Chiefs Gretz: Why Thigpen Is Starting - Page 7

**Tribal Warfare** · 09-18-2008, 04:42 AM

Why Thigpen Is Starting
September 17, 2008 - Bob Gretz |

The whole quarterback situation around the Chiefs has been pretty wacky and hard to understand.

And that’s if you are Herm Edwards.

His decision to start his third different quarterback in the season’s first three games speaks to more wackiness in the eyes of some fans and I’m sure the pundits.

Tyler Thigpen will replace Damon Huard who replaced Brodie Croyle as the starter against Atlanta. Huard’s start came because of Croyle’s injury. Thigpen’s start came because … it’s the right thing for Edwards and his coaching staff to do at this time.

Let’s break this down three ways and with three different views of the decision: this Sunday, short-term (the rest of the ‘08 season) and long-term (the future).

THIS SUNDAY

Doesn’t Huard give the Chiefs a better chance of winning in Atlanta than Thigpen? Maybe yes. Maybe no. Certainly his experience is a factor that can’t be ignored and he’s got that all over Thigpen.

But take a look at the Falcons and their defense. Atlanta has the NFL’s leading sacker after two games: defensive end John Abraham, who has four and now has 71.5 career sacks. That ranks him among the top seven sacks over the last eight seasons and two games. Plus, he’s playing at home and indoors on artificial turf. It’s a pass rusher’s dream situation.

Let’s be honest, if they move Abraham over to the left side and have him rush against RT Damion McIntosh, then whoever is playing quarterback for the Chiefs is in trouble. Better to have somebody with some mobility, who can get away from that kind of pressure. Huard can’t do that. Thigpen can.

Plus, that mobility allows the Chiefs to do more with their offensive game plan, especially with the bootlegs and nakeds that they’ve worked on all through the off-season and in training camp. Those are not things that Huard can do very well. Thigpen has a better chance to make them work.

THIS SEASON

In what Edwards hopes is the best case scenario, Croyle will return in two weeks, maybe three, and then start the remaining games in the ‘08 season.

The odds of that happening aren’t very good based on history, but a coach can dream, can’t he?

So this might be the only time Thigpen gets the chance to start and play. Edwards is determined to allow every player to get on the field and show what he has, so the coaching and personnel staffs can fairly evaluate what talent is in house.

If all goes well, this will be Thigpen’s only shot. Everyone knows what Huard can do. Some outside the team’s offices may have already made their decisions on Thigpen, but the decision makers want to see more. This is his chance.

THE FUTURE

The Chiefs will face a big decision, maybe the most important of this rebuilding project, when the ‘08 season is completed. That revolves around quarterback.

The team must make decisions at the end of this season on whether their quarterback is in house, or they need to go find him. When Croyle comes back, he’ll have 11 or 12 games to prove himself. To be fair, he probably needs more, but right now, that’s what he’s going to get. If he’s injured again, then his chances of sticking are pretty much gone.

If Thigpen can be any kind of factor or competition, he must play and show those skills.

His time is now.

Based on the track record of starting quarterbacks for Herm Edwards, Ingle Martin better make sure he’s ready to go.

Micjones · 09-18-2008, 11:26 AM

Maybe, just maybe, you could learn something about your other young offensive players?
By having a functional offense?

blueballs · 09-18-2008, 11:36 AM

Herm's started all three of his KC seasons with a different QB
if he is around next season
the chances of a fourth QB are about 85%+

Fish · 09-18-2008, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

I don't buy it. Huard was confused as to when he'd even been injured.
When asked if he could've re-entered the game he declined to even answer the question.
I heard that interview with my own two ears.
Couple that with three separate reports of what his injury was and I smell bullshit.

Herman Edwards said last week that he couldn't look his players in the eye and tell them that Thigpen gave them the best chance to win on Sunday. One week later he's our starter. What epiphany did Edwards have in the last 7 days that he's confident in Thigpen now?

Huard not doing any better than the younger guys did?

I also heard BRC's story on BTL yesterday. KK was trying to make a big deal out of it...

**BigRedChief** · 09-18-2008, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

Herman Edwards said last week that he couldn't look his players in the eye and tell them that Thigpen gave them the best chance to win on Sunday. One week later he's our starter. What epiphany did Edwards have in the last 7 days that he's confident in Thigpen now?

So despite this you don't think Huard is in the Chiefs doghouse huh?

Yeah, it was Keitz that told me...thats my story and I'm sticking to it.

**OnTheWarpath15** · 09-18-2008, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

Maybe, just maybe, you could learn something about your other young offensive players?
By having a functional offense?

Considering Gailey's offense is dependent on having a QB that can execute nakeds and bootlegs, I don't see how Huard makes the offense more functional.

Gailey actually has to scale back when Huard is in, because he's not capable of executing the majority of the playbook. Huard's a sitting duck back there, and everyone knows it. With this OL, a mobile QB, ANY mobile QB gives us the best chance to win.

As Tiny so eloquently put it:

Run for your life > stop, drop and roll.

**OnTheWarpath15** · 09-18-2008, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

So depsite this you don't think Huard is in the Chiefs doghouse huh?

Sounds to me like he's making your case for you...

Chiefnj2 · 09-18-2008, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

Maybe, just maybe, you could learn something about your other young offensive players?
By having a functional offense?

The young OL will learn how to run down DB's returning Ints.

**OnTheWarpath15** · 09-18-2008, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

The young OL will learn how to run down DB's returning Ints.

They've gotten plenty of practice, Huard has 15 INT's in his last 13 games...

FAX · 09-18-2008, 02:21 PM

I've been reading the board today and it suddenly struck like a diamond bullet right in the forehead that we are completely screwed in almost every conceivable way possible ... it's, frankly, amazing.

We have no quarterback. We have no pass protection. We have no run blocking. We have no pass rush. We have no run defense. Our WRs can't get open and, if they do, they are droppers. Our OC is Solarideux. We have no linebackers (save one, maybe). Our safeties are questionable. We have traded away our only exceptional, proven defensive player. We have no offensive identity. We are giving up thousands of yards on the ground. We have lost to, arguably, the only team worse than us at home. Our star running back can't get a yard. Our head coach appears confused and lost. No one can tell if we're "rebuilding" or we just suck. We've lost 11 in a row and counting. And, we are running the Sloption, of all things, while the "voice" of our team publicly states that the concept is awesome.

I surrender. Herm, you win. Just do whatever you want to do and I'll wait until this nightmare is over. May God have mercy on the Chiefs Nation.

FAX

**BigMeatballDave** · 09-18-2008, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

If all goes well, this will be Thigpen’s only shot. Everyone knows what Huard can do. Some outside the team’s offices may have already made their decisions on Thigpen, but the decision makers want to see more. This is his chance.

Thread over...

**BigMeatballDave** · 09-18-2008, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ari Chi3fs

Id rather have Casey Printers instead of Thigpen starting... Printers was doing decent last preseason.

Yeah, those fumbled snaps were awesome.

**BigMeatballDave** · 09-18-2008, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fat Elvis

Call me crazy, but shouldn't the talent evaluation have been done before the season started?

Agreed, but they put all their eggs in one basket for BC.

**BigMeatballDave** · 09-18-2008, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

They signed Ingle Martin when they had the chance to sign Woodson.

Burn your candle for Woodson somewhere else. Or, keep pounding a drum no one is interested in listening to.

Christ, your mancrush on Woodson is worse than Clayton's for Huard...

http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showp...64&postcount=3

Brock · 09-18-2008, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

I don't know how you keep going with Thigpen when Woodson is on the Giants practice squad.

Personally, grabbing Woodson would be the right thing to do, even if you didn't play him right away. Given what's on this roster right now, though, there's no way you put Huard in a game.

FAX · 09-18-2008, 03:00 PM

LOLROROL

I suppose that, in the Chiefs world, it makes perfect sense that, when your #1 quarterback (whomever that might be) goes down, you fake an injury to your #2 so your #3 has an excuse to play. Then, in the next game, you play the #3 to find out if he's really a #3 but you're fully prepared to put your #2 in the game should your #3 actually play like one.

FAX

09-18-2008, 04:42 AM
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-2877187	Gretz: Why Thigpen Is Starting Why Thigpen Is Starting September 17, 2008 - Bob Gretz \| The whole quarterback situation around the Chiefs has been pretty wacky and hard to understand. And that’s if you are Herm Edwards. His decision to start his third different quarterback in the season’s first three games speaks to more wackiness in the eyes of some fans and I’m sure the pundits. Tyler Thigpen will replace Damon Huard who replaced Brodie Croyle as the starter against Atlanta. Huard’s start came because of Croyle’s injury. Thigpen’s start came because … it’s the right thing for Edwards and his coaching staff to do at this time. Let’s break this down three ways and with three different views of the decision: this Sunday, short-term (the rest of the ‘08 season) and long-term (the future). THIS SUNDAY Doesn’t Huard give the Chiefs a better chance of winning in Atlanta than Thigpen? Maybe yes. Maybe no. Certainly his experience is a factor that can’t be ignored and he’s got that all over Thigpen. But take a look at the Falcons and their defense. Atlanta has the NFL’s leading sacker after two games: defensive end John Abraham, who has four and now has 71.5 career sacks. That ranks him among the top seven sacks over the last eight seasons and two games. Plus, he’s playing at home and indoors on artificial turf. It’s a pass rusher’s dream situation. Let’s be honest, if they move Abraham over to the left side and have him rush against RT Damion McIntosh, then whoever is playing quarterback for the Chiefs is in trouble. Better to have somebody with some mobility, who can get away from that kind of pressure. Huard can’t do that. Thigpen can. Plus, that mobility allows the Chiefs to do more with their offensive game plan, especially with the bootlegs and nakeds that they’ve worked on all through the off-season and in training camp. Those are not things that Huard can do very well. Thigpen has a better chance to make them work. THIS SEASON In what Edwards hopes is the best case scenario, Croyle will return in two weeks, maybe three, and then start the remaining games in the ‘08 season. The odds of that happening aren’t very good based on history, but a coach can dream, can’t he? So this might be the only time Thigpen gets the chance to start and play. Edwards is determined to allow every player to get on the field and show what he has, so the coaching and personnel staffs can fairly evaluate what talent is in house. If all goes well, this will be Thigpen’s only shot. Everyone knows what Huard can do. Some outside the team’s offices may have already made their decisions on Thigpen, but the decision makers want to see more. This is his chance. THE FUTURE The Chiefs will face a big decision, maybe the most important of this rebuilding project, when the ‘08 season is completed. That revolves around quarterback. The team must make decisions at the end of this season on whether their quarterback is in house, or they need to go find him. When Croyle comes back, he’ll have 11 or 12 games to prove himself. To be fair, he probably needs more, but right now, that’s what he’s going to get. If he’s injured again, then his chances of sticking are pretty much gone. If Thigpen can be any kind of factor or competition, he must play and show those skills. His time is now. Based on the track record of starting quarterbacks for Herm Edwards, Ingle Martin better make sure he’s ready to go.
Posts: 43,439

09-18-2008, 11:26 AM	#91
Micjones Whose house? Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: KCMO Casino cash: $10005180	Maybe, just maybe, you could learn something about your other young offensive players? By having a functional offense?
Posts: 15,344

09-18-2008, 11:36 AM	#92
blueballs Banned Join Date: Feb 2006 Casino cash: $10004900	Herm's started all three of his KC seasons with a different QB if he is around next season the chances of a fourth QB are about 85%+
Posts: 14,233

09-18-2008, 02:21 PM	#99
FAX testing ... 1, 2, 3 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Tennessee Casino cash: $6753759	I've been reading the board today and it suddenly struck like a diamond bullet right in the forehead that we are completely screwed in almost every conceivable way possible ... it's, frankly, amazing. We have no quarterback. We have no pass protection. We have no run blocking. We have no pass rush. We have no run defense. Our WRs can't get open and, if they do, they are droppers. Our OC is Solarideux. We have no linebackers (save one, maybe). Our safeties are questionable. We have traded away our only exceptional, proven defensive player. We have no offensive identity. We are giving up thousands of yards on the ground. We have lost to, arguably, the only team worse than us at home. Our star running back can't get a yard. Our head coach appears confused and lost. No one can tell if we're "rebuilding" or we just suck. We've lost 11 in a row and counting. And, we are running the Sloption, of all things, while the "voice" of our team publicly states that the concept is awesome. I surrender. Herm, you win. Just do whatever you want to do and I'll wait until this nightmare is over. May God have mercy on the Chiefs Nation. FAX
Posts: 44,492

09-18-2008, 03:00 PM	#105
FAX testing ... 1, 2, 3 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Tennessee Casino cash: $6753759	LOLROROL I suppose that, in the Chiefs world, it makes perfect sense that, when your #1 quarterback (whomever that might be) goes down, you fake an injury to your #2 so your #3 has an excuse to play. Then, in the next game, you play the #3 to find out if he's really a #3 but you're fully prepared to put your #2 in the game should your #3 actually play like one. FAX
Posts: 44,492