Highlights

Q: Why did you decide to give the guys a day off on Thanksgiving? Is that a carrot or was that something you intended to do all year long?

TODD HALEY: “Carrot?”

Q: Incentive.

HALEY: “As I said early in the week, I’ve been part of Thanksgiving a number of ways. We’ve played on it, not played on it, taken it off, not taken it off. Again, this is just the direction I decided to go. I believe it’s an important day to give thanks, especially for all of us as I’ve said before because in my mind these are the greatest jobs in the world.”

Q: It’s understandable that bringing guys in helps you to, as you say, “find the right 53.” But does eliminating guys also do that for you, find the right chemistry? Why is it that teams sometimes get better when they part ways with talented players?

HALEY: “We talked about becoming a consistently good team. You bring people in and you lose people or change direction. You’re trying to find the right mix that gives you the best chance to win. I think that’s what we try to do on a daily basis and whether we were 10-0 right now or 3-7 we would still be doing those same types of things – trying to get better.

“I just think when you’re a better team it’s generally happening with the bottom end of the roster. When you’re trying to become a good team it may be happening in the bottom to the middle and sometimes even in the top.”

Q: Are there players that just don’t fit and how confusing is that for a young coach?

HALEY: “I wouldn’t say confusing. I would say we’re trying to get better and do the things necessary to get better as a team and that doesn’t always have to do with players. It has to do with how we run the building, how we operate, and little things, trying to do all the little things all the time.

“When it has to do with the players it’s trying to get as many players as we can on board that are here. As we’ve moved along it’s become clear that we’re finding more and more guys who are in. Sometimes it’s a guy that we’ve picked up midway through the year that shows signs pretty quickly that he wants to be a part of what we want to do.

“We knew it was a big job and we’re kind of in a beginning process.”

Q: Can a team improve by parting ways with a talented player?

HALEY: “I would think so.”

Q: Your defensive line is composed of some young guys who have been getting to the quarterback. Is that four-man rotation becoming a position of strength for you?

HALEY: “I think that has to be a position of strength to be a good team. That’s fact. We need to make it a position of strength. I would say that group has continued to improve and has been one of those spots that we have talked about that has clearly gotten better to me, both individually and as a group.

“I think they’ve done it through hard work. If you’re out there and you see what those guys are doing they’re working before, during and after [practice]. The other day when I left guys come in late because our plane was leaving late they were the group meeting in the room ahead of time early. Some of that work is starting to pay off and it’s definitely a position that has improved.”

Q: Those four guys, Magee, Jackson, Gilberry, and Dorsey, do they give you a chance to be that position of strength?

HALEY: “I think they’re showing signs of that. I’ve touched on Wallace and Tyson, but I think Alex Magee is somebody who maybe has turned the corner, fought through that rookie wall so to speak, getting that second wind and figuring out what this is all about. I think that’s why you’re starting to see him make some plays.

“Every day we’re out there is an important day for that group to continue to improve.”

Q: Are you more ahead of the curve at that position than you thought you’d be?

HALEY: “I don’t know if I’d say that. We are still what we are and we’ve got to get better. Beating the Pittsburgh Steelers doesn’t all of a sudden get us out of the mud. We’re fighting to get better every single day and we’ll see here. The second half of this third quarter of the season and then the fourth quarter of the season will tell us a lot.”

Q: With rookie defensive linemen do you expect to see more improvement from week one to week 17, or from the end of their first year until the end of their second?

HALEY: “I would say closer to the second. You got to remember those guys haven’t had a full off-season. They were behind coming in and playing a tough position and going against a lot of different guys than what you’re used to going against. You’ll see more once they get through a second off-season and a second training camp and know their way around a little bit.”

Q: Tyson Jackson told us before the season that his impact won’t be felt on the stat sheet but will be felt on the other team’s running attack. Are you seeing from Tyson evolution or improvement that might not be showing up on the stat sheet?

HALEY: “I think that’s a tough position and a position that when we drafted Tyson we talked about it being an unheralded position that may not be as sexy as some others. It was one that for us to play the defense we’d like to play has to be a very good player. Each one of these games and each day out there is a big, big day for those guys to continue to make progress. I think they’ve definitely made progress, they’re definitely improving, they’re definitely helping us play better defense.”

Q: Chris Chambers said after the game that he let you know during the game some things that might be successful. Do you like that from him, being a veteran, being able to give you another element?

HALEY: “I think without a doubt in my experiences the better feedback you can get from your players who are on the field and out there and know exactly what’s happening to them the better. Some players over time are much better at that than others. You kind of find your way with each player individually.

“There are a lot of instances over the years where a player said something during the game and then you go watch the tape and it’s the total opposite. It’s just one of those things, some have a better feel of what’s going on. Chris has been around this league for a while and speaks very thoughtfully during the game and I think that’s a big bonus when you have somebody like that. When you can take advantage of that it obviously helps the cause.”

Q: On Thanksgiving are you Todd Haley the father, the husband, the man sitting at the table gorging himself and not the coach? What is that day for you?

HALEY: “To be honest, it would be very hard for me just because we’re in mid-week of getting prepared for a very big game for us, one that we’re going on the road against the division leaders.

“It would be hard for me but, at the same time, I’m truthful when I say I’m so grateful and thankful for everything that I have and that I have five healthy children and am able to live the life that I have. I think part of the reason for this day being off is for people to choose – myself included – to do something for some people who aren’t so lucky.”

Q: Have you seen this team grow together over this last month, or improve, become more optimistic?

HALEY: “Winning does so much for you. The way we started and to go through the pre-season - even though we know those games don’t count - and this being the embryonic stages you need some positive reinforcement. So, I think that the guys were working really hard and were into it and trying to get better every single day. But until you actually see those results and have that validation that’s when you can start taking little bigger steps. We were taking baby steps. Then we win on the road in Oakland and you come back home against Pittsburgh in front of your fans and defeat the defending Super Bowl champions. There’s no doubt there’s a little more bonding that goes on; the guys want to hang around a little more and success breeds success.”

Q: Was the attitude improving before that?

HALEY: “Yeah, I felt strongly that we were making progress. I really felt like we were making progress and that includes all areas, attitude included. You feel subtle changes as the leader of the team and you feel a little subtle change in the guys, whatever it is, instincts or whatever. You feel little changes and I talked to a couple of people privately about that. You just felt something happening positive. I’m just glad we were able to get some validation.”

Q: What’s changed about the Chargers from the first time you played them?

HALEY: “They just look better. I thought they looked good to begin with but they’re rolling right now. I think they’re running the football really well. There are obviously a couple of backs back there who can really run with it. I think that’s probably the biggest difference I see on offense.

“Defensively, I think they’re playing with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. It’ll be a major test for us to go on the road and compete and have a chance to win.”

Q: Is there anything you can see that helped turn it around?

HALEY: “I think [Tomlinson] is rolling right now where maybe he got off to a little bit of a slow start. He had a couple of big runs against us that probably helped him get going and he’s continued.”