Romeo Crennel Means Kansas City Chiefs Won't Fear Peyton Manning

NFL.com's report of Peyton Manning's decision to begin negotiations the Denver Broncos has sent shock waves through the AFC West. However, the defensive expertise of Romeo Crennel means the Kansas City Chiefs won't fear the prospect facing Manning twice a season.

Crennel has succeeded in stifling Manning perhaps more than any other defensive guru in the league. He was the coordinator for all of those New England Patriots defenses that managed to harass and confuse Manning into so many playoff blunders.

Crennel can do the same in Kansas City. He has the personnel, with playmakers like Derrick Johnson, Brandon Flowers and Tamba Hali, to cause Manning fresh fits.

Crennel has found success against Manning through a simple combination of variety and disguise. He mixed two-, three- and four-man fronts with the Patriots and constantly varied the line movements, incorporating plenty of stunts and twists to interfere with Manning's line of sight.

Crennel also had great success with a "quarter-quarter-half" coverage system. This concept ensured double coverage on Manning's favourite receiver, Reggie Wayne, and forced him to pause in the pocket, nullifying his quick release.

One of Crennel's favourite tactics has been to take away the deep middle from Manning and force him to throw "out" passes towards the sideline. Gambling ball hawks like Ty Law and Asante Samuel were the grateful beneficiaries of this tactic in New England.

With the likes of Flowers and Eric Berry patrolling the secondary, the Chiefs have the players to capitalise on confusion and rash decisions.

In 2010, Crennel's Kansas City defense used this blueprint to almost upset Manning and the Colts in Indianapolis. They held Manning without a touchdown pass and kept him under constant pressure in a narrow 19-9 defeat.

There is no question that Manning's potential arrival would make facing the Broncos a daunting proposition. However, Crennel's schemes may be enough to stifle Denver's newest weapon and make the Chiefs their biggest threat.