Romeo Crennel Will Still Be Involved With The Chiefs Defense

by Joel Thorman on Jan 12, 2012 11:50 AM CST

Doug Pensinger - Getty Images

One of the reasons I thought Romeo Crennel made sense as the new Kansas City Chiefs head coach is because of his past experience with the defense. KC's defense ranked 12th in the NFL this year and in the final three games of the season -- the Romeo Crennel era -- they gave up 14, 16 and 3 points. The only real progress we saw in 2011 came from the defense (although that was admittedly shaky at times).

I wanted to keep that defensive momentum going and it sounds like Crennel will still have a heavy hand in the defense moving forward.

While he hasn't yet officially named a defensive coordinator (whether that's himself or someone else) Crennel does plan on calling the defensive plays in 2012. This according to a recent interview with Adam Schein and Rich Gannon on Sirius XM NFL Radio.

Crennel handled both those duties well in the final three games so on a small sample size we know he can be successful as both the head coach and the defensive coordinator. Obviously, someone on the staff will have to step up to replace some of the duties Crennel did as the defensive coordinator but in the big picture he'll still be involved.

The next step is determining whether Crennel names himself the defensive coordinator or if someone else is brought in from the outside or elevated from within. The news that Crennel plans on calling the defensive plays makes me think the team is more likely to hire from within.

0 recs | 67 comments

Comments

i like this but..

He also mentioned that cassel helped team make it to playoffs and he believes cassel will again. He said he learned about his qb controversy in Cleveland and doesn’t want to go through that again. Hope he’s blowing smoke. I have a feeling if we stick with Cassel, bowe will not resign or ask to be traded if tagged.

jcrunninwild - January 12, 2012 via mobile reply

If Bowe leaves, how can Cassel start?

He locks on to him more than anyone

NJChieffan16 - January 12, 2012 via mobile reply

it worked pretty well

when they actually protected him.

ottawachiefsfan - January 12, 2012 reply

Hard to protect a guy who runs towards defenders.

JComp11 - January 12, 2012 reply

Well...

how do you get to the end zone otherwise?

supersoccersteven - January 12, 2012 reply

And had a running game so teams had to stack the box

ChiefWarPaint - January 12, 2012 reply

Cassel

Everyone is worried about Cassel being are QB. Cassel can be a decent QB for us if we have a o-line who gives him time. And anyone who says Orton did good the last three games but that was due to our O-line responding to Rac. Orton is pretty much the same QB as Cassel which is an average QB.

Capt.Spaulding - January 12, 2012 reply

Again, this argument is ridiculous. The line was responding to a competent quarterback who didn’t constantly shit his pants.

JComp11 - January 12, 2012 reply

It did seem that Orton was quicker at picking a target and getting rid of the ball.

Orton seemed to see the field better. Orton seemed to be more confident in his ability to fit ball into a smaller window. Orton is not much better than Cassel but that difference was noticable.

CatChief - January 12, 2012 reply

This.

How quickly people are forgetting the trainwreck that was Cassel. When I saw Orton hit 11 different receivers in one game, that made it pretty clear who the problem was.

WestonK - January 12, 2012 reply

I really hope they've evaluated risk as HC and DC all in one

Not doubting Crennel’s ability to call plays for the defense, but to come up with a weekly gameplan for defense, call the plays and manage the whole team (offense and special teams included), it can make for a bit of trouble. Just the opposite was true of Haley who had a heavy hand in the offense week in and week out.

JMagsKC1 - January 12, 2012 reply

This is what I was hoping for! I’m sure he’ll hire some assistant but run things on game day. The Defense doesn’t need a new system or coordinator switching things up.

NFLFootballWizard - January 12, 2012 reply

assistants

I think most of the current ones are Crennels guys…especially Gibbs and Thomas…another reason this hire made so much sense

groundedchevy - January 12, 2012 via mobile reply

Is Interesting

that a lot of people were against Haley having double duty as head coach and OC and there is no issue with Romeo doing it. Does anyone know if he did this in Cleveland? Is a lot easier to do it the last 3 games of the season when everything was in place. It will be interesting to see if he can do well from the beginning.

Nelly - January 12, 2012 reply

Agreed!!!

JMagsKC1 - January 12, 2012 reply

The difference is he's more then likely not going to be the defensive coordinator.

There’s a huge difference between coordinating and just calling plays. I think if you asked most Chiefs fans at the start of the season they would’ve rather had Haley calling the plays and letting Muir coordinate.

GenericBrand - January 12, 2012 reply

Absolutely

I think one of haley’s biggest mistakes was not openly taking the reigns of play calling. Perhaps he always wanted a scape goat in case things went wrong? Glad to see that romeo is all in

Fourstrike89 - January 12, 2012 via mobile reply

Co-

name a Co-DC that can mentor under him and take some of the duties off his shoulders.

SwimCoach - January 12, 2012 reply

Its going to be GIbbs. They should just give him the promotion and get it over with already so we have somehting new to talk about.

Romeo’s right hand man when organizing and setting up the game plan for the last three games was Gibbs. With Crennel wanting to call the plays it’s a no brainer. Then go hire Manusky to coach the LBs.

GenericBrand - January 12, 2012 reply

Sounds about right to me.

Eastcoastransplant - January 12, 2012 reply

What about Emmit Thomas?

ExRoyalsFan - January 12, 2012 reply

I would like to note

the importance of having a QB that can move ball. AKA, Orton in our last 3 games. You can easily tell how it helped our Defense. With Cassel/Palko all we did was have 3 and outs. It kept our Defense on the field CONSTANTLY. With Orton, they got a break and came in with better field position.

Brad-KC - January 12, 2012 reply

If we could just get in the end zone, then everything would be good

We had our best offensive game under Orton since the Colts game. We outgained the Packers in yardage. Need Orton to stay so we can focus on the OL. A full offseason and our players back, along with a good O coord can help a lot. We know Orton can move the ball. He did in Denver. Just need to get to that end zone.

NJChieffan16 - January 12, 2012 via mobile reply

why not

one capable of getting TD’s as well?

I like Succup, but hm being the only scoring threat issilly

Redberry - January 12, 2012 reply

wait...you are a Chiefs fan, and you have a picture of a Broncos player in your profile?

I don’t know what to say…

jmcgoblue - January 12, 2012 reply

He is a Tebow fan.

He is also anti-Orton. Sounds like a Denver fan. Sometimes talks like one. But he is a Chief fan, don’t worry(I think)

NJChieffan16 - January 12, 2012 reply

i can see him being a tebow fan

If tebow was in another division, but come on man, the broncos?

TheScreenName - January 12, 2012 via mobile reply

Now go get us that OC.

And for God sakes no QB#7

EricBerryYoYouScary - January 12, 2012 reply

Not a fan of coaches doing double duties

Didn’t like when Haley did and wouldn’t like if crennel does it..having your hand in it is one thing, being completely hands on is another

TheScreenName - January 12, 2012 via mobile reply

the difference is

That haley did it in his first year of being a hc and right after firing his oc. Crennels been a hc before and his system is already in place. Should run a lot smoother.

Montana Chief - January 12, 2012 via mobile reply

true

Still not a fan of it…as HC you have so much other things to focus on

TheScreenName - January 12, 2012 via mobile reply

Ol' Big Bill over at ESPN talked to Crennel today and supposedly Crennel brought up both Zorn and Hue Jackson.

GenericBrand - January 12, 2012 reply

i would like jackson as OC

But since he’s been fired from raiders, seems like the guy hasn’t shut up

TheScreenName - January 12, 2012 via mobile reply

i wasn't very hot on Hue initially

but have since come around. He is a dynamic offensive mind, he has got to hate the Raiders, and God forbid we get stuck w Cassel for another year, he knows him pretty well & could tweak his scheme to limit Cassel’s deficiencies somewhat a la Weis..

reedeasy - January 12, 2012 via Android app reply

Another interesting thing about Hue

Is he works well with mediocre QB’s. He was QB coach of Flacco when he was the rookie to win 2 playoff games in NFL history.

Brad-KC - January 12, 2012 reply

*the first rookie

Brad-KC - January 12, 2012 reply

And Zorn

later worked with Flacco. Flacco was pissed when Zorn was not retained.

kc_radrh8r - January 12, 2012 reply

Absolutely Yes.

I’d take him. If for nothing else than know that he’d be ultracompetitive in at least 6 games a year, especially against the Raiders.

Falcon58 - January 12, 2012 reply

Wow that's interesting

A lot of connections with KC then. Brought up by Crennel. Jackson recruited Cassel at USC.

Assuming Jackson has a bitter taste in his mouth from the firing and Pioli wants to roll with Cassel, this hiring would make a lot of sense. Unfortunately, that would likely mean that Cassel is the guy…

7chiefs7 - January 12, 2012 reply

I think Pioli is going to make Cassel the guy no matter who comes in

Brad-KC - January 12, 2012 reply

And your new Defensive Coordinator is...

Gary Gibbs!

ChiefWarPaint - January 12, 2012 reply

Big difference with Romeo double dipping and when you look at Haley. Romeo has been around the block a few timea and he knows what he is doing…people are seeming to forget he isnt some no name coach who yelled at a player on national TV and got a head coaching job becuz of it…Haley had no experience and thats why he struggled doubling duties

CWil03 - January 12, 2012 via mobile reply

Are you ready for some..................

LadyChief - January 12, 2012 reply

It's going to be the same situation as it was in Green Bay with the offense.

McCarthy calls the plays, but the OC coordinates and develops the gameplan. I’m okay with that. I want Romeo guiding the D. He needs to hire an OC that can run that side of the game on his own. Romeo needs to hire someone he trusts for that.

I’m on board with Hue Jackson for OC. Time for this Chiefs’ team to get some attitude.

Falcon58 - January 12, 2012 reply

I agree

As long as we get a great OC, this plan works well.

kcsno56 - January 12, 2012 reply

The defense is progressing quite nicely and needs to

continue to do so. However, to play with the big boys you have to be able to play offense. If you doubt it, just look at this year’s Chiefs season. The defense is ranked #12. That is plenty good enough of a defense to be able to make the playoffs. The Chiefs team record for the year was 7-9……….less than .500 ball. The defense would have been statistically even better had they not had to return to the field after countless 3 and outs compliments of the KC offense. Our defense was ranked 12th even though we were involved in several blowout losses during the season. The defense was not the problem. The problem was our offense could only manage enough points to beat 7 adversaries during the course of the season. As long as we have no offense, we will not win in the playoffs if we should be fortunate enough to make it.

G.L. - January 12, 2012 reply