Chiefs Babb: Chiefs, Broncos have gone in different directions after shaking things up - Page 2

**Tribal Warfare** · 10-20-2009, 11:26 PM

Chiefs, Broncos have gone in different directions after shaking things up
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star

Todd Haley looked relieved. His arms were crossed late in Sunday’s game at Washington, and he didn’t let a smile break through until the Chiefs had their first victory — and Haley’s first as a head coach — clinched.

“It just felt like what we should have been doing anyway,” Haley said this week.

On the opposite side of the country, Denver coach Josh McDaniels looked like it was nothing new. Eight days after his fist-pumping outburst following the Broncos’ win against New England, another first-time head coach had the look Monday night of a coach who now expected to win. Not that Denver is slowing.

“We’ve got a lot of improvements to make,” McDaniels said after his team’s 34-23 win against the Chargers.

Two teams that began this season with pressing questions and mounting concerns have since gone in far different directions. Both endured an offseason packed with change, turmoil and tested fan bases. Both have new general managers, head coaches, starting quarterbacks and defensive systems.

After that, the similarities are lost. The Broncos are 6-0, and the Chiefs are 1-5. One team started fast and hasn’t stopped, and the other was one loss from its worst start in franchise history.

As both teams move forward, there is one pressing question: How did one team get tangled in all that change, and how did the other win in spite of it?

Rich Gannon is a former NFL quarterback who spent four seasons in Kansas City. He’s now a CBS analyst and has watched Kansas City and Denver multiple times this season. Gannon admitted Tuesday that he was like many observers: He wouldn’t have predicted Denver could overcome a messy offseason, which included a spat between McDaniels and former quarterback Jay Cutler, and the continued issues with wide receiver Brandon Marshall.

Somehow, Gannon said, the Broncos have done it.

“I just thought it was going to be a disastrous year. I didn’t see it coming either,” Gannon said. “It speaks volumes of the job that Josh McDaniels has done.”

As similar as both teams appeared to be entering the 2009 season, Gannon said there was a key difference in the level of personnel that each team inherited. The Chiefs have made it clear that their roster remains — and will remain — a work in progress until Kansas City finds what it calls the “right 53” players. General manager Scott Pioli made three in-season trades — the NFL’s trade deadline passed Tuesday at 3 p.m. — and has auditioned numerous players in an effort to get it right.

Gannon said the Broncos didn’t require such an overhaul. Instead, Gannon said, Denver could focus on fine-tuning a talented group. The Chiefs have a handful of reliable receivers and a patchwork offensive line. Denver possesses neither of those problems. The Chiefs have started three combinations at offensive line in six games, and such inconsistency remains among Kansas City’s wide receivers that Haley demoted receivers coach Dedric Ward last week. Denver remained consistent on its line from last year, and it possesses several reliable receivers, all of whom have helped ease quarterback Kyle Orton’s transition.

“You give Matt Cassel those three guys they have in Denver,” Gannon said, referring to the wide receivers, “and it’d be a lot different.”

Gannon said that McDaniels had less work to do when he took over, and because of that, the Broncos didn’t have to spend time reworking the roster, as the Chiefs are doing. Gannon said that former coach Herm Edwards left Haley a far worse mess than McDaniels inherited from Mike Shanahan.

“I don’t think it’s even close,” Gannon said. “Todd Haley’s situation is a lot different. Let’s just be honest: They have made some big mistakes, in my opinion, in what they did, what Herm did with that football team.

“I knew they were going to get off to a slow start.”

Haley spent part of Monday discussing how he’ll work this week to identify the things the Chiefs did right against Washington, and how he’ll try to get the Chiefs to repeat them. He said he didn’t know how players would respond to this new phenomenon of success, and that this week would be, as much as anything, about learning about his team from a new perspective.

Further up the AFC West standings, Denver began this week with a firm grip on the division lead. As similar as the Broncos’ path once was to the Chiefs’, things appear much different now.

“I think everybody would admit that we’re not the same team we were last year,” McDaniels said.

Or even two months ago. Gannon said the Chiefs are doing good things, but he added that little doubt remains that it’ll take Kansas City much longer than Denver to clean up its mess.

“There’s a lot of work to be done there, and (Haley) knows that,” Gannon said. “He doesn’t have all the players he needs to get it done. There are some gut-wrenching decisions that he’s had to make, and he has stood tall, and he has made them.

“They’re certainly heading in the right direction, but it’s sure painful getting there.”

Mr. Laz · 10-21-2009, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

good luck with that...

The doom and gloom crowd will never be happy with Haley... He isnt no Herm Edwards...

you flip flop almost as much as gochiefs

Barret · 10-21-2009, 11:29 AM

Gannon won a few points with me when he said this.....

“I don’t think it’s even close,” Gannon said. “Todd Haley’s situation is a lot different. Let’s just be honest: They have made some big mistakes, in my opinion, in what they did, what Herm did with that football team."

Someone finally calling out Herm Edwards as the joke he is. Bravo Rich, Bravo

OctoberFart · 10-21-2009, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Direckshun

Brian Dawkins is the defensive player of the year, that's how.

What about #92 for them?

TEX · 10-21-2009, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barret

Gannon won a few points with me when he said this.....

“I don’t think it’s even close,” Gannon said. “Todd Haley’s situation is a lot different. Let’s just be honest: They have made some big mistakes, in my opinion, in what they did, what Herm did with that football team."

Someone finally calling out Herm Edwards as the joke he is. Bravo Rich, Bravo

I thought the same thing. Good job Rich Gannon. Way to call that worthless piece of shit of a HC out. The funny part is that Herm said that "most" of the pieces are / were in place.

Reerun_KC · 10-21-2009, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laz

you flip flop almost as much as gochiefs

Priceless... So priceless....

Reerun_KC · 10-21-2009, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raybec 4

That's the whole point, McDaniels took over a really talented team. Haley took over a team that could very well have been the worst in the league.

cant argue this...

Halfcan · 10-21-2009, 03:00 PM

Donks will get smeared in the Playoffs by Indie again.

vailpass · 10-21-2009, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halfcan

Donks will get smeared in the Playoffs by Indie again.

They better cuz if Denver beats Indy and goes to the SB there are going to be some wrist-slitting mofos on this board

chiefzilla1501 · 10-21-2009, 03:11 PM

I don't understand the point of this article.

Did he forget that the Broncos were 1 or 2 wins away from the playoffs last year while the Chiefs were the 3rd worst team in the NFL? We didn't move in a different direction. We sucked last year and we still suck.

**Buehler445** · 10-21-2009, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vailpass

They better cuz if Denver beats Indy and goes to the SB there are going to be some wrist-slitting mofos on this board

I already cut mine

Posted via Mobile Device

Hammock Parties · 10-21-2009, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laz

you flip flop almost as much as gochiefs

At least he doesn't use dupes and talk out his ass constantly.

**Easy 6** · 10-21-2009, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vailpass

They better cuz if Denver beats Indy and goes to the SB there are going to be some wrist-slitting mofos on this board

Vail, this is Base Camp over?!

I want you & your team down off that mountain NOW! i repeat NOW!, your oxygen deprivation is acute...you could all die up there.

I'm not writing letters to your families...

vailpass · 10-21-2009, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott free

Vail, this is Base Camp over?!

I want you & your team down off that mountain NOW! i repeat NOW!, your oxygen deprivation is acute...you could all die up there.

I'm not writing letters to your families...

Marcellus · 10-21-2009, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Wow, thanks, Kent!

If I hadn't read your article, there is NO WAY I had known that the Chiefs were 1-5 and the Broncos were 6-0.

****in' A. You RULE!!!!!

If that's all you got from reading this article, it explains a lot about you. Not that any more explanation is really necessary.

10-20-2009, 11:26 PM
Tribal Warfare The Boom Boom Room Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $942813	Babb: Chiefs, Broncos have gone in different directions after shaking things up Chiefs, Broncos have gone in different directions after shaking things up By KENT BABB The Kansas City Star Todd Haley looked relieved. His arms were crossed late in Sunday’s game at Washington, and he didn’t let a smile break through until the Chiefs had their first victory — and Haley’s first as a head coach — clinched. “It just felt like what we should have been doing anyway,” Haley said this week. On the opposite side of the country, Denver coach Josh McDaniels looked like it was nothing new. Eight days after his fist-pumping outburst following the Broncos’ win against New England, another first-time head coach had the look Monday night of a coach who now expected to win. Not that Denver is slowing. “We’ve got a lot of improvements to make,” McDaniels said after his team’s 34-23 win against the Chargers. Two teams that began this season with pressing questions and mounting concerns have since gone in far different directions. Both endured an offseason packed with change, turmoil and tested fan bases. Both have new general managers, head coaches, starting quarterbacks and defensive systems. After that, the similarities are lost. The Broncos are 6-0, and the Chiefs are 1-5. One team started fast and hasn’t stopped, and the other was one loss from its worst start in franchise history. As both teams move forward, there is one pressing question: How did one team get tangled in all that change, and how did the other win in spite of it? Rich Gannon is a former NFL quarterback who spent four seasons in Kansas City. He’s now a CBS analyst and has watched Kansas City and Denver multiple times this season. Gannon admitted Tuesday that he was like many observers: He wouldn’t have predicted Denver could overcome a messy offseason, which included a spat between McDaniels and former quarterback Jay Cutler, and the continued issues with wide receiver Brandon Marshall. Somehow, Gannon said, the Broncos have done it. “I just thought it was going to be a disastrous year. I didn’t see it coming either,” Gannon said. “It speaks volumes of the job that Josh McDaniels has done.” As similar as both teams appeared to be entering the 2009 season, Gannon said there was a key difference in the level of personnel that each team inherited. The Chiefs have made it clear that their roster remains — and will remain — a work in progress until Kansas City finds what it calls the “right 53” players. General manager Scott Pioli made three in-season trades — the NFL’s trade deadline passed Tuesday at 3 p.m. — and has auditioned numerous players in an effort to get it right. Gannon said the Broncos didn’t require such an overhaul. Instead, Gannon said, Denver could focus on fine-tuning a talented group. The Chiefs have a handful of reliable receivers and a patchwork offensive line. Denver possesses neither of those problems. The Chiefs have started three combinations at offensive line in six games, and such inconsistency remains among Kansas City’s wide receivers that Haley demoted receivers coach Dedric Ward last week. Denver remained consistent on its line from last year, and it possesses several reliable receivers, all of whom have helped ease quarterback Kyle Orton’s transition. “You give Matt Cassel those three guys they have in Denver,” Gannon said, referring to the wide receivers, “and it’d be a lot different.” Gannon said that McDaniels had less work to do when he took over, and because of that, the Broncos didn’t have to spend time reworking the roster, as the Chiefs are doing. Gannon said that former coach Herm Edwards left Haley a far worse mess than McDaniels inherited from Mike Shanahan. “I don’t think it’s even close,” Gannon said. “Todd Haley’s situation is a lot different. Let’s just be honest: They have made some big mistakes, in my opinion, in what they did, what Herm did with that football team. “I knew they were going to get off to a slow start.” Haley spent part of Monday discussing how he’ll work this week to identify the things the Chiefs did right against Washington, and how he’ll try to get the Chiefs to repeat them. He said he didn’t know how players would respond to this new phenomenon of success, and that this week would be, as much as anything, about learning about his team from a new perspective. Further up the AFC West standings, Denver began this week with a firm grip on the division lead. As similar as the Broncos’ path once was to the Chiefs’, things appear much different now. “I think everybody would admit that we’re not the same team we were last year,” McDaniels said. Or even two months ago. Gannon said the Chiefs are doing good things, but he added that little doubt remains that it’ll take Kansas City much longer than Denver to clean up its mess. “There’s a lot of work to be done there, and (Haley) knows that,” Gannon said. “He doesn’t have all the players he needs to get it done. There are some gut-wrenching decisions that he’s had to make, and he has stood tall, and he has made them. “They’re certainly heading in the right direction, but it’s sure painful getting there.”
Posts: 42,034

10-21-2009, 11:29 AM	#17
Barret Still Lurking Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: East Texas Casino cash: $4123790	Gannon won a few points with me when he said this..... “I don’t think it’s even close,” Gannon said. “Todd Haley’s situation is a lot different. Let’s just be honest: They have made some big mistakes, in my opinion, in what they did, what Herm did with that football team." Someone finally calling out Herm Edwards as the joke he is. Bravo Rich, Bravo
Posts: 1,062

10-21-2009, 03:00 PM	#22
Halfcan In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $7327995	Donks will get smeared in the Playoffs by Indie again.
Posts: 43,200

10-21-2009, 03:11 PM	#24
chiefzilla1501 In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2008 Casino cash: $2134497	I don't understand the point of this article. Did he forget that the Broncos were 1 or 2 wins away from the playoffs last year while the Chiefs were the 3rd worst team in the NFL? We didn't move in a different direction. We sucked last year and we still suck.
Posts: 48,015