Insider Forum with Josh Looney - Talk it up!

WHAT’S RIGHT VS. WHAT’S CONVENIENT
September 1st – 7:44 PM

Chiefs head coach Todd Haley’s decision to take over the team’s play calling duties has received mix reviews. A fair debate can be waged as to the timing of the announcement. Nobody likes to see a change near the top of the coaching staff so close to the regular season. Nobody.

But for me, the case is closed. Todd Haley told me everything that i needed to hear yesterday, and then he repeated it again today.

“It’s what I think is best for the Kansas City Chiefs at this time.“

Much of the criticism Haley has received on message boards, during radio call-ins, in the newspaper and, most recently, among my close friends, has been centered around an issue of convenience. Many people don’t understand why Haley didn’t choose to “play the system.” After all, he’s a first-year coach trying to re-build a football team that has won six games over two seasons.

The argument is that if the Chiefs offense is struggling, Haley could have made the switch to call plays around the team’s bye week on November 1st. If the offense wasn’t struggling, then he obviously wouldn’t make the switch. The thought is that it would put Haley in a win-win situation, pushing the blame of a potentially struggling offense on someone else and taking that offense over for himself with a clean slate. But by taking over the offense now, he gets the full brunt of responsibility from start to finish.

The argument is compelling and correct if the intent is to indeed “play this system.” But there’s a big problem with that theory. Coaching this football team isn’t a game of manipulation. It’s a full-time job that’s sole responsibility is to win football games and represent the Kansas City community and Lamar Hunt’s franchise in the best interests of all, not one.

Haley felt that the best decision was to make the switch now. He felt that would help this football team right now and that it was something which needed to be addressed. That should be all that we need to hear.

If he felt that way right now, but waited to make the switch mid-season, then he wouldn’t have been acting in the best interest of this football team. Would that have been fair to this loyal fan base? Certainly not.

Todd Haley did what he though was right, not convenient. That is something that takes guts to do in any walk of life, not just football.

BOONE’S RELEASE MOST SURPRISING
September 1st – 2:45 PM

The release of veteran defensive lineman Alfonso Boone garners the most conversation following today’s roster moves. Boone’s release was somewhat surprising given the Chiefs two-deep on the defensive front seemed to be set heading in to the regular season.

Boone started the first two preseason games, but saw his playing time dwindle vs. Seattle and he virtually took no repetitions in practice yesterday. He had been a serviceable defensive lineman for the Chiefs over the past two seasons (19 starts) and looked most effective playing the five-technique in the nickle defense. DEs Wallace Gilberry and Bobby Greenwood saw time today in Boone’s absence.

CHIEFS TRIM ROSTER TO 75 PLAYERS
September 1st – 2:44 PM

It turns out what met the eye at today’s practice was indeed true. The three players unaccounted for were all let go this afternoon. The Chiefs placed rookie free agent T Cameron Goldberg on waivers and terminated the contracts of vested veterans DE Alfonso Boone and WR Amani Toomer.

Two other moves were made to appease NFL roster mandates - RB Kolby Smith was placed on the Reserve/PUP list as he continues to rehab a knee injury suffered last season vs. Tampa Bay. WR Devard Darling was placed on Injured Reserve, effectively ending his season and likely confirming reports that surfaced regarding the knee injury he suffered vs. Seattle on Saturday.

Overall, the Chiefs make five roster moves, but only lose the rights to three players.

DB’S TAKING ADVANTAGE
September 1st – 1:54 PM

The Chiefs were without both starting safeties and a starting corner at practice today, allowing reserves a chance to see increased practice reps. It’s likely that reserve DBs will see a nice chunk of time at St. Louis this Thursday as well.

Rookie CB Donald Washington has seen time with the first-team defense this week after Brandon Flowers was injured in the Seattle game. The fourth-round pick out of Ohio State has had quite an up-hill climb for the Chiefs this preseason after he missed virtually all of the club’s offseason program due to NCAA graduation date rules.

“Getting a feel for the defense (was tough),” Washington said. “It’s little things like that you can’t really learn  being away from the team. It was just pretty hard to prepare for the defense when I’m not actually getting reps with the defense.“

“I think he’s definitely shown a steady improvement,” Haley said of Washington. “With a young guy like that, that’s what you’re looking for. He’s six-foot two, he can run and he has the physical attributes that you’re looking for, so you’re hopeful.“

Other players taking advantage of an opportunity to shine have been safeties DaJuan Morgan and Mike Brown. Brown had two INTs today at practice and Morgan drew praise from Haley following today’s workout.

“I think that DaJuan Morgan is making progress, real progress,” Haley said. “He was another guy that was over in that (rehab) area for an extended period of time and I think that he’s come on. I thought I was kind of encouraged by his play in the last game. So that’s a positive.”

CROYLE NEXT IN LINE
September 1st – 1:37 PM

The Chiefs continue to let each quarterback on the roster compete their way into Opening Day positions. Todd Haley said today that Brodie Croyle will be the starter at St. Louis on Thursday. With Matt Cassel on the mend, it is likely we will see all three active QBs in action. The Chiefs have previously treated their reserve QBs in merry-go-round fashion this preseason, allowing Croyle, Thigpen and Gutierrez ample time to display their case for a spot on the 53-man roster.

”(I’m) just ready to go whenever (my) number is called,” Croyle said. “It’s still competing and trying to win a job. At the same time, it’s about winning a different job and trying to win. We’re still competing and we still have something to go out and play for.“

Cassel’s status for Opening Day remains unknown and Haley didn’t allude to any reserve stepping into a full-time role as the Chiefs second quarterback.

PRACTICE OBSERVATIONS
September 1st – 12:46 PM

Today is all about the first cut down. By 3:00 PM today the Chiefs will have to make their 75-man roster official.

The team worked mainly on St. Louis planning in a lower-key, but lengthy workout. Observations are below…

• Held out of practice were WR Amani Toomer, QB Matt Cassel, WR Devard Darling, T Cameron Goldberg, S Jarrad Page, S Bernard Pollard, TE Jake O’Connell, LB Zach Thomas, RB Kolby Smith, CB Brandon Flowers and DE Alfonso Boone.
• All players were accounted for outdoors besides Boone, Toomer and Goldberg. Boone has reportedly been released by the team according to a number of sources. His absence and reported release brings question to the status of Goldberg and Toomer. A lot of dots can be connected, especially with injuries to Darling and Smith, but until the club makes things official everything is purely speculation.
• Quality control coach Nick Sirianni and Assistant GM Joel Collier worked with the quarterbacks while Haley was observing special teams work.
• QB Brodie Croyle got the majority of first-team reps, but QB Tyler Thigpen worked in as well.
• Who says outside backers are a new position? LB Tamba Hali and the rest of the OLBs were working on outside rush technique with d-line coach Tim Krumrie today.
• Speaking of Hali, he’s had such a high-motor this week. He opened up practice by racing LB Andy Studebaker during warm-ups. The result was too close to call.
  

HALEY NOT A ONE MAN SHOW
September 1st – 10:34 AM

Todd Haley’s announcement to become the Chiefs play caller has naturally spurned question as to whether the first-year head coach can handle the multiple demands of offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, head coach and overall on-field/off-field general. Keep in mind that Haley is not a one man show.

“I’m here to coach the Kansas City Chiefs,” Haley said yesterday. “I’m here to coach the offense, the defense, the special teams, my coaching staff and everybody I’m responsible for. That’s the way I believe it has to be done.“

Haley’s quote can be taken literally, but it would be ignoring the obvious. Haley certainly knows that no single man can handle all the minute details that go into coaching every segment of an NFL football team. He is, however, responsible for the team’s overall success. At the end of the day, the finger points back at Haley whether that finger be a thumbs-up for a job well done, or a gesture of judgment.

Any successful leader (football or not) will tell you that success breeds from those that surround you. Haley’s first duty as head coach was to construct a coaching staff that maximizes returns for the Chiefs. In the end, Haley hand-picked a staff that boast 46 years of coordinating experience at the collegiate and pro ranks, 44 years of NFL playing experience and six years of head coaching experience. Those numbers don’t even include Chan Gailey, who will remain with the Chiefs in some capacity, and his 13 years as a head coach and nine years as a coordinator.

Haley has developed a strong administrative infrastructure that will provide plenty of support as he balances play calling duties with head coaching requirements. His decision doesn’t pigeon hole him as an “offense-only” coach either. That’s just the place Haley has decided needs the most nurturing. It’s a decision that revolves around making this football team better. Period.

“I’ve made it clear that I have a number of great people that I lean on for advice in a lot of different areas,” Haley said. “This comes down to one thing: trying to do what I think is best for the Kansas City Chiefs.“

Haley will continue to monitor all aspects of the Chiefs. Case in point yesterday when he stood on the defensive side of the field for 20-plus minutes observing the defense practice schemes against the St. Louis scout offense.

WHAT’S NEXT?
September 1st – 6:20 AM

A short week got even shorter and yesterday’s waking hours grew even more hectic for the Chiefs as they prepare to take on the Rams in 48 hours. Todd Haley announced yesterday that he will now assume the role as Chiefs offensive coordinator going forward, relieving Chan Gailey of those duties.

“It was a very difficult decision for me,” Haley said. “I think the world of Chan as a coach. I have the greatest amount of respect for him as a coach, and as a person there is no better. But ultimately the fate of this team and the accountability falls to me.”

Haley’s announcement was just another surprise subplot as the Chiefs continue to build a winning football foundation en route to the season opener at Baltimore on September 13th. But after Haley explained the details of the Chiefs offensive transition, the direction of the day quickly turned back towards QB Matt Cassel and the status of his left leg injury.

“I’m only going to talk about the guys on the field,” Haley said. “I’m not changing that. We have to get better across the board, not just quarterbacks but every position on this team has room for improvement. That’s what we’re striving for every day.”

With Cassel’s status uncertain heading into the opener at Baltimore, it would be rational for Haley to develop a game plan that protects whomever he thinks gives the Chiefs the best chance to win at Baltimore. Guess again. In Haley’s book, very few players are at the playing level he desires. Haley wants to see more from most everyone wearing a Chiefs uniform.

“With our team right now we don’t have a lot of sacred cows,” Haley said. “I think when you have a year like last year, and to this point what we’ve done, there are no sacred cows, so to speak. We need to get these guys ready to play.”

QB Tyler Thigpen received the majority of practice reps with the first-team offense on Monday, but Haley said that means nothing in regards to the Chiefs depth chart. Thigpen and QB Brodie Croyle have been see-sawing with the second and third teams throughout camp.

“He got a lot of play time,” Haley said of Thigpen. “But again, we’re going to play the guys that we think need the most work. So, I wouldn’t assume because of that he’s not going to play or Brodie is going to play.”

The Chiefs quarterback situation surrounding Cassel now becomes a chess game for the Chiefs. Little information is likely to come out of personnel discussions as there is no reason to give Baltimore an early glimpse of the Chiefs hand. Even though there hasn’t been an official public comment, Haley and his staff seem to have an idea of what direction they will head in regards to quarterbacks and the season opener.

“We have to have our ducks in a row. There’s no doubt. They’re going to kick it off in 12 days or 13 days and they aren’t cancelling it. We have to have everything lined up how we need to operate and be ready for anything.”

Injuries to starting quarterbacks are nothing new to the Chiefs locker room. In 2006, long-time backup QB Damon Huard stated eight games after starter Trent Green was lost on Opening Day. Croyle received his first career start in 2007 after starter Damon Huard suffered an injury and Thigpen got his first career start last season after the Chiefs first and second stringers (Croyle and Huard) went down with season-ending injuries.

The odds seem to be catching up with the Chiefs after Green logged 81 consecutive starts at quarterback from 2001-06.

“To me this seems like déjà vu five times over,” RB Larry Johnson said. “It happened with Trent, it happened with Brodie and it happened with Damon. In any situation it falls on the running game and on the next quarterback to step up and take command.”

The official word on Cassel is still mum, but most reports around football predict the signal caller to miss two-to-four weeks of action. For the Chiefs backups, time can’t be spent speculating on Cassel’s playing status for Opening Day. Each reserve quarterback will take a daily approach that prepares them for their playing opportunity.

“Anytime you’re backing up you always have to be ready to go at any point in time,” QB Brodie Croyle said. “Whenever Matt’s back obviously it’s his game, but we have to fill the void until then.”

It’s another day in a hectic week at Arrowhead. Dare I ask what’s next?