Chiefs Babb: Chiefs’ ugly 2009 season set the stage for surprise start this year

**Tribal Warfare** · 09-29-2010, 10:52 PM

Chiefs’ ugly 2009 season set the stage for surprise start this year
By KENT BABB The Kansas City Star
The Kansas City Star

Maybe the things that made the 2009 season such a painful time will stay away if the Chiefs pretend that season never happened.

A year ago, the Chiefs were mired in a culture of losing. Players lacked discipline. Coaches lacked their team’s faith. And after an 0-6 start, the Chiefs finished that season with a 4-12 record — their third consecutive losing season.

As soon as it ended, the team tried to kill its memory. Coaches don’t often reference 2009 in meetings or during practices. Players say that the season wasn’t worth talking about, so why bring it up? Coach Todd Haley said that, although it was an important year for his team’s growth, it’s no longer a part of the Chiefs’ typical discussion.

The Chiefs are 3-0 in 2010, after all, so what’s the point in talking about a time that wasn’t nearly as cheerful?

“Rarely do you hear anything about last year,” guard Brian Waters said. “Rarely.”

As much as Haley avoids the subject, publicly and privately, he doesn’t diminish its value on the Chiefs’ surprising start this season. He said that the ’09 season was an important part of building a foundation, and part of that was reminding players that their old habits just weren’t working.

Too many players were out of shape when they arrived for the offseason conditioning program. Too many loafed during practices. Too few were willing to mind the details in meetings and in film study. Haley has said that the Chiefs couldn’t change overnight, and whether they won two or eight games last season, players needed to see that, if they wanted to someday be better, they’d have to put in more time and pay more attention during the days between games.

Even now, Haley is reluctant to discuss last season. He does so only occasionally, and it’s only when he needs to illustrate how the agony of last season helped to strengthen the Chiefs for the future.

“Last year was a very important part of any success we have going forward,” Haley said. “I keep saying that, because I believe it.

“Any of us that survived last year, for one reason or another, will be better coaches, players, team. Last year was a fact that wasn’t going to change. It might have been two wins, it might have been six wins; it could have been eight wins. But I don’t really think the overall result was going to be affected much. We had too much work to do.”

Haley said the work isn’t over, but now players realize that they have to be determined and energetic without constant reminders.

Linebacker Derrick Johnson said last week that weekly losing is still a fresh memory. He said that, as much as anything, he is driven by the hope that he and the Chiefs never have to endure such a punishment again. Cornerback Brandon Carr said Wednesday that the sick feeling of a losing season carried into this offseason, and players used ’09 as motivation to push themselves in workouts and practices.

“That was in the back of our minds,” Carr said. “We don’t want a repeat performance of last year. But we knew last year that we were getting better. It may not have shown on the scoreboard, but we were doing the little things. Now it’s paying off, and you can see it.”

In the past, Haley has been part of staffs that did a similar thing to move on from a previous season. Whether that year was successful or sour, those staffs sometimes had T-shirts printed to remind players to get over what had happened in the past; all that mattered now was what was happening next.

Waters said that hasn’t been a problem, because so much seems different now. The Chiefs have new coordinators and several new assistant coaches, a promising rookie class and, most importantly, three victories in as many weeks.

“There’s so much different,” Waters said. “There was so much stuff that was not where we wanted it. Some of the stuff, we had to go through. This year, just the attitudes, the approach that we’ve taken, the different personalities that we’ve brought in the room — we’re a different team from last year. We just are.”

And so, 2009 is not often discussed, although it’s not forgotten.

Whatever works.

“It’s definitely a learning tool,” Carr said. “We all know the feeling of being down. It just feels good to be up now, and we’re just chasing that feeling.”

BIG_DADDY · 09-29-2010, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

Chiefs’ ugly 2009 season set the stage for surprise start this year
By KENT BABB The Kansas City Star
The Kansas City Star

Maybe the things that made the 2009 season such a painful time will stay away if the Chiefs pretend that season never happened.

A year ago, the Chiefs were mired in a culture of losing. Players lacked discipline. Coaches lacked their team’s faith. And after an 0-6 start, the Chiefs finished that season with a 4-12 record — their third consecutive losing season.

.”

That's what happens when you need to completely change a culture, it takes a little time. To be honest you could put on a blindfold and hit random keys and gain as much insight as Kent has given us here.

go bo · 09-29-2010, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIG_DADDY

That's what happens when you need to completely change a culture, it takes a little time. To be honest you could put on a blindfold and hit random keys and gain as much insight as Kent has given us here.

wow, that sounds like it would be a neat trick...

you should try it out sometime...

09-29-2010, 10:52 PM
Tribal Warfare The Boom Boom Room Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $752813	Babb: Chiefs’ ugly 2009 season set the stage for surprise start this year Chiefs’ ugly 2009 season set the stage for surprise start this year By KENT BABB The Kansas City Star The Kansas City Star Maybe the things that made the 2009 season such a painful time will stay away if the Chiefs pretend that season never happened. A year ago, the Chiefs were mired in a culture of losing. Players lacked discipline. Coaches lacked their team’s faith. And after an 0-6 start, the Chiefs finished that season with a 4-12 record — their third consecutive losing season. As soon as it ended, the team tried to kill its memory. Coaches don’t often reference 2009 in meetings or during practices. Players say that the season wasn’t worth talking about, so why bring it up? Coach Todd Haley said that, although it was an important year for his team’s growth, it’s no longer a part of the Chiefs’ typical discussion. The Chiefs are 3-0 in 2010, after all, so what’s the point in talking about a time that wasn’t nearly as cheerful? “Rarely do you hear anything about last year,” guard Brian Waters said. “Rarely.” As much as Haley avoids the subject, publicly and privately, he doesn’t diminish its value on the Chiefs’ surprising start this season. He said that the ’09 season was an important part of building a foundation, and part of that was reminding players that their old habits just weren’t working. Too many players were out of shape when they arrived for the offseason conditioning program. Too many loafed during practices. Too few were willing to mind the details in meetings and in film study. Haley has said that the Chiefs couldn’t change overnight, and whether they won two or eight games last season, players needed to see that, if they wanted to someday be better, they’d have to put in more time and pay more attention during the days between games. Even now, Haley is reluctant to discuss last season. He does so only occasionally, and it’s only when he needs to illustrate how the agony of last season helped to strengthen the Chiefs for the future. “Last year was a very important part of any success we have going forward,” Haley said. “I keep saying that, because I believe it. “Any of us that survived last year, for one reason or another, will be better coaches, players, team. Last year was a fact that wasn’t going to change. It might have been two wins, it might have been six wins; it could have been eight wins. But I don’t really think the overall result was going to be affected much. We had too much work to do.” Haley said the work isn’t over, but now players realize that they have to be determined and energetic without constant reminders. Linebacker Derrick Johnson said last week that weekly losing is still a fresh memory. He said that, as much as anything, he is driven by the hope that he and the Chiefs never have to endure such a punishment again. Cornerback Brandon Carr said Wednesday that the sick feeling of a losing season carried into this offseason, and players used ’09 as motivation to push themselves in workouts and practices. “That was in the back of our minds,” Carr said. “We don’t want a repeat performance of last year. But we knew last year that we were getting better. It may not have shown on the scoreboard, but we were doing the little things. Now it’s paying off, and you can see it.” In the past, Haley has been part of staffs that did a similar thing to move on from a previous season. Whether that year was successful or sour, those staffs sometimes had T-shirts printed to remind players to get over what had happened in the past; all that mattered now was what was happening next. Waters said that hasn’t been a problem, because so much seems different now. The Chiefs have new coordinators and several new assistant coaches, a promising rookie class and, most importantly, three victories in as many weeks. “There’s so much different,” Waters said. “There was so much stuff that was not where we wanted it. Some of the stuff, we had to go through. This year, just the attitudes, the approach that we’ve taken, the different personalities that we’ve brought in the room — we’re a different team from last year. We just are.” And so, 2009 is not often discussed, although it’s not forgotten. Whatever works. “It’s definitely a learning tool,” Carr said. “We all know the feeling of being down. It just feels good to be up now, and we’re just chasing that feeling.”
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