"Haley’s transformation from coaching mad man to competent leader has been going on for several weeks. Sunday, he finally struck the right balance. His team reflected his new spirit. The players wanted to shock the Steelers as much as their coach, whose father played and worked for the Steelers.
Are things perfect between Haley and his players? No. But there’s been a lot of progress."
about 2 years ago
woodman212
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LOL, The fat man speaketh!
"Leave the gun. Take the cannoli."
"Mr. Pioli is a man who insists on hearing bad news immediately."
"Never tell anybody outside the family what you're thinking again."
by Don Piolie's Consigliere on Nov 23, 2009 12:57 AM CST reply actions
So now Whitlock's on the band-wagon/sipping the kool-aid
I thought he said the entire staff and players were “Charles Barkley” TERRRIBLE… last week….
2009-10 Predictions:
1. Chiefs will win ATLEAST 6 games, which is a big improvement over 6 wins in 2 seasons
2. Succop will bring stability to the K position for the first time in years
3. Chiefs D will atleast double the number of sacks form last season
4. Cassel will be a top 15 QB
5. Todd Haley won't make a poster and jump around holding it up welcoming the Chiefs players to summer camp, I mean TRAINING camp
Doesn't really matter
to me.
You think it's coincidence that I bleed red?
by Mully on Nov 23, 2009 7:58 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
tooo-oooooo meeeeee.
See Data Differently.
beyondtheboxscore.com | Twitter: @ justinbopp
by Justin Bopp on Nov 23, 2009 10:51 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
I am certain that this part of Whitlock's plan
If you write something level-headed and gasp something that people might actually like to hear than it gives you (some?) credibility to hyperbolize and take the spotlight for being “daring” and “just telling it like it is”.
Wow
That’s how huge this win was. Jabba is now singing Haley’s praises? That’s really something. Even he’s excited about it!
In all fairness, I guess I do have to give a shout out to Whitlock. This was actually a really good article and kudos to him for being man enough to write with some honesty instead of being his usual self and digging only for negative stuff.
trying to post in each new thread
everybody head to nfl.com for the weekly countdown and vote for for the chiefs awesome upset as the official hotshit team of the week!
as for shitlock, i guess that glance haley shot him scared a bit of sense into him.
BRING ON THE BOLTS! GO CHIEFS!
grab a bucket of guts and PLAY (in the sweet nectar of the endzone)
nfl is looking for that yao ming money
i thought it would come from some huge mongolian wrestler playing line but maybe kicker seems more appropriate.
Holy Crap!!!
I’m truely stunned to read that article, at least at first. My best guess, Whitlock realized that after this win, the Chief’s faithful would storm his office with pitchforks and torches if he kept it up.
I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt, but let’s see how long this really lasts.
I noticed Mr. Whitlock floated his narrative that only after Coach Haley calmed down (and took Whitlock's advice), would he truly build a winner.
Let’s see if that was squeezed into the article too.
See Data Differently.
beyondtheboxscore.com | Twitter: @ justinbopp
Thoughts
1. “Pittsburgh tried to win this game.” — I wonder what changed. Any other game, any other week, it would read, “Pittsburgh tried to lose this game.” How is a team that turned it over four times (as you noted) considered to have “tried to win this game” when other articles where you’re attempting to make your point (that you know about football than anybody) that this is a team that deserved to lose? Why is this different, Jason?
2. “Cassel may have saved his Kansas City career.” Really? Now, I know this is just hyperbole, but c’mon man. That’s not even believable on its face. We all know that Cassel and Haley are both going to get AT LEAST until halfway through next season to prove they can’t do it, and probably midway through 2011 for even the most headstrong of leaders would consider otherwise.
3. “Did Haley mismanage the clock at the end of both halves? Yes, he was too conservative before halftime. But that’s nitpicking.” Why is that nitpicking now and it wasn’t for every other article this year? What changed? An improbable win was all it took for you to take the same exact irrelevant criticism and throw it out the window?
4. “Haley coached an excellent football game. He concentrated on play-calling and encouraging his players. He left the refs alone. He didn’t overreact to the mistakes made by his players. Had the Chiefs lost the game, I would be writing the exact same thing. Haley is learning how to be a head coach. His players are noticing and appreciative of his change in demeanor.” Frankly, Mr. Whitlock, Haley’s coaching style didn’t change this game, regardless of the fantasy that you want to portray that your advice about his emotions is somehow taking root and contributing to wins. Did he not have an on-camera tirade in the same game that we won? Sure. What did he have to yell about? We were in and remained in the game with the Super Bowl Champion Steelers. Also, Bowe was gone. You know he’d yell at Bowe for dropping the same pass that Bradley did (assuming he would). And we started out on top. Huge difference. There’s also the possibility that he actually had yes to yell about. You know—people doing their jobs?
5.“Are things perfect between Haley and his players? No. But there’s been a lot of progress.” I assume Waters is still your source, but how could you possibly say this just because we won one game? I realize that this is an op-ed, but that is clearly a verifiable non-statement. The essence of perfection, and our knowledge of it, assumes that perfection is not possible. That’s the non-statement part. But then you went on to say that “there’s been a lot of progress.” Why would you say that just because he wasn’t yelling at people?
I dunno. I don’t take Mr. Whitlock very seriously very often, though I do think he’s sometimes a damned good writer. But this shtick with Pioli’s ego and Haley’s emotion is just bizzare. The whole purpose of this article, rather than to acknowledge the growth of the team, the fantastic offensive play calling and bold-as-hell defensive blitz packages by Pendergast, the growth of Tamba Hali, the buy-in of Derrick Johnson, the strangely cementing absence of LJ and Bowe, and the amazing free-agent pickups of Chambers and Studebaker…instead of ALL THAT, he decides to spend his Monday Morning column patting HIMSELF on the back for knowing all along that once Haley got his emotions in check, we would win.
I’m not sure there’s a big enough :: rolleyes :: appropriate for my response. “Ok, Jason.”
See Data Differently.
beyondtheboxscore.com | Twitter: @ justinbopp
by Justin Bopp on Nov 23, 2009 3:02 AM CST up reply actions 6 recs
I agree with this....
Especially point 4….Haley’s coaching style has not changed likely…There just has been less to be upset about…
Don't forget to be an AP-vangelist...Tell A Friend...
Alright
UCrawford has parked the fire Haley bandwagon..and that didnt surprise me. After last weeks win, even though it was only by 6 points, I figured UCrawford would have liked this win today.
But Whitlock?! Now THAT is surprising. Couple of things I think are funny about this article though..Just last week he was talking about how ugly our W against the Raiders was and that Haley nearly cost us the game by not kicking a FG blah blah blah
Now all of a sudden he wants to come out n say that Haley has transformed over the last few weeks? Soooo how come he never wrote about this “transformation”, mentioned, or even hinted that it was taking place?
We win a big game and Haley is all of a sudden coaching well? I dont think so. I think this is a classic example of improvement. Honestly..ask yourself. WIthout looking at numbers, wouldnt you say the Chiefs have IMPROVED throughout the season? I mean..we’re obviously better now than we were a few weeks ago. Definitely improved since Baltimore. I dont know if numbers support this thought, but its something that you can see with your own eyes.
Yes, I know..alot of our season averages/totals in alot of different catagories are actually WORSE than last year. In fact, most of them are worse.
Offense:
2008 Total Yards per Game – 308.7 (195.6 passing, 113.1 rushing) per game,
2009 Total Yards per Game – 268.1 (171.3 passing, 96.8 rushing) per game,
2008 18.2 points per game
2009 16.9 points per game
Defense:
2008 393.2 Total yards per game allowed (234.2 passing, 158.9 Rushing) per game
2009 389.5 Total yards per game allowed (250.9 passing, 138.6 Rushing) per game
2008 27.5 points allowed per game
2009 23.9 points allowed per game
As you can see, our per game averages are mostly worse (Total yards allowed, rushing yards allowed and points allowed per game have all improved, while nothing on offense has improved. There are a few other things that arent in here like INT’s, Sacks, TD’s, Fumbles, etc.
But heres why I brought that up. If we are statistically worse in alot of areas this season, how is it that we seem like a better team compared to last year? What did Haley bring to the table? Is it attitdue? Is it fire? Passion? What is it?
Whatever it is, I cant wait to see what its like as the team really starts to put things together, especially after this potentially huge offseason for us.
by Petey14 on Nov 23, 2009 3:25 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
My excitement
is that we still have CLE and BUF to play. DEN is choking. CIN was beaten by the Raiders..
I have said time and time again that i didnt want a top 5 pick because of the money. I DO want a top 10 pick though.
IF the Chiefs can play that way, I could see us upsetting the Chargers on the road. But I dont think that will happen. I DO think we’ll beat Denver atleast once, CLE, and BUF, giving us a 6-10 finish. (the same amount of wins we had the 2 seasons before this combined!) That should get us out of the top 5 and within the top 10.
Whitlock
is sooooo negative now he watch a good game and it lasted long enough for him to finish his meal he was in a good mood today
I don't buy it. He's just a crummy writer looking for attention.
He’ll go back and forth all season as long as he gets attention. Tired of this guy and the poison he spreads to the ignorant sports world about the Chiefs. It’s pretty sickening he is given an outlet to express opinions to a national audience and does it with such irresponsibility.
Amazing what a couple of wins will do.
They will even turn the mind of the Whit-less wonder! I am not a fan of his.
Proud resident of Kansas City MO
No respect for Whitlock
Haley hasn’t made some drastic change. I would respect Whitlock more if he stuck to his stance. But this, “well this has been coming for weeks now” crap is his way of trying to sneak off the “Haley Stinks” bandwagon without anyone noticing. Did this “Ego” of Haley’s suddenly go away, I notice he didn’t use his favorite word once in this column. If we get rolled by SD next week will Haley go back to being a bad coach? Give me a break.
Feeling "The Love" and "Drinking the Kool AId"
SCREW Whitlock...
…….he has GOT to be the most wishy-washy sportswriter I’ve ever read! (And lately, I’ve been REFUSING to read!)
another dopeless hope fiend
Whether or not you agree with his opinions
you have to acknowledge Whitlock’s skill as a writer. That – thank God – is not the same thing as always agreeing with him.
Jason – like “shock talk” radio hosts – believes in the old show business saying: “I don’t care if you love me or hate me. Just be sure to spell my name right.” It has served him well in Kansas City. During his career, dozens of perceptions about the Chiefs have gained currency with the public because of his columns.
There is, for example, no evidence that Carl Peterson ever had a “five year plan” for the Chiefs – much less that he ever said he did. But thanks to Jason, most Chiefs fans believe this to be true. The famous “22 players off the street” comment attributed to Haley is in the same category. Ten or twenty years from now, it will simply be accepted as fact. But there is no proof now – or is it likely that there will ever be – any proof that Haley ever actually said it.
Myself… I don’t think sports columnists and sports talkers ought to bounce back and forth with the wind. I believe it’s possible – even preferable – to present a consistent viewpoint, and win over readers and listeners with solid writing and logic. But whether I like it or not, the fact is that hyperbole like Jason’s sells papers, boosts ratings and influences the public.
John
"Gentlemen! You can't fight in here. This is the War Room!"
Well this confirms my criticism of Whitlocks writing.
People can justify his writing all they want…and yes “occasionally” he writes an interesting piece,but this confirms that I believe he is very inept at analysing football.
Just read his recent articles and you’ll see that this is a 180 compared to even last week. Are we to assume that Haley changed and this team has changed in a week? Are we to assume that after the “sign” posting where Haley “lost his team” until today he got them back in a few short weeks?
Also,seems to me Waters hugged Haley at the end of the game.So are we to assume that the bad blood Whitlock has been spewing since pre-season is still there? -Doesn’t seem very likely now does it?
Where’s the “ego” now?
Where are the pundints calling for Haley’s,Cassell’s and Pioli’s head that were in essence in Whitlocks camp?
This team went thru DRASTIC changes this year.Yet, after half a season many criticized and wanted these guys gone…including Whitlock. They didn’t even give it a year. Will I change my mind on this team? Yep, if I dont see improvement….but give me at least the 2nd/3rd season to make an educated assessment.
Bill Parcell’s: "You are what your record says you are."
"My job is not to collect talent, but to build a team. Individuals make the Pro Bowl. Teams win championships. That is our goal."—Chiefs GM Scott Pioli.
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