Most college quarterbacks already come into this league struggling as pros because of the spread system in college that really doesn’t allow them to read defenses. If you’re going to predict good quarterbacks coming out of college the ones that are going to have the most success is guys coming from a pro style offense. That is why a guy like Matt Ryan is having so much success. Its also why I definately believe a kid like Sam Bradford from OU will be a preety good quarterback on this level and maybe even a guy like Matt Stafford.

If we were to draft a quarterback next year coming out of the spread I would prefer a guy thats more of a natural passer. Somebody like Colt Mccoy or Graham Harrell. Or even Todd Reesing or Chase Daniels. But hopefully we do the smart thing and just work on building the offensive line and filling the wholes on the defense (defensive end and middle lInebacker) in the 2009 draft.

Thats the other thing I’d like to see Thigpen do a better job of, is his fakes to backs, he needs to do a better job of selling it (hide the ball better) actually stick the ball in the guys gut as apposed to just reaching out with the ball and the back is 2 yrds away, That’s coaching, hopefully someone is working with them on this aspect.

One Larry is not going to be as successful running the ball in a single back formation than from a i-formation with a fullback and a couple of tight ends. And the thing is we need the running game to be successful to keep the defense off balance. I like the spread offense but eventually defenses will figure it out and we have to change it up a little bit.

That brings me to my second point. Its going to turn cold soon. And the spread is going to be very difficult to run in the snow and swirling winds at Arrowhead. So u need to reestablish a power running game mixed in with some play-action passes to keep the defenses off balance. I think now with Larry coming back we have a real chance to be an even better offense. Because now we have a serious threat at running back to keep the defense honest against the run.

So i say stick with the spread, but improve on Thigpen ability to throw the ball just as accurately from under center. It will create a dual threat for the defense not knowing what to expect. Are we going to run up the middle with Larry, or are we going to play-action and throw it down the field to Tony, Mark, or Dwayne.

And to add to that I think Larry coming back is a tremendous boost to the offense because now we have a closer that can chew up the clock late in games when we have a lead. The problem the last 3 games is late we didn’t have a guy that could just pound the life out of a defense and convert on 3 and 1 or 3 and 3 to continue moving the chains and chew up the clock. With Larry back we that guy that can protect a lead and put a game away with punishing runs on 3rd and short.

That being said, I’m terrified that the inspired play calling and shotgun offense will be seen less now that LJ is back. Will the temptation of running him up the gut out of a strong or I formation be too much for our coaches to handle? I’m thrilled that he’s back because I still firmly believe he’s the best RB on the team and a top 10 RB in the NFL, I just hope that he is the one that has to adapt to the offense….not the other way around.

Yeah, and it only took the top two QBs on the depth chart going on IR for it to happen. Herm and Gailey are a couple of regular Bill Walshs.

As much credit as they deserve for adjusting things for Thigpen, they deserve just as much blame — perhaps moreso — for forcing Brodie Croyle into an offense where he got hammered almost every time he dropped back to throw. There’s no reason the Chiefs couldn’t have used this kind of offensive attack from the very beginning. It certainly worked for the Patriots last year.

Perhaps this change and the success the Chiefs have had with it will be the great awakening for Herm, much like Tony Dungy had in Indy when he let his offense run in a way that he wasn’t comfortable with. But it’s still a shame that Brodie Croyle had to be sacrified to make it happen.

Is it fair to say that the second half let down has a lot to do with the instability of personnel? How much do other factors like coaching adjustments and conditioning play in?
Great Article. If Thigpen continues to play at this level will the Chiefs still draft a QB?

a.) a high round offensive lineman will be chosen
1.) equating to a better rushing attack
2.) increased protection
b.) the man will learn…not only what we want to do but become increasingly comfortable.

I’m excited for him, he was a running back in highschool so, although he has a number of years learning the position I believe his potential allows him to better his performance. Also, as his running back status in highschool indicates, his ability to learn the position is very high….the ability to adapt and learn is clutch in the qb postion.

At times, they have looked like they’re in some kind of prevent defense for large stretches of second halves. No stunts, no blitzes, nothing. Don’t like that at all.

Should be fun to watch Thigpen vs his older brother, Drew Brees, this week.

Two things tho,imo He DID throw a ball where he shouldn’t have, the TD pass to Tony G at the end of the game, he had no business throwing that pass, but damn it was accurate he threw that thing into a very tight hole and had it been a lesser receiver it may well have been picked off.

2nd) I thought (just watching it on TV) the pass he threw to Cottam at the back of the end zone was a throw away.

We gots a keeper! We gots a keeper!