Chiefs Haley changes WR coach

LaChapelle · 10-15-2009, 05:25 PM

Haley, not satisfied with receivers, makes coaching change
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

Apparently frustrated with a lack of progress from the wide receivers, coach Todd Haley has made another staff change, replacing position coach Dedric Ward with Richie Anderson.

Anderson joined the Chiefs this year as a member of the NFL’s minority coaching fellowship program. A former NFL running back, he helped coach the wide receivers for the Jets in 2006.

Ward is still coaching for the Chiefs, but Anderson was running the receiver drills during the media portion of practice Thursday.

“Coach Haley and everybody involved in the decision making are trying to find a way to get things right,’’ wide receiver Bobby Wade said. “Richie’s been helping out for us. He’s been in our position meetings and at practice anyway. Dedric Ward’s still out there helping. So I think it’s more of a change for the coaches than for us. It’s not a drastic thing for us as players. It has more to do with how (Haley) wanted to see things done.

“But I think everybody is looking for things that are going to help us. Everybody in this locker room has to be open to that.’’

Haley wouldn’t comment even to confirm the move. He did make a general statement about the receivers in his regular daily news conference.

“They definitely made some big plays (in last week’s game against Dallas),’’ Haley said. “The third-and-long catch by Bobby (Wade) . . . where he took a big (shot) and then obviously the fourth-down (touchdown) throw to Dwayne (Bowe) were big plays and plays to build on for those guys and for us.

“Now, there were other plays in that game and in the last couple of games that we had some game-changing plays potentially that haven’t been made. So it’s a work in progress. They need to make plays. That’s their job. They need to do a good job (blocking) in the run game. That’s their job. We just need to be better across the board, and that’s another spot where that holds true.’’

Haley made a change on his offensive staff during the preseason, firing coordinator Chan Gailey and taking over the play-calling responsibilities. Still, the Chiefs have been sluggish offensively. They are 30th among the NFL’s 32 teams in yardage and 24th in scoring.

The play of the receivers has, as Haley indicated, been up and down. Bowe, Wade and Mark Bradley have combined for 42 catches and six touchdowns in the Chiefs’ 0-5 start.

But the top three receivers have also tended to disappear at times. They combined for five catches in a recent game against the Giants.

The receiver situation has been unsettled since the start of training camp. Bowe was demoted for a time because the Chiefs were unhappy with his effort. Starter Devard Darling was lost for the year because of a knee injury suffered during the preseason.

Veterans Amani Toomer and Ashley Lelie were signed during training camp, but neither lasted until the start of the regular season. Wade joined the Chiefs as a free agent after the first regular-season game.

Perhaps Haley believes having a more experienced receivers coach will help. Anderson coached wide receivers for the Jets in 2006 and moved on the next year to the Arizona Cardinals. He was fired four days after being arrested for soliciting a prostitute, but the charge was dropped.

Ward coached wide receivers in 2006 for Missouri State and was an offensive assistant the last two seasons for the Cardinals, but this was his first season as an NFL position coach.

Wade said he was comfortable working with either coach and thought the other receivers felt the same way.

“In my experience, it’s really important to build a rapport with your receivers coach,’’ Wade said. “He needs to understand you as an individual and what you can do on the field and what you might lack as far as skill. Then he needs to give you the best opportunity to play up to your ability.

“So it’s important for every position to have a coach that’s going to be there and going to be consistent.’’

Posted on Thu, Oct. 15, 2009 05:41 PM

Hammock Parties · 10-15-2009, 05:27 PM

A former fullback is coaching our wide receivers?

What?

Here's hoping we get a real WR coach in the offseason.

KCUnited · 10-15-2009, 05:28 PM

This should have been done in May.

Deberg_1990 · 10-15-2009, 05:31 PM

Awesome! I now predict an 11 win season!

LaChapelle · 10-15-2009, 05:31 PM

OC or QB coach?

**DaneMcCloud** · 10-15-2009, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

A former fullback is coaching our wide receivers?

What?

Here's hoping we get a real WR coach in the offseason.

Yeah but he played for the Jets when Pioli and Haley were there.

That's all that matters.

Mojo Jojo · 10-15-2009, 05:32 PM

Will we have any assistant coaches by the end of the season?

ChiefsCountry · 10-15-2009, 05:33 PM

Ritchie Anderson was a darn good receiving fullback though.

Now maybe Dedric Ward can come back to Missouri State and coach. Our WR's have sucked ass since he went to the Cardinals.

Mecca · 10-15-2009, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Yeah but he played for the Jets when Pioli and Haley were there.

That's all that matters.

Dedric Ward did too

**DeezNutz** · 10-15-2009, 05:33 PM

These types of moves, mid-season, don't suggest desperation, just to clarify.

L.A. Chieffan · 10-15-2009, 05:34 PM

cue benny hill music

Mecca · 10-15-2009, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L.A.Chieffan

cue benny hill music

**Rausch** · 10-15-2009, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Yeah but he played for the Jets when Pioli and Haley were there.

That's all that matters.

I know jack squat about either the gentleman canned or the guy hired as WR's coach but Haley's ****ing erasing a lot of players and coaches both.

With all the different WR's run through here I'm not sure WTF Haley expected...

DaWolf · 10-15-2009, 05:56 PM

This actually encourages me. Sounds like Haley isn't going to blindly support a coach if said coach isn't getting the job done. I wouldn't be surprised to see a new OC and DC in here next year once good coaches become available. Clancy better watch his back...

Straight, No Chaser · 10-15-2009, 06:01 PM

Now I am starting to think Haley is a dumb#!!*

Last year Anderson was fired (let go) because he was caught by undercover police soliciting a call girl at the South Mountain Resort --and he was replaced by Dedric Ward. BTW, dude is married with children.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/85720

Is this some sort of weird deja vu?

10-15-2009, 05:25 PM
LaChapelle Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Casino cash: $10004900	Haley changes WR coach Haley, not satisfied with receivers, makes coaching change By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star Apparently frustrated with a lack of progress from the wide receivers, coach Todd Haley has made another staff change, replacing position coach Dedric Ward with Richie Anderson. Anderson joined the Chiefs this year as a member of the NFL’s minority coaching fellowship program. A former NFL running back, he helped coach the wide receivers for the Jets in 2006. Ward is still coaching for the Chiefs, but Anderson was running the receiver drills during the media portion of practice Thursday. “Coach Haley and everybody involved in the decision making are trying to find a way to get things right,’’ wide receiver Bobby Wade said. “Richie’s been helping out for us. He’s been in our position meetings and at practice anyway. Dedric Ward’s still out there helping. So I think it’s more of a change for the coaches than for us. It’s not a drastic thing for us as players. It has more to do with how (Haley) wanted to see things done. “But I think everybody is looking for things that are going to help us. Everybody in this locker room has to be open to that.’’ Haley wouldn’t comment even to confirm the move. He did make a general statement about the receivers in his regular daily news conference. “They definitely made some big plays (in last week’s game against Dallas),’’ Haley said. “The third-and-long catch by Bobby (Wade) . . . where he took a big (shot) and then obviously the fourth-down (touchdown) throw to Dwayne (Bowe) were big plays and plays to build on for those guys and for us. “Now, there were other plays in that game and in the last couple of games that we had some game-changing plays potentially that haven’t been made. So it’s a work in progress. They need to make plays. That’s their job. They need to do a good job (blocking) in the run game. That’s their job. We just need to be better across the board, and that’s another spot where that holds true.’’ Haley made a change on his offensive staff during the preseason, firing coordinator Chan Gailey and taking over the play-calling responsibilities. Still, the Chiefs have been sluggish offensively. They are 30th among the NFL’s 32 teams in yardage and 24th in scoring. The play of the receivers has, as Haley indicated, been up and down. Bowe, Wade and Mark Bradley have combined for 42 catches and six touchdowns in the Chiefs’ 0-5 start. But the top three receivers have also tended to disappear at times. They combined for five catches in a recent game against the Giants. The receiver situation has been unsettled since the start of training camp. Bowe was demoted for a time because the Chiefs were unhappy with his effort. Starter Devard Darling was lost for the year because of a knee injury suffered during the preseason. Veterans Amani Toomer and Ashley Lelie were signed during training camp, but neither lasted until the start of the regular season. Wade joined the Chiefs as a free agent after the first regular-season game. Perhaps Haley believes having a more experienced receivers coach will help. Anderson coached wide receivers for the Jets in 2006 and moved on the next year to the Arizona Cardinals. He was fired four days after being arrested for soliciting a prostitute, but the charge was dropped. Ward coached wide receivers in 2006 for Missouri State and was an offensive assistant the last two seasons for the Cardinals, but this was his first season as an NFL position coach. Wade said he was comfortable working with either coach and thought the other receivers felt the same way. “In my experience, it’s really important to build a rapport with your receivers coach,’’ Wade said. “He needs to understand you as an individual and what you can do on the field and what you might lack as far as skill. Then he needs to give you the best opportunity to play up to your ability. “So it’s important for every position to have a coach that’s going to be there and going to be consistent.’’ Posted on Thu, Oct. 15, 2009 05:41 PM
Posts: 8,588

10-15-2009, 05:27 PM	#2
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $790478	A former fullback is coaching our wide receivers? What? Here's hoping we get a real WR coach in the offseason. __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 297,470

10-15-2009, 05:28 PM	#3
KCUnited Cheat Death Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Land of Drincoln Casino cash: $-1631756	This should have been done in May.
Posts: 37,008

10-15-2009, 05:31 PM	#4
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $94454	Awesome! I now predict an 11 win season!
Posts: 68,684

10-15-2009, 05:31 PM	#5
LaChapelle Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Casino cash: $10004900	OC or QB coach?
Posts: 8,588

10-15-2009, 05:32 PM	#7
Mojo Jojo Veteran Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Johnson County Casino cash: $10013802	Will we have any assistant coaches by the end of the season?
Posts: 3,341

10-15-2009, 05:33 PM	#8
ChiefsCountry The Insider Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Lake of the Ozarks Casino cash: $-1601248	Ritchie Anderson was a darn good receiving fullback though. Now maybe Dedric Ward can come back to Missouri State and coach. Our WR's have sucked ass since he went to the Cardinals.
Posts: 52,143

10-15-2009, 05:34 PM	#11
L.A. Chieffan PLAY GOOD FOOTBALL Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: American Gardens Building Casino cash: $2688654	cue benny hill music
Posts: 17,400

10-15-2009, 05:56 PM	#14
DaWolf Cry havoc... Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $10007725	This actually encourages me. Sounds like Haley isn't going to blindly support a coach if said coach isn't getting the job done. I wouldn't be surprised to see a new OC and DC in here next year once good coaches become available. Clancy better watch his back...
Posts: 6,798

10-15-2009, 06:01 PM	#15
Straight, No Chaser Veteran Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Tempe, Arizona Casino cash: $1269209	Now I am starting to think Haley is a dumb#!!* Last year Anderson was fired (let go) because he was caught by undercover police soliciting a call girl at the South Mountain Resort --and he was replaced by Dedric Ward. BTW, dude is married with children. http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/85720 Is this some sort of weird deja vu? Last edited by Straight, No Chaser; 10-15-2009 at 06:08 PM.. Reason: added link
Posts: 1,914