Chiefs Teicher: Croyle gets nod to start Chiefs’ preseason finale

**Tribal Warfare** · 09-01-2009, 10:26 PM

Croyle gets nod to start Chiefs’ preseason finale
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

Brodie Croyle will be the starting quarterback when the Chiefs finish their exhibition schedule with Thursday night’s game against the Rams in St. Louis.

The bigger issue is whether Croyle will start the regular-season opener Sept. 13 in Baltimore if the injured Matt Cassel isn’t available. Whether the starter is Croyle or Tyler Thigpen could depend in large part on how each player fares in St. Louis.

“It’s a small piece (of the decision), but all of the pieces are pretty big right now as we get down to the wire,” Chiefs coach Todd Haley said. “Every day is an evaluation. We’ve got to lean on everything we know, and in the next couple of days we’ll learn some more.”

For now, at least, the job is Croyle’s. Haley indicated that how long Croyle plays against the Rams could depend on how well he plays.

So if Croyle has a good showing against the Rams, he not only could win the job for the Baltimore game but also leave little playing time for Thigpen in St. Louis to show his stuff.

“We’ll play it by ear,” Haley said. “We need to get better, and this is their chance to get better.”

The Chiefs have only two offensive touchdowns in their three preseason games. Cassel injured his knee in last weekend’s loss to Seattle and won’t play against the Rams.

“Every time you go out there, you go out there to prove something,” Croyle said. “This is no different.

“Whenever Matt’s back, obviously it’s his team — but we have to fill the void until then.”

If Croyle opens the season for the Chiefs in Baltimore, the moment would mark a dramatic turnaround in his fortunes. He sustained a series of injuries since taking over as the starting quarterback two years ago, and it was reasonable to assume when a season-ending knee injury knocked him out of the lineup last October, his days as a Chief were about to end.

Since then, he even lost his biggest champion when former coach Herm Edwards was fired. But Croyle worked diligently to rehabilitate his surgically repaired knee and impressed the coaches to the point where he’s in the running.

“That’s what you work for,” Croyle said. “You don’t work just to make a paycheck or hope you make a team. If you’re going to rehab from something like that, you have something in mind.”

Croyle’s passing has been sharper than that of Thigpen during training camp and the preseason. In three games, the two players attempted a similar number of passes (Thigpen 29, Croyle 28).

Croyle’s statistics are superior in most categories. He has a better completion percentage and almost twice as many yards. But Thigpen guided a touchdown drive in the second half of a game against Houston; Croyle hasn’t taken the Chiefs to the end zone.

The game will be the first for the Chiefs with Haley calling the offensive plays. He replaced Chan Gailey as the coordinator this week.

“It’s obviously different,” Croyle said. “The pace is different. How the plays are called, kind of the tempo, just kind of getting used to what he thinks. We’re still a long way off on knowing exactly what he’s thinking on different calls. The more you get used to somebody, you can start anticipating what they’re going to call even before. It’s definitely different.

“But there are no excuses. You just go out there and run it. He wants to get up there and get moving, have lots of offensive plays. It makes sense. The more plays you have, the better chance you have of scoring.”

CHIEFS AT RAMS
•WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m. Thursday in St. Louis

•TV: Channels 2, 5, 13

ChiefMojo · 09-01-2009, 10:27 PM

Hope it is Brokie! I'm not going to battle with Thiggy.

Hammock Parties · 09-01-2009, 10:29 PM

Montana came back from his injury, too.

Mecca · 09-01-2009, 10:30 PM

Brodie Croyle is just hoping he doesn't die.

RedThat · 09-01-2009, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

Brodie Croyle is just hoping he doesn't die.

He should be. With this Oline and his fiberglass body=death imo

TRR · 09-01-2009, 10:37 PM

It's funny that Teicher spun this on twitter as the Chiefs staff not thinking Cassel would be ready to play the opener. Whether Cassel does or doesn't really isn't the issue. The issue is how the hell Teicher got that statement out of Croyle starting a meaningless Preseason game. I would have looked for Croyle to start this game no matter if Cassel was healthy or not (and at worst case play the majority of the game even if Cassel started this last Preseason game.)

**Bane** · 09-01-2009, 11:05 PM

Oh well I've been watching since 83 or so,what's a few more years.Rofl.
Posted via Mobile Device

**BigMeatballDave** · 09-01-2009, 11:07 PM

Why is Thig even part of this equation? I'd rather see Gutierrez play.

**Rausch** · 09-02-2009, 01:40 AM

Waiting to see the difference in playcalling...

LaChapelle · 09-02-2009, 06:45 AM

Haley is probably jonesing to call some plays for that arm. I hope it stays attached.

Reerun_KC · 09-02-2009, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigChiefDave

Why is Thig even part of this equation? I'd rather see Gutierrez play.

This...

I never want to see Thigpen wobbling Airsoft BB's around arrowhead ever again...

Reerun_KC · 09-02-2009, 06:49 AM

If we need to get Croyle on some HGH or a low grade beaver tranquillizer, so be it...

What ever it takes to keep him at #2 and keep Thigpen on the sideline where he can service the True fans...

Crush · 09-02-2009, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

Brodie Croyle is just hoping he doesn't die.

Just like Brutus Beefcake, he will be shattered in a thousand pieces.

Inspector · 09-02-2009, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bane_58

Oh well I've been watching since 83 or so,what's a few more years.Rofl.
Posted via Mobile Device

I've been watching them since the early 60's.

Heck, what's a few more decades????

milkman · 09-02-2009, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inspector

I've been watching them since the early 60's.

Heck, what's a few more decades????

A few more decades.

How many decades do those of us that have been following this team since they pulled the moving vans into old Municipal Stadium have?

09-01-2009, 10:26 PM
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-2987187	Teicher: Croyle gets nod to start Chiefs’ preseason finale Croyle gets nod to start Chiefs’ preseason finale By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star Brodie Croyle will be the starting quarterback when the Chiefs finish their exhibition schedule with Thursday night’s game against the Rams in St. Louis. The bigger issue is whether Croyle will start the regular-season opener Sept. 13 in Baltimore if the injured Matt Cassel isn’t available. Whether the starter is Croyle or Tyler Thigpen could depend in large part on how each player fares in St. Louis. “It’s a small piece (of the decision), but all of the pieces are pretty big right now as we get down to the wire,” Chiefs coach Todd Haley said. “Every day is an evaluation. We’ve got to lean on everything we know, and in the next couple of days we’ll learn some more.” For now, at least, the job is Croyle’s. Haley indicated that how long Croyle plays against the Rams could depend on how well he plays. So if Croyle has a good showing against the Rams, he not only could win the job for the Baltimore game but also leave little playing time for Thigpen in St. Louis to show his stuff. “We’ll play it by ear,” Haley said. “We need to get better, and this is their chance to get better.” The Chiefs have only two offensive touchdowns in their three preseason games. Cassel injured his knee in last weekend’s loss to Seattle and won’t play against the Rams. “Every time you go out there, you go out there to prove something,” Croyle said. “This is no different. “Whenever Matt’s back, obviously it’s his team — but we have to fill the void until then.” If Croyle opens the season for the Chiefs in Baltimore, the moment would mark a dramatic turnaround in his fortunes. He sustained a series of injuries since taking over as the starting quarterback two years ago, and it was reasonable to assume when a season-ending knee injury knocked him out of the lineup last October, his days as a Chief were about to end. Since then, he even lost his biggest champion when former coach Herm Edwards was fired. But Croyle worked diligently to rehabilitate his surgically repaired knee and impressed the coaches to the point where he’s in the running. “That’s what you work for,” Croyle said. “You don’t work just to make a paycheck or hope you make a team. If you’re going to rehab from something like that, you have something in mind.” Croyle’s passing has been sharper than that of Thigpen during training camp and the preseason. In three games, the two players attempted a similar number of passes (Thigpen 29, Croyle 28). Croyle’s statistics are superior in most categories. He has a better completion percentage and almost twice as many yards. But Thigpen guided a touchdown drive in the second half of a game against Houston; Croyle hasn’t taken the Chiefs to the end zone. The game will be the first for the Chiefs with Haley calling the offensive plays. He replaced Chan Gailey as the coordinator this week. “It’s obviously different,” Croyle said. “The pace is different. How the plays are called, kind of the tempo, just kind of getting used to what he thinks. We’re still a long way off on knowing exactly what he’s thinking on different calls. The more you get used to somebody, you can start anticipating what they’re going to call even before. It’s definitely different. “But there are no excuses. You just go out there and run it. He wants to get up there and get moving, have lots of offensive plays. It makes sense. The more plays you have, the better chance you have of scoring.” CHIEFS AT RAMS •WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m. Thursday in St. Louis •TV: Channels 2, 5, 13
Posts: 43,452

09-01-2009, 10:29 PM	#3
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $810478	Montana came back from his injury, too. __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 297,432

09-01-2009, 10:30 PM	#4
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $-702950	Brodie Croyle is just hoping he doesn't die.
Posts: 115,380

09-01-2009, 10:37 PM	#6
TRR The Priest and I Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: CO Casino cash: $9420185	It's funny that Teicher spun this on twitter as the Chiefs staff not thinking Cassel would be ready to play the opener. Whether Cassel does or doesn't really isn't the issue. The issue is how the hell Teicher got that statement out of Croyle starting a meaningless Preseason game. I would have looked for Croyle to start this game no matter if Cassel was healthy or not (and at worst case play the majority of the game even if Cassel started this last Preseason game.)
Posts: 7,370

09-01-2009, 11:05 PM	#7
Bane C.H.I.E.F.S Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: **** your face Casino cash: $10005055	Oh well I've been watching since 83 or so,what's a few more years.Rofl. Posted via Mobile Device Last edited by Bane; 09-01-2009 at 11:10 PM..
Posts: 12,621

09-01-2009, 10:27 PM	#2
ChiefMojo Happy, Happy, Happy!!! Join Date: Jan 2009 Casino cash: $10004935	Hope it is Brokie! I'm not going to battle with Thiggy.
Posts: 2,283

09-01-2009, 11:07 PM	#8
BigMeatballDave GBM 8-12-15 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Dayton, Oh. Casino cash: $10052154	Why is Thig even part of this equation? I'd rather see Gutierrez play.
Posts: 59,997

09-02-2009, 06:45 AM	#10
LaChapelle Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Casino cash: $10004900	Haley is probably jonesing to call some plays for that arm. I hope it stays attached.
Posts: 8,588

09-02-2009, 06:49 AM	#12
Reerun_KC Banned Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $7231160	If we need to get Croyle on some HGH or a low grade beaver tranquillizer, so be it... What ever it takes to keep him at #2 and keep Thigpen on the sideline where he can service the True fans...
Posts: 1,529