ChiefsPlanet - Priest Interview...Read what the plan is against Champ Bailey

kcchiefs.com interview

DENVER CONFERENCE CALL
Q: You’ve got a big game right out of the gate?

HOLMES: “First of all, it’s a rivalry game. The second thing, that I don’t think everyone is aware of is that it’s the first game of the year so it depends on which team has really taken advantage of their off-season and their camp. Whoever can strike first I think is the team that is definitely going to pull out the win.”

Q: What are your impressions of the changes in the Broncos defense?

HOLMES: “The defense has definitely changed, and I would say they have changed for the best part of being more disciplined, having more veteran guys there to make sure that they’re filling the gaps. But they still have to learn a new defense. They still have their core linebacker which is Al Wilson and he’ll do a good job coming downhill and making sure they stuff the run. They still have to learn a new defense and they’ve only had a few months to do that. That’s our advantage because we’ve been together going on four years.”

Q: What are your impressions of CB Champ Bailey and some of the other new faces on the Denver defense?

HOLMES: “Well, I really haven’t so my impression of them is only I’ve seen on the highlight film. They’ve always done a very job of being professional and being skilled individuals. I haven’t had much experience playing against those individuals, but collectively I’m definitely prepared for the Denver Broncos defense.”

Q: What was the talk we heard of possible retirement in the off-season?

HOLMES: “(The thought of) retirement came from more off-field situations than it did on-field. It was more just time for me to sacrifice football for my family because you know the entire time I’ve been playing I’ve always had to put football first because of the schedule and the importance of playing attention to detail. It went through my mind as being one of the things I discussed with my family. My Dad said, ‘How in the world am I going to be able to see you on Sunday if you’re not playing on TV?’ So I thought about that. Also my teammates; we’ve been putting this together for over three years and we want to take advantage of it and reap the benefits of it – and that’s a championship.”

Q: How long will your father be in Iraq?

HOLMES: “He’ll be there throughout this year and be returning in January of ’05.”

Q: What were your thoughts on Ricky Williams retiring?

HOLMES: “I actually support Ricky, just the retirement in itself because you never know what an individual is going through and what forces an individual to leave the game of football. It is very difficult, I think being in anyone’s shoes to decide to do something like that on your own because of the fact that you have family, you have friends, you have that uncle that goes to the bar every Sunday just to see you play. You have little kids around the world that wear your jersey and they try to do the same things you do in their high school games. So, it is very hard to decide something like that on your own. But something forced him to retire and he chose to do that. I support him because there’s not too many jobs in the United States that when you go to work there is the possibility of not walking again when you leave it.”

Q: How close did you come to actually retiring?

HOLMES: “The closeness of it was just a matter of thought. Every year I go over a few goals, and I go over a few things as far as ‘Am I ready to play?’ I think at my position you get hit so many times and you carry the ball as much as I do, you can’t take it for granted and just assume ‘Hey it’s another year and I’ll just make it through.’ You have to be really prepared and dedicated to what you’re going to do. That’s one of the things I needed to check, if that I was still in the game and the love of the game was still in me. And I’m glad that I stayed.”

Q: What are your personal goals for 2003? Didn’t your personal trainer suggest 2,300 yards?

HOLMES: “Actually, I’ve heard 2,300 go across the room. I’ve heard 2,000 go across the room. My goal is to have longer runs. My goal is to have a longer run than 30 yards. My longest run last year was a max of 30 yards. So, in terms of making as many 30 yards runs plus possible, that’s what I’m after. And I believe at the end of the year, if you add those up it will put you over 2,000.”

Q: Won’t it be difficult to improve on last year’s 13-3 record?

HOLMES: “We have a team that is loaded with talent. We have Dante Hall that has done things in the kicking game that has never really been done before and I don’t think anyone will ever be able to match what he’s done. For him now to set his goals to break that is incredible, there are not a lot of teams that are able to say that on their special teams. Offensively we have so many weapons, in Trent Green, Tony Gonzalez. One of the things we do on offense is we gain yards in bunches. That’s one of the things we love doing. On defense we have Gunther (Cunningham) coming in town. It’s not a democracy; it’s not your way, it’s his way. So that’s one of the things that’s going to be good about our defense; they’re going to be playing as a team and they’re going to hit.

Q: Were you surprised that the Broncos traded RB Clinton Portis?

HOLMES: “I had actually talked to the running back there in Denver and (Clinton) Portis had told me there at the Pro Bowl, that was one of the situations that may be happening this past off-season because he was definitely going to be holding out. With 1,500 yards and what he’s done back-to-back season, you have to pay a guy like that. He’s gone to a team where they definitely dish out the dough. For Denver, they bring in a shutdown corner – that’s one of the things I believe they needed to do to make they’re defense stronger. But we’re going to be able to single out Champ (Bailey) as much as possible by putting fast receivers on him and making him run and keeping him away from the pile, allowing me to run the opposite direction.”

Q: Is Coach Vermeil still the same emotional guy?

HOLMES: “Being emotional is part of his being. One of the things that impressed me about Coach Vermeil is that he called me personally during my free agency time and told me that if I wanted to be part of the team, he’d love to have me and I’d be his starting back. I think his word is something that you could definitely take to the bank and he doesn’t spread that word only for his starters, but his coaches, front office people – even the guys that are down working in the stadium.”