Teicher: Croyle to start at QB against Titans

[Tribal Warfare]

Croyle to start at QB against Titans
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

Brodie Croyle will get another chance to make the Chiefs his team in their next game on Oct. 19 against Tennessee at Arrowhead Stadium. Coach Herm Edwards confirmed Croyle will make his return as the starting quarterback then.

It could be Croyle’s final chance if he can’t stay healthy. As much as anything in a season turned rotten beyond anyone’s imagination, the Chiefs need some stability at quarterback.

If Croyle can’t provide it, the Chiefs will find someone in the offseason who they believe can. So Croyle on Monday didn’t need anyone to tell him how much he needs to avoid injury, for his sake as well as that of his team.

“It’s vital,” he said. “The quarterback has to be out there, has to play. I haven’t been there. Obviously, when I get back, it’s vital for me to stay healthy and vital for me to try to find a way to help this team win.”

The Chiefs fell to 1-4 after Sunday’s 34-0 loss at Carolina. They gained just 127 yards, making it their most futile offensive game in 22 seasons.

Quarterback play is only one reason, but a significant one. The Chiefs counted on Croyle to stabilize the situation, but he separated his shoulder in the season-opening loss at New England.

He missed four games, leaving the spot in the often unsteady hands of Tyler Thigpen and Damon Huard. The Chiefs beat Denver two weeks ago when Larry Johnson rushed for 198 yards but otherwise were dismal offensively in losses to Oakland, Atlanta and the Panthers.

The Chiefs are looking to Croyle to not only give them an offensive boost but also stick around for a while.

“You can’t put it all on him, though,” Edwards said. “We feel he can do some things for us, and it’s good to have him back. They’ve got to put some of it on themselves, though. They can’t just expect him to ride in on a white horse. We’re hoping he can stay healthy and help us win some games. He’s capable of doing that.”

Croyle has neither helped the Chiefs win nor been able to stay healthy. He is 0-7 as their starter and missed time last season because of injuries to his back and throwing hand.

Edwards has said Croyle will start the rest of the season as long as he’s healthy, so his ability to secure the position for the long term might have as much to do with his ability to stay in one piece as playing lights out.

Croyle missed time in college at Alabama because of injuries, so he’s often been asked about whether he’s too brittle to play quarterback. He’s always irritated by the insinuations that he’s not tough enough.

“If it was up to me, I would have tried to play awhile back,” said Croyle, who began throwing in practice last week. “We have a great training staff and great doctors who have been smart about it.

“I won’t be 100 percent. I probably won’t be 100 percent the rest of the year. I’m close enough. It’s just one of those things that ain’t going to go away until you have a couple of months to sit there and rest it.

“It’s not comfortable. I’m not altering my motion, which is the main thing we (didn’t want) to do. It’s football. Everybody plays with pain.

“If I’m healthy, I’m going to go. I just have to make sure that over the next two weeks that everything keeps going the way it’s supposed to be and we don’t have any setbacks. If that’s so, then we’ll be ready to go against Tennessee.”

The Chiefs will practice three times this week before scattering for the weekend, their only one of the season without a game. Offensively, they need to use the time wisely.

Croyle has missed a month, so by now he’s a little bit of a stranger to his teammates. In his absence, the Chiefs not only used Huard and Thigpen, but wide receiver Marques Hagans also took a few snaps at quarterback.

“It’s tough sometimes to get that chemistry when there are all these different quarterbacks,” wide receiver Devard Darling said. “Consistency is the big thing. It’s hard to get things going when the quarterback keeps changing.

“It almost like we’re starting from scratch again. We’ll have Brodie back at quarterback, and the coaches said we’re working on fundamentals this week. It’s kind of like we’re hitting the reset button.”

They can only hope that means Croyle can succeed where Thigpen and Huard consistently couldn’t.

“We just have to get going again,” Croyle said. “We’ve got to get everything rolling and everybody back on the same page. We’re going to be here all week practicing.”

[Bob Dole]

Originally Posted by El Pendejo

1) The chiefs coaching staff doesn't seem to be able to adjust at all to what a defense is doing to them.

They can't adjust because they are puzzled and need to sit down and look at the game tape.

[chiefs1111]

Brodie is so fragile a gust of wind will knock him over and he'll be injured again...

[ChiefGator]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Just to play devil's advocate.

Let's suppose that for whatever small chance exists, Croyle plays reasonably well the rest of the season and stays injury free...

I still think we should look for another QB, but I wonder how much of the fanbase would object to us looking for a new QB because Croyle had finally "gotten it together".

Well, regardless we need to pick up another QB in the offseason. I would prefer a seasoned veteran, like maybe Derek Anderson. And a high-ish draft pick on one.

If Croyle plays well enough, I think we could look at using the 1st rounder on a MLB/DE.

I love the argument of draft a kid high, and let him sit on the sideline and learn, but I don't think that is possible with our coaches.

[King_Chief_Fan]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Just to play devil's advocate.

Let's suppose that for whatever small chance exists, Croyle plays reasonably well the rest of the season and stays injury free...

I still think we should look for another QB, but I wonder how much of the fanbase would object to us looking for a new QB because Croyle had finally "gotten it together".

I am not worried about Croyle playing good enough or staying healthy. He won't. So, start the process and strategy to 1) acquire a veteran or 2) draft a QB.

[Bane]

Haynesworth will have Brodie back on the bench before the half.

[thumper118]

The thing is no one has seen Brodie play that much because he is always hurt. I like somethings he does but he needs to get stronger to avoid injury. He is a bean pole and when a 300+ defensive lineman blows passed our horrid offensive line then you have to be able to absorb some of the blow. He is a project QB at best.

[Redrum_69]

doesnt matter if we have Peyton Manning, Rivers, whomever...doesnt matter with the O-Line we have, someones going to get carted or limping off the field.

by the way, have i said it doesnt matter?

and prove himself? croyle?!?! lol

prove to everyone hes a whiny bitch that just needs to be a huard for the rest of his life.

[Sure-Oz]

Yes, Croyle should play out and be evaluated at the end of the season. If there is a stud QB in the draft when we are picking, you most likely grab him...

[talastan]

I like Brodie, his attitude, his ability to throw deep (If the coaches would ever let him), and his mobility. I think first the coaching staff isn't taking advantage of Croyle's strengths, secondly they are putting him in a position to fail by not letting him do what he does best. However his injury history has everyone concerned and I really think he is playing for the #2 spot on next season's roster. We'll probably draft another QB, and have him and Croyle compete. Brodie would have to suddenly become Peyton or Montana to maintain his starter status for next year. I know that even if he has the talent this won't happen because first he is injury prone, and because the coaches don't believe in a vertical threat passing game. So if Brodie knows what's good for him he better learn to take his hits and deal with the pain, and start doing like Peyton did when Dungy first came to Indy and ignore the conservative playcalling and start getting the ball downfield. JMO.

[boogblaster]

Croyle is too fragile period ... Those hits he's taken haven't been that hard ... I don't know if it's NFL standards on health issues or what, but 10 to 15 years ago QBs got up dusted their pants and took the next snap ...

[PastorMikH]

If Brodie's going to play, take Herm's leash off the O and let them play.


And the tackles need to make sure they don't let anyone get to Brodie.

[talastan]

Originally Posted by PastorMikH

And the tackles need to make sure they don't let anyone get to Brodie.

That starts by getting Mac "The Sack Attack" Intosh on the bench where he belongs!!

[Frazod]

Yay Brokie!

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by Mecca

There are people that object to us getting another QB right now....just check out the Mock thread from Laz.

Amazing isnt it??

look at the stability that a new QB has given the Atlanta Falcons. Sometimes i question the sanity of this fanbase.....

[CoMoChief]

Truth is we are so ****ing terrible in every aspect of an organization and none of this shit is going to matter.