Haley breaks down Chiefs
 

Haley breaks down the Chiefs

March 24, 2009 7:19 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson

DANA POINT, Calif. -- New Kansas City Chiefs coach Todd Haley addressed the media at the annual NFL owners' meetings Tuesday.

He touched on several subjects. Here is a sampling:

On 2008 top pick Glenn Dorsey, who struggled as a rookie

"I'm excited to about seeing him running around and lift because he's a guy I thought a heck of a lot of coming out of college. Last year he wasn't real productive but I think he's got a lot of great versatility, especially where we are transitioning potentially to this 3-4. I think there are some roles in there for him where he could have more of an attacking role."

On his early impressions of new Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel

"I've been telling everyone I hope he can play because he's got all of the intangible things you get excited about as a coach. I just came off two years of working with one of the best guys I've ever been around in Kurt Warner. In best guys, I mean guys that are in to football, like to talk about football. It's not about much else for Kurt Warner. This Matt Cassel feels and acts a lot the same way. He is football 24/7 to the point where I've had to pull back the reins on him a couple of times and say, 'Listen, Matt. These next couple of months are about getting in shape and getting your body ready for the season. There's time enough for football.' He's all football. He's calling me every day for numbers to call some of the other guys on the team. We picked up Bobby Engram and Bobby Engram is texting me wanting Cassel's number. At the same time, a text is coming in from Cassel: 'Can I get Engram's number?' So he's doing all of those things that get you excited as a coach. You don't have to worry about what Matt Cassel is doing most of the time. He'll be worrying about football."

On the team's personnel needs on the defensive side of the ball

"That's why I say we're going to be in a transitional period here (to the 3-4). We may never go fully that way. You just don't know. We have to see what we have. That's part of the reason for having the camp before the draft."

On running back Larry Johnson who said he wanted to be traded. (Yet, Kansas City owner Clark Hunt said this week that he heard Johnson wants to come back to Kansas City. Haley said he doesn't know if Johnson will show up to the team's offseason program that starts Monday.)

"I honestly don't know. This is a voluntary thing. I've made it pretty clear that it's a pretty important part of our development as a team."

On whether he will call the offensive plays:

"I haven't decided yet. It's no different than how I'm looking at everything else: What gives us the best chance to win? There were years with Bill Parcells in Dallas where we might have been going into the third preseason game without knowing who was going to call the plays. So I don't think this is abnormal or wrong or right."

Meanwhile, Hunt said the team wants to keep tight end Tony Gonzalez and Gonzalez is excited about the chances in Kansas City. So don't expect a trade of the star at this point.

Sounds like Haley has picked his starting QB, despite the talk of "competition."

That really makes you feel good about Cassel.

Wonder if Thigpen asked for Engram's number.

"hey coach can i get Engram's #?"

"u don't like #4?"

Duh

Great stuff dude.

Especially on Cassell and Dorsey

Well said. Keep up the good work.

Dorsey attacking is the best thing I've heard all offseason. Whoever's idea it was to put 20 pounds on him and turn him into a block-eating plug last year should be taken out back and shot. Or sent to Detroit.

And our new coach knows how to ****ing use "an internet."

Or put on ESPN. Don't forget that ****ing clown.

LMAO that's when I knew for sure Herm wasn't going to work out.

And then again when I heard he falls asleep watching film

Isn't it nice to talk about Herm in past tense?

Wow, feels good.

LOL OH THAT HERM! THOSE WERE THE DAYS!

Hahaha thats awesome.

Hopefully it was Herm and not the assclown leftover Krumrie.

It's truly a new day for Chiefs fans in the know everywhere.

I wouldn't be surprised if Herm wanted to use Dorsey that way to cover up our deficiency at MLB last season. Terrible waste any way you cut it.

I'm trying not to think about that.

Same talent, same line coach, at this point at least.

**** me.

How about this quote "When I was playing, I never worried about a guy that ran a 4.4 forty, if I watched the film and saw that he had 5.2 hands. Coach would say, 'What are you going to do if he runs by you?' I said, 'I won't worry about it too much, Coach, because he can't catch. I'll handle that guy all day."

OH MY GOD!

best quote ever much rep

LMAO

I knew Herman ****ing Edwards wasn't going to work out on January 9th, 2006.

I thought you were going to list the day you first laid eyes on the sumbitch. Something like 11/19/78 (Miracle at the Meadowlands).

Because we all know, knowing how to use the internet is the #1 priority for coaching football.

The NFL is highly computerized these days. Dismissing the internet as a tool indicates a larger problem with Herm's technical prowess.

You can gather information much more efficiently through the internet than any other medium. Herm's behind the times.

It's important b/c it also speaks to his intellectual curiosity and capacity. And it was ultimately an accurate indicator.

But you nicely inferred a lot from my one sentence.

I said it, print it!

Times 28 (just point out the odds this time, 14 million to 500,000) Besides how would I get people to talk about me? (outside of their expert field like I need)

I rule Pioli............

ROFL
I'm really excited to see what Cassel & Bowe can do with an offensive mind like Haley as their coach. I'm also excited to see what happens when they let Dorsey "attack" the way he should have been doing all of last year. Can I get a countdown to the Draft?

Do you think the people of Germany in 1946 thought it was "nice" to talk about Hitler in the past tense?

Hell, no. When it is that bad, the wish-it-had-never-happened far exceeds the thank-god-that's-over.

Yeah, you can't help but feel at least a little jazzed about it all. I'm just ready for the draft to be done and gone, and let's see who we've got.

That's the part I like; looking at reel of the new acquisitions and making a call on who you think will rise above the crop and make the most impact on the coming year.
If Matt really wants to work that hard on his game, and work just as hard at building the trust around him, I can't with any honesty say that we made a bad call.
I'd sure love to have Stafford behind him though, learning the ropes and working on his mechanics for a couple of seasons.
I say Stafford because Sanchez is going to start right away wherever he goes, I just hope it's in the NFC.

KANSAS CITY HAS THIS:::

On his early impressions of new Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel

"I've been telling everyone I hope he can play because he's got all of the intangible things you get excited about as a coach. I just came off two years of working with one of the best guys I've ever been around in Kurt Warner. In best guys, I mean guys that are in to football, like to talk about football. It's not about much else for Kurt Warner. This Matt Cassel feels and acts a lot the same way. He is football 24/7 to the point where I've had to pull back the reins on him a couple of times and say, 'Listen, Matt. These next couple of months are about getting in shape and getting your body ready for the season. There's time enough for football.' He's all football. He's calling me every day for numbers to call some of the other guys on the team. We picked up Bobby Engram and Bobby Engram is texting me wanting Cassel's number. At the same time, a text is coming in from Cassel: 'Can I get Engram's number?' So he's doing all of those things that get you excited as a coach. You don't have to worry about what Matt Cassel is doing most of the time. He'll be worrying about football."

DENVER HAS THIS:::

Whiny douche Cutler who won't even TEXT his coach. HA HAH

Yeah, no wonder McDaniels wanted to bring Cassel along.

Score one for the CHIEFS!

"Jay, put on your ugly-assed throwback uni that I used to wipe my ass with, and HIT THE FIELD YOU LITTLE SACK OF DOUCHEWATER"!!!


-McDaniels inspirational, pre-game speech to Jay Cutler.

Check out the article in the Star today. He says some very positive things about Thigpen as well. Thigpen is a longshot... I just don't think Haley has written him off as the backup just yet.

I was going to say that only Tyler Thigpen's Mom has delusions that TT has a chance to be a starter, but until I saw this:

There is nothing written in stone in the NFL. There are many twists and turns along the way. That is the great thing about sports in general.

Do I 'think' Thigpen will start? Not unless Cassel gets injured.

But, do I think there is at least a 'chance' that it could happen. Yes. A very slight, miniscule chance.... but a chance nevertheless.

The great thing about coaches and GM's is that they aren't fans. They are continually evaluating and making, what they believe, are the best decisions for the team at the time.

I will be surprised if Thigpen starts this year.... just not shocked.

Why didn't Haley mention that McDaniels has been 'sexting' Cassel since he got to KC?

I want to twitter bobby Engram

ROFL ROFL

I haven't been more excited about a QB since the Trent Green signing years back...


CAN WE GET CASSEL A JERSEY NUMBER? ANY INSIGHT ON WHAT THE HOLD UP IS? (Cassel obviously can't have #16, and he wore #10 in high school and college)...

THIS is why people (ahem, Reerun :D) need to stop worrying so much about Cassel. There's so much more to a QB than his arm, Cassel HAS the potential.

Cassel can play in a Pro Style offense and already has experience running an offense like Haleys, he has a stronger arm, hes more accurate, and is bigger. How is Thigpen going to beat him out?

*I'm not saying hes a major upgrade, but hes a little better in all those areas(biggest one being able to run a real offense).

Thank God they aren't fans, otherwise Thigpen might have a shot.

So, in other words, you haven't been this excited about a QB since the last time the Chiefs had one?

This is how I see it, I so badly want KC to draft and develop their own though...:doh!:

We have to hold the league record for franchise who has picked the least 1st round QB's in the history of the NFL.

You are correct about "a chance." In fact ... and no one has mentioned this ... and before anyone goes bonkers ... notice I say "a chance" ... but, there is even a very tiny chance that Haley is surprised by Croyle's talent and he gets to start. I know less than 1%, but as long as he is on the roster... And, who is the other guy? Martin ....

But, I, too, believe Cassel is our QB and he just maybe our true franchise QB.

That I wanted to gouge my eyes out with knitting needles yeah those were the days.

And yet some fans still claim to "miss the old days". I'm so glad we're on a different track now.

And who exactly would that be? You can not be serious.

Herm's goal was to implement the new CB11 Defense...it is a defense in which all 11 players on the field are cornerbacks....

That sounds like a fantastic match up for the Gailey 90/10 offense.

#1; make it so.