put, almost anyone can do better … And, even if that’s not the case, at least this town may get a coach and an organization that it can get behind, win, lose or draw.

The rap on Herm Edwards is that he is always civil; never the kind of coach seen cursing or screaming on the sidelines. Until now that appeared to be the case for his time in KC, even though that has not been tested to any real degree by the local media or fans. Herm shattered that conventional view of him in his press conference today when talking about placing blame on the head coach for the team’s abysmal, losing season. Sounding desperate and agitated Herm said:

“What we’re worrying about now is we’re trying to figure out who to blame. There’s no blame. Teams go through this. That’s football. That’s the National Football League. It hasn’t been here. It hasn’t knocked on this door. It knocked on the door when Coach Vermeil was here his first year and he was 6-10. It hasn’t knocked on the door since then. It’s kind of scurried away and gone other places.
“This team that’s coming in here now, this Tennessee Titans team? They went to the Super Bowl and you know what they did after that? They went about five-and-whatever and four-and-12 and last year they went 8-8. It happened to them; it happened to Green Bay. It’s happened to a bunch of teams we play.
“People aren’t used to this in Kansas City. Get over it. It happens. It’s called life. You can’t think you’re too big that it’s not going to happen to you. It happens to everybody."

So long for the civility. KC is known for many things, like barbeque or the plaza. Tolerant football fans, however, is not chief among KC’s qualities. In fact, KC parted with, for better or worse, one of the winningest coaches in history in Marty Schottenheimer (never the Big One, though, and this is not an endorsement by this blog), allowed the nearly uniformly loved Gunther Cunningham only two seasons as head coach and did not work to retain one of the winningest coaches in history who took separate teams to the Big Dance, winning once, and later built the league’s best offense for years in KC in Dick Vermeil. Herm does not understand KC football fans.

Setting aside the questions about Herm as a head coach for a moment, Herm has made a monumental mistake with his approach to KC fans. Despite shedding winning and loved coaches, KC fans have been long suffering. The perennial, but losing, playoff appearances under Schottenheimer did not deplete Arrowhead seats nor were there risks of TV blackouts under Vermeil. So, though not tolerant of losing, KC fans have been patient with coaches, in part because these guys suffered right along with us and left nothing on the field. Herm does not provide fans the comfort of knowing that he is staying at the job six nights a week, that he is not waiting until next year to fix anything, that he is adapting every week to win or that he is getting the most out of his players – either by fear, a la Schottenheimer, or by love, a la Vermeil. Instead, it seems as if Herm talks the talk, but does not walk the proverbial walk as head coach. Instead, Herm says to fans it’s just a season, we lose, that’s life, get over it and try to fix it next year.

That’s right, in addition to telling fans to just get over it, Herm said:

“Now the good thing about it is we’ve got a plan to fix it. And, you can’t fix it until it’s done. We’ve got to play and try to win a game this weekend. That’s the most important thing and what we’re going to try and do.”

Would Lombardi, Stramm, Walsh, Ditka, Shula, Madden, Parcells, Johnson, Holmgren, Vermeil, Belicheck, ever, ever say something like that? No way. Anything other than correcting course immediately would have been unacceptable to these coaches. Fans sense that Herm lacks the killer instinct. Maybe Herm still has a player’s mentality about losing that has to creep into a player’s mind when he has experienced losing, and all players lose sometime, i.e. you lose some you win some, just go play. If a player did not have that attitude to some degree, he may not be able to cope with the inevitable losses. Coaches who have never been players have not had to develop such coping skills, because unlike a single player who can only hope to play his position perfectly coaches can always demand more of players and fire staff and do something beyond their immediate skill set to improve the team. Or, not. That’s just speculation. But, whatever the reason, great coaches simply do not accept the status quo – even when their team is winning really. That’s what Herm is doing here and telling fans to be quiet and get over it as well.

It’s sickening. It explains so much about the team this season. What player would put his body on the line every game for this guy? It’s sad. At one point, Herm attempted to shoulder the blame saying:

“Blame me. OK. If you want to blame somebody blame the head coach. It’s on me. I’m the coach so it’s on me. So you don’t have to blame any more players, or have to blame people in the organization. You can blame the head coach. That’s where it starts and that’s where it ends. I’m OK with that. I’m a big boy. I’ve been in the league a long time and I know how it works. So, if you want to blame somebody blame the head coach.”

In the context of his other statements, Herm’s acceptance rings hollow and smacks of false sincerity. In fact, watching Herm live, he did not present as a vision of contrition and responsibility coupled with an earnest and burning desire to identify and correct problems (Herm mentioned that it did not matter what went wrong, just fix it – but how can you fix it until you diagnose what went wrong?). Maybe a contrite, fully accountable and zealous demeanor would have been enough for fans at some point, but this slide has gone ridiculously too far. At this point, maybe Herm just has seen the light – that it no longer matters what he says because nobody has confidence or trust or respect in him as a head coach any longer.

This post started out much differently before Herm’s last press conference. Originally, it was going to outline a series that will be set out here over the next few weeks dedicated to offering solid reasoning and facts in support of the case for firing Herm. So not to lose the point, check back here for future installments that will track the following outline.

THE ISSUES:

What is the problem? Losing games. Who is ultimately accountable and, in the large picture, responsible for this? The head coach is the target (If Herm was being sincere in his invitation to blame him, then who can argue?). If this is true, then the questions turn to what are the nature of the problems with the coaching and whether changing coaches is likely to solve the problems. Those problems, like what’s wrong with the offense, what personnel are problems, etc., will be the focus of this series. These general topics will be taken up based on the common problems and defenses raised by Herm and/or his supporters. In outline form these are:

Dick Vermeil Could Not Draft:
Herm Inherited Dick Vermeil’s “Old Timers” Who Now Stink:
We Need A Good Draft:
Youth Movement:
Running/Ball Control Is Key:
Defense Is Key:

The first installment, which is almost complete and should be posted this week, will present a detailed analysis of the profile of a Herm Edwards’ team versus known Super Bowl Champion teams. The point will be to try and get an understanding of what a modern Championship team looks like and demonstrate how Herm’s vision for his teams is archaic. Interestingly, in fact, Herm’s Chiefs’ statistical profile is similar to his professed ideal. That raises the questions that will be addressed: Is Herm ball dead on arrival and, if so, how can he remain head coach?

Until the case is set out thoroughly and in a compelling manner the arguments that are floating around about Herm will just go on endlessly. The goal here will be to overwhelm the record with irresistible evidence that Herm’s vision, approach and results on the field are consistent with this season's results, are outmoded and ineffective.

Each week a fan's post (assuming this works out) will be featured here, on the blog page. The idea is to showcase fan's writings and thoughts on the team. Hopefully, the post will offer an interesting view of things from the fan's perspective - instead of the spin of commercial media, talking heads, pundits or P.R. machines. The post's author will be given the by-line (unless otherwise requested). This first post is from Bodhisatva and was selected because it looks past the initial call for Herm & Co. to go and tries to answer, "what or who next?" and offers an idea for a solution. Remember, the post reflects the views, opinions and data of the original author, not the blog itself. If you don't agree with the post, then there is room for further discussion. In fact, that's the idea, so enjoy.

"I do have to say, I have seen an awful lot of unwarranted Marty hate on these forums. Yes, Marty never won us a Super Bowl. However, Marty built a team and a dynasty no matter how you look at it. Over his tenure as Chiefs head coach, we achieved the longest sold out streak of any stadium during the 90's. Further more, we had the winningest team in the NFL during that same decade. Seven out of ten years as our head coach he got us to the playoffs. What was our worst season under his tenure? 7 - 9? He also got us three division titles and got us to one AFC championship game. I know a hell of a lot of teams that would have killed to have that kind of decade. I can fully agree with the criticisms on the way Herm is handling this team, but in all honesty, no matter what you think of Marty, the man did a great deal for this organization. I'll take a coach whose tactics I disagree with that makes things happen over a coach that I disagree with and sucks the life out of the team any day.

From Wikipedia:
KC 1989 8 7 1 .533 2nd in AFC West - - - -
KC 1990 11 5 0 .688 2nd in AFC West 0 1 .000 Lost to Miami Dolphins in Wild Card Round.
KC 1991 10 6 0 .625 2nd in AFC West 1 1 .500 Lost to Buffalo Bills in Divisional Round.
KC 1992 10 6 0 .625 2nd in AFC West 0 1 .000 Lost to San Diego Chargers in Wild Card Round.
KC 1993 11 5 0 .688 1st in AFC West 2 1 .667 Lost to Buffalo Bills in AFC Championship.
KC 1994 9 7 0 .563 2nd in AFC West 0 1 .000 Lost to Miami Dolphins in Wild Card Round.
KC 1995 13 3 0 .813 1st in AFC West 0 1 .000 Lost to Indianapolis Colts in Divisional Round.
KC 1996 9 7 0 .563 2st in AFC West - - - -
KC 1997 13 3 0 .813 1st in AFC West 0 1 .000 Lost to Denver Broncos in Divisional Round.
KC 1998 7 9 0 .438 4th in AFC West - - - -
Kansas City Total 101 58 1 .635 3 7 .300"

--- By: Bodhisatva

In a recent Q & A, Herm again revealed his attitude of resignation about winning. There is no fire, no passion in the man. That's a problem in a town like KC, where the whole city gets fired up over their team. Herm started with saying [editor's comments follow Herm's words in brackets]:

“Other than that, we have to continue to do what we do. Kind of amazing, last year the same coaches and basically a lot of the same players on a certain side of the ball and all of a sudden you lose some games and they’re not good coaches any more. I don’t believe that. There are 19 teams in this league feeling the same way now with losing records.

[Herm has stated the obvious, or answered his own rhetorical question, with the opening sentence, “continue to do what we do”. If the coaches do not change and adapt when the league is admittedly changing and adapting around them, then of course the team is not going to thrive. Evolution in the NFL is fact, not theory. Evolve or die.]

“We’ve been in a lot of football games in the fourth quarter but we haven’t found a way to win them. But the ones that we’ve won it was the same situation. So, we’ve been in tight games and we’ve found a way to make a play here or there and won. We haven’t been able to do that in the month of November.

[That’s why the 24-points-in-a-game mentality that Herm has is antiquated in this modern era. Simply put, you must come out with the intent to dominate, a la Bellicheck or Shannahan. If you bring the play-it-close mentality, you will inevitably end up .500 at best.]

“Now, basically we have a five game season in December. We’re probably going to continue to play like that in tight games unless we get turnovers early in games where we can score points. It’s going to go down to the fourth quarter. We’re going to have to make some plays. If you make them you win the game. That’s where we’re at. A lot of young players are playing and that’s a good sign for us because that’s the direction we’re headed in."

[This statement is perplexing, but cast in the best light can only mean that Herm is resigned to continue on the current path. More than anything, this resignation may be the part that most angers Chiefs’ fans – the idea that the game plan for the remainder of the season is going to simply be more of the same, “continue to do what we do” attitude when what “we do” has been losing. The mention of the youth at the end is nothing but an attempt to say that we are done with the now, let’s look to the future, which is youth. Even if that’s true, you have to fight… Beating the Raiders and the Broncs at home, for example, even in an otherwise losing season would go a long way with most fans. Besides, 2 wins with the right scenario could get us to the playoffs.]

Q: In the release of your kicker, what was your decision-making process?
EDWARDS: “You’re talking about a guy who was 68% [accuracy] That’s not quite good enough. In the last three weeks he’s missed some kicks. We’re playing games so close all points are important. That’s why when you go into a game like this the decision for me wasn’t a tough one. In the [Oakland] game when it’s fourth-and-one you gotta look at what is happening the game. The momentum of the game had changed.

[This is cover for his poor game time decision-making. This is broken down below:]

“The Raiders had just gone 77 yards in three plays and scored a touchdown. I’m looking at a fourth-and-one and my decision is very simple. Do you put it on the kicker? Let’s say the kicker makes it and you tie the game. Well, that’s great. But now you’ve got another problem: we’ve tied the game and the Raiders have the ball. They have a kicker who can make a 55-yard field goal. We haven’t stopped them yet on defense and they have the ball. And, they’re running the football.

[Disingenuous. If this were true, Herm would have a record of going for the win instead of the tie before this game… The record {as far as discernable from stats found in the public domain} reveals the contrary. Any time that Herm has been faced with kicking for the tie or going for the TD for the win or even for the 2-point conversion in the waning minutes of a game, he has gone for the tie. If this decision were consistent with Herm’s history, it would have credibility – but is is not.]

“The problem that I’ve got at the end of the game is if we do kick and tie it, then, they go down and might kick the football and win the game.”

[What about the D?! It’s good. The problem is that Herm’s offense keeps the D on the field too long and wears them out by the 4th quarter. Instead of getting on top early and allowing the D to defend a lead, it seems that they are always trying to dig out of a hole or to stop a game winning drive in the final moments of the game.]

“At that point, fourth-and-one and knowing we’ve run for 160 yards I’ve got very good confidence that we’re going to make it like we made the other one when it was fourth-and-one and go in and score.”

[Then why kick at all? Go for every 4 and 1 in the game, once the run is established. Rayner had missed enough times coming into the game to make the same decision.]

Then, I feel a lot better with a seven point lead and giving the Raiders the ball back and knowing they’ve got to score a touchdown. They can’t kick a field goal to beat us. Besides, the kicker had just missed a 33-yard field goal. This was more of a pressure kick at 41 [yards.] The best chance was to go for fourth-and-one. Fans have an opinion but I don’t get caught up in that. Would I have done it any different? Nah.”

[The growing howl of fans is being heard, whether or not he’s listening. Even with more time afforded by an ill-used time out to reflect on his decision, Herm was still defending his decision. Moreover, even if you go for it in that situation, GO FOR IT – everyone expected the play that was called so call a QB bootleg, or a pass, or just about anything other than what was called. For any doubters on this point, check out SF Gate Article.]

“The kicker has a lot of talent. His problem is he’s gotten into a slump now where in the last three games he’s missed one, two, and then another one. You can’t keep putting him out there because I’ve been in situations when kickers get into that mindset and it hurts your whole team.”

[Bogus. Why worry about your kicker at that point, his days were numbered anyhow… How could it have hurt the whole team any worse than what was actually called. Especially when after it fails Herm & Co., basically throw the players under the bus and blame them – that hurts the whole team.]

Q: Going back to the end of the game last Sunday and you were fourth-and-one, would you have done it any differently in calling a time out and challenging? Was there any mismanagement of the clock?
EDWARDS: “This is what happened and it wasn’t the clock. We called a time out because I wanted to make sure we were going to run the right play.”

[Seriously! A time out was needed to call what has essentially been the staple of the Chiefs play calling all season? It took a time out to call that play? Don’t buy it.]

Q: What were they looking at to make them challenge it?
EDWARDS: “Where it was spotted. It was spotted at a point where we thought we had it. It didn’t matter anyway because when they got the ball we never stopped them. They took the ball and went right down the field. That really made me think about the decision about going for it as it was the right decision because we didn’t stop them again. They just took the ball down the field and ended the game.”

[Fallacy. To equate what happened with what may have happened had the Chiefs tied the game is simply flawed thinking. Everything would have been different, the Faiders’ starting field position for one, or maybe they fumble the kick off, or it’s downed at the 1 and they get a safety (anyone watch the MU-KU game ending?). Clearly exposes Herm’s flawed thinking.]

“But the fourth-and-one wasn’t very hard after I called a time out. Knowing where we’re at as a football team and knowing what we just had gone through I wasn’t going to put it on the kicker, but on our offensive line and the running back who had just run for a 150 yards. I felt confident in our offense.”

[Ludicrous. Shocking. Seriously, don’t put it on the kicker? Isn’t that why he’s paid? Instead, put it on a rookie running back who excelled in the 1st full game he’s played in the NFL. After running hard all game for over 150 yards and 31 carriers? Herm later stated that Smith got winded and was tired. How is it fair to transfer the kicker’s burden to the running back in that situation? Not only that, but asking him to run up against 9 in the box and “find a hole”? Does not make sense.]

Q: Do you regret the first move you made at kicker?
EDWARDS: “You go with the information you have. If you live on the things you didn’t do you’d live a miserable life. The thing about errors in sports is everybody gets to second-guess you and that’s OK, that’s part of the deal. When you’re not winning as a football team you have dumb coaches. Well, these same dumb coaches took this team to the playoffs last year. They’re just as dumb this year as they were last year. Things don’t work out. There is a plan and you go with it.”

[Dumb. The players, not the coaches, took the team to the playoffs last year - arguably in spite of the coaching. Besides, the “coaching” that let the Chiefs in the playoffs came from the team that beat whatever team won that backed the Chiefs into the playoffs. Again, the resignation is palpable – you have a plan and you go with it even when it fails repeatedly?]

Q: Would you maybe want Dante Hall back if you could have him?
EDWARDS: “No, no. That was the right decision for us. Dante did a great job here but as I keep saying and we keep losing sight of it: we’re on a different road map now as an organization. Dante was a heck of a player and did a good job as a special teams player. But we’ve gotten draft choices and that’s important for us coming up this year.”

[Whose losing sight? As a vermeil disciple Dante probably would not drink Herm’s Kool-Aid and so for Herm, not necessarily the team, it was the right decision. Keeping Dante probably would not have made the season all that better, but it speaks volumes about the “different road map” Herm has drawn. This is his team and he has to own where the team has ended up because he has drawn the map. Not only that, but who cares about draft picks if they are wasted. See Medlock, et al.]

Q: What do you attribute your problems to?
“When you play the game the players have to make plays. The coaches will take their share of the blame but the players have a part of it too. They get in the game and they’ve got to go make plays. That’s how you end up winning. You have to make a play somewhere along the line. It’s not always going to be drawn up perfect all the time. There’s never the perfect the call. Oh, every once in a while you make a great call. But other than that it’s players making plays. They know that and we haven’t made enough plays in the last four games – especially in the fourth quarter – to win. The ones we have won have gone to the fourth quarter but we’ve made the plays. Against San Diego, we got a couple of turnovers real fast and all of a sudden a 16-16 game is a blow out. That’s how we’ve played. The last time we played Oakland in Oakland it was the same situation. They’re driving the ball down the field trying to get into field goal range and we intercept a pass and game is over.”

[Unheard of in football – you cannot expect the players to play for you when you throw them under the bus! Maybe if the coaching and game plan did not continue to put the players in do or die situations every week, it would not come down to a single play. Sure that happens sometimes with the best-coached teams, but that seems to be Herm’s modus operandi.]

Q: Was Kolby disappointed on that last carry?
EDWARDS: “Naw, he’s fine. If we win that football game they’re having a parade for Kolby Smith right now, and the quarterback too. We’re losing sight of all that. I’m not. I’m not losing sight of any of these guys playing. We’ve got a bunch of young guys playing for this football game right now that are getting better. He’s not going to do everything perfect, but if you had told me Kolby Smith is going to run the football for 150 yards and score touchdowns I would have said we have a pretty good chance of winning this game. But it didn’t work out. It was a tight football game for us, no different than it was the last week and no different than it was the week before. They’re all tight and we’ve got to make a play or two.”

[Smith runs for 150 yards and scores 2 touchdowns and you think you have a pretty good chance of winning the game? Come on now. Smith outplayed any running back the Chiefs have fielded this year, period. This brings us back to Herm as a talent scout – he recognized Smith’s talent, but also points up his flaws as a coach by not getting him in the game until now. With that kind of running game it should not have been close. Herm has to break out of the whole keep it close and make a play at the end – that’s .500 ball.]

Probably more than anything, Herm's resignation or complacency with his game plan and losing season is what upsets fans. The notion that winning is not the real goal, just being a pro and giving a "professional" effort is what matters is infuriating. Herm has no passion. It's just a game, sometimes you lose, that's just the way it goes in Herm's mind. Going through the motions is not acceptable in this town. Herm needs to understand that KC will simply not tolerate that attitude.

Word is 43 year old kicker John Carney, last formerly with the Jaguars, has been recruited to replace Rayner. Something must be done about kicking... This is surely a band-aid. Age aside, Rayner's percentages are simply unacceptable, so let the 'Carn'ival begin.

There is much to complain about from the OAK game, but in a nutshell, the following items demonstrate again that Herm's poor decision making, i.e. coaching, has earned him a spot in his own "tolerance box":

1. Overall game plan and philosophy of keeping it close and winning in the fourth quarter - just nonsense. Design your game plan to get on top as quickly as possible and then rely on the D to keep you there; 2. Play calling (saw a great poster at the game describing Herm's "secret game plan" as "R2P2", or run, run, pass, punt - love it!); 3. Even if the game plan is to play close and win at the end, THEN AT LEAST FOLLOW THAT PLAN and don't go for a 4 and 1 with the game nearly over (that's not consistent with the keep it close, kick field goal, mentality); 4. Decision to go for it on 4-1 late in the 4th quarter even with Rayner's not suprisingly terrible performance (Herm's comments that getting 3 points then would not have mattered anyhow are astoundingly ignorant and show he is clueless - it would have at least tied the game!); 5. Burning a time out to decide whether to go for it on 4-1; 6. Burning another time out on a brainless challenge; 7. THEN CALLING run up the middle or run left - anything but that would have been better, even trying for a TD at that point - everyone expected run up the middle and there was nothing to the left all game!!!; 8. Sticking with Rayner at all (call up anybody else); and 9. facing 1st and 20 and calling 3 draw plays?! There are surely more than this, but that's it for now...

Here we go again… Gretz coming to Herm’s defense, trying to deflect rightful criticisms of fans and players. This site is the result of fan passion – it was started with, and is maintained by, personal funds and it is built around fans contributing their thoughts and words. These fans probably have jobs that require them to spend much of their days doing something other than researching and writing about the Chiefs (this writer certainly does). So, it’s kind of sad when Gretz, whose job entails writing for the Chiefs, decides to spend his professional time writing articles essentially calling those fans and players fools and children. The following excerpts from his article today show that Herm & Co. are desperate, mean and self-destructing (Gretz article in quotes, rebuttal in brackets):

Gretz mocking the critics: “The Chiefs had been too conservative on offense. They had hamstrung Brodie Croyle in his first NFL start. They had not let the kid fling the ball around the yard.” [Is stupid the opposite of conservative? Are fans who are condemning the game plan and play calling asking for Croyle to run around like an idiot throwing passes like a headless chicken? Are the only 2 options here between the unimaginative and foolish?]

"Let me put it this way: one of the key reasons the Chiefs were a factor in the game was because they pulled in the offensive horns in for Croyle’s first start.” [Is the goal to be a factor? Or, do you “play to win”?]

“There were two situations that seem to have caused the most bellyaching amongst the second guessers. The first came late in the first half. The Chiefs got the ball at their own 23-yard line with one minute, 18 seconds to play and all three of their timeouts. They ran two running plays and went to the locker room tied 3-3.” [Really, serious fan’s criticisms are nothing more than bellyaching?]

“Why not take a shot down the field? Why not go for it? Because on the last offensive play before that possession, Croyle had been smacked by Robert Mathis of the Colts, fumbled and Indianapolis recovered the ball. That eventually provided them the opportunity to kick the field goal that tied the game. Plus, the Colts had a pair of timeouts remaining and they were going to get the ball to start the second half. Throw three passes, run no time off the clock and give Peyton Manning another chance before the half? That’s crazy talk.” [Is it crazy talk or beyllyaching? The actual play calling did not work out so well either. So, if success is the measure of sanity, then Herm belongs in the nuthouse. Besides, taking this logic to its conclusion means that after the fumble, the offense should have just run down the play clock each down and then taken a knee to avoid that big bad Mathis from getting to Croyle again. Gretz’s argument is wholly without merit.]

“Second situation came in the fourth quarter, with 7:41 to play and the Chiefs with a 3rd down-and-18 to go play. The Chiefs ran Kolby Smith and he gained two yards. They punted the ball away to the Colts. Why not go for it? Let me count the ways. First, on the second down play, that leaky pass protection had again allowed a sack of Croyle. Two, 3rd-and-18 gets converted about eight percent of the time. Don’t believe me? This past weekend in the NFL, there were 37 third down plays where the distance to a first down was 15 yards or more. They ranged from 3rd-and-15 to 3rd-and-25.” [So Croyle got sacked… The stats showed that Huard was sacked more than any other QB in the same period this season and even with his immobility and relatively weaker arm than Croyle he was allowed to pass again. Brady got sacked by the Colts in their last matchup, but he kept passing. So, it’s not an inescapable conclusion, or football gospel, that getting sacked behind an ageing o-line dictates a run play. If that logic were valid, then the opponent just needs to get one sack on the opening drive and then the team will only run after that, right?]

“Of those 37 plays, three were converted for first downs. That’s 8 percent. The call on those plays was 29 passing/8 runs. The running plays averaged 7.1 yards per play. The passing plays (attempts plus sacks) averaged 4.4 yards per play.” [Great stats Gretz – NOT. First, if these stats dictate play calling, then the right thing to do was to simply punt on 3d down, to avoid the possibility of having to snap the ball twice and present the risk of a fumble or mistake, because neither the run nor the pass average was at least 15 yards! Second, what about those 3 plays that were converted for 1st downs; were they passes? Third, averages don’t apply to particular situations – if that were the case then the Chiefs should just forfeit games because on average they lose! Fourth, even if Gretz is just playing the probabilities to argue that you have to go with what’s most likely to succeed, then the defense must also be looking for the run – which presents a great chance to call a play action pass and go deep, right?!]

“No, the smart move is you punt the ball away and try to influence field position.” [How smart was it? How did it work out for the team?]

“Why would anyone have expected the game plan to be anything but conservative? A young quarterback’s first start, on the road, in a loud hostile stadium, against a good defense and a team with an explosive offense, that’s the recipe for an offensive plan that leans towards the conservative.” [Conservative is a label. It means anything you want it to… Arguably, with the Brady-Moss connection rivaling the Montana-Rice heyday not calling that pass every down is being conservative, but that would be silly. Conservative does not mean smart and aggressive does not mean stupid. Fans just want creative and smart play calling.]

“Think of it this way: you send a child out on Halloween night for his first experience in trick or treating. He comes home with a bag full of candy. The child is allowed to sit down and eat as much candy as he can stuff in his mouth. Child gets very sick.” [WOW! These highly paid and talented players are so moronic that they must be dealt with like children with candy. That’s insulting, crazy talk. It’s also another logical fallacy, because the fans and players, by and large, don’t want to stuff the badly analogized bag of candy and let the kid overeat, instead they just want to see that there is more than one piece of candy in there for a 300 pound defensive lineman to steal from the QB and eat himself. That’s what the unimaginative play calling and game planning is like…]

“Understand that the idea is to give Croyle a chance to play. Put in a game plan that is aggressive and full of throwing the football means that Croyle will play for awhile. But with the poor pass protection provided by the current offensive line, that type of plan would eventually end with Croyle being carried off the field, and not in celebration.” [Herm has a terrible record with QBs getting hurt WITH HIS CONSERVATIVE OFFENSIVE SCHEME, with the NY Jets his QBs got injured, Green got injured, Huard was not knocked out but was beaten into the ground like some rope-a-dope… Herm has no credibility in claiming that his play style preserves QBs. How can it when he continues to put the QB in obvious passing downs?]

The Herm “defense team” is in full action. Only we fans can provide a sufficient counter-weight to this organization. Instead of reading articles like this one and losing our voices, we need to raise our voices even louder. We need to attack the poor coaching, we need to vote with our money (by not giving it to the team), we need to expose the Herm apologist’s flawed logic and thinly veiled insults for what they are and support the players and the team!

Herm should probably stop giving press conferences, if he does not want to literally be run out of Arrowhead stadium by rabid fans. Herm has failed to appreciate how serious this town is about its team – or that’s certainly the impression he gives with statements like he made in his most recent press conference.

When asked about the “conservative” play calling, Herm said some astonishing things. So much so, that a rebuttal was inserted with brackets to highlight how incompetent this coaching staff is:

“You try to play to the strength of your football team and there are certain things we feel we can do and the players can do well and that’s what we try to do when we orchestrate a game plan. “People think it’s conservative probably because they think I’m a conservative game coach. [Is he denying that he is a conservative coach? Content with 20 some odd points a game? Never fielded a decent offense.] But you try to play to the strengths of your players and there are certain things you can do and there are certain things you don’t want to try to do because you don’t want to put people in harm’s way. [What is he talking about? Players are in harm’s way every down? That’s why they train and are the physical specimens that they are. This shows that Herm does not trust his players to play smart.]

“People have to realize one thing right now: our strength is in our defense. [Duh, the question is why this is the case, right! Stating the obvious, but ignoring the real issue: The question is why is the offense so bad and the failure to grasp this point demonstrates that Herm is content with not improving the offense the rest of the season, or incapable of doing so. Not to disrespect the D here either, but it’s a good D, not a great D. So Herm needs to realize that the D alone cannot win the games. No matter how insanely good Allen plays, he can’t win games alone!] It’s not in our offense right now. We’re losing sight of that. [If Herm paid attention to the media or read the Internet, he’d realize that nobody has lost sight of this point. In fact, it’s about all anyone with a connection to the team is talking about!] We keep wanting to dwell on the past but we’re not in the past. [Wrong! In fact, Herm seems to be living in the past, always droning on about Dungy and Tampa this and that… Herm’s zenith was apparently in Tampa, he needs to move on.] We’re in the present and the present says the way we have to play is defensively to give our offense a short field. We can take some chances but we can’t take a lot of chances doing some things that we are incapable of doing right now. So, that’s how we’re playing. [How insulting to the pro-bowl TE, to Priest, Bowe, Kennison, Waters, even Croyle. It’s totally unfair as well, since these players seem to rise to the occasion and have delivered on the position he plays. TG does not have many drops this season. Bowe can get the ball and keep his feet in bounds. Priest is one of the better screen pass HBs. What does Herm want to do on offense that the players are “incapable” of doing – completing 10 yard passes, running a screen? Tell us what you mean, Herm. If Herm were capable of coaching offense, he would clue into the fact that the team CANNOT RUN UP THE MIDDLE EVERY FIRST DOWN!]

“That’s not going to change over the next six weeks with Brodie Croyle playing quarterback. [Why not? What personnel does Herm require? We have a different RB and a different QB. Will he only play an offense that involves more than run, run, run, punt when he has the dream o-line with Marino re-incarnated? Really, what is so missing? Even the ageing o-line’s play can improve with better coaching and game planning and play calling. Not changing in the next 6 weeks is essentially giving up on the offense the rest of the season.] We want Brodie Croyle to be successful. I thought he had a successful outing against Indianapolis in a very tough situation for any quarterback to go into, especially a young quarterback who’s never started.

“We can’t lose sight of that and I think we are. We want to dwell on what this team was three or four years ago. It’s not the same offense. Sorry. [Finally a moment of near candor from Herm on this issue, after repeatedly claiming that it’s the same offense as before, just that it has been simplified a bit for the young players, he admits that it’s not the same offense. It’s not even really candor because he is implying that the personnel is not the same, but everything else is the same. Again, not true!] That’s gone, long gone and it isn’t going to come back in six weeks with Brodie Croyle playing quarterback. We’re limited in some things that we can do right now, so be it. We’re going to have to do things we feel we can do well. That’s the story.” [It’s not a choice between what we had and nothing! Nothing about the personnel justifies not trying to score with 3 timeouts at the end of the half, nor does it justify running when you need 15 yards and you don’t have a RB that has consistently run for 15 yards all season, nor does it justify refusing to throw for a win instead of a silly hook and ladder play. How are these supposed limitations related to these critiques? Herm is using flawed logic – raising straw men and red herrings and false dichotomies. Herm’s arguments are as weak as his game plan.]

When asked about player frustration or morale, Herm said:

“They’re frustrated and so am I. That’s good because they care. But I always found out this about players: they play the positions, they’re not really orchestrating the game plan. [So, that indicts the game plan, which is Herm’s domain, unless he wants to point out what personnel is failing to play their position and why he cannot coach them to correct the issue. The game plan is the problem.] They don’t look at the whole game and how it’s being played out. They look at their position and go, ‘I wish we could have done this or that.’ “Well, that’s easy for them to say. But then when you look at the film they might look at it a little bit different. They don’t look at it through a coach’s eyes. They look at it through their position, like ‘They should have tried this; they should have tried that.’ [Or not… I think that TG is capable of realizing that the poor time management, calling run plays when it’s not possible to get the needed yards or running the hook and ladder instead of trying to hit Gonzo or Bowe in the end zone or pull a penalty and get another shot as a player, is bad coaching. It’s even likely that after watching the film TG will just hold those opinions more strongly. Herm treats everyone around him like he is the only person in the room who “gets it”, when his record as head coach clearly shows that he is incapable of being successful on the offensive side of the ball. The idea that player’s criticisms are all misplaced and would be retracted upon wise reflection is arrogant.]

“It’s like anything else. It’s like when you play cards. You’re dealt a hand and we’ve got a hand we’ve been dealt right now and we’re playing it the best way we can to win games. [Not an apt comparison, Herm. In cards, you have no control over the hand you are dealt, whereas in football it is your team, you choose who plays, you call the plays. You basically pick your hand and how it’s dealt! So, explain the Medlock-Rayner fiasco, or the Drummond choice, or why the play calling has been unimaginative even if conservative. Also, did you get the memo Herm – you ARE NOT WINNING GAMES!] And that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to win a football game and how do you do that? Well, you orchestrate some things during the course of the week and as the game is playing out things change, but for us to think that we are the Kansas City Chiefs of 2002 and 2003, we’re not offensively. This team’s strength right now is on defense and we can’t lose sight of that.” [This is so bogus – nobody is asking you to field the ’02 or ’03 team. People just want to see courage over cowardice and smarts over any philosophy. Fans want smart play calling and are not demanding that the QB just wildly throw all over the place – we just want to go down with a fight instead of a whimper. What’s there to lose here? If you think that you have a team without talent, then inspire your offense to play above their talent – be a coach.]

When asked what personnel does he need on offense, Herm morphed into a polished politician and dodged the question, instead answering his own:

“We’re struggling; we’re struggling in a lot of ways. All you have to do is look at our offensive stats and I won’t go over them. Just look at the offensive statistics in football and see where we’re at. I think some people think just because we have Brodie Croyle in there we’re going to change dramatically. We’re not. [See comments above – this guy actually must believe what he is saying or he is repeating it so that he comes to believe it.]

“We’re not going to change dramatically with Brodie Croyle in there. We’re going to change a little bit, do some things he can do well, but we’re a long ways away from being a top offense at this point. I know that. That’s a fact. [Stating the obvious does not mean you understand the situation, Herm. Nobody is quarreling that you have produced a weak offense. Instead, everyone is asking how can this be the case with the talent this team has on offense. Herm acts like these players cannot complete a 10 yard slant or run a screen, or that all they can do is run up the middle. If Croyle has a quick release and strong arm, then use him when there are 8 in the box. Adjust and take what’s given. If Indy runs Tampa 2, then take the yardage up front with the short passing game – or throw downfield on the seam like Favre did the final play against us?]

“We’ll do some things a little bit different with Brodie in there. Our goal is always to score touchdowns and we’ll try to do that but we’re not going to just go out there and try to throw passes and entertain people to see how Brodie can run around and not get sacked and throw the ball up for grabs. We’re trying to win. There’s a plan you have every week to try and win.” [False dichotomy. Does Herm truly think that there are two choices on offense – run up the middle or throw willy-nilly like some nut job? If so, then a lot of his behavior makes sense, it’s just hard to take him seriously at this point.]

When asked about the game plan in light of being ranked 31st in rushing, Herm said:

“People have watched us play10 games. Why do you think it’s going to change all of a sudden? [Because it’s not working? You are losing. Seriously, this kind of statement is shocking. Demonstrates Herm is NOT a head coach – totally ridiculous comment.] It’s not going to change a whole lot. We have to play a certain way right now…to win games. That’s what we’re trying to do.”

We’re trying to win and there is a way you win games. We’ve got to win a certain way right now and that’s just the cards you were dealt.” [But you are not winning! This argument only makes sense with a winning record. Plus, it demonstrates a total defeatist attitude – “I was dealt a terrible offense as the poor head coach and we will just have to keep running and punting, cause that’s the only thing I can think of to win, even though I am not winning…” Makes no sense.]

It is easy to point out how so much of what Herm says is just bogus, mindless garbage, but it’s equally nauseating. That’s it for this broadcast for now…

Let's try this with another game. COME ON FANS WE NEED TO REVOLT. FIND YOUR VOICE. EXPRESS YOURSELF! SHOW UP EN MASSE WITH THE MESSAGE WE ALL SHARE! The first fan to buy a Fire Herm! Hoodie from Fire Herm! Gear (this must be confirmed of course) and wear it to the OAK game and take a picture of himself or herself wearing the Fire Herm! Hoodie at the game and posts it on the forum page Forum will get a free Hoodie. If the first fan to take this challenge buys 2 Hoodies (and does not need a third Hoodie) and takes a picture of 2 fans wearing them at the OAK game will get a $35. gift certificate to a local grocery store towards their tailgate party food & drinks for the following home game. TAKE THE CHALLENGE AND GET FREE STUFF!!

Before writing extensively on the thoughts swirling around the loss to Indy (there is so much to write about it's going to take a bit to sort it all out), the Tolerance Box seemed like a good way to summarize some of these... So, these decisions, among others, justify putting Herm in the tolerance box:

1. Killing the clock at the end of the first half with 3 timeouts; 2. calling running play on 3d and long in the 4th quarter; 3. continuously calling run, run, run punt; 4. last play of the game no hail mary toss; 5. changing quarterbacks and not playing to his strengths; 6. acting as if we have no offensive talent so that the only game plan that makes any sense is to do as little as possible,; 7. HOOK & LADDER END, and 8. insulting fans and players with his smug, "I know best" attitude even when he has displayed total incompetence on offense for his ENTIRE career and basically throwing the offense under the bus when history tells us that our offense has talent and he has no clue on offense.