If you happen to follow my blog roll, it wouldn’t take much digging to find I’m not a huge fan of Todd Haley.  I can understand and appreciate the difficulties a first-year head coach might face in trying to lead a re-building franchise.  Let’s face it, Haley wasn’t exactly dealt a fully stacked deck when he took over for Herm Edwards in February.  With the flurry of off-season personnel and administrative moves, it remained obvious the Chiefs were a team with many holes left unfilled.

Heading in to the season, the Chiefs figured to have a few areas of strength.  One of which figured to be an intelligent and athletic signal caller with the acquisition of Matt Cassel.  After the return of Brian Watters and the additions of several offensive linemen including Mike Goff, the offensive line figured to at least be improved from the disastrous group of 2008.  After drafting their second straight defensive lineman in the first round and a conversion to a 3-4 defensive scheme, I was hopeful Kansas City’s woeful run defense would be improved.  Converting Tamba Hali to OLB and the addition of veteran Mike Vrabel was supposed to improve an historically horrible pass rush.

If I knew anything heading in to the 2009 season, I was certain Dwayne Bowe would emerge as a top-10 threat at WR, and Jamaal Charles would eventually un-seat Larry Johnson as the team’s primary ball carrier.  Well, don’t I look like a fool…this team has failed miserably, and other than the recent emergence of Charles, I see little if any forward progress coach Haley has provided this season.  In fact, this team is more a mess now than when he got here.

Todd Haley and Dwayne Bowe have knocked heads since mini-camp and OTA’s.  To be blunt, Todd Haley has single-handedly ruined the only reliable offensive weapon the Chiefs had to offer.  Haley’s “M-O” since he came to KC has been doing things the “right way” as he has repeatedly put it.  Haley’s empty words of creating competition at each position and stressing the importance of detail and preparation became nauseating early and often this season.  The problem is, this mindset appeared to apply to a few, while not with others.

On multiple occasions this season, the Chiefs have signed players essentially off the street who have immediately been implemented in to the next week’s game plan.  Something tells me these guys didn’t learn in one week what others have been drilled on all off-season. 

I’m curious to see the role Bowe will play Sunday against the Browns.  Coming off a four game suspension, I wonder if Bowe will be granted the same privileges as Bobby Wade and Chris Chambers earlier this season.  My guess is…No.  Whatever the riff is, it’s real and plainly evident for even the most novel Chiefs fan.  These two guys simply don’t mesh, and it whether it’s Haley’s arrogance and pride, or Bowe’s laziness and lack of professionalism, the situation has cost the Chiefs dearly this season.

I’m not certain these two personalities can co-exist past this season.  For the sake of fans like myself, and the future of our “franchise” quarterback Matt Cassel, the Chiefs need to have a reliable weapon opposite Chris Chambers. 

Do you know what Brady is without Moss/Welker?  How about Manning without Wayne/Harrison?  Or maybe Rivers without Jackson/Gates?  You have Matt Cassel.  Personally, I feel sorry for the guy (Cassel).  There isn’t a consistent route runner in this group, not to mention the set of stone hands they possess.  There is no separation, no threat of deep speed.  There’s nothing.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 at 10:36 pm and is filed under News Headlines. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.