Pass, Run, Doesn't Matter: Kansas City Chiefs Haley Will Use Weapons He Has

With Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston catching passes from two-time MVP quarterback Kurt Warner, wouldn't you throw the ball 630 times throughout the course of the season?

That's what Todd Haley decided to do in Arizona. He used the resources he was given, thus maximizing production while creating one of the league's best offenses. 

Now Haley's the head honcho in Kansas City, where he has a whole new set of toys with which to work. 

Haley has a long history of working in the passing game and with wide receivers. He gained his first experience in such a role as wide receivers coach for the New York Jets, where he worked with Pro Bowl wideout Keyshawn Johnson. He also turned Marty Booker into a Pro Bowl receiver during his stint as wide receivers coach for the Chicago Bears. 

And who can forget his time in Dallas as passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach, when he worked and at times clashed with Terrell Owens?

The charismatic coach has had his fair share of experience working with exceptional talent. But, in the roles he was assigned, it was up to him to make good use of that talent. Most of the time he was the head of either the wide receivers or passing game.

Now he's in charge of it all, and he's not restricted. 

Last season's Cardinals ran the ball a mere 340 times, good for last in the league. Why run when you can pass at will? Why run the offense through Zydrunas Ilgauskas when you have LeBron James?

Haley did precisely what he was supposed to do, just as Kansas City offensive coordinator Chan Gailey decided to switch to a spread offense because his offensive line couldn't block anybody. Kansas City wasn't exactly pounding the rock last season, either.

The Chiefs ranked No. 29 in the league with 379 rush attempts. Again, the line had trouble opening lanes to run through.

Haley has a strong-armed quarterback in Matt Cassel to go along with a decent, but not superb, core of receivers. I have no doubt he'll bring out the best in Dwayne Bowe, Mark Bradley and Bobby Engram. 

But he can't possibly expect to win consistently by throwing the ball 40 times a game, can he? Enter Larry Johnson here.

"I think Larry's working hard," Haley said about the Chiefs running back. "He has made some runs in the last few practices that I thought were pretty special and showed signs of somebody who can run the football.

"I was very encouraged and a couple of those flashed at me and the coaches to where you say, 'that was pretty good.' If Larry continues to work, stay on point and do the things asked of him, I think he will definitely have a chance to help us." 

The fact that Haley's encouraged by Johnson is encouraging. Haley will also have the advice of assistant head coach Maurice Carthon, who has experience with running backs.

"I'm extremely excited to have someone like Coach Carthon on the staff," Haley said. "He does a tremendous job. He does a tremendous job wherever he's been, specifically coaching the running backs."

Does all of this mean Haley will run the ball 500 times this year? Probably not, but I don't expect the Chiefs to be toward the bottom of the league in rush attempts. The team's passing and running games appear equally promising.

That said, there's a good chance this team will mix up pass and run plays rather well. Its new identity might be that it's a jack of all trades. Take what the defense gives. Don't come out saying you have to either run or pass the ball to win.

Just win.

Wins are, after all, the best things to maximize.