Chiefs Haley 12/30 presser - Page 7

**Baby Lee** · 12-30-2009, 05:00 PM

TODD HALEY: “Started our preparations today for Denver, a division opponent that’s a very good team. Hasn’t been too long ago that they took it to us pretty good. So, it’s a chance to kind of correct some of the things that went on in that game. It’s a great opportunity on the road to take another step as a team.

“Offensively, they have two backs, one that’s close to a 1,000 (yards) and who is a rookie (Knowshon Moreno) and looks like he’s going to be real good back and (Correll) Buckhalter who has over 600 (yards), so two guys who can really run the football. They’ve got a bunch of talented receivers starting with (Brandon) Marshall and (Eddie) Royal, (Brandon) Stokely. They’ve got a tight end who hurt us in the last game. They’ve got a very good offensive line that the last time we played them clearly won the line of scrimmage.

“Defensively, they’re a well-coached group that creates a bunch of problems with multiple looks, multiple fronts and not strictly a three-four (alignment). They play some even fronts, over, under, bunch of different pressures from both sides, very good corners. It’s going to take our best to compete with these guys.

“Special teams: another opportunity for us to get clicking a game in all three phases and beat a division opponent on the road.”

Q: How important is this game for Matt Cassel and his development? The last time these two teams played it was one of his worst games.

HALEY: “I’ll reiterate again, that as far as quarterbacks go this is still a guy who is getting close to getting two years under his belt. Every game is an opportunity for him to grow and this just happens to be a very good defense and a very difficult atmosphere. It is an opportunity but each week Matt is excited and works hard. He’s into it and is super competitive. I feel like we’ve made some progress here of late and it’s another chance for us to take another step for us as an offense and for him to take a step as our quarterback.”

Q: What area or player this year has made the greatest progress?

HALEY: “I think one of them is pretty obvious: Jamaal [Charles] has really made big steps. When you talk about that since November only one guy has had more rushing yards than him and that’s Chris Johnson that’s pretty good. Now, we can’t put him in Canton yet. It’s only been a handful of games. Part of being a good player in this league is doing it consistently over a period of time. That’s just where Jamaal is at.

“That said, there are a bunch of guys without going into detail that I feel like have made big strides. But if you pin me down I’d say Jamaal is the more obvious.”

Q: What is the one phase that hasn’t progressed the way you had hoped it would?

HALEY: “I think there’s been progress in all areas. But the next step for us as a team – and a team never stays the same adding and subtracting players here before too long – is we’ve got to start playing complete games in all three phases before too long. When we do that we’ll be in more games and the more games we’re in the more we’ll win because we’re going to continue to work on being a smart team and one that makes good decisions. That would be my main point: getting all three phases working together.”

Q: Has there been one game this year that all three phases worked together?

HALEY: “I think the Steelers game. I think we played real well together as a team. It wasn’t perfect and there were things we could have done better or more efficiently. I would say that in that game we played at a pretty high level in all areas.”

Q: How has your defensive line progressed or has it not progressed as much as you would have liked?

HALEY: “It has been up and down and that’s what we have to eliminate. We need to get a group there that can hang in there week-in and week-out and when they’re a little off then have some guys that make up for them. We’ve had some games where they’ve really played solid, even last game [vs. Cincinnati] where the front seven did a really good job throughout the game. They had only two or three plays they’d like to have back. The smaller that number gets the better. That’s really where we’re at as a whole.”

Q: Should it be further along than it is?

HALEY: “There again we need to be further along in general. That’s what we’re working at. We have another game to take a step and see where we’re at and then we’re quickly going to be into the off-season and working at it again and trying to do all the things you need to do to be a good team.

“Like I said, the team won’t stay the same. We’ll have some additions and subtractions and we just have to keep adding to the competition. All the same things we said a year ago are really going to have to be said. To be further along at this point would be the idea.”

Q: Would you see adding to the defensive line as a next step?

HALEY: “No different for all spots. If we’ve got a chance to improve or improve competition we’re going to do it. I know Scott [Pioli] is going to do it. I think that’s when you’re a good team, when nobody feels satisfied or comfortable and right now we’re 15 games through that process. I’d like to be sitting here with more wins because I definitely think there are some games there – seven games [that were lost] of seven points or less – that could have been… They’re not 20 plays, they’re two or three plays in each phase that if we do execute something a little cleaner we may get wins. But we’re still not happy. We wouldn’t be happy sitting here with six wins. I’d feel the same exact way that I feel right now because the idea of that is to have the chance to play in the Super Bowl and right now we don’t.”

Q: Have you figured out why the inability to score in the first quarter?

HALEY: “I think this has been a difficult task again, and I’m not making excuses for these guys because they don’t want any excuses made for them. But we made major changes; we’ve done a lot of things. What I think is important now is we’re making progress. Even these last few games we’ve started more positive than we did earlier. Is it good enough? No, clearly not. But I don’t have any regrets about the things we’ve done. I think it’s all happened for a reason. As I said, it’s going to get better and we’re going to be a good team. But you’re got to take your lumps sometimes. The [teams] that haven’t taken their lumps are few and far between that I know of. The teams that have started with everything’s golden and everybody’s happy I don’t know when you’re starting from ground zero. I know there have been growing pains for a lot of different teams and a lot of different staffs, a lot of organizations in general. We’re in that process right now. They’re going to be character builders for us and be what makes us a great team.”

Q: One of your goals was to establish a new mindset or attitude for this organization. Do you feel that’s been done?

HALEY: “Again, it comes down to wins and losses. I know it’s gets old when you say we’re making progress, but I’m the one out there and I’m the one that sees them. We just lined up today in the 16th week of the season and ran gassers and they’re running hard and they practiced hard today, they’re communicating, they’re here on time regardless of the weather conditions and working together to do the things necessary to be a good team. That’s progress from the inside.”

Mecca · 12-31-2009, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HemiEd

Pretty simple really, $$$$$$$$$$$$$, how many LJ jerseys are out there? How many Pro Bowlers did the team have left? How many headliners did the team have left?
They had to be sure before they cut him, that it was without a doubt, the only logical move. These moves are for real and permanent.
I wish DV would have cut him.

But I thought there were no sacred cows?

**HemiEd** · 12-31-2009, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

But I thought there were no sacred cows?

We both know that is coachspeak, and it is a business. ****, Mike Brown is a sacred herd.

But, it took them 1/2 a season to get rid of the cancer, progress, albeit not as fast as we would like.

**The Bad Guy** · 12-31-2009, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

Man, Haley is in full scale denial.

I really wish Haley would start talking about Cassel's temper.

12-30-2009, 05:00 PM
Baby Lee Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $8028275	Haley 12/30 presser TODD HALEY: “Started our preparations today for Denver, a division opponent that’s a very good team. Hasn’t been too long ago that they took it to us pretty good. So, it’s a chance to kind of correct some of the things that went on in that game. It’s a great opportunity on the road to take another step as a team. “Offensively, they have two backs, one that’s close to a 1,000 (yards) and who is a rookie (Knowshon Moreno) and looks like he’s going to be real good back and (Correll) Buckhalter who has over 600 (yards), so two guys who can really run the football. They’ve got a bunch of talented receivers starting with (Brandon) Marshall and (Eddie) Royal, (Brandon) Stokely. They’ve got a tight end who hurt us in the last game. They’ve got a very good offensive line that the last time we played them clearly won the line of scrimmage. “Defensively, they’re a well-coached group that creates a bunch of problems with multiple looks, multiple fronts and not strictly a three-four (alignment). They play some even fronts, over, under, bunch of different pressures from both sides, very good corners. It’s going to take our best to compete with these guys. “Special teams: another opportunity for us to get clicking a game in all three phases and beat a division opponent on the road.” Q: How important is this game for Matt Cassel and his development? The last time these two teams played it was one of his worst games. HALEY: “I’ll reiterate again, that as far as quarterbacks go this is still a guy who is getting close to getting two years under his belt. Every game is an opportunity for him to grow and this just happens to be a very good defense and a very difficult atmosphere. It is an opportunity but each week Matt is excited and works hard. He’s into it and is super competitive. I feel like we’ve made some progress here of late and it’s another chance for us to take another step for us as an offense and for him to take a step as our quarterback.” Q: What area or player this year has made the greatest progress? HALEY: “I think one of them is pretty obvious: Jamaal [Charles] has really made big steps. When you talk about that since November only one guy has had more rushing yards than him and that’s Chris Johnson that’s pretty good. Now, we can’t put him in Canton yet. It’s only been a handful of games. Part of being a good player in this league is doing it consistently over a period of time. That’s just where Jamaal is at. “That said, there are a bunch of guys without going into detail that I feel like have made big strides. But if you pin me down I’d say Jamaal is the more obvious.” Q: What is the one phase that hasn’t progressed the way you had hoped it would? HALEY: “I think there’s been progress in all areas. But the next step for us as a team – and a team never stays the same adding and subtracting players here before too long – is we’ve got to start playing complete games in all three phases before too long. When we do that we’ll be in more games and the more games we’re in the more we’ll win because we’re going to continue to work on being a smart team and one that makes good decisions. That would be my main point: getting all three phases working together.” Q: Has there been one game this year that all three phases worked together? HALEY: “I think the Steelers game. I think we played real well together as a team. It wasn’t perfect and there were things we could have done better or more efficiently. I would say that in that game we played at a pretty high level in all areas.” Q: How has your defensive line progressed or has it not progressed as much as you would have liked? HALEY: “It has been up and down and that’s what we have to eliminate. We need to get a group there that can hang in there week-in and week-out and when they’re a little off then have some guys that make up for them. We’ve had some games where they’ve really played solid, even last game [vs. Cincinnati] where the front seven did a really good job throughout the game. They had only two or three plays they’d like to have back. The smaller that number gets the better. That’s really where we’re at as a whole.” Q: Should it be further along than it is? HALEY: “There again we need to be further along in general. That’s what we’re working at. We have another game to take a step and see where we’re at and then we’re quickly going to be into the off-season and working at it again and trying to do all the things you need to do to be a good team. “Like I said, the team won’t stay the same. We’ll have some additions and subtractions and we just have to keep adding to the competition. All the same things we said a year ago are really going to have to be said. To be further along at this point would be the idea.” Q: Would you see adding to the defensive line as a next step? HALEY: “No different for all spots. If we’ve got a chance to improve or improve competition we’re going to do it. I know Scott [Pioli] is going to do it. I think that’s when you’re a good team, when nobody feels satisfied or comfortable and right now we’re 15 games through that process. I’d like to be sitting here with more wins because I definitely think there are some games there – seven games [that were lost] of seven points or less – that could have been… They’re not 20 plays, they’re two or three plays in each phase that if we do execute something a little cleaner we may get wins. But we’re still not happy. We wouldn’t be happy sitting here with six wins. I’d feel the same exact way that I feel right now because the idea of that is to have the chance to play in the Super Bowl and right now we don’t.” Q: Have you figured out why the inability to score in the first quarter? HALEY: “I think this has been a difficult task again, and I’m not making excuses for these guys because they don’t want any excuses made for them. But we made major changes; we’ve done a lot of things. What I think is important now is we’re making progress. Even these last few games we’ve started more positive than we did earlier. Is it good enough? No, clearly not. But I don’t have any regrets about the things we’ve done. I think it’s all happened for a reason. As I said, it’s going to get better and we’re going to be a good team. But you’re got to take your lumps sometimes. The [teams] that haven’t taken their lumps are few and far between that I know of. The teams that have started with everything’s golden and everybody’s happy I don’t know when you’re starting from ground zero. I know there have been growing pains for a lot of different teams and a lot of different staffs, a lot of organizations in general. We’re in that process right now. They’re going to be character builders for us and be what makes us a great team.” Q: One of your goals was to establish a new mindset or attitude for this organization. Do you feel that’s been done? HALEY: “Again, it comes down to wins and losses. I know it’s gets old when you say we’re making progress, but I’m the one out there and I’m the one that sees them. We just lined up today in the 16th week of the season and ran gassers and they’re running hard and they practiced hard today, they’re communicating, they’re here on time regardless of the weather conditions and working together to do the things necessary to be a good team. That’s progress from the inside.”
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