Big Matt’s Chiefs Chat: Grading The Chiefs’ Coaches

The grade for Crennel is solid. The grade for Weis and Haley is tricky. It depends on what you think about the last 2 games and who was responsible. It also hinges on who you credit for the first 15.

Tough to grade them for all the reasons cited by Big Matt. But 10 Wins and a Division Title is success in a business where wins and titles are virtually the only thing that matters and you coach a team that has won 10 games in the past 3 years. Haley A Weiss A Crenel A Having said this, I beleve that Haley is a lower tier coach and the most likely scenario is that next year will be bad and Haley will get fired at the end of the 2011 season.

Ya I think you're right to bump Weis up to at least a C+. Cassel played far better than I thought him capable of, and our passing game exceeded expectations despite having no legitimate WRs besides Bowe. The RB distribution was mind-numbing, but the results make it tough to knock. We had three guys from offense go to the Pro Bowl (four including Cassel). Before the season I was just hoping that Charles would get to go. You're right to reserve judgement on Haley, but he certainly improved a lot from last year. I expect him to improve next year as well. Although if we lose some games early I could see his tenure ending in catastrophic collapse. His biggest accomplishment seems to be getting the team to buy into a certain culture and attitude. I cringe just writing that, and the "culture" seems to be built largely around secrecy. But whatever the culture is, I think if you can convince the entire team that it's the way to go, that can take you a long way. Our guys didn't get too high on themselves, and their confidence wasn't shaken by the rough patches. Bowe most exemplified that this year. I never gave much credence to that stuff, but if Haley has an obvious strength, that's it. Should he ever start to lose the team, his weaknesses (especially his inability to get along well with people) will be magnified. I'm with you on Crennel. I dig that guy's whole scene. I just want to sit a spell with him, maybe on a park bench, and wittle some wood or something. He's very grandfatherly.

Wow, you guys are a really tough group to please. The Chiefs went from NFL laughing stock to Division champs...in one year! Haley did a much better job this year over last. Crennel and Weiss greatly improved the defense and offense and Pioli had an excellent draft. We all knew this team wouldn't/couldn't be fixed in one year yet they almost did the impossible. I do agree, the verdict is still out on Haley. A head coach needs to win consistently, year in year out, to be considered a top tier coach. If Haley and the Chiefs show this kind of improvement again next year, I'm going to give Haley most of the credit. A couple of other quick notes. Pioli got a late start his first year and wasn't able to put his own people in to grade the draft properly. His second year was much better. Let's hope that he continues with another good draft. Secondly, with our players getting more familiar with the offensive and defensive systems, I expect much more efficiency and consistency next year. That was a problem this year, which is common with young teams on the rise.

Interesting analysis, I agree with most of the grading, with one caveat. I think the grades represent what the team as a whole accomplished. When evaluating coaches I believe we need to use weighted rating scales based on the level talent on the team. Coaches are charged with and accountable for getting optimum results or returns from the assets/talent on hand. The Chief's are a mixture of young and old, gifted and marginal players, playing side by side. I think the coaching staff did a pretty darn good job of getting the most out of the talent they had. I agree that the jury is still out on Haley, next season or whenever we return to playing should turn out to be the proof of the pudding.

I agree with the Weis grade- He was way too inconsistent. I also agree with the Romeo grade- he did an excellent job for the most part, although you are right he needs to improve in making adjustments...Todd Heap anyone? As for Todd, I would have to give him a solid B. I wouldn't look to critically in his decision to run Jones over Charles. Charles, as much as I love him, has a tough time getting through consecutive runs without hurting himself. Thankfully it is never anything too serious, but I must say I hold my breath every time he takes a hard tackle. Although I would expect to see Charles running about 70% of the snaps, with regards to Jones, in this next season.

Be aware 10 wins saves a lot of job and makes average coaches look like they are headed for the HOF. Next years develope (not win because they may be far and few between), may well show just how good Pioli and Haley are. We will see in 2011. For me, Crennel worked wonders but in games they were pounded they sort of sucked. Weis gets credit for Cassel's vast improvement, at least a share. Haley, don't know what to say or think. 10 wins, wow, acts like a spoiled brat, absolutely. Should he be a HC, next year will tell, especially if his regresses and takes over OC. Got to believe the next year is make or break for Haley being HC material. The jury is still out on how good he is. Then you have to add Pioli to mix. 4X Exec. of year, again wow, no WR, NT, cheap on free agents, wasted draft in 09, and went for little people in 2010. Just what is he?

How much of a grade is Weis’s acceptance of another job during the year lowering him? Our offensive and defensive improvements (as far as where we ranked in the league) were very similar with D improving slightly more. One of the reasons for the slightly higher defensive improvement was because it ranked a little lower last year. I'm saying this because I think Crennel's and Weis's grades should be a lot closer. The Thomas Jones/JC debate also has to go on Weis as well as Haley. Haley may have made TJ the starter, but Weis didn’t have to call so many runs to Jones. I don’t know who decides who is when at what time so they are equally responsible. Key additions to each side: Offense - Moeaki - McCluster - Thomas Jones - Lilja - Wiegmann Defense - Eric Berry - Louis Lewis - Javiar Arenas - Perv Smith I think the additions are pretty much a wash. Both had players that greatly affected the overall success of their side of the ball. I also think you could blame the Denver game, one or both Oakland games, Houston and possibly the second San Diego game* on our defense. The Defense did win some games for us too so I don’t want to sound like I’m picking on them. *I know the offense didn’t score a single point, but I also don’t think the offense wouldn’t have won the game even with Cassel playing. You can’t give up 31 points on the road, period. Your love for Crennel’s pants and your displeasure of Weis’s departure (timing is what it sounds like) is skewing your grades, IMO. I’d rank both Weis and Crennel in the B – B- range because there is still a lot of room for improvement. I’ll have to think on Haley a little bit more.

When you expect a bad team, it doesn't hurt so bad when you blow up a game. It's when you expect a good team that it cuts your heart out. That is what happened this year. It causes us to look for answers and a fix so we don't have to feel that pain again. When our team management gives us nothing, we try to draw our own conclusions. In this case we've got nothing. We have hope but but we also have doubt. Crennel did give us our only reasonably consistent play this year. That is why we feel pretty good about him. I totally agree with your coach evaluations.

I will give romeo a B,weise a b-and Haley a c- the third year is always critical for a new coach,lets see what happens on his third make or break season.

The grade for Crennel is solid.

The grade for Weis and Haley is tricky. It depends on what you think about the last 2 games and who was responsible. It also hinges on who you credit for the first 15.

Tough to grade them for all the reasons cited by Big Matt. But 10 Wins and a Division Title is success in a business where wins and titles are virtually the only thing that matters and you coach a team that has won 10 games in the past 3 years.

Haley A
Weiss A
Crenel A

Having said this, I beleve that Haley is a lower tier coach and the most likely scenario is that next year will be bad and Haley will get fired at the end of the 2011 season.

Ya I think you're right to bump Weis up to at least a C+. Cassel played far better than I thought him capable of, and our passing game exceeded expectations despite having no legitimate WRs besides Bowe. The RB distribution was mind-numbing, but the results make it tough to knock. We had three guys from offense go to the Pro Bowl (four including Cassel). Before the season I was just hoping that Charles would get to go.

You're right to reserve judgement on Haley, but he certainly improved a lot from last year. I expect him to improve next year as well. Although if we lose some games early I could see his tenure ending in catastrophic collapse. His biggest accomplishment seems to be getting the team to buy into a certain culture and attitude. I cringe just writing that, and the "culture" seems to be built largely around secrecy. But whatever the culture is, I think if you can convince the entire team that it's the way to go, that can take you a long way. Our guys didn't get too high on themselves, and their confidence wasn't shaken by the rough patches. Bowe most exemplified that this year. I never gave much credence to that stuff, but if Haley has an obvious strength, that's it. Should he ever start to lose the team, his weaknesses (especially his inability to get along well with people) will be magnified.

I'm with you on Crennel. I dig that guy's whole scene. I just want to sit a spell with him, maybe on a park bench, and wittle some wood or something. He's very grandfatherly.

Wow, you guys are a really tough group to please. The Chiefs went from NFL laughing stock to Division champs...in one year! Haley did a much better job this year over last. Crennel and Weiss greatly improved the defense and offense and Pioli had an excellent draft. We all knew this team wouldn't/couldn't be fixed in one year yet they almost did the impossible.

I do agree, the verdict is still out on Haley. A head coach needs to win consistently, year in year out, to be considered a top tier coach. If Haley and the Chiefs show this kind of improvement again next year, I'm going to give Haley most of the credit.

A couple of other quick notes. Pioli got a late start his first year and wasn't able to put his own people in to grade the draft properly. His second year was much better. Let's hope that he continues with another good draft. Secondly, with our players getting more familiar with the offensive and defensive systems, I expect much more efficiency and consistency next year. That was a problem this year, which is common with young teams on the rise.

Interesting analysis, I agree with most of the grading, with one caveat. I think the grades represent what the team as a whole accomplished. When evaluating coaches I believe we need to use weighted rating scales based on the level talent on the team. Coaches are charged with and accountable for getting optimum results or returns from the assets/talent on hand. The Chief's are a mixture of young and old, gifted and marginal players, playing side by side. I think the coaching staff did a pretty darn good job of getting the most out of the talent they had.

I agree that the jury is still out on Haley, next season or whenever we return to playing should turn out to be the proof of the pudding.

I agree with the Weis grade- He was way too inconsistent.
I also agree with the Romeo grade- he did an excellent job for the most part, although you are right he needs to improve in making adjustments...Todd Heap anyone?
As for Todd, I would have to give him a solid B. I wouldn't look to critically in his decision to run Jones over Charles. Charles, as much as I love him, has a tough time getting through consecutive runs without hurting himself. Thankfully it is never anything too serious, but I must say I hold my breath every time he takes a hard tackle. Although I would expect to see Charles running about 70% of the snaps, with regards to Jones, in this next season.

Be aware 10 wins saves a lot of job and makes average coaches look like they are headed for the HOF. Next years develope (not win because they may be far and few between), may well show just how good Pioli and Haley are. We will see in 2011.

For me, Crennel worked wonders but in games they were pounded they sort of sucked. Weis gets credit for Cassel's vast improvement, at least a share. Haley, don't know what to say or think. 10 wins, wow, acts like a spoiled brat, absolutely. Should he be a HC, next year will tell, especially if his regresses and takes over OC. Got to believe the next year is make or break for Haley being HC material. The jury is still out on how good he is. Then you have to add Pioli to mix. 4X Exec. of year, again wow, no WR, NT, cheap on free agents, wasted draft in 09, and went for little people in 2010. Just what is he?

How much of a grade is Weis’s acceptance of another job during the year lowering him?

Our offensive and defensive improvements (as far as where we ranked in the league) were very similar with D improving slightly more. One of the reasons for the slightly higher defensive improvement was because it ranked a little lower last year. I'm saying this because I think Crennel's and Weis's grades should be a lot closer. The Thomas Jones/JC debate also has to go on Weis as well as Haley. Haley may have made TJ the starter, but Weis didn’t have to call so many runs to Jones. I don’t know who decides who is when at what time so they are equally responsible.

Key additions to each side:
Offense
- Moeaki
- McCluster
- Thomas Jones
- Lilja
- Wiegmann
Defense
- Eric Berry
- Louis Lewis
- Javiar Arenas
- Perv Smith

I think the additions are pretty much a wash. Both had players that greatly affected the overall success of their side of the ball.

I also think you could blame the Denver game, one or both Oakland games, Houston and possibly the second San Diego game* on our defense. The Defense did win some games for us too so I don’t want to sound like I’m picking on them.

*I know the offense didn’t score a single point, but I also don’t think the offense wouldn’t have won the game even with Cassel playing. You can’t give up 31 points on the road, period.

Your love for Crennel’s pants and your displeasure of Weis’s departure (timing is what it sounds like) is skewing your grades, IMO.

I’d rank both Weis and Crennel in the B – B- range because there is still a lot of room for improvement.

I’ll have to think on Haley a little bit more.

When you expect a bad team, it doesn't hurt so bad when you blow up a game. It's when you expect a good team that it cuts your heart out. That is what happened this year. It causes us to look for answers and a fix so we don't have to feel that pain again. When our team management gives us nothing, we try to draw our own conclusions. In this case we've got nothing. We have hope but but we also have doubt.

Crennel did give us our only reasonably consistent play this year. That is why we feel pretty good about him. I totally agree with your coach evaluations.

I will give romeo a B,weise a b-and Haley a c- the third year is always critical for a new coach,lets see what happens on his third make or break season.