Q&A with TODD HALEY - 9/9
 

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Q&A with TODD HALEY - 9/9
Sep 09, 2009, 3:04:04 PM

TODD HALEY: “Good afternoon everybody. We got to our real Wednesday (practice) after our bonus Wednesday on Monday. I think there’s a chance of some weather there (Baltimore) this weekend so I was kind of actually happy we got some rain because it always forces the guys to concentrate.

“Overall, I thought it was a practice that as the day went on started to get better. This is the first official first-time through as a Wednesday so there was a bit of a feeling-out process but I thought overall it was a productive day.”

Q: Matt Cassel was out there again. Did he come back okay after his work on Monday and his day off?

HALEY: “Again, he was out there which was good. That’s better than not being out there and he was able to get through some. That’s going to be the situation that we’re going to evaluate as the week goes on and don’t know that we’ll have an answer right up to until we play.”

Q: Are you pleased with what the offense is doing?

HALEY: “We’re asking them to do a lot here. We’re putting the pressure on them to catch up, so to speak, but overall the guys going back (and up to) the last week of the pre-season have responded. They’re into it; they’re studying; they’re preparing, they’re doing the things that will give them a chance to know what’s going on. I’m glad we got a couple more days of practice. There’s no doubt about that. But I think they’ve shown a good response.”

Q: You’ve got some fairly new faces on the offensive line, so how do you see those guys doing now that you’re in the regular groove?

HALEY: “That’s going to be a fact of life at one position or another where guys are going to be coming in. That’s the way we’re going to operate. We had Ryan (O’Callaghan) in there for a second practice really but it’s going to be a case of the guys helping assimilate those (new) guys into what we’re doing and the way we’re doing it.

“Again, when you get a guy who comes from New England or Miami that’s generally an advantage because I think there are a lot of similarities how we do things.”

Q: Are you excited about this first week of the regular season?

HALEY: “You know that it’s real now and we’ve got to be ready to go. Everything counts. Every minute counts. Every meeting counts. Everything you do obviously will help to determine whether you win or lose.”

Q: Do you feel better because you’ve got your hands on the offense and you’re out there doing what you wanted to do as opposed to being a step away?

HALEY: “I don’t know if better is the term. I’m comfortable doing that; I’ve done it the last few years. It’s something I understand and obviously enjoy. But I don’t know if better is the term. I felt that the offense needed support right now and that’s what I’m doing. Again, I’m still the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs and I cannot forget that whether it’s in practice, meetings or whatever I’m doing.”

Q: How much have you changed your offense?


HALEY: “None, exactly what we ran in the third pre-season game is what you’ll see.”

Q: As far as the injury report, how will Matt be listed?

HALEY: “Questionable I think. This is new to me but a guy who participates some but not all.”

Q: Tamba Hali was impressive to (Baltimore) coach Harbaugh from what he’s seen on film. Where is he in your thoughts?

HALEY: “I think Tamba has been a bright spot without a doubt. He was a guy five months ago that a lot of people were kind of wondering what would happen to Tamba and how he would respond. But once (Kansas City Star reporter) Adam (Teicher) got it out there officially how we were going to play defense there was going to be some adjustment period for him. I think he’s done a very good job to this point of adjusting to this new role. Again, it’s a work in progress. We can’t put him in the Hall of Fame yet but I think he’s made progress in a tough situation.”

Q: Was he one of those guys you weren’t really sure how he was going to respond?

HALEY: “I go by what I see, Kent, and that’s why I didn’t want to speculate on any of that early on. That’s the way I coach: I go by what I see. So, if a guy knows what to do and he’s doing it at a high level then I’ve got no problem.”

Q: What is Baltimore’s strength in your view?

HALEY: “The whole team is a strength. I think they are obviously one of the great defenses over the last decade. Year-in and year-out even though they’ve had to plug different players into different roles each year they’ve come in and played defense. “It’s easy to talk about defense when you talk about Baltimore but I think what’s changed with Baltimore is now the offense is an offense that gives you something to deal with. They’ve got a very good quarterback; they’ve got three tremendous runners; they’ve got one of the top tight ends in the league and they’ve got three receivers that are very good receivers. They probably would be ones on most teams. They have a very physical offensive line. It’s easy to talk about the defense but the offense is now here without a doubt.

“Special teams, they’re one of the better special teams groups in the league. It’s obvious with coach Harbaugh it is his area of expertise and it shows with this team.

“I think (Baltimore’s) a three-headed monster as far as I’m concerned.”

Q: Coach Harbaugh told us that as a first year head coach last year there was a slight advantage for a whole new regime coming in. Do you feel there is a little element of surprise for you?

HALEY: “I can’t speculate on what people think. Again, we’re just trying to get better every single day. We’re still trying to find an identity as a team and that’s going to be a work in progress. That’s really where we’re at.”
http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2009/09...odd_haley__99/

Heh.

Sure, coach.

The look on his face when he said it was pretty funny. I think Haley might have more of a sense of humor than people give him credit for.

I like 'em.

He seems like a yeller, and that's what those boys need.

especially when the OC is now gone

So Tamba has been the guy that has stood out already to coaches watching the new defense.

Goes to show you why a bunch of blowhards on a message board don't know SHIT about evaluating NFL players, and should sometimes shut their pie holes.

The same people that are talking shit about Dorsey should take note in this lesson.

I believe that's what they refer to as a "shit-eatin' grin".

I take that as a subtle shot at Gailey

Has he been sending Dorsey roses or something?

Dorsey has played well this preseason too. It might take him another year before he really becomes the player people thought he could be, but certainly he's no bust. And certainly Tamba to linebacker has been fine. Unlike what some people here said, that he would fail miserably there. :rolleyes:

http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2009/09...odd_haley__99/

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it's there. look again

I agree with you, but he still has to play the regular season.

i think the subtext of that is that after he canned gailey they installed a brand new offense (or the Full Haley, if you will) (sure i read this quote from a player somewhere)...so, they aren't doing anything different, but they are continuing to learn basically a new offensive playbook or greatly altered and expanded playbook....which makes it a funny statement...he has a martini dry sense of humor...

or is it

First off, why the attitude?

Secondly, I don't think there were too many people criticizing Hali's play during the preseason. As a matter of fact, I think it was quite the opposite.

Dorsey looked good at times and bad at times. He's definitely a work in progress but he certainly has all the tools to succeed.

Please. He's garbage.

At best he controls his man at the line of scrimmage. At worst he's getting blown off the ball.

Penetration? HA!

Magee > Dorsey

yeah i said it was, now go look again.

I guess you didn't notice the video player I included

i just did:p just gettin after you since you always get on those who post without a link

ROFL

http://www.shermgrafik.com/blog/wp-c...2/8baeded0.gif

Dude, that is AWESOME!

I've never had a signature on Chiefsplanet before but I'm stealin' that!

LMAO!

Yeah! What he said BIZNATCH! If you want we can meet down at Westport and handle this ghetto style.

Once Tamba has difficulty in coverage everyone will be calling him a bust again.

He talked about that yesterday at the Kick off Luncheon. He said he is still working on that big time. Was really honest about it. Said he was not comfortable with it yet.

I bet we see a bunch of passes to TE and RB Sunday.

Hali has had a better pre-season than he's played in the last two years .. let's see when the regular starts ....

Q: Oh, Okay. So... you... feel... better...

Because the entire offseason was nothing but a Tamba bash. I said all along the dude would be fine. Could he struggle a little in coverage? Sure. But he's been incredibly consistent all preseason.

And anyone saying Dorsey is garbage is a football mental midget. Mcgee is third string.

You wouldn't like that.

That's what I've seen so far

Hali has the work ethic and attitude of a champion. What he lacks in athletic ability he makes up for with hard work. I expect him to struggle at times in coverage but as the season progresses, so will his play.

Honestly, I really didn't see many people "bash" him. I saw people question whether or not he would struggle in coverage, but not any bashers.

That's exactly how it went.

The Guardian is acting though we ****ed his wife.

Mecca was bashing Hali. Dane did get in on the fun a little bit, but not much. It wasn't a summer long thing, though. It was on about 2 threads.

That's not how it went, but you have every right to act like a dipshit. There were plenty of people here bashing Tamba. He was called a bust and people said he wasn't athletic enough to pull it off. Nevermind that lots of outside backers aren't the most athletic guys on the field.

http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showt...=guardian+hali

http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showt...li#post5681237

http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showt...=guardian+hali

I pulled up a search using Hali and Guardian. Those, and the current thread, are all that came up.

Yeah I mean he was only called Ryan Sims all over again. Certainly no bashing there.

And that fucking moron McCloud talked shit on him as well. Now he acts like the kid who got caught sniffing his crotch hand, acting like he didn't do it. Get the F outta here.

Settle down, Butch. As I noted:

You might try decaffeinated.

I still have no doubt that Hali is going to be a well below-average LB and someone whom this organization will be looking to replace at the earliest possible moment.

Hey, **** YOU, you ****ing stupid ****.

First off, I didn't say anything negative about Hali in those two threads (the first two links were the same thread).

Secondly, the first thread was from 4/17, DUMB****.

I really wish you hadn't found this site because you're a complete and utter, useless jackass.

It really must SUCK to have peaked in Junior College.

LMAO

It must really suck to never have peaked past the short bus in your case.

LMAO @ Guardian's rep mouse-over comment.

There were two threads, not that it makes a difference. I must have screwed up the cut & paste.

Teicher: Chiefs tinker with new defense on start of three-day minicamp

and

Defensive Line

were the two threads, just as an FYI.

Urine idiot.

There were more comments about Tamba than that. I didn't always comment on it. The guy took a beating here by quite a few people that didn't think he could make the transition.

Hell you still got 1 idiot on this very page who doesn't even think he can. :rolleyes:

I wonder if they're peaking out their windows at each other right now?

And he won't.

He will continually get abused in coverage.

Going off the preseason games, I think Tamba looks fast off the edge, the new weight wears well on him I think. We'll see yet if he works out as a complete OLB, but his upfield certainly wasn't disappointing.

And I'm completely flip-flop-flip again on this weekend, I'm actually turning back to this game being a toss-up. I don't think the Ravens are as good as advertised, and I'm not so sure we're as bad as advertised, but our OLine has the potential to ruin every play, so....

Who gives a fuck? guys like Joey Porter and Shawne Merriman aren't worth two spits in coverage either. Most linebackers that get lined up on a slot WR or decent tight end get "abused" in coverage reerun.

Unless you have missed EVERY Preseason game, you would know that Hali's time spent in coverage is going to be VERY minimal in Pendergast's defense...VERY MINIMAL.

Hali will be a bright spot on this years KC Defense.
Posted via Mobile Device

This coverage thing is ridiculous. Hali's not even going to be IN coverage most of the time. The Predator position is not meant to drop that much.

Hali's worth will be defined by his ability to get to the quarterback. If he does that, he'll kick ass. End of discussion.

LMAO

Is Tamba going to develop into a Porter or Merriman to compensate for any other weaknesses that he might have? Hali has their natural gifts?

He's a guy who works hard, but that's about it.

When will fans get the fact that the defensive coordinator has FAR more to do with how much Hali is in coverage than the opposing offensive coordinator?

Derrick Thomas was bad in coverage too.... I guess he was a bust, huh?

I have said all along that this is a perfect scheme for Tamba and that he will have his best year.

And now the implicit comparison to DT...

Jesus.

As if comparing him to Porter and Merriman wasn't enough.

Someone had to go retraso completo.

Do people really have visions of Hali as a dominating, game-changing force? Someone who will be getting after the QB with regularity?

No. But is 10 sacks out of the question?

I'll give the kid this: If we had 52 other players on the roster with his work ethic, we'd be in much better shape.

Problem is his ability to stay healthy, and his limited physical skills.

If these guys are equating "making the transition" to being "serviceable", then I think that's possible. He can get after the QB on occasion, will be a liability when he's in coverage, and is nothing special against the run.

To me, "making the transition" means he's made enough of an impact that we don't have to look to replace him anytime soon - and I just don't see that happening.

I think so.

We expected an abomination.

Just because we're not horrified at his play isn't exactly cause for excitement, and if Hali ends up being the bright spot on this defense, as a unit, it will have sucked complete shit.

You know, people might like you more around here if you didn't act like a petulant child in each and every post.

You may have some insight due to your background but no one will give a shit if you continue to act like a Grade A ****sack.

What background?

Apparently, he played at least JuCo football.

The guys I know that played at Coffeyville & Butler in the 80's did pretty well after moving up to Division I and in some cases, the NFL. I don't know how well he did on the field but all of my friends are pretty sharp when it comes to the NFL.

But regardless, the guy acts like a jackass, 24-7.

It's too bad. We could certainly use more knowledgeable members around here.

Maybe it's because I'm a homer... (and I admit that I am)...

But the football threads are tough to read lately.

Every time anyone has anything good to say... The same 6 or 8 people respond with some variation of, "You're a ****ing moron. (Player X, or the Chiefs in general) suck ass."

The team has won 6 games in two years. The (really) bad still far surpasses the good at this point...

I've been putting many of the n00bs on ignore lately to combat that.

But in all honestly, the Chiefs DO suck ass.

:D

We KNOW!

Why must you stomp out any hope when it shows it's pretty little head? We homers are just trying to have something to look forward too. It's football season. We know not to expect much. Shit, 6-10 would be a big step in the right direction.

But any time anyone posts a positive thought, the reaction reminds me of this video.

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Dude, just sit back and enjoy each Sunday.

Expect the Chiefs to lose and when (if) they win, enjoy it.

It's going to be a long season. But there's hope.

Oh, I will.

I don't see what it is people don't like about you. Sure, you're direct. Sure, you can come across as self-absorbed. You're really not that different from most other posters on here.

Are you serious?

**** that name dropping, arrogant, showboating bastard.

:)

Okay.

To your post in general, not to ****ing him.

:)

Because of what I've shared personally, because of where I live and because of the way I respond at times, I'm a target.

I'm okay with that.

But thanks for the kind words.

:)

Dane's cool as hell. A genuinely good guy.

That was just my sarcastic way of agreeing with your post.

But while my glass may be half full... his is empty.

To each his own. I just can't find any pleasure in being a sports fan, if I have no hope. I'm not that cynical. If I were, I'd probably spend my Sundays doing something else.

That's not about Dane, really. Just fans in general. If you can't watch a game and hope for a win, why bother? What's the point?

God, bunch of bleeding vaginas in this thread.

Completely agree. Eternal optimist.

STFU Clay.

Oh, no. Mr Tough Guy is here.

Just watch it, you two.

http://i28.tinypic.com/143f4fn.jpg

Bro, thanks for the kind words. Right back at you, BTW. But what comes across as negative to you is realism for me.

I've been a Chiefs fan since I was born in 1965. My dad played in the Chiefs band during the Super Bowl run. I've know Tony DiPardo since day one. My parents dressed me in Chiefs gear since I was born (and my mom routinely sends us Chiefs blankets, mugs, shot glasses, jerseys - you name it).

I sat in an empty stadium in the 70's and 80's. I sat in a full stadium in the 90's and watched Barry run for 200 yards and Christian run for more than 100 yards in a single game. I've partied with the Chiefs, from Word to Ross to Lewis to Smith to Mass to Hackett to Thomas.

I went to sports bars each and every weekend in Hollywood for nearly a decade, often relegated to a single 20" television while the Jets, Giants, Philly and Raiders fans watched their games on the big screen. I've taken time out of vacations in Cancun and Cabo San Lucas to watch the Chiefs (lose, unfortunately, each and every time) instead of spending time with my wife in the pool or on the beach.

I've had the Direct TV package since 2003. I've never missed a game. I will never miss a game.

But the bottom line is that the team has been run into the ground. I won't extrapolate in this post but you know the deal.

But, I'll still never miss a game. I'll still hold out hope. But my heart tells me one thing and my head tells me another.