Chiefs Mellinger: Chiefs need to make fixes, but not at head coach - Page 2

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.

Dexter Manley · 01-02-2012, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

The Charger players LOVE Norv Turner.

No, the Spanos family does, or did...

The Chargers did not play that hard for Norv. The Chiefs did for Romeo.

Dexter Manley · 01-02-2012, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bane

Hali for GM?

Another upgrade.

BigChiefFan · 01-02-2012, 08:46 AM

Can't wait for more 7 point games. ****ing stellar.

Dexter Manley · 01-02-2012, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigChiefFan

Can't wait for more 7 point games. ****ing stellar.

That is 99% Pioli and 1% Crennel, the offense...

htismaqe · 01-02-2012, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dexter Manley

No, the Spanos family does, or did...

The Chargers did not play that hard for Norv. The Chiefs did for Romeo.

Philip Rivers said yesterday that he loves Norv. You're delusional.

htismaqe · 01-02-2012, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dexter Manley

That is 99% Pioli and 1% Crennel, the offense...

Pioli is THE reason RAC is here in the first place.

**the Talking Can** · 01-02-2012, 08:50 AM

so is Crennel going to insist on getting a new QB?

or is he just going to be foot shuffling porter and play Cassel?

as good as he is with defense, does he understand any better than pioli how important the QB is?

InChiefsHeaven · 01-02-2012, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

We are so ****ed. RAC is going to be a terrible head coach. A perfect example is this last game. Meaningless worthless game yet he won't start Stanzi, Powe or Hudson to give them some seasoning. When asked about it in the press conference he said I'm going with the players that got us here.

Thats all I need to hear. We need someone with some balls and some vision for blending in rooks and getting them some playing time.

Come on dude. Romeo was playing for his job. He's not gonna put in the young'uns. He's going to try to win the game because from his standpoint, winning is everything and there are no meaningless games. I get that. I understand what you are saying, but I don't think you are taking the circumstances into account. Romeo is not as interested in next year because there's no guarantee he'll be here. A win on the other hand helps to solidify that.

I don't blame him for that at all. That's to be expected.

keg in kc · 01-02-2012, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

We are so ****ed. RAC is going to be a terrible head coach. A perfect example is this last game. Meaningless worthless game yet he won't start Stanzi, Powe or Hudson to give them some seasoning. When asked about it in the press conference he said I'm going with the players that got us here.

Thats all I need to hear. We need someone with some balls and some vision for blending in rooks and getting them some playing time.

Thank god you're not in charge.

ShowtimeSBMVP · 01-02-2012, 08:52 AM

Crennel HC and McDaniels OC just means cassel will be back

Dexter Manley · 01-02-2012, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Philip Rivers said yesterday that he loves Norv. You're delusional.

LOL!!!

Everyone is "delusional" who disagrees with you.

Rivers is not the Chargers roster. Rivers likes Norv's offense which has Rivers throwing and throwing and throwing for massive fantasy stats and NO RINGS...

BigChiefFan · 01-02-2012, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dexter Manley

That is 99% Pioli and 1% Crennel, the offense...

Gee, I thought Romeo was calling the offense.

He was the head coach for the final 3 games and the offense still stunk to high heaven. He'll stick with a veteran QB, even though it's another band-aid approach. More of the same.

Dexter Manley · 01-02-2012, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Pioli is THE reason RAC is here in the first place.

RAC would have landed somewhere else. Pioli knew him from NE. So what. RAC is an experienced NFL DC and HC, and the players played hard for him. RAC is not the problem with the offense. Pioli's decisions are...

Dexter Manley · 01-02-2012, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigChiefFan

Gee, I thought Romeo was calling the offense.

He was the head coach for the final 3 games and the offense still stunk to high heaven. He'll stick with a veteran QB, even though it's another band-aid approach. More of the same.

Bill Walsh could resurrect and call the plays, and with this roster, the O would still blow...

ShowtimeSBMVP · 01-02-2012, 08:58 AM

mellingerSam Mellinger

Yes. RT @ChiefsandOsFan @mellinger crennel the man in 2012? are you 99%sure?

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.
Posts: 10,234

01-02-2012, 08:46 AM	#18
BigChiefFan MVP Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: In the Top 10 Casino cash: $9924205	Can't wait for more 7 point games. ****ing stellar. __________________ A 35 year drought can make you thirsty.
Posts: 15,777

01-02-2012, 08:50 AM	#22
the Talking Can Supporter Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: street Casino cash: $9162208	so is Crennel going to insist on getting a new QB? or is he just going to be foot shuffling porter and play Cassel? as good as he is with defense, does he understand any better than pioli how important the QB is? __________________ Clark Hunt: "Thank god for the Dominican pool boy"
Posts: 51,585

01-02-2012, 08:52 AM	#25
ShowtimeSBMVP Chiefs Join Date: Feb 2009 Casino cash: $1186009	Crennel HC and McDaniels OC just means cassel will be back
Posts: 23,832

01-02-2012, 08:58 AM	#30
ShowtimeSBMVP Chiefs Join Date: Feb 2009 Casino cash: $1186009	mellingerSam Mellinger Yes. RT @ChiefsandOsFan @mellinger crennel the man in 2012? are you 99%sure?
Posts: 23,832

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