Chiefs Mellinger: Chiefs need to make fixes, but not at head coach - Page 8

FringeNC · 01-02-2012, 08:35 AM

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/01/01...ennel-and.html

Chiefs need to make fixes, but not at head coach
By SAM MELLINGER

The Kansas City Star

DENVER | They are chanting his name in the locker room, over and over and over, the second time in three weeks they’ve busted out in beautiful, spontaneous, united success for the man they overwhelmingly want to coach them next year.

RAC! … RAC! … RAC! …

Those Chiefs players will almost certainly get their wish, and very soon, as general manager Scott Pioli is expected to make interim coach Romeo Crennel the permanent leader of a roster already dedicated to him.

Crennel deserves it. He’s earned it, removing the most reasonable doubts by beating the Broncos 7-3 here on Sunday. That’s wins over two playoff teams in three games for a man who embodies most of the characteristics the organization wants to project.

Three respected Chiefs players — Tamba Hali, Steve Breaston and Le’Ron McClain — agreed that Crennel has “overwhelming” support from the players. So the Chiefs are best served with him as the head coach, but only under the following condition:

They don’t get fooled into believing the rest of the fixes from a disappointing season are in-house.

Early indications are good. The coaching staff will undergo major changes, almost certainly with a new offensive coordinator and new special-teams coach.

Crennel would have final say in hiring assistants, and that includes Josh McDaniels, with whom he worked four seasons in New England and will reportedly be fired as Rams offensive coordinator. Chiefs fans have spent a lot of time agonizing over McDaniels, but a Chiefs source said he was not and will not be interviewed for the head coaching job.

That’s a good start, but not enough. The players seem to understand this.

“Yeah, you need to bring in some guys,” says Hali, who with a long-term contract and universal respect is among the Chiefs who can speak most freely. “We need some younger guys. Guys like Derrick (Johnson) and I, we are aging in this game. I do believe you need to bring in some younger guys to help us.”

Hali goes on. He says that “we have to make sure that (quarterback) position is solidified,” and that “nothing against our old coach, but Romeo’s a little older, experienced, he knows what he’s doing.”

There is more, and it is echoed throughout the locker room, with a season now officially over and the players as honest and reflective as the NFL and Chiefs culture allows.

Breaston talks of being proud that his team played hard, when it had nothing to play for and the Broncos had so much. He thinks that’s equal parts Crennel’s influence and what he’s come to think of as a unique vibe within the Chiefs’ locker room.

McClain talks of hoping to be back next year, so he can see this thing through, only without an absurd string of injuries that hampered so much of what would’ve otherwise been possible.

Changes will be made, of course, mostly because changes are always made in the NFL, but also because changes need to be made with the Chiefs.

Injuries have become a crutch for apologists, and this is counterproductive if it allows anyone to believe that a near-historic number of blowout losses can be fixed by a doctor.

The offensive line was perfectly healthy, for instance, and it stunk for most of the season. Same with the defensive line, though Allen Bailey’s emergence is encouraging.

The Chiefs’ decision-makers seem to understand this. You get that sense through private conversations, anyway, though there is enough deliberate ambiguity within the organization that it’s hard to tell for sure.

One of the most dangerous temptations is to believe that the Chiefs are this close to the playoffs because they weren’t eliminated until last week.

You can even point out that if Dwayne Bowe hadn’t dropped a touchdown pass against the Raiders, or if Ryan Succop had made one of those field goals, the Chiefs would be in the playoffs.

Except that’s not a reason to be comfortable; it’s the opposite. The Chiefs came within a game of the playoffs because the AFC West is worse than chicken pox. Failing to take advantage would be a shame — a fireable offense.

Realistically, the Chiefs quit against the Jets and Dolphins, lost by 27 or more points five times and actually got pretty lucky with a schedule that gave them a string of failing quarterbacks (including the Chargers’ Philip Rivers fumbling away a win on Halloween) and breaks in Chicago.

Just by virtue of medical technology, the Chiefs will be the AFC West’s most improved team if Jamaal Charles, Eric Berry and Tony Moeaki fully recover. There is no way to plan for a similar stack of injuries next year, but only fools would rely on duplicating the remarkably injury-free season of 2010.

Hali understands this. He talked for about 10 minutes as the locker room around him cleared out for the last time this season. He talked mostly about his coach, and about how Crennel is one of those “special people … almost like your father” whom players want to make proud.

“You know our league,” he says. “Some guys buy in, some guys don’t. It seems like a lot of guys have bought into Romeo. His philosophy and everything he wants to get done, we’ve bought into it.”

The Chiefs need to make that matter. But they also need to understand that to capitalize on a beautiful opportunity next year, many of the other needed changes must come from outside the organization.

RustShack · 01-03-2012, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Tomahawk

Please elaborate.

I do not want Cassel here either...but with Cassel, "Pioli's guy", coupled with the the success McDaniels had with Cassel in the past...it would almost be a guarantee that Cassel would be the starter under McDaniels. I don't see how you could view it otherwise...

-Now-

PLEASE...tell me why I am wrong.

Well Crennel has stated a few times his support for Orton to be the QB next year. McDaniels(if we end up with him somehow) ended up having more success with Orton than he did Cassel, and he had a far better supporting cast with Cassel too.

whoman69 · 01-03-2012, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bump

whoever the LB coach is probably deserves a promotion or even the CB's coach, is it still Emmit Thomas? that would be cool to see him as DC

If you aren't even sure who they are, how can you tout them for DC?

okcchief · 01-03-2012, 04:37 PM

I like Romeo better than Haley or Herm. The bar can't get any lower

**Easy 6** · 01-03-2012, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

The crop of available coaches is so bad, I don't see why Romeo shouldn't get hired.

Thats exactly what too many people are forgetting, there isnt a single 'sexy' candidate out there.

And as for Romeo being a 'lackey' or 'foot shuffling porter' to Pioli... ANY coach brought in is going to have to reckon with & cede some power to him, for as long as he's here, period.

Give Romeo a bona-fide OC & lets move on.

Mr_Tomahawk · 01-03-2012, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustShack

Well Crennel has stated a few times his support for Orton to be the QB next year. McDaniels(if we end up with him somehow) ended up having more success with Orton than he did Cassel, and he had a far better supporting cast with Cassel too.

Yeah...However, I think Pioli will get final say WHO the QB will be.

In the said scenario...

Pioli: "Josh...you did pretty well with both Orton and Cassel."

McDaniels: "Yes"

Pioli: "Well seeing Matt has 'chemistry' with the current players and is already under contract...let's try to rekindle that relationship between you guys. Orton will get an offer somewhere."

McDaniels: "Yes master"

RAC: "But I said Orton sho..."

Pioli: "There is no more to be said regarding this topic."

Jerm · 01-03-2012, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Tomahawk

Yeah...However, I think Pioli will get final say WHO the QB will be.

In the said scenario...

Pioli: "Josh...you did pretty well with both Orton and Cassel."

McDaniels: "Yes"

Pioli: "Well seeing Matt has 'chemistry' with the current players and is already under contract...let's try to rekindle that relationship between you guys. Orton will get an offer somewhere."

McDaniels: "Yes master"

RAC: "But I said Orton sho..."

Pioli: "There is no more to be said regarding this topic."

Exactly what I'm afraid of...hiring Romeo full time and bringing in McDaniels gives Pioli nothing but yes men around him.

htismaqe · 01-03-2012, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

The signing of Orton and firing of Haley gave KC a legit shot at making the playoffs.

They beat a team they shouldn't have and lost to a team they shouldn't have.

They didn't have a legit shot at jack shit.

Messier · 01-03-2012, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Tomahawk

Yeah...However, I think Pioli will get final say WHO the QB will be.

In the said scenario...

Pioli: "Josh...you did pretty well with both Orton and Cassel."

McDaniels: "Yes"

Pioli: "Well seeing Matt has 'chemistry' with the current players and is already under contract...let's try to rekindle that relationship between you guys. Orton will get an offer somewhere."

McDaniels: "Yes master"

RAC: "But I said Orton sho..."

Pioli: "There is no more to be said regarding this topic."

I don't think so. I know it flies in the face of what everyone around here believes, but I don't think Pioli ever tells coaches who plays and who doesn't. It's not his job. And no matter how egotistical Pioli is, telling his coaches who to play would mean NO ONE would be willing to coach the Chiefs.

htismaqe · 01-03-2012, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Messier

I don't think so. I know it flies in the face of what everyone around here believes, but I don't think Pioli ever tells coaches who plays and who doesn't. It's not his job. And no matter how egotistical Pioli is, telling his coaches who to play would mean NO ONE would be willing to coach the Chiefs.

So far we've gotten Todd Haley, after 2 years as a semi-successful coordinator, and Romeo Crennel, who is lucky he's even being considered for another HC job.

So saying "nobody" is willing to coach here is actually pretty accurate.

RustShack · 01-03-2012, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Tomahawk

Yeah...However, I think Pioli will get final say WHO the QB will be.

In the said scenario...

Pioli: "Josh...you did pretty well with both Orton and Cassel."

McDaniels: "Yes"

Pioli: "Well seeing Matt has 'chemistry' with the current players and is already under contract...let's try to rekindle that relationship between you guys. Orton will get an offer somewhere."

McDaniels: "Yes master"

RAC: "But I said Orton sho..."

Pioli: "There is no more to be said regarding this topic."

The thing is Cassel was always our best option because Pioli didn't want to bring in anyone else. Last year he drafted Stanzi, and now he signed Orton. Pioli isn't going to be blind to how much better Orton was in all three of his games than Cassel was all year on the same team.

RustShack · 01-03-2012, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Messier

I don't think so. I know it flies in the face of what everyone around here believes, but I don't think Pioli ever tells coaches who plays and who doesn't. It's not his job. And no matter how egotistical Pioli is, telling his coaches who to play would mean NO ONE would be willing to coach the Chiefs.

Exactly. If it was up to Pioli, Palko wouldn't have been starting as long as he was. Its no coincidence that a QB change game after a coaching change.

RustShack · 01-03-2012, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

So far we've gotten Todd Haley, after 2 years as a semi-successful coordinator, and Romeo Crennel, who is lucky he's even being considered for another HC job.

So saying "nobody" is willing to coach here is actually pretty accurate.

How is he lucky to get another job? How many of the great coaches have only coached one team? The Browns have been bad under every coach, including the great Bill Billichick.

zonachief · 01-03-2012, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigChiefFan

I think he's a pretty good coordinator, but I'm not going to ignore the huge blow-outs that happened under his watch.

A fair approach is to look at his ENTIRE body of work.

His defenses were taken to the woodshed in a few games, that's reality.

The constant three and outs on offense had plenty to do with this ..

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

Mr_Tomahawk · 01-03-2012, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

The crop of available coaches is so bad, I don't see why Romeo shouldn't get hired.

Yeah, he has the support of the team, but I really don't think that's a negative. The defense continued to improve, he actually beat playoff teams, which is something Haley and Cassel couldn't and the staff is going to get overhauled.

I'm not as down on McDaniels as many, but I don't think for a minute that McDaniels = Cassel.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Tomahawk

Please elaborate.

I do not want Cassel here either...but with Cassel, "Pioli's guy", coupled with the the success McDaniels had with Cassel in the past...it would almost be a guarantee that Cassel would be the starter under McDaniels. I don't see how you could view it otherwise...

-Now-

PLEASE...tell me why I am wrong.

Still wanna hear your thoughts about mcdaniels as an oc doesnt mean we will stick with cassel as a starter. Thank you mr bad guy!

Sent from my MB612 using Tapatalk

Monty · 01-03-2012, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

They beat a team they shouldn't have and lost to a team they shouldn't have.

They didn't have a legit shot at jack shit.

Technically, they did achieve jack shit.

01-02-2012, 08:35 AM
FringeNC MVP Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: NC Casino cash: $-1773986	Mellinger: Chiefs need to make fixes, but not at head coach http://www.kansascity.com/2012/01/01...ennel-and.html Chiefs need to make fixes, but not at head coach By SAM MELLINGER The Kansas City Star DENVER \| They are chanting his name in the locker room, over and over and over, the second time in three weeks they’ve busted out in beautiful, spontaneous, united success for the man they overwhelmingly want to coach them next year. RAC! … RAC! … RAC! … Those Chiefs players will almost certainly get their wish, and very soon, as general manager Scott Pioli is expected to make interim coach Romeo Crennel the permanent leader of a roster already dedicated to him. Crennel deserves it. He’s earned it, removing the most reasonable doubts by beating the Broncos 7-3 here on Sunday. That’s wins over two playoff teams in three games for a man who embodies most of the characteristics the organization wants to project. Three respected Chiefs players — Tamba Hali, Steve Breaston and Le’Ron McClain — agreed that Crennel has “overwhelming” support from the players. So the Chiefs are best served with him as the head coach, but only under the following condition: They don’t get fooled into believing the rest of the fixes from a disappointing season are in-house. Early indications are good. The coaching staff will undergo major changes, almost certainly with a new offensive coordinator and new special-teams coach. Crennel would have final say in hiring assistants, and that includes Josh McDaniels, with whom he worked four seasons in New England and will reportedly be fired as Rams offensive coordinator. Chiefs fans have spent a lot of time agonizing over McDaniels, but a Chiefs source said he was not and will not be interviewed for the head coaching job. That’s a good start, but not enough. The players seem to understand this. “Yeah, you need to bring in some guys,” says Hali, who with a long-term contract and universal respect is among the Chiefs who can speak most freely. “We need some younger guys. Guys like Derrick (Johnson) and I, we are aging in this game. I do believe you need to bring in some younger guys to help us.” Hali goes on. He says that “we have to make sure that (quarterback) position is solidified,” and that “nothing against our old coach, but Romeo’s a little older, experienced, he knows what he’s doing.” There is more, and it is echoed throughout the locker room, with a season now officially over and the players as honest and reflective as the NFL and Chiefs culture allows. Breaston talks of being proud that his team played hard, when it had nothing to play for and the Broncos had so much. He thinks that’s equal parts Crennel’s influence and what he’s come to think of as a unique vibe within the Chiefs’ locker room. McClain talks of hoping to be back next year, so he can see this thing through, only without an absurd string of injuries that hampered so much of what would’ve otherwise been possible. Changes will be made, of course, mostly because changes are always made in the NFL, but also because changes need to be made with the Chiefs. Injuries have become a crutch for apologists, and this is counterproductive if it allows anyone to believe that a near-historic number of blowout losses can be fixed by a doctor. The offensive line was perfectly healthy, for instance, and it stunk for most of the season. Same with the defensive line, though Allen Bailey’s emergence is encouraging. The Chiefs’ decision-makers seem to understand this. You get that sense through private conversations, anyway, though there is enough deliberate ambiguity within the organization that it’s hard to tell for sure. One of the most dangerous temptations is to believe that the Chiefs are this close to the playoffs because they weren’t eliminated until last week. You can even point out that if Dwayne Bowe hadn’t dropped a touchdown pass against the Raiders, or if Ryan Succop had made one of those field goals, the Chiefs would be in the playoffs. Except that’s not a reason to be comfortable; it’s the opposite. The Chiefs came within a game of the playoffs because the AFC West is worse than chicken pox. Failing to take advantage would be a shame — a fireable offense. Realistically, the Chiefs quit against the Jets and Dolphins, lost by 27 or more points five times and actually got pretty lucky with a schedule that gave them a string of failing quarterbacks (including the Chargers’ Philip Rivers fumbling away a win on Halloween) and breaks in Chicago. Just by virtue of medical technology, the Chiefs will be the AFC West’s most improved team if Jamaal Charles, Eric Berry and Tony Moeaki fully recover. There is no way to plan for a similar stack of injuries next year, but only fools would rely on duplicating the remarkably injury-free season of 2010. Hali understands this. He talked for about 10 minutes as the locker room around him cleared out for the last time this season. He talked mostly about his coach, and about how Crennel is one of those “special people … almost like your father” whom players want to make proud. “You know our league,” he says. “Some guys buy in, some guys don’t. It seems like a lot of guys have bought into Romeo. His philosophy and everything he wants to get done, we’ve bought into it.” The Chiefs need to make that matter. But they also need to understand that to capitalize on a beautiful opportunity next year, many of the other needed changes must come from outside the organization.
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01-03-2012, 04:37 PM	#108
okcchief MVP Join Date: Jul 2008 Casino cash: $9849890	I like Romeo better than Haley or Herm. The bar can't get any lower
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