Thursday Morning Cup O’Chiefs
Quarterback changes are not something that’s happened only with the Chiefs in this 2008 season.
On Wednesday came public word that Tom Brady’s knee surgery was done this week and everything turned out OK for the Patriots quarterback. Details are here.
But New England is just the most visible spot where the QB position has been in flux. There are starters watching, backups playing, quarterbacks of the future are sitting. There are four quarterbacks this week that everybody will watch when injury reports are officially filed on Friday.
Beyond Brodie Croyle, here’s the changing QB landscape for this week.
Seattle – Starter Matt Hasselbeck (left) has been battling injuries all season. Currently it’s his right knee. He did not practice on Wednesday. Neither did backup Seneca Wallace, who has a calf injury. That left all the work to No. 3 guy Charlie Frye.
Cincinnati – Starter Carson Palmer (right) expects to play again this weekend, but he played last weekend with his injured elbow and was very ineffective. Ryan Fitzpatrick replaced him two weeks ago in the starting lineup.
Pittsburgh – Ben Roethlisberger (center) had a right shoulder injury that brings him nothing but pain. It cuts down his practice time, but he doesn’t leave the field. But the Steelers are one more big hit away from having Byron Leftwich in the game. Luckily, they are off this week.
Green Bay – Aaron Rodgers has a shoulder problem as well and he played with it last week and wasn’t very effective against Tampa Bay.
Houston – Matt Schaub is back in the No. 1 chair after missing last week’s game with a virus. Sage Rosenfels started in his place.
Tampa Bay – First it was Jeff Garcia, then it was Brian Griese and now that Griese’s hurt, it’s back to Garcia.
Buffalo – Trent Edwards went down with a concussion early in last week’s game and J.P. Losman was back in the starter’s chair. The Bills have a bye week, so who starts on Oct. 19 against San Diego remains unknown.
Detroit – Last Sunday, Jon Kitna came out of the game with back spasms and was replaced by Dan Orlovsky. Kitna did not practice with the Lions on Wednesday.
Minnesota – The Vikings got a big game out of Gus Frerotte on Monday night in beating New Orleans. Frerotte had to leave the game for a play and former starter Tarvaris Jackson replaced him.
St. Louis – Marc Bulger was the starter then former coach Scott Linehan replaced him for with Trent Green. New head coach Jim Haslett has returned Bulger to the No. 1 chair.
Tennessee – The Titians have the bye week and when they come to Arrowhead next Sunday, the starter will still be Kerry Collins. Right now, Vince Young is healthy and ready to play, but Jeff Fisher is going to stick with Collins.
Cleveland – The Browns play Monday night against the New York Giants and it could be Derek Anderson’s last chance to keep his job. Pressure mounts in Cleveland for Brady Quinn.
FROM THE PAGES OF CHIEFS HISTORY
On October 9, 1977, the Chiefs lost to the Broncos 23-7 at Mile High Stadium in Denver. The Broncos ran off the first 23 points of the game to get the victory. It wasn’t until midway through the fourth quarter that the Chiefs were on the scoreboard, as RB Ed Podolak had a 2-yard TD run. Denver’s defense sacked Chiefs QBs Mike Livingston and Tony Adams six times and picked off four passes. Overall, the Chiefs offense had just 166 total yards.
On October 9, 1995, the Chiefs beat the San Diego Chargers in overtime 29-23 in a Monday night game at Arrowhead Stadium. It was an 86-yard punt return for a touchdown from Tamarick Vanover that won the game for the Chiefs. They had tied it up in the fourth quarter with a Lin Elliott FG and an 18-yard TD pass from QB Steve Bono to TE Derrick Walker. On the night, Bono was 27 of 41 for 329 yards and a pair of TD passes, the other to FB Kimble Anders. S Brian Washington had an interception and the Chiefs got two sacks from DE Neil Smith and one from DT Keith Traylor.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
It seemed only a matter of time before Pacman Jones returned, replacing Adam Jones. Apparently that time came early Wednesday morning in a public restroom at a Dallas hotel.
It was some 21 months ago that Broncos CB Darent Williams died in a drive-bye shooting in Denver. On Wednesday, police finally filed charges against someone for his death.
NFL Commish Roger Goodell talked about the economic situation facing the league right now.
Seattle coach Mike Holmgren is in his last season as the Seahawks head coach and he’s not very happy with the way his team is playing right now.
AROUND THE AFC WEST
The Chargers continue to try to figure out what’s not going right for them as they get off to another slow start.
Maybe it tells you something about DeAngelo Hall, but he’s happy to be with the Raiders right now.
Notes from BroncoLand, including the Denver defense using more 3-4 schemes which makes LB Boss Bailey happy.
The Chiefs definitely need a quarterback, but I don’t think I want Carl or Herm near any kind of developmental prospect.
2nd rounder Mike Elkins, 2nd rounder Matt Blundin, 7th Steve Matthews, 4th Steve Stenstrom, 4th Pat Barnes, and now 3rd rounder Brodie Croyle seems set to join that not-so-illustrious company.
Herm’s history with QBs isn’t amazing either, in 4 years he only drafted Brooks Bollinger, and his team showcased the talents of Vinny Testaverde, the oft-injured Chad Pennington, Quincy Carter who I believe was cut by the Kansas City Brigade recently.
But, we’d have had a better chance to develop a young QB during Carl’s tenure if we hadn’t gone 8 years without so much as using a late round pick on one between 1997 and 2006. (Good thing, I don’t know what we would have done without all those Willie Piles and Eric Kings and Jeris McIntyres)
I fully expect Carl, should we be unlucky enough to have him around next year, will use the Croyle experiment as justification to bring in another journeyman band-aid fix like we’ve done so many times before. So who’s the next Steve Bono?
After all, handing the reins to a young QB is a risk, and the one time we (were forced to) do it in Carl’s tenure it didn’t work out, so we must never do it again.
Mark makes excellent points. I too would prefer to get that young QB high in the draft but only after Carl Peterson and, probably, Herm have left the building for good.
I think the team problems go deeper than the QB issue but there can be no denying that this position is the most important on the roster. I shudder at having a highly touted QB like Tebow, for example, taking instruction from Dick Curl.
Both of you are spot on. Great posts!
agree
The team. even this site, is putting too much pressure on Brodie to somehow be the savior of the season (and somehow not doing that means he isnt a starting caliber QB).
The way the team is playing has alot more to do with coaching. Herm owns 3 of the chiefs 7 worst losses in franchise history.
1976. 45-0 vs Pittsburgh. Paul Wiggins.
1984. 45-0 at Seattle. John Mackovic.
2006. 45-7 at Pittsburgh. HERM EDWARDS.
1977. 44-7 at Cleveland. Paul Wiggins.
1994. 44-10 at Buffalo. Marty Schottenhiemer.
2007. 41-7 at Denver. HERM EDWARDS.
2008. 34-0 at Carolina. HERM EDWARDS.
The Chiefs had 127 yards of offense, their lowest total since losing 20-7 to Marty’s Browns in 1986. At least in that game, Kansas City was able get a touchdown.
We have 13 losses in 14 games. Brodie cant do it alone.
Agreed findthedr. Brodie may be the QBOTF but can we really expect him to show us much this year? I think if he plays reasonably well, say 55% or better on completions and an equal or greater amount of TDs to INTs, and stays healthy then he deserves another shot at it in 2009. That is, if Herm and Carl are still running the show in 2009. Even if Croyle does play well, they need to invest in a legit backup QB because Croyle has proven to be fragile throughout his career. Huard used to be a decent option but his time is done. They need a number 2 QB who is the equivalent of a Todd Collins or a Billy Volek or a Charlie Batch coming off the bench (not those guys literally) who are capable of winning games if Croyle is hurt. Also, a number 3 with upside just to be safe. Maybe Ingle Martin is that guy? The Chiefs failed to get a quality backup this year and look what happened, the team came completely unraveled.
Unfortunately, I don’t see any MAJOR changes at Head Coach, or Management, this season or next.
Now if things don’t improve before seasons end, we may see some (Gun) maybe some other changes but nothing that imo is really going to make a substantial difference in this area.
I hope I am wrong but…..