Practice Report 10/7 Update
From the Truman Sports Complex
Todd Haley is pushing hard on this 0-0 theme with his football team.
“We are making this a fresh start for ourselves,” Haley said on Wednesday after practice. “It’s time to figure out a way to win.”
But Haley acknowledges that approach can be a tough sale with some players, who won’t ignore the 0-4 start.
“The tough part is to sell it to a group of guys that hasn’t had success,” said Haley. “Just staying in the present tense, knowing that if you can go 3-1, 3-1, 3-1 and 3-1, you are probably going to the playoffs each year. It’s a tough sale, but it’s what you have to do. It’s a way to survive.”
Are the players buying that approach?
“Sure, why not,” said C Rudy Niswanger. “It’s all about dealing with what is right in front of you. We can’t worry about the first four; they are gone. So why not focus on the next four?”
WR Mark Bradley agreed.
“It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” said Bradley. “There have been teams that made the Super Bowl that didn’t start out great. As long as we finish strong and come together as a team, that’s what matters.”
The Chiefs had all 61 available bodies on the practice field Wednesday morning as they began preparations for this Sunday’s game against the Cowboys. They were down to 60 by the end of practice as DE Wallace Gilberry suffered an injury. Haley said he was “dinged” during practice. That’s all the available details.
Coming out of last Sunday’s game against the Giants there appeared to be only one injury of note as LB Corey Mays was suffering from some sort of problem with his left leg. Haley said everyone was a full participant.
But Mays was on the field practicing on Wednesday, as was WR Dwayne Bowe who was running routes with the wide receivers crisply and with some explosion.
From what little was visible during the portion of practice that was open, there appears to be no changes in the starting lineup from last week.
“From what little was visible during the portion of practice that was open, there appears to be no changes in the starting lineup from last week.”
- from what little has been visible during the portion of the season known as the last 8 weeks, there appears be no chance of victory this week either, or any week/game after…
DALL 34 – chiefs 13
0-9, 0-5, 0h the haleymanity
yes, shocking…
Always excited to see the Chiefs play. Would love to see some I-formation on the goal line this time. Let the RB follow the FB and pound it in.
Just need four wins for a 100% improvement from last year. Plenty of time for this to happen. Hope it starts this weekend.
GO CHIEFS 2009
Rin,
What was your thought process as you watched the Chiefs play last year, when they won two whole games? Did you have the same gloomy outlook week in and week out? Or did you think they were going to win each game? Or was all the losing simply acceptable since Edwards was the coach?
One of these days you will be wrong. The Chiefs will win games this year. They will improve, and have something to build on for next year…which is a luxury that Haley did not have this year.
Mad Chief,
I’ll answer for Rin.
He was excited. Herm was “putting the pieces together” and “all of Kansas City was behind him.’ Rin doesn’t care about football. He just wants attention.
Thanks, Josh. I really didn’t expect an answer from Rin. I’ve noticed he never answers any valid questions.
So is that what his deal is? Just sour grapes because Edwards got canned? Nothing like holding onto a grudge to pass the day away, I guess.
Nice picture of tha late Junious ‘Buck’ Buchanan in action from Superbowl 1 above, Bob G!
Rin will never forget how Buck picked up Packer Jim Taylor by the jersey sleeve & flung him to the ground like a twig in that game.
And (like Lenny Dawson as a few others), am still want to believe the Chiefs had the talent to have won that game.
- – - – -
Mad Chief said
“Rin”
- yes anger, what is it now?
“What was your thought process as you watched the Chiefs play last year, when they won two whole games?”
- rebuilding in painful, but it needed to finally start which it did in 2008 after years of Vermeil and Peterson veteran embrace going back really to Hank Stram’s days… beyond the birth 1960, there was NEVER a true rebuilding with youth undertaken in KC before Herm began said in 2008…
“Did you have the same gloomy outlook week in and week out?”
- I had realistic expectations; as I said before, had the 2008 Chiefs won 16 games, 0 games or any in between it would have been acceptable as such for me due to an rebuild finally having started.
Difference this year? Much ballyhooed (overhyped) arrival the gurus deux & the ‘best GM/HC candidates in the entire NFL chiefsfandumbs rallying cry.
(Cue Toby Keith: 0-8 now to date “how do you like them now?”)
From whom much is given – hype, control, acclaim via accomplishment elsewhere, not here – much is expected. To date they are both utter FAILURES.
“He Or did you think they were going to win each game?”
- they were ‘in’ most every game last year, which is a tribute to Edwards coaching and the NFL norm of most every game being close, via at least some semblance of parity.
Fact remains had they won 6-8 games, they’d still be rebuilding (tho sans the seeming regression of certain players 2009 under the superior coaching? & Jenny Craig “0-8 diet plan” of
“Or was all the losing simply acceptable since Edwards was the coach?”
- losing is never ‘acceptable’ … it cost Herm though he was not the culprit my opine; as such, the current is accountable just the same, ledger showing he’s off to the worst start of ANY coach in franchise history at 0-8 (yes, they all count -:roll: stated preseason “we want to win now & we have to start winning/getting into the habit of winning now.” 0-8 screams he’s a FAILURE.
Al Einstein’s “insanity” as Satayana’s “history repeating” roadsigns indicating ‘diaster ahead’.
“One of these days you will be wrong.”
- still waiting…
“The Chiefs will win games this year.”
- uh huh…
“They will improve”
- any day now… (rhetorical)
“and have something to build on for next year.”
- another top 3, more so overall #1 draft choice, more screaming, running of laps & declination an audience with a razor, more phone calls to dad & his texting girfriend Parcells…
“which is a luxury that Haley did not have this year.”
- #3 Tyson Jackson, $63 mill man mutt ca$$el, the Patriot Way ‘architect’ (LOL) & assurance of Hunt Jr., which when last seen was giving same to Herm; we saw how much that was worth…
I’d say has been given much; in comparison to Herm, ‘check’ has recieved much more…for now.
daddy-o
Skipping the nonsense. Good answer though Josh.
GO CHIEFS
so if roster moves are made, rin will bash it, if no roster moves are made, rin will bash a lack of roster moves…
whats the point seriously? You MUST sit there at night and wonder what the heck are you doing with your life.
its pathetic…recently I was told its brutal to be a KC fan, and that few are still staying strong since we all know it wont get better for a long time.
so if its hard to even be here as a fan….how sad is it to be here as a troll?
its like telling the green party that they will never take the white house.
we’ve lost 26 of 28…troll on rin, troll on…so so pathetic.
Wow, Rin. You actually answered my questions. I’m impressed. I don’t agree with most of it, obviously. In particular, this:
“- they were ‘in’ most every game last year”
Patriots L 17-10
Raiders L 23-8
Falcons L 38-14
Broncos W 33-19
Panthers L 34-0
Titans L 34-10
With the exception of beating Denver, it wasn’t until the 7th game that they started losing close games. Before that, they were getting their butts kicked pretty soundly. As bad or worse than this year, I would say.
They are only four games into the schedule. They have played three very good teams. There is still plenty of time to start playing and coaching better.
You should really get off the preseason games, though. Anybody who knows anything at all about football knows that preseason games do not mean a thing. It’s just practice games against other teams. Nothing more. When they start counting in the standings, I’ll pay attention.
You know going into the 2008 season, Clark Hunt very clearly stated that he expected an improvement in the W column from the year before which was 4-12. Whether or not Herm was given a fair amount of time to rebuild is a moot point. He was expected to find a way to win 5 games at minimum if he were to keep his job. He failed to do so and Clark followed through on his word.
The only glaring mistakes that Pioli and Haley have made so far in my opinion were failing to get better offensive linemen in here and not addressing the pass rush woes from the season prior. Outside of that, I see a GM who is still trying to find ways to make our roster more competitive and a HC doing everything in his power to keep morale high.
Finally, Haley admits his mistakes on a regular basis. There is no ego involved with him when compared to Herm Edwards, who had an excuse for everything, never took any responsibility, threw his “college team” under the bus, and acted as though he were god’s gift to coaching. If Pioli and Haley fail to take us at least as far as the playoffs at any point in the next three seasons (09-11) I’ll eat my hat.
Outstanding, Colby. Outstanding! Quality posts such as yours have been sadly lacking here lately. Thank you.
For the record, I personally think your hat is safe.
said Bradley. “As long as we finish strong and come together as a team, that’s what matters.”
Sounds like Bradley “gets it”. I’m not so sure about the Super Bowl thing he was saying, though. LOL! Let’s win a game first, Mark.
the key thing about the defense is the lack of a NT…look at tennesee…not saying haynesworth makes ALL the difference but he sort of did for that 3-4 D, when he was hurt or suspended, that titans team lost, and now that hes gone, they are still losing
chargers D losing williams, and mendenhall and the rest of the nfl can run up the gut on them all day long(except out of the shotgun hand off to LJ)
When this team gets a NT 1st next draft, dont be angry…this D will finally be top 10…as for the offense, complete overhaul outside the QB and Albert, who should be moved to guard.
agreed colby, agreed
Very nicely put Colby. I agree with all of your comments pertaining to Herm’s opportunities and his squandaring of those opportunities.
Course someone on here is going to say that it wasn’t his fault, it was the players that screwed him.
And as Mad Chief stated, your hat is safe.
Mad Cheif mispelled his own name aft posting as someone else, then said
“Wow, Rin”
- easy fella, no autographs while Rin is working…
“You actually answered my questions.’
- yes, made an exception my normal rule refusal to address cranial vacuity chiefsfandumb (not so the case the other echo chamber, Anon…)
“I’m impressed.”
- I can understand that…
“I don’t agree with most of it, obviously.”
- yes, truth has a way of making a doubter ‘Mad’..
“With the exception of beating Denver, it wasn’t until the 7th game that they started losing close games.”
- ‘year’ means just that which is why I used the word; why do you feel a need to focus on earlier games? I suspect it is because you want to allow :roll; some breathing room nee leeway – at 0-8 a noble attempt yours but alas, no cigar.
When does a Herm adherent (Rin) know the haters same are grasping at straws? When they seek to use Herm’s 2008 season to somehow make allowable the utter 2009 disgrace an 0-8 – GOTCHA!
heh heh heh!!!
“You should really get off the preseason games, though.”
- because it bothers you/the rest so that :roll; could not even win them – why not go tell ‘check’ that said bothers you? He’ll scream you into submission…
“Anybody that knows anything at all about football knows that preseason games do not mean a thing.”
- then as I referenced afore, qualifies as a know nothing via his own comments afore – thank you for affirming said…
good statement colby.
Im sure Clark is thinking that we should win more than 4 this year too. I hope we do, and we probably will, but I think Clark knows he made the right decision this time on his staff and he will give it more time than a year!!
Im for Scott and Todd, I think they too are in the “right 55″
colby said
“Clark Hunt very clearly stated that he expected an improvement . . .He failed to do so and Clark followed through on his word.”
- except that at year end Jr. stated in answer to the question will Herm be back, “I hope so” – and Herm answered the same question with “I expect to be.” Why such an expectation the latter – why not forthrightness as it turned out the former?
So much for ‘words’ i.e., honesty…so much too for puckered back$ide$, in retrospect…
The only glaring mistakes that Pioli and Haley have made so far”
- is going winless at 0-8 …they alone among all new NFL HC/GM combos remain the only winless ones in 2009, this via “the best” new GM/HC candidates.
“If Pioli and Haley fail to take us at least as far as the playoffs at any point in the next three seasons (09-11) I’ll eat my hat.”
- here’s some salt & pepper…they’ll be outta here sp fast they’ll make “Gone In 60 Seconds” look like an uncut version “The Deerhunter”…
daddy-o
Good post Colby, I couldn’t agree more! I will admit I thought that Herm would be a good coach. After the game in the playoffs against the Colts I started wondering. Then after the second year I was sure we were making a mistake. I was glad that Clark cleaned house after last year. I believe that this year is a learning process to learn how to play as a team again. I am not expecting more then 6-8 wins (most coming late in the year), but to see some real improvement by years end.
Will you admit you’re wrong if they do bring success to the franchise?
Rin,
It sounds like you’re more upset with Clark than anyone else for going back on his word. Had Herm stayed, did you still want Carl gone? If so, which GM would you rather have? Are you mainly upset with Pioli for getting rid of Herm? Had we not gotten Haley, would there be another coach to replace Herm, or would anyone also be scrutinized?
I never really had a problem with Herm. From what I understand from his previous tenure with the Chiefs is that he was a great scout. I think he is a good coach for a veteran team but I did feel his laidback approach had an adverse effect on such young players. I wanted Herm to succeed. If I didn’t, then I would be going against the Chiefs and I would not that. What I will do is hope the best for this team. I don’t know much about Pioli other than he was successful in New England, nor do I know anything about Haley. I am extremely disappointed in our start this year but I will not write this team off, nor this coaching staff and management. It has never been championshiply(new word-Webster sent it to the printing press) rewarding in my generation to be a Chiefs fan, but I will not give up on this team.
Go Chiefs!!! 2009 and beyond!!!!
Colby – good to see you commenting here again.
Rin said:
“Why such an expectation the latter”
What’s he going to say? “I don’t know, I might be fired.”?
“Why not forthrightness as it turned out the former?”
Because he was waiting to see what his not-yet-hired head of football operations had to say on the subject. How could anybody hear Clark’s answer to that question and think it meant anything but “we’ll see”?
“they alone among all new NFL HC/GM combos remain the only winless ones in 2009″
Billy Devaney of the Rams was promoted to the GM job before the season started. That would make he and Steve Spagnuolo a new HC/GM combo with no wins.
Thanks to all for your kind words.
I still hold out hope for this team. When I went through the schedule and made my prognosis, I predicted 6-10. I had the Chiefs getting blown out three of their first four games and defeating the Raiders which would put them at 1-3. By all accounts, we had the Raiders beat. That one hurt the worst. I know watching our Chiefs getting beaten week in and week out is frustrating, but it’s WAY too early to tear apart Pioli and Haley. No one said this would be a quick fix. Their next three games are winnable. Let’s see where this team is at at the bye week after their seventh game.
HAIL! KING COLBY!
GO CHIEFS 2009
I just want to let you all know that I really appreciate the thoughtful, well worded posts that always make me think about things a little differently. I’ve been a KC fan for nearly 40 years, and I’m always learning something. Sometimes a really agree, sometimes I don’t, but I always like to read your thoughts. There are those that fill up this space with nonsense and lots of rambling…I just skip those entrys and move on to posts with some coherant content. Thanks again to the real fans who want to discuss the real issues. Go Chiefs.