Chiefs' biggest question is Haley's future

[Chiefs Pantalones]

CHICAGO | There is precious little of immediate consequence still to come from this Chiefs season. This is one of the league’s worst rosters, playing with wounded self-esteem against some of the NFL’s best teams.

The Chiefs need to make evaluations about who and what will be back for 2012, and that’s important in a vague and forward-thinking way, but for now the biggest question around (and inside) the team is the future of coach Todd Haley and why he is apparently unaware that Tyler Palko is an awful NFL quarterback.

This is one of the more secretive franchises in professional sports, and even private conversations often come with hidden agendas, so in this case it’s important to keep in mind that everything you hear is only a theory.

The theories are complicated, and in nearly all ways illustrative of where this team is at this very moment.

The one gaining the most momentum is that Haley has lost all concern for what anyone — including his bosses — thinks and is now coaching as if he assumes he won’t be back next year.

The one that makes more sense is that this is what it looks like when a promising coach begins to self-destruct.

What happens between the Chiefs and Bears today at Soldier Field may go a long way in determining how this season ends and whether Haley is around when the next one begins.

Injuries have exposed a roster woefully lacking in depth (the general manager’s fault) that have muddied an already complicated picture of whether Haley is the right guy.

Because this is damning of Palko: his 20 drives in two games have produced eight punts, six interceptions, four field goals, one fumble, one turnover on downs and zero touchdowns.

But this will be worse for Haley: if Palko starts, continues his tricycle act, and the Chiefs look inept because of it in another loss.

In other words, the only thing worse than a quarterback losing a locker room because of incompetence is a coach losing a locker room for sticking with an incompetent quarterback.

There is a perfectly plausible explanation for sticking with Palko, if true. Football logic says that if Palko is benched now, the Chiefs lose him mentally — a risk if new backup Kyle Orton struggles — but if Palko gets another start with a short leash the Chiefs can keep both quarterbacks engaged.

It’s probably the most reasoned explanation, particularly if Palko is pulled today after a rough start. If the Chiefs can somehow either get a competent performance out of Palko or navigate the growing mess in a way that doesn’t diminish the team’s ability to make real evaluations of the rest of the team, then no major harm is done.

But there’s something more important going on here, too, with indications that some players may be losing confidence in Haley.

This is critical for Haley’s future, because the players going hard for and believing in him has been the most compelling reason to keep him in Kansas City.

If a broken roster made winning impossible this year, Haley’s ability to keep the team mostly staying motivated through blowouts and obstacles was the centerpiece argument for letting him try next year.

Now, it’s entirely possible that history will see Haley’s handling of Palko as the turning point.

Because if he loses the locker room, Haley has no case for another year. Already, fan confidence has never been lower.

All of which makes the current image of Haley as a renegade uninterested in outside opinions all the more interesting.

The beard, the dirty hats, the passive approval of uniform violations on “Monday Night Football,” even sticking with Palko — all of it is translated by some as an exaggerated maverick attitude, stubbornness, or a strong dedication to do things exclusively his way.

Put another way: he’s coaching like he doesn’t care whether he’s back next year.

At times, that’s been one of his biggest strengths.

Now, it might mean he doesn’t have a choice in the matter.



Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/12/03...#ixzz1fXiE1mIa

[Dr. Johnny Fever]

Chiefs biggest question is how do they stop being the Chiefs. Really. From top to bottom one of the biggest punchlines in the NFL for years. I guess since that's the case I'd start with ownership.

[jd1020]

I really don't think it's that big of a question.

Pioli is likely compiling his list of HC's to interview for the 2012 season.

[Hammock Parties]

Read between the lines.

[jd1020]

The one that makes more sense is that this is what it looks like when a promising coach begins to self-destruct.

Promising is a strong word for a coach that can't develop a proper game plan or off season program.

[Chiefs Pantalones]

I think he's gone. I Pioli will get a proven head coach this time around. Just not sure who

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by Vanilla Thunder

I think he's gone. I Pioli will get a proven head coach this time around. Just not sure who

I doubt a proven HC is going to want to come here.

[kcpasco]

Originally Posted by jd1020

I doubt a proven HC is going to want to come here.

If only Clark would open up the wallet to buy some quality backups. And this franchise would finally gets it's head out of it's ass and draft a 1st round Qb.

[kcpasco]

But we all know that's not gonna happen because it's the ****ing Chiefs

[Caseyguyrr]

i wish he was gone yesterday. If we dont draft RGIII, we will be doomed and cursed for the rest of eternity

[FAX]

Interesting piece. First he says nobody has the slightest clue what's behind any of Haley's decisions, then he postulates a half dozen explanations or "theories" as to what's behind Haley's decisions.

Substitute "wild-ass guesses and fabricated bullshit" for "theory" and you have a much more accurate article.

Haley may well be headed for the door. But, that's no more reasonable than to believe that the Hunts, the FO, and the coaching staff chalked this season up as a lost cause after Charles went down for the season. That day, our run game (around which we built the offense) consisted of McDervish, Jones, and Battle. God knows we weren't going anywhere on Cassel's shoulders.

This team has crap for depth throughout the roster. Absolute crap. As Madame Blavatsky states above; that, my friends is on Pioli.

FAX

[Christofire]

Sticking with Palko to guide him through a rough start seems like a less desperate move than throwing Orton out there after six practices.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by jd1020

The one that makes more sense is that this is what it looks like when a promising coach begins to self-destruct.

Promising is a strong word for a coach that can't develop a proper game plan or off season program.

Haley actually has a terrific offseason program. He took a risk this offseason and it ended up blowing up in his face. I may be in the minority that appreciates that he actually tried something different and likely learned from his mistakes. That's what you want to see young coaches do.

To the point about game planning... I don't know what we expect him to do. I think we need to pay very close attention to how much his game plan would change with Orton in the game. People say Haley's a horizontal offensive guy. What choice do you really have when your QB is so incapable of going vertical.

[Estron]

Originally Posted by beer me

Chiefs biggest question is how do they stop being the Chiefs. Really. From top to bottom one of the biggest punchlines in the NFL for years. I guess since that's the case I'd start with ownership.

Well, that's going to be a problem. You can fire a GM; you can fire a coach; you can release a player. There is no way in hell you can fire an owner.

[OzarksChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Haley actually has a terrific offseason program. He took a risk this offseason and it ended up blowing up in his face. I may be in the minority that appreciates that he actually tried something different and likely learned from his mistakes. That's what you want to see young coaches do.

To the point about game planning... I don't know what we expect him to do. I think we need to pay very close attention to how much his game plan would change with Orton in the game. People say Haley's a horizontal offensive guy. What choice do you really have when your QB is so incapable of going vertical.

The Chiefs had no off season program due to the lockout. I don't think he has learned from any of his mistakes. His playcalling still sucks as does his time management. I don't see the genius in anything he has done and your head coach should not be learning on the job.(He has admitted to doing that). I hate to start over with another head coach but if we don't we may be drafting in the top 5 for the next 3 years.