Crennel Fired and Six Reasons to Coach the Chiefs
With the Kansas City Chiefs ending their 2012 season with a 2-14 record, it was expected, no, demanded by fans that Clark Hunt take this team in a different direction. With high expectations coming into the season it has been frustrating to watch a team with so much talent do so poorly week in and week out. The Chiefs were last in the league in point differential and points per game.
Chiefs fans need a reason to take the bags off their heads, but will the next coach be enough of one? (Photo Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports)
You can tell how pathetic this season has been when the highlight of the Chiefs season for a Kansas City sports fan was the trade the Kansas City Royals made acquiring James Shields and Wade Davis. Fans in Kansas City are very passionate and knowledgeable about their local teams and even after years of terrible teams, by both the Chiefs and the Royals, it is very easy to still find die-hard fans.
Clark Hunt didn’t wait long to start making changes, firing head coach Romeo Crennel the day after their last game, one which happened to be arguably their worst game of the year. Although he quickly fired Crennel, he surprisingly has not fired General Manager Scott Pioli, who is still being reevaluated. However, I think this is just a safety net for Hunt. It has been reported by CBS Sports NFL insider, Jason La Canfora, that some coaches, such as Andy Reid, would only be interested in the HC position if there were changes made in the front office. However, if a coach were hired that has chemistry with Pioli, it would make sense to keep him around. Hunt has announced that he will lead the search for the new head coach and the new coach will report directly to him.
Why would a coaching candidate even consider coming to the Chiefs after such a terrible year and so much uncertainty in the front office?
Well, let’s go through some of the positives that could attract coaches to the Chiefs.
Young Talent All Over the Field: Despite a 2-14 season, the Chiefs had the same amount of pro-bowlers (5) than the number one team in the AFC (Broncos). The five players selected were Jamaal Charles, Derrick Johnson, Tamba Hali, Eric Berry, and Dustin Colquitt.
Running Back Jamaal Charles: Charles is averaging 5.78 yards per carry in his career, which is currently number ONE among all qualifying running backs in the history of the NFL. There’s also plenty of tread left on the tires.
Cap Room: The Chiefs have more cap room than most teams. It is hard to tell how much they will actually have because there are so many factors that contribute; cutting players, adding players, restructured contracts, etc. Let’s just say that they are in a good spot.
2013 NFL Draft: Because of the lousy season the Chiefs had this year, they now own the number one pick in next year’s draft. The Kansas City Chiefs are now on the clock.
The Fan Base: The Chiefs play their home games at Arrowhead Stadium and if Hunt can manage to keep the fans happy this offseason, any sign of success will keep that sea of red roaring each and every Sunday.
Low Expectations: Let’s be honest, the Chiefs have been anything but successful in the recent past. Fans are used to this team failing and an average season would be a step in the right direction.
There are many things that make this open head coach position attractive to potential suitors. Will Clark Hunt and the Kansas City Chiefs use this to their advantage and go after a big name coach and big name coordinators? We’ll have to wait and see.