Joe Posnanski: big SI Scott Pioli feature

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by BossChief

I didnt call Bowe an underachiever. I even put a sidenote to his addition to the list because he was productive, but he is a totally new player under Haley and hiring Haley was 100% Piolis call, so he is due the credit for taking Bowes game to the level its at right now where he has a real chance to break or at least threaten the single season record for TD receptions.

2 more TDs and Bowe has equaled his total from his first three years here combined. Credit is surely due.

Same goes for Hali, he was at a new season high at the midway point this year and was playing at a level he hadnt gotten to before. I agree that it wasnt by much as I see it as the players around him allowing him to play in beast mode like he is (though he has seemed to level off the last couple weeks, I wonder if he is hiding an injury) but he has surely stepped his game up and, again, you have to give credit to Haley and ultimately Pioli for demanding so much and making the players seemingly step it up a notch or two.

From the moment Haley got here, he set the tone with the players by not even allowing them to practice till they got into the type of shape he expected of them as professionals.

I dont think that any of these guys would be playing at the level they are playing at if the bar wasnt set almost unrealistically high, as Haley has done.

And look at what's going on with the Miami Heat. They have a young disciplinarian coach surrounded by talented douche bags with no concept of team or work ethic. How do you think young players on the Heat respond to Bosh saying the team just wants to chill or Lebron goofing around at practice. Because of these egomaniacs, nobody respects the coach who is trying to create sense of discipline.

Haley's done a good job of setting the tone, but his job is 100 times easier because the front office has largely been uncompromising in terms of bringing leaders in who care enough to be disciplined. Can you imagine Haley being a disciplinarian to a guy like TO or Jamarcus Russell?