Originally Posted by Coogs
The full haley Q&A from kcchiefs.com...
Q&A with TODD HALEY - 8/11
Aug 11, 2009, 6:14:29 PM
Q: Opening Statement
TODD HALEY: “Today was probably our warmest one-a-day, the warmest long practice out there. I thought it was an excellent day of work for us. We hadn’t had any really hot days since we started and as I said to the players, I think this felt like training camp. The guys pushed through well. Even after practice you saw the group of offensive linemen push with Brian Waters running extra gassers on their own even after we conditioned. Guys have continued to work and those are all things you like to see.”
Q: What are you looking for from the wide receivers at this stage of camp?
HALEY: “I look at wide receivers as more than just pass catchers. As football players they have to block, they have to catch the ball in traffic, make contested catches and make big plays in big situations. Be football players first would be the way I would describe a group that I would like to be a part of.”
Q: With that emphasis, what ways have you tried to shake up guys and get their attention?
HALEY: “I am always pushing and prying, trying to instigate a little bit and get some emotion out of guys and get some passion out of guys. That is the way I have done it. There are a lot of different ways but that is what I have done more than anything, just try and press them every day and not give them a whole lot of time to breath. Usually in the end you have a decent group that plays, works hard and is mentally tough.”
Q: Do you use depth chart placement as a tool to get players fired up?
HALEY: “I am in a different position now. When I was a position coach I used to tell guys that I would do everything I can to get them out of here if you are not doing it this way. Obviously as a position coach I wasn’t making the final decision, but occasionally I’d be able to get done what I wanted done and the rest of the group would take notice. Now that I am the head coach, obviously I have a little more say in these things. It’s not a threat, it’s more that we are going to do it with the guys that do it our way and that is what we are looking for.”
Q: Do you see WR Dwayne Bowe being third on the depth chart come Saturday?
HALEY: “I don’t think there is anything set in stone. I have been pretty clear about that and some positions are probably a little more obvious than others, but I wouldn’t say that wide receiver is one of those.”
Q: Do you see Bowe as a guy that is mentally tough enough right now?
HALEY: “I think this group (wide receivers) as a whole needs work in that area. It is ok to drop a ball, it is going to happen and I understand it. What I want them to do is pride themselves on the tough catch where the linebacker is hitting them in the mouth or the safety is lining them up. Those are the catches that you want to pride yourself for as a receiver in the NFL. The blocking part is a big thing. Our receiving group is big as a group and they should be a physical group that comes in and takes on safeties and fights corners to the whistle every down when they are running the ball or when someone else is running it. I’d say as a group they have a ways to go, but a day like this helps.”
Q: Who is impressing you from the WR group?
HALEY: “Terrance Copper is a guy that you know you are going to get a good days work from everyday. Terrance Copper impresses me. Rodney Wright is coming from a long way off and it has been a little while, but he has worked hard every day. Has he been perfect? No, but I think he has made strides. I think you can clearly see a guy like Amani Toomer come in and he understands what it takes to play in the league. Same with Bobby Engram. I would say in talking about the group, those particular guys have stood out to me as guys who are trying to do it the way we want it done every day.”
Q: Is it significant to only have five guys working out of pads?
HALEY: “Yeah. To make this team you have to be on the field in general and that is a good sign when that group is getting smaller and smaller. Throughout the season it will be the same memo from us, to play you have to practice and that is the way we are going to handle our business and that is the way I have had success doing it. I like that the group is getting smaller and we have LB Demorrio Williams fighting back to get on the field and he was out there today. From what I could tell it looked like he showed up a handful of times so I thought that was good.”
Q: Have you been impressed with what you have seen from the defense?
HALEY: “I think that they have made progress and it is evident to everybody who has been out here. You saw the D-line working as a group yesterday and they have been putting a lot of work in on technique specifically. I think now you are starting to see some of that translate in the practice which is critical. I think that they are gaining confidence, they understand a little more what is going on as a group. As you know, it takes all 11 to play good defense and I think we have been getting close to that the last couple days.”
Q: Can you talk about the tight end position?
HALEY: “That has been a group that has been kind of decimated. They have been walking wounded throughout the camp so just getting them all back at once would be a plus for us. We have a couple that are practicing which is good. (TE) Jake O’Connell is beat up significantly and he has fought through. You saw him make a couple big-time catches yesterday. Those are the types of guys we are looking for. I would like to see that group get healthier but they are fighting through.”
Q: What is your philosophy for the preseason?
HALEY: “I think winning has got to be important around here all the time because we need to learn how to win again. That will be something an emphasis will be put on but at the same time, the most important thing that has to get done is evaluation. While we want to win, we have to do it with whatever group we need in there to get a full evaluation of the team.”
Q: With that being said, how do you as a coach get that done?
HALEY: “I think I have to coach the game to win. You’re not going to bring certain guys back that have been out to do that but you have to have the entire group ready to go with the mindset that we are going to find a way to win this game.”
Q: In terms of veteran leadership, why was it important to bring in guys like LBs Mike Vrabel and Zach Thomas?
HALEY: “It is such a young group and we just really felt that if you get a handful of those guys that have been around winning, like a Zach Thomas who has played in the league far longer than anyone thought that he could because he knows how to prepare to play every week. As young as our group was, we felt that it was really important to get guys in here to help guide this young group. We can only do so much as a coaching staff. A picture is worth a thousand words so put a picture of Mike Vrabel doing it the way it needs to be done, it is going to accelerate the learning curve for everyone. When you have a (S) Mike Brown and a (LB) Zach Thomas communicating on a third and five before the snap that helps you get a stop, that does wonders for guys like LB Derrick Johnson who is standing there paying attention. I think that was really what we wanted to get done, to help try and accelerate this younger groups learning.”
Q: Are you pleased with what the veterans have brought to this team?
HALEY: “Yeah. I think it has been a great impact.”
Q: How does this year’s camp differ from where you have been?
HALEY: “This is my first time ever making all the decisions but every camp is not the same because I have worked for a bunch of different head coaches. What I tried to do as an assistant coach is just pay attention and keep my notebooks for the ways that I thought were the best ways and what gave you the best chance for success so if I ever did get the opportunity, I would have some direction that I would want to go. At the same time, I have an experienced staff including some head coaches in that group. Every staff meeting we meet two times a day sometimes into the wee hours. They are mad at me for that but there is a lot of give and take going on in those meetings also.”
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