Chiefs KC Star:Haley's madding methods & Succup AFC ST PotW

Okie_Apparition · 10-05-2011, 11:17 AM

Haley’s maddening methods get the most out of his players
By KENT BABB The Kansas City Star
Updated: 2011-10-05T06:14:27Z

Even now, it’s difficult to forget. Todd Haley makes his players so mad sometimes, his words and actions stick.

Kurt Warner knows. Warner, now a retired quarterback, revived his career with the Arizona Cardinals when Haley was the offensive coordinator. And darned if Haley didn’t get under Warner’s skin. Haley would say things sometimes that crossed the line that separates encouragement and personal attacks. It takes strength to hold back a counterattack.

Warner didn’t always possess enough strength. On Tuesday, he recalled a time in New Orleans in which Haley kept jawing at Warner, and Warner let him have it. The Cardinals lost that game, but Warner passed for three touchdowns.

“It was always a fine line,” Warner said, “of challenging one another, sharpening one another but not getting defensive with one another.

“That was probably the hardest part, was finding that balance where I didn’t feel like Todd was attacking me or he didn’t feel like I was attacking him — but we were trying to attack a problem and do it together.”

Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel has occasionally experienced this during his three seasons in Kansas City. Haley is a perfectionist, and when things fall short, the coach erupts. Haley has said it’s because he’s passionate and because he expects the best. It might not be pleasant or peaceful for players, but there’s evidence that Haley’s style — “In your face,” Warner explained — is effective.

Sunday, television cameras caught Haley and Cassel in a heated sideline exchange. Haley called his quarterback a name. Cassel fired back. Then, whether in spite of or because of his coach, Cassel responded with his best performance of the season, in his team’s 22-17 win against Minnesota. Before the exchange with Haley, Cassel had completed three of eight passes for 58 yards. Afterward, the uncomfortable, ineffective passer of the Chiefs’ first three games was gone. In his place was a calm and accurate leader who challenged his teammates at halftime and went 10 of 14 for 158 yards and a touchdown in the second half.

“I seem to respond well when I’m pushed and when my back is up against the wall,” Cassel said afterward. “Coach tries to create an environment in practice where he challenges you and he rides you.

“He wants to make an environment to where, when you get to game day on Sunday, it’s easy. You have dealt with it throughout the week. I understand his purpose.”

That doesn’t mean it’s any easier to handle in the moment. Warner felt the brunt of Haley’s fire — Warner calls them “challenges” now — and before becoming the Chiefs’ coach, he was involved in sideline altercations with former Dallas wide receivers Keyshawn Johnson and Terrell Owens and Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin.

When it’s over, at least some players seem to appreciate Haley’s rationale, even if his tactics are maddening. Larry Fitzgerald has said Haley pushed him, berated him, insulted him — and that it’s partly because of Haley that Fitzgerald is one of the NFL’s elite receivers. Steve Breaston heard from Haley so often that Fitzgerald often asked the coach to gear down the cruelty. Breaston’s life might have been easier after Haley left, but Breaston opted last offseason to rejoin his former coordinator in Kansas City in hopes of repeating his most productive years.

“It takes a little bit of time to understand,” Warner said. “But you come to the understanding that he is out to make you the best that you can be, and although it may not look like everyone else when it comes to doing that.”

Warner said it took time, patience and dialogue to see Haley’s purpose in Arizona. When Haley joined Ken Whisenhunt’s staff in 2007, Warner was 36 years old. He had won a Super Bowl, played in another and was twice chosen the league’s MVP. His career was in its twilight, and most people understood that. Maybe Warner understood it, too.

Haley had different plans.

“He didn’t want me just to stand pat,” Warner said. “… He continued to push me weekly, continued to put things on me and tell me, ‘Hey, you can be better than you’ve already been. You can do this better, you can help our team win by doing these kinds of things.’ ”

In 2008, Warner passed for 4,583 yards, the second-highest total of his career — more yards, even, than when Warner led the St. Rams to a Super Bowl win and Warner was chosen MVP for the first time. Under Haley’s guidance in 2008, Warner again led his team to the Super Bowl, and years after being relegated to backup duty with the New York Giants, Warner’s rebirth almost certainly will earn him a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Sure, Warner said, there were blowups. That’s just Haley’s way. But Warner said the coach, as uncomfortable and frustrating as he sometimes was, was responsible for the success of his latter years.

“There were definitely moments where it appeared to one of us that we crossed over that line; that they were being defensive or they were attacking one of us individually,” Warner said. “And those were the hardest times. Ultimately, at the end of the day, you realized it was never about that.

“He saw things that he could help me improve; things that he could push me to become better than I’ve ever been.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

@ Go to KansasCity.com for Chiefs photo galleries, videos, and updates on the Red Zone blog

To reach Kent Babb

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/10/04...#ixzz1ZvcEeZme

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Chiefs kicker honored as AFC’s special-teams player of the week
The Kansas City Star
Updated: 2011-10-05T06:14:27Z

Chiefs kicker Ryan Succop was selected the AFC’s special-teams player of the week Tuesday, two days after making all five of his field-goal attempts, including two from beyond 50 yards.

Succop, who with an extra point was responsible for 16 of his team’s points in their 22-17 victory against Minnesota on Sunday, was the first Chiefs player to be special teams player of the week since Dexter McCluster received the honor after the first week of the 2010 season.

Succop, a third-year kicker, had struggled during his team’s first three games, all losses, and chatter had begun to surface that Succop might not be the team’s long-term kicker. He was the last overall pick in the 2009 draft and immediately emerged as the Chiefs’ most reliable kicker in years.

He had missed three of his five field-goal attempts entering Sunday’s game. Succop made kicks against the Vikings of 40, 24, 51, 54 and 22 yards. The 54-yarder was his career long.

vailpass · 10-05-2011, 11:19 AM

Warner made his bones while Haley was still trying to grow a mullet.
Cassell is no Warner.

whoman69 · 10-05-2011, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vailpass

Warner made his bones while Haley was still trying to grow a mullet.
Cassell is no Warner.

So that means there is no motivating him?

10-05-2011, 11:17 AM
Okie_Apparition Banned Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: floatin cobwebs n the sky Casino cash: $10004900	KC Star:Haley's madding methods & Succup AFC ST PotW Haley’s maddening methods get the most out of his players By KENT BABB The Kansas City Star Updated: 2011-10-05T06:14:27Z Even now, it’s difficult to forget. Todd Haley makes his players so mad sometimes, his words and actions stick. Kurt Warner knows. Warner, now a retired quarterback, revived his career with the Arizona Cardinals when Haley was the offensive coordinator. And darned if Haley didn’t get under Warner’s skin. Haley would say things sometimes that crossed the line that separates encouragement and personal attacks. It takes strength to hold back a counterattack. Warner didn’t always possess enough strength. On Tuesday, he recalled a time in New Orleans in which Haley kept jawing at Warner, and Warner let him have it. The Cardinals lost that game, but Warner passed for three touchdowns. “It was always a fine line,” Warner said, “of challenging one another, sharpening one another but not getting defensive with one another. “That was probably the hardest part, was finding that balance where I didn’t feel like Todd was attacking me or he didn’t feel like I was attacking him — but we were trying to attack a problem and do it together.” Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel has occasionally experienced this during his three seasons in Kansas City. Haley is a perfectionist, and when things fall short, the coach erupts. Haley has said it’s because he’s passionate and because he expects the best. It might not be pleasant or peaceful for players, but there’s evidence that Haley’s style — “In your face,” Warner explained — is effective. Sunday, television cameras caught Haley and Cassel in a heated sideline exchange. Haley called his quarterback a name. Cassel fired back. Then, whether in spite of or because of his coach, Cassel responded with his best performance of the season, in his team’s 22-17 win against Minnesota. Before the exchange with Haley, Cassel had completed three of eight passes for 58 yards. Afterward, the uncomfortable, ineffective passer of the Chiefs’ first three games was gone. In his place was a calm and accurate leader who challenged his teammates at halftime and went 10 of 14 for 158 yards and a touchdown in the second half. “I seem to respond well when I’m pushed and when my back is up against the wall,” Cassel said afterward. “Coach tries to create an environment in practice where he challenges you and he rides you. “He wants to make an environment to where, when you get to game day on Sunday, it’s easy. You have dealt with it throughout the week. I understand his purpose.” That doesn’t mean it’s any easier to handle in the moment. Warner felt the brunt of Haley’s fire — Warner calls them “challenges” now — and before becoming the Chiefs’ coach, he was involved in sideline altercations with former Dallas wide receivers Keyshawn Johnson and Terrell Owens and Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin. When it’s over, at least some players seem to appreciate Haley’s rationale, even if his tactics are maddening. Larry Fitzgerald has said Haley pushed him, berated him, insulted him — and that it’s partly because of Haley that Fitzgerald is one of the NFL’s elite receivers. Steve Breaston heard from Haley so often that Fitzgerald often asked the coach to gear down the cruelty. Breaston’s life might have been easier after Haley left, but Breaston opted last offseason to rejoin his former coordinator in Kansas City in hopes of repeating his most productive years. “It takes a little bit of time to understand,” Warner said. “But you come to the understanding that he is out to make you the best that you can be, and although it may not look like everyone else when it comes to doing that.” Warner said it took time, patience and dialogue to see Haley’s purpose in Arizona. When Haley joined Ken Whisenhunt’s staff in 2007, Warner was 36 years old. He had won a Super Bowl, played in another and was twice chosen the league’s MVP. His career was in its twilight, and most people understood that. Maybe Warner understood it, too. Haley had different plans. “He didn’t want me just to stand pat,” Warner said. “… He continued to push me weekly, continued to put things on me and tell me, ‘Hey, you can be better than you’ve already been. You can do this better, you can help our team win by doing these kinds of things.’ ” In 2008, Warner passed for 4,583 yards, the second-highest total of his career — more yards, even, than when Warner led the St. Rams to a Super Bowl win and Warner was chosen MVP for the first time. Under Haley’s guidance in 2008, Warner again led his team to the Super Bowl, and years after being relegated to backup duty with the New York Giants, Warner’s rebirth almost certainly will earn him a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Sure, Warner said, there were blowups. That’s just Haley’s way. But Warner said the coach, as uncomfortable and frustrating as he sometimes was, was responsible for the success of his latter years. “There were definitely moments where it appeared to one of us that we crossed over that line; that they were being defensive or they were attacking one of us individually,” Warner said. “And those were the hardest times. Ultimately, at the end of the day, you realized it was never about that. “He saw things that he could help me improve; things that he could push me to become better than I’ve ever been.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- @ Go to KansasCity.com for Chiefs photo galleries, videos, and updates on the Red Zone blog To reach Kent Babb Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/10/04...#ixzz1ZvcEeZme <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Chiefs kicker honored as AFC’s special-teams player of the week The Kansas City Star Updated: 2011-10-05T06:14:27Z Chiefs kicker Ryan Succop was selected the AFC’s special-teams player of the week Tuesday, two days after making all five of his field-goal attempts, including two from beyond 50 yards. Succop, who with an extra point was responsible for 16 of his team’s points in their 22-17 victory against Minnesota on Sunday, was the first Chiefs player to be special teams player of the week since Dexter McCluster received the honor after the first week of the 2010 season. Succop, a third-year kicker, had struggled during his team’s first three games, all losses, and chatter had begun to surface that Succop might not be the team’s long-term kicker. He was the last overall pick in the 2009 draft and immediately emerged as the Chiefs’ most reliable kicker in years. He had missed three of his five field-goal attempts entering Sunday’s game. Succop made kicks against the Vikings of 40, 24, 51, 54 and 22 yards. The 54-yarder was his career long.
Posts: 7,012

10-05-2011, 11:19 AM	#2
vailpass Psycho Bag Of Squanch Join Date: Sep 2001 Casino cash: $9594244	Warner made his bones while Haley was still trying to grow a mullet. Cassell is no Warner. __________________ “Education is a weapon whose effect depends on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed.” Joseph Stalin
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