Post by John on May 26, 2006 11:27:35 GMT -4
New commander in Chief increases emphasis on defense
By Clark Judge
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
There has been no Ty Law sighting in Kansas City, but that's OK. From where the team's defensive coordinator sits, the view already looks better.
"We've upgraded the roster," said Gunther Cunningham.
That happens when you spend four of your seven draft picks on defense, including the first and second choices. But it's not an improved roster that could make the biggest difference to Cunningham and the Chiefs D.
It's the coaching staff.
I'm talking specifically about new coach Herman Edwards. OK, you can throw secondary coach David Gibbs in there, too, because Cunningham mentions the guy every other paragraph.
Both are part of a change of direction in Kansas City, with the club tilted more toward its defense than at any time in the last five years -- which is another way of saying more than at any time during the tenure of Dick Vermeil.
Under Vermeil the Chiefs won more than they lost, captured a division title and ranked no lower than second in offense the last three seasons. Offense was Kansas City's trademark, with the club identified by Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson and Trent Green and Tony Gonzalez.
Quick, now: Who was the last great player on Kansas City's defense? I had to think about it, too, and that's no accident. For years the Chiefs were all about offense, a trend that may have ended with the arrival of Edwards.
"No disrespect toward Dick because he did a great job here," said Cunningham, whom Edwards tried to hire to the New York Jets in 2004, "but for a defensive coach, this is like going to heaven. Our conversations are all about personnel. And practice situations. And how to implement schemes. And how to develop schemes and players. As a defensive head coach, he understands."
You don't have to be Herm Edwards to understand what Cunningham's unit means to the success of the Chiefs. A year ago, Kansas City allowed an average of 18.2 points a game over its last seven starts -- five of which it won. But it was the two the Chiefs lost -- a 31-28 decision to Dallas, followed by a 27-17 setback to the Giants -- that rankle fans.
"You throw those out, and people would have a lot different approach to our defense," Cunningham said.
Well, you can't. So they don't. But that's not so bad. In fact, it just might work out in Cunningham's favor, with expectations low for a defense critics generally regard as sub-standard.
But consider a few things before calling the National Guard to defend the Chiefs. First, they produced 31 takeaways last year, and only two AFC clubs had more. Second, they were 4-2 against playoff teams, including 3-1 down the stretch, and ruined San Diego's playoff run with an impressive 20-7 victory on Dec. 24. Third, they allowed fewer points per game than any Chiefs team since 1999.
That's a start. Now factor in new faces -- including first-rounder Tamba Hali and safety Bernard Pollard, a second-round choice -- and that new attitude toward Cunningham's side of the ball, and you have a club that might, just might, gain attention for stopping touchdowns instead of scoring them.
"Herm's attitude on behalf of the defense really speaks to all," said Cunningham. "The defense doesn't feel like wicked stepchildren. They feel like they belong and are part of the game."
That's not hard to imagine. Edwards played defense. He coached defense. He sits in on defensive meetings. He routinely speaks to Cunningham prior to practices. And he accompanies him when Cunningham speaks to members of the personnel department.
In short, he speaks the same language as his defensive coordinator and players.
"He understands what you're doing," said Cunningham, "and that cuts down on the conversation. There are so many wasted hours trying to explain why you feel the way you do and where you want to go with personnel. But you talk to Herm, and he's going to listen."
Then Cunningham might want to talk to Edwards about Law. He's the cornerback the Chiefs tried to sign a year ago, before he priced himself out of their market. Kansas City went on to acquire Patrick Surtain; Edwards added Law in New York; and Law tied for the league lead in interceptions.
Now he's on the market again, with Kansas City, Seattle and Tennessee interested ... but only at the right price. Sound familiar?
The Chiefs have Surtain and former Denver starter Lenny Walls as cornerbacks, but Walls makes me nervous. Cunningham doesn't agree, saying the 6-foot-4 Walls "looked like a cat" during last weekend's minicamp. Nevertheless, given the choice of Walls or Law, whom would you rather have?
"I really liked Ty Law when we talked to him a year ago," said Cunningham, "but it's in Herm's hands and in Carl's (Peterson, the team's president) hands. On the one hand, you'd like to have him; but I also understand the money factor. Everyone in town and in the media expects Carl to pull the trigger, and if it works out ... great. If it doesn't, we're going to keep playing."
If it doesn't work out, Cunningham is unconcerned. That has something to do with the players and more to do with the coaches.
By Clark Judge
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
There has been no Ty Law sighting in Kansas City, but that's OK. From where the team's defensive coordinator sits, the view already looks better.
"We've upgraded the roster," said Gunther Cunningham.
That happens when you spend four of your seven draft picks on defense, including the first and second choices. But it's not an improved roster that could make the biggest difference to Cunningham and the Chiefs D.
It's the coaching staff.
I'm talking specifically about new coach Herman Edwards. OK, you can throw secondary coach David Gibbs in there, too, because Cunningham mentions the guy every other paragraph.
Both are part of a change of direction in Kansas City, with the club tilted more toward its defense than at any time in the last five years -- which is another way of saying more than at any time during the tenure of Dick Vermeil.
Under Vermeil the Chiefs won more than they lost, captured a division title and ranked no lower than second in offense the last three seasons. Offense was Kansas City's trademark, with the club identified by Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson and Trent Green and Tony Gonzalez.
Quick, now: Who was the last great player on Kansas City's defense? I had to think about it, too, and that's no accident. For years the Chiefs were all about offense, a trend that may have ended with the arrival of Edwards.
"No disrespect toward Dick because he did a great job here," said Cunningham, whom Edwards tried to hire to the New York Jets in 2004, "but for a defensive coach, this is like going to heaven. Our conversations are all about personnel. And practice situations. And how to implement schemes. And how to develop schemes and players. As a defensive head coach, he understands."
You don't have to be Herm Edwards to understand what Cunningham's unit means to the success of the Chiefs. A year ago, Kansas City allowed an average of 18.2 points a game over its last seven starts -- five of which it won. But it was the two the Chiefs lost -- a 31-28 decision to Dallas, followed by a 27-17 setback to the Giants -- that rankle fans.
"You throw those out, and people would have a lot different approach to our defense," Cunningham said.
Well, you can't. So they don't. But that's not so bad. In fact, it just might work out in Cunningham's favor, with expectations low for a defense critics generally regard as sub-standard.
But consider a few things before calling the National Guard to defend the Chiefs. First, they produced 31 takeaways last year, and only two AFC clubs had more. Second, they were 4-2 against playoff teams, including 3-1 down the stretch, and ruined San Diego's playoff run with an impressive 20-7 victory on Dec. 24. Third, they allowed fewer points per game than any Chiefs team since 1999.
That's a start. Now factor in new faces -- including first-rounder Tamba Hali and safety Bernard Pollard, a second-round choice -- and that new attitude toward Cunningham's side of the ball, and you have a club that might, just might, gain attention for stopping touchdowns instead of scoring them.
"Herm's attitude on behalf of the defense really speaks to all," said Cunningham. "The defense doesn't feel like wicked stepchildren. They feel like they belong and are part of the game."
That's not hard to imagine. Edwards played defense. He coached defense. He sits in on defensive meetings. He routinely speaks to Cunningham prior to practices. And he accompanies him when Cunningham speaks to members of the personnel department.
In short, he speaks the same language as his defensive coordinator and players.
"He understands what you're doing," said Cunningham, "and that cuts down on the conversation. There are so many wasted hours trying to explain why you feel the way you do and where you want to go with personnel. But you talk to Herm, and he's going to listen."
Then Cunningham might want to talk to Edwards about Law. He's the cornerback the Chiefs tried to sign a year ago, before he priced himself out of their market. Kansas City went on to acquire Patrick Surtain; Edwards added Law in New York; and Law tied for the league lead in interceptions.
Now he's on the market again, with Kansas City, Seattle and Tennessee interested ... but only at the right price. Sound familiar?
The Chiefs have Surtain and former Denver starter Lenny Walls as cornerbacks, but Walls makes me nervous. Cunningham doesn't agree, saying the 6-foot-4 Walls "looked like a cat" during last weekend's minicamp. Nevertheless, given the choice of Walls or Law, whom would you rather have?
"I really liked Ty Law when we talked to him a year ago," said Cunningham, "but it's in Herm's hands and in Carl's (Peterson, the team's president) hands. On the one hand, you'd like to have him; but I also understand the money factor. Everyone in town and in the media expects Carl to pull the trigger, and if it works out ... great. If it doesn't, we're going to keep playing."
If it doesn't work out, Cunningham is unconcerned. That has something to do with the players and more to do with the coaches.