BobGretz: Talking With Miles Austin on Todd Haley, more...w/audio

[WoodysGirl]

February 13, 2010 - Bob Gretz | No Comments

The scorch marks are still there on the turf in Arrowhead Stadium.

October 11, 2009 was the day Miles Austin established himself as a big-league NFL wide receiver. In the first start of his four-year NFL career, Austin caught 10 passes for 250 yards, including the winning touchdown pass in overtime as the Cowboys beat the Chiefs. It was a record setting yardage day for the Dallas franchise and for a Chiefs opponent. It was the best receiving yardage day in the NFL last season.

Austin went on to have a Pro Bowl season, finishing the season with 81 catches for 1,320 yards and 11 touchdowns.

While he was in south Florida, he stopped by the Gatorade Performance Lab and I had a chance to sit down and speak with the native of New Jersey. He talked about the game at Arrowhead, breaking into the NFL as a rookie free agent with Todd Haley as his coach and how things always seem to be happening around the Dallas Cowboys.

Enjoy the listen to one of the bright young stars of the NFL.

Audio: http://www.bobgretz.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Austin-for-site.mp3

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Cowboys WR Miles Austin Appreciates Chiefs Coach Todd Haley

by Joel Thorman on Feb 14, 2010 9:13 AM CST in 2010 Campaign

4 comments
More photos » Charlie Riedel - AP

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Dallas Cowboys WR Miles Austin had his coming out party against the Kansas City Chiefs catching 10 balls for a staggering 250 yards including the game winning touchdown in overtime.

It's fitting, for Austin, that the game was against his first position coach in the NFL, Todd Haley.

"Todd was on me, man," Austin told Bob Gretz of BobGretz.com during Super Bowl week. "He was on top of me everyday. I kinda picked things up late so he definitely was in my ear everyday throughout the season. But he's a great coach and he's doing great things. I feel like he's kinda turning the corner with Kansas City late so hopefully those guys can pick things up and get back to the stride they were at.

"So, he's a great coach and a great guy."

While Haley has a reputation as a hard-nosed coach, many of his former players have appreciated what he did for them. Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals is one that comes to mind.

"He does [know the receiver position]," Austin continued. "When I came in it was Terry Glenn, T.O., Pat Crayton, Sam Hurd so he definitely had a bunch of guys there. He knows what he's doing."

 

[Hostile]

I kinda picked things up late...

Oh, so you mean it wasn't just the coaching staff being unwilling to give you a try?

That's going to hurt some feelings around here. More likely go right through ears unheard. Anyone besides me notice that the play where Champ Bailey picked off a Romo pass and the TD against the Chiefs to win it were the exact same route? The only difference was the way Miles turned. Inside versus outside. Once Romo and Ray Sherman got in his ear after that, he has been stellar.

Naw, it's all on Garrett's unwillingness to use guys.

 

[RCowboyFan]

That's going to hurt some feelings around here. More likely go right through ears unheard.

Naw, it's all on Garrett's unwillingness to use guys.

Same thing with Ogletree I think. Now, I have to confess, I was somewhat in their camp too, thinking Wade had unwillingness to give chance to rookie players. But as it was revieled in either Jerry's interview or Wade's i forget which one, who said that Ogletree kind of tapered off after TC and had to be talked to before he picked up again.

Bedsides, I think I am starting to trust Wade as an evaluator. I dont' think Jerry was just blowing smoke when he said Wade is a great talent evaluator. Since whenever Wade talked highly about a player, they have produced. And whoever he didn't put on the field, has not produced, eventhough at times they have shown flashes ( ala Butler for example).

 

[CATCH17]

Same thing with Ogletree I think. Now, I have to confess, I was somewhat in their camp too, thinking Wade had unwillingness to give chance to rookie players. But as it was revieled in either Jerry's interview or Wade's i forget which one, who said that Ogletree kind of tapered off after TC and had to be talked to before he picked up again.

Bedsides, I think I am starting to trust Wade as an evaluator. I dont' think Jerry was just blowing smoke when he said Wade is a great talent evaluator. Since whenever Wade talked highly about a player, they have produced. And whoever he didn't put on the field, has not produced, eventhough at times they have shown flashes ( ala Butler for example).

My problem with the way we were using players had more to do with us not finding them a role.

After the Chargers beat down Garrett finally decided to start getting more players involved.

Austin should've had more of a role a long time ago. Not saying he needed to be a starter but that he just needed to be on the field.

If not for a injury and a record setting performance I doubt our staff would've ever gave him the opportunity outright.




Question: If Austin doesn't go bonkers against the Chiefs is he ever given another opportunity to start with this club? Is he ever given a larger role?

 

[AmishCowboy]

Oh, so you mean it wasn't just the coaching staff being unwilling to give you a try?

That's going to hurt some feelings around here. More likely go right through ears unheard. Anyone besides me notice that the play where Champ Bailey picked off a Romo pass and the TD against the Chiefs to win it were the exact same route? The only difference was the way Miles turned. Inside versus outside. Once Romo and Ray Sherman got in his ear after that, he has been stellar.

Naw, it's all on Garrett's unwillingness to use guys.

 

[Eskimo]

Oh, so you mean it wasn't just the coaching staff being unwilling to give you a try?

That's going to hurt some feelings around here. More likely go right through ears unheard. Anyone besides me notice that the play where Champ Bailey picked off a Romo pass and the TD against the Chiefs to win it were the exact same route? The only difference was the way Miles turned. Inside versus outside. Once Romo and Ray Sherman got in his ear after that, he has been stellar.

Naw, it's all on Garrett's unwillingness to use guys.

Yep, before that talking to Miles did not know how to play WR. After it, he was All-Pro. (/sarcasm off).

This coaching staff is too reluctant to get younger players in the mix and will only do it after injury. The only problem is the players are usually totally unprepared seeing as how they have had nearly no snaps in game conditions. This leads to IEs here to want throw them off the team the first time they make a mistake.

Young players make mistakes. There is no way of avoiding this. You have to systematically make an effort to gradually get them involved to encourage their development and to ensure you have a guy who isn't totally new to the speed of the game when you need him out there after an injury.

There is room between throwing them to the wolves and not using them at all until there is an injury. We need to get the young guys involved more in limited roles early.

 

[Frozen700]

My problem with the way we were using players had more to do with us not finding them a role.

After the Chargers beat down Garrett finally decided to start getting more players involved.

Austin should've had more of a role a long time ago. Not saying he needed to be a starter but that he just needed to be on the field.

If not for a injury and a record setting performance I doubt our staff would've ever gave him the opportunity outright.




Question: If Austin doesn't go bonkers against the Chiefs is he ever given another opportunity to start with this club? Is he ever given a larger role?

great question...its kinda sad...cause i doubt he would have

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Same thing with Ogletree I think. Now, I have to confess, I was somewhat in their camp too, thinking Wade had unwillingness to give chance to rookie players. But as it was revieled in either Jerry's interview or Wade's i forget which one, who said that Ogletree kind of tapered off after TC and had to be talked to before he picked up again.

Bedsides, I think I am starting to trust Wade as an evaluator. I dont' think Jerry was just blowing smoke when he said Wade is a great talent evaluator. Since whenever Wade talked highly about a player, they have produced. And whoever he didn't put on the field, has not produced, eventhough at times they have shown flashes ( ala Butler for example).

:clap2:

Really though, on Ogletree, am I the only one who thinks he had a pretty darn big role for an undrafted WR? I mean, he did have some plays called for him at big spots in some very important late-season games.

I still think that ideally you would make rookies thoroughly earn their spots and beat out the vets before you play them. That just doesn't happen as often on a good team like we have.

 

[Chief]

Bedsides, I think I am starting to trust Wade as an evaluator. I dont' think Jerry was just blowing smoke when he said Wade is a great talent evaluator. Since whenever Wade talked highly about a player, they have produced. And whoever he didn't put on the field, has not produced, eventhough at times they have shown flashes ( ala Butler for example).

Aside from defensive X's and O's, I think this is Wade's strength.

I'm very comfortable with him in the War Room. While Parcells had a lot of great football knowledge and knew how to put together a team and a system of doing things the right way, I trust Wade more as a talent evaluator.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Austin didn't run the wrong route in the Broncos game according to several people... I don't know but I will say he was wide open on one of those Hurd throws.

 

[CATCH17]

Austin didn't run the wrong route in the Broncos game according to several people... I don't know but I will say he was wide open on one of those Hurd throws.

I heard the same thing too and believe Broadus confirmed that it was Romos fault.

 

[Hostile]

Austin didn't run the wrong route in the Broncos game according to several people.

Oh yes he did. Turning inside was into double coverage, the ball was thrown outside, and he got lectured on the sidelines by his QB and his position coach.

Do the math.

 

[Hostile]

:clap2:

Really though, on Ogletree, am I the only one who thinks he had a pretty darn big role for an undrafted WR? I mean, he did have some plays called for him at big spots in some very important late-season games.

I still think that ideally you would make rookies thoroughly earn their spots and beat out the vets before you play them. That just doesn't happen as often on a good team like we have.

No, you aren't. I agree with that sentiment completely. Ray Sherman even said Ogletree was not ready yet but was making progress.

 

[RCowboyFan]

Aside from defensive X's and O's, I think this is Wade's strength.

I'm very comfortable with him in the War Room. While Parcells had a lot of great football knowledge and knew how to put together a team and a system of doing things the right way, I trust Wade more as a talent evaluator.

ANd he has really surprised me on that aspect too. He is sometimes surprisingly blunt about some players, for being just a "Cupcake" coach, i.e. players not performing. It was opposite when BP used to praise some unkown player. You came to know, that guy was going to be a dud or soon to be cut, the real good ones barely used to get praise or get mentioned in PC

Heck even Jerry is being right about players when he starts praising someone's potential! I mean, most almost everyone of us rolled our eyes in unision, when he said Austin Miles could be TO type of player. Turns out he was right!! He probably didn't believe it himself I think

 

[RCowboyFan]

My problem with the way we were using players had more to do with us not finding them a role.

After the Chargers beat down Garrett finally decided to start getting more players involved.

Austin should've had more of a role a long time ago. Not saying he needed to be a starter but that he just needed to be on the field.

If not for a injury and a record setting performance I doubt our staff would've ever gave him the opportunity outright.




Question: If Austin doesn't go bonkers against the Chiefs is he ever given another opportunity to start with this club? Is he ever given a larger role?

You are making the exact point that Hostile was saying someone would still say about Coaches not doing the right thing. He was spot on I guess. But I guess we armchair Coaches/QBs know better than coaches that see the players everyday in practice.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

I heard the same thing too and believe Broadus confirmed that it was Romos fault.

Yep... I didn't see anyone yelling at Austin on the sideline either.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Yep... I didn't see anyone yelling at Austin on the sideline either.

Being lectured to is not the same as yelling.

And there was discussion on the sideline between him and Romo.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Being lectured to is not the same as yelling.

And there was discussion on the sideline between him and Romo.

Ohhh pardon me, "lectured"... Nonetheless, as I stated earlier, people I trust said it wasn't Austin's fault on the INT. But that's old news.

 

[CATCH17]

You are making the exact point that Hostile was saying someone would still say about Coaches not doing the right thing. He was spot on I guess. But I guess we armchair Coaches/QBs know better than coaches that see the players everyday in practice.

It took an injury to get him on the field or we still may not know how good the guy is to this day.

He was ready for an expanded role last season. Maybe not as a starter but he could've contributed a lot more if given an opportunity.

But they traded for Roy and forced that issue with he and Owens.

So no I don't give the coaches credit for anything but developing him but as far as knowing when he was ready I don't believe they did. Their hand was forced to play him.

Same thing with Felix Jones.

Explosive players don't need to know every little detail about football before you get them in the game. Just get the ball in their hands and things will happen.

Look at Desean Jackson. The guys overall skill set is terrible but he is explosive and sometimes thats all you need.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Ohhh pardon me, "lectured"... Nonetheless, as I stated earlier, people I trust said it wasn't Austin's fault on the INT. But that's old news.

It's the offseason. Most everything's old news and that's why something that happened 3-4 mos ago is still discussion-worthy.

Regardless of what you believe and who you trust regarding the failure of the play. A discussion was held on the sidelines between Romo and Miles.