Chiefs AP: Chiefs hoping Broncos' luck rubs off on them - Page 2

**Tribal Warfare** · 09-25-2008, 07:17 PM

Chiefs hoping Broncos' luck rubs off on them
Updated: September 25, 2008, 5:37 PM EST

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - While everybody raves about how lucky Denver's been, Kansas City coach Herm Edwards finds something even more admirable about the unbeaten Broncos.

They've been smart, Edwards says. Most of all, they've been steadfast. They put up with the inevitable growing pains of young players, particularly quarterback Jay Cutler, and are now reaping the rewards.

It's the sort of thing a coach in Edwards' seat would quickly note. He's struggling with a restive, unruly fan base and an 0-3 team loaded with young players who are experiencing the same fatal errors that Mike Shanahan's Broncos displayed while Cutler and other young athletes were coming around.

"Mike's been patient. He's been very patient with (Cutler)," said Edwards. "Brought him along, and the guy's gotten better. He's learned from his errors. And they stuck together and the guy's just gotten better and gotten better. Now all of a sudden, he's playing well and he's got some confidence."

It's the same future Edwards foresees for the Chiefs (0-3) once they work their way past this painful process of on-the-job training. The next test in the education will be dished out by the Broncos (3-0) at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.

With Cutler ranking second in the league with 914 yards passing, the Broncos are one of five 3-0 teams and have a passing offense ranking second.

"They've won some close games. They're putting up a lot of points and he's doing a great job and that's what you like to see," Edwards said.

"Here's a guy they developed at quarterback. How about that? They developed a quarterback. They drafted a guy three years ago and he finally is playing good after three years. He's playing what they thought they were going to get. They sat there and they developed the guy. And it's taken that long for them to do it."

Brodie Croyle, in his third year with Kansas City, is supposed to be the quarterback of the future but is having trouble staying on the field. Felled by a shoulder injury, he's marking time until he can come back, possibly in mid-October.

Cutler himself feels bad for his counterpart.

"They put me in as a rookie, let me develop for a year or so and here we are," said Cutler, who's 2-0 against the Chiefs. "You've got to be in there to learn and experience stuff. I talk to Brodie every once in a while. It's tough when you get hurt as a young quarterback because you don't get those snaps. You don't get that time in practice."

The Chiefs will be out to win for the first time in 13 games, a franchise-worst skid that has fans calling for the scalp of general manager Carl Peterson and just about everyone else in the front office whose name they know how to pronounce.

A victory, Edwards said, would be "like three Christmases rolled into one. And New Year's. And everything else."

For the third straight week, Edwards is making a change at quarterback.

This week it's Damon Huard's turn to take the reins. The 12-year veteran, who was benched in favor of Tyler Thigpen in the third week, now sends Thigpen back to the sideline and gets his second start in a season that is threatening to turn into something totally forgettable.

Adding to the Chiefs' angst will be the name of the man who'll be snapping the ball to Cutler. It's none other than Casey Wiegmann, who served as KC's highly capable center from 2001-07, helping anchor what used to be one of the best offensive lines in Chiefs history.

Signed by the Broncos after the Chiefs cut him, Wiegmann became the Broncos' starter when Tom Nalen went on injured reserve.

"Casey was such a great player from Kansas City for so many years and we were just shocked that he was on the street," said Shanahan. "When we saw that he was on the street, we just tried to gobble him up as quickly as we could knowing that any injury is possible during the season."

el borracho · 09-25-2008, 10:25 PM

Apparently, it is impossible to write anything positive about the Chiefs these days without sounding like some grossly exaggerated parody or Onion article. There is nothing remotely similar between Cutler and Croyle and even less between what Denver is doing and whatever the heck Herm pretends he is doing. I guess I should be more angry but I find Herm's Chiefs to be not unlike "dada" art- unimaginative, unimpressive, pointless and without direction and yet someone (Clark Hunt) is willing to pay a great deal of money for it and that fact does bemuse me a bit.

el borracho · 09-25-2008, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by triple

shanahan coached circles around vermeil and cunningham. he could draw plays out of a hat and outcoach Herm

Shanahan could create a playbook made entirely of Rorschach images, give no further explanation and the Broncos would still beat Herm's Chiefs.

bishop_74 · 09-25-2008, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by triple

shanahan coached circles around vermeil and cunningham. he could draw plays out of a hat and outcoach Herm

I am not seeing how the artist formerly known as genious was anywhere close to outcoaching DV... record for his tenure was 4-6. Think before you speak.

Hammock Parties · 09-25-2008, 10:32 PM

Gunther OWNED Shanahan. It's the only good thing he's ever done. Don't destroy it.

HerculesRockefell · 09-25-2008, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Claythan

The Broncos kind of did a halfass rebuild. Their defense doesn't have much homegrown talent. The offense has a lot more. They'll probably make the playoffs this year but will that defense hold them back long term? Probably.

The way Herm is doing it requires more patience. We're rebuilding both sides of the ball at once and refused to do any more patch jobs with veteran free agents.

Uh huh, whatever helps you sleep at night. With 8 of the 11 starters on the offense being in their 3rd season or younger, Shanahan has the ability to focus both picks and FA dollars on the defense for the foreseeable future, and they've got an offense that will keep them in every game. Could it not work out? Of course. But don't pull the bullshit out that the Chiefs are going about it in a better way. 7-9 looks like it *might* be a rebuilding year under Shanny, after Carl's own comments the other day, who knows what a rebuilding year will look like in the final standings.

Hammock Parties · 09-25-2008, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HerculesRockefell

Shanahan has the ability to focus both picks and FA dollars on the defense for the foreseeable future

So who will you guys be signing now? Daryl Gardener or some more Browncos?

Is there a future Jarvis Moss coming out in the draft next year? Maybe another corner like Foxworth? WOW! SHANNY COULD FIND SOME GEMS FOR SURE, NOW!

ClevelandBronco · 09-25-2008, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by el borracho

Apparently, it is impossible to write anything positive about the Chiefs these days without sounding like some grossly exaggerated parody or Onion article. There is nothing remotely similar between Cutler and Croyle and even less between what Denver is doing and whatever the heck Herm pretends he is doing. I guess I should be more angry but I find Herm's Chiefs to be not unlike "dada" art- unimaginative, unimpressive, pointless and without direction and yet someone (Clark Hunt) is willing to pay a great deal of money for it and that fact does bemuse me a bit.

A freaking Dada reference on an NFL board? Are you kidding me?

I have all kinds of newfound respect for you, el borracho.

HerculesRockefell · 09-25-2008, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Claythan

So who will you guys be signing now? Daryl Gardener or some more Browncos?

Is there a future Jarvis Moss coming out in the draft next year? Maybe another corner like Foxworth? WOW! SHANNY COULD FIND SOME GEMS FOR SURE, NOW!

Wow, all that and that's all you can come back with. For someone who loves to write his little essays, you know Denver's set on offense for a long, long time and you can't stand it. The funny part is that Denver's probably set at 5 of their defensive spots (WLB, DT x2, and CB x2), and maybe a 6th with Dumervil. Granted they're absolutely terrible at the other spots, but Denver really isn't as far away on defense as you'd like to wish they were.

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 09-25-2008, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HerculesRockefell

Wow, all that and that's all you can come back with. For someone who loves to write his little essays, you know Denver's set on offense for a long, long time and you can't stand it. The funny part is that Denver's probably set at 5 of their defensive spots (WLB, DT x2, and CB x2), and maybe a 6th with Dumervil. Granted they're absolutely terrible at the other spots, but Denver really isn't as far away on defense as you'd like to wish they were.

You're not wrong. **** you for saying it.

Hammock Parties · 09-25-2008, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HerculesRockefell

Wow, all that and that's all you can come back with. For someone who loves to write his little essays, you know Denver's set on offense for a long, long time and you can't stand it. The funny part is that Denver's probably set at 5 of their defensive spots (WLB, DT x2, and CB x2), and maybe a 6th with Dumervil. Granted they're absolutely terrible at the other spots, but Denver really isn't as far away on defense as you'd like to wish they were.

You guys are set at defensive tackle?

Taco John · 09-25-2008, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bishop_74

I am not seeing how the artist formerly known as genious was anywhere close to outcoaching DV... record for his tenure was 4-6. Think before you speak.

Shanahan was 6-4 against Vermiel. He beat him 6 times, and lost to him four.

He outcoached Vermiel.

Taco John · 09-25-2008, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Claythan

You guys are set at defensive tackle?

Set, no. But we've got some young talent there to build around, to be sure.

SoCalBronco · 09-25-2008, 11:40 PM

Hammock Parties · 09-25-2008, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taco John

Shanahan was 6-4 against Vermiel. He beat him 6 times, and lost to him four.

He outcoached Vermiel.

He had to. Anything to save face after getting dominated by Gunther.

Hammock Parties · 09-25-2008, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCalBronco

If Jay Cutler passes for more than 350 yards against the Chiefs I will proudly wear this avatar all season long.

09-25-2008, 07:17 PM
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-3047187	AP: Chiefs hoping Broncos' luck rubs off on them Chiefs hoping Broncos' luck rubs off on them Updated: September 25, 2008, 5:37 PM EST KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - While everybody raves about how lucky Denver's been, Kansas City coach Herm Edwards finds something even more admirable about the unbeaten Broncos. They've been smart, Edwards says. Most of all, they've been steadfast. They put up with the inevitable growing pains of young players, particularly quarterback Jay Cutler, and are now reaping the rewards. It's the sort of thing a coach in Edwards' seat would quickly note. He's struggling with a restive, unruly fan base and an 0-3 team loaded with young players who are experiencing the same fatal errors that Mike Shanahan's Broncos displayed while Cutler and other young athletes were coming around. "Mike's been patient. He's been very patient with (Cutler)," said Edwards. "Brought him along, and the guy's gotten better. He's learned from his errors. And they stuck together and the guy's just gotten better and gotten better. Now all of a sudden, he's playing well and he's got some confidence." It's the same future Edwards foresees for the Chiefs (0-3) once they work their way past this painful process of on-the-job training. The next test in the education will be dished out by the Broncos (3-0) at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday. With Cutler ranking second in the league with 914 yards passing, the Broncos are one of five 3-0 teams and have a passing offense ranking second. "They've won some close games. They're putting up a lot of points and he's doing a great job and that's what you like to see," Edwards said. "Here's a guy they developed at quarterback. How about that? They developed a quarterback. They drafted a guy three years ago and he finally is playing good after three years. He's playing what they thought they were going to get. They sat there and they developed the guy. And it's taken that long for them to do it." Brodie Croyle, in his third year with Kansas City, is supposed to be the quarterback of the future but is having trouble staying on the field. Felled by a shoulder injury, he's marking time until he can come back, possibly in mid-October. Cutler himself feels bad for his counterpart. "They put me in as a rookie, let me develop for a year or so and here we are," said Cutler, who's 2-0 against the Chiefs. "You've got to be in there to learn and experience stuff. I talk to Brodie every once in a while. It's tough when you get hurt as a young quarterback because you don't get those snaps. You don't get that time in practice." The Chiefs will be out to win for the first time in 13 games, a franchise-worst skid that has fans calling for the scalp of general manager Carl Peterson and just about everyone else in the front office whose name they know how to pronounce. A victory, Edwards said, would be "like three Christmases rolled into one. And New Year's. And everything else." For the third straight week, Edwards is making a change at quarterback. This week it's Damon Huard's turn to take the reins. The 12-year veteran, who was benched in favor of Tyler Thigpen in the third week, now sends Thigpen back to the sideline and gets his second start in a season that is threatening to turn into something totally forgettable. Adding to the Chiefs' angst will be the name of the man who'll be snapping the ball to Cutler. It's none other than Casey Wiegmann, who served as KC's highly capable center from 2001-07, helping anchor what used to be one of the best offensive lines in Chiefs history. Signed by the Broncos after the Chiefs cut him, Wiegmann became the Broncos' starter when Tom Nalen went on injured reserve. "Casey was such a great player from Kansas City for so many years and we were just shocked that he was on the street," said Shanahan. "When we saw that he was on the street, we just tried to gobble him up as quickly as we could knowing that any injury is possible during the season."
Posts: 43,455

09-25-2008, 10:25 PM	#16
el borracho In Pat We Trust Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Albuquerque, NM Casino cash: $2459148	Apparently, it is impossible to write anything positive about the Chiefs these days without sounding like some grossly exaggerated parody or Onion article. There is nothing remotely similar between Cutler and Croyle and even less between what Denver is doing and whatever the heck Herm pretends he is doing. I guess I should be more angry but I find Herm's Chiefs to be not unlike "dada" art- unimaginative, unimpressive, pointless and without direction and yet someone (Clark Hunt) is willing to pay a great deal of money for it and that fact does bemuse me a bit.
Posts: 12,282

09-25-2008, 10:32 PM	#19
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $750478	Gunther OWNED Shanahan. It's the only good thing he's ever done. Don't destroy it.
Posts: 297,571

09-25-2008, 11:40 PM	#28
SoCalBronco Nixonite Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Arcadia, CA Casino cash: $10006115
Posts: 1,054