Chiefs Weis, Crennel lead coordinated effort to improve Chiefs

LaChapelle · 08-09-2010, 08:53 PM

Weis, Crennel lead coordinated effort to improve Chiefs

By Nick Draper www.sjnp.com
Monday, August 9, 2010 at 8:42 p.m.

Photo by Eric Keith
[Chiefs new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis.]

Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel, Kansas City’s new offensive and defensive coordinators, sure have their work cut out for them.

One of the few statistical bright spots last season for the Chiefs on either side of the ball came from the team’s rushing offense, which ranked No. 8 in the AFC and No. 11 overall. Once past that, it gets pretty dismal.

The Chiefs were at or near the bottom in passing offense, total offense, passing defense, rushing defense and total defense.

Despite those numbers, both Weis and Crennel said there’s cause for optimism heading into the 2010 campaign.

“I think that, between Todd and Romeo and myself and the rest of the coaching staff, I think that we should expect improvement,” said Weis, who comes to run Kansas City’s offense after spending five years as the head coach of Notre Dame. “There’s always peaks and valleys, but I think there’s been a steady climb of progress and I think that we’re becoming a much tougher team.”

“Hopefully we can make this football team a very competitive team,” added Crennel, who leads the Chiefs’ defensive unit after a four-year tenure as Cleveland’s head coach.

Weis and Crennel each won three titles as the offensive coordinator and the defensive coordinator, respectively, of the New England Patriots in 2002, 2004 and 2005, but their most recent coaching stints weren’t as fruitful.

Weis led Notre Dame to consecutive BCS bowl games in his first two years but was fired after the team posted a 6-6 record in 2009 that included a loss to unranked Navy. Crennel and the Browns went 10-6 in 2007 but was fired in 2009 after compiling a 24-40 record during his four years.

Those jobs are in the past, and now the coordinator duo must try and rebuild Kansas City in hopes of finding success like they did in New England.

For Weis, improving Kansas City’s offense starts with quarterback Matt Cassel.

After being hired, Weis watched all of Cassel’s game film from the past two seasons to get a handle on the likely starting quarterback’s strengths and weaknesses.

“I wanted to make sure I knew exactly what I was getting because the first thing I wanted to do was help fix the quarterback. I had to know what the problems were,” Weis said after Monday morning’s practice at Missouri Western. “Every quarterback should get better every year that they play in the league. So you have to know, ‘What are they doing well and what aren’t they doing well.’”

Weis didn’t elaborate on what he thinks Cassel’s best — and worst — attributes are, but he did say the quarterback position as a whole is improving as training camp moves forward.

“I think that there’s been steady progress,” Weis said.

Photo by Eric Keith
[Chiefs new defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel]

With players like wide receivers Dwayne Bowe and Chris Chambers, running back Jamaal Charles and rookie speedster Dexter McCluster, Kansas City possesses a potentially threatening list of playmakers, something Weis readily recognizes.

“I like our players, and that’s a good thing because that’s who we have,” Weis said. “Our job ... is to figure out what exactly we have and then just figure out how to best utilize them.”

On the defensive side of the ball, Crennel said his top priority will be to improve a front seven that allowed more than 100 yards rushing in 12 of 16 games last season.

“All I can do is try to get these guys to fit where they need to fit, be physical and be aggressive and have great effort to the ball. Hopefully that will pay off in the running game,” Crennel said. “We’re going to emphasize not letting (opposing team) run the ball on us. If we can stop the run, that will help in the passing game as well.”

Even though it’s early in training camp and a game has yet to be played, Weis and Crennel are already making an impression with the players.
“Bringing Charlie in and bringing Romeo in is great for this team — two proven coordinators in this league,” veteran linebacker Derrick Johnson said. “They’re teaching us a lot of things.”

With the addition of Weis and Crennel, head coach Todd Haley said he’s excited about the coaching staff ahead of the upcoming season.
“We’ve got a lot of good brains, a lot of good football minds that have a lot of good ideas,” he said.

Nick Draper can be reached at npsports@newspressnow.com

**Dave Lane** · 08-09-2010, 09:02 PM

There is no greater improvement on this team than the addition of our coordinators.

Reerun_KC · 08-09-2010, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

There is no greater improvement on this team than the addition of our coordinators.

This... I think the team as a whole will be 100 times better...

Nice to see that the chiefs are building a foundation on the coaching staff to move forward...

The future is bright!

-King- · 08-09-2010, 09:20 PM

Coordinated?

Hog's Gone Fishin · 08-09-2010, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

There is no greater improvement on this team than the addition of our coordinators.

Agreed. We haven't made any moves on D other than the draft,BUT, we have 3, 1st round picks up front and 1 in the secondary. I've said all along DJ has suffered from poor coaching and ****ed up schemes. Now they will explode under Crennel.

Reerun_KC · 08-09-2010, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hog Farmer

Agreed. We haven't made any moves on D other than the draft,BUT, we have 3, 1st round picks up front and 1 in the secondary. I've said all along DJ has suffered from poor coaching and ****ed up schemes. Now they will explode under Crennel.

Cant get any worse. I am looking forward to the new defense this friday night....

**the Talking Can** · 08-09-2010, 09:38 PM

Quote:

“We’re going to emphasize not letting (opposing team) run the ball on us. If we can stop the run, that will help in the passing game as well.”

some genious level shit from Crennel....

Reerun_KC · 08-09-2010, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

some genious level shit from Crennel....

Surprised you figured it out.....

Psyko Tek · 08-09-2010, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

some genious level shit from Crennel....

and that's why he gets the big bucks

**the Talking Can** · 08-09-2010, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psyko Tek

and that's why he gets the big bucks

i understand that he's being purposely boring, but it is textbook quality say-nothing....

08-09-2010, 08:53 PM
LaChapelle Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Casino cash: $10004900	Weis, Crennel lead coordinated effort to improve Chiefs Weis, Crennel lead coordinated effort to improve Chiefs By Nick Draper www.sjnp.com Monday, August 9, 2010 at 8:42 p.m. Photo by Eric Keith [Chiefs new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis.] Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel, Kansas City’s new offensive and defensive coordinators, sure have their work cut out for them. One of the few statistical bright spots last season for the Chiefs on either side of the ball came from the team’s rushing offense, which ranked No. 8 in the AFC and No. 11 overall. Once past that, it gets pretty dismal. The Chiefs were at or near the bottom in passing offense, total offense, passing defense, rushing defense and total defense. Despite those numbers, both Weis and Crennel said there’s cause for optimism heading into the 2010 campaign. “I think that, between Todd and Romeo and myself and the rest of the coaching staff, I think that we should expect improvement,” said Weis, who comes to run Kansas City’s offense after spending five years as the head coach of Notre Dame. “There’s always peaks and valleys, but I think there’s been a steady climb of progress and I think that we’re becoming a much tougher team.” “Hopefully we can make this football team a very competitive team,” added Crennel, who leads the Chiefs’ defensive unit after a four-year tenure as Cleveland’s head coach. Weis and Crennel each won three titles as the offensive coordinator and the defensive coordinator, respectively, of the New England Patriots in 2002, 2004 and 2005, but their most recent coaching stints weren’t as fruitful. Weis led Notre Dame to consecutive BCS bowl games in his first two years but was fired after the team posted a 6-6 record in 2009 that included a loss to unranked Navy. Crennel and the Browns went 10-6 in 2007 but was fired in 2009 after compiling a 24-40 record during his four years. Those jobs are in the past, and now the coordinator duo must try and rebuild Kansas City in hopes of finding success like they did in New England. For Weis, improving Kansas City’s offense starts with quarterback Matt Cassel. After being hired, Weis watched all of Cassel’s game film from the past two seasons to get a handle on the likely starting quarterback’s strengths and weaknesses. “I wanted to make sure I knew exactly what I was getting because the first thing I wanted to do was help fix the quarterback. I had to know what the problems were,” Weis said after Monday morning’s practice at Missouri Western. “Every quarterback should get better every year that they play in the league. So you have to know, ‘What are they doing well and what aren’t they doing well.’” Weis didn’t elaborate on what he thinks Cassel’s best — and worst — attributes are, but he did say the quarterback position as a whole is improving as training camp moves forward. “I think that there’s been steady progress,” Weis said. Photo by Eric Keith [Chiefs new defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel] With players like wide receivers Dwayne Bowe and Chris Chambers, running back Jamaal Charles and rookie speedster Dexter McCluster, Kansas City possesses a potentially threatening list of playmakers, something Weis readily recognizes. “I like our players, and that’s a good thing because that’s who we have,” Weis said. “Our job ... is to figure out what exactly we have and then just figure out how to best utilize them.” On the defensive side of the ball, Crennel said his top priority will be to improve a front seven that allowed more than 100 yards rushing in 12 of 16 games last season. “All I can do is try to get these guys to fit where they need to fit, be physical and be aggressive and have great effort to the ball. Hopefully that will pay off in the running game,” Crennel said. “We’re going to emphasize not letting (opposing team) run the ball on us. If we can stop the run, that will help in the passing game as well.” Even though it’s early in training camp and a game has yet to be played, Weis and Crennel are already making an impression with the players. “Bringing Charlie in and bringing Romeo in is great for this team — two proven coordinators in this league,” veteran linebacker Derrick Johnson said. “They’re teaching us a lot of things.” With the addition of Weis and Crennel, head coach Todd Haley said he’s excited about the coaching staff ahead of the upcoming season. “We’ve got a lot of good brains, a lot of good football minds that have a lot of good ideas,” he said. Nick Draper can be reached at npsports@newspressnow.com
Posts: 8,588

08-09-2010, 09:02 PM	#2
Dave Lane Space Cadet and Aczabel Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Kanab, UT, USA Casino cash: $9333275 VARSITY	There is no greater improvement on this team than the addition of our coordinators. __________________ Thanks, Trump for the civics lesson. We are learning so much about RICO, espionage, sedition, impeachment, the 25th Amendment, order of succession, nepotism, separation of powers, 1st Amendment, obstruction of justice, the emoluments clause, conflicts of interest, collusion, sanctions, oligarchs, money laundering and so much more.
Posts: 40,584

08-09-2010, 09:20 PM	#4
-King- ▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▓ Join Date: Jan 2009 Casino cash: $-1324257	Coordinated? __________________ 🏁
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