Tuesday Morning Cup O’Chiefs
Like most everybody else, the Chiefs will return to work on Tuesday after enjoying a three-day Memorial Day holiday.
After going through four OTA sessions last week, the players will get back into the strength and conditioning program for this week. They will not get back on the field as a team until a week from today. Starting with that workout on June 1, the Chiefs are scheduled to have 15 practices in 18 days. It all wraps up on June 18th; that’s when the OTA sessions end.
The Chiefs will then go off on vacation until July 30th, when they are currently scheduled to travel to River Falls, Wisconsin for the start of training camp.
As important as those practice sessions will be, Todd Haley has really been focused on the strength and conditioning program for his team and the gains that his players have made since it began back in March.
“These guys have bought into what we are trying to do and you can see it on some of these guys already,” Haley said. “Bigger, stronger, in better condition, it all helps you play the game and it keeps you healthy.”
It can also help you win in the fourth quarter. Haley hasn’t said so, but more than likely he watched the tape of last year’s Chiefs team and saw fourth quarter performances that were seriously lacking. In the last 10 games of the 2008 season, the Chiefs had the lead, were tied, or trailed by less than a touchdown seven times.
The Chiefs record in those games: 1-6.
Now, when a team goes 2-14 there is more than one reason. The biggest factor for that record was a lack of talent. Another key reason was the lack of experienced players on the roster, as many key performers were getting their first taste of playing 16 games at the pro level. Everything was new and different, including dealing with the long grind of the season.
And there’s no question conditioning has to be considered a factor. In the second half of last season, with a team dominated by young legs, the Chiefs were unable to get anything done in the fourth quarter. On the season, they were outscored 113-88. In the first six games, the difference was just 43-42. In the last 10 games, the difference was 70-46.
Only in Oakland, when they outscored the Raiders 10-3 over the final 15 minutes, were they able to outplay their opponent and win a game in the fourth quarter.
One can only imagine what the scenery at Arrowhead would look like if the Chiefs had been able to win say half of these six games:
- Led the Jets 24-21 in the fourth quarter, until Brett Favre threw a TD pass to win 28-24.
- Led the Bucs 24-13, before being outscored 14-3 in the fourth quarter and then losing in OT 30-27.
- Tied with the Chargers at 13-13, but were outscored 7-6 in fourth quarter, losing 20-19.
- Tied with the Broncos at 17-17, but Denver scored in the fourth and won 24-17.
- Led the Chargers 21-10, but San Diego scored 12 points in the fourth quarter to win 22-21
- All tied up with the Dolphins at 31-31, but Miami scored in the fourth and won 38-31.
Think about what has happened and would it have come down had the Chiefs won half of those six games and finished the season 5-11. It certainly wouldn’t be great improvement, but it would have been one game better than the 2007 season, with another year of talent and rebuilding.
Would Clark Hunt have made the same sorts of decisions?
We’ll never know, but there’s a disturbing trend to what happened last year and conditioning is part of the equation. We saw it in the second half of the ‘07 season as well. Over the last nine games in that year, the Chiefs had six situations where at the start of the fourth quarter they held a lead, were tied or trailed by seven points or less.
That was six opportunities to win in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs went 0-6.
That’s 13 opportunities to win in the fourth quarter in the second half of the ‘07-08 seasons. The Chiefs went 1-12. They were outscored in those games 103-48 in the final period and overtime.
Bigger, stronger, faster and better conditioned players do not guarantee fourth quarter success. But without those factors, there’s no chance.
REDSKINS FACE TAMPERING CHARGES OVER HAYNESWORTH
Over the weekend, Yahoo! Sports reported that the NFL is conducting a tampering investigation of the Washington Redskins in the team’s signing of DT Albert Haynesworth (right) as a free agent. The charges were filed by Haynesworth’s old team, the Tennessee Titans. Once the complaint becomes formal, the league investigates and can penalize the Redskins with a fine and/or loss of draft choices.
The Titans claim that the Redskins contacted Haynesworth and his agent before he was an official free agent on Feb. 27. About six hours into free agency, Washington and Haynesworth’s agent Chad Speck had agreed on a seven-year, $100 million deal with $41 million in guaranteed payments.
Back in the 2008 draft, the legal took away a fifth-round choice from the San Francisco 49ers for tampering with Chicago LB Lance Briggs during the ‘07 season. At the time, the Niners were considering a trade for Briggs.
The Titans claim their ability to re-sign Haynesworth was negatively impacted by the Redskins early involvement. Speck has said there were three finalists for his client: the Redskins, Tampa Bay and the New York Giants, with the Titans’ offer nowhere near the Redskins proposal.
At last week’s NFL meetings, Commissioner Roger Goodell said discussions were held on a change in rules to allow early discussion before free agency. No vote was held.
Just about every team in the league has broken this rule at some time, especially those teams that are serious about signing free agents. Quite frankly, it’s a silly rule. Once the season is over, potential free agents should be able to talk to whoever they want. Why mark an arbitrary day on the calendar for the start of discussions? Nobody can sign until free agency begins, but talks should be able to start with the end of the season. No visits, no trips in the private jets, just discussion between player and his representatives and other teams.
FORMER CHIEFS RECEIVER FINDS HOME IN BASEBALL
Michael Young spent one season with the Chiefs (1994) and is probably better known to fans of the red and gold as a wide receiver for the Denver Broncos (1989-92.) He also played for the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia.
Since retiring from the game, Young has worked in the front office of the Denver Broncos, and also done time with the Arena Football League entry the Colorado Crush, which was owned by John Elway.
He’s now moved on to baseball. Late last week, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced that Young has been named the team’s Chief Revenue Officer. In his new position, Young will oversee and direct all major revenue streams with the franchise. He begins his job on June 1.
During his short time with the Chiefs, Young played in just two games before he went to the injured reserve list. That ended his 10-year career.
SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY …
Born on May 26, 1948 in Spokane was C Mike Oriard. He was selected in the fifth-round of the 1970 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame and ended up playing four seasons with the Chiefs. Oriard appeared in 42 games, starting once. He is currently a Distinguished Professor of American Literature and Culture and Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Oregon State University.
Hey Bob great site!!
I don’t know if you or anyone has the access but any chance you could give updates to the current weights of guys like Dorsey, Hali, McBride, Tank, etc? Especially the guys like that who are reshaping and losing/gaining weight for the new era. Info will probably be on lockdown like it has been with the new bosses but i had to check anyway. Hope you and everyone else had a great memorial day weekend!!
Reading between the lines, was Herm’s off-season conditioning program voluntary, without supervision and if so, why?
I don’t know if Herm’s off season conditioning program was “voluntary” or not, but it sure sounds like his in season weight room program was.
“Think about what has happened and would it have come down had the Chiefs won half of those six games and finished the season 5-11.”
- the answer is “yes”, Hunt Jr. can read, a W-L as well a bottom line… as the one nece$$arily impacts the other, sleepless nights give way to less knee-jerk, best Nostradamus crystal-ballin.’
“It certainly wouldn’t be great improvement, but it would have been one game better than the 2007 season with another year of talent & rebuilding.”
- “exactamundo” to quote The Fonz, a personal friend of Rin’s.
As to conditioning any to a greater or lesser or fair to mid-western-lin, Cedric The Trainer- yes, a distant cousin Cedric The Entertainer - cannot be placed at the doorstep a football General any as concerns innocence…e’er true, no man is his brother’s keeper.
Hank Stram no more was responsible for the Chiefs crushing defeat nee fall back 1968s end whence he hired Alvin Roy than latter day coach Century 21.
Doing the corners is job #1, then, each and every man for himself/his duties the rest. But when the blame game is the thing the cockroaches do scurry to and fro, it’s every Blattaria for themselves.
“Would Clark Hunt have made the same sorts of decisions?”
- far less likely; just that appears there be as many varieties jellyfish the mid-west persuasion as fresh water, etc. etc. Too, the vagaries of a life cycle jellyfish - which is actually ‘not’ a fish at all but spineless nonetheless - be a bit enigmatic.
Yes, as the players with an intestinal fortitude so affirmed - twas ‘they’ and ‘not’ Herm nor any coaching was to blame nee culprit for Ls any and all in 2008; -hired guns don’t kill people, the bullets copious do.
Twas also the ‘why for’ that a Jimmy Johnson went from being ‘incompetent’ the eyes the uneducated fan his 1st season a rebuild Dallas to something of a legend - least his own mind…and those same fans too - shortly thereafter.
Also why circa 2009 every W will be a result of & a reflection of nee go into the column one Herman Edwards Jr., - while any/every loss same, will be laid at the doorstep ’search’ & ‘check’…in just the same similarly dense KC fandom way today they would have a Herm Edwards skewered.
Yup, Herm’s STILL The Man - e’er and always will be!
heh heh heh
Yeah!
And if a frog had wings his ass wouldn’t have callous’
You’ve picked a ridicules battle Rin. But fight on with an empty sling shot, if you feel you must.
Bob,
Anything new on Cassel? Have they even come close to a contract signing?
They doth protest ‘too’ much for a one any so self certain… in fact, me thinks that arrow mine hath verily found its mark!
Time n’ again, as always…BULLSEYE!!!
AH! Wrong again!
I don’t protest, I sympathize.
That is all.
Rin Tin Tin says:
“…BULLSEYE!!!”
Yeah…it was Bull-something, for sure.
glad you wrote this, this team was close last year, as you said they lacked the conditioning to keep going in the 4th, I dont believe coaching LOST the games, but, if you believe herm shouldve had them in better shape, then I guess you can say that.
- “exactamundo” to quote The Fonz, a personal friend of Rin’s.
Is it the character “The Fonz” that is your personal friend or is it Henry Winkler that you identify with?
Scott says:
“it was Bull-something, for sure.”
- yes, was unBULLievable when Clark choked on his bottom line…appears as if he saw himself as the lead- Ray Milland, in Jr’s own 2009 remake of the classic - “Panic In Year Zero!”
PLOT
Soon after Clark (Milland), his accountant & rest the family leave suburban Dallas on a soccer trip the clan notes unusually loud noises coming from a great distance (Kaycee)…the sound of silence
and turnstiles not making an customary “cha-cha-ching!” their usual vigor.
Sporadic media broadcasts hint at the start of an uprising - this is confirmed when the clan sees a large BBQ cloud forming over Arrowhead’s parking lot- and vultures dressed as fickle public opine.
The clan initially attempts to return to rescue- (TO READ MORE OF THIS STORY YOU MUST BE A MEMBER)
ArrowheadHawk says:
“Is it the character “The Fonz” that is your personal friend or is it Henry Winkler that you identify with?”
- yes…
Hermie was so enamoured with being a player’s coach that he wasn’t the team’s coach. The off season program wasn’t up to par. Game preparation was lacking. Coordinators weren’t on board with Herm’s little league schemes. The game day coaching was horrid. As mentioned, several more wins could have been delivered by a competent HC.
We are going to see major turnover in the roster this year. Many of Herm’s guys will be allowed to pursue their life’s calling of selling insurance to the locals. Pioli will have NFL players on this roster. Haley has the guys back to focusing on football and putting in the work to be successful. We will win games in ‘09 based on Haley’s game decisions.
The Right 53…something that probably still has Herm confused.
Did we mention that Herman Edwards Jr. is ‘the’ ONLY Head Coach in franchise - Chiefs/Texans - history to but lead the team to an post season nee playoff berth in his very first season?
No? We didn’t? Well, let’s rectify that right now!
Vermeil? No.
Cunningham? Ditto.
Schottenheimer? Gesdundheit, una vez mas.
Gansz? Lo siento, pero no.
Mackovic? Nyet.
Levy? Nix, nein.
Wiggin? Are you kiddin?
Hank Stram? Shazam - not him either!
Oh - and did we mention how all the gnashing of teeth and a wringing of hands/calls these parts last annum for - “bring me the head of Hermando ‘Garcia’ Edwards” - be now been replaced copious X’s & O’s aplenty the a Brad & Angelina efficacy PR if not in fact demonstrated knack outside an older, more established pro hand holding theirs?
No matter: we’ve been waiting 2000 years now; no, only seems so- 40 years nigh on forever, football sense.
Short memory they’s…fallen in love new flavor the moment, ’search’ an ‘check’… this shotgun wedding too shall prove to be a honeymoon short duration. Just you wait n’ see…tee hee.
-BREAKING NEWS-
Rin Tin Tin’s identity has been confirmed.
He’s Carl Peterson.
Go figure.
I wouldn’t agree with you apauled, Herms team is all but there, the only changes that I have seen so far is in the front seven, still Herm’s secondary… I dont believe that Pioli really thought that the team didn’t have talent on its roster, just maybe a change to the schemes. And that hasn’t really been proven yet either.
I am happy to hear pollard talking about this defense and that everyone is excited, he apparently played the 3-4 at Purdue…
Rufus Dawes says:
“Rin Tin Tin’s identity has been confirmed. He’s Carl Peterson.”
No he’s not. He’s just some delusional, old fart who can’t tell his “Herm” from a hole in-the-ground.
“One can only imagine what the scenery at Arrowhead would look like if the Chiefs had been able to win say half of these six games”
Thank God that Chiefs fans are not forced to watch another season with the 3 stooges CP, Herm, and Gunther.
“I wouldn’t agree with you apauled, Herms team is all but there, the only changes that I have seen so far is in the front seven…”
Mass change on the D’s Front 7, QB, RG and maybe more on the O-Line, competition at K, competition at KR/PR, new special teams guys. The roster is getting a major overhaul that will take another year to complete. Even this year there will be 10+ new guys (20%) on the 53.
2009 Chiefs comedy duo -
“Frick & Frack”…”Laurel & Hardy”… or simply (typecasting) ’search’ & ‘check’, by any other.
Leave it to ‘me’ to ‘point’ out an ‘not so very dichotomatic nee duality’, their susceptibility Siamese-ality.
In a football sense - wingman - in a practical… redundancy.
IPWT,
I’m pretty sure Cassel already sgned a contract. Back on draft weekend. It scrolled across the bottom of the screen like twice and then was never mentioned again. It was like a six year deal I beleive, but don’t quote me there.
Did we mention that Herman Edwards Jr. is ‘the’ ONLY Head Coach in franchise - Chiefs/Texans - history to but lead the team to an 2 and 14 season.
No? We didn’t? Well, let’s rectify that right now!
Vermeil? No.
Cunningham? Ditto.
Schottenheimer? Gesdundheit, una vez mas.
Gansz? Lo siento, pero no.
Mackovic? Nyet.
Levy? Nix, nein.
Wiggin? Are you kiddin?
Hank Stram? Shazam - not him either!
Rat thinks this is maybe why he is now the man at ESPN.
tee hee
A double-dipper that Herm - verily, he’s STILL The Man!
$4 mil this year from the Chiefs, and X million$ more from ESPN… life is gooooooooooooooood!!!!
heh heh heh
4 mil will be made up in ticket sales from the first home game. heh heh heh. ESPN.. well Rat again rectified that above Herm is NOW the man at ESPN. tee hee Where he belongs!!! Bullseye Life is goooooooooood without Herm!!!
TWO and TWENTY THREE. It’s about time Bob is finally joining the brigade of acknowledging what a joke Herm was, and how danmaging he was to this franchise. The truth will set you fee Bob. This team was in horrible condition because the Head Coach was too soft. It’s great to be liked, as Herm was, but it’s more important to be respected, and to play hard late in games because you’re in condition to do so.
It’s about time Bob. Step 1 was acknowledging the problem.
Math - as football - “jussssssssst a bit outside” your grasp.
Stick to what you know, that which you evidence being expertly qualified at…the contemplation navel fuzz.
Herm is STILL The Man!
And Rin STILL The Top Dog!
heh heh heh
And your other brother Daryl, too - legitimate 6th grade graduate Jethro Bodine School of “cipherin”.
Didn’t Herm kind of luck his way into / ride the coattails of greatness into the playoffs that year? Maybe his name ought to be Coach Coattails?
Whose coattails/greatness? Vermeil’s? He missed the playoffs…so not him/his any.
Appears the greatness was a matter Herm’s deft touch.
Too, as Bill Parcells said: “you are what you are” as to time, place, record.
Reaffirming that luck hasn’t a thing to do with it…you make your own, preparation meeting opportunity as Schottenheimer too said.
Yes, Herm Edwards…”Playoff Coach ” - the one & only in franchise history Chiefs/Texans to do so in his very first season…SWEET.
Game, set, match: Rin Tin Tin - per the usual!
Thanks for playing.