Teicher: I love me some Hootie

[Wile_E_Coyote]

Chiefs' Green machine sputters

It has not been a well-oiled KC offense since the starting quarterback returned from his severe concussion.

By ADAM TEICHER

The Kansas City Star

• Huard vs. Green in 2006
• Notebook: Herm's OK with LJ

The Chiefs had all this figured out long before Trent Green returned from his severe concussion. He would reclaim his starting quarterback spot, play like the Green of before and lead his team on its charge to a playoff spot.

Obviously, the Chiefs now realize, they had a few things wrong. They’ve lost three straight and scored one measly touchdown in the last two games. Though mathematically alive at 7-7, they have been elbowed out of any kind of strategic position for a wild-card playoff berth.

The Chiefs aren’t pointing to Green as the only suspect in their demise. But they’ve started to wonder whether instead of being part of the solution, he’s part of the problem.

At the least, Green may be playing his way out of an unquestioned starting spot for next season. Damon Huard is scheduled to become a free agent and will probably move on, but rookie Brodie Croyle is a favorite of coach Herm Edwards and is, sooner or later, destined to become the Chiefs’ starter.

Edwards probably won’t give the job to Croyle outright next season, but he may open the competition. One of Edwards’ goals after joining the Chiefs last January was to energize his team by going with younger players.

Replacing the 36-year-old Green with Croyle is one way to further that process.

In that sense, Green could be playing for his Kansas City future in the season’s final two games beginning Saturday night against the Raiders in Oakland.

Edwards artfully dodged questions about Green’s culpability in the Chiefs’ offensive problems. But his failure to defend Green, as he was willing to do in the games shortly after his return from the concussion, seems to speak loudly.

“He’s trying to make plays,” Edwards said diplomatically. “When you’re playing against good defenses, you feel like you’ve got to make a play. At times, we’ve tried to do that and we haven’t.”

Green has certainly been affected by a number of problem areas around him. The Chiefs can’t block for him as well as they once did. Their running game hasn’t been as consistent as it once was. Their defense hasn’t made the significant progress Edwards hoped it would by this point in the season.

That’s why there’s some sense he’s been a victim of circumstances.

“Ultimately, our quarterback is going to play as good as we play,” guard Brian Waters said. “Ultimately, he cannot throw the ball to receivers if they’re not in the right place. He cannot throw the ball if he’s on his back. It’s hard to throw the ball when it’s third down and long because we haven’t been able to run the ball.

“We have to do a better job all the way around.”

Still, the Chiefs have long maintained the best way to judge a quarterback is by his won-lost record. The Chiefs are 2-4 with Green as their starter and 5-3 under Huard.

They scored 30 or more points in four of Huard’s starts but in none of Green’s. They looked truly comfortable offensively for only part of one game under Green’s command, that being the first three quarters of a recent loss in Cleveland.

Huard, affected by the same factors as Green, remains perched in passer rating among Pro Bowl selections and league MVP candidates like Peyton Manning, Tony Romo and Drew Brees. Huard is second in the AFC and fourth in the NFL.

Green’s passer rating is well down the list and puts him in the same vicinity as Detroit’s Jon Kitna and Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger, nobody’s MVP candidates and the NFL’s interception leaders.

“I’m the quarterback, so I shoulder a lot of that responsibility,” Green said. “All I can do is try to execute the best I can and trust that everybody is going to do their jobs.

“It’s been really frustrating for us. We’ve played two really good defenses the last couple of weeks, but this offense has set a standard over the last several years that it doesn’t matter what defense we’re playing. We’ve had a lot of success (until this season) scoring points.”
Green was also the offensive player most affected by the change from head coach Dick Vermeil and offensive coordinator Al Saunders to Edwards and Mike Solari.

Under the old regime, Green was comfortable taking his chances by throwing passes down the field. Turnovers were tolerated as long as they were in an acceptable ratio to big plays.

Turnovers are to be avoided at all costs under the conservative Edwards.


“I’ve had to learn the transition to our (new offensive) approach,” Green said. “We’ve got a new offensive coordinator and a new head coach. We’ve gone from an offensive-minded head coach to a defensive-minded head coach. We’re taking a different approach, not that one is right and one is wrong because both have had success. Both programs have worked. It’s just that it’s different.”

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To reach Adam Teicher, Chiefs reporter for The Star, call (816) 234-4875 or send e-mail to ateicher@kcstar.com

[DaFace]

Hootie = Super Genius

[Skip Towne]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Hootie = Super Genius

A legend in his own mind.

[FAX]

Originally Posted by Wile_E_Coyote

... “Ultimately, our quarterback is going to play as good as we play,” guard Brian Waters said. “Ultimately, he cannot throw the ball to receivers if they’re not in the right place. He cannot throw the ball if he’s on his back. It’s hard to throw the ball when it’s third down and long because we haven’t been able to run the ball.

“We have to do a better job all the way around. ...

Thank God for Brian Waters. The man has good sense.

Our lineladies can't block pudding which makes everyone look bad or worse.

FAX

[Reerun_KC]

What happened to Hootie? I havent seen him around lately?

Oh wait I added him to my ignore list. Nevermind.

[Halfcan]

Yep its all Green-not our suckass line, not the inability to pick up simple blitzes up the middle, not our suckass receivers dropping easy passes off their hands, not shitty play calling, not a coach that can't fire his team up or manage a game.

Yep its all Green-lets run that SOB out of town-jeez he sucks.

[boogblaster]

Hootie is out looking for him and Huard a house ...

[Hootie]

So, now both the national media, and the local media agree with me...

Looks like you Chiefs homers are on your own now!

[ck_IN]

Our line isn't helping as is the inability of our RB to block or our WR's to get open and actually catch a pass. However the biggest thing hurting Green is Green.

Trent Green is a very good system QB. Unfortunately for him that system retired to PA and relocated to DC. Now Green isn't in his system and he's being exposed. Getting a decent Oline will help as would finding an actual #1 WR but Green would still be a fish out of water.

[Stinger]

Originally Posted by Hootie

So, now both the national media, and the local media agree with me...

There is something to hang your hat on.

[chagrin]

Hello, Wide ****ing Receivers?

[Hootie]

Originally Posted by chagrin

Hello, Wide ****ing Receivers?

Hello, Damon Huard didn't seem to have a problem.

[Chiefs Pantalones]

We actually really have to get a WR or two this offseason. Not kidding this time.

[Hootie]

none of my teichers ever liked me =(

[ptlyon]

Originally Posted by Vanilla Thunder

We actually really have to get a WR or two this offseason. Not kidding this time.

I can't wait for the draft - Carl will go up to the counter and say "We'll have one of everything.".