Babb: Chiefs defensive coordinator Crennel not going into panic mode

[Tribal Warfare]

Chiefs defensive coordinator Crennel not going into panic mode
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star

After 89 points allowed, two losses and a bleak outlook, there seems to be plenty of reasons for the Chiefs defense to panic. Yet, coordinator Romeo Crennel has remained unruffled.

“He’s been calm,” Chiefs cornerback Brandon Carr said. “With a resume like Romeo’s, he’s seen it all, for the most part.”

Crennel has coached good defenses and poor ones, been the coach of a Cleveland Browns team that seemed to have little chance of turning the corner, and now he’s the leader of a defense that seems to possess talent but clearly lacks answers. The Chiefs have one sack, two interceptions — though Jon McGraw fumbled shortly after his pick last week — and one missing rising star at safety, Eric Berry, who tore the ACL in his left knee during the first game.

That has resulted in a group of stunned players and reason to think the Chiefs have little chance of stopping some of the league’s better offenses. They couldn’t do that the past two weeks, in blowout losses to Buffalo and Detroit, and it’s difficult to point toward ways the Chiefs might slow the Chargers’ powerful, multi-dimensional attack Sunday in San Diego.

But instead of appearing rattled, players said Crennel has been the picture of serenity. He’s still pointed in meetings, energetic during practices. This is the same old Romeo, even if his defense lacks the confidence it had in 2010, when it produced a pair of Pro Bowlers in Berry and linebacker Tamba Hali.

“I haven’t seen a change in him,” defensive lineman Wallace Gilberry said. “He still demands the best out of us, expects the best out of us, and we’re not giving it to him right now.”

For his part, Crennel said he has avoided the temptation to make drastic changes to the defense because doing so could further set back the Chiefs. That might sound impossible, considering the way they have lost, but many defenders believe that improving communication and fundamental play can prevent those two blowout defeats from being repeated.

“You have to look at what you’re doing and then try to figure out why you’re not doing as well,” Crennel said. “To change completely, there’s a learning curve that goes along with change.

“It might help you, and it might not help you. I think your best chance is to work on your foundations, and if you can identify something that’s definitely hurting you, then you make a change at that point or you change your technique or something there. But wholesale change, I don’t know if wholesale change is the answer.”

Crennel said the Chiefs’ top priority is to keep opposing offenses out of the end zone, something the defense struggled with against the Bills and the Lions. Big yards and field goals are tolerable. Touchdowns are not. Crennel and head coach Todd Haley have, in recent days, pointed to near-misses by the defense. Crennel said that’s a sign his players have continued to play hard, even amid large deficits, but becoming effective is a matter of taking those final steps in getting a sack, or holding onto the ball when it hits a defender in the hands, or simply a player being in the spot he’s assigned.

“Once we get all that stuff cleaned up and taken care of,” Gilberry said, “it’ll be back to where it was.”

Perhaps the most maddening thing for the Chiefs defense is that, even without Berry, the team possesses plenty of talent. Hali led the AFC in sacks last year, linebacker Derrick Johnson has a knack for big plays, and the secondary is loaded with solid youngsters, such as cornerback Brandon Flowers and safety Kendrick Lewis. None, though, has yet shown examples of that potential in 2011. The defensive line has been unable so far to stop the run, putting pressure on the other position groups to clean up its mess.

But even with all that, Crennel has indicated to his players that it’s not time to panic. He has told them to continue doing their jobs, albeit with greater attention to the details and their assignments, and eventually good things will come.

He said he hopes they come soon.

“If we can win one game,” he said, “then that’ll help us tremendously.”

Players said they believe Crennel still trusts them, and they still trust their coordinator.

“He knows we’re capable of getting it done,” Gilberry said. “It’s just a matter of us going out and doing it. He has faith in us; he has faith in his system, and it’s up to us to just prove that it works and prove that we have the guys that can get it done.”

CHIEFS AT CHARGERS
•3:05 p.m. Sunday at San Diego (Chs. 5, 13)

[milkman]

Originally Posted by notorious

People easily forget. Others, like myself can't forget.


Evaluate Herm ****ing Edwards. Pioli's first FAIL.

That was Hunt's "fail".

I wasn't on the Pioli bandwagon at the time, but I do believe that he would have fired Herman ****ing Edwards as soon as he walked in the door if not for Hunt's request.

[notorious]

Originally Posted by milkman

That was Hunt's "fail".

I wasn't on the Pioli bandwagon at the time, but I do believe that he would have fired Herman ****ing Edwards as soon as he walked in the door if not for Hunt's request.

Was it?

If Clark needed to evaluate Herm as a head coach, this entire organization is ****ed. We can't fire the owner.......

[milkman]

Originally Posted by notorious

Was it?

If Clark needed to evaluate Herm as a head coach, this entire organization is ****ed. We can't fire the owner.......

Hunt felt a sense of loyalty and obligation to Herman ****ing Edwards, because he agreed the youth movement that Herman ****ing Edwards talked him onto.

He wanted to give him a (more than) fair chance.

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by milkman

I don't think Pendergast was Haley's choice.

Because Clark Hunt asked Pioli to take some time with Herman ****ing Edwards and give him a fair evaluation before making the decision to fire him, the Chiefs entered the offseason hiring process far later than every other team that were making changes, including the HC hire.

By the time they started to assemble a staff, the pickings were pretty slim, and they were forced to settle for stop gaps like Pendergast.

I mentioned this last night, but Clancy wasnt even hired as the DC.

He was hired as a "defensive assistant" and we were in contact with Romeo at the time and another coordinator that never ended up being named.

It was only after the other options didn't take the job that Clancy was named the DC.

I think Clancy was brought along by Haley, but was never intended to be the actual DC.

If Romeo doesnt tweak his scheme a little to allow us to at least try to get more pressure, he will absolutely paint himself in the same light as G-Rob.

NOBODY could have watched the last two games and thought the defense was being coordinated by a good DC...all I could see was G-Rob.

Houston
Hali
Sheffield
Gilberry
Belcher
DJ

all are good pass rushers that would thrive in a pressure scheme.

Hey Milk, remember all our talks about Wade Phillips and Dorsey as a 1 gap nose...I think this defense would be dominant with that style in place right now with these players.

What do you think?

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by BossChief

Hey Milk, remember all our talks about Wade Phillips and Dorsey as a 1 gap nose...I think this defense would be dominant with that style in place right now with these players.

What do you think?

I seriously doubt it.

I'm beginning to believe that Dorsey would struggle in any system. He's getting washed out more often than not and can't hold up against the point of attack even in one on one situations.

He's quick enough that he makes plays from behind sometimes and on hard slants, but he's getting killed on plays run right at him.

As much as everyone around here thought that we killed it on draft day in 2008, those two first rounders haven't panned out like the majority hoped they would.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

I seriously doubt it.

I'm beginning to believe that Dorsey would struggle in any system. He's getting washed out more often than not and can't hold up against the point of attack even in one on one situations.

He's quick enough that he makes plays from behind sometimes and on hard slants, but he's getting killed on plays run right at him.

As much as everyone around here thought that we killed it on draft day in 2008, those two first rounders haven't panned out like the majority hoped they would.

No disrespect intended, but you've proven over and over again that you wouldn't recognize line play, good or bad, if your dumb ass got run over by it.

[Ace Gunner]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

I seriously doubt it.

I'm beginning to believe that Dorsey would struggle in any system. He's getting washed out more often than not and can't hold up against the point of attack even in one on one situations.

He's quick enough that he makes plays from behind sometimes and on hard slants, but he's getting killed on plays run right at him.

As much as everyone around here thought that we killed it on draft day in 2008, those two first rounders haven't panned out like the majority hoped they would.

oh gawd dude. you're in trouble now. the dorsey police are coming for you.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by milkman

No disrespect intended, but you've proven over and over again that you wouldn't recognize line play, good or bad, if your dumb ass got run over by it.

It's pretty easy to spot substandard to mediocre play when it's happening every game for the past three plus years. I don't know if Dorsey is your boy or not, but the guy just doesn't have it. He's getting/gets steamrolled a lot and has zero upfield push against even marginal offensive line talent. The guy sucks. We're getting killed in the run and he's a big reason why.

All I know is that we've spent two top five picks on defensive line players in the past four drafts and both should be considered busts as it relates to their draft position versus performance on the field.

And everyone around here should be praying to whatever deity they deem omnipotent that the Chiefs don't win a game this season and get the #1 overall pick to take Luck because it's a strong possibility that the Chiefs are forced to yet again take a defensive line prospect high in the draft.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by chiefsfootballfan

oh gawd dude. you're in trouble now. the dorsey police are coming for you.

Oh, I figured that they would. The guy is defended on this board like nobody else. Why I don't know, but he is damn near untouchable in terms of criticism around here.

[ClevelandBronco]

Best case scenario for every other team in the league is that Crennel stays on with Kansas City.

The Chiefs defense will never do shit with his worthless ass in charge, and no other team will have to pretend to interview the idiot for vacant positions.

[Ace Gunner]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

Oh, I figured that they would. The guy is defended on this board like nobody else. Why I don't know, but he is damn near untouchable in terms of criticism around here.

he's cute. to them. but before we are banned, here's a clip of a goal line stand in which Dorsey the magnificent is supposed to cut the legs of LT Bell so the LB - Scheffield can stand up the rusher. Dorsey can't even do that. After 3 plus seasons, you'd think he could at least do that;

http://www.nfl.com/videos/kansas-cit...st-1-yd-run-TD

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

It's pretty easy to spot substandard to mediocre play when it's happening every game for the past three plus years. I don't know if Dorsey is your boy or not, but the guy just doesn't have it. He's getting/gets steamrolled a lot and has zero upfield push against even marginal offensive line talent. The guy sucks. We're getting killed in the run and he's a big reason why.

All I know is that we've spent two top five picks on defensive line players in the past four drafts and both should be considered busts as it relates to their draft position versus performance on the field.

And everyone around here should be praying to whatever deity they deem omnipotent that the Chiefs don't win a game this season and get the #1 overall pick to take Luck because it's a strong possibility that the Chiefs are forced to yet again take a defensive line prospect high in the draft.

I'm not defending Dorsey.

I am simply telling you that your observations over the last 3 or 4 years around here have proven your idiocy.

[notorious]

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

Best case scenario for every other team in the league is that Crennel stays on with Kansas City.

The Chiefs defense will never do shit with his worthless ass in charge, and no other team will have to pretend to interview the idiot for vacant positions.

Thanks for your honesty. I agree.

[bevischief]

We have heard this before...

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

I seriously doubt it.

I'm beginning to believe that Dorsey would struggle in any system. He's getting washed out more often than not and can't hold up against the point of attack even in one on one situations.

He's quick enough that he makes plays from behind sometimes and on hard slants, but he's getting killed on plays run right at him.

As much as everyone around here thought that we killed it on draft day in 2008, those two first rounders haven't panned out like the majority hoped they would.

You are a moron. Dorsey is very good at what he does.