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.
