Changing Offensive Face … Saturday Cup O’Chiefs
The question was put to Todd Haley in the simplest of terms.
“How much have you changed the offense?”
Haley said without hesitation: “It’s the same offense as the third pre-season game.”
But as Haley spoke, his face was cracked by a grin. It was a cat that ate the canary look, with the feathers coming out the sides of his mouth. It was the type of face that said “and if you believe that one, I’ve got some swampland in Florida that you just have to have.”
When Todd Haley took over the duties as offensive coordinator on August 31st after firing Chan Gailey, more changed than just the guy calling the plays. More changed than the approach and aggressiveness of the play caller.
There are new plays, there are old plays with new terminology and there are more blocking schemes, especially in pass protections. It’s not a complete change, but it’s just about as close as a team could get, especially with just two weeks to prepare for the regular-season opener.
“It’s really different,” said RB Jamaal Charles. “There are a lot of changes and there are a lot of things we’ve had to hit the (play) book on. There’s a lot of new stuff.”
That’s about as expansive as any player would get on the record about the changes.
“Tell me about the new stuff that Haley has put in the offense?” center Rudy Niswanger was asked.
“I’m not going to talk about that stuff,” Niswanger said.
“Mark Bradley, how is the passing game different now than it was before?”
“Who said it was different?” said the wide receiver. “I’m not going there.”
Niswanger and Bradley have taken on the new Chiefs persona, crafted from the very top down, which works on a single premise: reveal nothing. Loose lips sink ships and football teams. It’s about keeping everybody guessing, especially those that closely watch the team, and most especially opponents and the media.
Charles obviously didn’t get the memo.
“I think we are going to be more aggressive with the running game this year,” Charles said. “He’s (Haley) come in and put his stamp on it the first day.”
Some other offensive players are willing to talk, but not for the record. What’s obvious from the information they shared is that Haley did not ease into the role of coordinator. He grabbed his old playbooks and immediately pumped up certain parts of the offense, changed what and how some plays are called and made available more protection schemes for the line.
It was a full speed transition from Gailey to Haley.
“There was no doubt there were going to be changes,” said RB Larry Johnson. “Todd Haley has been successful before and he’s naturally going to go back to what he’s done before. That’s common sense.”
QB Brodie Croyle pondered the subject and then tiptoed around with his answer.
“There are changes,” said Croyle. “There are adjustments that have been made and some things added with new terminology and stuff.”
What kind of stuff, Brodie?
“If I told you that, I’d have to kill you,” Croyle said with a smile.
We’ll all have to wait to see just how the Haley Chiefs offense is different than the Gailey Chiefs offense. No matter what changes he’s made, the success of the Chiefs offense comes down to whether the players can make it productive and consistent. Haley said he has seen improvement from the offense line.
“I thought the line came together in the last game while they were in there together” said Haley. “I think the more time they’re together the better. I think that’s a group that’s worked real hard and I think that’s a group that’s going to pride itself on being a physical group when the game’s over.”
And what of the wide receivers who struggled in the pre-season?
“I think that’s another group that was shakier but, through hard work, they’ve kind of come together a bit and jelled,” Haley said. “Guys are starting now to get it, which is what we want everybody to do: it’s to understand what we want. I think we’re starting to see that from that group also. Again, Sunday will be a great challenge for the entire team.”
SIGNINGS, TRADES, INJURIES & MOVEMENT AROUND THE LEAGUE
- BRONCOS – QB Kyle Orton will start Sunday against the Bengals despite a badly dislocated finger.
- CHARGERS – the San Diego County District Attorney has decided there is not enough evidence to pursue an assault case against LB Shawne Merriman. This stems from the charge made by Tila Tequila against Merriman from an incident that happened last weekend.
- COLTS – S Bob Sanders will not play on Sunday against the Jaguars because of continuing knee problems.
- GIANTS – CB Aaron Ross will not play Sunday because of a hamstring injury.
- RAIDERS – re-signed DT William Joseph; placed DE Richard Seymour on reserve-left squad list.
- SAINTS – RB Pierre Thomas will not play Sunday against the Lions because of a knee injury.
- STEELERS – FS Troy Polamalu will miss three to five weeks due to a sprained left knee injury suffered Thursday night.
- TEXANS – activated CB Dunta Robinson; released RB Andre Hall.
FROM THE PAGES OF CHIEFS HISTORY
On September 12, 1965, the Chiefs lost to Oakland Raiders in the season opener 37-10 at Frank Youell Field. There were just 18,659 in stands to watch the Raiders dominate this game in the second half, outscoring the Chiefs 27-3. QBs Len Dawson and Pete Beathard struggled throwing the ball, completing just six of 26 passes and the team’s net passing total was just 42 yards. Almost half of that total came in the first score of the game as Dawson hit RB Curtis McClinton on a 20-yard TD. Tommy Brooker kicked a 34-yard FG. Oakland QB Dick Wood threw a pair of TD passes to WR Art Powell of 14 and nine yards. Wood also scored on a three-yard run.
On September 12, 1985, the Chiefs won their home opener beating the Los Angeles Raiders on a Thursday night 36-20, at Arrowhead Stadium. Led by the defense and K Nick Lowery, the Chiefs scored 17 points in the third quarter to grab the lead in this game. Lowery had five FGs, the longest being 58 yards. The defense forced five turnovers and sacked Raiders QB Jim Plunkett three times. CB Albert Lewis recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. Lewis also had an interception. DT Bill Maas had two sacks and DE Art Still one. WR Carlos Carson caught five passes for 118 yards, including a 25-yard TD pass from QB Bill Kenney.
On September 12, 1999, the Chiefs lost their season opener to the Chicago Bears 20-17 at Soldier Field. It was the first game of Gunther Cunningham Era. The Chiefs fell just short, as they fell behind 20-3 at half-time, but scored a pair of second half touchdowns to make it close. QB Elvis Grbac and WR Derrick Alexander hooked up on an 86-yard TD play and then LB Donnie Edwards returned a fumble 79 yards for a defensive touchdown. The Chiefs were unable to get a running game going, picking up just 71 yards. Alexander caught six passes for 154 yards, while Grbac was 20 of 42 for 283 yards, one TD and one INT.
SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY …
Born on September 12, 1959 in Riverside, New Jersey was S Deron Cherry. He joined the Chiefs in 1981 as an undrafted rookie free agent punter out of Rutgers. Cherry eventually talked head coach Marv Levy into allowing him to try to make the roster as a safety. He was not on the roster for the first game, but was eventually re-signed. Cherry played 11 seasons with the Chiefs (1981-91), appearing in 148 games with 124 starts. When Gary Barbaro signed with the USFL, Cherry replaced him as the starting free safety and went to six straight Pro Bowls. He finished his career with 50 interceptions, 927 total tackles, 3.5 sacks and 14 recovered fumbles. Cherry was inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1996.
I like it like that ———–
Let’s get this party started… And just like any party Rin of Tin Tin shows up (uninvited) at… it’ll get ugly before it gets better. I know. I know. Sorry guys, I woke up the troll.
Yeah….please…..he’s not even here yet and we have to talk about him?
We are a mystery to the Ravens because they haven’t seen the new offense in action. That could be a plus for us. But if our guys can’t execute because of lack of talent or because it’s so new they haven’t got it down yet then the mystery could backfire on us. Everybody is so sure the Chiefs are going to lose this game big time…..it would be such a motivating thing for the rest of the season if the Chiefs could prove them all wrong. GO CHIEFS!
Bob, none of them are going to tell YOU anything! They’ve seen how you’ve reported other things that should have never been put into print.
A real reporter will get answers and know what to print and what not to.
(different Scott from above)
I seriously doubt we can throw anything at the Ravens that they haven’t already seen. This is the NFL. You might have your opponent guessing a little bit…but you won’t just blow someone away with surprise. Football is football. Offense versus Defense. You win by playing a better game than the other team.
Bob another great report!
Coach: I fully apreciate all the hard work you have done this year. Win or loose we fans are behind you!
GO CHIEFS
P.S. – Boycott Rin – let him sulk like a little preschooler not getting any attention.
With all of the non-answers about the “changes”, are there any? really? Or is it going to be more of an accountability thing. More demands on execution and the like? I want to see good solid football moves, blocks, tackles,etc. Not the little one handed stuff we sometimes see. That is the changes I want to see. Good execution, good concentration, good TEAM effort. I think that these guys will step up to the challenge and break the 39 game streak Balt. has on It is all about the TEAM….and ….the right 53!!
In Haley I trust!!!
you should too
“Hell hath no fury, of a Coach scorned”.
Looking forward to the game Sunday. Go Chiefs…
Balt. has LJ Smith#82 -hamstring–Ngata#92 DE maybe missing and they are key players.
I wish today was Sunday
Dan says:
Win or loose we fans are behind you!
Are you serious? “WE” fans won’t be behind him long if he loses and you know it. None of what Haley does or doesn’t do will mean a thing if he does not win, period. “WE” fans may give him a pass this season but it will be his only one. If he is not winning by his second season he will be a bonehead and everything that he does will be boneheaded.
Just heard an interview with a Ravens’ DB Carr on Sirius about their difficult preparation for the Chiefs and he did indeed allude to the fact that they were having to study extra hard because of:
Haley taking over for Gailey as OC. They’ve been watching AZ film from last year to see if they can find something to indicate what the Chiefs might do.
Not knowing if Cassel or Croyle will start.
Simply not knowing what to expect out of what to him, is a new team from 2008.
Interesting perspective from the other side.
sniff sniff do i smell an upset tommorow, i just got a good feelin you know, like were gonna dismantle the ravens and surprise everyone. Maybe im just pumped up and excited but damn i cant wait till tommorow.
basically if we execute, we can beat baltimore, so sick of chief fans throwing in the towel to baltimore.
they have NO CLUE what our O or D will be doing, heck they dont even know what we plan to do on returns…we are a huge question mark….thats BIG…
I expect a lot of screens, maybe 6, with probably 2 more quick WR screens…then a lot of off tackle stuff, tosses….and playaction football with rollouts…
they will keep baltimore guessing…if cassel cant do the roll out, we may see more shotgun this week than we will the rest of the season.
seriously?
you give haley ONE year?
SERIOUSLY?
they gave Herm 3…3 full drafts…Haley gets thrown in, has 1 draft, and you’re saying if they dont go to the playoffs, hes in trouble?
PLEASE…I would say…another year…if we lack 8-9 wins in 2010…then maybe the fans could be upset…
but honestly, for a group of fans that mostly have given up this weekend, I dont think anyone in that front office should care….if it takes 2 years then it takes 2 years…but they wont fire haley just to please a now fairly fickle fan base…growing fair weather more and more by the week.
it just blows my mind that real chief fans say we have no chance this weekend….I mean, Im worried about every aspect of this team…but I think week one is the week we can take baltimore…CAN…I still predict a loss, but I think we CAN win. to me its pretty 50/50 right now due to the element of surprise
I dont agree on the bonehead comments, he will still be purging the herm leftovers…
speaking of herm leftovers, there is BP, who has a LOW LOW LOW money contract, and no one bit….no one…on a 24 year old with 2 full years of starting experience, and a special teams standout….
what the heck does that say about our talent, when our top tackler, or…28 of THIRTY players that were here last year, are jobless…
thank herm for a slow start, Haley needs a little bit of time, after his next draft/Free agency(should be active next season) this team should be where they want it.
IS TYLER on the plane , does anyone know ?
“Changing Offensive Face”
- had no idea was offensively & ostensibly a fan of the Iron Butterfly’s “My Mirage.”
*
“In my mind I see a mirage – on the wall, but un-for-tu-nate-ly it’s not theeeeeere at all.
So I guess I’ll draw my mirage…on the wall.
Then it can be here to see and enjoy my own.”
Offense? Here in Kansas City we spell offense ‘10 points per game’. That KC’s next opponent the Ravens allowed but 9.8 points per game in 2008 be the first indication will be no joy in the erstwhile Mudville known as KC come Sunday afternoon.
Yes, it has changed … it’s now worse than the one Herm Edwards and Chan Gailey built in 2008 – probably why let a better man go in lieu of caning- er canning himself: ‘check boy ar we
a bunch of meatballs’ was gettin threatened and embarrassed by the old man. CG – having to run this new offense Hailme’s saw both the points & yards i.e., production go DOWN – and then, when the little genius who can’t talk straight took over against STL, we saw what he’d wrought: few points as in 9, no tds as in 0, a 10 points per sample per game compared to Chan’s 21 in ‘08.
It’s the new Chiefs way which is the old Patriot Way with a Flemish- er, flourish (it just seemed like a new dialect due to the foreign qualities):
it can’t score.
Hopefully like Legionnaire’s Disease it too will die in rapid fashion, & be replaced by something better – which would be anything. Appears Stevie Wonder is now driving the short bus for KC but a paradox lies in the fact that the carnage can go on unabated despite all occupants having already died on the turf called highway 0-4. An search party has been sent out to look for the Chiefs offense, but so far no sign of it/any.
The question was put to Haley in the simplest of terms. He was so deliberate in his reply that it appeared he was formulating the answer letter by syllable.
“How much have you changed the offense?”
Haley “It’s the same offense as the 3rd preseason game.” But as Haley spoke, his face was cracked by a grin. It was a cat that ate the canary look, with the feathers coming out the sides of his mouth. It was the type of face that said “and if you believe that one, I’ve got some swampland in Florida that you just have to have.”
- we don’t believe you – is that why your nose so bright ain’t drawing up successful plays tonight? Or maybe: ‘follow your nose – it always knows’; yours is growing like that little wooden toy who more than anything else in the NFL world wanted to be a real offensive coordinator. Alas, all he got for his trouble the long nose cast in the Disney mould.
Translation: ‘elephant in the room? Why, there’s no elephant in the room. No, it’s just a figment of a fertile imagination – my mirage – you know, like the Chiefs being able to win a game – any – in 2009. Ain’t gonna do it, wouldn’t be prudent.
Conclusion Rin’s aft reading Hailme’s latest spew: the spread is now 38, up from 20 as in RAVENS 38 kc 0
“It’s gonna be ugly in Baltimore, Herm.”
“I know.”
& “Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh!!!”
Lassie,
I think the spread is less than 38, maybe in dog years it would be, but if you are giving 38, put me in for a hundred. Dollars, not milk bones.
Stupid pet tricks for Letterman will be back some day, sign up.
Another great post Rin. Agree the Ravens are going to put a big hurt on our Chiefs.
The truth hurts but it’s better than being as dishonest as most of these fans appear to be.
Keep up the great takes.
Dishonest as most of these fans appear to be….
supporting your team, dishonest? Most of us know that is going to be a long process, but we hope for success, as any fan would. Have we been dishonest in saying that the Chiefs might win, no, because it is an opinion, no opinion is dishonest. Dishonesty would be seeing the final score and saying the team with less points won.
Lassie, I am starting to understand those that drink you Koolaid, but they should remember what happens to those that follow blindly. I do not follow Chiefs blindly, I know the odds for success are long, but we have faith that the best men Clark could find to lead are in place.
“no opinion is dishonest.”
- Analonymous affirms Rin Tin Tin as such… heh heh heh!
“I do not follow Chiefs blindly, I know the odds for success are long, but we have faith that the best men Clark could find to lead are in place.”
- a Blind Faith, with apologies to Ginger, Jack & Eric…
daddy-o
Daniel H, continue to follow He that is me Rin – anyplace be better no place or last, one and the same i.e., where the Chiefs will finish in ‘09…
Daniel H is just Rin posting under a different name to support himself.
cid is just Anonymous posting under a different name to support himself.
Actually I am the one he calls anal…. not cid, but thats o.k., think what you, or Lassie, wants. The future of Scott, Todd, and Clark is not going to be decided this week, or this year. None who have posted, except you, has stated that it would.
Herm could judge talent at def. back only. The theory of keeping youth over vets only works if the youth is talented.
Keep posting your opinion, it is fun to read, but try to include facts and/or response to facts presented, just slamming the author is weak. I wonder if I watch the Westminster dog show, will I see you? Bad doggie, bad doggie
Correct Anonymous the fate of Pioli/Haley regime does not ride on this year or this game. This will be a process that will take I would say 3 years before we become a serious Super Bowl contender. I actually think though this year we have a shot at the AFC west. Everyone is counting us out. Handing the divison over to an 8 and 8 team last year Chargers. A team who backed into the division last year. A team that barely beat a Chiefs team last year that played with the worse defense in Chiefs history and a 3rd string qb running a pistol offense.
Unlike so called experts I think Chiefs have a better team than last year. A much better defense. A better qb, better running game because we want be running the pistol. So trust to all the so called experts this team want be losing 7 or 8 games in the 4 quarter like last year. We’ll close out those games this year. Look out Chargers everyone declaring you AFC west champs but i beg a differ.
Analonymous said
“Herm could judge talent at def. back only. The theory of keeping youth over vets only works if the youth is talented.”
- Albert OT, Bowe WR, Hali… Tyler… Charles… folks, none of those guys has any talent at all according to Analonymous. Suggest you try some Puffs stuff, for to dry your tears come ‘morrow…
“try to include facts and/or response to facts presented”
- yet you’re a failure as be & ; well, you’ll just have to try harder…
So, how badly does Analonymous think the Chiefs will be bludgeoned Sunday? Oh, that’s right, you don’t think – afore or aft you speak…
heh heh heh
“It is all about the TEAM….and ….the right 53!!”
I think the 53 as a whole is better than last two seasons.
“So, how badly does Analonymous think the Chiefs will be bludgeoned Sunday?”
Apparently you didn’t enough to step up and take Scott’s bet. I think that’s two now that you’ve backed down from…?
Another one of the greats!
Any… and EVERYTHING… is possible. If you would doubt this statement then rewind your dvr on the USC game and watch again the last 8+ minutes. Watch the true freshman that ALL thought should not start, LEAD his TEAM, to VICTORY. Tomorrow any and EVERYTHING is possible. Our right 53 will show up and play with determination and TEAM unity. They will execute, they will show the “changes” that are in place. And LJ will run with anger through the Balt. def. Coach Vermeil called LJ and reminded him to take off his diaper. So we will see a man running with purpose on game day. GO CHIEFS!!!
It is ALL about….the TEAM….and the right 53!!
In coach Haley I trust!
you should too.
Rin Turd Turd
S Y F…..g mouth!
Can’t say something posative then stf up!
It is ALL about….the TEAM….and thre right 53!!
In coach Haley I trust!
you should too.
Rin already 4-0 on the season His picks, now 5-0 aft Sunday’s Ravens demolition of Kaycee – 38-0!
& s ‘right 53′ be only 60%/32 men right… unfortunately, the other 21 be the “any 22s” the not so dynamic duo allowed to take squat on the roster…these 40% will start showing what they’re not worth SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY! BE THERE!
heh heh heh!
: )
heh heh heh!!!
&
I’m a little fairy
DO NOT READ ANY MESSAGE FROM RIN TIN TIN.
DO NOT RESPOND TO ANY MESSAGE FROM RIN TIN TIN.
DO NOT FEED THE TROLL. IF YOU RESPOND YOU GIVE HIM WHAT HE WANTS
DO NOT RESPOND TO RIN TIN TIN!
COPY AND PASTE THIS ANYTIME RIN RIN RIN SPEAKS HIS TRASH OR ANYONE RESPONDS TO HIM
RAVENS WIN!
RAVENS WIN!
RAVENS WIN!
heh heh heh!!!
&
Cue paraphrase of former BUFF LB Isiah Robertso, with final crescendo courtesy Homer Simpson -
“I got a feelin Kansas City’s going winless don’t you know – they’ll be 0 & 16 and come end of ‘09 will be two firings DOH!”
heh heh heh
“Did you like that one Herm?”
“I did Rin!”
& “Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh!!!”