Haley Takes Over … Tuesday Cup O’Chiefs
We already knew things were different around the Chiefs with the new regime and all.
On Monday, Todd Haley drove that point home once again with his decision to dump Chan Gailey as offensive coordinator.
With that move, Haley did something that Gunther Cunningham, Dick Vermeil and Herm Edwards were not willing to do. All three of the more recent Chiefs head coaches had assistants on their staffs that were not working out and all three soldiered on with those coaches rather than going through with the difficult decision of making a change.
Cunningham, Vermeil and Edwards were also big on allowing their coordinators free reign and they were reticent to inject themselves into game planning and game-day decisions. With Vermeil that approach worked out on offense with Al Saunders, and did not work with Greg Robinson. With Edwards, that worked last year with Gailey, but not before with offensive coordinator Mike Solari. Part of the problems with the Chiefs defense last year was that Edwards and Cunningham were intent on doing different things and the team’s defensive identity was split.
Ultimately when there are those types of situations, it’s the head coach who pays the price in the end because generally there are more defeats than victories.
It appears that Haley is going to work with his staff more in the manner that Marty Schottenheimer handled his over 10 seasons as head coach. Schottenheimer was never afraid to stick his finger into the offensive, defensive or special teams plan; he made known what he wanted and if it didn’t come, heads rolled.
The decision to relieve Gailey of his position has nothing to do with the quality of the man’s work or his competence. Gailey is one of the best offensive minds in the game. On top of that, there are not many better people in the game of football. He’s the personification of class, something Haley acknowledged on Monday.
It’s just that Gailey’s approach and style, and his idea of what’s important with the ball and play calling are different than Haley’s approach.
There needs to be some soul searching on the part of both Haley and Scott Pioli on what’s happened. Haley was encouraged to keep Gailey on his staff by Pioli. This kind of outcome was predicted by folks in the NFL that knew both men and their styles. It could have been and was predicted.
One guy who predicted this clash of styles was Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman. At the Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremonies in Canton, Aikman talked of a conversation he had with Haley during the NFL owners meeting in southern California. The former Cowboys quarterback predicted there would be problems between Haley and Gailey because of their different approaches. He explained that Gailey didn’t like to call plays where the pass went over the middle and that he was conservative in his passing game approach. Aikman said that was going to clash with Haley’s willingness to use the middle of the field and his more aggressive style in throwing the ball.
Now, we must remember that Aikman is not a Gailey fan from their days together with the Cowboys. It was Gailey’s job to tell Aikman his career was over, and that’s something the quarterback has not forgotten.
But he turned out to be right on the money with this insight.
Stand on the same street corner on NFL Main Street long enough and you’ll see t he same parade go by several times. There may be different faces among the marchers, but their route remains the same.
Haley is not the first Chiefs head coach to fire a coordinator in the pre-season, one of the worst possible times to make a coaching staff move. Back in the summer of 1984, head coach John Mackovic fired defensive coordinator Bud Carson (right) on a Monday morning after a contentious personnel meeting the previous night.
The subject of that Mackovic-Carson disagreement was LB Charles Jackson. Mackovic wanted Jackson more involved, while Carson thought he was a coach killer, a player whose mistakes would ultimately lead to the termination of the coach. Turned out Carson was correct, but in a way in never envisioned as he was killed in a football sense the next day.
That situation 25 years ago was not really about a single player or meeting. It just came down to Jackson being the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. Mackovic and Carson had many disagreements in the season before. In fact, at the end of the ‘83 season, Carson tried to resign but Mackovic refused to make a change. He thought they could work out their differences.
Was it a similar plot 25 years later with Haley and Gailey? Sometime in the future the real story of what happened will be revealed, but right now the head coach says there was no particular moment that created this move. Did they disagree on the approach of the Chiefs offense that has so few weapons in the passing game? With Matt Cassel injured, did they disagree on whether it should be Tyler Thigpen or Brodie Croyle as his replacement? Did Haley want to go back to using Thigpen in the spread offense from last year?
What Haley wouldn’t say is this: he and Gailey were not on the same offensive page, and the head coach was not going to live with that in his first season and first chance as an NFL head coach.
Hopefully Haley is also quite aware that the move and his decision to call plays and serve as the team’s quarterbacks coach takes the bull’s eye on his back and makes it even bigger. He will be severely second guessed if the Chiefs offense continues to stumble around like it has during the pre-season.
Todd Haley wants his fingerprints on the offense. He wanted to be the answer. It’s now his problem to correct and turn around.
He’s got his work cut out for him.
SIGNINGS, INJURIES & MOVEMENT AROUND THE LEAGUE
- BENGALS – placed TE Ben Utecht on the injured-reserve list (neck); released TE Matt Sherry.
- BROWNS – released OL Ryan Tucker, LB Robert McCune, TE Nate Jackson and CB Roderick Hood; signed OL Branndon Braxton.
- BUCCANEERS – released WR Dexter Jackson.
- CARDINALS – released LB Pago Togafau and S Keith Lewis; placed DE Cody Brown on injured-reserve list (wrist.)
- CHARGERS – acquired DT Travis Johnson (right) from the Texans for a sixth-round 2010 draft choice; signed injured fourth-round draft choice WR Demetrius Byrd; rookie CB Brandon Hughes suffered a knee injury in Monday practice and could miss the season.
- COLTS – released CB Michael Coe, DE Rudolph Hardie, DE Curtis Johnson and TE Colin Cloherty.
- COWBOYS — claiimed DB DeAngelo Willingham on waivers (Buccaneers).
- EAGLES – released OT Chris Patrick.
- GIANTS – DE Osi Umenyiora went absent from the team’s facility after a disagreement with defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan on Monday morning. Umenyiora is expected back on Tuesday; released CB Stoney Woodson, WR Taye Biddle and OT Terrance Pennington.
- LIONS – released WR D.J. Boldin, LB Rob Francois, DE Ryan Kees and S LaMarcus Hicks; placed CB Exter Wynn on the injured-reserve list.
- PACKERS – released P Durant Brooks, WR JaRon Harris and LB Stryker Sulak.
- PANTHERS – released WR Ryne Robinson and DT Lorenzo Williams.
- PATRIOTS – placed LB Tyrone McKenzie on the injured reserve list; sent OT Mark LeVoir to the PUP list; sent Brandon Tate to the NFI List; released LS Nathan Hodel.
- RAVENS – released QB Drew Wily, WR Bradon Godrey and WR Biren Ealy.
- SAINTS – released DT Rod Coleman, CB Greg Fassitt and WR D’Juan Woods.
- STEELERS – placed OL Darnell Stapleton on the injured-reserve list (knee); released WR Steven Black, WR Martin Nance, S Derrick Richardson and C Alex Stepanovich.
FROM THE PAGES OF CHIEFS HISTORY
On September 1, 1967, the Chiefs lost a pre-season game to the Rams 44-24 at the Los Angeles Coliseum. WR Otis Taylor had 2 TD catches, for 76 and 13 yards. QB was Pete Beathard, who also found Chris Burford for a 25-yard TD pass. He finished the game 13 of 34 for 227 yards, those three TDs, but also four interceptions. K Jan Stenerud added a 48-yard field goal. Rams QB Roman Gabriel threw three TD passes, with WR Jack Snow catching four passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns. RB Les Josephson led the Rams with 128 yards rushing on 19 carries, including a 55-yard TD run.
On September 1, 1973, the Chiefs lost a pre-season game to the Cowboys 27-16 at Texas Stadium. RB Ed Podolak scored on a 1-yard run and K Jan Stenerud had field goals of 22, 24 and 41 yards. Cowboys ran for 282 yards on 50 carries, as RB Calvin Hill ran for 110 yards on 16 carries and RB Robert Newhouse ran 22 times for 107 yards. S Cliff Harris returned an INT by QB Len Dawson 44 yards for TD.
September 1, 1991, the Chiefs won their regular-season opener over Atlanta 14-3 at Arrowhead Stadium. The Kansas City defense under coordinator Bill Cowher led the way with six takeaways and a sack. CB Albert Lewis had three interceptions. The offense provided two touchdowns, as RB Christian Okoye scored on a four-yard run and QB Steve DeBerg hooked up with WR Emile Harry on a six-yard TD toss. Okoye finished the game with 143 yards rushing on 22 carries. WR Stephone Page had six catches for 79 yards. On the Falcons side, the Chiefs held WR Andre Rison to a pair of catches for 11 yards.
September 1, 1996, Chiefs won their season opener over the Houston Oilers 20-19 at the Astrodome. The Oilers offense held the ball for nearly 10 minutes more than the Chiefs and had the advantage in yards gained (263/248). But the Chiefs offense produced a pair of touchdown passes from QB Steve Bono and got the victory. Bono found WR Tamarick Vanover for an 11-yard score and then WR Lake Dawson for a 23-yard TD. K Pete Stoyanovich kicked FGs of 35 and 43 yards. Bono was 21 of 37 for 192 yards and those 2 TDs.
SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY …
Born on September 1, 1947 in Atlantic, Iowa was RB Edward Joseph Podolak (right). He joined the Chiefs as a second-round selection in the 1969 NFL-AFL Draft out of the University of Iowa. Podolak played nine seasons with the club (1969-77), appearing in 104 games with 66 starts. Few in franchise history did as much with the football as he did during his career. Podolak ran for 4,451 yards (on 1,157 carries), caught passes for 2,456 yards (on 288 catches) returned kicks for 697 yards and punts for 739 yards. That’s a total of 8,343 combined net yards and 40 TDs. Not included in those totals are the 350 yards he had in the Chiefs loss to Miami in the playoffs on Christmas Day 1971.
Born on September 1, 1942 in Barberton, Ohio was RB Gene Thomas. He joined the Chiefs in 1966 and appeared in 28 games over two seasons (1966-67) with the club. Thomas ran the ball 42 times for 186 yards and 2 TDs, while catching 13 passes for 99 yards and 2 TDs. He also returned nine kicks for 118 yards. Thomas finished his football career in 1969 with the Boston Patriots.
Born on September 1, 1974 in Richmond, Virginia was TE/LS Ed Perry. He joined the Chiefs for six games during the 2005 season after long snapper Kendall Gammon was injured and out for the rest of the season. Perry played eight seasons in the league, seven with the Miami Dolphins.
Born on September 1, 1973 in Pampa, Texas was LB Zach Thomas. He joined the Chiefs as a free agent before the 2009 season and is currently battling an injury and trying to make the team. Thomas played 13 seasons with the Dolphins and Cowboys and has 17 career interceptions and six recovered fumbles.
Born on September 1, 1978 in Lufkin, Texas was RB/WR/KR Dante Hall (left). He joined the Chiefs as a fifth-round selection in the 2000 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M. Hall played seven seasons with the Chiefs (2000-06), appearing in 97 games, with 10 starts. He compiled 12,366 combined yards in rushing, receiving and returning, including scoring 20 touchdowns. Hall is the franchise leader in career kickoff return yardage with 8,644 yards and is No. 1 in punt returns for TDs (5) and kickoff returns for scores (6).
Hey Bob, interesting perspective. I like Chan’s work as OC. But Herm / Gunther is proof enough for me that if the head coach and coordinator are not on the same page, bad things will happen.
Smith in San Deigo told Marty— turn it around or “else” at the start of the season and Marty cut about half the team —went out and found free agents that did a heck of a job .
Out of 32 teams next week there is going to be at least 50 players that are being cut that should still be playing , that’s how Marty got lucky ?
Todd’s right , it’s different taking care of your own— than the company truck .
Bob,
Thanks for this responsible reporting and analysis. The media has been nothing but a pack of shallow-thinking bed-wetters on this. Totally irresponsible. We don’t know how this will work out, but Haley being hired late played a role here. Would he have retained Gailey if he was hired two months earlier? We’ll never know. But the media was all over Herm Edwards when he inherited coaches and did nothing about it.
As always, a great (Greatz?) perspective. When do you start charging for the site? Sign me up. The rest of the media has been a disgrace.
great article bob, love your insight
It’s bad right now. How bad is it?
The Ravens are the #1 pick to survive week one in my suicide league. Oh well, I never thought the team would do all that well in 2009 anyway, so if you’re going down in flames, the pilot should still decide the trajectory.
Good point Lee. If head coach and his coordinators don’t share the same philosphy how can they both sell it to the players. This move make sense not only in football but in life. I mean if I’m a new manager trying to turn a business thats been down in the dumps sales wise. And I keep one of the asst managers from the previous staff. If he or she are doing things that contributed to the business not having success prior to my arrival then its not going to work, and the employees aren’t buying into it either. With me contradicting what the asst. mgr way of doing things and vice versa how are the employees going to buy in. The move just make sense to me. Like I said someone will be appointed offensive coordinator next year that share a similar philosphy of Haley.
Lee you are on the money. I slammed Herm for keeping around Solari and Cunningham. Although I feel both moves were pressured by Peterson but thats beside the point. He should’ve pushed harder to get rid of Cunningham. You never want to keep asst. coaches that have a different philosphy of doing things different from you. Like Coach and GM. Asst coaches and the head coach must be on the same page in order to have success.
you hit this article out of the park. Great job Mr. Gretz!
“Todd Haley wants his fingerprints on the offense. He wanted to be the answer. It’s now his problem to correct and turn around.”
That pretty much sums it up right there. Sink or swim…it’s on Haley now. Accountability. I like it. It’s refreshing to have it back…it’s been gone for too long at Arrowhead.
Whether or not it turns out the way we all want? Only time will tell. But, Haley has got balls…you have to give him that much credit.
It IS on Haley and he acknowledged that fact at the press conference. Not like he doesn’t know it. I disagree with all the pundits (Whitlock) that say this is a horrible time to relieve him. Still 2 weeks from the opener and it isn’t like Haley is going to institute a new system. His philosophy on play calling is just different. A bad time to do this would be October after we are 0-5 and the offense has 3 first downs. Then it would have been: “why didn’t you change sooner”?
If Haley has the keys, he gets to choose his mechanic.
If this works, maybe the Royals’ Moore can pull the trigger on Hillman rather that wasting half a year on losing. Just hoping.
Vermeil might have grabbed the golden ring if he has fired Robinson when the guy was just awful.
Maybe Haley has started something that needed to be done.
5 players to get cut today. Any guesses? Think there will be any vets among the first cuts…or just rookie FA’s?
OK. Is there one person out there that does not agree that Haley has a HUGE set of nads? I like this guy. He will not be intimidated by ANYONE. Unlike the last to cream-puff coaches.
How about Collins, Crabtree, Gales, Daniels, T. Washington? Never heard of most of them, no one else has either.
By the time Haley was hired there wasn’t a lot of good coaches to pick from and probably got talked into keeping Chan, it didn’t work I’m glad he done the right thing. There will probably be a lot more fired at the end of the year.
Boone got cut. Wrong again and am I tired of of always being me.
AMEN countryliving!! In the end we may say he was not the right fit, but I LOVE the attitude he has, this is his team, and he is running it. We may not hear much out of them during press conferences, but it is much better than hearing a bunch of BS wishy washy crap that came out of Herm 24/7
Sorry I’m late today fellers, had to stop to help Chan out from under the bus…
Another head rolls… and again we are left with the question: who’s fault any? Perhaps said lay not with but also does not lie ‘check’
Terrell Owens, Boldin & Warner, Waters & Gailey – Mother Teresa/Will Rogers on deck. Rin is getting the distinct impression someone can’t seem to get along with folks, sinners or saints.
Edwards, Vermeil, Cunningham & Schottenheimer all had thick resumes previous experience either as a NFL or college player or NFL Head Coach, contrast Dick Haley’s boy – difference between experienced hands and heads more so versus panicked youth.
For folks claimed Herm Edwards threw his players under the bus, there’s a new baggage handler in town: meet the guy who throws everybody under it – drum rimshot/cymbal crash! Hide all the women & children, no one is safe.
Won’t have to wait for his inevitable firing come the aftermath 2010 season, may just spontaneously combust on his own in a blaze of vainglory.
________________
Read Chiefs WR Bobby Engram quoted elsewhere as saying now the Chiefs are “going to open it up.”
LOL@Mikeymayeatanythingbutthefanswon’t.com
Right. ‘check’
Open up what, Bob E? Another gash in the sieve be KC’s offensive line? Stead pass patterns that now just entail the KC QB’s being maimed ones that’ll result in widowhood?
________________
“Todd Haley wants his fingerprints on the offense.”
- whatever it takes to convict him his crimes & send him away; quote ‘Hunter’: “works for me.”
________________
Now, something more pleasant… memories
RE: that September 1, 1967 KC v LA Rams game, the media reported Len Dawson had the flu, reason why he sat out the game.
Real reason was two-fold – the Chiefs were facing the world’s greatest pass rush, the Rams renowned Fearsome Foursome in the very last preseason game afore the regular began (be no sense getting your starting QB killed.) Further, KC’s backup QB Pete Beathard was a former USC star who played college ball the same field.
More so than either of those rationales however, was that Head Coach Hank Stram wanted to trade Beathard and Pete wanted to start, which he was never going to do by this point in KC. Pete was to be traded a month later to HOU which brought DT Ernie Ladd, QB Jacky Lee & a #1 draft choice in 1968 to the Chiefs. Pete had the Chiefs out front 24-13 at the half, before the game turned into a 2nd half defensive repeat of Superbowl 1: final score Rams 44 Chiefs 24.
The biggest thing came out of that game however was the Chiefs had gotten so full of themselves they didn’t believe they could be beaten by any team. Wins of 66-24 over the NFL Bears and 48-0 over the eventual AFL Champion Raiders coupled with that 24-13 halftime lead over the Rams had the Chiefs reading their own press clippings… they were never to recover the entire season.
The excuses came (injuries, other clubs improved more than the Chiefs had, etc.) The real reason was however, the Chiefs just took a step back to admire their work and thought it was going to be an easy repeat Championship run as had their ‘66 season been. A 9-5 finish and 2nd place AFL West told the truth of the matter.
daddy-o
Sorry I’m late today fellers, had to stop to help Chan out from under the bus…
*
Another head rolls… and again we are left with the question: who’s fault any? Perhaps said lay not with but also does not lie ‘check’
Terrell Owens, Boldin & Warner, Waters & Gailey – Mother Teresa/Will Rogers on deck. Rin is getting the distinct impression someone can’t seem to get along with folks, sinners or saints.
Edwards, Vermeil, Cunningham & Schottenheimer all had thick resumes previous experience either as a NFL or college player or NFL Head Coach, contrast Dick Haley’s boy – difference between experienced hands and heads more so versus panicked youth.
For folks claimed Herm Edwards threw his players under the bus, there’s a new baggage handler in town: meet the guy who throws everybody under it – drum rimshot/cymbal crash! Hide all the women & children, no one is safe.
Won’t have to wait for his inevitable firing come the aftermath 2010 season, may just spontaneously combust on his own in a blaze of vainglory.
*
Read Chiefs WR Bobby Engram quoted elsewhere as saying now the Chiefs are “going to open it up.”
LOL@Mikeymayeatanythingbutthefanswon’t.com
Right. ‘check’
Open up what, Bob E? Another gash in the sieve be KC’s offensive line? Stead pass patterns that now just entail the KC QB’s being maimed ones that’ll result in widowhood?
*
“Todd Haley wants his fingerprints on the offense.”
- whatever it takes to convict him his crimes & send him away; quote ‘Hunter’: “works for me.”
*
Now, something more pleasant… memories
RE: that September 1, 1967 KC v LA Rams game, the media reported Len Dawson had the flu, reason why he sat out the game.
Real reason was two-fold – the Chiefs were facing the world’s greatest pass rush, the Rams renowned Fearsome Foursome in the very last preseason game afore the regular began (be no sense getting your starting QB killed.) Further, KC’s backup QB Pete Beathard was a former USC star who played college ball the same field.
More so than either of those rationales however, was that Head Coach Hank Stram wanted to trade Beathard and Pete wanted to start, which he was never going to do by this point in KC. Pete was to be traded a month later to HOU which brought DT Ernie Ladd, QB Jacky Lee & a #1 draft choice in 1968 to the Chiefs. Pete had the Chiefs out front 24-13 at the half, before the game turned into a 2nd half defensive repeat of Superbowl 1: final score Rams 44 Chiefs 24.
The biggest thing came out of that game however was the Chiefs had gotten so full of themselves they didn’t believe they could be beaten by any team. Wins of 66-24 over the NFL Bears and 48-0 over the eventual AFL Champion Raiders coupled with that 24-13 halftime lead over the Rams had the Chiefs reading their own press clippings… they were never to recover the entire season.
The excuses came (injuries, other clubs improved more than the Chiefs had, etc.) The real reason was however, the Chiefs just took a step back to admire their work and thought it was going to be an easy repeat Championship run as had their ‘66 season been. A 9-5 finish and 2nd place AFL West told the truth of the matter.
daddy-o
September 1, 2009 – Scott says:
“Todd Haley wants his fingerprints on the offense. He wanted to be the answer. It’s now his problem to correct and turn around.”
That pretty much sums it up right there. Sink or swim…it’s on Haley now. Accountability. I like it. It’s refreshing to have it back…it’s been gone for too long at Arrowhead.
Whether or not it turns out the way we all want? Only time will tell. But, Haley has got balls…you have to give him that much credit.
————————————————————————————————–
Couldn’t have said it better Scott. Accountability is back among Chief players AND Coaches, and it’s damn refreshing. Whether it works or not, Haley has said Blame me, not pass the blame, like the previos Clown.
Another great post by you Rin. Keep on telling it like it is and bringing the humor too.
I never thought Haley could look as unprofessional as he has to date but he really seems to be in way over his head. I think his stay here will be short.
Daniel H says:
“I never thought Haley could look as unprofessional as he has to date but he really seems to be in way over his head. I think his stay here will be short.”
Or…he may be the greatest coach this team has EVER had. Who knows? You know who knows? Nobody. Because he hasn’t coached one single game that counts. He may suck…he might be average…or he could be great. But let’s let the man get some games under his belt before we pass the judgements.
And that “thrown under the bus” BS? I think you’d better go check the meaning of your cliches. Nobody has been “thrown under the bus”. If anything…Haley is throwing HIMSELF under the bus.
When Clark hired Scott, and then Scott hired Todd, they specifically sited the Pittsburg organization as the model to emulate. Many new coaches struggle/ make rookie mistakes as they adjust to the new position they undertook.
I expect Clark and Scott understood that with the late hiring, starting with Pioli and going down that there would be a flux of coaching changes over the next few years as they got the coaches they wanted in place.
Bottom line, when Bill Cowher was hired by the Steelers, I’m sure they didn’t expect him to coach like a 10 year vet right from the gates and nothing more should be expected from Haley, especially considering what Todd is undertaking compared to what Cowher walked into years ago in the Steel City.
Rin I want you to father my children.
Rin I want you to father my children.
Terrell Owens…Anquan Boldin…Kurt Warner…Brian Waters…Chan Gailey…
– as pure & blameless as the driven winter snow.
^ a** clown
&
Daniel H…you know it! So shall the rest continue to hear it from Rin Tin Tin!
daddy-o
Rin Tin Tin
^ a** clown
Bob- Great article, you’re back!
I’m glad Haley dumped Gailey. If it was abad fit better to make the change now than to waste a year.
By the way “Daniel H.” gay couples can get married in Iowa now. You may want to check that out with your lover. Then you “two” lovebirds can spend your time pleasing each other and stay away from here.
Changed my mind Bob- poor article, get out!
I’m sad Haley dumped Gailey. If it was a good fit and he should not have made the change now. It would have been better to wait a year.
By the way “Anonymous” gay couples can get married in my town now. You may want to check that out with your lover Scott. Then you “two” lovebirds can spend your time pleasing each other and stay away from here.