Chiefs Babb:Weekly meetings help Thigpen, Gonzalez get on same page

**Tribal Warfare** · 12-05-2008, 01:05 AM

Weekly meetings help Thigpen, Gonzalez get on same page
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star

The meetings started five weeks ago with three men in a room. Now, more than twice that number pile in and talk about rhythm and timing and the things that make an offense work.

It was Tony Gonzalez’s idea. He approached quarterback Tyler Thigpen and told him they needed to watch film together. It wasn’t optional. They’d sit in the tight-ends meeting room and watch practice film, not game film, and go over every agonizing detail.

“I think it’s paying off,” Gonzalez said. “I know it is.”

Gonzalez said after the Chiefs’ 20-13 win against Oakland last Sunday that he and Thigpen have established a relationship he didn’t expect when the meetings started a little more than a month ago. He said they’ve learned each other’s tendencies, and each man now trusts the other.

That relationship has translated into the Chiefs’ most dangerous offensive weapon: Thigpen to Gonzalez, a connection made eight times Sunday for 110 yards. That was a week after Gonzalez had 10 catches for 113 yards.

Gonzalez said Sunday that the meetings started in the room at the Chiefs’ practice facility.

It was Gonzalez and Thigpen and wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, the three of them poring over endless footage. Now, others have noticed and started attending the Friday afternoon meetings. Gonzalez said receiver Mark Bradley is a regular now, and so is rookie tight end Brad Cottam. Backup quarterback Quinn Gray started coming a couple of weeks ago, and last Friday, receiver Devard Darling showed up.

“It’s growing,” Gonzalez said. “We’re all getting on the same page. We’re just reading each other.”

Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said this week that similar chemistry hasn’t existed in recent years because the team hasn’t had consistency at quarterback. The Chiefs have used four quarterbacks in Edwards’ three seasons, changing the team’s starter a staggering 11 times in 45 games because of injuries and Trent Green’s departure.

Thigpen has started the last six games, and that’s a rare thing in Kansas City. Gonzalez took advantage.

“Tony has taken the guy under his wing,” Edwards said. “Tony, being the veteran that he is, any time he thinks he can help a quarterback, he’s going to do that.”

Gonzalez said after Thigpen’s second start, five weeks ago, that there were timing issues between them. Gonzalez didn’t know Thigpen, and Thigpen didn’t know Gonzalez. They’d work on that, Gonzalez said. That’s when the tight end put his arm around the youngster’s shoulder and guided him toward the film room. Friday afternoon, Gonzalez said, don’t make other plans.

They watched practice footage from Wednesday and Thursday, and both men began learning the other’s habits. The meetings last about 30 minutes. Gonzalez is, by nature, more talkative than Thigpen, but the tight end decided a long time ago he wouldn’t be doing most of the talking.

“He’s the quarterback; he’s got to be the leader,” Gonzalez said. “I want it that way.”

They watch each other’s movements and explain what they were thinking during plays. Gonzalez runs a receiver option sometimes, and he can cut toward the middle of the field or toward the sideline, depending on how the defender is playing him. It’s a play that usually takes an experienced and patient quarterback, and Thigpen didn’t pass his early tests. Then they sat down together, and things started changing.

“There were a couple of times (recently) that I thought I was screwing him,” Gonzalez said, “and he read it perfectly and just threw it. It’s really him just reading me.”

Others started to notice the connection and began showing up: Friday in the tight-ends room, a regular event now among the passers and receivers.

Edwards said he’d like Thigpen eventually to trust those other receivers as he does Gonzalez. The coach understands Thigpen’s faith in his tight end, a future Hall of Famer, but Edwards has been around long enough to know that trying Gonzalez too frequently will become predictable for defenses, and teams will be able to snuff it out.

Edwards would like Thigpen to try Bowe more often. Or Darling. Or Cottam. They all know each other now; Edwards said it’s time they act like it.

Gonzalez, the man who started the meetings five weeks ago, said he senses more improvement to come — as long as they all keep showing up on Fridays.

“As far as it’s come,” he said, “we can go a lot further.”

dorseybowe · 12-05-2008, 01:40 AM

In the future, choose your words more carefully, Tony.

Hootie · 12-05-2008, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dorseybowe

In the future, choose your words more carefully, Tony.

dorseybowe · 12-05-2008, 02:00 AM

“There were a couple of times (recently) that I thought I was screwing him,” Gonzalez said...

**RealSNR** · 12-05-2008, 02:19 AM

Rarely do you see a player request a trade and DAYS later do this kind of individual work on a young, inexperienced and quite simply bad team. And this guy is an all-pro who hasn't won jack shit and still willing to put together this kind of effort.

Gonzalez is the greatest Chief of all time. Period.

kcxiv · 12-05-2008, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SNR

Gonzalez is the greatest Chief of all time. Period.

really hard to argue that.

Reerun_KC · 12-05-2008, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dorseybowe

“There were a couple of times (recently) that I thought I was screwing him,” Gonzalez said...

I guess this is showing the young guys the ropes from the wiley vet?

stumppy · 12-05-2008, 03:32 AM

So, basically Gonzalez has had to step up and do Herm's job for him. It seems to me a head coach should have already had something set up where the new inexperienced QB spends time, other than daily pactice and film, with his recievers getting to know them and how they play the game.

Way to go TG for taking the initiative. Too bad you have to waist your talent playing under a fugging idiot of a coach.

**the Talking Can** · 12-05-2008, 05:20 AM

thigpen better offer tony cash to come back next year

beach tribe · 12-05-2008, 06:36 AM

Hail Tony G.

One of the greatest football players to ever live. I'm really grateful for him to have been a Chief as long as he has. I hope he sticks around, but won't be bitter if he leaves. I will pull for any team that he lands on so that he gets the success, and recognition he deserves.

mikey23545 · 12-05-2008, 06:58 AM

THIS is why I would like to see Tony finish his career with the Chiefs.

Red Beans · 12-05-2008, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikey23545

THIS is why I would like to see Tony finish his career with the Chiefs.

As much as I'd love to see him get a ring. I couldn't agree more with this statement.

smittysbar · 12-05-2008, 08:05 AM

Was a little disappointed that Franklin wasn't a name on that list of guys showing up.

TG is the man

CoMoChief · 12-05-2008, 08:41 AM

Darling sucks. He shouldnt be on the field.

RINGLEADER · 12-05-2008, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stumppy

So, basically Gonzalez has had to step up and do Herm's job for him. It seems to me a head coach should have already had something set up where the new inexperienced QB spends time, other than daily pactice and film, with his recievers getting to know them and how they play the game.

Way to go TG for taking the initiative. Too bad you have to waist your talent playing under a fugging idiot of a coach.

This kind of summed up my feelings on the story.

12-05-2008, 01:05 AM
Tribal Warfare The Boom Boom Room Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $482813	Babb:Weekly meetings help Thigpen, Gonzalez get on same page Weekly meetings help Thigpen, Gonzalez get on same page By KENT BABB The Kansas City Star The meetings started five weeks ago with three men in a room. Now, more than twice that number pile in and talk about rhythm and timing and the things that make an offense work. It was Tony Gonzalez’s idea. He approached quarterback Tyler Thigpen and told him they needed to watch film together. It wasn’t optional. They’d sit in the tight-ends meeting room and watch practice film, not game film, and go over every agonizing detail. “I think it’s paying off,” Gonzalez said. “I know it is.” Gonzalez said after the Chiefs’ 20-13 win against Oakland last Sunday that he and Thigpen have established a relationship he didn’t expect when the meetings started a little more than a month ago. He said they’ve learned each other’s tendencies, and each man now trusts the other. That relationship has translated into the Chiefs’ most dangerous offensive weapon: Thigpen to Gonzalez, a connection made eight times Sunday for 110 yards. That was a week after Gonzalez had 10 catches for 113 yards. Gonzalez said Sunday that the meetings started in the room at the Chiefs’ practice facility. It was Gonzalez and Thigpen and wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, the three of them poring over endless footage. Now, others have noticed and started attending the Friday afternoon meetings. Gonzalez said receiver Mark Bradley is a regular now, and so is rookie tight end Brad Cottam. Backup quarterback Quinn Gray started coming a couple of weeks ago, and last Friday, receiver Devard Darling showed up. “It’s growing,” Gonzalez said. “We’re all getting on the same page. We’re just reading each other.” Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said this week that similar chemistry hasn’t existed in recent years because the team hasn’t had consistency at quarterback. The Chiefs have used four quarterbacks in Edwards’ three seasons, changing the team’s starter a staggering 11 times in 45 games because of injuries and Trent Green’s departure. Thigpen has started the last six games, and that’s a rare thing in Kansas City. Gonzalez took advantage. “Tony has taken the guy under his wing,” Edwards said. “Tony, being the veteran that he is, any time he thinks he can help a quarterback, he’s going to do that.” Gonzalez said after Thigpen’s second start, five weeks ago, that there were timing issues between them. Gonzalez didn’t know Thigpen, and Thigpen didn’t know Gonzalez. They’d work on that, Gonzalez said. That’s when the tight end put his arm around the youngster’s shoulder and guided him toward the film room. Friday afternoon, Gonzalez said, don’t make other plans. They watched practice footage from Wednesday and Thursday, and both men began learning the other’s habits. The meetings last about 30 minutes. Gonzalez is, by nature, more talkative than Thigpen, but the tight end decided a long time ago he wouldn’t be doing most of the talking. “He’s the quarterback; he’s got to be the leader,” Gonzalez said. “I want it that way.” They watch each other’s movements and explain what they were thinking during plays. Gonzalez runs a receiver option sometimes, and he can cut toward the middle of the field or toward the sideline, depending on how the defender is playing him. It’s a play that usually takes an experienced and patient quarterback, and Thigpen didn’t pass his early tests. Then they sat down together, and things started changing. “There were a couple of times (recently) that I thought I was screwing him,” Gonzalez said, “and he read it perfectly and just threw it. It’s really him just reading me.” Others started to notice the connection and began showing up: Friday in the tight-ends room, a regular event now among the passers and receivers. Edwards said he’d like Thigpen eventually to trust those other receivers as he does Gonzalez. The coach understands Thigpen’s faith in his tight end, a future Hall of Famer, but Edwards has been around long enough to know that trying Gonzalez too frequently will become predictable for defenses, and teams will be able to snuff it out. Edwards would like Thigpen to try Bowe more often. Or Darling. Or Cottam. They all know each other now; Edwards said it’s time they act like it. Gonzalez, the man who started the meetings five weeks ago, said he senses more improvement to come — as long as they all keep showing up on Fridays. “As far as it’s come,” he said, “we can go a lot further.”
Posts: 42,176

12-05-2008, 01:40 AM	#2
dorseybowe Louisiana Purchase Join Date: Jun 2008 Casino cash: $10004900	In the future, choose your words more carefully, Tony.
Posts: 629

12-05-2008, 02:00 AM	#4
dorseybowe Louisiana Purchase Join Date: Jun 2008 Casino cash: $10004900	“There were a couple of times (recently) that I thought I was screwing him,” Gonzalez said...
Posts: 629

12-05-2008, 02:19 AM	#5
RealSNR Special Teams ACE!!! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Where the hell is SNR Casino cash: $1930208	Rarely do you see a player request a trade and DAYS later do this kind of individual work on a young, inexperienced and quite simply bad team. And this guy is an all-pro who hasn't won jack shit and still willing to put together this kind of effort. Gonzalez is the greatest Chief of all time. Period.
Posts: 90,770

12-05-2008, 03:32 AM	#8
stumppy New and Improved Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Springfield, Mo. Casino cash: $1058590	So, basically Gonzalez has had to step up and do Herm's job for him. It seems to me a head coach should have already had something set up where the new inexperienced QB spends time, other than daily pactice and film, with his recievers getting to know them and how they play the game. Way to go TG for taking the initiative. Too bad you have to waist your talent playing under a fugging idiot of a coach. __________________ “As a nation, we can endure damaging policies for a four-year term. But we cannot survive a president willing to terminate our Constitution”
Posts: 21,246

12-05-2008, 05:20 AM	#9
the Talking Can Supporter Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: street Casino cash: $10022208	thigpen better offer tony cash to come back next year __________________ Clark Hunt: "Thank god for the Dominican pool boy"
Posts: 51,585

12-05-2008, 06:36 AM	#10
beach tribe Keep doubting J MFing Houston Join Date: May 2007 Location: ft.lauderdale Casino cash: $4708036	Hail Tony G. One of the greatest football players to ever live. I'm really grateful for him to have been a Chief as long as he has. I hope he sticks around, but won't be bitter if he leaves. I will pull for any team that he lands on so that he gets the success, and recognition he deserves.
Posts: 21,429

12-05-2008, 06:58 AM	#11
mikey23545 MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $10015321	THIS is why I would like to see Tony finish his career with the Chiefs.
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12-05-2008, 08:05 AM	#13
smittysbar Right in the Lumberyard Danny Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: LaPlata, MO Casino cash: $10004942	Was a little disappointed that Franklin wasn't a name on that list of guys showing up. TG is the man __________________
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12-05-2008, 08:41 AM	#14
CoMoChief Mahomes Dynasty Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Parts Unknown Casino cash: $8012254	Darling sucks. He shouldnt be on the field. __________________
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