The Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator search has no clear front-runner but for the first time we're starting to piece together a few of the potential candidates. The Chiefs search surely includes guys whose names we haven't heard yet and head coach Romeo Crennel indicated in a radio interview this week that he could talk to even more people regarding the position.
In other words, this list is a work-in-progress.
There's Al Saunders, the former Chiefs coordinator who is currently under contract with the Oakland Raiders. Former Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil told KC-area reporters Bob Gretz as well as the KC Star that Saunders interviewed in Kansas City.
Then there's Jim Zorn, who the KC Star reported had interviewed for the position. He's the internal candidate as he was the quarterbacks coach last season. The Star also reported that Zorn could consider resigning if he wasn't named the offensive coordinator but Zorn denied that to the Star via a team spokesperson.
Then there's Brian Daboll, the Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator. NFL Network's Jason La Canfora is the only one who has been reporting this and he has an updated report that the two sides are talking.
As of now, that's all we know. I'm sure there are other candidates they've interviewed, and possibly other candidates they will interview, but that's the list that's out there for now.
0 recs | 77 comments
Hope we get Al Back
Our O was among the best in the NFL from 2002-05
Ulises Harada - February 3, 2012
Mostly because our line was bad to the bone.
Scott B. - February 3, 2012
And
We had a QB
xhornetsx - February 3, 2012
Actually it was #1 overall during that 4 year span
In scoring each year:
2002 – #1
2003 – #1
2004 – #2
2005 – #6
Give me some Al Saunders.
TheScootness - February 3, 2012
there was atleast 1 year
I believe 2003 where we were the best of all time, not just the best in the league
slackator - February 3, 2012
do we get Roaf, Shields, Waters, TonyG, Priest, Trent and Fast Eddie back, too?
upamtn - February 3, 2012
No, but our offense isn't exactly chopped liver, either.
Tony Moeaki, Branden Albert, and Jon Asamoah are no Tony Gonzalez, Willie Roaf, and Will Shields, but they hardly suck. Bowe is almost certainly better than Kennison and, even if he isn’t, our receiving corps as a whole is definitely better thanks to Baldwin and Breaston. The only thing seperating Charles from Holmes is a few more seasons. You’re going to have a pretty hard time convincing me that he’s a significant downgrade.
The real issue here is Cassel. There was a point in time when I thought that being Trent Green-esque was his potential ceiling but that’s clearly not the case. A real franchise QB is the only thing keeping us from having a top 5 offense, though.
MtHammer - February 3, 2012
Exactly. The line as a whole was better back then
But the real issue here is that Green >>>>> Cassel.
I’ll assume that Pey-Pey is just a dream so my hope now is Saunders and Orton. The offense won’t be nearly as good as the ’03 days, but the defense is a hell of a lot better so it could shake out OK.
TheScootness - February 3, 2012
Trent is smarter than Cassel, yes.
But if Trent played behind the same line Cassel’s been playing with? I doubt he would be having much more success than Cassel has had.
Our line gave Trent great pass protection, and a great running game. It’s hard not to look good when you have that.
Scott B. - February 3, 2012
I disagree
Trent was not only smarter, but had WAY better pocket presence, was able to get the ball out faster, had the vision to read the defense, had a much better deep ball, and had the accuracy to get the ball to the right spot.
He was less mobile, but he’d do a hell of a lot better than Cassel behind this line. Besides, the line really wasn’t as bad as you think. The pass protection was hurt by the QB’s sucking ass.
TheScootness - February 3, 2012
Unless you have trouble making your progressions.
How much time does Cassel really need in order to lock on to his first read receiver before lobbing it up there for them or dumping it off to a tight end or running back?
MtHammer - February 3, 2012
The Trent Train
That guy had phenominal pocket pressence. When people got a hand on him he did a stellar job of getting out of it. There were countless times he had someone get ahold of him only for him to pull through the Jersey tackle to complete a pass or simply to avoid a sack. I’ll take Trent Green today over Matt Cassel…
xhornetsx - February 3, 2012
Have to disagree on one thing...
“A real franchise QB” is not the only thing keeping us from having a great Offense.
Our O-line is crap. And that’s holding us back as much, or maybe even more than having a “franchise QB”.
Scott B. - February 3, 2012
I wouldn't say "crap"
more like 1/5th crap, 1/5th poor, 3/5th solid to great.
cheapham - February 3, 2012
Our o-line is not crap.
Albert and Asamoah are very good. Lilja had a down year that probably had a lot to do with Wiegmann being too old to play anymore. Richardson was god-awful.
An Albert, Lilja, Hudson, Asamoah, Anyone but B-Rich offensive line wouldn’t even be in the bottom half of the league next year. And if Hudson is as good as we think he could be, then the line could be one of the NFL’s best depending on who replaces Richardson.
MtHammer - February 3, 2012
Yes, our line IS crap
Yes, Albert is good and Asamoah shows much promise. But, if you’re not solid all the way across…having only a couple of good players on your line is crap. On the O-line, you’re only as good as the guy(s) next to you.
Not claiming that’s the gospel…just my opinion.
Scott B. - February 3, 2012
Every oline has at least 1 weak spot
KingChief - February 3, 2012
And we have two or three.
Which makes for crap, in my opinion.
Scott B. - February 3, 2012
I would say we have 2 holes
and at least 1, BRich, will be fixed this offseason. I think LG may have been an issue due to Wiegs being at the end of the road
KingChief - February 3, 2012
We had two, one of which is retiring with his replacement already on the roster.
We need depth and a new right tackle. That’s it.
MtHammer - February 3, 2012
Assuming our new Center can step right in.
He has no experience…which is a shame.
Scott B. - February 3, 2012
He played some, just not at center
He did look good when he was in at guard though
KingChief - February 3, 2012
That "crap" line suddenly didn't look so crappy with Orton under center
Just sayin.
SCKSChief - February 3, 2012
Truth hurts..
chief913-816 - February 3, 2012 via mobile
with Orton in we avg'd less than 12 points(or so) per game
we are not even close to being in the 03 years
tomachop - February 3, 2012
Orton had only 3 games with the team and hardly any practice time with them
and he outperformed Cassel, who knew the whole playbook
KingChief - February 3, 2012
not bagging on Orton
just saying the offense as a whole has a long way to go to reach 03 standards
tomachop - February 3, 2012
you got it
upamtn - February 3, 2012
Orton outplaying Cassel is like the skinniest kid at Fat Camp, though.
Again, only my humble opinion.
Scott B. - February 3, 2012
but our 03 defense is nowhere near our current defense
TDubb - February 3, 2012
What?!? No Johnny Morton?
INCONCEIVABLE!
You’re missing out big time if you skip JoMo.
Ochophosphate - February 3, 2012
I know ... Craig will hate me now :-(
upamtn - February 3, 2012
Yeah...
I miss dropped third down conversions… Oh wait, no I don’t… Bowe has that covered!
xhornetsx - February 3, 2012
Any chance
they are waiting to see what happens with Peyton and bring in Tom Moore? Woops sorry just woke up from a dream
SDChiefsFan - February 3, 2012
I don't know that Tom Moore is all that unnecessary
for all we know, he’s Bill Muir 2.0 and Manning just made him look like a genius.
Sudden - February 3, 2012
Sentence sounds like vermeil interviewed
How fuckin sweet would that be. Some good ol dick!
KCinIL - February 3, 2012 via mobile
Ha!
severn58 - February 3, 2012
NTTAWWT.
Tarkus - February 3, 2012
Am I the only one that thinks...
Dick Vermeil sounds like an STD?
Streetcleaner - February 3, 2012
ADD
PEYTON MANNING TO THAT LIST
Brad-KC - February 3, 2012
as what?
upamtn - February 3, 2012
I'm sure it's been talked about before,
but can anyone give me a basic rundown of what type of O Daboll runs?
Chris Sembower - February 3, 2012
on his hiring with Miami ...
http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2011/09/23/browns-former-coach-brian-daboll-set-to-return-with-dolphins/
then look at the Dolphins this year and you’ll have an idea … or not :-)
upamtn - February 3, 2012
haha unfortunately that's about all i knew about it. i remember hearing at one point they were running a lot of max protect kind of stuff
any idea what the system is?
i’m really hoping whoever the coordinator is that he utilizes a more vertical offense than we’ve had since ironically Saunders was here
Chris Sembower - February 3, 2012
offhand not sure ... need to rsearch a bit more
upamtn - February 3, 2012
from what I'm seeing it seems to be sort of a WCO or modified WCO
upamtn - February 3, 2012
that's what i was sort of thinking as well
thanks ups!
Chris Sembower - February 3, 2012
Al Saunders, please.
Now there’s a guy Romeo can trust to leave the offense to. Would be a fantastic move.
bamachief5558 - February 3, 2012 via mobile
Yep, one guy he can just leave alone and trust.
Tarkus - February 3, 2012
which is what he said he wants, afterall
i’d love for this to turn in a different flavor of what happened when crennel was hired. haley hired him to take care of the D. he did that marvelously. Now that that’s solidified, let’s do the same thing with the O.
Chris Sembower - February 3, 2012
Indeed.
Romeo’s comments along those lines make it sound like a guy like Saunders is exactly what he is looking for.
cheapham - February 3, 2012
I would loooooove it if Saunders came back...he was the O-man!
WorL4Chiefs - February 3, 2012
I need Al back
and for either Orton or Flynn to be signed (don’t read too much into those options, it will just show that Pioli’s not hung up on Cassel) and then my hope for this team under Pioli will be restored.
old_school - February 3, 2012
oh mannnnnnnnnnnn ... at first I didn't see that last word in this post title (candidates)
… and was all pumped thinking “omg! they PICKED someone already?”
upamtn - February 3, 2012
Same here, I almost blurted it out in the middle of class.
joplin chiefs fan - February 3, 2012
Or they hired Trung Canidate as OC.
Tarkus - February 3, 2012
Don't even joke about that
SCKSChief - February 3, 2012
Ha..
I work with with a guy named Trung.
chiefsfan62 - February 3, 2012 via Android app
of those 3
Id only take Saunders anything less would be highly disappointing
slackator - February 3, 2012
I would add Rip Scherer to that list
No reports of interview..
But he was Crennel’s QB coach and Ast. head coach in Cleveland. He helped Derek Anderson to his monster year.
Just another name to throw out.
Matt_Grbac - February 3, 2012 via mobile
Hey Joel!
Wasn’t it reported that they talked to Hue Jackson?
Tarkus - February 3, 2012
That would be a good hire.
I’d be really happy with either Saunders or Jackson, meh on a promotion from within like Zorn or Carthon, and pretty unhappy with Daboll.
MtHammer - February 3, 2012
Did they really?
I missed that. Good to hear if so though.
cheapham - February 3, 2012
Could be the drugs.
I haven’t taken any lately.
Tarkus - February 3, 2012
cmon chiefs, get this hire right....and hire someone who will run the offense pioli wants run in kc
otherwise it will fail
go get saunders.
and those saying will he come with roaf and shields and kennison…no…but he comes into a situation with charles, bowe(we think) baldwin, moeaki, breaston…w/ albert,hudson,asamoah and 2 guys to be named later….plenty there to succeed.
a heck of a lot more than year one for saunders in Kc last time, when larry parker was a top recieving option for trent, at the time aka trint
SDChief - February 3, 2012
If Cassel is our QB, Zorn may be the right guy
Al Saunders would radically change the offense. If we are going to do that, let’s hire Al and go get Peyton Manning.
What is our offense going to be going forward? This can’t be a one season deal. If Saunders is the guy, then the hire needs to be looking years out. Is that the offense the Chiefs want? Does his offense use zone blocking?
ChiefConcern - February 3, 2012
Well moving the ball consistently and scoring a lot would be a radical change to this offense
So I’d be okay with that.
TRSChief - February 3, 2012
Moving the ball somewhat and scoring anything
WOULD BE A HUGE CHANGE!!!!!
hugechiefsfan - February 3, 2012
I remember when we had Al.....
Everyone bitching b/c Green didn’t have any audibles to check out of and our passing offense was predictable. I loved me some Al but we were one hell of a running team.
MDChief - February 3, 2012
Yeah I do recall not liking the fact that QBs couldn't audible at the line, now that you mention it.
But this guy is a pro and good at what he does and he seems like the best guy for the job. Maybe with more weapons than Kennison and Gonzalez the O would be less “predictable”.
And the most important part is that this guy is a successful offensive coach. If it works, it works.
bamachief5558 - February 3, 2012
Al's playcalling could be pretty frustrating as well
When he left, I honestly thought that would be a good thing to shake up the decision maker. Little did I know that we were in for a whole lot of terrible offenses…
cheapham - February 3, 2012
I don't like Daboll
His offenses have been average and it sounds like he wasn’t that great to work with in NE
Chief Fan NZ - February 3, 2012
Sounds like he hasn't been great to work with anywhere.
Guy sounds like an idiot and total douche. Do not want.
bamachief5558 - February 3, 2012
Kind of tired of changing every year
We did a rebuild of our player personnel and they’re ready for the long haul.
Now, we’ve just hired a 65 year old HC and are looking at a 65 year old OC. Don’t get me wrong, I like Crennel and Saunders…but it just seems like a lot of turnover.
Brad-KC - February 3, 2012
Rome got hired so Hunt and Pioli can discredit the age discrimination allegations
and they are looking at Al to solidify this
KingChief - February 3, 2012
I stopped choosing at AL
I’ll take Al back anyday and be damn happy I got him. Throw Orton into the mix as well as Stanzi and may the best QB win.
CPT.Caveman - February 3, 2012
The screens and sweeps that Saunders ran his last stint here has me drooling.
Yes please. Let’s run those with Charles and Dex.
Tomahawk29 - February 3, 2012
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