Q&A with TODD HALEY - 6/5

[Dinny Bossa Nova]

Q&A with TODD HALEY - 6/5
Jun 05, 2009, 3:30:41 PM


MINI-CAMP

TODD HALEY: “Good afternoon everybody. Anybody who’s been out here, and even though it’s being called a mandatory mini-camp, it’s basically the way we’ve been practicing. It just has the word ‘mandatory’ on it. We’re going to have two (practices) today and two tomorrow. That’s the only difference to me. It’s another opportunity for the team to get together, be together, practice together and work together which is really what we’ve been doing.

“Now, if you go back a month and a half ago to the voluntary mini-camp, where we are now is night and day. I think physically, strength-wise, we look like a different group of players for the most part. We’ve lost 338 pounds which is a significant amount of weight. I would say generally if a team loses 125 to 150 a year it would be a good average - 338 pounds since that last camp, so I’m happy about the way physically the team is starting to look and shape up.”

Q: What did you think about Brian Waters and Mike Vrabel, two players who haven’t been here, being here today?

HALEY: “I think it was good to see them out there, see them out there with their teammates and practicing and getting involved. You could tell there is going to be an acclimation period, a learning period, but I thought for the first time out it was okay.”

Q: You obviously know why Brian wasn’t here but do you have any information why Mike wasn’t here?

HALEY: “Yeah, like I said, there are no surprises for either of those guys and Washington, too, who’s not allowed to be here. (college class hasn’t graduated yet) I’m very clear as to why he wasn’t here. Those are private conversations between myself and the player which I won’t go into. Like I said, it was good to see him among his teammates practicing.”

Q: There was a lot of talk in the media about Brian wanting to be traded. We asked him about that and he was non-committal. As far as you’re concerned is that water under the bridge?

HALEY: “He is here; he’s practicing. That’s what I want. I’m not, Scott’s not, in the business of giving players away. He’s here and working and trying to learn what we’re teaching and trying to do it the way we’re teaching it. That’s what I’m for. We obviously need as many players as we can get.”

Q: What kind of shape is he in?

HALEY: “I would say he’s got some work to do.”

Q: Are you looking for him to get back to running with that first group?

HALEY: “In my mind, there are no ‘ones’ right now. It really is – and you can speculate whatever you want to speculate – but everybody’s competing. The fact that we’ve had a bunch of guys here for three months every day those guys deserve to run with the first group because there has to be a first group. But every position is wide open. It is an open competition and these guys are very clear on that. They’re trying to make the most of each opportunity they have to show what they’re capable of doing.”

Q: Was everybody here then than Washington?

HALEY: “Right.”

Q: Do you think that the NCAA rule about not being able to be here until their class graduates put them at a disadvantage?

HALEY: “Yeah, it’s always been a little bit of a juggling issue. But I’ve been on plenty of teams where we’ve had those guys. I’ve been the coach who’s had to stay behind from his vacation to work with a guy who’s come in late. Not the best job, but if usually falls to the lower rung guys. I’ve been there multiple times. We’ll get him caught up.

“Is it a hurdle? Yeah, it’s a hurdle for sure. But I think Donald is dedicated and we’re talking to him and trying to keep him up to speed so when he does come he’ll have the best chance to catch up and succeed.”

Q: Are your defensive backs not going through the drastic change that your other defensive players who are playing new positions going through? How do you see those guys coming along?

HALEY: “I think we’re seeing a little leadership from that group. But I wouldn’t say they’re not going through drastic changes because I don’t think that’s a true statement. We’re hearing from them every day, ‘that’s not the way we were taught.’ There is a lot new that they’re being taught, so they’re going through some drastic changes. There are some subtle things at the defensive back position whether it’s depth, keys, what they’re looking at, where they’re supposed to be looking and when that are pretty drastic major changes for a player who has been doing it one way for a year or two years. But I think there are some leadership signs coming out of that group that I like.”

Q: Mike Vrabel has a lot of experience in a ¾ type defense. Are you expecting him to be a leader-type guy?

HALEY: “There is no doubt that part of the reason Mike’s here is that leadership and the fact that he’s been around a team that’s got some rings on their fingers. It was obvious to me just in one day – although in all the conversations I’ve had with him it was pretty obvious – that he knows what is going on; he knows what you have to do. It’s obvious to me that he came in in pretty good shape which tells you he understands what it takes. He’s a prideful guy who wants to win and I have no doubt he’ll help us from a leadership standpoint.”

Q: Do you expect you’ll be able to work with Brian Waters and get along with him pretty good?

HALEY: “I would hope. I’m not going to get along with everybody all the time. It’s not my personality, but I try to lay out what I am and what I expect. But again, I’m going to go by what I see: the best players are going to play. No matter who you are you’re going to have to show that you’re one of those players. He’s going to start through that process right now.”

Q: You’ve said more than one time that you want players who want to be here. Do you feel in your conversations that he wants to be a Chief?

HALEY: “Again, I had a good conversation with Brian Waters and I will not to go into anything that’s said in conversations that I’ve had with players. I know that’s getting monotonous but that’s what I believe. I think you can go by what you see. He’s here, he’s working and he’s a Kansas City Chief.”

Q: You’ve talked about Monty Beisel and being around him. Can you talk about what he’s meant to his teams and what his impact here might be?

HALEY: “Monty was with us in Arizona but I was on the other side of the ball. He was somebody I always paid attention to and thought he was a team player, a guy who knew all the positions and a guy who was one of our better special teams players. He was a guy who started at times. It was nice there was a familiarity with each other. I think there is a lot that Monty can offer this football team. He’s in transition right now also. It’s the second time around but it’s all new to him.”

Q: Any reports that Mike Brown may be added to your roster?

HALEY: “No, I won’t comment on anything right now.”