C-Mac
06-15-2007, 06:01 AM
RAND: Young QBs require leap of faith
Jun 14, 2007, 3:42:37 AM by Jonathan Rand - FAQ
If you took a poll of NFL head coaches trying to determine their threshold of pain for using young players, a key question might look like this:
I’ll use a rookie or second-year player:
A —Only if all my veterans are hospitalized
B— Only if we’ve clinched a playoff spot
C—Only at running back or wide receiver
D—Anywhere except quarterback
E —Anywhere if he’s earned the chance
Chiefs coach Herm Edwards would readily answer “E.” The realities of the salary cap and free agency force all coaches to use more youngsters than they would preferred in a bygone era. But the biggest leap of faith with a young player still comes at quarterback.
Which brings us to Brodie Croyle, the Chiefs’ third-round pick out of Alabama in 2006. He’s impressed Edwards with his arm, nimble feet, poise and knack for getting rid of the ball quickly. The long-awaited trade of Trent Green to the Dolphins leaves the Chiefs’ starting quarterback job between Croyle and veteran Damon Huard.
But no matter how much Edwards sees of Croyle in training camp and pre-season games, his ultimate decision whether to start him will be based on incomplete information. Seven regular-season throws as a rookie hardly define whether Croyle will be able to see the entire board of the NFL’s fast-paced chess game and if his slender frame can withstand a 16-game pounding.
Edwards likens a young player’s tryout to a first-time job applicant struggling to get hired because of a lack of experience, yet can’t find an employer willing to provide that experience. Edwards is the CEO every college graduate would love to find.
He underscored his reputation for serving youth when he put his first Chiefs draft class right to work. Tamba Hali started at defensive end and safeties Bernard Pollard and Jarrad Page made important contributions.
But even the most youth-oriented head coaches may wince when they ponder starting a young quarterback. Not Edwards, who in 2002 gave third-year Jets quarterback Chad Pennington his first chance to start.
“I don’t have a problem like that,” Edwards said after watching Croyle handle himself well in a two-minute drill during an off-season workout. “If he earns the right to play, you’ve got to let him play because until you let him play, you don’t know if he can. But he’s got to earn it. You don’t just give it to him.”
Peyton Manning last year epitomized the quarterback who can take you to the Super Bowl title – an experienced and accomplished hand headed for the Hall of Fame. But good luck to any coach who wants to wait around long enough to get the first overall pick and hope the next Manning comes along.
That’s why Ben Roethlisberger was such an inspiration to every quarterback-needy coach two years ago when he led the Steelers to a Super Bowl victory in just his second season. So it came as no surprise when the Texans traded for quarterback Matt Schaub, signed him to a $48 million contract and named him their starter though he’d made only two starts in his three seasons with the Falcons.
The AFC West, of course, has become a laboratory for young quarterbacks. Its 2007 starters probably will include rookie JaMarcus Russell in Oakland, Jay Cutler, who became a rookie starter in Denver last year, and Philip Rivers, who got to start in his third season at San Diego.
Before Croyle can join them, there’s still much more he must show Edwards. Not, however, his birth certificate.
Jun 14, 2007, 3:42:37 AM by Jonathan Rand - FAQ
If you took a poll of NFL head coaches trying to determine their threshold of pain for using young players, a key question might look like this:
I’ll use a rookie or second-year player:
A —Only if all my veterans are hospitalized
B— Only if we’ve clinched a playoff spot
C—Only at running back or wide receiver
D—Anywhere except quarterback
E —Anywhere if he’s earned the chance
Chiefs coach Herm Edwards would readily answer “E.” The realities of the salary cap and free agency force all coaches to use more youngsters than they would preferred in a bygone era. But the biggest leap of faith with a young player still comes at quarterback.
Which brings us to Brodie Croyle, the Chiefs’ third-round pick out of Alabama in 2006. He’s impressed Edwards with his arm, nimble feet, poise and knack for getting rid of the ball quickly. The long-awaited trade of Trent Green to the Dolphins leaves the Chiefs’ starting quarterback job between Croyle and veteran Damon Huard.
But no matter how much Edwards sees of Croyle in training camp and pre-season games, his ultimate decision whether to start him will be based on incomplete information. Seven regular-season throws as a rookie hardly define whether Croyle will be able to see the entire board of the NFL’s fast-paced chess game and if his slender frame can withstand a 16-game pounding.
Edwards likens a young player’s tryout to a first-time job applicant struggling to get hired because of a lack of experience, yet can’t find an employer willing to provide that experience. Edwards is the CEO every college graduate would love to find.
He underscored his reputation for serving youth when he put his first Chiefs draft class right to work. Tamba Hali started at defensive end and safeties Bernard Pollard and Jarrad Page made important contributions.
But even the most youth-oriented head coaches may wince when they ponder starting a young quarterback. Not Edwards, who in 2002 gave third-year Jets quarterback Chad Pennington his first chance to start.
“I don’t have a problem like that,” Edwards said after watching Croyle handle himself well in a two-minute drill during an off-season workout. “If he earns the right to play, you’ve got to let him play because until you let him play, you don’t know if he can. But he’s got to earn it. You don’t just give it to him.”
Peyton Manning last year epitomized the quarterback who can take you to the Super Bowl title – an experienced and accomplished hand headed for the Hall of Fame. But good luck to any coach who wants to wait around long enough to get the first overall pick and hope the next Manning comes along.
That’s why Ben Roethlisberger was such an inspiration to every quarterback-needy coach two years ago when he led the Steelers to a Super Bowl victory in just his second season. So it came as no surprise when the Texans traded for quarterback Matt Schaub, signed him to a $48 million contract and named him their starter though he’d made only two starts in his three seasons with the Falcons.
The AFC West, of course, has become a laboratory for young quarterbacks. Its 2007 starters probably will include rookie JaMarcus Russell in Oakland, Jay Cutler, who became a rookie starter in Denver last year, and Philip Rivers, who got to start in his third season at San Diego.
Before Croyle can join them, there’s still much more he must show Edwards. Not, however, his birth certificate.