The Chiefs Have Weis and Crennel... Who Are Our Coordinators Again?

I consider myself a relatively serious Patriots fan. I've been to every home game the last 3 years (albeit in a working capacity, but I've still been there rain/shine). I fancy myself more knowledgeable and less emotional than most Pats fans, but even I had to look up who the Patriots' coordinators are.

Dean Pees is the defensive coordinator, and there is no offensive coordinator.

Charlie Weis was available to be a coordinator. The Chiefs grabbed him. There is no offensive coordinator in Foxborough, and the Patriots made not a single effort to seduce their Prodigal Coach back home. Apparently it was felt that nobody is better than Weis.



I remember the actual moment I began to miss Charlie Weis, and Josh McDaniels, too. It was Week 10 in Indy. Right before the Pats went for it on 4th & 2, they were confused, and took a timeout. That lack of a timeout prevented them from challenging what should have been a much closer spot of the ball.



But I remember watching NFL Films, and the DVD 21, and watching Weis on the Patriot sidelines, preparing his unit for any and all contingencies. "If we stop them here, we have X yards to go for a field goal. If they get a field goal, we'll probably have Y seconds to get a touchdown." That kind of thing.

Weis thought ahead. He was a chess master, thinking 8 minutes ahead in a game. If he wanted to go for it on 4th & 2, he would've made the decision when it was 2nd & 10.

There would've been no need for that timeout.

Maybe Weis and Crennel don't want to return to New England. Maybe they don't want to take that apparent step backward in their careers. That's understandable. But did the Patriots even call them or their agents. I certainly hope they did. Because those are two premier coordinators. Not only that, it's going to be some time before another team steals them away as head coaches.



The Patriots apparently chose a void over Charlie Weis. And I just don't get that. Especially after a season of bland plays and total offensive failure in key moments.

-The Commodore

Getting the Old Band Back Together

Yesterday, former Notre Dame head coach and Patriots offensive coordinator, Charlie Weis was hired by the Kansas City Chiefs as the team's new offensive coordinator. A minor blip on the map of nation wide sports news. However, this move should not fly under the proverbial radar. And here's why.

As we all know, Scott Pioli was hired by the Chiefs last off-season to the position of president of player personnel (the same position he held with the Pats). In one of his earliest moves while in office, he acquired (stole) Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel for a second-round pick. Seemingly, with Cassel at the helm, Jamaal Charles assuming the role of feature back, and a potential pro bowl wide receiver in Dwayne Bowe, the Chiefs have the weapons on offense to contend in the AFC west. Having said that, head coach Todd Haley did not feel confident in former offensive coordinator, Chan Galey, and he was fired a week before the start of the regular season. In turn, the Kansas City offense flat lined the first five weeks of the season, translating to an 0-5 start. However, they did show signs of life beating the Raiders in Oakland, the Steelers at home, and ended the season with a bang, beating a playoff contending Denver Broncos team in Denver to the tune of 44-24.

With the hiring of Weis, Haley will be able to focus solely on his head coaching responsibilities instead of fumbling around with the offense each week in addition to handling the rest of the team. It's insane to think that the Chiefs offense won't rebound after a luck luster 2009 season. They were able to remove the malignant tumor in Larry Johnson, which paved the way for former Texas Longhorn, Jamaal Charles to have a breakout season. Cassel was in a system to which he was a foreigner, a problem that Weis will fix early on, Seeing as Weis incorporates a similar system to the one Cassel had grown accustomed to in New England.

On the other side of the ball, the Chiefs have attempted to construct a solid defensive line, spending a top-5 pick on those positions each of the last two years. In the 2008 draft, they selected (over)hyped-up defensive tackle, Glenn Dorsey, who thus far has been a disappointment. Last year they selected Tyson Jackson (who played on the same line as Dorsey at LSU). Despite having played in a 4-3 scheme in college, Jackson adapted nicely to the 3-4 alignment the Chiefs chose to go with this past season. However, Haley has shown little confidence in his defensive coaches, having already fired D-line coach, Tom Krumrie. Many assume defensive coordinator, Clancy Pendergast will be next.

But who will fill the role of defensive coordinator?

ahh, yes. You guessed it...

None other than former Patriots defensive coordinator turned head coach, Romeo Crennel. After a successful tenure as Patriots defensive coordinator (one that yielded 3 championships), Crennel was hired to coach the hapless Cleveland Browns. Who's struggles only continued after Crennel was hired. Their reason for demise was a stagnant offense that often struggled to put points on the board. The Browns put together one successful campaign under Crennel, (10-6, but missed the playoffs) who was fired after four disappointing years in Cleveland.

Crennel, like Weis, was essential to the three Superbowl winning seasons the Patriots enjoyed in 2001, 2003, and 2004. Needless to say, both coaches have been less than effective since leaving the shadow of their benefactor, Bill Belichick. However, it should also be noted, despite a 16-0 regular season in 2007, the Patriots have not won a Superbowl since the departures of Crennel and Weis. It seems that the stars have aligned and both coaches are searching for jobs in an offseason where big name coaches are beginning to fill the vacancies left by their inferior colleagues. Both coaches, if not humbled during their stay in New England, certainly are at this stage in their careers and would be more than willing to accept coordinator positions where their success originated. In Weis' case, he has already accepted his position.

The combination of Pioli, Weis, and Crennel has proven to be the ingredients to a successful recipe. The question remains, can they win without Belichick? Should the Chiefs sign Crennel, and I believe that they will, we will know the answer to this question one year from now. Stay tuned for what should be a turnaround year in Kansas City.

Weis Signs With Chiefs

"Charlie Weis has agreed to become the offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs, according to team and league sources. Weis could be named to the position within the next 24 to 48 hours, the sources said.

"Until a deal is done, I really can't say anything," Weis said from his home near South Bend, Ind. "It's not to be disrespectful of you or the Chiefs. I just think it's really, really important for me, especially with the prospect of there being a relationship there, to make sure I handle this properly (ESPN)."

What a great signing by Scott Pioli. Wies was not a great head coach at Notre Dame, but the guy is a proven winner as an offensive coordinator. It will be interesting to see if the next Chiefs' move is to sign Romeo Crennel as the defensive coordinator, because that's exactly what I would do if I was the Chiefs.

Chiefs Going After Weis

"Recently, there was word that Charlie Weis could become the next offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs. While head coach Todd Haley did not comment specifically on Weis in his remarks to the Kansas City Star following the season finale on Sunday, he did allow that hiring a new offensive coordinator was in the plans.

Appearing on "Mike and Mike in the Morning", senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen indicated that Weis could land in KC "soon." How soon? Jim Trotter of Sports Illustrated relayed word from a source that Weis could be hired within the week (ESPN)."

There had been rumors that Romeo Crennel was also going to the Cheifs earlier in the week (there are now rumors he could be heading to the Giants). I think hiring both these guys is a smart move. They are both proven winners (when coordinators), and easily could get Kansas City back on track. I really wanted to see the Patriots bring these guys back, but I am not surprised at all that Pioli is making strong moves to land them...

Where Will Weis Land?

As I look up and down the NFL teams, I tried to find obvious choices for who he is going to be an OC for, and three really popped out at me, Kansas City, Chicago and Detroit. All three teams have QBs who can throw but have struggled greatly this year. I think he would love having QB's like Matt Cassel, Jay Cutler, or Matt Stafford. Kansas City has the inside track I believe because Todd Haley. And No Patriot fans, get the idea of him coming back to NE out of your head. It's not happening, everyone's ego is to damn big to ever have that happen.

Breaking News: Charlie Weis Fired

Good this guy has been nothing but a terrible coach a Notre Dame. The only way he won is with Ty Willingham's players, his arrogance was ridiculous, he proved nothing while being there and is more cut out to be an offensive coordinator in the NFL, then a head coach of any team. The next coach the Irish decide to hire, they need to stick with for at least 5 years. Even though Jimmy Claussen had one foot out the door, this most definitely means he is going pro.

Weis Talks About Leaving Notre Dame

Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis confirms he talked with his family about whether they thought he should quit after last season, though he said he never wanted to leave.
"Like anyone who has a situation that is uncertain, as any husband and father would do, you address it with your wife and you address it with your kids. And you talk about the what if," Weis said Wednesday after practice. "But does that mean that at any time that I thought that I wasn't going to be here? I mean you just have to deal with ... When you're around a long time in this business, what you learn is you have to deal with the negatives. You just have to have a plan just in case they end up happening (Sportsline)."

I am in no way a Notre Dame fan, but there is a part of me that would really like to see Weis and Romeo Crennel come back to the Patriots. The Pats have lost so many coaches, and I think eventually it has to come back and haunt them. These guys have basically shit the bed since they left, so why not come back. For Weis he has the excuse of money, but other then that I think it would be awesome to see the team reunite. Weis, in my eyes, made the right choice by not quitting, because it seems like Notre Dame is slowly improving. The problem is that the Irish fans have way too high expectations that he will just never be able to live up to.

Speaking of the Carlton Dance...

...How about the sickest version of the Charlston Dance with a little Daft Punk........

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Jon Gruden To Notre Dame?

There is speculation that Jon Gruden may be the next Notre Dame coach, and even though Notre Dame called these rumors "ridiculous", it would be a great move by the program. All of us probably know that the Charlie Weis experiment isn't working in Notre Dame, it hasn't worked for a while now and they need a fresh face in their to actually lead their team instead of emptying out their cafeteria (fat joke). Gruden's tough guy personality may lose some veterans in the NFL, but college kids would thrive off the shit he is saying.

So Notre Dame, please listen to me. Get that pompous fat ass out off the head phones and get a real coach.

Charlie Weis To Coach In 09

"With the defeats and the rumors piling up, Notre Dame may be ready to stop the Charlie Weis speculation.
Multiple media outlets reported on Tuesday that the embattled coach will return for another year and that an announcement could come in the next 24 hours." ESPN

Why? Why is this guy coaching still? They were so hasty to get rid of Ty Willingham but let this pompous ass still be on the sidelines. This may be bold and wrong, but I am going to say it. Charlie Weis is the worst coach in college football. He was only able to win with Willingham's players and now he has destroyed Notre Dame football. He has been in the top ten of recruiting players, so this is obviously a coaching problem. Charlie Weis needs to go if Notre Dame wants to win.

And Now BMack's take:


It is being reported that Charlie Weis will return next year to coach Notre Dame. Weis has had some disappointing seasons, and there were many rumors saying that he could be getting fired, but with a buyout that would cost the Irish more then 20 million, I thought it to be unlikely. Is Weis getting more chances then Willingham? Yes, but with that buyout, and the fact that the Irish may have started to notice that they are not the powerhouse they once were. I mean how is this school going to compete with the Ohio St, LSU, and USC's of the world? I think most Irish fans have an unrealistic view of what this school is capable of. Saying that, the school is underachieving right now, and if they can't get back to "BC" status, then Weis should be fired. I just don't think firing a coach every 4 or 5 years is a good idea either.

Notre Dame Cruises Past Michigan

Rich Rodriguez’s first trip to South Bend as Michigan head coach did not go as planned. Notre Dame scored early and often against the soft Michigan defense. The Fightin’ Irish scored 21 points in the first quarter and finished strong, beating the Wolverines 35-17.

Michigan turned the ball over 6 times, including 4 fumbles, one of which was returned for a touchdown. Notre Dame capitalized on the sloppy Michigan offense, which struggled to run Rich Rod’s spread scheme. Say what you will about Rodriguez not having his recruits and the right players for his strategy, but this is just embarrassing. The only bright spot for Michigan is freshman sensation, Sam Mcguffie. For those of you who have not seen his youtube highlight reel, it’s quite impressive. Mcguffie is certain to be the feature back in Ann Arbor for a few years. He finished with 178 total yards (131 rushing) and a touchdown.



On the other sideline, coach Charlie Weis suffered a Brady like injury (torn ACL and MCL) after being taken down by one of his own players. Sophomore quarterback Jimmy Clausen threw two touchdown passes and has finally begun to emerge into the player Weis envisioned. Clausen has tossed 5 touchdowns in the first two games and has yet to be sacked. Coach Charlie Weis has turned play-calling duties over to the offensive coordinator this season, and the results have been fruitful. Clausen looks comfortable in the pocket and has time to read opposing defenses and find the open receiver. Unlike last season, the Irish have confidence in Clausen’s arm and the deep ball has become more prevalent in their game plan. Clausen is drawing comparisons to predecessor, Brady Quinn. Much like Quinn, Clausen has rebounded after a shaky freshman season and continues to improve with every game.

Notre Dame has earned the respect of the media and will receive votes on the upcoming poll. A win next week at Michigan State will solidify their spot within the top 25. A confident Fightin’ Irish squad should roll through East Lansing to advance to 3-0 on the season.

-Brian B

Charlie Wies Falling On His Fat Ass

-BMack

Bold Move, Fatty

Evening Sun - Charlie Weis has a plan for the University of Notre Dame football team and, according to Weis, it is only two-thirds complete. Weis wants to assemble individuals who are good people first, studious people second and good football players third. The first two Weis has accomplished. The last is the one he and the Fighting Irish faithful are waiting for. "I could get hoodlums and thugs and win tomorrow," Weis said. "I won't do it that way."

Fact - Calling any future NFL stars that could instantly impact your program thugs and hoodlums is not the best way to go about getting them signed.

Right now, Nick Saban is visiting living rooms across the country telling all those "thugs" that Charlie Weis doesn't think they are good people. He doesn't think they are studious, and he doesn't think they belong at The University Notre Dame. I have a good feeling Les Miles, Bobby Petrino, Urban Meyer, Steve Spurrier, Rich Rod and Pete Carroll are telling kids the exact same thing.

Charlie needs to put down his sandwich and realize that he ain't coaching the New England Patriots anymore. He's coaching a desperate college team that would have been relegated to D1-AA had this been Champions League Soccer. He should feel blessed and honored if some thug wanted to enroll in his laughing stock of a program.

h/t - Deadspin