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.

[kstater]

Originally Posted by Mecca

The answers to these questions are...nothing.

However we'll see answers that involve things like process, time, yadda yadda.

So Mecca, what would you think about those that consider those answers like process, time, yadda yadda now?

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Evidently.

And it's not even that. Most of these gutless schmucks would bring the guy back if he were only on a 1-year deal. Because evidently 1 season isn't enough to recognize abysmal failure when it's staring right at you.

These people can enjoy their principled stance. They'll be the same folks that ease right into the mob in 2011 when the psychotic shit-for-brains we have coaching this team finally gets canned (you can actually witness this phenomenon firsthand with the folks that are only now slowly realizing that Cassel is nothing more than Matt Moore with a large contract).

Only 1.5 seasons too late...

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Scott Pioli makes Carl Peterson look like a hybrid of Bill Walsh and Don Shula.

And again - I MFing hate Carl Peterson.

I had only planned on quoting the first one, then I found the second quote.

[TheGuardian]

Now you see why I said that DJLN is the dumbest mother ****er on here?

[Ralphy Boy]

Originally Posted by Ralphy Boy

Purely speculation on my part, but I'd say he's more inclined to keep those that he hired, replace the ones he didn't and demote Clancy but keep him on staff. He and Pioli could care less if the fans are out for blood.

Personally I think you grade each unit individually and those who are worthy keep their job. At some point, you have to be realistic and acknowledge that certain position coaches are better than others even though a good DB coach can't make up for a horrible DL coach. Clancy peaked as a DB coach; he's been coaching past his skill level ever since.

Though we don't actually have a DB coach, Ronnie Bradford is a defensive assistant who's worked with them this season. He's never been given the title of DB coach, but that could be because Clancy is going to move into the role, like he did in Dallas in 01 & 02.

Not sure which of these idiots thought that getting rid of Pollard was a good idea, and they should lose a testical for it, but all in all that group has been pretty well coached. I haven't looked at how many deep passes we've given up, we're ranked #19 in total passing yards yet we've only got 19 sacks. That makes me think that if we had some QB pressure, the passing game would improve pretty easily. Those 19 sacks happen to be the 2nd lowest total in the league and 28 teams have 25 or more this season.

We are tied for the #22 spot in interceptions, with 11, but teams are completing 59.1% of their passes against us and have a 89.6 QB rating. Having all day to throw obviously results in higher stats in those areas. Slow safeties play a factor too. Then again, when you are playing a team that's ranked #31 in rushing yards allowed, why pass?

Bill Muir probably deserves some credit for coaching the crap he inherited and showing progress as the season has gone on. Cassel was sacked 24 times in the first 7 games compared to 17 times in the last 7.

Fire the WR coach (Dedric Ward and Richie Anderson). There is no way you lead the league in dropped passes and don't fire the WR coach.

Just saying that when you are as bad as we are, you take baby steps and you don't throw the baby out with the bath water.

Every time someone brings up a thread from the past I immediately think "Oh great, what did I say on this thread that I'm gonna regret?" Thankfully on this thread there isn't much, but Haley & co have certainly done a much better job than I would have expected.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

[QUOTE=kstater;7288362]So Mecca, what would you think about those that consider those answers like process, time, yadda yadda

Jeez, no wonder the guy went into hiding. I've seen alot of fail here, but he set the bar in the last year or so.

[Marcellus]

[quote=PGM;7288449]

Originally Posted by kstater

So Mecca, what would you think about those that consider those answers like process, time, yadda yadda

Jeez, no wonder the guy went into hiding. I've seen alot of fail here, but he set the bar in the last year or so.

Mecca isn't close to being the biggest dumbass in this thread.

Full of total fail.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

[QUOTE=Marcellus;7288494]

Originally Posted by PGM

Mecca isn't close to being the biggest dumbass in this thread.

Full of total fail.

I know and I don't think he is a dumbass at all, but was he right about anything?

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by PGM

I know and I don't think he is a dumbass at all, but was he right about anything?

No he wasn't but he also isn't telling people they are stupid *****.

Not a 1 of the 4 horsemen appear to have many (and in some cases none) correct posts thoughts or opinions in this thread.

Yet they know more than you do and as I have seen stated and backed up by other horsemen, they are better than you, end of story.

[Pablo]

These threads are going to be bumped forever, aren't they?

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by PostRockPablo

These threads are going to be bumped forever, aren't they?

When we're 7-9 next year the drafturbators will bump them.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

[QUOTE=Marcellus;7288528]

Originally Posted by PGM

No he wasn't but he also isn't telling people they are stupid *****.

Not a 1 of the 4 horsemen appear to have many (and in some cases none) correct posts thoughts or opinions in this thread.

Yet they know more than you do and as I have seen stated and backed up by other horsemen, they are better than you, end of story.

I like many of thier takes, but it's been a rough year for those guys.

[Pablo]

Originally Posted by Gif Horse

When we're 7-9 next year the drafturbators will bump them.

True story.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by Gif Horse

When we're 7-9 next year the drafturbators will bump them.

Lol, no shit, its a vicious circle.

I do love the immediate defense they go into about - "Is this all CP is about now? Proving people wrong for having an opinion?"

[Pablo]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Lol, no shit, its a vicious circle.

I do love the immediate defense they go into about - "Is this all CP is about now? Proving people wrong for having an opinion?"

LOL.

I'm pretty sure that's all CP has ever been about; since I've been here at least.

I could count the number of civil football conversations on one hand.

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Lol, no shit, its a vicious circle.

I do love the immediate defense they go into about - "Is this all CP is about now? Proving people wrong for having an opinion?"

Yep. CP was way better when you couldn't make a post in a thread anywhere on the forum that disagreed with anything they had to say without being called a stupid MF'er.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by PostRockPablo

LOL.

I'm pretty sure that's all CP has ever been about; since I've been here at least.

I could count the number of civil football conversations on one hand.

There was a time when we did have civil discusssions.

There was a time when namecalling was virtually non existent.

At some point, name calling became much more prevalent, and speaking for myself only, I responded in kind, and it became a part of the every day debates.