Crennel 'not exactly sure' why Charles underused
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel didn't have a lucid explanation for running back Jamaal Charles' minimal playing time in Sunday's 26-16 loss to the Raiders.
Charles is averaging 5.0 yards per carry with 595 yards on 120 carries, but he had just five carries for four yards as the Chiefs lost a fourth straight game and fell to 1-6 this season.
Why did Charles have only a cameo role, Romeo?
"Now, I'm not exactly sure," he said in his postgame press conference.
The Chiefs have a rapid turnaround to get ready for Thursday's game against the San Diego Chargers.
Crennel was also vague in setting expectations for the team's quarterback situation this week. Brady Quinn, who is 3-11 in his career as a starter, didn't finish the game against the Raiders because of concussion-like symptoms. Matt Cassel has been a turnover machine, and the Chiefs have 25 giveaways, an NFL-worst.
"We'll have to see where Brady is, what his situation is and whether he can go or not," Crennel said. "We'll evaluate Matt and we'll evaluate (third-string quarterback Ricky) Stanzi also."
Cassel said he'll prepare as if he's starting Thursday's game but will be the 'same guy' no matter what Crennel decides.
"We have to turn the page, and focus on San Diego," he said. "One thing this group or any of us is going to do is give up. ... I haven't been part of a season, either, where we've had so many things go wrong. .... I've never been around a team where we've had this many things go the wrong direction. At some point, the luck's got to change and go our direction."
