Todd Haley's Proving Himself

It is a time like now, that players start to understand why the coaches have them doing things a certain way and why the criticism is directed in such an offensive manner. With a coaching style like Todd Haley's, winning is something that has to happen.

Obviously winning is something that has to happen for every coach, but if you are a guy like Herm Edwards, you can lose games and still retain the respect and love of your players because of how you bond with them. In Haley's case, it becomes a situation where the player has to weigh the reasoning of a merciless training camp, practicing in pads during the season and constantly getting screamed at if he is not perfecting his craft.

As much as I liked Herm, I have a very difficult time believing that the Chiefs would have came away with a win today, if he was the coach. As for Haley, this is a moment when you stand back and say "wow, I get it now." This is why, they had to be the best conditioned team in football, this is why it was not OK to make mistakes, and this is why the players need to know that if they don't play hard, they will be wearing street clothes next weekend.

From Alex Magee in Big Ben's face all afternoon to Glenn Dorsey becoming the player we all envisioned. From little known Andy Studebaker playing like the AFC player of the week to Chris Chambers becoming what he was supposed to be his entire career. This is Haley's way. The maximization of every single player on the team and the ones who can't fill that potential are not part of the "right 53."

Is it just me, or does Derrick Johnson play out of his mind every time he is on the field. His play the last 3 years didn't demonstrate in any way shape or form that he should be an automatic starter this season. But like most players that you see playing more and more, Haley says "he's starting to get it."

Lance Long with the 30 yard catch on 3rd down in the 4th quarter, Wallace Gilberry blowing up the Steelers tackles all game, Javon Belcher with what turned out to be the game winning stop for the defense in OT. The list goes on. These guys are nobody's, that Haley has turned into players that could help this team win for a long time.

It looks like 22 guys off the street could win 2 games, because Haley has won 3 in 10 games and with 2 games against Denver, and games against Buffalo and Cleveland, Haley could easily win 6 games this year and triple last years mark by Herm Edwards. That doesn't include an upset against Cincinnati (who were beat by Oakland on Sunday) or San Diego. The Chiefs are as high as they have been for 2 years right now and if confidence breeds success than watch out.

I can't imagine what this staff is going to be able to do with a couple more drafts and off seasons. You add talent to this structure and the Kansas City Chiefs could be dangerous for a long time.