Jamie Squire - Getty Images
Good morning. Sorry about missing yesterday's post. Not a lot went according to plan this weekend. Now we're back to the work week and that should help. To those of you with a holiday today, relax and enjoy. Here is today's Kansas City Chiefs news.
Between changing their head coach and then their quarterback late in the year, the Chiefs experienced so much drama that this little fact slipped through almost unnoticed: By season's end, the Chiefs had one of the NFL's best defensive teams.
Opponents over the last six games struggled to move the ball and score points against the Chiefs.
It wasn't lost on Romeo Crennel. He said recently that things worked so well at the end of the season that he would in effect continue to serve as the defensive coordinator even though he's now the head coach.
Chiefs Anticipate Being Special On Defense Next Season from KC Star
New Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel publicly backed his defensive staff last week, revealing his plans to retain Kansas City's defensive assistants. As far as the offensive staff goes, Crennel has only said that the evaluation process is ongoing...
...Though Crennel has yet to identify any specific candidates for the position, he has a recent working history with a number of experienced NFL play-callers.
If familiarity and past play-calling experience is something Crennel is searching for, the following names have been associated with Crennel as recently as the 2000 season.
Looking At Crennel's Circle Of Coordinators from The Mothership
Haley suspected that many rooms at the team facility were bugged so that team administrators could monitor employees' conversations. Stopping finally in a conference room, Haley said he believed his personal cellphone, a line he used before being hired by the Chiefs in 2009, had been tampered with.
Paranoid? The Chiefs have adamantly denied that they tap phones or listen in on conversations. But as the team enters another period of transition after elevating defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel last week to head coach, interviews with more than two dozen current and former employees suggest that intimidation and secrecy are among the Chiefs' principal management styles - and that Haley wasn't the only one with paranoid thoughts.
Arrowhead Anxiety: Turnover Off The Field Causes Concern from KC Star
Romeo Crennel has the distinction of designing the only defensive game plan to stop Aaron Rodgers and the dynamic Green Bay Packers offense this season...
...Named last week as Kansas City's new head coach, Crennel took a few minutes to share his rubric for stopping the Packers:
Giants vs. Packers: Romeo Crennel Offers Tips On How To Beat Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay from The Newark Star-Ledger
This is the Chiefs' major decision now. It is real, even if the decision-makers are maintaining their usual silence. Cassel is the incumbent, and there are no indications that the most important opinions on him are wavering.
But the costs of moving on have never been lower, the potential benefits never been higher, and the timing never better. The easy thing is to see that the Chiefs need to get better at quarterback.
The harder thing is thinking through the options and making the necessary sacrifices.
Now Is The Time For The Chiefs To Make Bold Move At QB from KC Star
The starting right cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs could be one of the prized free agents on the open market in the offseason if the his current team fails to re-sign him. He appeared on a Kansas City, Mo., radio program last week to discuss his free-agent status, his desire to remain with the Chiefs and the possibility of the Flint native perhaps suiting up for the Detroit Lions.
"I don't really want to talk about contracts," Carr told 610 Sports Radio host Nick Wright. "If everything works out the way, you know, that it should, I will be in a Kansas City Chiefs uniform, but at the end of the day it's going to be my decision to make. It's going to be a hard one. It's not going to be easy. I've been out here four years and I have a lot of things established here and a lot of friendships and -- on the field -- getting a lot of things done."After Four Years With Kansas City Chiefs, Friends Urge Former GVSU Cornerback To Join Detroit Lions As Free Agent from The Grand Rapids Press
Defensive end Shaun Ellis has been in the NFL since 2000, and he's in his 12th season. Same with guard Brian Waters.
And after they were key factors in the Patriots' 45-10 win over the Denver Broncos in a divisional playoff game Saturday, the veterans were relishing their fate.
Waters, who spent his entire career with the Kansas City Chiefs before 2011, earned the first postseason win of his career.
"Big day," Waters said with a smile.
Brian Waters, Shaun Ellis Relish Postseason Experience from The Boston Herald
When Vermeil took over at Kansas City, he wanted to bring the same vertical game he was able to develop with Kurt Warner and translate it to Chiefs skill players. He was successful for five years and it was all the work of Saunders with his voluminous playbook.
Let's take a look at Saunders record since 2001:
What About Al? from Warpaint Illustrated
As I sat watching (and thoroughly enjoying) the New England Patriots 45-10 dismantling of the Denver Broncos on Saturday night, I was further cheered by the fact that Broncos president, John "Old Horse Face" Elway has a huge problem on his hands. And, as a Chiefs fan, I'm loving it!
He's stuck with a wildly popular quarterback that he cannot afford to bench; despite the fact his QB has, at best, average skills for the position. At worst, his quarterback is a one-trick pony that defensive coordinators figured out how to defend in less than half a season.
Broncos' Problem With Tebow-mania Will Be Boon For Chiefs in 2012 from Examiner.com
0 recs | 60 comments
Al Saunders would be a great OC...
if we had a QB that was any good. I can’t see Cassel doing anything special with his limp noodle of an arm. We need to hire someone that can build our offense around our running game and short to medium passes over the middle.
5280ChiefsFan - January 16, 2012
Saunders got screwed over by the Chiefs last time. He was supposed to take over for Vermeil.
Not sure that he would come back here. But it would be great if he did.
electriclight - January 16, 2012
New front office would help those chances
Scaryclouds - January 16, 2012 via mobile
No we need someone that can throw the ball down the field, not a Rich Gannon type of offense!
Billy Wickham - January 16, 2012
I'd love a new starting QB just as much as most people
but I think realistically we are going to have Cassel again and we’ll have to do what we can to play to his strengths (does he have any?)
5280ChiefsFan - January 16, 2012
that's kind of the issue ...
upamtn - January 16, 2012
what strengths?
LadyChief - January 16, 2012
2 yard passes
LookListenLearn - January 16, 2012
"Arrowhead Anxiety: Turnover Off The Field Causes Concern"
I love it!
Its like Slugworth trying to ruin Wonka!
All PIoli needs for total secrecy is a bunch of those green haired orange face guys.
aPacificChief - January 16, 2012
To be honest...
you really don’t know if he already has them. =)
NJ Chiefs Fan - January 16, 2012
that was Joel's only post yesterday ... ie, referncing that article. other than game threads
and it was all he needed … hoo boy did we have a go ’round or two on that
upamtn - January 16, 2012
Just read the comments on that one.
Wow.
NJ Chiefs Fan - January 16, 2012
uh huh
fames? what games? THAT was the Topic Du Jour …. good job wading thru it in under 4 hours :-)
upamtn - January 16, 2012
It's the Lizard man's way.
bossmanham - January 16, 2012
i do not see anything about my conspiracy.theory
Fisher was not here to interview, he was here working out the details for our draft day trade with st louis. RG3 !!!!!!!
ArrowheadHunter - January 16, 2012 via mobile
Pioli bugged his phone too, I'll betcha.
Also, Romeo Crennel is clearly a robot.
bossmanham - January 16, 2012
hey, you ... pick up your trash
upamtn - January 16, 2012
If they even find out exactly who dropped that candy wrapper.....WATCH OUT!
jcox31mc - January 16, 2012
what if it was Cassel?!?
upamtn - January 16, 2012
All I gleaned from that article yesterday (and this morning) was....
1) The bosses at One Arrowhead Drive, starting with Clark Hunt, have high expectations for detail and secrecy in work.
2) They will go to ANY lengths necessary to teach people their “systems” or methods.
3) Their methods are (absolutely) not for everyone.
4) Some staffers were let go because of the economy, and others because they weren’t “fits” in the new management style.
5) Some of those firings were appropriate, and others were not appropriate. Legal action is being taken.
6) The team is being run the way the owner sees fit…and that’s how it is.
Babb wrote an article that was both enlightening and fictitious at times…there was enough info in there to convince you that either a) our club is being run like a Fortune 500 company, which many of us work for or b) our club is being run like a dictatorship.
The thread from that post yesterday was oftentimes unreadable, and the amount of personal commentary from frequent AP’ers was staggering. Petty details in the story have just turned into AP memes that I, for one, could do without.
/shrugs
Folks goin’ do what folks goin’ do, I suppose. Go Chiefs (no matter what side of the aisle you’re on).
go_saleaumua - January 16, 2012
They're checking for finger prints and DNA now.
jcox31mc - January 16, 2012
spend the first couple picks on quality o-linemen
Then pick up a running back and qb in the late rounds every year. What do we have to lose? A great on-line makes average guys (cassel) look a lot better
CB - January 16, 2012 via mobile
Absolutely agree...
The 49ers have 3 Pro-Bowl O-linemen and the Saints have two (or the other way around, I forget….) When we had Roaf, and Waters, and Shields we made Trent Green look pretty awesome. With Asamoah, Albert, Hudson, and say, Decastro, and a “lineman to be named later”, with Jamaal Charles running behind them, and, say, Orton slinging the ball enough to keep defenses honest (no 8 men in the box), we could have a dominant, ball control offense to go with our strong D.
AnkenyChiefsFan - January 16, 2012
this ^^^
upamtn - January 16, 2012
I've figured it out!
Why didn’t I see it before? Pioli is….A LIZARD PERSON!!! He’s replaced the rebellious human, Haley, with Robot Romeo!
It’s all very scary at 1 Arrowhead.
bossmanham - January 16, 2012
Are you sure he isnt one of the crab people
Chiefs fan in ST Louis - January 16, 2012 via mobile
Personally I do not believe Pioli has access to and
mind control over all the bloggers on AP. Having said that, I am required to pass on the following message from our lizard king overlords……….." Do not be afraid…….we will not harm you………….obey, and you will be well taken care of………"
G.L. - January 16, 2012
Wow...
after going over to the Star to see an article, and reading some of THEIR reader comments, they are a lot more down on the Chiefs than the folks here at AP. They think our O-line is terrible, Bowe is overrated, and that Moeaki was a huge mistake.
Personally, I think 1-2 decisions on the O-line (ups wants DeCastro, and I think if Kalil, Martin, and Reiff are gone, that would be a good decision), a signing of Kyle Orton to a 3 year deal, trading Cassel and drafting a QB prospect like Case Keenum or Kellen Moore or Nick Foles, or even Brandon Weeden will put this team a long ways towards being elite. Then we need a backup TE and RB. Cut Palko (can’t believe it hasn’t happened yet), Jones, keep B-Rich as a backup, get a backup safety, and we should be pretty good. Am I missing anything?
AnkenyChiefsFan - January 16, 2012
Cassel isnt going anywhere
For those who want cassel gone,just forget it,it isnt going to happen.Pioli is so much hung on cassel that his ego wont let him pull the trigger on bringing in some competition,besides once the patriots way,always the patriots way,which i think totally sucks.quit trying to be like somebody else and create your own chiefs way,time will tell how much pull romeo has in the matter.
chiefsfool - January 16, 2012
I don't know if Pioli is hung on him
so much as our options are simply limited. Orton staying is a long shot (though I hope it happens) and who do we have left? Unproven untested Stanzi and Cassel, who has won in the league. Let’s see if an Alex Smith like thing can happen w/ Cassel.
bossmanham - January 16, 2012
Gotta protect him first....
Go O-line, O-line in the draft, choosing BPA at that position. If we get DeCastro, we could move Hudson to C and have a dominant interior. We could run all day with those 3 leading the way. Better resign McClain, too.
AnkenyChiefsFan - January 16, 2012
Totally agree.
If Cassel’s the guy, he needs protection and a steady OC.
bossmanham - January 16, 2012
Was it New Englands O-line that made Cassel look so good when he stepped in for Brady?
Grant it he had some play makers, but damn we have plenty of those on offense. I really would love to have a new QB that I can trust can make a throw (Orton for now) but if all Cassel needs is better protection, then shit lets get some beefy linemen in here and protect him. I’m going to support whoever we have whether I agree with management or not, but the o-line has to be what helped Cassel succeed in New England…or was it something else?
jcrunninwild - January 16, 2012
I don't think Cassel will be as good as Orton, and a beefy O line won't solve everything
but it can’t hurt.
bossmanham - January 16, 2012
i agree it won't solve everything but if it helps him be a bit more successful
and hide most of his deficiencies then thats what we need to do. But I’d still like to trade Cassel for a draft pick of any sort and sign Orton. Then go after a qb in the 2nd or 3rd round. Because i don’t see us trading up to the 2nd spot. Just not the Pioli way.
jcrunninwild - January 16, 2012
If anything get the oline now
That way when we do get a solid quarterback they are experienced and won’t give up sack after sack. Look at what happened to Bradford this year and David Carr
Chiefs fan in ST Louis - January 16, 2012 via mobile
NE O-line was border line horrible that year
It wasn’t about protection for Cassell it was Randy Moss. If I remember right Cassel was one of the most sacked QBs in the league that year.
Gumpster - January 16, 2012
some of us have been saying this for awhile now ... in fact., more and more every day :-)
upamtn - January 16, 2012
"Orton staying is a long shot"
Only because he’s smart enough to know that no ones going to get an open shot in open competition. Probably, if it was made clear that he had an equal chance to be the starting QB, he would want to stay. Why is Cassel the only player on the team that is guarenteed his job? Answer: Pioli.
jcox31mc - January 16, 2012
Somebody better check in on Kent Babb
Have the men in black come for him yet?
MattHoover - January 16, 2012
Let's say KC had beaten Oakland, gone to the playoffs and beaten Pittsburgh
What are the odds that Orton would be re-signed? I’d say extremely high.
I just hate to think that the KC quarterback situation for the next 2-3 seasons might be determined by a blocked field goal attempt.
jmcgoblue - January 16, 2012
Or a GM that dictates who the QB is?
jcox31mc - January 16, 2012
Should of resigned Orton after the packers game.
Hell we should of locked him up right after packers game,to send a message to Cassel that your going to have to earn this job next year,in which cassel said he would welcome the oppertunity for competition..Lets see how much romeo has a say in the matter if any.
chiefsfool - January 16, 2012
Alex Smith is the reason Matt Cassel should
Be the starting QB for the Chiefs next year. Our passing game is way better than theirs, Jamaal Charles is way better than Gore, and our defense has the potential to be just as good as theirs. Just get O-Lineman who can give Cassel time to make a great throw and we can be a great team. And we shouldn’t resign Orton just to show Cassel he’s got our full support. Teams who have QB battles rarely make the playoffs, so we should just get behind one guy.
JC25FoMVP - January 16, 2012 via mobile
I have a hard time thinking Cassel is better than Alex Smith
Don’t get me wrong, Alex has not done much until this year but he seems to have a lot more talent than Cassel. That’s just my opinion though. I don’t want QB competition at camp because Crennel had that issue in Cleveland and it just goes back and forth if one guy has a bad game. So trade Cassel for whatever you can get for him and resign Orton. I’d feel much better about our passing game with Orton than with Cassel.
jcrunninwild - January 16, 2012
Cassel is better then Smith.
We should learn from Smith and Trent Green. If Trent Green played with the great O line he had with the Chiefs for 10 years he would have been a HOF. Without a good o line and bad play calling he looked below average.
We need a great O line and great play calling,
rdlvegas85 - January 16, 2012
I meant if we kept the O liine in place for 10 years
rdlvegas85 - January 16, 2012
meh
Cassel making a great throw … that’s a contradiction in terms, an oxymoron along the lines of Military Intelligence
get the OLine and Orton back and then you have something …
upamtn - January 16, 2012
well said.
jcrunninwild - January 16, 2012
Is this Pioli talking?
jcox31mc - January 16, 2012
RAC is no Jim Harbaugh
Not to mention their offensive and defensive lines are light years ahead of ours
HIV 2 Elway - January 16, 2012
that's good
but when they get their injured safety back, they’ll be Berry good.
chief Stevie_k - January 16, 2012
I wonder how we ranked on Defense the last 8 games?
We played some really good teams and held our own. We need Carr back next year and I can’t wait to see how creative we are going to be on Defense with Berry coming back.
rdlvegas85 - January 16, 2012
Tom Clements
chiefs94 - January 16, 2012
Anyone who can make Kelly Holcomb productive can do the same for Cassel
chiefs94 - January 16, 2012
Al Saunders
We had an offense that could run and pass.
rdlvegas85 - January 16, 2012
I noticed that RAC
keeps having new OC every year during his stint in Cleveland…I hope that don’t happens with the Chiefs!
Also on article about Carr…I noticed that people in Michigan would love for him to come to Detroit Lions….if that happens, I will be sure to attend every Lions game and let Carr really have it!
angrydeafman - January 16, 2012
Arrowhead Anxiety
Falcon58 - January 16, 2012
Oooop.... format fail.
Falcon58 - January 16, 2012
And the people mad were fired.
So here we are at a stalemate. Who do we believe?
bossmanham - January 16, 2012 via mobile
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