Croyle Gets Ready

[InChiefsHeaven]

From the KCSTar:
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...as_city_chiefs

Chiefs rookie is preparing for the day when he takes over as starting quarterback.
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

If he were so inclined, Herm Edwards could say it’s time for Brodie Croyle to take the diaper off, figuratively speaking.

Croyle himself said as much, in a much more diplomatic way.

“I didn’t come here to sit and watch my entire career,” said Croyle, who just finished his rookie season as a backup Chiefs quarterback. “It’s time for me to be ready to play.”

Croyle is a principal figure as the Chiefs begin to consider their future at quarterback, both in the short and long terms. One veteran, starter Trent Green, played poorly this season. The other, Damon Huard, is scheduled to be a free agent.

There won’t be room for both Green and Huard on the 2007 Chiefs. No matter what the Chiefs decide, Croyle looms as either a starter or, more likely, the top backup who would get a quick promotion if the regular falters.

Croyle appears destined to be the starting quarterback by opening day of 2008, at the latest.

Edwards this week wouldn’t be dragged into a discussion about the Chiefs’ quarterback situation. But he is clearly enamored by Croyle, who he compares with Chad Pennington, his former quarterback with the Jets.

“He has to start preparing himself as if he’s going to play,” Edwards said. “That doesn’t mean he’s going to, but he’s got to get himself ready to be in that mix.”

The NFL trend is no longer to let a young quarterback marinate on the bench for years but to go through the growing pains immediately. Croyle, picked by the Chiefs in the third round from Alabama, was one of 11 quarterbacks drafted last year.

Five, but not Croyle, started at least one game as a rookie: Arizona’s Matt Leinart, Tennessee’s Vince Young, Denver’s Jay Cutler, Minnesota’s Tarvaris Jackson and Tampa Bay’s Bruce Gradkowski.

All except Gradkowski were selected ahead of Croyle.

“It’s all according to where your program is and what you’re trying to accomplish,” Edwards said. “Denver was the only one of those teams in the playoff hunt when they made that move. They were bold and went ahead and did it. The other teams went ahead and put a young guy in so that next year he’s already gone through this.”

A factor in Croyle’s favor is Edwards’ affinity for younger players. Croyle will be 24 next month. Green will turn 37 and Huard 34 in July.

“For what the Chiefs want, Croyle fits in,” said Russ Lande, a former NFL scout who now runs a draft Web site at www.gmjr.com. “Mentally, that will be no problem for him. Every quarterback struggles his first year as a starter, or most of them do. The physical side of it will be there for him, too. It’ll take him a while to adjust to being a starter, but eventually he’ll be fine.

“He is a good pocket passer with a good arm, but he’s not a real good athlete in my opinion. He’s adequate and for whatever reason in key situations in college I didn’t see him come up with that big play. That was my big issue with him. But he doesn’t make a lot of mistakes, and he’s a leader and a tough guy.”

That last sentence automatically makes Croyle Edwards’ kind of quarterback. Edwards values the intangibles as much as superior physical skills from his quarterback.

He doesn’t ask the quarterback to win the game — he puts that burden on Larry Johnson and the defense — as much as not lose it. Turnovers are to be avoided at all costs.

The Chiefs believe Croyle, an accurate passer with a strong arm, can be that kind of player as soon as next season.

Croyle missed much of training camp and the preseason because of a shoulder injury. He played in only one game, the final minutes of the blowout loss in Pittsburgh, and looked overmatched.

Two of Croyle’s seven passes were intercepted and one was returned for a touchdown. If Croyle was indeed overmatched, the Chiefs are counting on that to change quickly.

Durability is a major question for Croyle. He is small (listed by the Chiefs at 6 feet 2 and 206 pounds). He missed his senior season of high school and most of his junior year at Alabama because of knee injuries.

Croyle was vacationing in Alabama this week but realizes the need to add weight and strength after his return.

“We had Christmas this week,” he said. “We finally got that over with. I guess we’ll have New Year’s next week. Then it’s time to get back to Kansas City. I’ll come back at the end of January. I’ll start in the film room and throwing to some of the young guys as soon as we get back.”

Man. The youth movement begins...

[FAX]

He's still a project, to be sure, Mr. Vanilla Thunder.

But, he has tools. If he had not had the injury problems, I think he would have captured the attention of NFL scouts at a level equal to Cutler at the combine.

He has a lot of skill and he's a tough fighter, make no mistake about it.

FAX

[InChiefsHeaven]

Bottom line, we don't know what we have in Croyle. Time to find out. Throw caution to the wind! Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!

...and all that stuff...

[Brock]

Originally Posted by Vanilla Thunder

LOL, the chances of Brodie working out for us are slim.

LOL and the evidence of that is....

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Vanilla Thunder

LOL, the chances of Brodie working out for us are slim.

Now there's an objective opinion firmly rooted in evidence and observation...

[Chiefs Pantalones]

Does his size concern you guys?

[crazycoffey]

Originally Posted by Vanilla Thunder

Does his size concern you guys?

Only if we put him behind our line today.....

Isn't he bigger than Montana?

[Brock]

Originally Posted by Vanilla Thunder

Does his size concern you guys?

did Trent Green's size ever concern you?

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Vanilla Thunder

Does his size concern you guys?

He came in 10 pounds lighter than Green. I saw him from 10 feet away, standing next to Green, against San Diego.

No, I'm not at all concerned about his size.

[Chiefs Pantalones]

I see.

I just hope he'll pan out for us. We really aren't cursed at QB, I guess the main concern for me is CP and Hermie having the patience to let him develop.

[Inspector]

Croyle looked a little lost to me when I saw him play.

But, I also realize that Joe Montana, Dan Marino and Peyton Manning probably didn't look all pro in their first few baby steps onto the real NFL field.

[Skip Towne]

Originally Posted by InChiefsHell

Croyle has a strong arm...I can't believe we wouldn't be spreading the field with him. Now we just need a killer WR...and some OL...and some DL...and...ah shit...

[Demonpenz]

Originally Posted by Vanilla Thunder

I just don't think Brodie has "it." Usually you can tell who are going to be stars. That's not to say he can't QB this team, I mean, all he's going to be doing is handing the ball off.

Yeah Tom Brady, Kurt Warner, Brad Johnson, all don't have "it" but they are superbowl winners

[Fairplay]

Take off the diapers Croyle and show us what you're made of!

[Demonpenz]

I have a feeling the chiefs are going to play until green hangs em up himself then we are going to give croyol a couple games and when he looks bad we will bring in a veteran QB