Chiefs Teicher: Chiefs preparing to play with Croyle against Chargers

**Tribal Warfare** · 12-11-2010, 05:32 AM

Chiefs preparing to play with Croyle against Chargers
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

Charlie Weis had plenty of homework this week, his main assignment being to learn about the Chiefs’ temporary starting quarterback.

Weis has never coached Brodie Croyle in a regular-season game, so he pored over video of Croyle’s past games, including last year’s season opener in Baltimore.

“Watched that one this morning, as a matter of fact,” Weis said.

Otherwise, the Chiefs doggedly refused to acknowledge that Croyle will start in place of the ailing Matt Cassel at quarterback in Sunday’s crucial game against the Chargers in San Diego. They listed Cassel as doubtful for the game, officially leaving open the possibility Cassel could play Sunday even though he completed the practice week Friday without taking a snap.

Cassel, who had an appendectomy Wednesday, did attend the final practice session of the week but only as an observer. Dressed in gray sweatpants, a white workout shirt and a Chiefs visor, Cassel bided his time tossing a football to himself, chatting with teammates and coaches and watching the workout.

The Chiefs have occasionally issued a revised injury report on Saturday this season and changed the status of a player for the next day’s game. The Chiefs have the option of doing so today and declaring that Cassel will not play.

Even as they stood by their public stance with Cassel, they prepared to have Croyle as their starter. From the time he learned that Cassel might not be available for Sunday’s game, Weis began the process of getting to know Croyle’s strengths and weaknesses.

Weis declared that process finished after Friday’s practice concluded.

“By now, you’re zeroed in,” he said. “We spent a lot of time in preparation for these games, and by the time you get to Friday, you’ve already settled in to that comfort zone.

“You can’t say on Sunday, ‘What are we going to do now?’ We’ve settled in pretty nicely to where this is heading.”

He indicated the Chiefs would operate their offensive system without much change.

“The system is basically the same for all the guys,” Weis said. “Matt might have some favorite plays that might be a little different than Brodie’s favorite plays. But for the most part … there’s no drastic change.”

The 8-4 Chiefs are two games ahead of the 6-6 Chargers and 6-6 Raiders in the AFC West. They can go a long way toward locking up the division title by beating the Chargers, who are the four-time defending division champions.

In that sense, the timing of Cassel’s emergency surgery was difficult for the Chiefs. Cassel was as hot as any quarterback in the AFC and playing himself into strong consideration for a Pro Bowl spot.

But if it had to happen this week, the Chiefs couldn’t have planned it better. They had three practice days to get Croyle comfortable as their quarterback. If Cassel had been stricken, say, on Friday, the Chiefs would have been scrambling.

“If he does indeed play, the more practice time he has the better,” coach Todd Haley said. “It gives him the repetition at the things we’re going to be doing, and it gives us a chance to look at the things he’s doing and we’re doing as a whole.”

Croyle was 0-9 with the Chiefs as their occasional starting quarterback in 2007, 2008 and 2009. But the Chiefs were often miserable as an offense and a team during those seasons.

Now, he will take over a team that leads the NFL in rushing yardage and is ninth in scoring.

“This is a very good offensive team,” Croyle said. “We’ve got a lot of guys making plays. If I get the opportunity to play, it’s just (a matter of going) in there and continuing to get the ball to the guys that have been making them.”

In San Diego, the Chargers followed the Chiefs’ quarterback saga with interest. But San Diego coach Norv Turner said he expected the Chiefs to run the ball no matter their quarterback.

The Chargers yielded 251 rushing yards in last week’s loss to the Raiders.

“The Chiefs are very much by style like the Raiders,” Turner said. “They’re going to run the ball. They’ve got two outstanding backs. They’re very patient with the run.”

Chiefs at Chargers

•WHEN/ WHERE: 3:15 p.m. Sunday in San Diego

•TV/RADIO: Channels 5, 13; KCFX (101.1 FM)

12-11-2010, 05:32 AM	Topic Starter
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-3017187	Teicher: Chiefs preparing to play with Croyle against Chargers Chiefs preparing to play with Croyle against Chargers By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star Charlie Weis had plenty of homework this week, his main assignment being to learn about the Chiefs’ temporary starting quarterback. Weis has never coached Brodie Croyle in a regular-season game, so he pored over video of Croyle’s past games, including last year’s season opener in Baltimore. “Watched that one this morning, as a matter of fact,” Weis said. Otherwise, the Chiefs doggedly refused to acknowledge that Croyle will start in place of the ailing Matt Cassel at quarterback in Sunday’s crucial game against the Chargers in San Diego. They listed Cassel as doubtful for the game, officially leaving open the possibility Cassel could play Sunday even though he completed the practice week Friday without taking a snap. Cassel, who had an appendectomy Wednesday, did attend the final practice session of the week but only as an observer. Dressed in gray sweatpants, a white workout shirt and a Chiefs visor, Cassel bided his time tossing a football to himself, chatting with teammates and coaches and watching the workout. The Chiefs have occasionally issued a revised injury report on Saturday this season and changed the status of a player for the next day’s game. The Chiefs have the option of doing so today and declaring that Cassel will not play. Even as they stood by their public stance with Cassel, they prepared to have Croyle as their starter. From the time he learned that Cassel might not be available for Sunday’s game, Weis began the process of getting to know Croyle’s strengths and weaknesses. Weis declared that process finished after Friday’s practice concluded. “By now, you’re zeroed in,” he said. “We spent a lot of time in preparation for these games, and by the time you get to Friday, you’ve already settled in to that comfort zone. “You can’t say on Sunday, ‘What are we going to do now?’ We’ve settled in pretty nicely to where this is heading.” He indicated the Chiefs would operate their offensive system without much change. “The system is basically the same for all the guys,” Weis said. “Matt might have some favorite plays that might be a little different than Brodie’s favorite plays. But for the most part … there’s no drastic change.” The 8-4 Chiefs are two games ahead of the 6-6 Chargers and 6-6 Raiders in the AFC West. They can go a long way toward locking up the division title by beating the Chargers, who are the four-time defending division champions. In that sense, the timing of Cassel’s emergency surgery was difficult for the Chiefs. Cassel was as hot as any quarterback in the AFC and playing himself into strong consideration for a Pro Bowl spot. But if it had to happen this week, the Chiefs couldn’t have planned it better. They had three practice days to get Croyle comfortable as their quarterback. If Cassel had been stricken, say, on Friday, the Chiefs would have been scrambling. “If he does indeed play, the more practice time he has the better,” coach Todd Haley said. “It gives him the repetition at the things we’re going to be doing, and it gives us a chance to look at the things he’s doing and we’re doing as a whole.” Croyle was 0-9 with the Chiefs as their occasional starting quarterback in 2007, 2008 and 2009. But the Chiefs were often miserable as an offense and a team during those seasons. Now, he will take over a team that leads the NFL in rushing yardage and is ninth in scoring. “This is a very good offensive team,” Croyle said. “We’ve got a lot of guys making plays. If I get the opportunity to play, it’s just (a matter of going) in there and continuing to get the ball to the guys that have been making them.” In San Diego, the Chargers followed the Chiefs’ quarterback saga with interest. But San Diego coach Norv Turner said he expected the Chiefs to run the ball no matter their quarterback. The Chargers yielded 251 rushing yards in last week’s loss to the Raiders. “The Chiefs are very much by style like the Raiders,” Turner said. “They’re going to run the ball. They’ve got two outstanding backs. They’re very patient with the run.” Chiefs at Chargers •WHEN/ WHERE: 3:15 p.m. Sunday in San Diego •TV/RADIO: Channels 5, 13; KCFX (101.1 FM)
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