ChiefsPlanet - Chiefs Arrowhead Report: Stanzi speaks

Arrowhead Report: Chiefs quarterbacks share their thoughts for Sunday
By Josh Looney

Posted 1 hour ago

Kyle Orton, Ricky Stanzi and Tyler Palko are each taking a different approach this week, plus other notes from Wednesday at Arrowhead

Now that the first mystery of the Romeo Crennel era has been solved, Chiefs fans can move to another.

Kyle Orton’s right index finger.

Crennel named Orton the Chiefs starting quarterback Wednesday morning, but only if Orton is healthy enough to play after dislocating his right index finger two weeks ago at Chicago. Otherwise, rookie Ricky Stanzi will make his NFL debut.

Both Orton and Stanzi worked with the first-team offense during Wednesday’s practice, but Orton said he has to prove he can make the necessary throws before he’ll be cleared to play.

“I feel pretty good,” Orton said following practice. “I’m just going to kind of take it as it goes and we’ll see what happens when we get to Sunday, but for today it felt about as good as I think it could.”

“Obviously taking snaps with the first-team is different than being on the scout team,” Stanzi added. “That’s really where most of the change has been for me. I’ve been in this position once before as the backup when Tyler (Palko) was in. It’s not too different, but the actual first-team reps have been a bit of a change.”

Stanzi has served as the Chiefs No. 2 quarterback in three games this season, but has yet to see the field. He’s been inactive in Kansas City’s other 10 games this year.

The use of Stanzi has been a hot-topic among the fan base since Matt Cassel’s season-ending hand injury last month. Even with the offense struggling to move the football and some games getting out of reach, Stanzi has remained on the bench.

Regardless, Stanzi says he’s completely healthy and that his confidence hasn’t been affected.

“Your job as a rookie is to come in and do what you’re told by the coaches,” Stanzi said. “You respect the guys who have been on this team. That is your job and that’s the bottom line. You just keep your mouth shut and you work hard.

“That’s been my main focus all the way through and it will always be that way. That’s just the best way to be ready to help your team and I’ll play whatever role they want me to be in.”

If Stanzi starts, he'll be the Chiefs first rookie to start at quarterback since Steve Fuller in 1979.

After starting the last four games, Tyler Palko shifted into a scout team role as the Chiefs No. 3 quarterback.

“That’s Coach Crennel’s decision,” Palko said. “You’re a professional and you have to come to work and do your job every day. That’s what a good teammate does. As one of 53, you come to work and you help your team get better and that’s what I’m going to do over these next three weeks.”

Orton Familiar with Packers

Of Kyle Orton’s 66 NFL starts, five have come against the Green Bay Packers.

Orton made four starts against Green Bay as a starter for Chicago from 2005-08 and squared off against the Packers as a starter for the Broncos earlier this year. He carries a 3-2 record in his five starts against Green Bay.

“I have played a lot against many of the players on their team and I have a lot of respect for them,” Orton said. “They are a very good football team and they have been for a while now. We’ll have to be at our best to have a chance.”

Overall, Orton has completed 64-of-117 pass attempts for 720 yards with five TDs and six INTs against the Packers. He most recently threw for 273 yards with three TDs and three INTs in Denver’s 49-23 loss in Green Bay on October 2nd.

“It was one of their classic games,” Orton said. “They got up on us by about 17 points and then we battled back to get within three. But by the next time we touched the ball we were down 17 points again. They can score fast, they score often and it’s definitely going to take a total team win to stay with these guys.”

NFL Coaching Class of 2009 is Fading

Today’s NFL is often referred to as the “Not For Long” League and the coaching class of 2009 certainly fits that motto.

Todd Haley became the sixth head coach of 2009’s 11-member coaching class to receive his dismissal before three full seasons.

Another three coaches are currently on the hot seat and only two – Rex Ryan of the New York Jets and Jim Schwartz of the Detroit Lions – appear to have sound job security for the 2012 season.

THE NFL’S COACHING CLASS OF 2009

2009 2010 2011 2009-11
Coach Team Record Record Record Record

Rex Ryan NYJ 9-7 11-5 8-5 28-17 (.622)

Jim Caldwell IND 14-2 10-6 0-13 24-21 (.533)

Jim Mora SEA 5-11 NA NA 5-11 (.455)

Todd Haley KC 4-12 10-6 5-8 19-26 (.422)

*Mike Singletary SF 8-8 5-10 NA 13-18 (.419)

*Tom Cable OAK 5-11 8-8 NA 13-19 (.406)

Josh McDaniels DEN 8-8 3-9 NA 11-17 (.393)

Raheem Morris TB 3-13 10-6 4-9 17-28 (.378)

Jim Schwartz DET 2-14 6-10 8-5 16-29 (.356)

Eric Mangini CLE 5-11 5-11 NA 10-22 (.313)

Steve Spagnuolo STL 1-15 7-9 2-11 10-35 (.222)

*served as interim head coach for a portion of the 2008 season

Injury Report

Chiefs Injury Report

Did Not Practice – S Jon McGraw (Ankle)

Limited Practice - QB Kyle Orton (Right Finger)

Packers Injury Report

OUT – T Chad Clifton (Hamstring/Back), WR Greg Jennings (Knee)

Did Not Practice – LB Desmond Bishop (Calf), DE Ryan Pickett (Concussion), RB Brandon Saine (Concussion), RB James Starks (Knee/Ankle)

Limited Practice – G Josh Sitton (Knee)

Full Practice – LB A.J. Hawk (Calf), LB Vic So’oto (Back)