Brown: Crennel has what it takes

Can Romeo Crennel bring back the guts that are Kansas City? I'd say 2010 was a partial success. It felt half-done, not quite finished.

Things were supposed to be legit in 2011. We know that story.

After 2010, there were still questions. The schedule was too soft and Matt Cassel's touchdowns didn't erase public perception.

The "I don't know" lingers.

Add the feud between Todd Haley and Charlie Weis with Weis accepting a new job before the season even ended and 2010 finished badly. The finale was an ugly playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens at Arrowhead.

A taste of something improved, but only a sample.

I'm waiting for players to survive camp and preseason. The Chiefs got shredded last season with injuries; the worst I've seen for Kansas City. Tony Moeaki told fans he'd be ready; Jamaal Charles will have light duty and should be ready and Eric Berry is confident he's back.

This season could be special – but back to the question. Can the soon-to-be 65-year-old Crennel restore Kansas City and take the Chiefs to the playoffs? That's been done; but can Crennel turn the playoff corner and win?

As fun as it was, Marty Schottenheimer couldn't. Dick Vermeil couldn't and neither did Herman Edwards. Haley's no longer here and failed to do the job. Now it's up to the career assistant.
With the expansion Cleveland Browns, Crennel went 10-6 in 2007 – barely missing the playoffs.

Before beginning the 2003 playoffs with the New England Patriots, Crennel interviewed for head coaching positions with six teams in less than 36 hours. Crennel wasn't offered any jobs. Crennel was passed up by the New York Giants, Buffalo Bills, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons. With the exception of the Bills, the rest have either made the playoffs or have gone to Super Bowls.

It's okay, go ahead and ask. What makes today different than 2003 when Crennel was passed over as head coach? At 64, Crennel's at the head of one of the youngest football teams in the National Football League.

Call it fate, but an incredible break for Crennel. Second chances don't come with much more aptitude than what Crennel has been given. It's not something he has to create, or build from scratch. Crennel is shaping and mentoring what's already in Kansas City. Just detail work, but the core stuff is set. A tune-up and timing is in order, but Crennel will be sculpting minds and attitudes. Compared to the rest of the AFC West, the Chiefs are young, improved and poised to win now.

Denver has the great driver with Peyton Manning, but will it matter? If Crennel taps into his players (especially first-round draft pick Dontari Poe), I don't think so. At the end of last season, players like Charles recalled a new belief. With Crennel, Dwayne Bowe said the team had "much more" confidence and they believed.

That's a big reason why Kansas City lost at Arrowhead against the Ravens in the playoffs. Not everyone believed. Scott Pioli is banking on an older and much-wiser Crennel to make the real difference.

Crennel is liked and has the blessing of the majority of the players and the fans. What comes next is to actually do it – to in fact win. What I think, what the neighbor believes, or the guy on the radio says doesn't matter until Crennel gets them to play.

Bleacher Report gave six reasons why Crennel will succeed this season.

 One of the reasons given was, "Crennel treats his players like men, with respect.”

A softer schedule – I know, back to "Cassel really doesn't do much against tougher teams" talk. Hey, it is what it is.

The "other" AFC West quarterbacks – Philip Rivers, Carson Palmer and Peyton Manning aren't perfect. I personally think Palmer's done. Rivers slings it, but can choke. Manning might be OK, then again maybe not. The AFC West did little to distance themselves from the Chiefs.

Crennel brings lots and lots of winning experience. He has five Super Bowl Rings – two with the New York Giants and three with the New England Patriots.

Our defense is improving under Crennel's leadership. Fans worry little about Crennel still running the defense as head coach. Management feels the same as the fans do.

The difference between Haley doing that with the offense and Crennel it with the defense is Crennel DID greatly improve what he was charged to do. Haley made shipwreck of his side and hardly looked like the offensive guru people thought was coming from Arizona.

The Chiefs have their running game back – Charles is back, but with 26-year-old Peyton Hillis, the Chiefs can resume the ground attack. In 2010 the Chiefs had six 200-plus yard rushing games as a team. The Chief record is 1978 with eight 200-plus rushing games. It took three backs Jackie Battle, Dexter McCluster, and Thomas Jones last season to muster what Charles did in 2010. Charles is important for Kansas City and Crennel.

The 2010 dynamics are back, but now Kansas City has extra in 2012.

They need to play. The Kansas City Royals show how talk is cheap. I trust Crennel can take full advantage with what he has. Can Romeo Crennel succeed? Yes.

Good day, Chiefs fans!