Showing posts with label Romeo Crennel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Romeo Crennel. Show all posts

Friday, January 4, 2013

Chiefs Fire Scott Pioli

After four disappointing seasons, Scott Pioli has been fired from his position as general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs. The move comes with the expected news that the Chiefs will hire former Eagles head coach Andy Reid, and that Reid will be choosing a GM.

Pioli was a massive flop for the Chiefs, who thought they were getting a top-flight GM when they acquired him from the Patriots. In New England, Pioli was a five-time NFL Executive of the Year and served as the top front-office assistant to head coach and general manager Bill Belickick.

During Pioli’s tenure in Kansas City, the Chiefs compiled a 23-41 record. Both of his coaching hires – Todd Haley and Romeo Crennel – didn’t pan out, as Pioli famously feuded with Haley during the coach’s final season. Pioli’s style also frustrated coaches and players, as he was accused of bugging phones in team offices and other secretive behaviors.

It was Pioli’s personnel decisions that were the biggest red flag during his tenure in Kansas City. Pioli made several ill-fated moves, most notably trading a second-round pick to the New England for quarterback Matt Cassel and then signing him to a $63 million contract. Pioli also made several other puzzling moves – he traded Kansas City icon Tony Gonzalez to Atlanta for a second-round pick that he used on Javier Arenas and signed several veterans such as Stanford Rout that were disasters. Pioli also drafted extremely poorly, and as a result, the team found itself with paper-thin depth the past couple of seasons.

It was obvious that Pioli had to go, and the Chiefs should have cut ties with the GM much earlier. Kansas City needs to find someone who can build the team through the draft and create a roster with depth at every position. Hopefully, the GM that Reid brings in will be able to get things turned around.

KCMB Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Who Will Be The Next Head Coach Of The Chiefs?

Now that Romeo Crennel has been fired, Chiefs fans can focus on who will be leading Kansas City next season. Several coaches lost their jobs this past Monday, which means there are several open positions across the league.

It is important to note that while the Chiefs still have not made a decision on the fate of maligned general manager Scott Pioli, chairman Clark Hunt will be directing this coaching search. Hunt has stated that he would like to find a younger coach who could be with the team for a long time, and many speculate that he will try to find an offensive-minded coach, especially if the team drafts a quarterback with its first overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft. Hunt’s control of the situation also likely eliminates coaches that Pioli has ties with, such as Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz and New England’s Josh McDaniels.

One name that has surfaced is Bruce Arians, and while he doesn’t fit Hunt’s desired age range, he would be a strong fit for the Chiefs. Arians performed well as Indianapolis’ interim head coach this season, and he helped develop Andrew Luck. Arians has also worked with the likes of Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger. Other offensive minded coaches include Mike McCoy, the offensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos, Dirk Koetter, offensive coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons, and Jay Gruden, offensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals. Washington’s Kyle Shanahan could also be in the mix, however Hunt may be concerned with how young he is (only 33) and the fact that he is the son of the man who coached the rival Denver Broncos to two Super Bowl victories.

If the Chiefs decide to go with a defensive-minded coach, Perry Fewell of the New York Giants would be a great fit. Fewell has routinely developed one of the top pass-rushing attacks in the league, and could help Kansas City’s young defensive lineman develop and find ways to maximize the talent of Tamba Hali and Justin Houston. Cincinnati’s Mike Zimmer may also be a possibility.

The hottest name from the college ranks has to be Oregon’s Chip Kelly, who has developed one of the most lethal offenses in college football history and could be a Jim Harbaugh-type that wins big both in college and in the NFL.

There is a deep pool of head coaching candidates this offseason, however the Chiefs will have to compete with several other franchises that all finished with a better record this past season. The team may not get its first pick, but Hunt will certainly have plenty of options.

KCMB Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Chiefs Fire Crennel, Pioli Safe For Now

The Chiefs have fired Head Coach Romeo Crennel, but General Manager Scott Pioli is safe for now. Many Kansas City fans have called for Pioli’s head after a string of disappointing seasons, bad personnel decisions and poor drafting, but for the time being, only Crennel is out.

Crennel’s dismissal isn’t at all surprising, considering how poorly Kansas City performed this season and his past history as a head coach. The Chiefs finished 2-14, and were routinely blown out. Crennel was a disaster as a head coach in Cleveland, which suggests that the Chiefs simply gave the reigns to someone who is not cut out for the job. Crennel has a strong track record as a defensive coordinator, and he seems to a great guy. He handled the Jovan Belcher murder suicide with extreme class, and Kansas City fans will not forget that. He just isn’t cut out to be a head coach in the NFL.

The Pioli situation is more puzzling. The Chiefs’ GM hasn’t drafted well and has failed to build a deep roster that can withstand injuries and compete for a championship. Even worse, Pioli is the man who hired Crennel and famously feuded with former coach Todd Haley, who led the Chiefs to a division title and playoff berth and had appeared to have finally won over the locker room.

The Chiefs have said that “no determination” has been made regarding Pioli’s fate, but the team needs to cut ties with the failed GM. Kansas City has the number one pick in next year’s draft, and will be picking at the top of every round. More than ever, the team needs a GM who will make the right decisions, and assemble both a roster and coaching staff that can turn the Chiefs around.

KCMB Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

More Details Emerge From Jovan Belcher Murder-Suicide

Due to the release of several police reports, more details are emerging from the murder-suicide of former Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher. Belcher shot and killed his girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins, early on Saturday morning, before driving to Arrowhead Stadium and taking his own life in front of several Chiefs coaches and general manager Scott Pioli.

Belcher’s mom was home during the events that unfolded early Saturday morning, and her testimony has given us a better idea of exactly what happened. According to her reports, Belcher and Perkins had been arguing for months, and things got heated when she returned home late after a concert on Friday night. Belcher then shot Perkins, kissed her on the forehead and said he was sorry. He then apologized to his mother, kissed his three-month-old daughter goodbye, and headed towards the Chiefs training facility.

In the parking lot outside the Chiefs stadium, Belcher ran into GM Scott Pioli. Belcher apparently stepped out of his car with his gun already pointed to his head, immediately telling Pioli what he had done. Belcher thanked Pioli for what he had done for him, and then asked Pioli and to take care of his daughter.

Later, head coach Romeo Crennel and linebacker coach Gary Gibbs approached Belcher, and joined Pioli in trying to convince Belcher to put his weapon down. When Belcher heard the sirens of the police cars approaching, he knelt down beside a vehicle, made the sign of the cross, and fired his gun.

The Chiefs organization had already been made aware of the problems between Belcher and Perkins, and had been providing counseling and other assistance to the couple to try and help them sort out their problems.

Police are not sure if alcohol played a factor or not in the shooting, as toxicology tests are currently being performed on both Perkins and Belcher. It now appears that Belcher shot Perkins in the heat of an intense argument between the couple, and then ended his life when he realized the ramifications of what he had done.

Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Chiefs Lose To Broncos, Now Have Sole Possession Of NFL's Worst Record

The Chiefs put up a fight yesterday, but ultimately lost to the Denver Broncos, 17-9. The loss drops Kansas City’s record to 1-10 on the season.

The Chiefs were able to limit turnovers in this one, and the only time the team threw an interception was on the final play of the game on Brady Quinn’s Hail Mary attempt. Despite this, the offense could simply not get anything going all game. Quinn struggled all game, and the team committed several untimely penalties that stalled drives. The Chiefs have now not scored a touchdown since the first quarter of their overtime loss to Pittsburgh – a span of 11 quarters and 173 minutes.

Head coach Romeo Crennel’s conservative approach to games is also frustrating. Kansas City’s defense played well yesterday, preventing Peyton Manning from having a big game and coming up with a big interception in the first half. After Broncos kicker Matt Prater missed two makeable field goals, the Chiefs had a shot to win the game. Despite having only one win on the year, Crennel routinely opted to kick field goals and not go for it on fourth and short opportunities, despite being deep in Denver territory. Ryan Succop was able to hit two chip shot field goals that gave the Chiefs an early 6-0 lead, but when you are a losing team facing a hall-of-fame quarterback, you need to get aggressive and play to win. Even more mind-boggling was the head coach’s decision to punt late in the game with a fourth and six near midfield, with the team only down 14-9. Naturally, Kansas City didn’t get the ball back until there was nearly no time left on the clock. Crennel has had an overly conservative mindset all season long, and it cost his team yesterday.

The Jacksonville Jaguars picked up their second win of the season yesterday, knocking off the Tennessee Titans. This is good news for Chiefs fans, as Kansas City is now the NFL’s only one-win team and currently is in the driver’s seat to land the first overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft next year.

Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Kansas City Chiefs - Cincinnati Bengals Preview

After losing to the Steelers in overtime, the Chiefs return home to host the Cincinnati Bengals (4-5), who are currently fighting for a playoff spot in a very even AFC. The game will begin at 12:00 p.m.

Kansas City had a great opportunity to knock off Pittsburgh last week, but several untimely penalties prevented the team from expanding an early lead. After making a brilliant throw to help the Chiefs force OT, quarterback Matt Cassel was picked off in the extra period which essentially ended the game. Turnovers have been the biggest reason why the Chiefs currently sit at 1-8. Jamaal Charles is quietly having another strong season, and Kansas City will need him to have a monster game to score points. The Chiefs receiving unit is very banged up, as Jonathan Baldwin is out with a concussion and leading receiver Dwayne Bowe has been limited by a hamstring injury.

Many Chiefs fans have speculated that Brady Quinn would get another shot at the starting quarterback role, but Matt Cassel has been officially named the starter for Sunday. Head coach Romeo Crennel has stated that Quinn is still recovering from his concussion and has not yet been cleared to play.

The Bengals are coming off their most impressive performance of the year, a 31-13 win over the defending champion New York Giants. Andy Dalton has become a solid NFL quarterback, and receiver A.J. Green has quickly become one of the league’s top wideouts. The Chiefs defense has not lived up to its preseason expectations, but it has the talent to keep the Bengals offense in check. Kansas City will likely need to force a few turnovers to slow down Dalton and Green and give its struggling offense a short field to work with.

The Chiefs proved last week that when they limit turnovers (Kansas City had zero during regulation) they can still compete with anyone. Still, it is hard to see this team repeating that type of performance two weeks in a row, especially with a banged up receiving unit. The Bengals are fighting for a playoff spot and have a lot of confidence, and also may be getting several good players back from injury. The Chiefs will likely need a few turnovers to pull this one out.

Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

Friday, November 9, 2012

Kansas City Chiefs - Pittsburgh Steelers Preview

Monday night football seems like a really bad idea for the Kansas City Chiefs, who have been an absolute disaster this season and are currently tied for the worst record in the NFL. The entire country will get to watch the Chiefs take on a strong Pittsburgh Steelers team that hasn’t lost a Monday night home game in over 20 years.

The biggest storyline regarding Monday night’s game is former Chiefs coach Todd Haley facing off against his former team. Haley was fired during the season last year, despite leading the Chiefs to a division title the previous season and maintaining a decent product on the field despite a slew of devastating injuries. Chiefs fans now know the truth – Haley simply did not get along with Scott Pioli, who has quickly established a reputation as one of the worst general managers in professional football. Many fans wish Haley was still the head coach, as Romeo Crennel has looked absolutely clueless running the ship this season and has to shoulder a good portion of the blame for the team’s terrible first half of the season.

Matt Cassel will get the start at quarterback, and actually has played decently since returning to the starting role when Brady Quinn went down with an injury. The Chiefs lead the league with 29 turnovers, which has been the biggest factor in their historically bad season. Pittsburgh’s defense has played well recently, and the team will have to play mistake-free football in order to put enough points on the board to win.

The Steelers got off to a poor start this season, but have since rallied to win three in a row. Last week, the team defeated the reigning Superbowl champion New York Giants, and the offense seems to be clicking under Haley and veteran Ben Roethlisberger. Pittsburgh defeated Kansas City last season, 13-9.

The Steelers are banged up and missing a few key players and it is entirely possible that they will overlook the Chiefs a bit. Expect Kansas City to put up a better fight than most predict, but winning a Monday night game in Pittsburgh will require a near-perfect performance to pull off.

Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Romeo Crennel Relinquishes Defensive Coordinator Duties, Chiefs Cut Stanford Routt

Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel has removed himself as Kansas City’s defensive coordinator, naming linebacker coach Gary Gibbs as his replacement effective immediately.

Gibbs has been the team’s linebacker coach since 2009, helping Chiefs like Derrick Johnson develop into pro bowl caliber players. He served as head coach for the University of Oklahoma from 1989-1994, and also coached as a defensive coordinator for LSU and Georgia. In the NFL, Gibbs served as the New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator from 2006-2008.

Crennel had drawn some criticism earlier in the season for his attempt to serve as both the team’s head coach and defensive coordinator. Many noted that he was being stretched too thin, especially considering his failure as a head coach for the Cleveland Browns several years ago. This move appears to be an attempt for Crennel to save face after the Chiefs disastrous first half of the season, but give the Chiefs’ head coach some credit for trying something new.

Crennel’s decision to step down as defensive coordinator wasn’t the only move Kansas City made yesterday. The team also announced it has released cornerback Stanford Routt, who the Chiefs had signed to a three year, $18 million contract this offseason. Routt was brought in to be a replacement for the departed Brandon Carr; however he has struggled all season long and has proven to be yet another disastrous signing by GM Scott Pioli. Javier Arenas will likely fill Routt’s starting cornerback spot.

Routt’s roster spot will be filled by Shaun Smith, who is rejoining the Chiefs due to depth problems on the defensive line. Glenn Dorsey’s injured calf may force him to miss several weeks, and the unit could use a player who knows the system. Smith played for the Chiefs in 2010 and had a pretty decent season (despite some interesting controversy) and he should help the team’s defensive line immediately.

Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

Friday, November 2, 2012

Chargers Blow Out Chiefs - Pioli & Crennel Must Go

The latest embarrassing episode of the Chiefs 2012 season came last night, when Kansas City was throttled on national television by their division rivals, the San Diego Chargers. The team committed four turnovers and let the game slip away in a disastrous fourth quarter, in which the Chiefs were outscored 2103.

Turnovers have been the biggest problem for the Chiefs all season, and the stats at this point are comical. Quarterback Matt Cassel has more turnovers than every team in the NFL save the Dallas Cowboys, despite missing nearly two games’ worth of action due to injury. As a team, the Chiefs have committed more turnovers in the first eight games of the season than any NFL team in the last 15 years. When you can’t protect the football and routinely give the other team great field position, you are going to lose.

Last night’s game was bad, but it is time for Kansas City Chiefs fans to look at the bigger picture here. The Chiefs General Manager, Scott Pioli, has completely failed. Pioli has drafted poorly and missed on most first and second round picks, has made poor free-agent signings and has assembled a team that is not very good. Throw in a coach who appears to be clueless, and you have a recipe for disaster. Why exactly did Romeo Crennel get another head coaching opportunity after being terrible in Cleveland? Because he beat a Green Bay team last year that had wrapped up a home field advantage and had nothing to play for? Romeo Crennel is a better option than Todd Haley, who won the division three years ago and kept a depleted roster competitive last season? The list of poor decisions this franchise has made just goes on and on.

The team needs to absolutely clean house and spend some money to find a solid GM and coach. The good news is that Kansas City should have some high picks in next year’s draft. The Chiefs need to trade the veterans that don’t want to be here anymore (Dwayne Bowe) for draft picks and give the next GM something to work with.

Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Chiefs Lose Another Home Game To The Raiders

One of the saddest things that has come with the demise of the Kansas City Chiefs organization is how poorly the team has played at Arrowhead Stadium, once considered one of the toughest places to play in the country. Kansas City lost to Oakland on Sunday, the Raiders’ sixth straight win over the Chiefs at Arrowhead.

The Chiefs are heading towards historically bad territory. For starters, the team has not led in regulation this season, the first time since 1940 that a team has gone this deep into the season without having a lead at any point in regulation play. The Chiefs lone win came in overtime over the lowly New Orleans Saints.

The biggest problem for the Chiefs continues to the turnovers – Kansas City committed four more on Sunday and now leads the league with 25 giveaways. Despite once again giving the ball away at will, the Chiefs had a few bright spots offensively. Matt Cassel replaced the injured Brady Quinn and had a decent outing, connecting on 20 of 30 attempts for 218 yards. Quinn looked awful before leaving the game with a head injury, suggesting that the coaching staff once again blew a personnel decision.

The biggest question mark from this game surrounds Jamaal Charles – the Chiefs top offensive weapon was given only five carries in the game, and head coach Romeo Crennel had no explanation as to why Charles wasn’t used more. Cassel ended up being the team’s leading rusher with 35 yards, and Peyton Hillis also received four carries.

There is no way to sugarcoat anything surrounding the Chiefs – this team is really bad and needs to fire its GM, head coach and his entire staff this offseason and start over. Kansas City fans can only hold onto the hope that the team’s next GM will not blow the Chiefs’ top draft pick in 2013, and that brighter days are ahead.

Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Kansas City Chiefs - Oakland Raiders Preview

Throw the records out the window, because it is rivalry week in Kansas City. On Sunday, the Chiefs will host the Oakland Raiders, and kickoff is set for 3:05 p.m.

Earlier this week, Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel announced that Brady Quinn will get the start for Kansas City. Matt Cassel has recovered from the concussion he suffered against Baltimore, but Crennel feels that starting Quinn is an “impactful move to get everyone’s attention.” Basically, Crennel is looking for anything to spark a Chiefs offense that has not played well this season. Most of that is on Cassel, who has accounted for a ridiculous 14 turnovers this season and has completed only 58% of his passes. The Chiefs will have to rely on Jamaal Charles to move the ball, although that may be a tough task against the Raiders defense, which is only allowing 102 yards per game on the ground.

Defensively, the Chiefs have been incredibly inconsistent this season. At times the unit has looked great, and other times it has made bad quarterbacks look like hall-of-famers. Kansas City’s main goal will be stopping Darren McFadden; although McFadden is having a down year, he is capable of breaking a long run at any time. The Chiefs have done a good job against McFadden in the past, and the team’s top priority should be to contain the dynamic back and force Carson Palmer to beat Kansas City through the air. Palmer has thrown for only seven touchdowns this season, and can be prone to turning the ball over.

The Raiders are statistically very similar to the Chiefs – Oakland averages 19 points per game and allows 28 points per game, and Kansas City averages 17 points per game and allows 30 points per game. Both teams rely on their running backs for big plays, and that should be the difference on Sunday. If Charles gets going early, Kansas City will have a good chance to pick up its second win this season. If the Chiefs run game is ineffective and Brady Quinn is forced to make a lot of plays, the team will likely be one step closer to a top-five draft pick.

Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Chiefs Name Brady Quinn Starting Quarterback

Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel has announced that Brady Quinn will start for Kansas City on Sunday, when the team plays rival Oakland. Matt Cassel has been cleared to play following his concussion injury against Baltimore; however Cassel’s poor play to start the year has earned him a spot on the bench.

Cassel has been an enormous disappointment this season, throwing for only five touchdowns next to nine interceptions and a 66.2 QB rating. His fumbles and interceptions have routinely forced the Chiefs defense to defend a short field, and has neutralized a successful ground attack lead by the dynamic Jamaal Charles. To make matters worse, Cassel signed a huge six year, $63 million contract when he was brought to Kansas City by GM Scott Pioli, which makes his poor play even more frustrating to Chiefs fans.

Enter Brady Quinn, the former first round pick out of Notre Dame who has only 393 career pass attempts. Quinn’s career rating is only 65.4, and he has actually produced worse stats than Cassel when he has seen the field for the Chiefs this season. Quinn has shown some flashes of the talent that led to the Browns drafting him in the first round, and Chiefs fans have to hope that Quinn will improve as he gets more playing time. Crennel has stated that he hopes this move helps shakes things up a bit, and that he plans on sticking with Quinn for the foreseeable future.

The Chiefs have stated they are not giving up on Cassel, but this move seems to signify that his days in Kansas City are numbered. Since enjoying a pretty good season two years ago, Cassel hasn’t played well and cannot stay healthy. Is Quinn the answer? Probably not, but he has shown some flashes of arm strength that Cassel seems to lack. Cassel’s contract and play will likely lead to his exit at the end of the year, and Quinn now has a second chance to earn an NFL starting job.

Many also believe that the Chiefs could take a quarterback in next year’s draft, especially if the team continues to lose and finds itself with a top-five pick. It is very likely that the Chiefs could resign Quinn this offseason and let him compete with and help groom a rookie quarterback when the 2013 season begins.

Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Chiefs Find New Low Against Bucs

It is a sad time to be Kansas City Chiefs fan, as the team continues to find new lows. The most recent came on Sunday, when Kansas City was blown out by the lowly Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 38-10. The loss drops the Chiefs record to 1-5 on the season.

Entering the game, it looked like Kansas City would have an opportunity to exploit a weak Tampa Bay offense. The Chiefs were coming off an impressive performance against the Baltimore Ravens, and the Bucs had struggled moving the ball this season. After limiting Tampa Bay to only seven points in the first half, Kansas City was lit up in the second half, and wound up surrendering three second half touchdowns and a field goal. Josh Freeman, who has struggled this season and most of his pro career (Freeman has a career rating of only 79), threw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns and looked like a Pro Bowler.

Despite the defensive struggles, Chiefs fans have to be the most frustrated with the offense’s performance. Brady Quinn struggled at times, which is to be expected considering this was his first start since 2009. Quinn did make a couple of good throws, and both of his interceptions really weren’t his fault. A lot of blame needs to be directed at the coaching staff, who dialed up a vanilla game plan despite the fact that Tampa Bay has struggled against the pass this season and lost its best cornerback, Aqib Talib, to a suspension. The Bucs were expecting the dink-and-dunk passes and runs, and with no vertical game, the offense managed only 3 points. Quinn may be rusty, but the coaching staff needs to get aggressive and play to win, rather than playing not to lose. Especially against a struggling unit that was without its best player.

Kansas City’s lone touchdown came on a great special teams play, as running back Shaun Draughn blocked a Buccaneer punt that was recovered by Edgar Jones. Jones made a nice play to get into the end zone, which at the time cut Tampa Bay’s lead to 21-10.

At this point, it is apparent that the Chiefs are heading for a disastrous season that will likely cost GM Scott Pioli and possibly head coach Romeo Crennel their jobs. Pioli absolutely deserves the ax, as he has had four years to build a team and has failed to put a winning product on the field. Crennel is a good defensive coordinator, but has not been successful as a head coach in the NFL. If the team had a top offensive coordinator and a good quarterback, Crennel might not be in the mess he finds himself in.

Unfortunately for Kansas City, the team picked up a victory earlier this season over the Saints. Since the team isn’t getting anywhere near the playoffs, it needs to get the best pick possible in next year’s draft to find someone who can make an immediate difference to this team. It is a sad reality, but winning games no longer does this team any good.

Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Matt Cassel Doubtful, Brady Quinn Likely To Start Against Tampa Bay

Matt Cassel’s concussion injury sustained on Sunday means he is doubtful for the Chiefs next game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Thus, the Chiefs are entering practice this week planning on starting Brady Quinn.

Chiefs fans have been screaming for Cassel to be benched for weeks, and now they finally will get to see a new QB under center. While head coach Romeo Crennel has not officially ruled Cassel out, the quarterback’s injury and poor play make Quinn the likely starter this weekend. Before getting hurt, Cassel was in the midst of one of the worst statistical seasons a quarterback has had this season, throwing for a league-leading nine interceptions with a quarterback rating of only 66.2.

Brady Quinn’s arrival in Kansas City this offseason brought a great deal of intrigue, and now we are seeing why. Cassel has struggled with both injuries and inconsistent play over the past couple of seasons, meaning that whoever won the Chiefs’ backup quarterback position would have a great opportunity to play. After a stellar career at the University of Notre Dame, Quinn was selected in the first round of the NFL draft. Quinn has struggled to find playing time in his six year NFL career, throwing for a paltry 1,934 yards with 10 touchdowns, nine interceptions and a lowly 67.3 quarterback rating. Kansas City fans are hoping that he can live up to the potential that made him a first round draft pick, but the play over his career should not inspire anyone with a great deal of confidence.

The good news for the Chiefs is that Brady is a traditional quarterback like Cassel, which means the offense does not need to make any drastic changes (as it did when Tyler Thigpen took over at quarterback several seasons ago). Tampa Bay has one of the weaker pass defenses in the NFL, which means Brady should have a good opportunity to get comfortable and have a decent game.

Kansas City fans even went as far as to fly a banner over Arrowhead Stadium calling for Cassel’s benching. Now, they will get to see if Quinn can do any better.

Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Chiefs Injury Report - Charles Expected To Play

Things haven’t gone Kansas City’s way over the first two games of the 2012 NFL season, and when Jamaal Charles banged up his surgically-repaired knee during Sunday’s blowout loss to the Bills, it appeared that things would get worse. Chiefs fans can breathe a small sigh of relief, as Romeo Crennel has indicated that while Charles’ knee is sore, he will likely play this week against the New Orleans Saints.

Charles only played two games last season before tearing the ACL in his left knee, a huge disappointment after he enjoyed a monster season in 2010. Kansas City signed Peyton Hillis this offseason, and so far the team has limited Charles to only 22 carries this season. The running game has not been a problem for the Chiefs, and the team has often found itself being forced to pass as the defense has given up points at an alarming rate so far. Expect Kansas City to keep Charles’ load light, and for Hillis and Shaun Draughn to continue to get a good amount of carries. The team cannot afford to lose its biggest playmaker on offense for a second consecutive year, and must be cautious.

Kevin Boss also found himself in the locker room during Sunday’s game; however it appears his injury is much more serious. Boss sustained a head injury against the Bills, and left the game after feeling woozy after his hit. Boss is being re-evaluated this week, and since Kansas City has a good amount of depth at tight end, the Chiefs should be fine if Boss needs a week or two to heal.

Crennel also mentioned that cornerback and kick returner Javier Arenas hurt his neck against the Bills. There has been no word yet on whether or not Arenas will miss any time. There also have been no updates on defensive tackle Anthony Toribio or safety Kendrick Lewis, who haven’t played so far this season due to injuries.

Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Who Is To Blame For The Chiefs' Terrible Start?

After yet another 0-2 start to the season, Chiefs fans are demanding to know who is to blame for the team’s disastrous start. Kansas City has given up 75 points over the first two games of the season, and looks nothing like a team many thought would challenge for the AFC West division title.

When Kansas City got off to a rough start last season, most pointed the finger at former head coach Todd Haley, claiming he simply did not have his team ready to start the season. Romeo Crennel has received similar treatment from many Kansas City fans, especially because he is a defensive coach. Several media pundits have suggested that Crennel is stretched too thin juggling both the head coach and defensive coordinator positions.

Crennel responded to the criticism yesterday, insisting that the blame rests more on his players failing to execute. Safety Abram Elam and linebacker Derrick Johnson have agreed with Crennel that they need to play better, but both also admitted to the media that communication could be better, and that at times, the players and coaches are not on the same page. If Crennel wants to turn things around quickly, he needs to stop pointing fingers at his players and accept ultimate responsibility for the defense’s performance. Crennel is a lot more expendable than guys like Johnson, Tamba Hali, Eric Berry and Brandon Flowers, especially since this is a second chance for him after his failure as a head coach in Cleveland.

The biggest target for criticism after Kansas City’s start is embattled GM Scott Pioli, who has made headlines recently due to the Chiefs’ refusal to spend money and the stories about his actions told by Haley. Pioli is the ultimate architect of the team, and so far, he has done little to make Kansas City a winner. Many of the Chiefs’ top players were on the team when Pioli arrived, and his biggest acquisition so far has been the signing of quarterback Matt Cassel, who is an average-at-best starting NFL quarterback the Chiefs GM signed to a mammoth contract.

Pioli hasn’t drafted very well either, and the result is that the team lacks significant depth. Kansas City’s horrible preseason record over the past couple of seasons is proof that the Chiefs simply are not very deep, and this ultimately falls on Pioli as well. Coaching and execution play a big role, but you need to have talent on your team to win.

The blame may rest somewhere in the middle of the coaching, players and GM, but one thing is for certain – Kansas City needs to turn things around quickly. If the team drops its next couple of games, the franchise might have to blow everything up and enter yet another rebuilding project.

Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Kansas City Chiefs - Green Bay Packers Preview

The Chiefs will wrap up their preseason tonight, as they visit Green Bay to take on the Packers. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

Kansas City is looking to turn things around after an embarrassing performance against the Seattle Seahawks in its last preseason game. After opening the preseason with a rare victory, Kansas City has reverted back to struggling in its exhibition games. In fact, since 2004, the team is 7-28 in the preseason, however these exhibition games have often given little indication on how the team will perform during the regular season.

It is unknown how long the Chiefs starters will play. Head coach Romeo Crennel indicated that he will go by feel. The Chiefs played most of their starters for quite a while in last year’s final preseason game, although Crennel may elect to play his reserves more to prevent any more injuries from occurring. Cornerback Brandon Flowers and safety Kendrick Lewis continue to be held out, and the team will also likely be without CB Jalil Brown, DT Toribio, WR Terrence Copper and DL Allen Bailey for tonight’s game. Toribio has been used as the starting nose tackle, so his absence means first-round pick Dontari Poe will have an opportunity to play with the starters and prove himself to the coaching staff. Another player who has something to prove is the recently-signed Dwayne Bowe, who may see a lot of action as the coaches try to get him up to speed before the regular season starts.

The Packers may have revenge on their minds entering this game, as the Chiefs were the only team to defeat them in the regular season last year. If Green Bay wants to avenge last year’s loss, they will have to do so with their backups – head coach Mike McCarthy indicated that the starters will play only one series, and many starters will not see the field at all. Graham Harrell, the Packers second-string quarterback, has struggled mightily this preseason, and the coaching staff will likely try to give him as much game time as they can.

Since Kansas City will be facing Green Bay’s backups for almost the entire game, this will be a good opportunity for the team to gain some confidence and erase the memory of the Seahawks game. However, the Chiefs simply cannot afford to lose any more key players to injury, so Crennel may have to pull his starters early as well. We may see an ugly battle-of-the-backups tonight at Lambeau field.

Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Chiefs-Seahawks Game Recap

After a disappointing showing against the St. Louis Rams, the Chiefs were looking to make a statement against the Seattle Seahawks in the all-important third preseason game. Rather than turn things around, things went from bad to worse for Kansas City, as the team got embarrassed by Seattle, 44-14.

The Chiefs had no answer for Seattle’s Russell Wilson, a rookie third-round pick out of Wisconsin who recently won the team’s starting job over Matt Flynn. Wilson threw for 185 yards and two touchdowns while also running for 58 yards, leading the Seahawks to scores on their first six possessions. The absence of cornerback Brandon Flowers and safety Kendrick Lewis was noticeable in the passing attack and the Chiefs front seven mustered little pressure on the QB and routinely gave up big plays on the ground. Kansas City had one of the better defenses in the NFL last year, but the unit has not looked sharp this preseason. With Tamba Hali suspended for the first game of the regular season and Flowers and Lewis continuing to fight nagging injuries, head coach Romeo Crennel is going to have to get creative and find a way to improve the defense while it is missing some key players.

Offensively, Kansas City struggled all night long, including going three-and-out on the team’s first four drives. The Chiefs had one impressive drive in the second quarter, marching 80 yards and scoring on a Dexter McCluster reception, but the rest of the night was pretty dismal. Matt Cassel threw an interception that was returned 75 yards for a touchdown, and the team failed to hit on any big plays once it got down by a couple of scores.

Even special teams were troublesome for the Chiefs, as Seattle’s Golden Tate returned a punt 95 yards for a touchdown late in the third quarter.

It is still only the preseason, but Kansas City played its starters well into the third quarter and looked overmatched by an average Seattle team. Injuries on defense have been a major problem, and the team will have to find more consistency on offense. Hopefully the return of Dwayne Bowe will ignite a spark for the offense, and Flowers and Lewis can return from injury soon to aid the defense.

The team’s final preseason game will be this Thursday, when the Chiefs travel to Lambeau Field to play the Green Bay Packers. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Chiefs Scrimmage Cardinals In Joint Practice

The Kansas City Chiefs hosted the Arizona Cardinals for a joint team practice yesterday, competing with their upcoming preseason opponent in a variety of drills and competitions. There were almost 200 players practicing at one time on the fields of Missouri Western State University, and nearly 3,000 fans were in attendance.

This was the first time in three years that either team had held a training camp scrimmage or joint practice. The Chiefs scrimmaged the Vikings in 2008 when the team still held camp in River Falls, Wisconsin while the Cardinals participated in a joint practice with the Tennessee Titans in Nashville. Many teams had decided to eliminate joint scrimmages due to fights breaking out between the opposing players; luckily there were no scuffles between any Kansas City or Arizona players in yesterday’s practice.

After working individually during walkthroughs and stretching, the two teams went at it in a series of individual drills, 7-on-9, 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 scenarios. The scrimmage wrapped up with both teams’ first-string offenses competing in a two minute drill situation. Matt Cassel and John Skelton were both able to lead their offenses to a field goal in the competition.

The idea for a joint practice came in response to the Cardinal’s travel schedule. The team recently played the Saints in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio and is scheduled to play the Chiefs on Friday. Rather than take extra flights to Phoenix, the team decided to stop in the Midwest for a unique practice opportunity and avoid some extra travel.

Both teams plan on practicing separately for the remainder of the Cardinal’s stay in Kansas City; however Chief head coach Romeo Crennel said he would be open to joint practices/scrimmages in the future, should the right opportunity present itself.

Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

Friday, July 27, 2012

Chiefs Sign First-Round Pick Dontari Poe

The Kansas City Chiefs announced yesterday that they have signed their first-round pick, Dontari Poe. Poe, who hopefully addresses the Chiefs’ need for a high-impact nose tackle, was the 11th overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft. The Chiefs have signed all eight of their 2012 draft picks heading into training camp, the first time this has happened in six years.

Full financial terms were not disclosed, but Poe’s four-year contract is expected to be worth around $11.3 million in fully guaranteed money, including a signing bonus of around $6.6 million. The team will hold a fifth year option, which is a new component to first-round selected rookies’ contracts as part of the new collective bargaining agreement.

Poe, a 6’4, 346 pound product from Memphis, is currently listed as the team’s starting nose tackle. The Chiefs struggled against the run last season, and have been in search for a star at NT to anchor Romeo Crennel’s 3-4 defensive scheme. While Poe had an impressive combine, he put up pedestrian stats at Memphis, and many have questioned his work-ethic and how well he will produce in the NFL. The team has had disastrous luck drafting defensive lineman in the past, but Poe fills a need, and hopefully a full training camp will get him up-to-speed.

Kansas City also signed offensive tackle Tony Ugoh, a veteran who should add some depth and leadership to a group that is talented but young. Ugoh has played in 40 career games with 28 starts in five NFL seasons, and most recently played with the defending Superbowl champion New York Giants. Adding Ugoh was a nice move by the team’s front office to solidify the line going into camp, and hopefully the new faces along the Chiefs front can gel quickly before the start of the upcoming season.

Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

DISCLAIMER

This is a legally confirmed "open forum" website that is not responsible for any content posted within. The opinions, articles and comments on this site do not reflect the opinions of the owner of this site, or it's subsidiaries.