Chiefs Mellinger:Crennel’s bad decisions key to latest Chiefs debacle

**Tribal Warfare** · 10-07-2012, 08:12 PM

Crennel’s bad decisions key to latest Chiefs debacle
By SAM MELLINGER
The Kansas City Star
The Chiefs have been pathetic already, so that’s not the surprising part. And they’ve looked hopeless, so that’s not new, either.

What we see now is worse, somehow, a bit further from respectability than even fans calling the team an “embarrassment” on a sign in the parking lot, or demanding the general manager be fired on a banner flown over the stadium before the game.

What we see now is a disjointed mess of a football team that was supposed to compete for the division title but is instead sinking toward the bottom of the league, with a head coach unable to make it stop and an offensive lineman making national headlines for destroying fans who cheered their quarterback’s injury.

If this isn’t rock bottom, then we could all save ourselves some trouble by guzzling Drano.

Because in losing 9-6 to the Ravens at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, the Chiefs missed what even folks on the payroll have to admit is probably their last chance to salvage the season. Instead, the Chiefs dunked their fans’ heads even deeper under water.

This time, it’s Romeo Crennel’s turn to face charges of incompetence because, honestly, did Todd Haley ever mismanage a game this badly?

A defense-first man by nature, and still the Chiefs’ defensive coordinator, Crennel blew a fabulous performance against the league’s No. 2 offense because he couldn’t get anything else right.

The only thing Crennel appears willing to risk in his game plans is Jamaal Charles’ future — coming off ACL surgery, the Chiefs’ star running back is the only player in the league to go over 30 touches twice this season — and the result diminished the Ravens’ risk of losing.

A bizarre decision to punt instead of try for a first down or Hail Mary at the end of the first half, more will-breaking penalties and a team presumably coached to value the ball instead padding its league lead in turnovers sucked the possibilities from a game the Chiefs otherwise should’ve won.

Even by Kansas City standards, the idea of losing at home while rushing for 214 yards and outgaining one of the league’s premier offenses is extreme. But Crennel pulled it off by showing appropriately little faith in Cassel — but refusing to bench him.

The decision was no longer Crennel’s after Cassel got hurt in the fourth quarter, but by then it was too late. Cassel threw two interceptions — including one into heavy coverage to Dwayne Bowe while Steve Maneri didn’t have a defender within 10 yards — and fumbled the snap on a quarterback sneak at the goal line. Damage done.

Spirit squashed.

Crennel might be the only coach in NFL history to be so loyal to a game-manager quarterback who has 13 turnovers in five games.

“No,” Crennel said when I asked after the game if he considered benching Cassel before the injury.

This is a problem, especially after Crennel talked openly last week of giving backup Brady Quinn a chance if Cassel continued to falter. Quinn has been behind Charlie Frye, Ken Dorsey and Derek Anderson in his career, so we’re not talking about Len Dawson here, but at some point a coach needs to be willing to make a change.

For Crennel, that point didn’t come until he had no other choice.

He is instead the coach of a team that can’t quit a quarterback who both averages nearly three turnovers a game and provides such minimal playmaking that the entire game plan centers on minimizing Cassel’s impact.

Crennel is a smart man and one of the most respected defensive coordinators in recent league history. But when the Chiefs promoted him to head coach, the team’s decision-makers made the behind-the-scenes case that Crennel’s 24-40 record in Cleveland was more a reflection of a dysfunctional franchise than the man’s ability.

Five games into the season, and Chiefs fans are left with this disheartening dilemma: Crennel really is that bad of a coach, or the Chiefs are now as dysfunctional as the Browns.

Actually, after a 12th loss in their last 15 games and a group of players and fans who share a strong mutual distaste for each other, it’s pretty clear that the worse of those two possibilities is now Kansas City’s sad reality.

**notorious** · 10-07-2012, 08:14 PM

Change "Drano" to "Antifreeze" and this is the perfect article.

(Thanks Dane)

evolve27 · 10-07-2012, 08:15 PM

Take it to the dawg pound.

stonedstooge · 10-07-2012, 08:19 PM

It'll be interesting to see whose side all the reporters take after the team called out the fans today. Guess we'll see just how much power Pisoli has. I don't think he has the power to stop the groundswell against him now

evolve27 · 10-07-2012, 08:20 PM

"The decision was no longer Crennel’s after Cassel got hurt in the fourth quarter, but by then it was too late. Cassel threw two interceptions — including one into heavy coverage to Dwayne Bowe while Steve Maneri didn’t have a defender within 10 yards — and fumbled the snap on a quarterback sneak at the goal line. Damage done."

Shit his pants and self forced a concussion to end his time as an NFL QB.

**notorious** · 10-07-2012, 08:21 PM

Other than Millen, has a fanbase ever declared all-out war with the GM and owner?

evolve27 · 10-07-2012, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notorious

Other than Millen, has a fanbase ever declared all-out war with the GM and owner?

Unhappy fans hurl trash onto field, cause delay

The grounds crew picks trash off of the field after the Atlanta Braves fans protest a call during the eight inning of the 2012 National League wild card playoff game against the Cardinals.

**J Diddy** · 10-07-2012, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonedstooge

It'll be interesting to see whose side all the reporters take after the team called out the fans today. Guess we'll see just how much power Pisoli has. I don't think he has the power to stop the groundswell against him now

They should have called out the fans. What kind of person cheers for a person being hurt?

Molitoth · 10-07-2012, 08:26 PM

we love you mellinger

**notorious** · 10-07-2012, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evolve27

Unhappy fans hurl trash onto field, cause delay

The grounds crew picks trash off of the field after the Atlanta Braves fans protest a call during the eight inning of the 2012 National League wild card playoff game against the Cardinals.

That's against the umps.

The fans will never disrupt play. The anger and hatred has grown to such high levels that the fans are actually acting out! I remember the Lions' fans doing stuff, but this is amazing.

TEX · 10-07-2012, 08:27 PM

Never thought things could be worse than they were when Herm was here, but they are. for that, Pioli should be fired and he can take all of his Patriot way bullshit with him!

FAX · 10-07-2012, 08:27 PM

Well, at least Crennel didn't try to challenge an "in the grasp" call.

FAX

**DaneMcCloud** · 10-07-2012, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notorious

Substitute "Drano" with "Antifreeze" and this is the perfect article.

I think he did.

mcaj22 · 10-07-2012, 08:28 PM

i actually think we would be better the last four years if Herm was still the coach and Carl was the GM....

****

**notorious** · 10-07-2012, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I think he did.

I got it backwards.

My head is spinning.

10-07-2012, 08:12 PM
Tribal Warfare The Boom Boom Room Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $932813	Mellinger:Crennel’s bad decisions key to latest Chiefs debacle Crennel’s bad decisions key to latest Chiefs debacle By SAM MELLINGER The Kansas City Star The Chiefs have been pathetic already, so that’s not the surprising part. And they’ve looked hopeless, so that’s not new, either. What we see now is worse, somehow, a bit further from respectability than even fans calling the team an “embarrassment” on a sign in the parking lot, or demanding the general manager be fired on a banner flown over the stadium before the game. What we see now is a disjointed mess of a football team that was supposed to compete for the division title but is instead sinking toward the bottom of the league, with a head coach unable to make it stop and an offensive lineman making national headlines for destroying fans who cheered their quarterback’s injury. If this isn’t rock bottom, then we could all save ourselves some trouble by guzzling Drano. Because in losing 9-6 to the Ravens at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, the Chiefs missed what even folks on the payroll have to admit is probably their last chance to salvage the season. Instead, the Chiefs dunked their fans’ heads even deeper under water. This time, it’s Romeo Crennel’s turn to face charges of incompetence because, honestly, did Todd Haley ever mismanage a game this badly? A defense-first man by nature, and still the Chiefs’ defensive coordinator, Crennel blew a fabulous performance against the league’s No. 2 offense because he couldn’t get anything else right. The only thing Crennel appears willing to risk in his game plans is Jamaal Charles’ future — coming off ACL surgery, the Chiefs’ star running back is the only player in the league to go over 30 touches twice this season — and the result diminished the Ravens’ risk of losing. A bizarre decision to punt instead of try for a first down or Hail Mary at the end of the first half, more will-breaking penalties and a team presumably coached to value the ball instead padding its league lead in turnovers sucked the possibilities from a game the Chiefs otherwise should’ve won. Even by Kansas City standards, the idea of losing at home while rushing for 214 yards and outgaining one of the league’s premier offenses is extreme. But Crennel pulled it off by showing appropriately little faith in Cassel — but refusing to bench him. The decision was no longer Crennel’s after Cassel got hurt in the fourth quarter, but by then it was too late. Cassel threw two interceptions — including one into heavy coverage to Dwayne Bowe while Steve Maneri didn’t have a defender within 10 yards — and fumbled the snap on a quarterback sneak at the goal line. Damage done. Spirit squashed. Crennel might be the only coach in NFL history to be so loyal to a game-manager quarterback who has 13 turnovers in five games. “No,” Crennel said when I asked after the game if he considered benching Cassel before the injury. This is a problem, especially after Crennel talked openly last week of giving backup Brady Quinn a chance if Cassel continued to falter. Quinn has been behind Charlie Frye, Ken Dorsey and Derek Anderson in his career, so we’re not talking about Len Dawson here, but at some point a coach needs to be willing to make a change. For Crennel, that point didn’t come until he had no other choice. He is instead the coach of a team that can’t quit a quarterback who both averages nearly three turnovers a game and provides such minimal playmaking that the entire game plan centers on minimizing Cassel’s impact. Crennel is a smart man and one of the most respected defensive coordinators in recent league history. But when the Chiefs promoted him to head coach, the team’s decision-makers made the behind-the-scenes case that Crennel’s 24-40 record in Cleveland was more a reflection of a dysfunctional franchise than the man’s ability. Five games into the season, and Chiefs fans are left with this disheartening dilemma: Crennel really is that bad of a coach, or the Chiefs are now as dysfunctional as the Browns. Actually, after a 12th loss in their last 15 games and a group of players and fans who share a strong mutual distaste for each other, it’s pretty clear that the worse of those two possibilities is now Kansas City’s sad reality.
Posts: 42,055

10-07-2012, 08:14 PM	#2
notorious Supporter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Who knows? Casino cash: $2945884	Change "Drano" to "Antifreeze" and this is the perfect article. (Thanks Dane) Last edited by notorious; 10-07-2012 at 08:30 PM..
Posts: 83,357

10-07-2012, 08:15 PM	#3
evolve27 Keep It on Wax Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: BUMP MASTER, USA Casino cash: $10004900	Take it to the dawg pound. __________________ Best QB Available
Posts: 2,588

10-07-2012, 08:19 PM	#4
stonedstooge Arf! Arf! Arf! Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: North Casino cash: $6074173	It'll be interesting to see whose side all the reporters take after the team called out the fans today. Guess we'll see just how much power Pisoli has. I don't think he has the power to stop the groundswell against him now __________________ 2013 ADOPT A CHIEF Eric Kush "Often is a word I seldom use"--JP
Posts: 25,283

10-07-2012, 08:20 PM	#5
evolve27 Keep It on Wax Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: BUMP MASTER, USA Casino cash: $10004900	"The decision was no longer Crennel’s after Cassel got hurt in the fourth quarter, but by then it was too late. Cassel threw two interceptions — including one into heavy coverage to Dwayne Bowe while Steve Maneri didn’t have a defender within 10 yards — and fumbled the snap on a quarterback sneak at the goal line. Damage done." Shit his pants and self forced a concussion to end his time as an NFL QB. __________________ Best QB Available
Posts: 2,588

10-07-2012, 08:21 PM	#6
notorious Supporter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Who knows? Casino cash: $2945884	Other than Millen, has a fanbase ever declared all-out war with the GM and owner?
Posts: 83,357

10-07-2012, 08:26 PM	#9
Molitoth Mahomes Fanboi Join Date: Apr 2004 Casino cash: $2984969	we love you mellinger
Posts: 19,474

10-07-2012, 08:27 PM	#11
TEX Out Gunning CP's Fandom Police Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Laguna Beach, CA Casino cash: $2383127	Never thought things could be worse than they were when Herm was here, but they are. for that, Pioli should be fired and he can take all of his Patriot way bullshit with him! __________________ "The CHIEFS, HAVE THEIR DYNASTY!"
Posts: 34,668

10-07-2012, 08:27 PM	#12
FAX testing ... 1, 2, 3 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Tennessee Casino cash: $6753759	Well, at least Crennel didn't try to challenge an "in the grasp" call. FAX
Posts: 44,492

10-07-2012, 08:28 PM	#14
mcaj22 MVP Join Date: Feb 2010 Casino cash: $10014454	i actually think we would be better the last four years if Herm was still the coach and Carl was the GM.... ****
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