Whitlock - lol @ Thigpen

[Hammock Parties]

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chi...y/1413054.html

The upside to Matt Cassel’s leg injury is that we’ll never again hear Tyler Thigpen supporters compare the Coastal Carolina grad to Rich Gannon.

The Thigpen fantasy evaporated Saturday night inside Arrowhead Stadium.

In Kansas City’s third and most important exhibition, Cassel limped off the field after KC’s third offensive play. The Seattle Seahawks slammed Cassel to the turf, and The Sixty Million Dollar Man struggled to his feet, dragged his left leg back to the huddle and then called a timeout with his teammates at the line of scrimmage prepared for the next play.

Cassel exited directly to the locker room. Of course, given general manager Scott Pioli’s affinity for the Patriots Way, we’ll never learn the extent or true nature of Cassel’s injury.

What we do know is that Cassel’s injury opened the door for 2-14 legend Tyler Thigpen, KC’s QB of the future, according to a vocal minority of fans who see the next Rich Gannon every time a Chiefs quarterback scrambles for more than 5 yards.

A year ago, Thigpen put up mediocre stats during Kansas City’s horrific season. With offensive coordinator Chan Gailey forced to institute the spread, Thigpen tossed 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while completing 55 percent of his passes.

Rational people with a modicum of football intellect realized Thigpen’s arm strength and accuracy limited him to operating in the spread. He can’t excel in a traditional NFL offense.

He’s Vince Young Lite. Thigpen is a decent athlete with a suspect arm. He’s a backup, a nice change of pace, a stopgap.

You could see that Saturday night against the Seahawks.

Seattle is a rebuilding team similar to the Chiefs. The Seattle defense is average. With Thigpen under center for a half, the Chiefs managed to botch a couple of field-goal attempts and punt the ball four times.

Thigpen connected on seven of 12 passes for 51 yards. He tossed a couple of ducks. On a simple boot, he overthrew fullback Jed Collins. Thigpen underthrew a deep ball to Devard Darling when Darling had a step and a half on a defender. On a screen pass, Thigpen dumped the ball at the running back’s feet.

Should Thigpen be released? No. There’s a role for him in the NFL. There’s a role for him on the Chiefs’ roster. Thigpen is durable. He’s available.

Remember Marty Schottenheimer’s saying about “availability being as important as ability?”

We know Brokie Croyle can’t survive behind Kansas City’s line. And we know Kansas City’s line is going to get much better this season. The Miami Castaways — Andy Alleman and Ikechuku Ndukwe — are signs of trouble, not solutions.

And now there are concerns about Cassel’s durability. Heck, there are concerns about Cassel’s availability. His injury didn’t look all that serious. But, as far as I could tell, Cassel never rejoined his teammates on the sideline.

Offensively, the Chiefs don’t appear to have a purpose. Todd Haley and playcall-suggester Chan Gailey cannot focus on developing Cassel when their top priority is keeping him healthy.

Mentally, Larry Johnson, Dwayne Bowe and Brian Waters will not survive this season. One of those three will erupt before Halloween.

Pioli might as well unload Johnson now for a double cheeseburger and bag of fries. Jamaal Charles is more explosive. He was the lone offensive bright spot Saturday night, running for 54 yards on six carries.

Seriously, Kansas City’s offense is so bad that Haley should treat the entire season like it’s an exhibition. I’d play all three quarterbacks. I’d play Cassel when the game is close and turn it over to Croyle and Thigpen when the opposition stretches the lead.

Haley and Pioli have the luxury of blaming this entire season on Herm Edwards and Carl Peterson. Haley and Pioli would be wise to make good use of this luxury.

It won’t be until next year that fans start wondering what role Clark Hunt played in this fiasco. He obviously held on to Peterson for two years too long. But did he also instruct Pioli to avoid spending legitimate dollars in free agency to improve the team?

Zach Thomas, Mike Vrabel, Monty Beisel, Mike Goff, Amani Toomer, Bobby Engram and Ashley Lelie were not that expensive.

The Chiefs got what they paid for. Chiefs fans are going to get it, too.

[Tiger's Fan]

Some people think we can fix everything Herm destroyed in one off season. They drafted to stop the run. We are doing that for the most part pretty well right now. All those passing yards were between the 20s, which is reflected by the fact that Seattle only scored 14 points. In this case, bend but don't break was successful. As far as the offense goes, only a dumbass would try to judge that with Thigpen behind center.

BTW, LJ had a 4.5 avg. per, and Charles was excellent with a 7.7 avg.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by Buster Hymen

Some people think we can fix everything Herm destroyed in one off season. They drafted to stop the run. We are doing that for the most part pretty well right now. All those passing yards were between the 20s, which is reflected by the fact that Seattle only scored 14 points. In this case, bend but don't break was successful. As far as the offense goes, only a dumbass would try to judge that with Thigpen behind center.

BTW, LJ had a 4.5 avg. per, and Charles was excellent with a 7.7 avg.

When the regular season starts, this team won't be stopping the run very well, since they'll be gashed up the middle due to the lack of a 34 DT.

[DBOSHO]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I wasn't talking about me, asswipe

typical dane.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

When the regular season starts, this team won't be stopping the run very well, since they'll be gashed up the middle due to the lack of a 34 DT.

The Ravens, Raiders, Giants, Redskins, Pittsburgh and Eagles will severely gash this defense with their run games.

It looked to me like they were giving Lokey every chance to win the NT job tonight.

I don't think he pulled it off.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by DBOSHO

typical dane.

How would you know "typical Dane", let alone define it?

You've got 300 posts, Dummy.

Unless you're a dupe of another former dumbass.

[DrRyan]

Originally Posted by Mecca

Personally I don't like their approach you put 60 mill in a QB you put him in a position to succeed.

I agree with this point. Spending a pick on the O line before Colin Brown was needed. An upgrade greater than Toomer, Copper, Engram or Lelie was needed as well.

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Outside of the interception,

In a regular season game, Mora would have never gone for the early 51 yarder. The score should have been 13-7 in the first quarter.

They gave up 366 yards through three quarters.

That's horrific.

So, in the regular season they would have not kicked and missed the 51 yard FG? How does this lead to the score being 13-7 instead of 7-7 at the half?

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

You didn't pay very close attention.

What I saw was the mediocre Thigpen everyone should know and expect to see when he is on the field. Him missing the FB wide open was terrible. Also, the fumbled handoff to LJ was his fault. The best pass the threw all night was dropped by Darling while just avoiding the rush. He had another very good throw to Bowe before the half. He missed more than a reasonable amount of throws too. He is a backup QB. He IMO did nothing to help or hurt his trade value(as many are suggesting in other threads).

I don't like Thigpen as more than a third string QB. I would prefer to see him turn into a 5th round pick. It is not nearly as bad as Fatlock, Dane or many others would insinuate.

Lastly, of the 366 yards given up in the first three quarters many of them were in the third quarter when more than a few starters were no longer in the game. Turk McBride is not a starter. Leggett is not a starter.

I know negativity is your strong suit, but come on.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by DrRyan

I know negativity is your strong suit, but come on.

First off, it's called realism.

All you guys that are claiming otherwise will be crying in your beers by week 12 when the Chiefs are 1-11.

[Tiger's Fan]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

When the regular season starts, this team won't be stopping the run very well, since they'll be gashed up the middle due to the lack of a 34 DT.

I'm pretty worried about that, since Tank looked like a woman in the middle, and Edwards just isn't very good.

But in comparison to last year, we seem to be making strides. We gave up 2.9 yds per tonight, which tells me that the D as a whole is doing better.

I'm a lot more worried about the atrocious safety play.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by DrRyan

I
Lastly, of the 366 yards given up in the first three quarters many of them were in the third quarter when more than a few starters were no longer in the game.

Wrong. Hasselbeck had 216 yards passing for 2 TD's and one INT before Wallace took over.

Julius Jones and Fossett combined for 102 yards.

Keep in mind, this was a 4-12 team the Chiefs were facing. And they were on the road.

[Chiefshrink]

I did not see Succop's missed 28ydr. Please tell me that was a bad snap or bad hold? Don't tell me he choked on a 28ydr!

[DrRyan]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

First off, it's called realism.

All you guys that are claiming otherwise will be crying in your beers by week 12 when the Chiefs are 1-11.

Not claiming otherwise. Read the whole post. 1-11? I will take the over on that prognostication. Not by much, but over. 5 wins would be a good year IMO and likely get the Chiefs out of drafting in the top 5.

[Chiefshrink]

Originally Posted by Buster Hymen

I'm pretty worried about that, since Tank looked like a woman in the middle, and Edwards just isn't very good.

But in comparison to last year, we seem to be making strides. We gave up 2.9 yds per tonight, which tells me that the D as a whole is doing better.

I'm a lot more worried about the atrocious safety play.

Baldy thought Edwards played well at NT tonight

[DBOSHO]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

First off, it's called realism.

All you guys that are claiming otherwise will be crying in your beers by week 12 when the Chiefs are 1-11.

our bye is before that so wed only be 1-10 dummy.

[Hammock Parties]

I wish Thiggy had a twitter.

[Tiger's Fan]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Wrong. Hasselbeck had 216 yards passing for 2 TD's and one INT before Wallace took over.

Julius Jones and Fossett combined for 102 yards.

Keep in mind, this was a 4-12 team the Chiefs were facing. And they were on the road.

I think Hasselbeck being out all year had a little to do with that. But yeah, they're not that good. Just remember, the Chiefs were a hell of a lot worse.