Chiefs Teicher: Chiefs' Haley not changing approach to preseason

**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.”

michaelj_58 · 08-15-2011, 03:18 AM

I just hope there doing the right thing.

**Renegade** · 08-15-2011, 05:06 AM

Oh boy we will lose 35-0 this week

MIAdragon · 08-15-2011, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Renegade

Oh boy we will lose 35-0 this week

It's ok, it's only practice.

**Dave Lane** · 08-15-2011, 06:40 AM

This is a major risk for the soft early part of the season, we can't afford to give away any of our early games because we aren't ready. This is a risky approach and I'm surprised Pioli went along with it.

Reerun_KC · 08-15-2011, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

This is a major risk for the soft early part of the season, we can't afford to give away any of our early games because we aren't ready. This is a risky approach and I'm surprised Pioli went along with it.

Little upset that we arent winning practice?

suds79 · 08-15-2011, 06:53 AM

I'm okay with the Chiefs approach. These games don't mean anything.

Just more than ever I wish there was a 2 game preseason. 3 more games to go like this sounds like a long time.

Blick · 08-15-2011, 07:08 AM

Quote:

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.

This doesn't jive with the tough, physical team that Haley wants.

Would be a great approach if we were in a 7 on 7 flag league.

I think the team is getting set up for a slow start.

Marcellus · 08-15-2011, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blick

This doesn't jive with the tough, physical team that Haley wants.

Would be a great approach if we were in a 7 on 7 flag league.

I think the team is getting set up for a slow start.

These guys have done nothing for 7 months. No OTA's and I imagine limited conditioning since it had to be done on their own.

If they were going full bore right now and guys were getting hurt people would be screaming about Haley being an ignorant dumbass like they were after his first TC and all the conditioning they were doing.

Hydrae · 08-15-2011, 07:21 AM

I like this approach and think it makes a lot of sense to ensure conditioning as a base to build on. I am hopeful this will allow us to get through the season with less injury issues than other teams.

Chiefnj2 · 08-15-2011, 07:22 AM

I don't think the Chiefs are a good enough or experienced enough team to take the approach Haley is taking (assuming the next game is like the first).

I understand resting and not playing guys who showed up a day or so ago, or guys who were injured, but this isn't an experienced team that can afford the luxury of taking game time off. There is limited contact with the new rules in place, so they aren't ever going to "catch up" to other teams. All the other games I saw had a lot of starters beginning the game and playing like regular season.

The Chiefs can't afford a slow start to the season.

Deberg_1990 · 08-15-2011, 07:27 AM

Why dont fans ever get stoked when the Royals win the Arizona Cactus League every year?

Blick · 08-15-2011, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcellus

These guys have done nothing for 7 months. No OTA's and I imagine limited conditioning since it had to be done on their own.

If that's true, then we have a team full of unprofessional, lazy ****s.

Every other team was in the same boat, and other teams are hitting each other in practice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcellus

If they were going full bore right now and guys were getting hurt people would be screaming about Haley being an ignorant dumbass like they were after his first TC and all the conditioning they were doing.

I think Haley's approach is going to put guys at risk for injury too. It seems like they are just going to try to "flip the switch" when the regular season starts and I think that's a dangerous approach with a young team like Chiefnj2 points out.

Marcellus · 08-15-2011, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blick

If that's true, then we have a team full of unprofessional, lazy ****s.

Every other team was in the same boat, and other teams are hitting each other in practice.

I think Haley's approach is going to put guys at risk for injury too. It seems like they are just going to try to "flip the switch" when the regular season starts and I think that's a dangerous approach with a young team like Chiefnj2 points out.

What tells you this? You think it's going to be daycare until the season starts? They still have 4 weeks to get ramped up. No need to go full on now, they can bring them up to full speed in time.

**Lzen** · 08-15-2011, 08:00 AM

I'm hoping they will be ready to start doing some more pads and hitting in practice by next week. But I don't blame Haley for taking this approach. Time will tell if it is the right one. Anyone remember what was the Chiefs preseason record last year? 1-3?

08-15-2011, 02:27 AM
Tribal Warfare The Boom Boom Room Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $762813	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, 03:18 AM	#2
michaelj_58 Starter Join Date: Aug 2009 Casino cash: $10005231	I just hope there doing the right thing.
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08-15-2011, 05:06 AM	#3
Renegade Just Lurking Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ozark Mountain Country Casino cash: $1617904	Oh boy we will lose 35-0 this week
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08-15-2011, 06:40 AM	#5
Dave Lane Space Cadet and Aczabel Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Kanab, UT, USA Casino cash: $9333275 VARSITY	This is a major risk for the soft early part of the season, we can't afford to give away any of our early games because we aren't ready. This is a risky approach and I'm surprised Pioli went along with it. __________________ Thanks, Trump for the civics lesson. We are learning so much about RICO, espionage, sedition, impeachment, the 25th Amendment, order of succession, nepotism, separation of powers, 1st Amendment, obstruction of justice, the emoluments clause, conflicts of interest, collusion, sanctions, oligarchs, money laundering and so much more.
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08-15-2011, 06:53 AM	#7
suds79 MVP Join Date: Sep 2000 Casino cash: $10005036	I'm okay with the Chiefs approach. These games don't mean anything. Just more than ever I wish there was a 2 game preseason. 3 more games to go like this sounds like a long time.
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08-15-2011, 07:21 AM	#10
Hydrae Sandbox: Leander Lasercats Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Austin, Tx Casino cash: $2177000	I like this approach and think it makes a lot of sense to ensure conditioning as a base to build on. I am hopeful this will allow us to get through the season with less injury issues than other teams.
Posts: 14,691

08-15-2011, 07:22 AM	#11
Chiefnj2 In Search of a Life Join Date: Mar 2007 Casino cash: $7873688	I don't think the Chiefs are a good enough or experienced enough team to take the approach Haley is taking (assuming the next game is like the first). I understand resting and not playing guys who showed up a day or so ago, or guys who were injured, but this isn't an experienced team that can afford the luxury of taking game time off. There is limited contact with the new rules in place, so they aren't ever going to "catch up" to other teams. All the other games I saw had a lot of starters beginning the game and playing like regular season. The Chiefs can't afford a slow start to the season. __________________ Mismanaging the clock.
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08-15-2011, 07:27 AM	#12
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3864454	Why dont fans ever get stoked when the Royals win the Arizona Cactus League every year?
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08-15-2011, 08:00 AM	#15
Lzen Supporter Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Jan Quadrant Vincent 16 Casino cash: $2130692	I'm hoping they will be ready to start doing some more pads and hitting in practice by next week. But I don't blame Haley for taking this approach. Time will tell if it is the right one. Anyone remember what was the Chiefs preseason record last year? 1-3? __________________ If at first you don't succeed ...skydiving is not for you.
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