KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Longtime NFL assistant coach Bill Muir followed through on his plans to retire, informing the Kansas City Chiefs on Wednesday that he wouldn’t return for a 35th season in the league.

Muir joined the Chiefs in 2009 as offensive line coach under Todd Haley, and was elevated to offensive co-ordinator last season. But the Chiefs struggled with injuries and inconsistency, which resulted in the firing of Haley and the hiring of Romeo Crennel as head coach.

The 69-year-old Muir is considered one of the best offensive line coaches in football, though he wasn’t expected to remain as the Chiefs’ offensive co-ordinator if he stayed on the staff.

“It has been an honour to be a part of this great league for so long,” Muir said in a statement issued by the Chiefs. “Over the years I’ve made a lot of great friends and worked with many talented players and coaches. This was a personal decision for me, the timing was right.”

Muir played tackle for Susquehanna University, a small liberal arts college in central Pennsylvania, and got his start in coaching there in 1965.

He bounced through stops at Delaware Valley, Rhode Island, Idaho State and SMU before getting his break in professional football with Orlando of the short-lived Continental League.

His first job in the NFL was as a scout for Tampa Bay from 1978-81, and he returned to the Buccaneers more than two decades later, helping the franchise win its only Super Bowl.

In between, he spent time working with the offensive lines in Detroit and New England, and as defensive co-ordinator and offensive line coach in Indianapolis. Muir also spent seven seasons with the New York Jets as offensive line coach before returning to the Buccaneers.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Bill,” Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli said. “I have worked with him for a long time and have witnessed him develop a number of very good football players. His contributions are very much appreciated and he will be missed.”

Not by every fan in Kansas City, though.

Muir bore the brunt of criticism for the Chiefs’ poor performance on offence last season, even though there were always questions about whether he was truly in charge. Haley’s background on offence and tendency to micromanage led many to believe he was calling the shots.

It didn’t help that Kansas City lost tight end Tony Moeaki and All-Pro running back Jamaal Charles to season-ending knee injuries in a span of three weeks at the start of the season.

Quarterback Matt Cassel joined them on IR with a hand injury sustained in Week 10.

The Chiefs still managed to play themselves into a position to defend their AFC West title despite struggling on offence. But their playoff hopes were dashed when they managed only 13 points in an overtime loss to Oakland in the penultimate game of the season.

Kansas City failed to score at least 20 points in its final nine games.

Crennel has been tight-lipped about Muir’s potential replacement, though quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn and assistant head coach Maurice Carthon are considered internal candidates.

Crennel has indicated that it could be after the Super Bowl before he makes a decision.

“I’m excited for Bill as he moves into retirement,” Crennel said. “I’ve known him for a long time and he is one of the finest coaches I’ve ever been around, and an even better person. Bill is a very good friend and I have a great deal of respect for the way he worked.

“It was a privilege to work alongside him.”

Read More: Jamaal Charles (RB – KAN), Kansas City Chiefs

The latest 2012 NFL Mock Draft from Draftek has the Kansas City Chiefs finding an incredible gem in the third round in Miami running back Lamar Miller. While it’s not surprising to see a running back tumble in the draft, it’s nice to see one of the draft’s most heralded running backs available fall to the Chiefs in the third round — much like Jamaal Charles did a few years ago.

It’s also fortuitous because the Chiefs would likely make the move with Charles coming off of Injured Reserve from a torn ACL. Miller would not only provide the necessary complement but insurance as well for the Chiefs running game in 2012. Charles will take some time to get back into exemplary game form even if he’s 100 percent healthy. Thus, Miller becomes an immediate help to the Chiefs’ offense.

Miller had 227 carries for 1,272 yards and 9 touchdowns this season for the Miami Hurricanes.

Read More: Kansas City Chiefs

It’s hard to say that there’s ever a ‘good’ situation for a first-year head coach in the NFL. Obviously there are varying degrees of how bad things are for each particular situation, but it’s never great. Romeo Crennel may already have head coaching experience from his time coaching the Cleveland Browns, but his particular situation right now with the Kansas City Chiefs isn’t on the tougher end of the spectrum. He’s inheriting a roster that has enough talent to compete, which they showed last year when they won the AFC West division with a 10-6 record.

Even this year with all of the injuries the Chiefs were still just one blocked field goal away from defending their AFC West title and heading back to the playoffs again. They finished the season with a 7-9 record and did that without their star running back, Jamaal Charles, and Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry, who were put on injured reserve just two games into the season. Throw in an injured Tony Moeaki and Matt Cassel and you have the recipe for a tough season, but also for a bounce back season in 2012.

A healthy Chiefs team in 2012 is going to be right there in the discussion as being one of the favorites to win the AFC West. All of this had to be a part of the discussion when Scott Pioli and company decided to bring back Romeo Crennel as head coach heading into next season. The cupboard wasn’t bare in Kansas City and the roster isn’t in need of major changes.

Therefore one thing that became vital for the success of the Chiefs in 2012 and that was continuity. The players and assistant coaches already know Romeo Crennel, or RAC, as they call him. They know his personality, his temperament, his expectations, and he’s knows them. This is often overlooked or as seen as something that isn’t that important but it is very important. These players might not know Crennel as head coach yet, but they do know some about him and they do respect him.

Crennel was the right choice for the Chiefs heading into the 2012 season. While it may prove to not be a long-term thinking type of hire, it has already proven to be the right decision at the time.

If you’re like most, there is honest intention toward your New Year’s resolutions. I have two for the Kansas City Chiefs, but unlike me, I think they can keep them.

Win at home and win in the division.

In the past 13 seasons, Kansas City has had four playoff appearances. Better than none, but nothing past the first round. We’re long removed from Marty Schottenheimer and his six playoff appearances in 10 seasons. The 1993 season was the closest I’ve seen the Chiefs get to a Super Bowl.

But, I have hope.

WIN AT HOME: In 2010, Kansas City went 7-1 at home. That’s what claimed the division and put the Chiefs back in the playoffs. The Chiefs went 3-5 at home this season, but despite the injuries and a head coaching change, the Chiefs nearly repeated as AFC West champions. Good on the Chiefs, but not the norm.

The NFL standings say different, because dominant teams usually finish 6-2 or better at home.

In the ’90s, Schottenheimer emphasized winning at Arrowhead and inside the division.
Schottenheimer never had a losing record at Arrowhead. He was 62-18 in games played in Kansas City. Your house is important, especially against division foes, but Kansas City has had losing records at Arrowhead in six of the 13 seasons since Schottenheimer.

Since 1989 when Kansas City has had six wins or more at Arrowhead, they’ve made the playoffs 11 times. But seven came with Schottenheimer. Dick Vermeil went 7-1 at Arrowhead in 2005 and finished 10-6 but missed the playoffs.

Folks talk about the mystique of Arrowhead fading. I agree that since 2003 it’s waned greatly, but the Chiefs have quality players and coaches. Like Tamba Hali mentioned after the season-ending win over the Denver Broncos, they need help. But with a few additions, plus what Kansas City already has, I can see the Chiefs reviving Arrowhead.

WIN IN THE DIVISION: Kansas City dominated the AFC West in the ’90s by going 5-3 or better six times against the West.

In three seasons Todd Haley was 6-11 against the AFC West. Prior to Haley, Herm Edwards was 8-10 (2006-2008). Kansas City finished 3-3 against the West in 2011, but from 2007-10 Kansas City was 8-16 against the division.

The division is open, it’s available and it’s something the Chiefs can claim in 2012. Kansas City has the talent and I expect a lift to the offense once Jamaal Charles and Tony Moeaki return. With Eric Berry also returning, the defense will be better, which is exciting.

Putting the meat hooks back into the division is doable for the Chiefs.

THE FORMULA DOESN’T CHANGE: It’s proven and fans saw the results during the ’90s. Dating back to 1989, when the Chiefs finish 7-1 or better at Arrowhead their overall record is 70-32.
So there are two of my Kansas City Chiefs 2012 resolutions.

For me, it’s not so much about beating the New Orleans Saints or Baltimore Ravens next season as it is about Arrowhead and the division. The aim is the Super Bowl, but the Chiefs are stalled in the pit looking for the racetrack.

Implement a couple Schottenheimer ideals – win at Arrowhead and against division teams – and I’m confident Kansas City can take the lead.

Good day, Chiefs fans!

The Kansas City Chiefs’ first three trips inside Green Bay’s 20 two weeks ago netted them a pair of field goals. So did their first three trips against Oakland last Sunday.
     Suffice to say, Kansas City’s red-zone offense has interim coach Romeo Crennel seeing red.
     There is little rhyme or reason to the Chiefs’ ability to move the ball downfield, then have everything come undone when they’re on the doorstep of scoring touchdowns. But their inability to come away with seven points instead of just three might be the biggest reason they’re playing for pride, rather than the AFC West title, when they visit Denver on Sunday.
     “It’s never one guy in this business. It’s always part of a team effort,” Crennel said. “We’ve been able to get down to the red zone, we just haven’t been able to produce.”
     It proved especially costly in an overtime loss to the Raiders.
     Kansas City marched to the Oakland 12 late in the first quarter before a short pass completion and a pair of runs by Jackie Battle and Thomas Jones gained just 7 yards. Ryan Succop came on for what amounted to an extra-point try, though the Chiefs would have preferred that to be the case.
     At least they got three points out of that trip.
     Their next one was even uglier.
     Kansas City had second-and-1 at the 8 when Jones was called for a false start. Now with a more substantial distance for a first down, Kyle Orton was forced to throw. His first pass was dropped by Dwayne Bowe in the end zone, and the next was intercepted by Matt Giordano, the second time in two weeks the Chiefs’ didn’t score any points on a drive inside the red zone.
     Late in the third quarter, the Chiefs faced first-and-goal at the 6 and managed another field goal, leaving them in a 10-6 hole rather than a tie game.
     “If we were able to get that touchdown, just a score sometimes changes the mentality on your team for that particular game. Instead of guys saying, ‘Here we go again,’ guys say, ‘OK, we made it happen,’” Crennel said. “Getting down there is encouraging, so now what we have to do is refine some things so we can get points on the board rather than coming away with nothing.”
     It’s unlikely the Chiefs will solve their red-zone woes before facing Denver on Sunday. After all, it’s hard to figure out exactly who or what is to blame.
     Besides, the problems have existed all season.
     Kansas City has scored a touchdown on red-zone trips just 33 percent of the time; the league-leading Jets have doubled that rate. By comparison, the Chiefs scored touchdowns on 59.62 percent of their trips last year, when they went 10-6 and won the division.
     Inexplicably, the Chiefs are even worse at home, where they don’t have to deal with hostile crowd noise. They’ve scored TDs on only 23.81 percent of their red-zone trips at Arrowhead Stadium.
     Going deeper inside the numbers, Kansas City ranks 25th in the league in red-zone attempts at 2.4 per game. That’s roughly half the number of trips of the league-leading Saints.
     No wonder the Chiefs’ are 31st in the league in scoring.
     “We’ve done a lot of good things,” Orton said, “but we have a lot to improve on.”
     It’s easy to blame the play-calling of new offensive coordinator Bill Muir, or the direction of former head coach Todd Haley, who was fired a few weeks ago. It’s also easy to blame general manager Scott Pioli for not building enough depth to deal with season-ending injuries to Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Cassel, All-Pro running back Jamaal Charles and starting tight end Tony Moeaki.
     But there’s still enough blame left over for the guys actually on the field.
     The Chiefs’ running game, which led the league last season, has produced only four TDs rushing all year, and one of them was by defensive back Javier Arenas out of the wildcat formation. There are 37 players in the NFL with at least four touchdowns rushing, four of them quarterbacks.
     Kansas City’s ground game averages 4.02 yards per carry outside the red zone, but that mark dips to 3.0 yards once the Chiefs cross the opponents’ 20. Jones is averaging just 2.3 yards on a team-high 19 carries inside the red zone, well below his career mark of 4.0.
     The struggles aren’t limited to the running game.
     Orton is completing 47.2 percent of his passes inside the red zone. Bowe has only seven catches for 49 yards and three scores after piling up an NFL-best 15 touchdown catches last season, and free-agent acquisition Steve Breaston has four catches for 30 yards in prime scoring territory.
     “Guys have to look in the mirror and know they’re giving their best effort,” Crennel said. “Like I said, it’s never one guy. It’s not always players. Coaches have to do some things better, put guys in better position, better technique. All those things come into play.”