Chiefs A case for Tyler Thigpen - Page 9

MMXcalibur · 08-27-2009, 12:30 PM

http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/08/27/a-ca...tyler-thigpen/

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Thursday, August 27 2009
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Jason La Canfora
A case for Tyler Thigpen
Posted: August 27th, 2009 | Jason La Canfora | Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Ben Roethlisberger, Brodie Croyle, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Joe Flacco, Kansas City Chiefs, Matt Cassel, Matt Ryan, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, trades, Tyler Thigpen, Wildcat

I have a question for you guys: Name a first-year starting quarterback who accounted for more touchdowns than Super Bowl-winning veteran Ben Roethlisberger or standout rookies Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan last season? Here’s another one: Of all the players who ran the ball at least 50 times last season, who led the NFL in yards per carry?

OK, so the title of this blog makes the answer pretty much a dead giveaway. I think we all know who I’m talking about here (for the record, he averaged 6.2 yards per carry on 62 rushes). But I’m going to say it (read: type it): I like Tyler Thigpen. I’m not afraid to admit it, and I know some savvy NFL scouts/executives who value him, too.

I like Thigpen’s guts and competitiveness. I love his athleticism. I think he’s a playmaker who’s still quite raw (a 25-year-old who became a starter for a lame-duck staff last season, out of Coastal Carolina of all places) and has some warts but a ton of upside. He’s a kid who flashed some real talent, yet was surrounded by an Amy Winehouse-thin roster in Kansas City last season (having no defense and no running game did him no favors).

And it’s clear that the new Chiefs regime prefers Matt Cassel and Brodie Croyle to him — because Thigpen is being shopped — but if I’m running the average NFL team (which means I probably have 1.5 capable QBs on my roster, and, yeah I’m going to use a lot of parenthesis in this post), I’m making a play for this kid, even if it costs me more than a fifth-round draft pick (the current asking price).

So, let’s go back to the beginning here, a very good place to start.

Thigpen was thrust into duty after the Chiefs’ other quarterbacks went down with season-ending injuries. He ended up accounting for 22 touchdowns (18 passing, three rushing and one receiving) in just 11 starts for a 2-14 team that had some deep flaws. Roethlisberger, a $100 million QB, won a Super Bowl with help from the game’s best defense and accounted for 19 TDs (17 passing, two rushing) in 16 starts.

So Thigpen, as a second-year pro with no prior experience and a last-place roster around him, threw for 2,608 yards and 18 TDs with 12 interceptions in the first 11 starts of his career. And Roethlisberger, already fully polished and with a Super Bowl-quality roster around him, threw for 3,301 yards and 17 TDs with 15 interceptions in 16 games. Hmm, interesting. And Roethlisberger had as many turnovers as Thigpen did scores.

OK. In no way am I trying to say Thigpen is remotely the QB and playmaker than Big Ben is (nor could anyone expect him to be), but tell me this kid might not be worth a shot at being better than most teams’ current backup passer. (Personally, I think he’s a heck of a lot better than Croyle, for one, but I’m obviously not running any NFL teams). Hang with me here.

Ryan, the third overall pick in the 2008 draft, won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award, had the league’s best running game and a stout Falcons defense behind him, and he accounted for 17 total TDs in 16 starts. Flacco also was a first-round pick in 2008, started 16 games for a Ravens team with the league’s second-best defense and a robust running attack, and he accounted for 16 total TDs.

Let’s take it a little deeper. Well, Jason, you dope, the Chiefs stunk and Thigpen just put up a bunch of meaningless numbers while chasing teams in the second half of games, right?

Not so fast. The Chiefs either led entering the fourth quarter, led in the fourth quarter or were tied entering the fourth quarter in seven of Thigpen’s final 10 games. If anything, questionable play-calling, a horrid running game and an atrocious defense conspired against the young QB.

Overall, could Thigpen be better in the fourth quarter? Sure, he had a 62.0 rating and completed just 50 percent of his passes (four fourth-quarter TDs to four fourth-quarter interceptions isn’t that bad, though). This was a kid from a small school thrust into emergency starts with little coaching, and as we know, inexperienced passers tend to have issues late in games. Thigpen also was sacked 11 times on just 123 fourth-quarter pass attempts, so a suspect offensive line and lack of any sort of competent defense didn’t make things any easier on him.

Well, what about Thigpen completing just 55 percent of his passes and throwing 12 interceptions in just 14 games? Neither is ideal, no doubt. But let’s look at his offensive weapons. Dwayne Bowe and Devard Darling were his starting receivers. It wasn’t exactly the sure-hands crew. Besides having perennial Pro Bowl TE Tony Gonzalez, this kid was on his own.

As I said, Thigpen is raw and has some flaws, so coach him up (he was the first quarterback in Coastal Carolina history for goodness sake, with the program starting in 2003) and help him with film study and fundamentals. There is plenty to work with there.

This kid is incredibly fast — on his runs, he was almost never tackled by someone in the front seven. You can’t tell me he’s not one of the 64 best QBs out there, and given his skills and speed, he definitely could be someone who could help in the Wildcat. At 6-foot-1 and 224 pounds, Thigpen can take a hit.

As for the interceptions, that’s pretty common with young QBs. And the first came in a mop-up role in his first appearance of 2008, and three more came in his first NFL start, against the eventual NFC South champion Falcons, when you’d expect him to be nervous.

In the final 10 games, all starts, Thigpen threw 16 touchdown passes to eight interceptions. Not too shabby. And that’s far beyond anything the first-round bonus babies (JaMarcus Russell and Brady Quinn) from Thigpen’s draft year (2007) have accomplished.

Well, sure, those are decent numbers, but come on, the dude was in a shotgun most of the time and not a traditional offense?

Yep, the Chiefs, in desperation, got a bit gimmicky last season and spread things out. But a lot of teams are going more that route, and you guys tell me that Tom Brady (and last year, Cassel) and Flacco and Roethlisberger aren’t back there quite a bit, too.

Wow, I never thought I’d write this much about Tyler Thigpen, but, alas, it has happened. But how can you not like the kid? Never invited to the combine, seventh-round pick by the Vikings, claimed off waivers by the Chiefs in September 2007, tore his medial collateral ligament that rookie season and then ended up starting 11 games the next year when no one expected it, and, best as I can tell, did some pretty nice stuff.

And now, someone, if they’re smart, will meet the Chiefs’ price and trade for Thigpen. Sure, a third- or fourth-round pick is considerable, but when you look at what the kid has done, how valuable his position is and how few quality alternatives exist (let alone talented 25-year-olds), to me, a fourth-round pick is surely worth the shot.

The Jaguars have expressed the most interest to this point, and that’s one of several teams with a significant need for a backup QB. The Bills, Bears, Packers and Saints also have been closely monitoring the QB market. And people I talk to around the league don’t discount the Patriots making a move for a QB, too — particularly one who could provide a Wildcat element. The Ravens seriously considered trading for Thigpen before ultimately opting to sign Cleo Lemon a little while back, league sources said.

Some team will come away with a solid prospect in Thigpen, and frankly, I’m not quite sure why the Chiefs didn’t give him more of a look before locking in on Cassel.

Thigpen overload lately.

**the Talking Can** · 08-27-2009, 05:04 PM

what drives me crazy is people saying that Thigpen deserves something for his play last year...like the franchise owes him something.

Central to Halioli's regime is the clearly articulated belief that no one deserves shit, especially on a 2-14 team.

Waters thought he deserved something and Halioli DP'd him in an Arrowhead hallway. Guy hasn't spoken a word since.

**SAUTO** · 08-27-2009, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

If these people in question were referring to Thigpen being a 3rd, I'd see your point. They have argued all summer that he's the clear-cut #2, and is a competent backup.

Pioli says otherwise.

i havent said shit about where he should be depth wise for sure since camp started. i just dont feel comfortable with croyle even on this team

**SAUTO** · 08-27-2009, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

what drives me crazy is people saying that Thigpen deserves something for his play last year...like the franchise owes him something.

Central to Halioli's regime is the clearly articulated belief that no one deserves shit, especially on a 2-14 team.

Waters thought he deserved something and Halioli DP'd him in an Arrowhead hallway. Guy hasn't spoken a word since.

i dont think the franchise owes him anything, if it's between him and croyle the franchise owes ITSELF thigpen as the backup. croyle cant make it through a half of real football

**Easy 6** · 08-27-2009, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

Waters thought he deserved something and Halioli DP'd him in an Arrowhead hallway. Guy hasn't spoken a word since.

You've never had shiite to say to me Can, but i gotta give credit where due...

**OnTheWarpath15** · 08-27-2009, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

so you commended him once. so what. you still talk shit every chance you get. remember the quote about him being a failure if he doesnt win a super bowl here?

And?

He will be. A franchise QB is supposed to win Championships. Not just be OK.

Titty Meat · 08-27-2009, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raised On Riots

You also think Mike Brown-stain is a worth a shit.

All your FAIL are belong to ME.

If Bernard Pollard isn't the special teams starter instead of the starter on defense it'll say alot about the coaching staff.

**the Talking Can** · 08-27-2009, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott free

You've never had shiite to say to me Can, but i gotta give credit where due...

i assumed this board was familiar with the the abbreviation...if it were WPI I'd have to spell it out and draw pictures

**Buehler445** · 08-27-2009, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Ask Pioli. I would have taken a 5th and felt like I stole something.

I would have too, but you never know with this wildcat shit. I mean FFS, the Dolphins spent a ****ing second rounder on Pat ****ing White.

PAT WHITE.
Posted via Mobile Device

**SAUTO** · 08-27-2009, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

And?

He will be. A franchise QB is supposed to win Championships. Not just be OK.

what about the rest of the TEAM? dont they have something to do with it? the guy cant throw it, catch it, run it, kick it, AND tackle the opposing offensive players. sorry but that statement is ignorant

**OnTheWarpath15** · 08-27-2009, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

what about the rest of the TEAM? dont they have something to do with it? the guy cant throw it, catch it, run it, kick it, AND tackle the opposing offensive players. sorry but that statement is ignorant

Franchise QB's raise the level of play around them.

There's a reason why guys like Marino are discussed in a different class than Montana, Aikman, Elway, etc.

Maybe someday we can get all giddy about Cassel being on a "greatest QB that's never won the big game" list.

**SAUTO** · 08-27-2009, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Franchise QB's raise the level of play around them.

There's a reason why guys like Marino are discussed in a different class than Montana, Aikman, Elway, etc.

how would a qb raise the level of the DEFENSE?

Pooch · 08-27-2009, 05:24 PM

What makes Cassel so much better than Thigpen anyway? I realize he is better but most people act like he is the next Brady. He had 21 tds last year when brady had 50 with the same team the year before. He won 11 games when Brady didn't loose one the year before!! I think he is half the Qb that Brady is. We are not as stable at Qb that everyone acts like we are!!

**OnTheWarpath15** · 08-27-2009, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

how would a qb raise the level of the DEFENSE?

By keeping them off the field?

Ask Peyton Manning, he won a championship with a terrible defense.

Titty Meat · 08-27-2009, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Franchise QB's raise the level of play around them.

There's a reason why guys like Marino are discussed in a different class than Montana, Aikman, Elway, etc.

Maybe someday we can get all giddy about Cassel being on a "greatest QB that's never won the big game" list.

*yawn*. Marino doesn't make tackles or run the ball so thats pretty absurd. By your definition then Sanchez isn't a franchise QB either.

**SAUTO** · 08-27-2009, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

By keeping them off the field?

Ask Peyton Manning, he won a championship with a terrible defense.

to be fair that defense stepped up in the playoffs when sanders came back. AND peyton had a horrible postseason that year. but i'm sure you remember that it just doesnt help your argument so you left it out. hell you have said that yourself IIRC

08-27-2009, 05:04 PM	#121
the Talking Can Supporter Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: street Casino cash: $9152208	what drives me crazy is people saying that Thigpen deserves something for his play last year...like the franchise owes him something. Central to Halioli's regime is the clearly articulated belief that no one deserves shit, especially on a 2-14 team. Waters thought he deserved something and Halioli DP'd him in an Arrowhead hallway. Guy hasn't spoken a word since. __________________ Clark Hunt: "Thank god for the Dominican pool boy"
Posts: 51,585

08-27-2009, 05:24 PM	#132
Pooch Starter Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Missouri Casino cash: $9345360	What makes Cassel so much better than Thigpen anyway? I realize he is better but most people act like he is the next Brady. He had 21 tds last year when brady had 50 with the same team the year before. He won 11 games when Brady didn't loose one the year before!! I think he is half the Qb that Brady is. We are not as stable at Qb that everyone acts like we are!!
Posts: 486