Adam Schefter reported this morning that interim head coach and defensive coordinator, Romeo Crennel, would be made the permanent head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs. Although rumors had been surfacing of interviews with other coaches for the position (Jeff Fisher, Joe Philbin, Jack Del Rio), it seemed like the Crennel promotion was all but certain. Assuming that Schefter isn't jumping the gun with this report, let's break down the Pros and Cons of this move.
Pros: Crennel being head coach shows that Scott Pioli believes the Chiefs are very near being a perennial contender. Believing that has caused him to go the route of continuity instead of completely starting over. I think fans can tell that the Chiefs are close too, that's why the majority of them were for the Crennel decision. Most would agree that talent wasn't the reason the Chiefs didn't return to the playoffs this year, it was lack of depth; with returning starters and another year of free agency and the draft, the 2012 Chiefs should be the best team we've had in a while.
Crennel is unabashedly loved by his players. Ever since the Chiefs upset victory over the previously undefeated Green Bay Packers, the players have had nothing but good things to say for RAC, including chanting those very initials in the locker-room after that victory. "He’s one of those coaches that’s been a coach in this league, he’s got five Super Bowls, with that type of résumé you want someone around that can help us get to the top," linebacker Tamba Hali said after the Packer victory. "I think anybody on this team would agree with me, if we can keep Romeo as our head coach here it would be great." The rest of the team has echoed that sentiment.
And why shouldn't the players support Crennel? The defense played outstanding at times, especially so once Crennel was named interim, and wins should never be undervalued. Crennel coached the team to a 2-1 record, and should have been 3-0, once he took over (granted, Kyle Orton was healthy by then). If the team plays for him next season like they did in the final three games of this season, the Chiefs will be in a good position to make the playoffs.
Cons: While I think that Crennel was the right choice for the HC job, I don't think Crennel is the best choice. I'm not going to contemplate on who should have been hired or anything like that, what I am going to comment on is my impression of Crennel during his three game tryout at the end of the season. Crennel seemed to struggle between wanting to play conservatively and wanting to play aggressively, and would make the wrong decision at the wrong time because he couldn't make up his mind. Bill Barnwell of Grantland wrote about Crennel's coaching decisions after the Chiefs victory over the Packers, saying that the team won in "spite" of RAC.
Granted, Crennel was coming off a tumultuous week and he was pulling double duty as HC and Defensive Coordinator, but these sort of decisions seemed to follow Crennel into the loss to Oakland. Hopefully, finding a DC for next season will take the pressure off of Crennel and allow him to more effectively manage the game. But that's another Con right there: losing Crennel as DC. The defense has grown under Crennel, but with Crennel moving up, he will not be able to concentrate on the defense like he has done over the last two seasons. Even a new DC with the same philosophy might not have the same success with the Chiefs defense that Crennel had.
Age is also relevant. Crennel is 64 years old, making him the second oldest head coach in the NFL (Coughlin - Giants). You have to wonder how much longer Crennel will be able to coach, which means this is not a long-term answer. I'm sure Pioli knows that and will use that to pitch to DC and OC candidates to come on for a chance at a head coaching position after a couple of years. But I guess this Con can also be a Pro.
And as far as players loving their head coach, that's not always a good thing. A head coaches job isn't to be loved, it's to be respected. Todd Haley was respected, even if his personality caused some friction with players on occasion. The players grew under Haley, and the ones who didn't or couldn't handle how Haley handled situations were soon out of Kansas City. Crennel is not an authoritarian, and a criticism of RAC dating back to Cleveland was his lack of discipline. The players love him now, but how long will that last if the team is struggling?
The last player-oriented coach the Chiefs had was Herm Edwards. I know that many people will disagree with this statement, but my first impression of Crennel as HC, and one that I carried into the time when Crennel was the favorite for the Chiefs job, was that he reminded me of Herm. He's a defensive-minded coach that has previously failed as a HC (24-40 record with Browns) who the players love but has struggled with in-game scenarios, clock management and tends to play the game conservatively. All analogies break down after so many comparisons, and I hope this one breaks down immediately, and Crennel has instant success with the Chiefs.
At the end of the day, this was the right move for the Chiefs at this time, and I agree with the decision 100%. The Pros outweigh the Cons, and the Chiefs can pick up where they left off. The coaching staff is not quite set, however, with defensive and offensive coordinators still needing to be found. And Josh McDaniel's won't be one of them.
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