Monk_Ironman
08-04-2005, 12:43 PM
Chiefs' offense shows age, but still could be among NFL's bestBy ELIZABETH MERRILL, The Kansas City Star
August 4, 2005
R IVER FALLS, Wis. - It couldn't last forever. Just look at Trent Green (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/2547/). His brown hair is peppered with gray. His helmet is in his hands. Green is saving his arm, because at 35, he needs to rest and be smart.
It was nice while it lasted. Just watch Chiefs offensive coordinator Al Saunders. He's slinking around in the dark at the Rodli Commons Center because at night, when the place is empty, Saunders is free to get creative. He's carrying a pile of papers. They're filled with numbers. Best offense in the NFL, 2001-2004.
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"See, I tend to believe it can," Saunders says. "There aren't any boundaries for us. Because every year you get new people and every year as coaches we're charged with putting the players in a position so they can make plays."
As the Chiefs loaded up on defense in the offseason, it was easy to forget about the offense. For four years, they've racked up more yards (24,278), offensive touchdowns (200) and first downs (1,413) than any team in the league. In 2004, they set an NFL record with 398 first downs.
"If this offensive team was in one of the big markets … " coach Dick Vermeil says, "that might be a big thing."
But now the biggest thing on this team is, in some ways, the biggest source of concern. Consistency and continuity has led to aching muscles and creaking bones. Five of the Chiefs' marquee offensive players - Green, guard Will Shields (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/2445/), running back Priest Holmes (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/4047/), tackle Willie Roaf (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/2586/) and tight end Tony Gonzalez (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/3950/) - have missed parts of training camp because of injury.
Some of them are talking about retirement after the season. Shields' 191-game starting streak is in jeopardy because of a bad back. The Chiefs' starting 11 has an average age of 31.
Saunders prefers to use the word "experienced" over "aging." He says Green, Roaf and receiver Eddie Kennison (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/3519/) all had their best years in 2004, when they were entrenched in their 30s. They were wiser and had a rhythm together. Their age, Saunders says, was a plus.
Now it's a main topic of conversation.
"The special part about this group is what we've been able to accomplish the last three seasons," Green says. "I know some guys are thinking about retiring. We know that this group as a whole, this may be our last year together.
"There definitely is a sense of urgency. From my standpoint, I do have a comfort level working with these guys, so there is more attention placed on this season."
Saunders isn't putting any extra pressure on the offense. He sets a yearly goal of 6,000 yards and 500 points. He wants them to meet it. But as good as the offense has been, it has been prone to slow starts. Green's quarterback efficiency rating went from 53.4 and 54.4 in the first two games of 2004 to 95.2 for the season.
Vermeil can't put a definitive handle on why the offense has struggled early. Last year, the receiving corps was hit hard by injury during training camp. Weather and other outside forces disrupted the Chiefs' practice routine.
Though Green is being limited in his repetitions, he's practiced at the same time as all of his other targets who are resting. And Saunders has tinkered with his playbook.
He's lined up three tight ends, put his top two running backs in the same backfield, and let Larry Johnson (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/6363/) throw a not-so-tight spiral 30 yards downfield. While the rest of the NFL took a vacation in late June and early July, Saunders went back to his office to plan, script and create.
"I'd rather be looking at the Jets and the Raiders and Denver than going to watch Batman at the movies," Saunders says. "It's productive time for me. Other than being with my family, there's nothing I'd rather do more than work on football."
Saunders' favorite two creative places are in the office, late at night, and on the pavement when he's running. He has plenty to think about in the next month. Besides preparing for a brutal schedule that includes the Jets, the Raiders and the Eagles, Saunders must decide who'll start at right tackle and who'll play opposite Kennison.
He doesn't have answers for that right now, in the dark of the student center in River Falls.
"We will be better," Saunders says. "I think there's no question.
"I love to be in a position where you're expected to do well. I would much rather be expected to be the very best and then be disappointed if we weren't than to be expected to be mediocre and be happy to be mediocre."
August 4, 2005
R IVER FALLS, Wis. - It couldn't last forever. Just look at Trent Green (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/2547/). His brown hair is peppered with gray. His helmet is in his hands. Green is saving his arm, because at 35, he needs to rest and be smart.
It was nice while it lasted. Just watch Chiefs offensive coordinator Al Saunders. He's slinking around in the dark at the Rodli Commons Center because at night, when the place is empty, Saunders is free to get creative. He's carrying a pile of papers. They're filled with numbers. Best offense in the NFL, 2001-2004.
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"See, I tend to believe it can," Saunders says. "There aren't any boundaries for us. Because every year you get new people and every year as coaches we're charged with putting the players in a position so they can make plays."
As the Chiefs loaded up on defense in the offseason, it was easy to forget about the offense. For four years, they've racked up more yards (24,278), offensive touchdowns (200) and first downs (1,413) than any team in the league. In 2004, they set an NFL record with 398 first downs.
"If this offensive team was in one of the big markets … " coach Dick Vermeil says, "that might be a big thing."
But now the biggest thing on this team is, in some ways, the biggest source of concern. Consistency and continuity has led to aching muscles and creaking bones. Five of the Chiefs' marquee offensive players - Green, guard Will Shields (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/2445/), running back Priest Holmes (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/4047/), tackle Willie Roaf (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/2586/) and tight end Tony Gonzalez (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/3950/) - have missed parts of training camp because of injury.
Some of them are talking about retirement after the season. Shields' 191-game starting streak is in jeopardy because of a bad back. The Chiefs' starting 11 has an average age of 31.
Saunders prefers to use the word "experienced" over "aging." He says Green, Roaf and receiver Eddie Kennison (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/3519/) all had their best years in 2004, when they were entrenched in their 30s. They were wiser and had a rhythm together. Their age, Saunders says, was a plus.
Now it's a main topic of conversation.
"The special part about this group is what we've been able to accomplish the last three seasons," Green says. "I know some guys are thinking about retiring. We know that this group as a whole, this may be our last year together.
"There definitely is a sense of urgency. From my standpoint, I do have a comfort level working with these guys, so there is more attention placed on this season."
Saunders isn't putting any extra pressure on the offense. He sets a yearly goal of 6,000 yards and 500 points. He wants them to meet it. But as good as the offense has been, it has been prone to slow starts. Green's quarterback efficiency rating went from 53.4 and 54.4 in the first two games of 2004 to 95.2 for the season.
Vermeil can't put a definitive handle on why the offense has struggled early. Last year, the receiving corps was hit hard by injury during training camp. Weather and other outside forces disrupted the Chiefs' practice routine.
Though Green is being limited in his repetitions, he's practiced at the same time as all of his other targets who are resting. And Saunders has tinkered with his playbook.
He's lined up three tight ends, put his top two running backs in the same backfield, and let Larry Johnson (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/6363/) throw a not-so-tight spiral 30 yards downfield. While the rest of the NFL took a vacation in late June and early July, Saunders went back to his office to plan, script and create.
"I'd rather be looking at the Jets and the Raiders and Denver than going to watch Batman at the movies," Saunders says. "It's productive time for me. Other than being with my family, there's nothing I'd rather do more than work on football."
Saunders' favorite two creative places are in the office, late at night, and on the pavement when he's running. He has plenty to think about in the next month. Besides preparing for a brutal schedule that includes the Jets, the Raiders and the Eagles, Saunders must decide who'll start at right tackle and who'll play opposite Kennison.
He doesn't have answers for that right now, in the dark of the student center in River Falls.
"We will be better," Saunders says. "I think there's no question.
"I love to be in a position where you're expected to do well. I would much rather be expected to be the very best and then be disappointed if we weren't than to be expected to be mediocre and be happy to be mediocre."