Whitlock: The Chiefs' WRs are garbage

FloridaMan88 · 08-03-2007, 07:30 AM

Wow big newsflash, regarding the Chiefs' WRs stinking up the joint. If you want an example of what aggressively upgrading the WR position entails see what the Patriots did this offseason. If you want an example of trying to get by with undrafted free agents and lower round draft picks at WR see the Chiefs' current situation

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/col...ry/216622.html

Jason Whitlock: Quarterbacks can’t catch a break because receivers can’t catch the ball

RIVER FALLS, Wis. | Don’t believe anything you hear about the quarterback battle. The competition hasn’t even begun.

Kansas City’s receiving corps is holding Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard hostage.

I’m not talking about Tony Gonzalez and Eddie Kennison. I’m talking about the receivers Neil Smith loaned the Chiefs from his Brigade roster. It’s strictly amateur hour when Croyle and Huard drop back to pass.

“Look, ma, no hands” ought to be the motto for this training camp.

“There are some dropped passes,” Herm Edwards acknowledged after a ridiculously poor morning practice on Thursday, “and some of it has to do with who’s trying to catch it, too. I think some of the young guys weren’t here in the spring and it’s according to who’s throwing the pass. Sometimes when (Croyle) throws it, he throws it kind of hard and if you’re not ready for it, it’s going to come off your hand.

“We dropped some today,” Edwards continued, “and we’ve got to do a better job. We keep a chart of who’s dropping passes, why they’re dropping passes and talk about how you have to help the quarterback. We dropped some today: backs dropped a couple, tight end dropped one, receiver dropped one coming across on a dig route.”

The receiver was Samie Parker, a guy the Chiefs are actually counting on come September. Herm says Parker has been having a good camp after having a solid offseason.

“He’s been pretty good since the spring,” Edwards said. “He started off having a good training camp. He missed one. The key is to get him the ball back again. You throw it back to him as fast as you can so he can get his confidence back.”

Getting first-round draft pick Dwayne Bowe into training camp might also help. The Chiefs drafted Bowe because they recognized they have a deficiency at receiver. Bowe can’t help the Chiefs while working out in another city.

The situation right now is terrible. Croyle is a young guy who needs to get in a rhythm with receivers who can actually catch the ball. He’s not going to develop any confidence with balls falling on the ground every other pass.

Bad receivers and no Larry Johnson is a recipe for exhibition failure. Young quarterbacks don’t develop confidence going three-and-out in the preseason.

I have a new theory on why the Chiefs can’t sign anyone — other than Gonzalez, Carl Peterson’s favorite Chief — in a timely fashion. Peterson, old and tired of dealing with agents, has turned over much of the dirty work to his right-hand man Denny Thum.

For at least the last three years, I’ve heard repeated comments from agents about Denny Thum. The agents aren’t really griping about Thum, but it just seems like more and more agents are doing most of their negotiating with Denny.

So here’s my theory: King Carl might be headed for retirement soon. Is Denny Thum auditioning for Peterson’s job a little too aggressively? Is Denny trying to prove he can save the Hunts just as much money as King Carl?

Bowe, his agent, Ethan Lock, and the Chiefs are in a tough position for a couple of other reasons, too. Bowe got drafted right after quarterback Brady Quinn, who for some reason wants to be paid like a top-10 pick. And the penny-pinching New England Patriots made the pick right after Bowe.

Whoa, that’s quite a squeeze play. Quinn is going to get paid too much. And the Patriots bilked rookie safety Brandon Meriweather. There’s going to be a lot of room between the 22nd and 24th picks. That’s a tough dilemma for the Chiefs and Bowe.

Whatever is causing the Bowe and Larry Johnson holdouts, it’s not good for Croyle and Huard. It’s not good for Edwards or Mike Solari, either. They have to decide between Croyle and Huard, and right now I don’t believe they’re acquiring enough good information to make an informed decision because the receivers are awful.

I hear Andre Rison still wants to play. He can provide leadership, too.

08-03-2007, 07:30 AM	Topic Starter
FloridaMan88 Mahomes: We Are All Witnesses Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Miami, FL Casino cash: $-537094	Whitlock: The Chiefs' WRs are garbage Wow big newsflash, regarding the Chiefs' WRs stinking up the joint. If you want an example of what aggressively upgrading the WR position entails see what the Patriots did this offseason. If you want an example of trying to get by with undrafted free agents and lower round draft picks at WR see the Chiefs' current situation http://www.kansascity.com/sports/col...ry/216622.html Jason Whitlock: Quarterbacks can’t catch a break because receivers can’t catch the ball RIVER FALLS, Wis. \| Don’t believe anything you hear about the quarterback battle. The competition hasn’t even begun. Kansas City’s receiving corps is holding Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard hostage. I’m not talking about Tony Gonzalez and Eddie Kennison. I’m talking about the receivers Neil Smith loaned the Chiefs from his Brigade roster. It’s strictly amateur hour when Croyle and Huard drop back to pass. “Look, ma, no hands” ought to be the motto for this training camp. “There are some dropped passes,” Herm Edwards acknowledged after a ridiculously poor morning practice on Thursday, “and some of it has to do with who’s trying to catch it, too. I think some of the young guys weren’t here in the spring and it’s according to who’s throwing the pass. Sometimes when (Croyle) throws it, he throws it kind of hard and if you’re not ready for it, it’s going to come off your hand. “We dropped some today,” Edwards continued, “and we’ve got to do a better job. We keep a chart of who’s dropping passes, why they’re dropping passes and talk about how you have to help the quarterback. We dropped some today: backs dropped a couple, tight end dropped one, receiver dropped one coming across on a dig route.” The receiver was Samie Parker, a guy the Chiefs are actually counting on come September. Herm says Parker has been having a good camp after having a solid offseason. “He’s been pretty good since the spring,” Edwards said. “He started off having a good training camp. He missed one. The key is to get him the ball back again. You throw it back to him as fast as you can so he can get his confidence back.” Getting first-round draft pick Dwayne Bowe into training camp might also help. The Chiefs drafted Bowe because they recognized they have a deficiency at receiver. Bowe can’t help the Chiefs while working out in another city. The situation right now is terrible. Croyle is a young guy who needs to get in a rhythm with receivers who can actually catch the ball. He’s not going to develop any confidence with balls falling on the ground every other pass. Bad receivers and no Larry Johnson is a recipe for exhibition failure. Young quarterbacks don’t develop confidence going three-and-out in the preseason. I have a new theory on why the Chiefs can’t sign anyone — other than Gonzalez, Carl Peterson’s favorite Chief — in a timely fashion. Peterson, old and tired of dealing with agents, has turned over much of the dirty work to his right-hand man Denny Thum. For at least the last three years, I’ve heard repeated comments from agents about Denny Thum. The agents aren’t really griping about Thum, but it just seems like more and more agents are doing most of their negotiating with Denny. So here’s my theory: King Carl might be headed for retirement soon. Is Denny Thum auditioning for Peterson’s job a little too aggressively? Is Denny trying to prove he can save the Hunts just as much money as King Carl? Bowe, his agent, Ethan Lock, and the Chiefs are in a tough position for a couple of other reasons, too. Bowe got drafted right after quarterback Brady Quinn, who for some reason wants to be paid like a top-10 pick. And the penny-pinching New England Patriots made the pick right after Bowe. Whoa, that’s quite a squeeze play. Quinn is going to get paid too much. And the Patriots bilked rookie safety Brandon Meriweather. There’s going to be a lot of room between the 22nd and 24th picks. That’s a tough dilemma for the Chiefs and Bowe. Whatever is causing the Bowe and Larry Johnson holdouts, it’s not good for Croyle and Huard. It’s not good for Edwards or Mike Solari, either. They have to decide between Croyle and Huard, and right now I don’t believe they’re acquiring enough good information to make an informed decision because the receivers are awful. I hear Andre Rison still wants to play. He can provide leadership, too.
Posts: 49,734