Whitlock: Why should the Chiefs bring Haley back?

[Tribal Warfare]

Why should the Chiefs bring Haley back?
By JASON WHITLOCK
The Kansas City Star

I’m not arguing that Todd Haley should be fired. I’m wondering what’s the justification for bringing him back.

Loyalty? Fairness?

You throw them overboard with the waiting list for season-ticket holders. Anyone arguing the Chiefs have made progress this season hasn’t heard about what happened inside Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday when the Cleveland Browns visited.

On a day when Cleveland quarterback Brady Quinn threw for 66 yards and two interceptions, the Browns rumbled for 351 yards on the ground and surpassed the 40-point barrier in a 41-34 victory over Haley’s Chiefs.

Keep in mind, the Browns are in the process of wooing Mike Holmgren to take over their organization and can embattled head coach Eric “Dead Man Coaching” Mangini. The Browns are bad. The Chiefs are worse.

It took a total team effort to give Cleveland a road victory.

“When you allow two returns for touchdowns, that’s generally not going to end up being a good thing,” Haley said, scolding the special-teams unit that allowed Josh Cribbs to find the end zone twice on kickoff returns.

“When you drop nine balls, and we had 39 to 40 by the NFL’s count going into this game — 50-plus by my count — it’s going to be very difficult,” Haley said, scolding his receivers for their inability to catch.

“When you allow a team to run the football the way they were able to run the football, you’re not going to have much of a chance to win,” Haley said, scolding a defensive unit that has surrendered 800-plus rushing yards in its last three games at Arrowhead Stadium.

That’s all three units, folks. Special teams. Offense. And defense.

It’s Christmas, and all three phases of Haley’s team are in disarray.

We’ve spent so much time focusing on the shortcomings within Kansas City’s roster, we’ve failed to mention that it’s likely Haley will overhaul his entire coaching staff, too.

You think Clancy Pendergast is coming back as defensive coordinator after some kid named Jerome Harrison gained 286 yards and finished 10 yards shy of the NFL’s all-time rushing record? We know Haley is a hothead. He booted his most qualified assistant (Chan Gailey) before the season. He’s already demoted a receivers coach. He benches receivers when his mood dictates.

Come on, you know Haley’s instincts will tell him to fire everyone except his wingman, Maurice Carthon. Haley can argue that he got this head-coaching position so late last offseason that he was unable to lure top-flight assistants.

Will top assistants want to come work for Haley this offseason? Let’s don’t even deal with the damage Haley has done to his reputation with his wild-man coaching routine and his handling of Gailey. Why would a top assistant come to KC when Haley is going to enter next season on the hot seat?

You know who would come? A coach with ties to Scott Pioli; a coach who thinks he could be the interim head coach if Haley gets fired six weeks into the season. Charlie Weis. Romeo Crennel.

Yes, more of the Patriots Way. A continuation of the flawed philosophy that you can export a winning culture from one city to another. Winning produces its own unique culture wherever it lands.

Let me get back on topic. I’m not saying Todd Haley should be fired. I’m wondering what’s the justification for bringing him back.

Mike Shanahan appears to be headed to Washington. Mike Holmgren apparently is going to take over Cleveland’s front office. Bill Cowher might rejoin the coaching ranks. The Chiefs are going to stand pat with Haley?

What has he shown us that gives us confidence he’ll hire a competent coaching staff? And if the Chiefs are going to be starting over with a new assistant-coaching staff, why not just start all the way over with a new head coach?

I did not say fire Todd Haley. I’m searching for reasons to bring him back. Right now, loyalty and fairness come to mind.

Scott Pioli stuck Haley with a craptastic roster. The stupidity of playing all season with special-team players masquerading as starting linebackers and safeties has caught up with the Chiefs the last month. And so has playing musical waiver wire at receiver.

Haley’s defenders can argue quite persuasively that he hasn’t been given a fair shot. Haley’s critics could argue that Haley has made a bad situation worse.

I’m not arguing anything. And I’m cool with Haley coming back ... as long as he realizes he has to make a boatload of fundamental changes to his coaching approach.

[Mecca]

And Jason wonders why he gets called stupid in threads.

[ILChief]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Not kick it to him.

Next question.

yeah letting the other team start near midfield every time is a great idea.

NOTE: I KNOW FULL WELL HE RETURNED A SECOND KICK FOR A TD. The odds of that were slim. Shit happens.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by Mecca

Why are you asking me a question you know the answer to, are you playing dumb or are you really dumb?

I'm not going to answer questions that a person with basic football knowledge knows the answer to.

you keep saying not kick to him. how would YOU accomplish that?
Posted via Mobile Device

[ILChief]

Originally Posted by Mecca

Really so lack of talent is why you do a fake punt at your own 28 in a 1 score game?

that was a bad decision.

[Mecca]

I bet IL is someone who voted for Oline on the Chiefs website.

[ILChief]

Originally Posted by Mecca

I bet IL is someone who voted for Oline on the Chiefs website.

depends on who's available when we pick.

[Mecca]

You are a true Chiefs fan, Oline!

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by Mecca

I bet IL is someone who voted for Oline on the Chiefs website.

wow that really was relevant
Posted via Mobile Device

[Mecca]

If you read that thread you'd understand.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

so you would kick every ko out of bounds?
Posted via Mobile Device

The kicker should be able to execute better than that. After all, Succop is one of our two valuable pieces of evidence for progress.

But, yes, starting at the 40 would be better than sacrificing 14 points.

[SPATCH]

Originally Posted by Mecca

The end conclusion of this thread, ILChief thinks Todd Haley is doing a good job just cause.

Count me as one who believes in the concept of continuity within an organization... and that a coach should be given a fair shot.

No one would say that Haley is doing a particularly good job this year, but the organization obviously believes he is capable of doing a good job in the near future.

I would rather give Haley the opportunity to learn from his mistakes (as a first year ****ing coach) than to undergo yet another god damn regime change.

Continuity.

[ILChief]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

But, yes, starting at the 40 would be better than sacrificing 14 points.

In this rare instance, yes. but history wouldn't bear that out. Just because someone wins the lottery doesn't mean buying lottery tickets is a sound investment.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by Mecca

If you read that thread you'd understand.

and that matters here how?

so back on point here.

if you were a hc of a team and a dangerous kr returns the opening ko for a td you would ko every time out of bounds from that point forward??
Posted via Mobile Device

[Mecca]

To Jason saying don't kick the ball to Cribbs means kicking it out of bounds, I swear.

This is a futile effort and makes me wish ill upon him.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

The kicker should be able to execute better than that. After all, Succop is one of our two valuable pieces of evidence for progress.

But, yes, starting at the 40 would be better than sacrificing 14 points.

before yesterdays game i think we were pretty highly ranked on ST. not so much on D. which would you have trusted more?

starting at the 40 every drive would have been terrible.

we kicked to him after the second td, why didnt he get a third? our ST did what they were supposed to
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