August 23, 2012
Aaron Kromer will take over as New Orleans Saints head coach when Joe Vitt begins his six game suspension (begins Sept 3), starts at the beginning of the NFL season. Kromer is the offensive line and running game coach.
This is the fifth season the 45-year old coach has been with the Saints. General Manger Mickey Loomis and team owner Tom Benson tapped Kromer over offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr. and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
Kromer interviewed for the St. Louis Rams job last season but the Rams hired Jeff Fisher instead. The offensive line coach has been talked about becoming the interim coach since the suspensions of Sean Payton and Vitt were announced in late March.
With Kromer taking over the job as head coach, Carmichael Jr. will be able to focus on the offense and working with Drew Brees. Spagnuolo was head coach in St. Louis but is in his first in New Orleans as Saints defensive coordinator and he can focus on installing his defense.
Vitt stated after practice today that Kromer will be next to him during the final two preseason games. New Orleans plays the Houston Texans at home on Saturday and finish the preseason at the Tennessee Titans next Thursday .
Thoughts:
I have no problems with Kromer taking over the head coaching job when the Vitt begins his suspension. He (Kromer) can lean on Carmicheal Jr. and Spagnuolo if he needs advice or talk through a situation.
Also, I like the Saints named one guy head coach and not head coach by committee. One person needs to be the guy to make the big decisions like going for two-point conversions or on-sides kick.
Instead of Kromer standing by Vitt over the final two preseason games, Kromer needs to take over and make the big decisions. He needs to get a feel for the game during game situations and not during the first game of the season against the Washington Redskins.
Kromer needs to be seen by the players as decisive and ready to make pregame and in-game decisions. I am not sure if that feeling will come across in the final two preseason games just standing next to Joe Vitt.
This might sound strange but Vitt needs to be in the coaches’ box at the top of the stadium or not even been at the stadium over the next two preseason games. Kromer needs to have the situation as close to opening day as the Saints can make it in the preseason.
The Saints only play one team with a winning record from last season (Green Bay Packers) in their first six games. New Orleans faces Washington Redskins (5-11), Carolina Panthers (6-10), Kansas City Chiefs (7-9), Green Bay (15-1), San Diego Chargers (8-8) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12) over the first six games.
There are thoughts by several NFL writers that Kansas City and San Diego will be improved and Carolina will make leaps in year two of Cam Newton. Tampa Bay spent a ton of money in the offseason but how quickly will the team jell is a question.
Kromer gets a rooking quarterback game one against the Redskins but he can’t slip after that with a road trip to Carolina next. The season can go sideways quickly if the Saints don’t start well over their first six games.
Kromer has to be ready and I am not sure standing by Vitt in the last two games gets Kromer ready to start the regular season as the head coach.
Check back tomorrow for my thoughts (what to watch for) on the New Orleans Saints/Houston Texans Game that will played Saturday.
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