Chiefs In big win, Chiefs find a leader in Romeo Crennel - Page 7

Hammock Parties · 12-19-2011, 03:44 AM

This is dangerous. Chiefs players are lobbying openly for Crennel to get the job.

64-year old interim head coaches don't win shit in this league.

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/12/18...-a-leader.html

Quote:

Rookie linebacker Justin Houston grabbed an orange bucket of blue Gatorade and followed a pack of co-conspirators to drench the Chiefs’ new head coach. Romeo Crennel took it, smiled and clapped.

Running back Le’Ron McClain strutted toward Arrowhead Stadium’s west end zone, dropped his helmet around the 25-yard line, and joined five or six teammates in high-fiving and hugging delirious fans.

Crennel missed it. By this time, he was making his way off the field, wiping away tears.

The Chiefs stunned the football world by beating the previously undefeated Packers 19-14 on Sunday, the most shocking outcome in the NFL this season and in Kansas City for longer than that, one that we all might look back on in a few years as the day the franchise’s direction changed.

Three critical developments, in ascending order of importance, emerged from Sunday’s improbable upset: The Chiefs maintained a sliver of playoff hope, reminded a city that football can be fun and almost certainly found their new head coach.

“We treated this as our Super Bowl,” running back Dexter McCluster said. “This was our Super Bowl. You could feel that positive energy.”

What the Chiefs accomplished on Sunday is now the talk of the league. The Packers are still the prohibitive Super Bowl favorites, owners of the second-longest winning streak in NFL history, the model franchise for 31 others trying to build sustainable and long-term success. They’d won 19 straight and came in averaging nearly 36 points per game.

Juxtapose that with an organization in disarray. The Chiefs hadn’t scored more than 10 points since October and have lost five times by 27 points or more — one away from the most since the NFL and AFL merged in 1970.

This last week started with head coach Todd Haley being fired. Kyle Orton, cut by the Broncos a month ago, became the Chiefs’ third starting quarterback of the season. Injuries continue to expose an inexcusable lack of depth.

Nobody wondered whether the Packers would beat the Chiefs as much as they wondered just how badly the Packers would beat the Chiefs.

Then a funny, fun and completely unpredictable thing happened: The Chiefs led for all but 4 minutes, held the Packers to their fewest points and yards since last season, shut down Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers and beat the defending world champions.

It can’t be as simple as Tyler Palko sitting, and the plainly capable Orton playing, can it?

Because even before this, Crennel figured to drop the “interim” from his new title as head coach after Haley’s firing.

But now, after the team’s most inspired effort of the season, the Chiefs almost surely have their man. The locker room is rooting for Crennel to get the permanent job — actually, some Chiefs players are openly lobbying for it.

“Everything was different,” McClain said of the past week. “More meeting time. More football time. Learning your opponent better, understanding your opponent. I know I watched more film this week than I watched all year. Everything was different, man. Good different.”

Especially after Haley openly admitted the Jets were better prepared than the Chiefs last weekend. What you hear from players now is both an indictment of the past and endorsement of the future with Crennel.

McCluster: “I know everybody in this locker room will fight for him.”

Receiver Terrance Copper: “He doesn’t give us a reason not to play hard for him.”

Running back Thomas Jones: “He’d be a great choice for us.”

Receiver Steve Breaston, a noted Haley supporter, even referred to Crennel’s nickname after the game on Twitter: “Yeah by the way … Rac City!!!!”

The descriptions of Crennel are a general sketch of what owner Clark Hunt and general manager Scott Pioli say they want in a head coach.

Crennel treats everyone with respect. He is obsessed with details, with fundamentals, with the kind of preparation that means the Chiefs know their opponents better than the other way around.

Crennel makes his own decisions (Orton found out he was starting Sunday’s game before Pioli did) without being insubordinate. He gives credit to his players first, his assistants second and himself never.

“I was just standing on the sideline,” he said. “That’s all I did today. They got it done.”

The parallels are too many to ignore. Crennel is consistent. He is dedicated. You will never see him take the kind of unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty that Haley drew in his last game.

Crennel went 24-40 over four seasons in Cleveland, but you know that Bill Belichick was also fired by the Browns before taking over the Patriots.

Pioli believes in guys he’s worked with, guys who’ve been in his system before. He believes that smart and motivated people get better with experience and can learn from mistakes.

In other words, Crennel fits.

The immediate impact of the Chiefs winning his first game in charge is kind of fun and mostly obvious. Green Bay’s perfect season is over. The Chiefs can still claim a mathematical shot at the playoffs.

A fan base is truly encouraged for the first time since that Monday night win over the Chargers, when the Chiefs improved to 4-3 and receiver Dwayne Bowe spray-painted his shoes and a dozen or so teammates put on “Scream” masks to celebrate on Halloween.

But it’s the other stuff that is more important, the other stuff that the players seem to know gives this a chance to be more than a temporary reprieve like their win in Chicago two weeks ago.

The feeling is entirely different this time. Some of that is Orton, who ran the offense well enough to knock off an opponent that hadn’t lost in more than a year.

The bigger part is Crennel, and a genuine vibe in the locker room that this team has found the right coach to make a still-promising future become reality.

KCrockaholic · 12-19-2011, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omega

It's not JUST age. It's age and the fact that Romeo would be up for 0 head-coaching jobs if he was fired today.

I see that as narrow minded reason to oust Romeo from the head coaching job. If those are your main reasons for wanting him to be replaced, that's pretty lame. And I know you're not a narrow minded person, so I'm surprised.

splatbass · 12-19-2011, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omega

Yes, he could coach well into his 70s.

Why not?

Jack McKeon, manager of Florida Marlins - 80

John Gagliardi, head coach St. John's university - 84

Joe Paterno was coaching at 85 when he was fired.

Bobby Bowden was 80 when he retired.

Casey Stengal managed the NY Yankees at 76.

Hubie Brown was named NBA coach of the year at 72.

64 isn't that old. It may seem like it to a 30ish guy that is going on 15 like you, but it isn't.

**dirk digler** · 12-19-2011, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Just out of curiosity, who do you want?

I don't think Crennel will take us to the promised land but I also think we could do worse looking at whats out there.

Who is a totally hot HC candidate we could/should go with? I honestly don;t know at this point.

He wants Fisher who is Marty Part 10. Been there done that

KCrockaholic · 12-19-2011, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by splatbass

Why not?

Jack McKeon, manager of Florida Marlins - 80

John Gagliardi, head coach St. John's university - 84

Joe Paterno was coaching at 85 when he was fired.

Bobby Bowden was 80 when he retired.

Casey Stengal managed the NY Yankees at 76.

Hubie Brown was named NBA coach of the year at 72.

64 isn't that old. It may seem like it to a 30ish guy that is going on 15 like you, but it isn't.

Dick LeBeau.

Marcellus · 12-19-2011, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirk digler

He wants Fisher who is Marty Part 10. Been there done that

I am not sold on Fisher.

I am just so scared of McDaniel getting the job any other name sounds like a decent option though I know that's not the case.

Hammock Parties · 12-19-2011, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by splatbass

Why not?

Jack McKeon, manager of Florida Marlins - 80

John Gagliardi, head coach St. John's university - 84

Joe Paterno was coaching at 85 when he was fired.

Bobby Bowden was 80 when he retired.

Casey Stengal managed the NY Yankees at 76.

Hubie Brown was named NBA coach of the year at 72.

64 isn't that old. It may seem like it to a 30ish guy that is going on 15 like you, but it isn't.

Oh hey, look, lots of NFL Super Bowl winners on that list!

KCrockaholic · 12-19-2011, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

You don't say? Strange how that works. The vast majority of retired people are over 60.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omega

Oh hey, look, lots of NFL Super Bowl winners on that list!

I'd say Phobia brings up a pretty obvious point on this topic.

Hammock Parties · 12-19-2011, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCrockaholic

I see that as narrow minded reason to oust Romeo from the head coaching job.

So we've had a starting QB that no one else wants, we should certainly get a HC to match.

**dirk digler** · 12-19-2011, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcellus

I am not sold on Fisher.

I am just so scared of McDaniel getting the job any other name sounds like a decent option though I know that's not the case.

Don't want McD's in any capacity on this team except maybe jock collector.

splatbass · 12-19-2011, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omega

Oh hey, look, lots of NFL Super Bowl winners on that list!

Lots of winning coaches. Doesn't matter if it is the NFL or not. Coaching is coaching. And you are an agist. Not surprising for someone with the emotional age of a middle school student.

KCrockaholic · 12-19-2011, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omega

So we've had a starting QB that no one else wants, we should certainly get a HC to match.

Say Romeo doesn't like Cassel as our guy in 2012. Say Romeo believes we need to draft a QB early. Would you be opposed to keeping him if that was his thought process? All the offense needs is a real QB. The defense is great. Fix the QB and we have a legit championship contender regardless of who the coach is.

Hammock Parties · 12-19-2011, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCrockaholic

I'd say Phobia brings up a pretty obvious point on this topic.

Not really. We're talking the vast, vast majority of super bowl winning head coaches are under 60. Like, 24 of 27 if my math is right.

The odds are so low, the idea that we would just hand Romeo the job is shockingly stupid.

And those ancient head coaches also had superior quarterbacks. Where's Romeo's?

**petegz28** · 12-19-2011, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omega

It's not JUST age. It's age and the fact that Romeo would be up for 0 head-coaching jobs if he was fired today.

A) You don't know that after what he has done with our defense

B) The guy has experience and knows our system therefore not putting us back into a "rebuilding..just wait 5 years" mode for the 3rd time in a row

C) He has more SB rings than any other option out there. That is experience you just can't pass up

D) He was the last coach to take a shitty Cleveland team with a shitty front office to a winning season. Yes, that is saying something

If this team looks good the rest of the season you MUST give Romeo a serious look. Unlike Cleveland he has talented players to coach this time around. He has arguably 4-5 of some of the best defensive players in the league. He has one of the best RB's in the league and possibly one of the better TE's in the league with one of the better WR corps in the league.

Get this guy a QB worth a squirt of piss and an OC that knows WTF the deal is and I think Romeo's experience will pay off.

Marcellus · 12-19-2011, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCrockaholic

Say Romeo doesn't like Cassel as our guy in 2012. Say Romeo believes we need to draft a QB early. Would you be opposed to keeping him if that was his thought process? All the offense needs is a real QB. The defense is great. Fix the QB and we have a legit championship contender regardless of who the coach is.

\

Thing is I need to know these things to make an informed decision.

Maybe CP should get to interview all candidates.

KCrockaholic · 12-19-2011, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omega

Not really. We're talking the vast, vast majority of super bowl winning head coaches are under 60. Like, 24 of 27 if my math is right.

The odds are so low, the idea that we would just hand Romeo the job is shockingly stupid.

And those ancient head coaches also had superior quarterbacks. Where's Romeo's?

The historic odds are low, I see. But did you also take into account how many coaches were actually 60 or older during those seasons also? The point Phobia was making is that "Of course there aren't many SB winners over 60 years old, because the majority of coaches are 60 or younger."

Just paraphrasing.