Chiefs Mellinger: Enough’s enough: Clark Hunt must make major changes now - Page 12

siberian khatru · 09-30-2012, 07:02 PM

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/09/30...hunt-must.html

Enough’s enough: Clark Hunt must make major changes now

By SAM MELLINGER
The Kansas City Star

The Chiefs lost their last bit of reasonable hope in a loss so head-shakingly embarrassing it pushed this season from merely awful to pathetic, and some rich men are going to lose their jobs over this.

They need to, anyway, or else a fan base that deserves better is suffering for no reason. If this season were a meal, you’d send it back. Or end up really sick.

Either way, you wouldn’t go back to the restaurant, and that’s the part that has the legs to create some real change after only a few of the Chiefs’ closest friends stuck around to see the end of an embarrassing 37-20 loss to the Chargers at home on Sunday.

Because this is beyond hope, beyond excuses, beyond any explanation that isn’t a fireable offense for everyone who can be fired. This is gross, and imagining it improving requires a stiff imagination or a stiffer drink.

Romeo Crennel needs to fire Matt Cassel as the starting quarterback, because Cassel is now not only bad but hopeless.

Pioli needs to fire Crennel, because he’s building a convincing case as the worst head coach in the league.

And Clark Hunt needs to fire Pioli, because every stitch of progress with this roster is undermined by fundamental flaws in quarterback, head coach and philosophy that are a direct reflection of the general manager and serve as something like a parking brake on the franchise’s stated goal of winning championships.

The argument to make major changes goes something like this: Crennel is overmatched trying to be head coach and defensive coordinator, and a roster top-heavy with stars but lacking in depth cannot drag a leaking quarterback through today’s pass-happy NFL. Pioli has not earned the right to choose the next quarterback or a third head coach.

The argument to maintain status quo goes something like this: hey, it’s the NFL, and maybe the Chiefs can get really, really, really lucky.

Tickets are already sold for games that are already scheduled, so the Chiefs will go ahead and play out the last three-fourths of a meaningless season, but by now the only drama is whether games will be blacked out, how bad Cassel has to stink before he gets benched, and whether a bumbling product that’s now lost three games by two touchdowns or more will be enough to convince Hunt that his broken franchise needs major fixes.

That win last week in New Orleans felt good for a moment, like a candy bar for that afternoon crash, but we’re going to end up remembering it as empty calories keeping the Chiefs from a higher draft pick – a pick that needs to be made by whomever Hunt hires after he fires Pioli.

Because, enough. We’ve seen enough. The quarterback hand-picked and made apparently untouchable by Pioli’s faith and New England nostalgia has been booed in both stadiums at Truman Sports Complex and now has 10 turnovers in four games.

Pioli’s Chiefs continue to spit into the NFL’s wind, and the franchise’s fans deserve better than to slog through a 19th consecutive season without a playoff win while wasting more productive years from Tamba Hali, Dwayne Bowe, Justin Houston and the other good players stuck in a slogging Process that might max out at mediocre.

A roster so galvanized 10 months ago by its beloved Romeo is now a stumbling mess, three blowout losses in four tries, only a comeback win over one of the few organizations in football with less direction keeping them from being winless.

Cassel isn’t up to the demands of championship quarterback, and it’s not his fault that his bosses are slow to recognize he’s just good enough to get beat. Crennel is now 27-44 as a head coach, and Pioli still hasn’t been in charge of a playoff win without Tom Brady starting at quarterback.

Four years into what seemed like a great idea at the time, Pioli’s teams have an 0-1 postseason record and are working on a third disaster in four years.

Pioli is on record saying Cassel can be good enough to win a title. Everything he’s done here for four years is based on that belief, and with that evaluation so obviously wrong, there is no way Hunt can responsibly give him the chance to choose the next quarterback.

At this point, the worst thing that can happen is that the Chiefs win enough games to hold off major changes and strive for mediocrity one more year and waste more of the careers of players under long-term control who can be part of the solution.

The good news is it’s hard to imagine them doing even that.

When you think about it, this about the worst position a team can put its fans in: hoping for a season so bad it forces changes. Here comes Hunt’s chance to show Chiefs fans he shares their disgust in an underperforming team and won’t accept failure.

Your move, Clark.

To reach Sam Mellinger, call 816-234-4365, send e-mail to smellinger@kcstar.com or follow twitter.com/mellinger. For previous columns, go to KansasCity.com.

saphojunkie · 10-01-2012, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

Get the **** out of here.

I'd take him as a DC, but no ****ing way do I want another retread HC.

Dude has gone to two AFC championships. They went for the QB, and he hasn't panned out. I don't blame a single team for missing on their first round QB. I blame them for not even trying.

But all that aside, I think he meant Rob Ryan.

Raiderhater · 10-01-2012, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saphojunkie

Dude has gone to two AFC championships. They went for the QB, and he hasn't panned out. I don't blame a single team for missing on their first round QB. I blame them for not even trying.

But all that aside, I think he meant Rob Ryan.

Then he brought Tebow in to back him up.

Just say no to Rex Ryan as HC.

Papi · 10-01-2012, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raiderhader

Then he brought Tebow in to back him up.

Just say no to Rex Ryan as HC.

The honorable gentleman from Strawberry Hill makes a debate squashing retort.

NJChiefsFan · 10-01-2012, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saphojunkie

Dude has gone to two AFC championships. They went for the QB, and he hasn't panned out. I don't blame a single team for missing on their first round QB. I blame them for not even trying.

But all that aside, I think he meant Rob Ryan.

I hope he meant Rob. Rex is and has been a joke around here. This year he is finally becoming a joke to Jets fans as well. He got media love his first two years because he desired that love. He went out of his way to find it. Rex is not that good of a coach.

scho63 · 10-01-2012, 06:50 AM

This is the first time I can remember in quite a while where EVERYONE is piling on the Chiefs bad decisions at once. The sharks are finally circling the wagon and I would be STUNNED if major changes don't start occurring.

The pressure is finally building on Clark and all the bad choices of Pioli-he should be the FIRST to go

**the Talking Can** · 10-01-2012, 06:57 AM

herm on 810, asked about drafting a QB:

"if he'd have been there...Matt Ryan would be a Chief....if you get one, you're set for a decade..."

FlaChief58 · 10-01-2012, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

herm on 810, asked about drafting a QB:

"if he'd have been there...Matt Ryan would be a Chief....if you get one, you're set for a decade..."

Hindsight is 50/50

Deberg_1990 · 10-01-2012, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

herm on 810, asked about drafting a QB:

"if he'd have been there...Matt Ryan would be a Chief....if you get one, you're set for a decade..."

Yea, its shame the Chiefs couldnt have lost a few more in 07 to get him.....sigh..

That 08 draft for the Chiefs was pretty epic, except for ironically Dorsey who is pretty blah. After the top 3 picks in 08, the entire top 10 has been pretty blah....

Hog's Gone Fishin · 10-01-2012, 07:16 AM

Let's see. We now have the #4 Offense and the #14 Defense based on yards allowed. We have the #32 Defense based on points allowed. Last stat I saw was we have given up 44 points off of turnovers.

This tells us something. I'm not sure what it is, Maybe if Cassel can settle down and become the QB of 2010 that protected the ball then things could fall into place.

**ChiTown** · 10-01-2012, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

herm on 810, asked about drafting a QB:

"if he'd have been there...Matt Ryan would be a Chief....if you get one, you're set for a decade..."

Yeah, except the Chiefs don't draft 1st round QB's, and when we do, we draft Toad Blacklegs over Dan Marino.

htismaqe · 10-01-2012, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hog Farmer

Let's see. We now have the #4 Offense and the #14 Defense based on yards allowed. We have the #32 Defense based on points allowed. Last stat I saw was we have given up 44 points off of turnovers.

This tells us something. I'm not sure what it is, Maybe if Cassel can settle down and become the QB of 2010 that protected the ball then things could fall into place.

NO!!!

That's the last thing we want.

The wheel's need to come off so that this car can go to the scrapyard.

htismaqe · 10-01-2012, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Yea, its shame the Chiefs couldnt have lost a few more in 07 to get him.....sigh..

That 08 draft for the Chiefs was pretty epic, except for ironically Dorsey who is pretty blah. After the top 3 picks in 08, the entire top 10 has been pretty blah....

They only needed to lose ONE more. They lost that freaking coin flip or whatever it was...

Sorter · 10-01-2012, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

They only needed to lose ONE more. They lost that freaking coin flip or whatever it was...

It was a coin flip.

Deberg_1990 · 10-01-2012, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

They only needed to lose ONE more. They lost that freaking coin flip or whatever it was...

Wow.....only the Chiefs

Estron · 10-01-2012, 09:06 AM

As Old Frank pointed out last night on TV, how are you going to get a reputable head coach, or even a decent one, to come to Kansas City?

Why would a man who knows what he's doing and wants to lead a winner even consider this team? He'd hear the offer and say, "Really, Kansas City? The town is boring, the owner is chintzy, there's very little chance of national exposure, and the guys on ChiefsPlanet would be wishing me violent death in a hundred ways from the day I signed the contract. No freakin' way."

09-30-2012, 07:02 PM
siberian khatru 21st Century Schizoid Fan Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The Gates of Delirium Casino cash: $2644950	Mellinger: Enough’s enough: Clark Hunt must make major changes now http://www.kansascity.com/2012/09/30...hunt-must.html Enough’s enough: Clark Hunt must make major changes now By SAM MELLINGER The Kansas City Star The Chiefs lost their last bit of reasonable hope in a loss so head-shakingly embarrassing it pushed this season from merely awful to pathetic, and some rich men are going to lose their jobs over this. They need to, anyway, or else a fan base that deserves better is suffering for no reason. If this season were a meal, you’d send it back. Or end up really sick. Either way, you wouldn’t go back to the restaurant, and that’s the part that has the legs to create some real change after only a few of the Chiefs’ closest friends stuck around to see the end of an embarrassing 37-20 loss to the Chargers at home on Sunday. Because this is beyond hope, beyond excuses, beyond any explanation that isn’t a fireable offense for everyone who can be fired. This is gross, and imagining it improving requires a stiff imagination or a stiffer drink. Romeo Crennel needs to fire Matt Cassel as the starting quarterback, because Cassel is now not only bad but hopeless. Pioli needs to fire Crennel, because he’s building a convincing case as the worst head coach in the league. And Clark Hunt needs to fire Pioli, because every stitch of progress with this roster is undermined by fundamental flaws in quarterback, head coach and philosophy that are a direct reflection of the general manager and serve as something like a parking brake on the franchise’s stated goal of winning championships. The argument to make major changes goes something like this: Crennel is overmatched trying to be head coach and defensive coordinator, and a roster top-heavy with stars but lacking in depth cannot drag a leaking quarterback through today’s pass-happy NFL. Pioli has not earned the right to choose the next quarterback or a third head coach. The argument to maintain status quo goes something like this: hey, it’s the NFL, and maybe the Chiefs can get really, really, really lucky. Tickets are already sold for games that are already scheduled, so the Chiefs will go ahead and play out the last three-fourths of a meaningless season, but by now the only drama is whether games will be blacked out, how bad Cassel has to stink before he gets benched, and whether a bumbling product that’s now lost three games by two touchdowns or more will be enough to convince Hunt that his broken franchise needs major fixes. That win last week in New Orleans felt good for a moment, like a candy bar for that afternoon crash, but we’re going to end up remembering it as empty calories keeping the Chiefs from a higher draft pick – a pick that needs to be made by whomever Hunt hires after he fires Pioli. Because, enough. We’ve seen enough. The quarterback hand-picked and made apparently untouchable by Pioli’s faith and New England nostalgia has been booed in both stadiums at Truman Sports Complex and now has 10 turnovers in four games. Pioli’s Chiefs continue to spit into the NFL’s wind, and the franchise’s fans deserve better than to slog through a 19th consecutive season without a playoff win while wasting more productive years from Tamba Hali, Dwayne Bowe, Justin Houston and the other good players stuck in a slogging Process that might max out at mediocre. A roster so galvanized 10 months ago by its beloved Romeo is now a stumbling mess, three blowout losses in four tries, only a comeback win over one of the few organizations in football with less direction keeping them from being winless. Cassel isn’t up to the demands of championship quarterback, and it’s not his fault that his bosses are slow to recognize he’s just good enough to get beat. Crennel is now 27-44 as a head coach, and Pioli still hasn’t been in charge of a playoff win without Tom Brady starting at quarterback. Four years into what seemed like a great idea at the time, Pioli’s teams have an 0-1 postseason record and are working on a third disaster in four years. Pioli is on record saying Cassel can be good enough to win a title. Everything he’s done here for four years is based on that belief, and with that evaluation so obviously wrong, there is no way Hunt can responsibly give him the chance to choose the next quarterback. At this point, the worst thing that can happen is that the Chiefs win enough games to hold off major changes and strive for mediocrity one more year and waste more of the careers of players under long-term control who can be part of the solution. The good news is it’s hard to imagine them doing even that. When you think about it, this about the worst position a team can put its fans in: hoping for a season so bad it forces changes. Here comes Hunt’s chance to show Chiefs fans he shares their disgust in an underperforming team and won’t accept failure. Your move, Clark. To reach Sam Mellinger, call 816-234-4365, send e-mail to smellinger@kcstar.com or follow twitter.com/mellinger. For previous columns, go to KansasCity.com.
Posts: 69,111

10-01-2012, 06:50 AM	#170
scho63 Politically Incorrect Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Casino cash: $2871110	This is the first time I can remember in quite a while where EVERYONE is piling on the Chiefs bad decisions at once. The sharks are finally circling the wagon and I would be STUNNED if major changes don't start occurring. The pressure is finally building on Clark and all the bad choices of Pioli-he should be the FIRST to go __________________ *"The only difference between sex for free and sex for money is that sex for free costs you a WHOLE LOT more!"* ~Redd Foxx~ ~~2018 2019 2020 20212022 2023~~ 2024 Adopt a Chief - Clark Hunt and Brett Veach "The men who drafted Patrick Mahomes"
Posts: 50,410

10-01-2012, 06:57 AM	#171
the Talking Can Supporter Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: street Casino cash: $10022208	herm on 810, asked about drafting a QB: "if he'd have been there...Matt Ryan would be a Chief....if you get one, you're set for a decade..." __________________ Clark Hunt: "Thank god for the Dominican pool boy"
Posts: 51,585

10-01-2012, 07:16 AM	#174
Hog's Gone Fishin Fish are scared of me Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $1800477	Let's see. We now have the #4 Offense and the #14 Defense based on yards allowed. We have the #32 Defense based on points allowed. Last stat I saw was we have given up 44 points off of turnovers. This tells us something. I'm not sure what it is, Maybe if Cassel can settle down and become the QB of 2010 that protected the ball then things could fall into place.
Posts: 40,310

10-01-2012, 09:06 AM	#180
Estron Football fan; Chiefs follower Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kansas City MO Casino cash: $10005772	As Old Frank pointed out last night on TV, how are you going to get a reputable head coach, or even a decent one, to come to Kansas City? Why would a man who knows what he's doing and wants to lead a winner even consider this team? He'd hear the offer and say, "Really, Kansas City? The town is boring, the owner is chintzy, there's very little chance of national exposure, and the guys on ChiefsPlanet would be wishing me violent death in a hundred ways from the day I signed the contract. No freakin' way."
Posts: 142

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