Could Kansas City Chiefs' Delay on Offensive Coordinator Indicate Internal Hire?

Romeo Crennel's official tenure as the Kansas City Chiefs' head coach might be a mere 18 days old, but for fans it's been an eternity.

That's because while the coaching carousel spins for the majority of the NFL, the Chiefs have yet to announce any new hirings to their coaching staff.

Defensive coordinator? Crennel announced he'll be handling the defensive play calling. That minimizes the need for a new face on the defensive side.

But the biggest question for Kansas City remains on the other side of the ball. The Chiefs regressed in 2011 offensively; injuries to key players like Jamaal Charles didn't help, but the issue ran much deeper than that.

In his first season as both offensive line coach and coordinator, Bill Muir's squad looked under-prepared and out-classed. Even if Muir wasn't rumored to retire, Crennel would do himself and his team a disservice by maintaining the status quo.

But news of candidates or hirings for an offensive coach are conspicuously lacking, even for Scott Pioli's tight-lipped Chiefs organization.

Maybe it isn't too out of the ordinary, though. Last year, fans heard little word following Charlie Weis's departure. When Muir's promotion came, it was with minimal fanfare.

The quiet this year could signal another internal hiring. The front runner is likely quarterbacks' coach Jim Zorn. Crennel and Zorn looked like they worked well together in the Chiefs' final three games last season. And Zorn is due his first real shot as a coordinator after being saddled as head coach to a Redskins team Joe Gibbs and Mike Shanahan couldn't resurrect.

Maurice Carthon could be another candidate for coordinator. Carthon previously ran Crennel's offense in Cleveland. Crennel's been forced to fire Carthon once before, though. Cleveland lacked the talent on their roster, but that didn't stop the Browns from firing Carthon after less than two years.

The lack of any other reported interviews further strengthens the case for an internal hire. Of the remaining two teams, neither team boasts a solid position coach ready for the next level. Notable prospects like Green Bay's Tom Clements haven't made a public visit to Kansas City, despite the Packers' defeat in last week's NFC Championship.

With the complete end of the 2011 season only 10 days away, the race to prepare for 2012 is well underway. And with each day that goes by, the odds increase that Kansas City's offensive coordinator is already under contract.