Whitlock LOLs at the Patsification of the Chiefs

[Hammock Parties]

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/col...y/1682402.html

Wake me when the Chiefs sign Tom Brady, the one with two healthy knees and fearless pocket demeanor.

Until then, I’ll take a wait-and-see approach with Scott Pioli’s New England Relocation Plan.

Right now, this smells like a Jackson Five reunion tour without Michael (Brady) or Janet (Bill Belichick).

Romeo “Tito” Crennel, the defensive coordinator, joins Pioli, Charlie Weis, Matt Cassel, Mike Vrabel and ex-Pats to be named later in what appears to be a lame attempt at recreating the New England Dynasty.

Let me apologize for being unimpressed with this lineup.

You’re tired of reading it, and I’m tired of writing it. Unfortunately, I’m paid to tell you what I really think. Romeo Crennel sounds great on paper. He won three Super Bowls while holding the title of “defensive coordinator” for Belichick’s Patriots.

Tito sold a bunch of records plucking a guitar and singing backup for Michael Jackson. Without The Gloved One, we never heard of Tito again until Michael passed.

Romeo flamed out in Cleveland as a head coach. Of all the Belichick assistants during the Super Bowl years, Crennel was the one with the least amount of responsibility on his plate. Belichick designed the defenses.

When Crennel got the Cleveland job, I asked a longtime Patriots defender what he thought of the hire, and the player told me flat out that he never envisioned Romeo as a head coach.

It’s just one player, one opinion. And not being head-coach material doesn’t disqualify someone from being a top-flight coordinator.

In fact, I touched base with the player again on Wednesday, and he assured me that Crennel installed the defensive game plan throughout the week without interference from Belichick and that Crennel called the game.

The player also assured me that Belichick had his fingerprints on everything that transpired with the team — special teams, offense, defense and front-office decisions.

I’m just not sold on Crennel. As a coordinator, Crennel has far more to prove than Charlie Weis. No one I’ve talked to doubts Weis’ ability to create innovative game plans. (Everyone I’ve talked to doubts Weis’ ability to control his ego.)

Crennel worked for Belichick, who specializes in defense. Bill Parcells never won a Super Bowl without Belichick working as his defensive coordinator.

Hey, maybe one day we will be saying the same thing about Belichick and Crennel.

Today, all I’m sure of is that Crennel’s hiring increases the likelihood that Todd Haley is in a make-or-break season in 2010.

If things go poorly next season, don’t look for Pioli, Weis and Crennel to take the blame. They have nine Super Bowl rings among them. In their mind, they know exactly what it takes to win at the highest level in the NFL.

Haley either has no political savvy, no interest in playing the kind of politics that enhances a coach’s longevity or zero leverage when putting together a coaching staff.

Given the previous working relationship of Pioli, Weis and Crennel — and Weis’ oversized ego — it would be a seamless transition for Pioli to install Weis as head coach midway through the 2010 season or at the start of 2011.

My gut says Haley’s ego and gambling nature make him unaware of the ramifications of his decisions. Firing Chan Gailey was a colossal error. With the offensive personnel provided to him by Pioli, Haley should’ve held on to Gailey for a season. There was no reason for the head coach to attach his reputation and credibility to a receiver-less offense.

Good coaches are paranoid. They perceive every move by ownership/management as a potential threat to their power. Paranoia is what drives a good coach to be great. Paranoia is what makes a coach sleep at his office and punt on fourth down.

Look at Belichick. He’s been spoiled by success. That’s why he went for it on fourth and 2 against the Colts. He’s losing his paranoia.

Haley’s background is extremely unusual for an NFL head coach. Golfers focus on a single obstacle, the course. A football coach worries about a million things, including what his assistants may or may not be plotting.

[JD10367]

Quick. Name three better candidates for OC or DC.


























As coordinators, these guys are fine. They weren't hired to be head coaches. They were hired to coordinate. They were hired to bring a little bit more of that Belichickian attitude about building a team.

Why anyone would worry more about Crennel is just strange. Crennel was a DC under a great defensive-minded coach. This is akin to being a painter producing works for sale in a gallery every week, under the tutelage of Picasso. I'm sure Crennel has combined his own defensive knowledge with insight from his former head coach. Weis? Different story. He's the guy who had an offense run by Tom Brady. Crennel made chickensalad from chickensh*t a lot of the times. Yeah, the offense had crap too, at times, but they also had Brady.

As has been said ad nauseam, both of these guys are upgrades for the Chiefs. So quit'cherbitchin' about "Patsification". Really, it's getting whiny. If my team had a long history of underachieving, I wouldn't care if they were being Patsified or Coltified or Steelerfied or even Chargerfied. It's all about the Ws.

[alpha_omega]

Couldn't be much worse than what we already had.

[Extra Point]

These guys are here to train the assistants and Haley. Both these guys will retire for good in 3-4 years. Then, the assistants will be promoted. This is an actual 5 year plan that has a good chance of working, with the right 53.

(Purple, right?)

[KC Jones]

Originally Posted by jwhit

Unfortunately, I’m paid to tell you what I really think.

Tell me about it.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by JD10367

Quick. Name three better candidates for OC or DC.


























As coordinators, these guys are fine. They weren't hired to be head coaches. They were hired to coordinate. They were hired to bring a little bit more of that Belichickian attitude about building a team.

Why anyone would worry more about Crennel is just strange. Crennel was a DC under a great defensive-minded coach. This is akin to being a painter producing works for sale in a gallery every week, under the tutelage of Picasso. I'm sure Crennel has combined his own defensive knowledge with insight from his former head coach. Weis? Different story. He's the guy who had an offense run by Tom Brady. Crennel made chickensalad from chickensh*t a lot of the times. Yeah, the offense had crap too, at times, but they also had Brady.

As has been said ad nauseam, both of these guys are upgrades for the Chiefs. So quit'cherbitchin' about "Patsification". Really, it's getting whiny. If my team had a long history of underachieving, I wouldn't care if they were being Patsified or Coltified or Steelerfied or even Chargerfied. It's all about the Ws.

Perhaps if you'd followed this team before 2009, you'd realize that we've been 49'erfied (far better dynasty, FWIW), and Ramified.

How'd that work out for us?

[MichaelH]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Perhaps if you'd followed this team before 2009, you'd realize that we've been 49'erfied (far better dynasty, FWIW), and Ramified.

How'd that work out for us?

I was thinking about that. It seems to be a Chief's rule that they mostly hire other teams cast offs and has beens. Or most importantly, it was King Carl's rule while he was nickel and diming everybody. I have a very good feeling that the new and current administration and coaching staff will have far better success than the last 20 years.

[Slainte]

What NFL team ever hired a HC that was a complete unknown and had no established connections among other coaching staffs/systems?...

EVERYBODY is somebody's castoff...

[SenselessChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

DV caught lightning in a bottle, and Greg Robinson benefited from John Elway.

Like it or not, Crennel has more rings than DV and Grob combined. Weis, Crennel and Pioli won three rings together in four years.

A lot changes in four years in this era of free agency. And, each of those teams had somewhat different personalities.

Everyone bashed Herm because he was CYA all the time. Now, Whitlock bashes Haley for not using Gailey as a scapegoat. Well, Whitlock is like too many people in the world. I like Haley as a person. I hope that the new staff will enable him to do his job better. Because the guts he has to hire these guys, and fire Gailey last year is refreshing.

[the Talking Can]

so, did he use the word "ego" in this column?

[brophog]

"Unfortunately, I’m paid to tell you what I really think."

And here I thought I'd never agree with Whitlock on anything..........

[sodcat]

Crennel and Weis - proven coordinators. whitlock - proven buffet slayer, no sports knowledge, should write for the fading star's food section!

[cookster50]

Nuthooks for GoChiefs due to the pic of the defensive coordinator who shall remain nameless and hopefully pictureless!

[Otter]

Whitlock has been diagnosed as pre-menstrual, leave him alone.

[InChiefsHeaven]

JFC...I don't think I can take it anymore. This fan base drives me nuts. I don't think there is anything anyone at 1 Arrowhead Dr. could do. Bring in someone who is an up and comer (Haley) and it's a colossal mistake, he's a piece of shit who can't coach. Bring in TWO mfers with Superbowl rings, and it's the crony system. Pioli is a fraud, it was all about Bellicheck. Same with Crennel, Bellicheck did everything and Romeo sat around and ate donuts apparently. Weis is good, but apparently he's a real asshole.

**** this shit.

[The Bad Guy]

FORMER PATRIOTS CB TY LAW ON CRENNEL: “In the meetings, Romeo calls the defenses and runs the entire defense. Bill Belichick puts in the flavor and makes suggestions, but the defense is Romeo’s.”

Well at least we know who the player Whitlock talked to was.

I don't care if we are New England Midwest. I care about wins. I think way, way too much is made of Pioli bringing in his guys. The NFL is all about comfort and familiarity. There are very rare times in this NFL that the coordinators aren't guys who worked with the HC or GM along the way. Guys aren't putting their necks on the line for someone they might not get along with (I.E. Chan Gailey).