http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2006/05...l_petersonmc1/
Q&A with Carl Peterson
May 19, 2006, 4:16:18 PM
Mini-Camp
Q: What do you expect out of Larry Johnson and the offense this year?
PETERSON: “I would hope a repeat performance of what he did the second half of the 2005 season. It would be hard to sustain what he did averaging 140-150 yards per game rushing. It’s time for Larry to step up and he’s done that every time we’ve asked him to step up. He’s performed and he’s performed very, very well. It’s terrific that Herm Edwards has said that he is the guy. He’s following a great running back in Priest Holmes and we’ll know more about Priest when we gets to training camp about what his physical condition is. I’m obviously very proud of Larry Johnson, he’s been a very good performer here on and off the field. Early on he had a couple of problems, but he has rectified those. I think he’s excited about his position of being a leader on this team. We’re looking for big things from Larry.”
Q: Is there any update on Priest and his future?
PETERSON: “Not right now. He’s making progress, but like I’ve said before a number of times, if we had to start right now the doctors are still concerned about contact. We don’t have to play today, this is May 19th and our season really doesn’t start until September 9th for us. Certainly in the next couple of months we’ll know more.”
Q: With the Pro Bowlers on offense and Herm now as your Head Coach, how much do you think you are going to be stressing on defense this year?
PETERSON: “Certainly in my selection of Herm Edwards, a lot of his defensive background went in to that. He was here with us and coached on the defensive side of the ball with Marty back in the early 90’s and did an outstanding job every place he’s been with Tony Dungy in Tampa and obviously with the Jets. They’ve always played excellent defense. They’ve always played penalty free football, which I think is very important to winning. I think his presence will certainly motivate our defense. Herm is a player’s coach because he started and played in this game a long time. I think he can bridge both offense and defense. You are correct, we need to improve the defense this year and hopefully sustain the output we’ve put out the last three or four years on the offensive side.”
Q: Have you enjoyed watching Herm Edwards run his first full mini-camp practice?
PETERSON: “I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. He’s very enthusiastic. He’s very much like he was as a player and as he was when he was an assistant coach here with us with the Chiefs. I like his upbeat tempo, he jumps right into drills, and he’s going to correct some things immediately. I think when he says something players and coaches stop to listen because he knows what he’s talking about.”
Q: What are you hoping to see on the field from the team this weekend?
PETERSON: “I think for the first time we’ll have the veterans and the rookies together. You begin to start filling in the holes with depth and quality depth at different positions. With the exception of one offensive and one defensive position we’ve got everybody back from a year ago in a 10-6 team, but every year is a new year. I’m looking for what Herm has already started to do, which is building the chemistry of this football team. I would still put a little asterisks next to that, I don’t try and get too excited either overly or underly when guys are still in their underwear and that’s where we are in mini-camp. It is an indication and it’s a beginning, but I think we’ll really see the proof in the pudding when we put on the full pads. It is a full contact game when we get to River Falls and get going.”