Haley claims that he's going to play the best player who give the Chiefs the best chance at winning.  We all saw the preseason and we have scrapped for every indication as to who would be starting at WILB.  I cheered for DJ at the beginning but I learned that I wouldn't mind Demorrio in there either.  I don't have the exposure Haley and co. do but for the life of me, I can't really see any difference or hindrance when one or the other is in there.  Is this the "competition"  Haley was trying to create?  Is there a way he can keep it going all year long?  That's where this "Head Game" theory comes in.

An NFL middle linebacker obviously has a ferociousness embedded into his personality.  We all know Demorrio is steaming at not getting the start so when he gets his chance, he will be a pissed as hell and ready to knock a head or two off.  DJ, while being on the field is going to show they made the right choice and even more importantly, he wants to get paid next year.  Does Haley start DJ knowing that when a 3rd and 1 situation comes up, Demorrio is going to go full steam like a mad man in that pile?  If he stops it, does he leave him in?  Will that make DJ on the sidelines fuming, ready to go in there and use his speed on passing situations for a pick 6?

There are many other X factors we can get into as to how many examples a good head coach, who is good at mind games, can manipulate these human beasts.  Do you think one of them will go to the sidelines after making a mistake and give up the fight to be the starter the next game?  That's what Haley is looking for.  Wouldn't you? Both of these linebackers are in their prime (DJ 6 years, Demorrio 7 years) and we should have gotten a pro bowl from DJ by now being a first round pick.  That hasn't been the case.  But if DJ wants to keep his starting job all year long, he must play like a pro bowler because when he makes a costly mistake, here comes pissed off Demorrio Williams.  Not a bad scenario, huh.

Like I said, I don't have the exposure Haley and co. have to these two.  I couldn't see any considerable difference between the two this preseason and it sounds like they both have done everything in their power to be the starter.  That's where the advantage comes in from Haley's "head game"  standpoint.  All he has to do is keep them both pissed off during every game and the end result will be tremendous play from our WILB position no matter who is in there.  And hey, don't forget about fresh legs as well.  We learned last year that DJ had no idea why he was benched and you saw the result when he finally went in there.  Haley has a full year under his belt  to learn the character of these two players and since I didn't notice any difference between the two ( I thought Demorrio edged him out), it must be a Head Game.  I just hope we have the right guy in there for the right time.

QUICKWIT