Babb: Chiefs turn to Crennel’s experience

[Rasputin]

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

Chiefs turn to Crennel’s experience
Coaching veteran says time in Cleveland, though unsuccessful, taught him valuable lessons.
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star



“I accept the challenge,” Crennel said at the team facility.


But it’s Crennel’s only experience as a head coach that the Chiefs hope he learned most from. During a four-year stint with the Cleveland Browns, Crennel was 24-40. He was seen as a fair and measured but ultimately unsuccessful head coach. The Browns fired him in 2008, a year before he joined the Chiefs as defensive coordinator.

It was a mostly forgettable time, but Crennel said Monday that it was valuable.




Smith, who referred to Crennel as a “father figure,” respected his former coach enough that he rejoined Crennel last year with the Chiefs. Smith occasionally asked Crennel if he’d like to be a head coach again, and he said he would. Crennel will be one of the NFL’s oldest head coaches — only New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin, 65, is older than the 64-year-old Crennel — but Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said Monday that age didn’t matter.

“ ‘Romeo, why do you want to be head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs?’ ” Hunt recalled asking Crennel during his job interview, followed by his response: “ ‘Because I want to win a Super Bowl as a head coach.’ That spoke volumes to me, and that’s the kind of person that I want leading the franchise.”



On Monday, Crennel didn’t make many promises. He sidestepped questions about the Chiefs’ timetable to compete for a Super Bowl, who might play quarterback next season, and how his coaching staff might be constructed. He did promise one thing: fairness.

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I believe Crennel is a fair man. However, my fear with him is of his age and that is going be an issue with the next few years. Just like Dick Vermiel they want to win a Super Bowl now and timing is everything for them. This to me sets aside the idea of going with an unproven QB picked from the draft.

Now I have no faith in Pioli to draft a QBotf in the first or second round even. He may go in the third or later rounds but he won't get the attention going to camp as would Cassel or Orton would. So my hope if we don't get a highly touted QB in the draft is for Stanzi to really show case what he got in OTAs and make an impression on the Coaches going into the preseason. Hope to hell he can step it up during preseason also to become the canidate going into the season. He doesn't necessarly have to start the season but if he can make it controversial and the failures of Cassel or Orton are what they are then he could end up getting a shot. It's really up to Stanzi to prove him self to do it. I got faith in Stanzi to make stride and make the best of his opportunities. Am holding on to hope to save faith in this team.