Chiefs Coach Makes A Good Point About The Bye Week

by Joel Thorman on Oct 11, 2011 10:25 AM CDT

Yesterday we were talking about the Kansas City Chiefs bye week coming up and whether this was good timing or bad timing for KC. I argued that it was a bad time for the bye because the Chiefs had some momentum with two straight wins and I thought it was important to keep rolling with that momentum.

Readers were fairly split on the topic with 53 percent of the voters in our poll saying they would prefer the bye week to come later in the season, while 46 percent said they would prefer it to happen this week.

Chiefs coach Todd Haley was asked about the bye week in Monday's press conference (via KCChiefs.com) and said there are a few guys on the team who could "use a little down time" right now.

He also made a good point about the bye -- with the injuries the Chiefs have had early in the season, namely Tony Moeaki, Eric Berry and Jamaal Charles, the coaching staff could use the time off to regroup as well.

"We've got enough work to do as a coaching staff on some of these adjustments that we've made on the fly due to some injuries that now we have our first real time to work and try to get better in some of those areas that maybe we didn't spend quite as much time on in the training camp time."

I hadn't really thought of that but it's a good point. The offense and defense is different from training camp when Moeaki, Berry and Charles were all available. This time off can give them extra time to hammer out a long-term plan on handling their losses.

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I like our adjustments on the fly better than our long-term season planning.

Go play golf Haley.

I was once fired from a job two days after I waited on Matt Cassel and his wife Lauren Killian. Totally my AP moment to remember. Unfortunately also one of my stupidest moments.

by Chiefs_swagger on Oct 11, 2011 10:28 AM CDT reply actions

Hey!!! 2.7 is that you?!

"In my experience, there is no such thing as luck."

"It's not always going to be pretty; and that's alright..."

by crashman6 on Oct 11, 2011 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions

you win.

I was once fired from a job two days after I waited on Matt Cassel and his wife Lauren Killian. Totally my AP moment to remember. Unfortunately also one of my stupidest moments.

by Chiefs_swagger on Oct 11, 2011 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions

Snap!

by Okie Red on Oct 11, 2011 1:32 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Snap!

by Okie Red on Oct 11, 2011 1:32 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

I think he has a point

It does seem like we have been patchworking game plans together, feeling out where guys go. I have a feeling we’re gonna see some depth chart changes too.

by RamX21 on Oct 11, 2011 10:31 AM CDT via iPhone app reply actions

Our game plans seem to get our guys (coaches too) thinking too much instead of reacting.

BTW, I don’t doubt the game plans are good ones.

I was once fired from a job two days after I waited on Matt Cassel and his wife Lauren Killian. Totally my AP moment to remember. Unfortunately also one of my stupidest moments.

by Chiefs_swagger on Oct 11, 2011 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions

Jackie Battle

In my eyes, Jackie Battle deserves at least a SHOT at starting Sunday. I know he will not run roughshod over the Raiduhs like he did the Colts but you never know, Everyone can have an off day (cough dallas clark).
What I would REALLY like to see, is play numero uno on Chiefs offense: Send Bowe, Breaston, Baldwin (BBB? Can we make something out of that? I am thinking Better Ballers Bureau, but that’s lame) on deep fly routes and have Cassel air it out. First play. Doesn’t even have to be catchable. Just to go out and show we do not plan on running draw plays for the first half would be enough to make me happy.

The Kansas City Chiefs, ruining playoff hopes since 2010

by mugglemage on Oct 14, 2011 8:40 AM CDT up reply actions

some guys need the rest

Flowers especially. He was hampered a little against the Colts. We need him as close to 100% as possible to match up with a speedy Raiders WR core.

And Haley has an excellent point.

I really thought 2011 was going to be our Chiefs breakout year. Injuries to key players has hurt us bad, but I have hope we will see growth and a few surprising wins this year. GO CHIEFS !!!!!!!!

by KC-Murdock on Oct 11, 2011 10:35 AM CDT reply actions

re

maybe if we didn’t have ZERO depth behind flowers maybe we could spell him a series or three. (ehem Pioli and Clark Hunt)

by rdc on Oct 11, 2011 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions

Really zero depth?

Funny the depth chart shows different.

Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting 'Holy ****... What a Ride!'

by tybme on Oct 11, 2011 11:47 AM CDT up reply actions

After five weeks?

If they need rest now, how are they going to be after their next 11 games without a bye?

Chiefs now 2-3: Suck on that, Luck suckers!

by Tarkus on Oct 11, 2011 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions

It also gives Baldwin two weeks to get game ready for OAK

He was practicing in full last week and didn’t play, I bet he plays alot against them.

Do we go fetal and beg for mercy? Or do we pick up that broken piece of pipe laying on the ground and come up swinging? I choose pipe.
Sober (again) since January 10th, 2011.

by nateforchiefs on Oct 11, 2011 12:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Plays a lot of special teams

Standing on the corner in a white Godfather hat. He drives a long black gangster Cadillac. He can steal a broads mind, man, in three or four minutes. It’s not how long you talk, brother, it’s what you put in it.

by HIV 2 Elway on Oct 11, 2011 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions

That is so overblown.

The players get nearly the entire first week off. It’s not like they have two full weeks of practice.

Chiefs now 2-3: Suck on that, Luck suckers!

by Tarkus on Oct 11, 2011 12:18 PM CDT up reply actions

I dont think he's been catching passes for awhile though because of his thumb.

Two weeks give him more time to do that and get in sync with the offense. I bet he hasn’t been doing run blocking with the busted thumb either.

Do we go fetal and beg for mercy? Or do we pick up that broken piece of pipe laying on the ground and come up swinging? I choose pipe.
Sober (again) since January 10th, 2011.

by nateforchiefs on Oct 11, 2011 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions

POTG at Oakland will be JB......anyone?

I got Jack…

I was once fired from a job two days after I waited on Matt Cassel and his wife Lauren Killian. Totally my AP moment to remember. Unfortunately also one of my stupidest moments.

by Chiefs_swagger on Oct 11, 2011 10:43 AM CDT reply actions

Nope

I think Battles big game has a lot to do with a colts D who is small/fast to stop the pass, Battles big ass just plowed over them for ten yards all day. Oaklands D is more of a run stopper, I’m betting on Flowers/Cassel/3B’s having the big game if we win

by Okie Red on Oct 11, 2011 1:36 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Hopefully they use the time to get Baldwin in the mix for Oakland

Does anyone else wonder why we don’t go to the shotgun, hurry-up offense more often? Seems as though the offense is always more effective that way.

Predictions:
I'm going to stop predicting positive things

by jmcgoblue on Oct 11, 2011 10:45 AM CDT reply actions

POTG prediction

Derrick Johnson!
He has been playing hard and will help big time in keeping Darren McFadden in check.

I really thought 2011 was going to be our Chiefs breakout year. Injuries to key players has hurt us bad, but I have hope we will see growth and a few surprising wins this year. GO CHIEFS !!!!!!!!

by KC-Murdock on Oct 11, 2011 10:48 AM CDT reply actions

I meant JBOTG...

I was once fired from a job two days after I waited on Matt Cassel and his wife Lauren Killian. Totally my AP moment to remember. Unfortunately also one of my stupidest moments.

by Chiefs_swagger on Oct 11, 2011 10:49 AM CDT up reply actions

Baldwin

This bye week is well timed for him too. With a full week of practice last week, this bye will give him even more time to work on timing, routes and reps.

He should be good to go for the Raiders.

I really thought 2011 was going to be our Chiefs breakout year. Injuries to key players has hurt us bad, but I have hope we will see growth and a few surprising wins this year. GO CHIEFS !!!!!!!!

by KC-Murdock on Oct 11, 2011 10:57 AM CDT reply actions

I agree

Hopefully they use the time to retool our offense as pass first with Jackie/Dex/TJ being used to keep defenses honest.

Baldwin could go a long ways toward helping do that just by stretching the defense and allowing Breaston to play slot, where he is ideal with his quickness and hands.

Imagine, we can completely change the way teams have to gameplan for us week to week!! Wouldn’t that be awesome, rather than every team saying, “Stop the run, stop the Chiefs”

I love my wife, my kids, and the Chiefs. In that order. Except on game days.

by MNchiefsfan on Oct 11, 2011 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions

Its been a long time coming

Everyone and their mothers knew to stop the run, stop the Chiefs. Our O-line and Jamaal simply refused to be pushed around most of the time last year

When you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.

Jamaal above all. #25 ftw.

CHIEFS WILL!

by NJChieffan16 on Oct 11, 2011 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions

Yep

And without JC we don’t have the ability to run without the pass backing it up. Crap, even JC was contained at times when the passing game couldn’t help him out.

Time to see the passing game pull its weight. It certainly did against IND and was a HUGE reason why TJ and Battle were suddenly running through giant holes (although to his credit, Battle was usually dragging people with him through the holes).

I love my wife, my kids, and the Chiefs. In that order. Except on game days.

by MNchiefsfan on Oct 11, 2011 11:59 AM CDT up reply actions

Battle also surprised me a bit with his speed...

I’d not realized how quick he really is until I saw him zipping to the edge. With the reputed speed of the Colts, he was still making headway on the outside.

I have some hope now..

I'm dressin my voodoo doll in stripes every season...

by WorL4Chiefs on Oct 11, 2011 5:21 PM CDT up reply actions

beat me to it.

time to work the rookie in.

by rdc on Oct 11, 2011 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions

2 weeks to prepare for Oakland

Let’s get this done boys! Keep believing! Our 3 losses have come against teams at at combined 13-2 record. With the exception of the packers and patriots(maybe steelers) every team we’re gonna play have glaring flaws. Nowhere near out of this. at Oakland will be our first game where we’re gonna be full systems go, player/coach wise. We’re out for fuckin blood! Take it!

by KCinIL on Oct 11, 2011 10:59 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

the pats and steelers have glaring flaws

by stagdsp on Oct 11, 2011 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah

But Tom Brady will always scare me to death and we either pull it out against the Steelers and just get smashed. I think those 3 are gonna be our biggest “underdog” games.

by KCinIL on Oct 11, 2011 11:05 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Let's jus call Greg Wesley out of retirement.

I mean he did pick Brady off three times the last time he played against him.

I think Thomas Jones would have better success in Bodybuilder competitions than he is havin right now in the NFL!

by LookListenLearn on Oct 11, 2011 6:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Defense is overrated.

Do we go fetal and beg for mercy? Or do we pick up that broken piece of pipe laying on the ground and come up swinging? I choose pipe.
Sober (again) since January 10th, 2011.

by nateforchiefs on Oct 11, 2011 12:10 PM CDT up reply actions

and our 2 wins came against teams with a combined

1 win. Always another side of the coin. We have quite a few flaws that have been hidden by us beating very bad teams

by RamX21 on Oct 11, 2011 11:06 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Good teams take care of those games

And we did. Still a good football team. We’re always gonna miss JC Berry and Moeaki, but we still have the tools to get it done.

by KCinIL on Oct 11, 2011 11:12 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Take out the games the Chiefs participated in (remove the self fulfilling prophecy factor)....

and our opponents are a combined 10-10, against them we’re 2-3. I’m holding off on beating my chest.

by HIV 2 Elway on Oct 11, 2011 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions

Who's beating their chest?

by KCinIL on Oct 11, 2011 11:14 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

We’re out for fuckin blood! Take it!

I think he was referencuing this ^^^^^^

But really, who gives two sh#$s what he says?

"In my experience, there is no such thing as luck."

"It's not always going to be pretty; and that's alright..."

by crashman6 on Oct 11, 2011 11:55 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Chiefs always rise to the occasion

against “better” teams to make it interesting, if not win. It’s the bad teams that we constantly play down to that have me frightened.

The Kansas City Chiefs, ruining playoff hopes since 2010

by mugglemage on Oct 14, 2011 8:49 AM CDT up reply actions

C'mon guys

I think everyone is missing the message. The plan they had in the preseason was shot in the foot in week one and two. Since then they have had no time to seriously address these problems because most of the week is applied to gameplanning for just that week. Now there is time to help players (McCluster) to do a different job than he practiced in preseason(WR/PR to RB). If you look qt the players we have now, it is a lot like two years ago when Bowe was about the only go-to guy. And they are better today than then. Answer me why?

by Okie Red on Oct 11, 2011 11:14 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

yes.

been saying this all along when EVERYBODY was screaming for Haley’s job!!! Plays that were practiced during training camp can’t be used anymore when they’re centered around the injured players. Coaches needed time to figure out new plays that highlights the healthy player’s skill set.
The last 3 weeks for the Chiefs has been telling to me that the players still listens to their HC and that he hasn’t lost the team. They’ve been competitive which is about all you can ask for when your key players are out (and sneak some wins on the close ones).

by kaorder1 on Oct 11, 2011 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions

POTG...

I don’t see anyone denying Bowe right now. Dude has been beasting this year (when the ball is actually thrown at him). And Oakland boasts the 28th ranked pass D.

by Tomahawk29 on Oct 11, 2011 11:16 AM CDT reply actions

Best non-QB in the NFL

by HIV 2 Elway on Oct 11, 2011 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Megatron?

by stagdsp on Oct 11, 2011 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions

only clark hunt

when is he gonna buck up…..never??

by LO Thighs on Oct 11, 2011 11:18 AM CDT up reply actions

Right,

Because remember how he let DJ, Flowers, Hali and Charles all walk rather than pay them… oh, wait…

by Tomahawk29 on Oct 11, 2011 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions

Or Shawn Smith, Jasin Babbin, Wade Smith. or Page or Pollard

All starting last check

by HIV 2 Elway on Oct 11, 2011 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions

I dont like or trust 1 year wonders

I didn’t want Babin back. Page and Pollard were never as good as Berry and Lewis. I was meh on Wade Smith. I wanted Shawn Smith back though, that dude was money.

Do we go fetal and beg for mercy? Or do we pick up that broken piece of pipe laying on the ground and come up swinging? I choose pipe.
Sober (again) since January 10th, 2011.

by nateforchiefs on Oct 11, 2011 12:13 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Page or Pollard > McGraw or Sabby

by HIV 2 Elway on Oct 11, 2011 12:24 PM CDT up reply actions

Cant argue that.

Do we go fetal and beg for mercy? Or do we pick up that broken piece of pipe laying on the ground and come up swinging? I choose pipe.
Sober (again) since January 10th, 2011.

by nateforchiefs on Oct 11, 2011 12:32 PM CDT up reply actions

But would have been problems as backups with their mentality thinking they are better than they are.

by KCbo on Oct 11, 2011 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions

i'd definately take Page over Lewis

I think Thomas Jones would have better success in Bodybuilder competitions than he is havin right now in the NFL!

by LookListenLearn on Oct 11, 2011 6:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Shaun Smith

Apparently enjoyed grabbing balls during his rushes as well, which can only cast a favorable shadow on the Chiefs as an organization.

The Kansas City Chiefs, ruining playoff hopes since 2010

by mugglemage on Oct 14, 2011 9:20 AM CDT up reply actions

what??

bowe should have been first in line……you argued against yourself there….oh wait

by LO Thighs on Oct 11, 2011 11:57 AM CDT up reply actions

Except that some of them would have been free agents now if we hadn't.

by Archyrr on Oct 11, 2011 12:02 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

I caught something in the Arrowheadlines this morning that may be hopeful

the Chiefs still have their priorities straight and will spend today and Wednesday practicing and watching tape of the Oakland Raiders before getting the rest of the week off.

"The bye is good, but we have Oakland," defensive end Wallace Gilberry said of the next game, on Oct. 23 at Oakland. "This is Oakland week. It just so happens we get a couple extra days to look at them. It’s already Oakland week."

If I remember correctly, the last couple of years Haley didn’t start game planning for the opposition until the week prior. I think he said that they would take the first week to work on fundamentals instead. Since we’ve lost following the bye the last 2 years maybe this is a good sign. Taking two weeks to prepare for the Raiders instead of one.

TOUCHDOWN! KAN-SAH-CITY!!!

by TheScootness on Oct 11, 2011 11:21 AM CDT reply actions

Rules have changed...

Players now get 5 days off in the bye week- you really cannot work on much in two days, might as well focus on the Raiders

by Family Chief on Oct 11, 2011 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions

Can't wait for Baldwin to take the safties off top and watch Bowe and Baldwin shred the middle.

Pick your poison.

By the way, this is not said enough around here….HOBO-HALEY FOR THE WIN!!!

"In my experience, there is no such thing as luck."

"It's not always going to be pretty; and that's alright..."

by crashman6 on Oct 11, 2011 12:00 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

He has two weeks to covert the gameplan from a running offense to a passing offense.

It’ll probably take that long to get Muir to wake up from his nap so it’s a good thing he has time.

"Success is never ending, failure is never final."

by GenericBrand on Oct 11, 2011 12:08 PM CDT reply actions

It's Haley's job to try and turn this into a positive.

Because it is what it is, and he can’t change it. He did the same thing last year. He was wrong about the “good timing” then, and he will probably be wrong this year. This is not good timing at all. It’s too early in the season, and the team is still very healthy (notwithstanding those on IR, who aren’t affected by timing of the bye week anyway).

Chiefs now 2-3: Suck on that, Luck suckers!

by Tarkus on Oct 11, 2011 12:09 PM CDT reply actions