Chiefs Gretz: Why Thigpen Is Starting - Page 3

**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.

Fat Elvis · 09-18-2008, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Are you serious, or are you TRYING to embarrass yourself?

That train left the station a LOOOOONG time ago.

**OnTheWarpath15** · 09-18-2008, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fat Elvis

That train left the station a LOOOOONG time ago.

I know, I was just hoping for a response.

Hog's Gone Fishin · 09-18-2008, 08:51 AM

Maybe we'll suck so bad this year that the league will award us the first five picks in next years draft.

**TinyEvel** · 09-18-2008, 08:56 AM

run for your life > stop, drop and roll.

**OnTheWarpath15** · 09-18-2008, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinyEvel

run for your life > stop, drop and roll.

And that, folks, sums this situation up perfectly...

xbarretx · 09-18-2008, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beach tribe

Starting Thiggy is the right thing to do. There's nothing to learn from Huard.

Rep!

donkhater · 09-18-2008, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

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 is the key statement in the whole article. Exactly when have we seen any sign of the offense they instilled in training camp?

I'll be interested if it shows up on Sunday or Herm decides to 'protect' his QB again by only letting him throw when the defense knows it's coming. Idiots.

**OnTheWarpath15** · 09-18-2008, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donkhater

This is the key statement in the whole article. Exactly when have we seen any sign of the offense they instilled in training camp?

I'll be interested if it shows up on Sunday or Herm decides to 'protect' his QB again by only letting him throw when the defense knows it's coming. Idiots.

We didn't see it in NE, because it isn't as effective against a 3-4 defense, and McIntosh was usually still in his stance and Vrabel was in the backfield. We would have been rolling our QB directly into Vrabel.

Bad idea.

We saw a little more of it Sunday, and we can only hope we see more THIS Sunday, since Thigpen is getting all the reps in practice, and the gameplan is being built around him, not Huard.

Fish · 09-18-2008, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Really?

Go look at Casey's stats in the CFL this year.

8 games, 3 TD's, 9 INT's, 5 fumbles and a QB rating of 64.

Mmmmm..... chicken salad......

**OnTheWarpath15** · 09-18-2008, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Fish

Mmmmm..... chicken salad......

Casey's having trouble even making chicken shit out of chicken shit...

Hammock Parties · 09-18-2008, 09:35 AM

We're not winning a game until Brodie is back.

0-5 here we come!

triple · 09-18-2008, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

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

wtf? That guy is awful

triple · 09-18-2008, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Claythan

We're not winning a game until Brodie is back.

0-5 here we come!

Psst. We were headed for 0-5 anyway.

Hammock Parties · 09-18-2008, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by triple

Psst. We were headed for 0-5 anyway.

I think we would have beaten the Raiders with Croyle.

King_Chief_Fan · 09-18-2008, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by Claythan

We're not winning a game until Brodie is back.

0-5 here we come!

If we are lucky he won't be back. Enough wasted time on his tired act. This is Thigpens chance to show he doesn't have it either. We will be draftig or trading for a qb

09-18-2008, 04:42 AM
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-2867187	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, 08:51 AM	#33
Hog's Gone Fishin Fish are scared of me Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $-1489523	Maybe we'll suck so bad this year that the league will award us the first five picks in next years draft.
Posts: 40,646

09-18-2008, 08:56 AM	#34
TinyEvel Just a li'l Evel Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bald. Goatee. Jorts. Casino cash: $2319601	run for your life > stop, drop and roll.
Posts: 12,316

09-18-2008, 09:35 AM	#41
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $930478	We're not winning a game until Brodie is back. 0-5 here we come!
Posts: 296,992

09-18-2008, 09:43 AM	#45
King_Chief_Fan Praise Him Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: none ya Casino cash: $4755486	Originally Posted by Claythan We're not winning a game until Brodie is back. 0-5 here we come! If we are lucky he won't be back. Enough wasted time on his tired act. This is Thigpens chance to show he doesn't have it either. We will be draftig or trading for a qb __________________ No Jesus No Peace Know Jesus Know Peace Ephesians 2:8-10 English Standard Version (ESV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
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