The primary question facing the Kansas City Chiefs at this point in the team's offseason is the hole at offensive coordinator (if the reports are true that Bill Muir is going to retire). Romeo Crennel's expertise is on the defensive side as the team's new head coach, which means that whoever is named offensive coordinator is going to likely run most of the Chiefs' offensive decisions. For such an important position, there's very little in the way of news and yet it's likely to affect everything for the Chiefs going forward this offseason.
The new offensive coordinator could potentially affect a myriad of decisions -- from what the Chiefs decide to do at quarterback to some draft choices in late April's 2012 NFL Draft. Lurking behind all of these questions is one coach brought in during the midst of Todd Haley's tenure and kept after he was fired: Jim Zorn. Is it possible that Zorn will be the answer to the above question?
Zorn has head coaching experience in a short-lived stint with the Washington Redskins during the 2008-09 seasons. He has coached quarterbacks before and after that experience with a number of teams, and he currently holds that title for the Chiefs. He worked with Joe Flacco for one year in Baltimore before coming to Kansas City, and he spent 11 seasons before his Redskins gig as quarterbacks coach for the Seahawks and Lions. As a former NFL quarterback himself, he's clearly cut out for the job he's in.
But is he cut out for even more? The silence in Kansas City around the OC position makes you wonder if one of two options are true:
1. The team is waiting on a current playoff contender to end their season so their assistant coaches are available for interviews.
2. The team already has its option in house and, for some reason, is waiting to make the announcement.
Given the secrecy out of One Arrowhead Drive, it's not surprising that Chiefs fans and local media know absolutely nothing about the Chiefs plans for the position. Some solid candidates are still available on the market and Pioli and Crennel have certainly come up with a plan of attack for what's ahead. But Zorn is an intriguing name with experience as the head man along with decades of experience in analyzing an offense from the most important position on the field.
Zorn wouldn't be the sexy pick but given the Chiefs' theme of continuity this off-season, it also would not be that surprising if the team promoted Zorn as the team's offensive coordinator.
0 recs | 182 comments
What QB did he develop in Seatlle and Detroit?
Nick Britt - January 21, 2012
Seattle*
Nick Britt - January 21, 2012
Warren Moon?
Actually Moon had a pretty good year that year considering it was late in his career and Zorn made Charlie Batch actually seem like a good starting QB especially his rookie year. Then Zorns second go around with Seattle he developed Hasselbeck.
GenericBrand - January 21, 2012
Nevermind misread.
Zorn went to detroit first then seattle with Hasselbeck.
GenericBrand - January 21, 2012
List
Seattle: Matt Hasselbeck, Seneca Wallace, Trent Dilfer, Brock Huard, David Greene, Charlie Frye
Detroit: Charlie Batch, Gus Frerette, Stoney Case
Sprinkle in some Jeff George and emergency QBs
KeyboardGato - January 21, 2012
That is a pretty shitty list
Nick Britt - January 21, 2012
Before or after they worked with Zorn?
Tarkus - January 21, 2012
Both
Minus a few decent years from Hasselbeck.
Clements is much more impressive though.
Nick Britt - January 21, 2012
Matt Hasselbeck
Reason why I think he got this job in regards to Cassel. Guy was a no name Favre back-up then became a franchise quarterback with some great seasons.
KeyboardGato - January 21, 2012
Mike Holmgren developed those guys.. along with Favre etc... Zorn just happened to be there
at least that’s my opinion
Texas Chief - January 21, 2012
the opinion of an Idi ... oh wait, never mind ;-)
how ya doin’ my friend?
upamtn - January 21, 2012
working long hours all week. But doing fine.
Texas Chief - January 21, 2012
Was Holmgren also in Baltimore in 2010?
GenericBrand - January 21, 2012
Haha
ok, so the guy you want to point to is Joe Flacco in defense of Jim Zorn?
Holmgren is KNOWN for molding Steve Young, Brett Favre, and Matt Hasselbeck… he’s every bit of the QB guru that people like to pretend Jim Zorn or Jon Gruden are.
Jim Zorn worked for Holmgren. Maybe he learned some things from Holmgren about how to help a QB reach their potential… but it’s Holmgren that’s the guru.. not Zorn.
Texas Chief - January 21, 2012
I dunno
Mixed emotions. That they haven’t elevated anyone to DC either makes me believe that this is just as much a possibility as anyone. I would hope he has more ideas than just maintaining continuity because our offensive system is a friggin’ sad joke. It needs to be changed so it can me more effective. If Zorn can do that, then I’m ok with it. If the intent is to run with what we have, count me out. I say we move on.
Buck'O - January 21, 2012
not so sure it's "the system" Buck as the combination of players available, players hurt, current OLine and QB and this and that ...
it’s a mess, for sure … but not necessarily a systemic thing, if that makes sense
upamtn - January 21, 2012
IMO it is the system and the system is bullshit
one year with Weis and we saw some things geared more specifically towards the strengths of the players and lo-and-behold! we eeked into the playoffs. We go back on that this year and we regressed. I’m amazed we won as many games as we did. I’ll give you the injuries, but still, Haley lost his way. I’m glad we’ve moved on in that regard. So that leaves with a steaming pile of offensive players that don’t make sense. So if the consensus is to maintain the system but tweak it?!?!?! Hell no! I’d be completely pissed. It’s time to blow this crap up and figure out a way to make an offense that works.
Buck'O - January 21, 2012
Agree
Muir was never the right answer and Zorn I don’t think is either
Steve_Chiefs - January 21, 2012
Al Saunders
sodablaster - January 21, 2012
nice pipe dream
Bleedingredandgold - January 21, 2012
Maybe not OC but would like to see him stay on as QB coach.
GenericBrand - January 21, 2012
Yeah, not so excited about him as OC.
But would like to see him stay on at least another year as QB coach, with a full offseason to work with whomever.
Tarkus - January 21, 2012
Nope...I don't have warm fuzzies thinking about Zorn as OC
From an NBC Sports/ProFootballTalk on Zorn’s firing from the Ravens:
That sounds a bit too familiar for comfort – “communication issues”
And then there’s some high irony reading this ESPN article from Zorn’s Redskin days when a bad Chiefs team beat Zorn’s OC playcalling…
WorL4Chiefs - January 21, 2012
I wouldn't read too much into that.
The problem in Baltimore was Cameron and Flacco was pissed as hell when they let Zorn go. And the circus in Washington isn’t even worth analyzing but Zorn was just in way over his head as HC.
GenericBrand - January 21, 2012
That is a good point. Flacco really liked Zorn
and he had his best statistical season with Zorn
nateforchiefs - January 21, 2012 via mobile
While I understand what you're saying there GB, the "communication issues" part
grabs my attention. While Haley obviously has his issues, there was one common denominator in 2 situations with “ci’s” and that’s a bit more than I’d like to see.
WorL4Chiefs - January 21, 2012
Zorn was just relaying the calls for Muir and Haley
ala Nick Sirianni. I doubt very much if he caused any “communication issues” on game days.
Tarkus - January 21, 2012
It's gonna be Zorn as OC -
I’ve just got a feeling..
chiefsfan62 - January 21, 2012 via Android app
I don't think so.
Mr.Pibbs - January 21, 2012
Hope you're right..
chiefsfan62 - January 21, 2012 via Android app
We have a broken offensive system and need to look outside the box for the fix.
Mr.Pibbs - January 21, 2012
I'm way too far away to have a clue.
Zorn did seem a little kooky as Washington’s HC. But I honestly felt this team was a couple players away from really contending. The coordinating, well, it’s hard for me to tell if they’re getting the most out of what they have. I think execution level is far more important, and that goes more to talent than coordinating, imo. And I don’t think anybody knows what Muir would do with a full season with full coordinator authority. He’s never had the authority. Zorn skipped from QB Coach to HC and back. Did he OC for any length of time in Washington (or anywhere else)? I don’t think so.
I think what happens @ OL has more to do with the offense’s 2012 success than who is named OC. My preference is for a guy who prepares in such a way that he can adjust better on-the-fly. Game plan is a must, but your opponent is also doing HIS planning, and you have to have that situational coaching down, so that it only takes a few words to adjust to situations that don’t fit the plan. I’m not talking half-time adjustments, either. i’m talking about the play-by-play adjustments.
I hate to bring up the Patriots – again – but I’ve seen them come into games unprepared for what an upstart cooked up for ‘em, special, and tweaking what they’re doing, to gain the edge and win pulling away. If anything, I’d like somebody coaching the offense, who has some of RAC’s character and clear message. Have an understandable system of offense, and morph into whatever you want, with versatile players, and maybe cut down some of the fancy frills that OCs like to use to show they’re rely smert.
hmills110 - January 21, 2012
^^^ What hmills said^^^
Bassbustin - January 21, 2012
fixed
The primary question facing the Kansas City Chiefs at this point in the team’s offseason is the hole at offensive coordinator (
ifwhether or not the reports are true that Bill Muir is going to retire).electriclight - January 21, 2012
Yup. And Philbin took the Miami HC job...
GB also has a QB coach up for grabs.
hmills110 - January 21, 2012
tossing out a random thought here ...
I’m sure they’re waiting to interview some people currently on playoff teams, my only “angle” on it is this … perhaps Zorn (or someone else) is already tabbed as OC and they want to get a “compatible” DC, or vice versa … maybe they have in-house DC tagged and are wanting an OC who thinks conservatively or … whatever
bottom line, of course: does it really matter what we want or think?
I’m guessing “nah, not really”
good to seeya, Matt!
upamtn - January 21, 2012
With Romeo's defensive system and playcalling in place though, does it matter who the DC is?
So they should already know what kind of complimentary OC they’re looking for. I imagine they’re waiting on a candidate that’s in the playoffs or Romeo is actually telling the truth and he wants to talk to a few people in person at the Senior Bowl.
GenericBrand - January 21, 2012
We'll definitely have to wait 'til after the Senior Bowl.
I think Crennel would be a good HC to coordinate for.
There might be a promotion or new hire on the defensive side. It’s one thing for Thomas and Gibbs to step up, over a 3-game stretch, but I imagine it’s quite another for the long haul. Fact is, they went to 3 guys doing the job of 4, so an extra pair of hands is in order. But it might be for a quality control guy, or Man Friday, who picks up some of the slack.
I admit to a soft spot for Zorn, because I respected him so much as a player. I lived up in Idaho at the time, and the ’Hawks were on tv a lot.
hmills110 - January 21, 2012
I wouldn't hate a Zorn hire either.
But part of me really wants to see this team make a splash and at least take the risk that it might need to to get this offense over the hump. So many weapons and we’re sitting around wasting the prime of their careers(on defense too) on Cassel and safe OC picks.
GenericBrand - January 21, 2012
In fairness.
Muir wasn’t a “safe” pick.
Tarkus - January 21, 2012
I feel like players make the OC, and not the other way around.
Granted, there are times when playcalling seems poor or when another OC impresses, but every time I’m impressed it all comes back to player X having the advantage over player Y in the trenches or in space or wherever. And every time I’m unimpressed, it always seems linked to the OL losing key battles.
hmills110 - January 21, 2012
Might as well hire you, if OC doesn't make any difference.
Tarkus - January 21, 2012
I think there are plenty of guys in coaching (not me) who know enough to hold down the job.
And they’ll look like geniuses with great players and they’ll look like crap if they have poor players.
hmills110 - January 21, 2012
So there's no difference at the NFL level
between coordinators? Is that what you’re saying?
Tarkus - January 21, 2012
If I was an OC
I’d come onto AP and read the comment section on what needs to happen with my offense :P
brinkdaddy - January 21, 2012
You couldn't go wrong!
Tarkus - January 21, 2012
If your players bite ass, not really.
Martz’ Chicago offenses ran different looking plays out of the Coryell system, with the same results as Ron Turner’s offenses.
One might be more prepped for certain situation than another (i.e. Martz was pass-happy, Turner was big on the double tight system). Or the personality of the head coach/ballclub might influence some things (the bias toward or against the run, for example).
go_saleaumua - January 21, 2012
So all NFL OCs run the R2P2 offense?
That kind of sucks.
Tarkus - January 21, 2012
More than we'd care for, it seems. Not everyone moves the ball like the Pack and G'ints.
go_saleaumua - January 21, 2012
Nah. I don't think they're all the same.
For instance, I don’t much care for Martz.
But I DO think the players have the most to do with it. I remember Norv Turner building his genius reputation off of those dominant Dallas teams. Holmgren and everybody else from that Bill Walsh team enjoyed the best players, for his start.
hmills110 - January 21, 2012
But let me turn it around, Tarkus.
You think Hasselbeck or some of those others would’ve sucked without Holmgren’s magic teachings?
hmills110 - January 21, 2012
He's not getting any interviews from other teams
for any HC / OC vacancies either. I just remember his days in Washington and would rather pass on him.
Hoochdawg - January 21, 2012
He's under contract to the Chiefs.
Tarkus - January 21, 2012
Okay, Guess that works with coaches as well
didn’t know that. another reason this is a great site, always learning something new.
Hoochdawg - January 21, 2012
Yeah, other teams would need permission to talk to him.
Same with the Chiefs looking outside the organization at coaches currently under contract.
Tarkus - January 21, 2012
I believe they are waiting to see
if we can institute a play-calling system with smoke signals and placards so that no possibility of Pioli over-hearing a conversation amongst them can be inferred. Once the proper candidate is identified, Kent Babb will have the final say.
neiowakcfan - January 21, 2012
Semaphore signals buried in the cheerleader routines.
You have to watch very closely to see the messages embedded in the gyrations. It’s a sacrifice I’m happy to make for my fellow man.
hmills110 - January 21, 2012
With Warpaint's road apples used as a predictor for fourth down calls?
New take on the old idea of “reading the tea leaves.”
go_saleaumua - January 21, 2012
Like I said, it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.
A real step up from reading goat entrails.
hmills110 - January 21, 2012
zorn is not a OC.
speaking of zorn though,keep him as QB coach and bring in jason cambell and solve this QB problem.
the great thunderlips - January 21, 2012
Im not sure Jason Campbell is an upgrade over Ortin or Cassel
nateforchiefs - January 21, 2012 via mobile
True
Buck'O - January 21, 2012
Orton*
nateforchiefs - January 21, 2012 via mobile
I think Campbell's plenty good enough to succeed in a decent situation.
I wouldn’t mind signing him.
hmills110 - January 21, 2012
Posted in the FA thread too that Henne will also be available
I’m not sure I’d hate the idea of him being brought in to compete either.
GenericBrand - January 21, 2012
With the two to choose from, I think I'd take Campbell over Orton.
Campbell always seemed to see and try for the main chance, but was let down by execution somewhere else on the field. I know I didn’t like it when the Chiefs faced him, because he was more mobile than our pass rushers and any time DHB decided to make a big play, Campbell would get him the ball (and get him the ball a few times, besides). I also remember liking the way he played, but feeling sorry for him in Washington.
hmills110 - January 21, 2012
I would but only after we exhaust all other options
there is something fundamentally wrong with our Offensive playcalling and to just promote from within without looking elsewhere is a HUGE risk.
slackator - January 21, 2012
We saw only 3 weeks of Haley-less offense.
Just having Orton in there seemed to vitalize the screen game. It went from being the ONE thing they might try to something they’d burn you with, if you were snoozin’ on it. Much better setup and execution.
Anyway, I’ve never seen Muir in full control of an offense. Zorn’s time in Washington wasn’t a good one for the OC, earning a discount on his grades in that dysfunctional organization. And I’m not even sure how much time Zorn spent coordinating.
hmills110 - January 21, 2012
I think we should really go after cambell.
keep zorn as our QB coach cause he already worked with cambell in washington, cambell doesnt have horrible numbers when you really look at it and everywhere he was he had basically nobody to help him on offense. Imagine him with the guys we got then use some picks to beef up and upgrade the Offensive line. He can manage a game well and do things with his arm also. Personally I think orton is a better passer but im not a fan arena league style QBs I think we would be safer and better in the redzone with cambell plus cambell can run if needed. The kid has the size, age, and time in the NFL needed already all we gotta do is work him into our system and build timing with our guys.
the great thunderlips - January 22, 2012
Flacco regressed this year without Zorn.
And he was pissed when they fired him.
Cassel regressed this year with him, but I don’t think that has as much to do with Zorn as it does the rest of the team and the o line and the playcalling.
I think Zorn would do a fine job. Let’s just hope he isn’t too scared about his phone being tampered with.
bossmanham - January 21, 2012
I think Flacco's regression correlates with the playcalling
542 passing attempts vs. 489 in 2010.
20 TD – 12 INT is just about average for him.
Sacked 31 times, 11 fumbles, 6 lost in 2011.
Sacked 40 times, 9 fumbles, 4 lost in 2010.
Looks like the same mouthbreathing cannon arm that they just had passing too much coupled with trading out Heap and Mason for rookies.
KeyboardGato - January 21, 2012
meanwhile ... word out of Arrowhead Stadium today revealed that there is no news on the ongoing coordinator search
… rumors that there might be an announcement were discarded when it was discovered that an email from a high-ranking unnamed Chiefs official was actually a reference to an upcoming safari and the reference was to GNUS rather than NEWS
upamtn - January 21, 2012
I think Zorn would be a "decent" choice
Mainly because I think one of the main problems with the Chiefs offense has been the turnover and lack of consistency. He provides that. You bring someone new, you start over.
Other than that, I wouldn’t mind Hue Jackson, but I think if they were going to do that, they would have already.
Zayla - January 21, 2012
Cassel is not the problem with this team
Zayla - January 21, 2012
No, just "a" problem.
Tarkus - January 21, 2012
Not a problem at all..... an asset actually
Zayla - January 21, 2012
As a backup?
Agreed.
Tarkus - January 21, 2012
Fortunatley, you're opinion doesn't matter
Zayla - January 21, 2012
It matters to me.
Tarkus - January 21, 2012
True, but not the people who put the team on the field.
Zayla - January 21, 2012
And yours does?
Tarkus - January 21, 2012
No. But Cassel will be under center.
Zayla - January 21, 2012
That remains to be seen.
Tarkus - January 21, 2012
Too bad we dont' no each other so I could take your money
Zayla - January 21, 2012
Whatever.
I never even said Cassel wouldn’t be the starter. I only said that remains to be seen.
Tarkus - January 21, 2012
yep, lets hope that remains an open competition through camp
SDChief - January 21, 2012
That's a problem
With who? If they want to bring in Manning, won’t happen, trade up from Griffin, won’t happen, I’m all for it.
Other than that, what’s the option? Don’t tell me Orton is any better than Cassel, because he’s not and his career proves it.
Zayla - January 21, 2012
better? hard to say, but is he capable to challenge cassel for the starting job and beating him out? yes....yes he is...
they may find another option, who knows, they may draft a qb totally off the radar, who knows
the manzi himself may rise and take the freaking job we all know he should get his shot to win
SDChief - January 21, 2012
Orton won't be here
He’ll get a starting gig. There are too many teams with shit QB’s. He’s not going to sign with a team that he knows he’s going in as number two.
He’s no better than Cassel, at least not enough to pay him to battle Cassel.
Zayla - January 21, 2012
there are not that many starting gigs....ths one in kc is open
why would it matter what they pay orton. you do realize the team has 30-40 million to spend….who cares? they paid 2.5 mil to use him for a few games, im sure a 1-2 year deal isnt out of the question
and im not advocating for orton, im saying stanzi, orton, or anyone on roster should be battling cassel for the starting job. there is zero reason cassel should be handed a job as starter when he was so horrible this past season
SDChief - January 21, 2012
Start with
Dolphins, Vikings, Redskins, Seattle, Bronco’s, hahaha, right off the top of my head… there’s more
Zayla - January 21, 2012
dolphins may very well sign flynn.
vikings just used a first on a freaking qb, broncos are committed to tebow next year, and wont be bringing back kyle orton, HAHA, so funny right?
are you like seven?
SDChief - January 21, 2012
lighten up dude
Zayla - January 21, 2012
stop trolling dude
and stating everything as fact
your opinion is just that. period
SDChief - January 21, 2012
what is trolling?
you mean when someone disagrees with you? that’s not trolling.
Zayla - January 21, 2012
trolling is shutting people down in every comment, with what you claim to be fact, when its freaking opinion, its purposefully being annoying
SDChief - January 21, 2012
grow up
Zayla - January 21, 2012
reminds me of an ex wife
whose strategy to win a disagreement was to talk faster and louder.
electriclight - January 21, 2012
Fins, Skins and Seahags are the only ones on your list that are actually in need.
You could add the Browns to the mix as well. So that’s four jobs(assuming Indy takes Luck). You will see at least two draft picks I think then in free agency you have Orton, Henne, Manning(assumed), Jason Campbell(who everyone seems to forget about) and Flynn as the guys looking for work.
GenericBrand - January 21, 2012
That's four to five jobs and seven to eight guys to fill them.
GenericBrand - January 21, 2012
We only need one :)
Steve_Chiefs - January 21, 2012
cassel had 10 tds, 9 picks....hes not exactly that hard to match
SDChief - January 21, 2012
no one's does though. thats irrelevant.
at this point no one has any clue what they are going to do
SDChief - January 21, 2012
intersting vote totals
310 Yes
315 No
looks like we might need a recount
upamtn - January 21, 2012
Are you sure?
Tarkus - January 21, 2012
if this poll decides if hes our oc, im happy with the results, no recount. ill take this one to court
SDChief - January 21, 2012
But we have no hanging Chad Penningtons.
Tarkus - January 21, 2012
not this time, heck no. this one is legit
SDChief - January 21, 2012
Sorry to go off subject
Everyone loves Decastro from what I can see … What are the chances of him turning into a Ryan Sims? Sims had Peppers outside of him making him look good… Could it be the same situation with Decastro because of Martin and Andrew Luck helping him look good??
brinkdaddy - January 21, 2012
could say the same with brian waters and how that worked out positive for us playing next to two hof's.
harder to hide a lineman, look at gallery, the only real miss at ot in the top 10 in awhile, and even he is now a top notch guard
SDChief - January 21, 2012
One of the main reason the Pats win the SB
Zayla - January 21, 2012
brian waters? oh cmon. hes played well, but cmon
SDChief - January 21, 2012
"You're" opinion doesn't matter.
Tarkus - January 21, 2012
"main reason" is a bit far honestly
SDChief - January 21, 2012
Fair point
Zayla - January 21, 2012
no one's opinion here matters.
breaking news at 1 0
SDChief - January 21, 2012
You telling me you wouldn't want him on the Chiefs???
Zayla - January 21, 2012
im telling you hes not a main reason for their success
SDChief - January 21, 2012
Maybe I'll give that to Brady :)
Zayla - January 21, 2012
or their ridiculous te duo. or head coach
SDChief - January 21, 2012
etc, etc, etc.....
Zayla - January 21, 2012
yeah its not fair. add in a million extra draft picks and its just cruel
SDChief - January 21, 2012
Correct me if I'm wrong
But Decastro played alot of RG this year and Martin is a LT. I could understand the Luck part of the equation but what I like about DeCastro is his run blocking.
GenericBrand - January 21, 2012
Yeah, DeCastro is dominant
We never saw that out of Ryan Sims in college.
Nick Britt - January 21, 2012
He is a dominant run blocker
And first and foremost I think that’s what we need. We also need the right balance between interior pass blocking(which Big Jon is already great at) and a QB who has good pocket awareness and can get the ball out with good decisions.
GenericBrand - January 21, 2012
we need a new offensive staff.
SDChief - January 21, 2012
Zorn is a West Coast offense guy.
Pioli and Crennel are not. More to the point, Pioli has no experience drafting and evaluating players for that offense. Not saying he couldnt adjust and learn to, but theres a reason why GMs choose coaches with similar backgrounds. Its up to the GM to provide the coaches players they can coach up and win with. It makes it easier to do this when the GM knows the kind of player it takes to play a certain position in a given system. . This is why I dont see us taking a member of the Green Bay as our OC. But then, what do I know…….
Lokrath - January 21, 2012
You make a good point about Pioli not being a West Coast guy.
But he did interview Joe Philbin a couple weeks ago for the HC position and that’s the offense he is proably going to run in Miami. Maybe Pioli is evolving into new areas.
mistamic - January 21, 2012
also had a few 4-3 head coaches in for interview, i dont know whats going on honestly
SDChief - January 21, 2012
I think it depends on what Crennel wants.
Does anyone know that he would be dead set against a WCO?
Tarkus - January 21, 2012
im more shocked with the 4-3 interviews than the west coast change
that still has me a little confused
SDChief - January 21, 2012
I don't think he should be
Zayla - January 21, 2012
Actually may play to strengths of Cassel
If he is indeed QB
KeyboardGato - January 21, 2012
Nope. Cassel's gone. We're bringing in either Donovan McNabb or Brodie Croyle.
mistamic - January 21, 2012
see thats the annoying answer to mock those saying cassel will be replaced.
when someone on ap actually says this in a serious way, then make it a joke
but seriously…..its not funny.
cassel will be challenged, by ricky stanzi, and either orton or a qb n ot named on your joke list
SDChief - January 21, 2012
Give up on the Stanzi stuff
Zayla - January 21, 2012
give up why? they wanted to move up for him, hes a highly touted young qb
are you for real?
SDChief - January 21, 2012
Then why didn't they play him?
I’m all for it if he can play and get the Chiefs to the next level. They must have seen something that led them to leave him on the bench. Both Crennel and Haley.
Zayla - January 21, 2012
Guy ahead of him on the depth chart was next up to roll
Then when he finished shitting the bed, Orton was on the team.
I didn’t really see that as a damning statement on Stanzi. Maybe on how fucking awful of a situation it was.
You’d really like to put your rookie in when you can turn up your run game. Well our run game was having his knee held together by pig tissue.
KeyboardGato - January 21, 2012
When Orton was ready
I agree. I also agree, sending him up to start in New England would not be fair at all. After that, however, they had nothing to lose. That, then the next game, then the next.
I was screaming for them to put him in the Jet game. That’s when he should have come in.
That have to put him in at some point. Could it have been worse than Palko???? No, never.
Zayla - January 21, 2012
I wouldn't wish that Jets game on anyone.
KeyboardGato - January 21, 2012
haha
True, but look at TJ Yates. This guy never expected to come in and I think he was drafted in the same round.
Zayla - January 21, 2012
Run game
Strong defense. Additional QBs who were out of the league. We just happened to land a starter on a claim who we knew pretty well.
Just different batshit crazy scenarios the two guys were placed in.
KeyboardGato - January 21, 2012
Haley had a hard on for Palko.
And Crennel was coaching for his job.
Tarkus - January 21, 2012
Agreed... big part of why he's gone
Zayla - January 21, 2012
I can't really blame the guy in retrospect.
Its been said, but between the rookie with no playing time or the veteran with no playing time.
With those options put at my feet with my job on the line, I’d just flip a goddamn coin and go with it. Just happened to land feathered hair side up.
KeyboardGato - January 21, 2012
When something clearly isn't working.
You can’t be afraid of something you think won’t work, but you’re not really sure.
First thing Crennel did was drop Palko to #3 on the depth chart. He saw the same thing Haley saw, but he wasn’t afraid to make a move.
I think that also explains the overuse of guys like Jones and Richardson too. Haley definitely had his favorites, as pointed out in an earlier article.
Tarkus - January 21, 2012
That's why Im looking forward to hopefully an outside body to be brought in as OC
It will be interesting what the offense looks like and who stays and goes with a new guy and new opinions on board. Hopefully it’s what you’re saying and we see less of those guys and more quality brought in or brought back.
GenericBrand - January 21, 2012
Palko only had two games were he was defacto starter before Orton had a weekly under his belt
That is if I remember correctly.
My main concern about Stanzi was the craptaffic ton of sacks he took in preseason. I wouldn’t be surprised if that played a roll in decision making on who gets snaps in that short window.
KeyboardGato - January 21, 2012
I don't think preseason sacks would weigh into the decision much.
He had a bunch of guys blocking for him that are on the street and apparently so poor that they have to take apart their dressers to move them around the house instead of buying a new one(see ingersoll). The thing with Palko is it got to the point, that everyone in the world could see, of “could Stanzi possibly be any worse then this”(three ints on four passes?). What seemed fishy was Haley saying before the games even started that Stanzi would see no action unless Palko was injured which is a complete contrast of position to Crennel basically putting Palko on the street as his first move as HC.
GenericBrand - January 21, 2012
Did Haley ever bench a QB over performance?
Small sample size, just wondering aloud. Guy drops a ball, he’s up on dat ass like an NBA 6th man on a reality TV star. Quarterback throws an interception, just sad face.
KeyboardGato - January 21, 2012
No.
Well, he did yank Cassel for all of one series last year, till Croyle picked his way back to the bench.
Tarkus - January 21, 2012
Did he have a hard on for him
Or was Palko his best bet to get fired?
GenericBrand - January 21, 2012
Both can be true.
Tarkus - January 21, 2012
Both could be false.
What was boneheaded was trying a trick play that got Orton hurt on his very first snap. But giving the just-acquired, standard emergency signing 2 weeks to get ready did not seem slow or unduly hasty. I think Haley wanted to make a big splash with Orton on the very first play and end the season on a high note. When Orton got hurt, it was over.
hmills110 - January 21, 2012
Was it that boneheaded?
Or only boneheaded because of the result of Orton getting injured?
GenericBrand - January 21, 2012
It was boneheaded
that Orton only got 40% of the snaps that week, and they only had a couple packages for him (he wasn’t replacing Palko).
The play call that got him injured was just a fluke thing.
Tarkus - January 21, 2012
Looked to me like the plan was for Orton to play about half of that game,
and start for the rest of the season. Maybe two-and-a-half games is too long to wait for the new-hire to take over the job. To me, the timing didn’t seem unreasonable. But the play was pure gimmickry, going for the big splash, and it backfired. What makes the call boneheaded is that it didn’t work.
hmills110 - January 21, 2012
Wrong.
It’s irrefutable that Palko was Haley’s best bet (at QB) to get fired.
Tarkus - January 21, 2012
he had zero red flags, and was loved by many, kiper saw him as a future brady
but iguess your word defeats all right?
all i said, was give the kid a chance to battle for a job
you really are a troll
SDChief - January 21, 2012
It's called sarcasm.
You should try it out sometime.
mistamic - January 21, 2012
Not really sure Cassel has a 'strength' to play to... not ON THE FILED anyway.
But what that offense would do for the rest of the team might be something worth looking into.
The original WCO is now an antique and the teams that run the WCO today would never remimd anyone of the Montana 49ers. GB, Seattle, Philly (to name a few) all play the WCO but GB and Phily play a much more spread version of it. Traditionaly, receivers ran short option routes and had to break tackles amd gain big YAC to make the offense work (sounds alot like what we were doing already). This is not something that GB or Phily are known for.
But what it could do for us is make life easier on the O Line because the ball comes out so fast. This would also allow us to maximize what Bowe and Baldwin excell at. Also, it should not be all that difficult to encorporate the zone blocking scheme that we use currently and drop it into that offense. Shanahan did it for years. It would aloow us to protect whatevef corpse we decide to throw in at QB and protect him, while also allowing JC to play off of stretch plays. Needless to say, backs and tight ends also play key roles in that offense’s passing game.
So maybe its worth looking into. I think we have the right personel in place already….. all (of course) but the QB.
So nevermind… Sorry I wasted your time. Since we dont have a QB worth a %:;?+/, it wont matter what offense we run
Lokrath - January 21, 2012
Well now, that is danged near impossible to
answer yes or no. We don’t know how much of the debacle that was the Chiefs 2011 offense was Zorn’s fault. We know the quarterbacks all sucked with the exception of Orton who came in late and Stanzi who never got in the game. As quarterbacks coach you would have thought Zorn would have been better prepared to handle that. Because of Haley not taking control of the offense, assigning blame, and attempting to fix it, we don’t know who for sure was to blame and needs to be out. Bill Muir? Haley? Zorn? All the above? I would hate to have Zorn continue on if he is incompetent, but I would hate to lose him if he happens to be good. All in all the Chiefs 2011 offense was one of the worst in the league and in most years, that would be worthy of replacing some people (the faulty components) and getting the job done with people who can do it. Because Haley floundered around and got his ass fired for not handling things, we do not know. I imagine the front office has a pretty good idea who was responsible. I said nearly all the things above a while back and some moron suggested that I “move on” instead of worrying about who was to blame for the offensive meltdown. This is exactly why somebody needs to know what the hell is going on. I hope that somebody is in the Chiefs organization.
G.L. - January 21, 2012
Very well said
Zayla - January 21, 2012
Aw, move on, GL.
Heh. Well said.
hmills110 - January 21, 2012
Does romeo get what he wants.
Does romeo really have a say in the matter,if he does then Hue Douglass will be the OC.that would be a hell of a combination also.why is it that zorn cant keep a job long enough to see how good he might be.
chiefsfool - January 21, 2012
According to Crennel, he does.
Tarkus - January 21, 2012
Signing up with the Redskins will usually have that outcome
Unless your last name is Gibbs
KeyboardGato - January 21, 2012
All fair points
Zayla - January 21, 2012
I think Cassel gives the Chiefs the best chance to win
At this point in time. That includes Stanzi or Orton. If any of them can do better, I’m all for it because I just want the Chiefs to win.
It is simply an opinion after watching football for so many years.
Zayla - January 21, 2012
I think if Orton and Cassel were to go into a fair competition for the job Cassel would be holding the clipboard this year.
Orton is quite a bit better of a QB then Cassel and I think with a competent play caller and a running game for the first time in his career he could really have a break out season. Considering he came in three weeks, with a busted up finger, duplicated what the guy who had been here three years had done that that’s pretty telling.
GenericBrand - January 21, 2012
If we don't get an OC from the ranks of coaches that are still coaching then the question will arise "why did it take so long".
You would think you would want a new coordinator to be at these offseason events like the Shrine game and the Senior Bowl. Also if Pioli and inturn Crennel are hellbent on keeping Cassel as the uncontested #1 does that limit your field of coaches who want to pin their success on QB7?
GenericBrand - January 21, 2012
I think the consensous is
“I don’t care, someone good.”
As it probably is in all assistant coach polls.
KeyboardGato - January 21, 2012
Anyone is better then Muier
I’d be happy if half the board was OC!! Just don’t wanna see Muier
ed2k - January 21, 2012
I want Mark Mangino
He did good at Oklahoma, and if anyone can win at Kansas then he’s a good coach.. He would come in and open up our offense, we’d spread itour more.. Give the guy a chance, there’s been so many college coaches who have gone into the NFL and been successful
ed2k - January 21, 2012
anybody here about paterno?
guess he won’t be our DC
Chiefshero - January 21, 2012
He die?
GenericBrand - January 21, 2012
about to
Chiefshero - January 21, 2012
He molest someone?
Tarkus - January 21, 2012
Hasn't been reported
KeyboardGato - January 21, 2012
Keep Zorn in place Get Jackson
Sorry Zorn has no previous OC experience we need a proven candidate like Hue Jackson. Additionally we need create some continuity for Cassel so Zorn needs stay where he is at.
Lakedog - January 21, 2012
Jackson ain't happenin'
But I agree. Zorn has never been an NFL offensive coordinator. Get someone who knows what they’re doing.
fivehead - January 22, 2012
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