Chiefs Teicher: Chiefs' Haley not changing approach to preseason - Page 4

**Tribal Warfare** · 08-15-2011, 02:27 AM

Chiefs' Haley not changing approach to preseason
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

ST. JOSEPH | The Chiefs looked unprepared for Friday night’s exhibition opener compared with their opponents, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The fact the Chiefs were dominated in a 25-0 defeat was perhaps inevitable given that they spent the previous two weeks of training camp working more on conditioning than football.

They may be in for more of the same Friday night when the preseason schedule continues with a game against the Ravens in Baltimore. Coach Todd Haley said he won’t alter the approach this week as camp resumes at Missouri Western.

The Chiefs returned to practice Sunday afternoon.

“I feel really good about the plan,” Haley said. “I said it after the game, it was the first one and not the last one, and I’m going all the way to the last one of the season. We’re in training camp, and as I keep telling the players, there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. Each and every day counts for us and for them to getting this team where it needs to be to start the season.

“I feel good about what we’re doing. We have a plan for this week. We’re going to have another game Friday at Baltimore. But the plan is again going to revolve more about us than anything else right now.”

The Chiefs were in full pads Sunday for the entire practice for the first time at camp. There was some contact but not to the normal standards for a padded practice at camp.

Haley said he is preparing for the Chiefs for the regular season, which begins Sept. 11 against Buffalo at Arrowhead Stadium. He indicated the route he’s taking for the Chiefs is best given the lack of offseason practice and conditioning sessions because of the lockout.

The Chiefs didn’t practice in pads or hold as many contact drills as several other NFL teams during the first two weeks of camp. Haley said he wants all players on equal footing with regard to physical conditioning before he turns them loose in practice.

“I don’t think we’re out of the woods as far as where we are physically,” Haley said. “We’ve got a couple of new, new guys on the roster in addition to some guys that weren’t quite there as last week wound down. That’s still the No. 1 thing for us and for me as the head coach is to get this team taking every day possible to physically get these guys into a position to succeed and hold up for what we hope is a good, long season.

“This time of year, you’re used to being in pads a little more and you’re used to doing things a little differently but (this year) it’s a different set of circumstances. The goal is to be ready for Sept. 11. That’s all really that I’m focused on, and these other things will take care of themselves.”

Haley said some of his assistants had been pushing him to do more in practice. At least one member of the staff, defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, said he understood the situation because it’s been such a strange year for both players and coaches.

“Every team is doing things different,” Crennel said. “Everybody is trying to figure it out. You do what you feel like is best and you go from there. That’s what we’re doing. We think we can be ready Sept. 11.”

Haley resisted the urging from his assistants to bring the Chiefs along faster.

“As the head coach, you have to look at the big picture all the time,” Haley said. “I’ve been an assistant coach and I know how assistant coaches think … they have their area or their agenda that they have to worry about first and foremost, but it’s my job to look at the big picture.

“We’ve got a great, experienced coaching staff. We have great conversations, but there hasn’t been a time when we’ve left any meeting or gone to spread the message to the players that we’re not all on the same page.”

Haley said that after watching the video of the Tampa Bay game, the situation wasn’t as bad as it looked at first glance. On offense, the Chiefs had just 137 yards and had trouble blocking for their quarterbacks.

On defense, the Chiefs missed some tackles. Both are symptoms of when a team hasn’t adequately prepared, at least from a physical standpoint.

“When you watch a game live, when there’s a jailbreak offensively and the quarterback is under great duress, you tend to think it’s everybody,” Haley said. “But it was one guy here, one guy there. It wasn’t three or four guys all with breakdowns.

“It was the same defensively. Our defense only works if everybody is doing their job first. We had some instances where one guy got out of place, and that then made a lot of guys look like maybe they weren’t doing that they’re supposed to.”

Deberg_1990 · 08-15-2011, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Renegade

What does matter is that the young guys are given a proper evaluation. The "game" last week did not do anything for evaluating our talent, so how do we know who the "right 54" are. I just think proper evaluation can't be determined if it isn't actual full speed contact in a game situation

How do you know it did nothing? Are you a position coach for the Chiefs?

Micjones · 08-15-2011, 12:28 PM

This is the right idea. It does seem risky, but so does pushing these guys to the limit and losing a key player for the season due to injury.

Chiefnj2 · 08-15-2011, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hydrae

Maybe even 31.

I thought NE held back a lot of starters. However, their backups (unlike KC's) were very prepared.

Reerun_KC · 08-15-2011, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

I thought NE held back a lot of starters. However, their backups (unlike KC's) were very prepared.

This is the best rebuttal you can come up with?

Skyy God · 08-15-2011, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

I thought NE held back a lot of starters. However, their backups (unlike KC's) were very prepared.

NE, a team that had the luxury of taking a talented but unneeded QB in the 3rd, has better backups than the Chiefs? You don't say...

Carlota69 · 08-15-2011, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

I thought NE held back a lot of starters. However, their backups (unlike KC's) were very prepared.

Question(And I am truly asking, not being sarcastic): Do we know how many of NE backups are rookies? I ask because I think NE is one of those teams that was going to survive the lockout better than most due to the nucleus of the team. I think the same of Pittsburgh. We still have a ton of newbies on our 2nd and 3rd teams. We as a team are not even close to the consistency in NE. or PITT.

FWIW, I dont mind Haley taking this approach, it just sucks to watch.

Chiefnj2 · 08-15-2011, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

This is the best rebuttal you can come up with?

Rebuttal to what? Somebody questioned why I said 30 coaches were taking a certain approach to the games and not 31.

ReynardMuldrake · 08-15-2011, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blick

Worrying about the schedule is like worrying about injuries to me.

We have some tough games? So what...we're supposed to be a good team.

We might have some injuries? So what...we're supposed to be a good team.

Things rarely go perfectly for good teams. Good teams are usually the teams that handle adversity the best.

Since the Chiefs were unusually healthy last year, it seems like Haley is hoping for that again this year. That's just unrealistic, IMO.

I couldn't disagree more. If we had to play with our 2nd string O-line we would lose 16 games. Keeping our starters healthy is absolutely critical.

This season more than most will be a war of attrition. If we can stay ahead of the league on the injury list I think we're halfway there.

Chiefnj2 · 08-15-2011, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pittsie

NE, a team that had the luxury of taking a talented but unneeded QB in the 3rd, has better backups than the Chiefs? You don't say...

Not a matter of "better" backups, just ones that were prepared.

Did Mallett learn more his first game, or did Stanzi?

stevieray · 08-15-2011, 12:41 PM

two years ago, Haley was too hard on the players....and he was losing the team!!!!!1OMGWTF?, now all of a sudden, he's too soft?

meh. not arguing style points.

Messier · 08-15-2011, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

Not a matter of "better" backups, just ones that were prepared.

Did Mallett learn more his first game, or did Stanzi?

Oh, I'll say Stanzi. I even thought this at the time. Every time Stanzi came off the field he looked frustrated but Cassel and Zorn were right there to teach and encourage. Maybe you don't believe in the trial by fire theory. I kept thinking Stanzi will be better for experiences like this.

**dannybcaitlyn** · 08-15-2011, 01:01 PM

Crickets will be in attendance at the next home game.

crazycoffey · 08-15-2011, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIAdragon

It's ok, it's only practice.

would you prefer, "you play to win the game!!!"?

**OnTheWarpath15** · 08-15-2011, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyCoffey

would you prefer, "you play to win the game!!!"?

Did you see that Scott set the draft date?

crazycoffey · 08-15-2011, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Did you see that Scott set the draft date?

en-route to see it now...

08-15-2011, 02:27 AM
Tribal Warfare The Boom Boom Room Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $332813	Teicher: Chiefs' Haley not changing approach to preseason Chiefs' Haley not changing approach to preseason By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star ST. JOSEPH \| The Chiefs looked unprepared for Friday night’s exhibition opener compared with their opponents, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The fact the Chiefs were dominated in a 25-0 defeat was perhaps inevitable given that they spent the previous two weeks of training camp working more on conditioning than football. They may be in for more of the same Friday night when the preseason schedule continues with a game against the Ravens in Baltimore. Coach Todd Haley said he won’t alter the approach this week as camp resumes at Missouri Western. The Chiefs returned to practice Sunday afternoon. “I feel really good about the plan,” Haley said. “I said it after the game, it was the first one and not the last one, and I’m going all the way to the last one of the season. We’re in training camp, and as I keep telling the players, there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. Each and every day counts for us and for them to getting this team where it needs to be to start the season. “I feel good about what we’re doing. We have a plan for this week. We’re going to have another game Friday at Baltimore. But the plan is again going to revolve more about us than anything else right now.” The Chiefs were in full pads Sunday for the entire practice for the first time at camp. There was some contact but not to the normal standards for a padded practice at camp. Haley said he is preparing for the Chiefs for the regular season, which begins Sept. 11 against Buffalo at Arrowhead Stadium. He indicated the route he’s taking for the Chiefs is best given the lack of offseason practice and conditioning sessions because of the lockout. The Chiefs didn’t practice in pads or hold as many contact drills as several other NFL teams during the first two weeks of camp. Haley said he wants all players on equal footing with regard to physical conditioning before he turns them loose in practice. “I don’t think we’re out of the woods as far as where we are physically,” Haley said. “We’ve got a couple of new, new guys on the roster in addition to some guys that weren’t quite there as last week wound down. That’s still the No. 1 thing for us and for me as the head coach is to get this team taking every day possible to physically get these guys into a position to succeed and hold up for what we hope is a good, long season. “This time of year, you’re used to being in pads a little more and you’re used to doing things a little differently but (this year) it’s a different set of circumstances. The goal is to be ready for Sept. 11. That’s all really that I’m focused on, and these other things will take care of themselves.” Haley said some of his assistants had been pushing him to do more in practice. At least one member of the staff, defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, said he understood the situation because it’s been such a strange year for both players and coaches. “Every team is doing things different,” Crennel said. “Everybody is trying to figure it out. You do what you feel like is best and you go from there. That’s what we’re doing. We think we can be ready Sept. 11.” Haley resisted the urging from his assistants to bring the Chiefs along faster. “As the head coach, you have to look at the big picture all the time,” Haley said. “I’ve been an assistant coach and I know how assistant coaches think … they have their area or their agenda that they have to worry about first and foremost, but it’s my job to look at the big picture. “We’ve got a great, experienced coaching staff. We have great conversations, but there hasn’t been a time when we’ve left any meeting or gone to spread the message to the players that we’re not all on the same page.” Haley said that after watching the video of the Tampa Bay game, the situation wasn’t as bad as it looked at first glance. On offense, the Chiefs had just 137 yards and had trouble blocking for their quarterbacks. On defense, the Chiefs missed some tackles. Both are symptoms of when a team hasn’t adequately prepared, at least from a physical standpoint. “When you watch a game live, when there’s a jailbreak offensively and the quarterback is under great duress, you tend to think it’s everybody,” Haley said. “But it was one guy here, one guy there. It wasn’t three or four guys all with breakdowns. “It was the same defensively. Our defense only works if everybody is doing their job first. We had some instances where one guy got out of place, and that then made a lot of guys look like maybe they weren’t doing that they’re supposed to.”
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08-15-2011, 12:28 PM	#47
Micjones Whose house? Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: KCMO Casino cash: $10005180	This is the right idea. It does seem risky, but so does pushing these guys to the limit and losing a key player for the season due to injury. __________________ It's like when I'm right I'm right, when I'm wrong I could been right, so I'm still right cause I coulda been wrong.
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08-15-2011, 12:41 PM	#55
stevieray best in the biz Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Under Pressure Casino cash: $2005273	two years ago, Haley was too hard on the players....and he was losing the team!!!!!1OMGWTF?, now all of a sudden, he's too soft? meh. not arguing style points.
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08-15-2011, 01:01 PM	#57
dannybcaitlyn Supporter Join Date: Oct 2004 Casino cash: $5164000	Crickets will be in attendance at the next home game.
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