Q&A with TODD HALEY - 12/18
Tarkus
Dec 18, 2009, 2:40:06 PM
Highlights
Q: How would you describe Jamaal Charles� growth? He�s a quiet guy but
seems to be gaining more confidence.
TODD HALEY: �I think Jamaal is a very good example of somebody who
really worked hard in the off-season and continued to work hard
in-season, fought through some adversity. He was inactive for the
Oakland game early and he could have easily wilted or gone in the tank,
so to speak. At that point, after that game, you saw a guy who looked
like he made up his mind that he was going to find a way to make us keep
him in there. That�s what he�s done.
�As he�s progressed and continued to make plays it�s only natural that
you gain confidence. But I think growth is a good word, in all areas.
He�s becoming a professional and a dependable player.�
Q: What�s the first thing that got your attention about Jamaal?
HALEY: �Jamaal is a guy, who when I was in Arizona he came out and we
spent a lot of time with him. I remember very clearly that I liked a lot
of things he had done coming out. You knew he was an explosive player
who was fast. I think he was the 100 [meters] champ down there at some
point. It was clear he could run going back to the [scouting] combine
and watching the tape.
�In person you see that speed and he�s probably a little quicker
changing direction. Coming in I might have thought he was more straight
line than he is. He�s fast but he also has some lateral quickness is
what you�re seeing separating him from being just another fast guy. On
top of that he�s got very good hands and he�s developing his route
running and receiver�s skills. When you make a play like he made against
San Diego against a top-flight corner that�s usually a pretty good sign
that a guy has some ability to split out.
�He�s just a guy that we�re excited about being part of the nucleus of
what�s going to be a good team.�
Q: When did you have an idea of what his potential ability would be?
HALEY: �This is all part of the process that is maybe not obvious to
everybody � people who aren�t in here every single day. There is a way
myself and our coaching staff go about developing players and that�s a
priority in this league. You must develop young players to succeed. You
have to. There is no question in my mind that it�s an important part of
being a winning team and staying a winning team. In that development
there are ups and downs.
�He was inactive [vs. Oakland] but does that mean we didn�t think enough
of him the second week to have him [active]? There are a lot of
different factors. There are roster issues. But in that process you see
these guys continue to grow, get stronger, get better and, like I said,
make us keep them in there. There are guys who go the other way and
Jamaal is not that. He has made it clear I am going to find a way to
make you guys keep me in there as much as possible.�
Q: Do you like it when guys come to you and say why and show initiative?
HALEY: �That is what I like. I like guys that are passionate about their
abilities and about helping and about being capable and about being
dependable. But the bottom line is they�ve got to show it. They have to
be dependable players every day, not just Sundays, but Mondays,
Wednesdays, Thursdays, Friday and Saturday � the same guy every day.
That�s what we�re looking for. We�re finding more and more of those guys
and that�s one of the things that makes me believe we�re doing the right
things, and we just gotta keep adding to this mix and keep coaching them
and we�ll continue to get better.�
Q: Was it good that he was inactive that one time?
HALEY: �You�d have to ask him. I won�t say there was any pre-conceived
or pre-meditated deal that we were doing it at that point in time. It
had to do where we were with the roster and what other spots where we
needed help. If it had a positive effect on him then that�s good but
again that�s probably something he could answer better than me.�
Q: Does this game being blacked out affect you and your team at all?
HALEY: �It does not me. Our focus is getting ready to win this game, to
beat the Cleveland Browns and that�s it. I know that that�s probably
disappointing to some people but it�s where we�re at right now. I know
that the bottom line is winning and as we continue to show progress and
win games I know the fan base is terrific � the best in the league in my
opinion. I think everything will work itself out.
�Our job is we�ve gotta figure out a way to win. That�s the solution. I
say that all the time. Don�t complain, don�t explain, find solutions.
The solution to any of those things is winning games. Again, we just
have to know we�re doing the right things and come out ready to execute
and finish drives on offense and create some of these turnovers we�ve
been creating on defense, win the special teams battle, stop the run,
don�t allow big plays and win the game. Then good things will happen.�