Too Bad The Chiefs Are Married to Todd Haley

[Boyceofsummer]

http://fwix.com/share/55_c6b76c6022

Too Bad The Chiefs Are Married to Todd Haley

by Matt Conner

Let me be very, very clear from the outset: the Kansas City Chiefs should not make any changes to their head coaching situation for 2010. Now with that said, let me write an entire article that seems to point to the opposite.

My primary thoughts at this time of day are spurred by the ridiculous buzz swirling current NFL head coaching wanna-bes salivating over all kinds of wonderfully desperate situations. The Redskins, Buccaneers, Bills, Bears, Browns, Raiders, Cowboys and more all sit with neon "vacancy" signs up (or pending ones, it seems) and the likes of Mike Shanahan, Bill Cowher, Jon Gruden, Mike Holmgren and hot assistants like Leslie Frazier (Minnesota's defensive coordinator) are all in the spotlight. And that's with a few weeks still left of the regular season.

It's the sort of rumors that fans of losing franchises love to read about, considering there's not much on-field product worth pondering. It's also something Kansas City fans must remember from this time a year ago when "what ifs" floated around Arrowhead like Rocky Mountain cloud formations. But unlike last year, this season's coaching candidates are absolutely off the charts in terms of experience, expertise and sheer reputation. And that's a shame the Chiefs cannot be in on this bunch.

More after the jump:

Star-divide
Of course, the Chiefs won the grand prize last year, when the front office candidates available looked like this year's coaching hires. Scott Pioli was the head of the class, the best in the business, and when he shook hands with Clark Hunt, every KC fan (and NFL fan for that matter) knew there were much better days ahead in the City of Fountains. But the same couldn't be said of Pioli's choice for head coach.

Now, the Chiefs must sit this off-season with Todd Haley while the most beautiful head coaching class in a long time struts their stuff for teams in need. It's the equivalent of being over the salary cap next summer while having to passively watch the upcoming free agent class of 2010 in the NBA, when LeBron, Chris Bosh and others change permanent addresses. When such options are available, one can't help but wonder what it would look like for a Cowher or Shanahan to walk the sidelines of the red and gold.

We've seen unending posts both favoring Todd Haley and slamming the first-year HC. There are valid points to be made on all sides. But we are married. You don't change head coaches that quickly, so we have what we have and the absolute worst move would be to can Haley at this point. He deserves to grow with the job, to see this thing through and fans should understand that. That doesn't mean, however, that we don't look at the current dating scene and wonder what it'd be like to be single again. It's a fine class and even as a non-participant, it should be fun to watch it unfold.

[Reerun_KC]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

Damn I really hate Keitzman. Every word out of his mouth makes me want to punch him in the face. He is so pompous. I'm glad he makes himself look like an ass often enough that it balances out the pain of listening to him.

This is a first in CP history... You and I agree on something......

[Reerun_KC]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

Haley isn't Herm. Nothing else matters. Haley could lose the next 30 games in a row, and some would still be saying "Boy that Herm fella, whooo what a joke he was. Glad we don't have to put up with him anymore."

Stop taking words out of my mouth! Your exactly right... Nothing else matters...

[InChiefsHeaven]

How could it be bad to be married to Todd Haley? He sucks! In a marriage, that's a good thing...

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

I know there are a ton of people here who wouldn't want him, but if you think Todd Haley is a better Head Coach than Bill Cowher, you deserve to spend your Christmas dinner eating SPAM with Carl Peterson.

[Ralphy Boy]

I'd take the 2008 offense over 2009 for sure, but overall the 2008 team was better in a lot of ways. I think you can see some improvement on defense but offense has just been much worse this year than last.

Offense
Thigpen had a slight edge over Cassel in completion % and threw 18 TD's to 12 INT's, finishing the season with a 76.0 QB rating. Cassel has 13 TD's & 13 INT's and a 68.3 QB rating. Cassel has fumbled 8 times, Thigpen & Huard fumbled 5 times combined. Edge right now goes to Thigpen. Not saying he's a better QB, just performed better last year than Cassel has this year. I wish Chan could have coached Cassel this year.
+1 for 2008

Last years passers were sacked 37 times. This year Cassel has been sacked 40 and Croyle 3.
+1 for 2008

We had two 1,000 yard receivers last year and will be lucky to have a 700 yard receiver this year considering Bowe is still leading the team despite missing 4 games and he only has 466.
+1 for 2008

We scored 31 TD's last season on offense, we currently have 19. No way we score 12 TD's on offense in the last 3 games.
+1 for 2008

DefenseYes defensively we only had 10 sacks, this year we have 19.
+1 for 2009

Yes last years defense allowed more points (+1 for 2009) and yards (+1 for 2009).


Last year we had 20 forced fumbles and 13 interceptions for a total of 33 defensive turnovers. This year we have 11 forced fumbles and 9 interceptions for a total of 20 turnovers. Do you really think we'll get 13 more in just 3 games?
+1 for 2008

Tackles for loss last year were 42 (2.62 per game) compared to 27 (2.07 per game) this year.
+1 for 2008

Finally:
Aside from yards and scoring, I think most people would agree, that sacks, interceptions, forced fumbles and "tackles for loss" are what you would generally call the "key plays" of a defense. We've had 85 key plays on defense last year compared to 66 this year. Imagine how bad last years defense could have been if we hadn't had those key plays. This part I think goes back to what Haley says about people knowing their assignment and doing what their supposed to do.

We had more key plays last year but did it come at the cost of giving up even more big plays than we were preventing?

[Terribilis]

Originally Posted by Mojo Jojo

If the 08 Chiefs played the 09 Chiefs ...

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by Mecca

So is the lack of talent the reason he makes really stupid game management decisions all the time?

I'm not crazy about those decisions, but if his players execute, they become gutsy calls.

[Reerun_KC]

Originally Posted by Raised On Riots

I know there are a ton of people here who wouldn't want him, but if you think Todd Haley is a better Head Coach than Bill Cowher, you deserve to spend your Christmas dinner eating SPAM with Carl Peterson.

WTF ROR, lets compare apples to oranges and call them bananas okay?


If you want to compare Coward to lets say, hum, maybe Bill Walsh, Chuck Noll, Bill Belicheck, Jimmy Johnson and say he is a great head coach, then you deserve to spend your Christmas dinner with Greg Robinson....

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by DMAC

Last years team had 10 sacks. Discussion over.

Last year's team could score points.

Last year's team lost 8 games by 7 points or less.

Last year's team featured a competent offense and offensive coordinator.

Last year's team had Tony Gonzalez.

THIS year's team can't hold a team to less than 500 yards of offense and CANNOT score.

You're out of your mind if you think that this year's defense would stop last year's offense.

Not a ****ing chance.

[Reerun_KC]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Last year's team could score points.

Last year's team lost 8 games by 7 points or less.

Last year's team featured a competent offense and offensive coordinator.

Last year's team had Tony Gonzalez.

THIS year's team can't hold a team to less than 500 yards of offense and CANNOT score.

You're out of your mind if you think that this year's defense would stop last year's offense.

Not a ****ing chance.

Dane I see what your doing here... And thats great.... But each is to their own opinion...

but I am pushing my chips in on Haley over Herm....

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

So how much longer are you guys willing to give Haley?


What if next years team starts off 0-4, 0-5 or 0-6??

He'd have to be terminated at that point. Also depends on the personnel Pioli was aquiring for him.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

Dane I see what your doing here... And thats great.... But each is to their own opinion...

but I am pushing my chips in on Haley over Herm....

I know that your hatred for Herm runs deep but JFC, did Herm EVER do something as stupid as punting from his OWN 20?

Haley gets the Dumbass Coach of the Decade for that shit.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

WTF ROR, lets compare apples to oranges and call them bananas okay?


If you want to compare Coward to lets say, hum, maybe Bill Walsh, Chuck Noll, Bill Belicheck, Jimmy Johnson and say he is a great head coach, then you deserve to spend your Christmas dinner with Greg Robinson....

The thread is about Haley and AVAILABLE COACHES you ****ing reerun, NOT BILL ****ING WALSH OR ANY OTHER DEAD ****ING COACH YOU ASSHOLE.

[MahiMike]

Haley's our man. Patience.

[ToxSocks]

Originally Posted by Ralphy Boy

I'd take the 2008 offense over 2009 for sure, but overall the 2008 team was better in a lot of ways. I think you can see some improvement on defense but offense has just been much worse this year than last.

Offense
Thigpen had a slight edge over Cassel in completion % and threw 18 TD's to 12 INT's, finishing the season with a 76.0 QB rating. Cassel has 13 TD's & 13 INT's and a 68.3 QB rating. Cassel has fumbled 8 times, Thigpen & Huard fumbled 5 times combined. Edge right now goes to Thigpen. Not saying he's a better QB, just performed better last year than Cassel has this year. I wish Chan could have coached Cassel this year.
+1 for 2008

Last years passers were sacked 37 times. This year Cassel has been sacked 40 and Croyle 3.
+1 for 2008

We had two 1,000 yard receivers last year and will be lucky to have a 700 yard receiver this year considering Bowe is still leading the team despite missing 4 games and he only has 466.
+1 for 2008

We scored 31 TD's last season on offense, we currently have 19. No way we score 12 TD's on offense in the last 3 games.
+1 for 2008

DefenseYes defensively we only had 10 sacks, this year we have 19.
+1 for 2009

Yes last years defense allowed more points (+1 for 2009) and yards (+1 for 2009).


Last year we had 20 forced fumbles and 13 interceptions for a total of 33 defensive turnovers. This year we have 11 forced fumbles and 9 interceptions for a total of 20 turnovers. Do you really think we'll get 13 more in just 3 games?
+1 for 2008

Tackles for loss last year were 42 (2.62 per game) compared to 27 (2.07 per game) this year.
+1 for 2008

Finally:
Aside from yards and scoring, I think most people would agree, that sacks, interceptions, forced fumbles and "tackles for loss" are what you would generally call the "key plays" of a defense. We've had 85 key plays on defense last year compared to 66 this year. Imagine how bad last years defense could have been if we hadn't had those key plays. This part I think goes back to what Haley says about people knowing their assignment and doing what their supposed to do.

We had more key plays last year but did it come at the cost of giving up even more big plays than we were preventing?

Take strength of schedule into account? I agree, last year's Passing game was much better then this years. But right now with Charles, the run game is better than last years. The Pass rush is better, and the run D for the most part is better. And i still believe the O-Line play is better.