The Return of Romeo

I thought we should have kept Romeo around as team chef...I bet he's great on the grill. And I bet he has some great recipes...maybe that was one of the deciding factors in heading to Kansas City, home of world class BBQ. I wonder if the ladies at Gates BBQ know him by name? Anyway...whether he's a pit-master or not, it is no secret that Romeo Crennel is a great defensive mind. What will he bring with him on his first return to Cleveland, since being cut by the Browns after the dire 2008 season.

1. Motivation: Romeo's head coaching stint with Cleveland didn't work, but there was hope. They were 10-6 and were a few passes away from making the playoffs in 2007. Just a year later, Romeo was canned and the Browns started their rebuilding process...again. And to rub it in his face, they replaced him with his old buddy, Eric Mangini. Maybe Romeo wasn't the best head coach, but he's a proven defensive coordinator and don't doubt that he's had this game circled all summer. He'll be motivated and he'll have his team ready.

2. Winning Spirit: KC upset San Diego in the rain last Monday at Arrowhead Stadium. That was what the Browns were hoping to come into this game with--a sense of winning--an instilled confidence. KC's young, speedy defense held the Chargers to 14 points and is coming to Cleveland confident that they can win this game. That is a great motivating factor for a team that struggled last year. Romeo will have the Chiefs defense excited to face his old team.

3. Familiarity: Romeo knows this team inside and out. He understands what a Mangini coached team will look like. He worked with him for years and in fact, was house-mates with him for a while. Can't you just picture those two sitting in loungers, watching football highlights and passing snacks back and forth! Even though Cleveland has a lot of new faces since Romeo was in town, the Browns don't bring anything too complicated on offense. The weapon that scares opponents the most is Cribbs and Crennel knows what that kid can do. It could be a blessing in disguise that Seneca Wallace will start this game. That may give the Browns a better chance to beat KC's speed.

4. Youth: Kansas City is fast. They've drafted for defense and have some tough youth on their squad. Recent first round picks, Derrick Johnson, Tyson Jackson, Glen Dorsey, and Eric Berry will all start on Sunday. Along with several other youngsters, including a very young secondary, this team has the benefits and downfalls of a team with a lot of youth. They are motivated, fast, and hungry for their opportunities in the NFL. However, they may be prone to mistakes. Romeo is pretty good at getting the best out of his defenses and likes tough, disciplined guys for his 3-4 scheme.

5. The Same Look: Romeo Crennel brought the 3-4 defense to Cleveland and Mangini kept it here, bringing in Rob Ryan as the new defensive coordinator. This could be a test of wills. As I said above, Romeo's coming in with some familiarity of the offense...and he'll be bringing in a style that looks a lot like our defense. The Browns should know what's coming. It will be a telling tale for both teams, depending on the outcome of the game.

6. Snacks: Romeo loves his snacks. His goofy smile glows at the thought of cookies and milk, chips and dip, wings and ranch, and all sorts of sugary treats. Nothing, besides beating his old team, makes him happier.

Extra Ding Dongs:
-KC beat the Chargers by holding them to 14 points, but they gave up 389 yards in the process.
-It was raining pretty good in KC last week. SD didn't look quite polished yet. They're traditionally late bloomers.
-KC is coming off a short week w/ travel and a one-hour time change.
-Harrison gained 289 yards on the ground last year versus this same squad
-KC was ranked 30th in total defense last year. Cleveland was 31.
-Both teams think they've improved greatly since last year.