http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2006/05...rm_edwardsmc4/
Q&A with HERM EDWARDS
May 19, 2006, 4:00:08 PM
HERM EDWARDS: “Today was the first day all of our starters have been inside the huddle together since the season ended. That’s really kind of interesting if you think about it. That’s why this period was very important to get them settled down, so that this afternoon they can understand what the tempo is going to be about and really get a good practice in this afternoon.”
Q: John Browning was out today. Has he decided if he’s going to play this year or is it in the air?
EDWARDS: “Yeah, he’s here and been around. I haven’t heard anything different.”
Q: Dante and Tony weren’t practicing today, what’s going on with those guys?
EDWARDS: “Dante has a sprained thumb and Tony’s foot is bothering him a little bit. Dante hurt his thumb the day before yesterday. So we’re just holding them back at this point.”
Q: Your impressions on Larry Johnson today in practice?
EDWARDS: “I don’t need impressions on him today. I’ve watched him in real football when he’s had pads on. There’s a bunch of guys that will make the all Shawnee Mission team, Blue Springs, whichever high school you like, they can make that team right now in shorts. One thing you realize when you go through these sessions between now and training camp is there will be a lot of players that can play well in helmets and shorts, but we play with pads on. That’s the change between training camp and the preseason. Some of these players, you evaluate how they pick up things, and how they are athletically. You can’t be too physical here. We don’t want physical practices. We believe in practice, when we don’t have pads on, with our feet and our hands. No shoulders, no tackling, no throwing guys down to the ground. It’s more of just going fast, being in position and when we get to camp the physical part will start. That’s when some guys get weeded out.”
Q: Is establishing the tempo your number one goal for this weekend?
EDWARDS: “Yeah, they kind of understand what the tempo is going to be about. We’ve talked about it. The thing they need to realize is that offensively we need to establish a tempo in and out of the huddle. This is a very, very productive offense and I’m trying to find a way we can get more plays. They averaged about 66 plays last year and we’d like to get in the 70’s. The way you do that is to get in and out of the huddle. If you can get in and out of the huddle very, very quickly it puts pressure on the defense. We have to do that. Obviously if we are winning at the game at the end, the clock will present a different situation and we won’t be as fast. I want to have the ability of our offense, because we shift and motion, we can present a lot of problems if our QB can stand over center with time on the clock to make decisions. The way you do that is to quickly get in and out of the huddle.”
Q: Is there a reason why you added another practice this morning?
EDWARDS: “Yeah, I realized earlier this week that the veteran guys haven’t been in the huddle together since the season was over with. I thought this was a good period for them to do some individual drills again and then get in a huddle as a team. They got in the huddle today and this afternoon they will be asked to repeat the plays they did today in a team environment.”
Q: Roaf wasn’t here, any particular reason?
EDWARDS: “Personal. He’s been here the last two day and he had a personal matter he needed to settle today.”
Q: Will Dante Hall be out for the weekend?
EDWARDS: “Yeah, it’s sprained so he’ll probably be out.”
Q: Were the players surprised today with the tempo of practice?
EDWARDS: “No, I think the veteran guys kind of understood. I think the younger guys who were here on Tuesday and Wednesday gave them the message. We had great tempo those two days and we moved around very fast in 7-on-7. Now we’ll put a whole practice together and see if they can keep that tempo up for a whole practice.”
Q: What do you want to accomplish this weekend?
EDWARDS: Basically the speed of practice and what we’re asking them to do from the classroom. I’m trying to evaluate guys on if they can take what they learn in the classroom and put it on the field. There’s a difference between listening and hearing. People who can hear can repeat what you do. When you just listen, you’re not as detailed. I want to make sure that what we teach them in the classroom we teach them on the grass in a tempo that they can learn it, and then we ask them to go fast. I think that if you can do things repeatedly then you’ve got a chance to be successful.”
Q: Have there been any young guys who have been pleasant surprises?
EDWARDS: “For the most part, it’s hard to evaluate them. I think today in the second practice you’ll get a better feel for them. The young guys have now been here for seven practices now, but what got them today, when you looked at the offense, a lot of shifting and motioning and now the guys are starting to think again. That’s always the trouble early and why we didn’t have a lot of shifts and motions in our first camp. Now we put those shifts and motions in, guys are thinking and they can’t move as fast. You’ve got to work through that, but I think once we get through this week, when we have 10 OTA’s, you’ll see players starting to rise up and play a little better because they’ll know what to do.”