Chiefs Q&A with TODD HALEY - 9/9 - Page 11

C-Mac · 09-09-2009, 05:49 PM

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Q&A with TODD HALEY - 9/9
Sep 09, 2009, 3:04:04 PM

TODD HALEY: “Good afternoon everybody. We got to our real Wednesday (practice) after our bonus Wednesday on Monday. I think there’s a chance of some weather there (Baltimore) this weekend so I was kind of actually happy we got some rain because it always forces the guys to concentrate.

“Overall, I thought it was a practice that as the day went on started to get better. This is the first official first-time through as a Wednesday so there was a bit of a feeling-out process but I thought overall it was a productive day.”

Q: Matt Cassel was out there again. Did he come back okay after his work on Monday and his day off?

HALEY: “Again, he was out there which was good. That’s better than not being out there and he was able to get through some. That’s going to be the situation that we’re going to evaluate as the week goes on and don’t know that we’ll have an answer right up to until we play.”

Q: Are you pleased with what the offense is doing?

HALEY: “We’re asking them to do a lot here. We’re putting the pressure on them to catch up, so to speak, but overall the guys going back (and up to) the last week of the pre-season have responded. They’re into it; they’re studying; they’re preparing, they’re doing the things that will give them a chance to know what’s going on. I’m glad we got a couple more days of practice. There’s no doubt about that. But I think they’ve shown a good response.”

Q: You’ve got some fairly new faces on the offensive line, so how do you see those guys doing now that you’re in the regular groove?

HALEY: “That’s going to be a fact of life at one position or another where guys are going to be coming in. That’s the way we’re going to operate. We had Ryan (O’Callaghan) in there for a second practice really but it’s going to be a case of the guys helping assimilate those (new) guys into what we’re doing and the way we’re doing it.

“Again, when you get a guy who comes from New England or Miami that’s generally an advantage because I think there are a lot of similarities how we do things.”

Q: Are you excited about this first week of the regular season?

HALEY: “You know that it’s real now and we’ve got to be ready to go. Everything counts. Every minute counts. Every meeting counts. Everything you do obviously will help to determine whether you win or lose.”

Q: Do you feel better because you’ve got your hands on the offense and you’re out there doing what you wanted to do as opposed to being a step away?

HALEY: “I don’t know if better is the term. I’m comfortable doing that; I’ve done it the last few years. It’s something I understand and obviously enjoy. But I don’t know if better is the term. I felt that the offense needed support right now and that’s what I’m doing. Again, I’m still the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs and I cannot forget that whether it’s in practice, meetings or whatever I’m doing.”

Q: How much have you changed your offense?

HALEY: “None, exactly what we ran in the third pre-season game is what you’ll see.”

Q: As far as the injury report, how will Matt be listed?

HALEY: “Questionable I think. This is new to me but a guy who participates some but not all.”

Q: Tamba Hali was impressive to (Baltimore) coach Harbaugh from what he’s seen on film. Where is he in your thoughts?

HALEY: “I think Tamba has been a bright spot without a doubt. He was a guy five months ago that a lot of people were kind of wondering what would happen to Tamba and how he would respond. But once (Kansas City Star reporter) Adam (Teicher) got it out there officially how we were going to play defense there was going to be some adjustment period for him. I think he’s done a very good job to this point of adjusting to this new role. Again, it’s a work in progress. We can’t put him in the Hall of Fame yet but I think he’s made progress in a tough situation.”

Q: Was he one of those guys you weren’t really sure how he was going to respond?

HALEY: “I go by what I see, Kent, and that’s why I didn’t want to speculate on any of that early on. That’s the way I coach: I go by what I see. So, if a guy knows what to do and he’s doing it at a high level then I’ve got no problem.”

Q: What is Baltimore’s strength in your view?

HALEY: “The whole team is a strength. I think they are obviously one of the great defenses over the last decade. Year-in and year-out even though they’ve had to plug different players into different roles each year they’ve come in and played defense. “It’s easy to talk about defense when you talk about Baltimore but I think what’s changed with Baltimore is now the offense is an offense that gives you something to deal with. They’ve got a very good quarterback; they’ve got three tremendous runners; they’ve got one of the top tight ends in the league and they’ve got three receivers that are very good receivers. They probably would be ones on most teams. They have a very physical offensive line. It’s easy to talk about the defense but the offense is now here without a doubt.

“Special teams, they’re one of the better special teams groups in the league. It’s obvious with coach Harbaugh it is his area of expertise and it shows with this team.

“I think (Baltimore’s) a three-headed monster as far as I’m concerned.”

Q: Coach Harbaugh told us that as a first year head coach last year there was a slight advantage for a whole new regime coming in. Do you feel there is a little element of surprise for you?

HALEY: “I can’t speculate on what people think. Again, we’re just trying to get better every single day. We’re still trying to find an identity as a team and that’s going to be a work in progress. That’s really where we’re at.”
http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2009/09...odd_haley__99/

**DeezNutz** · 09-10-2009, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

Apparently, not everyone had your take. Here are just a couple of examples......

(Edit)

I misread Dane's post.

The fault lies squarely on the bag of DeezNutz.

Just Passin' By · 09-10-2009, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

And outside of Cassel and maybe Vrabel, none of those guys would start for any other NFL team and in many cases, might not even make the roster.

I don't agree with your assessment. Every one of those players, with the possible exception of Gutierrez, is good enough to make other rosters.

More to the point though, it doesn't matter. These are upgrades over last season and part of just the first stage in the rebuild, which is the point.

Just Passin' By · 09-10-2009, 03:09 PM

It's been amusing reading as the complaining began with "Doesn't Pioli know that anyone would be better than that ****ing guy!" and then transformed into "I can't believe they didn't get a better player than who they got to replace that ****ing guy!". The complaining hasn't stopped. The excuse for the complaining just changed.

keg in kc · 09-10-2009, 03:09 PM

They've done exactly what most people familiar with new england thought they would do. Bring in a bunch of coachable team-oriented guys that other teams might overlook in favor of more raw talent, and focus on building the d-line through the draft. They've said over and over it's about finding the 'right 53'. Why anybody would be surprised by this I have no idea.

**DaneMcCloud** · 09-10-2009, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

I don't agree with your assessment. Every one of those players, with the possible exception of Gutierrez, is good enough to make other rosters.

More to the point though, it doesn't matter. These are upgrades over last season and part of just the first stage in the rebuild, which is the point.

You must be back on the pipe again.

Cassel and Vrabel were traded. They had no choice but to play for the Chiefs.

The other guys couldn't get a job anywhere else in the league. They're all playing for veteran league minimum.

Lay down the pipe.

**DaneMcCloud** · 09-10-2009, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

So?

Tom Brady wasn't drafted to be a franchise quarterback.

Actually, if you read the book, yes, he was.

The point is that Mays was only signed to be a special teamer. He wasn't signed to be the starting linebacker.

Hence, Pioli was not aware of his value.

Chiefnj2 · 09-10-2009, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Gimme a break.

Pioli didn't "find" 25 year-old Corey Mays. He bounced around the league for years like a hot potato between teams. The Chiefs signed him to be a special teams player. They had absolutely no faith in his ability to play ILB, which is why 37 year-old Zach Thomas was signed - a guy who couldn't even make it on the field in training camp.

If they had signed him and said "We project Mays to be the starting ILB", I'd be impressed.

But they didn't.

He was signed to be a special teamer. Nothing more.

Pioli didn't find him? He wasn't a UFA signed by the Pats when Pioli was with NE? You just proved my point that Pioli can't win with some people.

PunkinDrublic · 09-10-2009, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keg in kc

They've done exactly what most people familiar with new england thought they would do. Bring in a bunch of coachable team-oriented guys that other teams might overlook in favor of more raw talent, and focus on building the d-line through the draft. They've said over and over it's about finding the 'right 53'. Why anybody would be surprised by this I have no idea.

Look at the # of guys we had shuffling in and out of camp. It may be that there just isn't that much talent out there that we can just plug into our line as bad as our current situation is. They brought Runyon in and I firmly believe they will be scouring through the recent TC cuts. A lot of these mediocre players are what they are which is a temporary fix.

**DaneMcCloud** · 09-10-2009, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

Pioli didn't find him? He wasn't a UFA signed by the Pats when Pioli was with NE? You just proved my point that Pioli can't win with some people.

They cut him, too.

I guess he wasn't all that.

Don't tell me that he was signed to be anything OTHER than a special teams guy.

Because that would be just plain false.

Hammock Parties · 09-10-2009, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Actually, if you read the book, yes, he was.

The point is that Mays was only signed to be a special teamer. He wasn't signed to be the starting linebacker.

Hence, Pioli was not aware of his value.

Sounds like revisionist history to me.

Pioli can go back and write a book saying how much he knew Mays was going to be a stud after the fact.

ToxSocks · 09-10-2009, 03:20 PM

It's not like players are lining up to play for KC. They need to scrounge around and find players to make this a team worth coming too. If they can find "The right 53" and start winning, then you'll hear more big names coming to KC. Its hard to expect otherwise.

**DaneMcCloud** · 09-10-2009, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

Sounds like revisionist history to me.

Pioli can go back and write a book saying how much he knew Mays was going to be a stud after the fact.

That's bullshit. He wouldn't have cut him nor would he have signed Zach Thomas (AGE 37) to be the starter.

Hammock Parties · 09-10-2009, 03:22 PM

OK. I still think he deserves credit, no matter what the original "plan" was.

I give the Chiefs credit for Jared Allen.

**DaneMcCloud** · 09-10-2009, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

OK. I still think he deserves credit, no matter what the original "plan" was.

I give the Chiefs credit for Jared Allen.

First off, Corey Mays hasn't done a thing yet for the Chiefs. It was preseason.

Secondly, it's just like the Priest Holmes signing. Vermeil didn't know that Priest was the player he'd become.

rad · 09-10-2009, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

They cut him, too.

I guess he wasn't all that.

Don't tell me that he was signed to be anything OTHER than a special teams guy.

Because that would be just plain false.

C'mon man, give it a rest. Some people have more patience, that's all.

09-09-2009, 05:49 PM
C-Mac Lurker Extraordinaire Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Wally World Casino cash: $-1126301	Q&A with TODD HALEY - 9/9 Features Q&A with TODD HALEY - 9/9 Sep 09, 2009, 3:04:04 PM TODD HALEY: “Good afternoon everybody. We got to our real Wednesday (practice) after our bonus Wednesday on Monday. I think there’s a chance of some weather there (Baltimore) this weekend so I was kind of actually happy we got some rain because it always forces the guys to concentrate. “Overall, I thought it was a practice that as the day went on started to get better. This is the first official first-time through as a Wednesday so there was a bit of a feeling-out process but I thought overall it was a productive day.” Q: Matt Cassel was out there again. Did he come back okay after his work on Monday and his day off? HALEY: “Again, he was out there which was good. That’s better than not being out there and he was able to get through some. That’s going to be the situation that we’re going to evaluate as the week goes on and don’t know that we’ll have an answer right up to until we play.” Q: Are you pleased with what the offense is doing? HALEY: “We’re asking them to do a lot here. We’re putting the pressure on them to catch up, so to speak, but overall the guys going back (and up to) the last week of the pre-season have responded. They’re into it; they’re studying; they’re preparing, they’re doing the things that will give them a chance to know what’s going on. I’m glad we got a couple more days of practice. There’s no doubt about that. But I think they’ve shown a good response.” Q: You’ve got some fairly new faces on the offensive line, so how do you see those guys doing now that you’re in the regular groove? HALEY: “That’s going to be a fact of life at one position or another where guys are going to be coming in. That’s the way we’re going to operate. We had Ryan (O’Callaghan) in there for a second practice really but it’s going to be a case of the guys helping assimilate those (new) guys into what we’re doing and the way we’re doing it. “Again, when you get a guy who comes from New England or Miami that’s generally an advantage because I think there are a lot of similarities how we do things.” Q: Are you excited about this first week of the regular season? HALEY: “You know that it’s real now and we’ve got to be ready to go. Everything counts. Every minute counts. Every meeting counts. Everything you do obviously will help to determine whether you win or lose.” Q: Do you feel better because you’ve got your hands on the offense and you’re out there doing what you wanted to do as opposed to being a step away? HALEY: “I don’t know if better is the term. I’m comfortable doing that; I’ve done it the last few years. It’s something I understand and obviously enjoy. But I don’t know if better is the term. I felt that the offense needed support right now and that’s what I’m doing. Again, I’m still the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs and I cannot forget that whether it’s in practice, meetings or whatever I’m doing.” Q: How much have you changed your offense? HALEY: “None, exactly what we ran in the third pre-season game is what you’ll see.” Q: As far as the injury report, how will Matt be listed? HALEY: “Questionable I think. This is new to me but a guy who participates some but not all.” Q: Tamba Hali was impressive to (Baltimore) coach Harbaugh from what he’s seen on film. Where is he in your thoughts? HALEY: “I think Tamba has been a bright spot without a doubt. He was a guy five months ago that a lot of people were kind of wondering what would happen to Tamba and how he would respond. But once (Kansas City Star reporter) Adam (Teicher) got it out there officially how we were going to play defense there was going to be some adjustment period for him. I think he’s done a very good job to this point of adjusting to this new role. Again, it’s a work in progress. We can’t put him in the Hall of Fame yet but I think he’s made progress in a tough situation.” Q: Was he one of those guys you weren’t really sure how he was going to respond? HALEY: “I go by what I see, Kent, and that’s why I didn’t want to speculate on any of that early on. That’s the way I coach: I go by what I see. So, if a guy knows what to do and he’s doing it at a high level then I’ve got no problem.” Q: What is Baltimore’s strength in your view? HALEY: “The whole team is a strength. I think they are obviously one of the great defenses over the last decade. Year-in and year-out even though they’ve had to plug different players into different roles each year they’ve come in and played defense. “It’s easy to talk about defense when you talk about Baltimore but I think what’s changed with Baltimore is now the offense is an offense that gives you something to deal with. They’ve got a very good quarterback; they’ve got three tremendous runners; they’ve got one of the top tight ends in the league and they’ve got three receivers that are very good receivers. They probably would be ones on most teams. They have a very physical offensive line. It’s easy to talk about the defense but the offense is now here without a doubt. “Special teams, they’re one of the better special teams groups in the league. It’s obvious with coach Harbaugh it is his area of expertise and it shows with this team. “I think (Baltimore’s) a three-headed monster as far as I’m concerned.” Q: Coach Harbaugh told us that as a first year head coach last year there was a slight advantage for a whole new regime coming in. Do you feel there is a little element of surprise for you? HALEY: “I can’t speculate on what people think. Again, we’re just trying to get better every single day. We’re still trying to find an identity as a team and that’s going to be a work in progress. That’s really where we’re at.” http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2009/09...odd_haley__99/
Posts: 5,661

09-10-2009, 03:09 PM	#153
Just Passin' By In Search of a Life Join Date: Feb 2009 Casino cash: $5450524	It's been amusing reading as the complaining began with "Doesn't Pioli know that anyone would be better than that **ing guy!" and then transformed into "I can't believe they didn't get a better player than who they got to replace that **ing guy!". The complaining hasn't stopped. The excuse for the complaining just changed.
Posts: 69,748

09-10-2009, 03:09 PM	#154
keg in kc oxymoron Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: OP/KC/Whatever Casino cash: $9556299	They've done exactly what most people familiar with new england thought they would do. Bring in a bunch of coachable team-oriented guys that other teams might overlook in favor of more raw talent, and focus on building the d-line through the draft. They've said over and over it's about finding the 'right 53'. Why anybody would be surprised by this I have no idea.
Posts: 58,682

09-10-2009, 03:20 PM	#161
ToxSocks Needs more middle fingers Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: San Diego Casino cash: $2003063	It's not like players are lining up to play for KC. They need to scrounge around and find players to make this a team worth coming too. If they can find "The right 53" and start winning, then you'll hear more big names coming to KC. Its hard to expect otherwise. __________________ Life is like a dick. Sometimes it gets hard for no reason, but it can't stay hard forever.
Posts: 65,925

09-10-2009, 03:22 PM	#163
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $760478	OK. I still think he deserves credit, no matter what the original "plan" was. I give the Chiefs credit for Jared Allen. __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 297,541