In Search for an Offensive Coordinator

93% of all communication is nonverbal.

With the 'loose lips sink ships' mentality the Chiefs organization practices, it's these nonverbal cues that fans have to rely upon for any information regarding the team. Sometimes sources come out and give the media tidbits of information: Romeo Crennel being made HC, Joe Philbin interviewing with the Chiefs for the HC position. But these are the exceptions, not the rules. Rarely do fans know what's going on within the team, and that's how the Chiefs prefer it.

But the Chiefs offensive coordinator position has turned into a nonverbal cue that the Chiefs brass can't deny. It's a position that has to be filled, and waiting to make a hire leads me to believe that the Chiefs are communicating their intentions without saying a word.

While I am not great at interpreting Chiefs nonverbal cues, I can narrow it down to three meanings:

1.  The Chiefs are waiting/have been waiting to hire a coach from a playoff team 
2. The Chiefs already have the next OC on their team 
3. The Chiefs have no idea what they are doing 

Option One

Adam Teicher, a writer for the Kansas City Star who follows the Chiefs, said this about the search for an OC: "I think the'yre definitely going to be going outside to find their coordinator." If this is true, then you have to believe that the Chiefs have been waiting on an opportunity to interview a coach that was or is currently on a playoff team.

The remaining four playoff teams - Patriots, Ravens, 49ers and Giants - all have coaching staffs that will be highly sought after when their season comes to an end. Other playoff teams, such as the Packers and Broncos, already have their offensive coaches getting interviews for head coaching positions. These playoff coaching staffs will be hot commodities, and ones that the Scott Pioli might be waiting for.

This would go along with what Michael Lombardi from NFL Network wrote at the end of the season about the Chiefs wanting to pursue a high profile offensive coordinator to pair with Romeo Crennel as head coach. With Crennel being defensively oriented, getting a big name OC would make sense for the Chiefs. These options are starting to become fewer with other teams filling their needs as well, and these coaches won't remain available for much longer. But here are some coaches that made it to the playoffs that will have suitors (some are bigger names than others):

• 49ers OC Greg Roman 
• Brought over from Jim Harbough's Stanford coaching staff, Roman has helped make one of the worst teams in the league one game away from the Super Bowl. 
• Giants OC Kevin Gilbride
• Gilbride has had a long and varied career in the NFL. He has been the OC of five different NFL teams, QB coach of two different teams, and head coach for one season for the Chargers. Gilbride has been OC for the Giants since 2007, and has been part of much success in New York with Eli Manning, including their Super Bowl run. Gilbride is very capable, and might get some HC looks when the Giants season comes to an end. OC in KC wouldn't be too bad for Chiefs fans though. 
• Denver OC Mike McCoy 
• In a season that featured two different kinds of offense for the Broncos during the season, McCoy was praised around the league for his versatility and ability to adapt to Tim Tebow's skill sets and have success. McCoy was pursued by the Oakland Raiders and Miami Dolphins for their available HC position. He even declared himself as the favorite for the Dolphins job before Joe Philbin, the Packers OC, was awarded the job yesterday. If McCoy doesn't get another HC job interview, he could decide to head to the Chiefs to become the heir to Romeo Crennel. This one is doubtful, because McCoy could return to the Broncos and try his luck again next year.
• Green Bay QB Coach Tom Clements 
• Clements was a NFL and CFL QB during his playing career, and has been coaching the position since 1992. He spent one year in KC as a QB coach (2000) and has been the QB coach in Green Bay since 2006. He helped in the development of Aaron Rodgers as well as possible 2012 starter Matt Flynn. Clements also has one season of OC experience with the Bills. Although Clements doesn't have the sort of experience calling plays as other potential candidates I have listed do, he clearly knows how to develop QBs. That can't hurt. 

Option Two

The last time the Chiefs hired an offensive coordinator from outside the organization, it was Charlie Weis, who was hired on January 8th of 2010. Last season, however, when Bill Muir was promoted to offensive coordinator, the move didn't come until February 3rd. With that date approaching, I don't think this option should be overlooked.

• Chiefs QB Coach Jim Zorn
• Early after the season ended, I predicted the Chiefs would promote Zorn to offensive coordinator. He's a former QB in the NFL, has head coaching and playcalling experience with the Washington Redskins, and offers the kind of continuity that the Chiefs are interested in this offseason. However, Kent Babb recently tweeted that he'd be surprised if Zorn would become or even want to become the offensive coordinator for the 2012 Chiefs after talking to him. After that tweet, my confidence in Zorn becoming OC diminished. But if Zorn was to become OC, I'd have no problem with it. 
• Chiefs RB Coach/Assistant HC Maurice Carthon 
• In addition to having 6 years of playcalling experience on offense, Carthon has 16 years experience working with Romeo Crennel. He has been an OC for three different teams (Lions, Cowboys, and Browns), and would make a capable one in KC. But none of those teams Carthon was OC for kept him in that position for more than a year, and none had highly regarded offenses. Carthon's days as an OC might be over.

Option Three

Nick Wright from 610 Sports reported during the season and reiterated after Romeo Crennel was made head coach, the Chiefs plans were to hire Rams offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels. Pioli worked with him in New England. But when the only other job that McDaniels would have taken, a return to the OC position for the Patriots, McDaniels took it and in turn, left Chiefs GM Scott Pioli without a candidate. It's been nearly two weeks since Crennel was made HC, and with no word coming from the Chiefs camp, many speculate if Pioli has any clue who the offensive coordinator will be for the 2012 season. 

Just because the Chiefs had no backup plan for Josh McDaniels, however, doesn't mean that they won't wind up with a good OC, if not an even better OC than McDaniels would be. Here are a few possible options for OC next year:

• Former Oakland HC Hue Jackson 
• Jackson was fired in Oakland after a new GM was hired. The Raiders went 8-8 during his first season as the Raiders HC, and has already had interviews for OC positions around the league. The most recent was in St. Louis for new Rams HC Jeff Fisher. Although the job went to someone else (Brian Schottenheimer took the OC job with the Rams today), Hue Jackson is still a big name that I think the Chiefs should consider. 
• Panthers OC Rob Chudzinski 
• Chudzinski might be moving up the list of OCs because of the season the Panthers had with Cam Newton. Rob, much like Mike McCoy, was able to shape the offense around the QBs strengths, which is exactly what the Chiefs need. Ole Chuds has two years experience with Romeo, and three calling plays. This move wouldn't be too bad.
• Dolphins OC Brian Daboll 
• With Philbin becoming the new HC in Miami, Daboll might be on his way out. Daboll has four years experience with Crennel, and three years calling plays. While only having one year as OC in Miami, the Dolphins didn't have a good record, but their offense wasn't bad. Daboll had to deal with their starting QB, Chad Henne, going out for the season and transitioning Matt Moore into a competent replacement. Also, Reggie Bush had the best season of his career in Miami.
• Titans OC Chris Palmer 
• Palmer took over the playcalling duties in Tennessee last season, has five years experience with Crennel, and seven years experience calling the plays. The Titans were nearly a wildcard team this season, and Matt Hasselbeck had a resurrection of sorts and Chris Johnson still went on to have a good season after starting the season late after contract issues. Palmer would be a good option since the Chiefs and Titans operated similarly on offense.

Romeo Crennel has indicated that he would interview coaches this week while at the East-West Shrine Game and even until the Senior Bowl. Rushing to make a hire isn't the answer, making the right hire is. But the longer the Chiefs wait, the fewer options they will have.