We said a few weeks ago that it was a rare moment of continuity in the AFC West as three of the four teams weren't changing their head coach and the Kansas City Chiefs were simply promoting Romeo Crennel.
And then the Oakland Raiders had to go out and fire head coach Hue Jackson. New GM Reggie McKenzie has been on the market for a new coach and despite reports that he was likely to hire someone from Green Bay (where he came from), he has selected Dennis Allen as the Raiders new head coach.
Allen, 39, comes from Denver where he was most recently the Broncos defensive coordinator. He was with the Saints for five years before that as secondary coach and assistant defensive line. And from 2002-05 he was the Falcons assistant defensive line/quality control coach.
39 is pretty young for an NFL head coach. Allen's experience resides mostly on the defensive side of the ball so it'll be interesting to see how the offensive staff is constructed. (There's a great coordinator out there named Hue Jackson the Raiders should look at. A real go-getter.)
So the AFC West head coaches are set -- Romeo Crennel, Norv Turner, John Fox and Dennis Allen. Now's time for the most important question: Who are you taking in a fight? I got Romeo all day, without question.
0 recs | 40 comments
Romeo is the man
I will take romeo any day of the week over all of these choices.the afc west will be a shootout next season.
chiefsfool - January 25, 2012
Fox is good.
He’s not in the best situation in Denver, but he’s made most of it. So far.
Tarkus - January 25, 2012
Thats cool
It’s nice to see guys get opportunities. Oakland should now be a better HC gig with Al gone.
Matt_Grbac - January 25, 2012 via mobile
it's on ... the rivalries should be fun in 2012
upamtn - January 25, 2012
I have no idea how I feel about this hire
I couldn’t tell you three things not featured above about Dennis Allen. But he immediately becomes the 3rd best coach in the division ahead of Norv, that I do know.
Steve_in_RI - January 25, 2012
One thing I might not like about it is
It may pave the way for Del Rio and Fox to reunite.
GenericBrand - January 25, 2012
I'd take Romeo as my coach anyday
As much as his game management is iffy at least it didn’t lose his team a Super Bowl like Fox’s did. But only in Oakland can a guy who’s been a DC for one year, improving his(and John Fox’s) defense from 30th to the mid 20s, be a candidate for a HC. If I were the going for a boom or bust coach with little experience I probably would’ve gone with Bowles but good luck to the Raiders.
GenericBrand - January 25, 2012
plus, he can beat up Allen
upamtn - January 25, 2012
That's because he's never gotten there.
Tarkus - January 25, 2012
I like to think he wouldn't chase points in the 3rd quarter and cost his team a Championship trophy.
Its the optimist in me.
GenericBrand - January 25, 2012
I know one thing
I’m tired of hearing other teams hires.
If Romeo hires some second rate retreads after taking this long I’m gonna be pissed! He better be bringing in top notch coaches and coordinators.
Matt_Grbac - January 25, 2012 via mobile
If we're to read into yesterdays report
It sounds like he might have all the “big” hires done and he’s just fine tuning who is going to do what before he announces it all, unlike Haley who hired two DCs and didn’t announce who was going to be what until three months later.
GenericBrand - January 25, 2012
So you think we already have the OC on the team?
This scares the hell out of me.
old_school - January 25, 2012 via mobile
Wouldn't be surprised if it is Zorn
KingChief - January 25, 2012
Ugh.
Better than Muir, but still, ugh.
TwelfthMan - January 25, 2012
Raiders are just now hiring their HC.
The Chiefs hired their HC weeks ago.
Relax.
Tarkus - January 25, 2012
And besides...........
it’s the Raiders!
LadyChief - January 25, 2012
This just came out of nowhere for me
I hadn’t heard Dennis Allen’s name anywhere… most of what I had heard was regarding their OC, not DC.
Oh well whatever – can’t wish the fella luck because he’s going to the Raiders. So let’s just say – “I hope you and your family manage to stay safe and healthy during your stay in Oakland…. and I hope you lose 80% of your games going forward.”
Ochophosphate - January 25, 2012
And he looks like Mike Wolfe from American Pickers
…. kinda
Ochophosphate - January 25, 2012
These were in google's top searches for Dennis Allen... can you spy the new Raiders coach?
Good Luck…
Chief-blinders-on - January 25, 2012
OOOH, OOH! BOTTOM CENTER BOTTOM CENTER!!!
do I win a prize?
Ochophosphate - January 25, 2012
top right
the one(s) bottom left is the comedian/actor
upamtn - January 25, 2012
Yep Laugh In
Chief-blinders-on - January 25, 2012
Alright Romeo...Now's your time to shine
I think I saw on twitter that for Denver this will mean they have had a new DC every year for the past 7 years. Continuity is so overrated.
Spiderwomn69 - January 25, 2012
That may have something to do with them not finishing over .500 in that span as well.
The Raiders have an opportunity to turn around their organization. It doesn’t seem like it is getting off on the right track so far, but let’s see how they put together the rest of that staff.
If they keep Al Saunders they might still be formidable on offense.
Dennis Allen was building an aggressive unit in Denver even if they weren’t statistically great, but how much of that was John Fox? I think Reggie McKenzie was a good hire for the Raiders GM, so it is really hard to judge this surprise.
We shall see.
Chief-blinders-on - January 25, 2012
Completely agree
I do like how the single move puts two rivals in a situation where they both have new coaches. As much as I don’t like the Raiders or Donkeys I do want to see the AFC West built up to a respectable division again and I hope that happens in the next few years.
Spiderwomn69 - January 25, 2012
Unless the Broncos hire Jack Del Rio
hopefully the Chiefs already hired him just so we don’t have to face him twice a year.
Chief-blinders-on - January 25, 2012
I saw an interview with McKenzie on tv the other day.
Wow. Maybe the guy just isn’t good at being the face of an organization but good god he came off like a complete buffoon. And Al Davis’ son Mark looks really creepy.
Rev. Slappy - January 25, 2012
But he was great in Dumb and Dumber
Chief-blinders-on - January 25, 2012
Al Saunders is the man.
Dennis Allen, most likely, is happy he’s already in house(the brown hole).
skunk420 - January 25, 2012
Romeo's the man!
LadyChief - January 25, 2012
I hope we are still saying that next January
Lady…
Chief-blinders-on - January 25, 2012
Me two!
LadyChief - January 25, 2012
wonder how long he lasts
2-3 years maybe unless he does some good and surprises maybe give him another year or two.
KC Nate - January 25, 2012
It's been pretty much one and done the last few hires.
skunk420 - January 25, 2012
Raiders fans seem to kinda like the hire over at Silver and Black Pride
Are you more excited about Dennis Allen now?
73%
Yes
715 votes
26%
No
259 votes
974 votes total
That’s not to bad
Chief-blinders-on - January 25, 2012
He’ll be fired by 2015…..
RAWKC!!!!!!!!!
RAWKC - January 25, 2012 via mobile
You are optimistic
Chief-blinders-on - January 25, 2012
Reggie's 1st year drafting should be easy
I think all they have is a 5th and a 6th.
Crown Chief - January 25, 2012
+3rd for Scrabble
GenericBrand - January 25, 2012
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