Chiefs may change QBs if offense doesn’t start producing
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/story/349980.html
Chiefs may change QBs if offense doesn’t start producing
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star
Chiefs coach Herm Edwards is looking for a spark to his offense.
He’s tired of the three-and-outs, he’s weary of the Chiefs scoring 13 first-quarter points in eight games, and he’s frustrated with averaging just 15.5 points per game, 29th in the NFL.
That spark could come at quarterback in the form of second-year man Brodie Croyle.
Veteran Damon Huard is still the starter and will open Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos, Edwards said Tuesday.
But Edwards also intimated that he’s contemplating a change if the Chiefs — even without running back Larry Johnson in the lineup — cannot generate more first downs, more yards and, most important, more points with Huard at quarterback.
“Damon’s the guy … he’s done OK,” Edwards said of Huard, who has led the Chiefs to a 4-4 record despite shaky offensive-line play and the absence of No. 1 wide receiver Eddie Kennison for all but a handful of snaps.
“But my whole deal now is if we’re going to win this division or have a shot at it, we’ve got to score more points,” Edwards said. “We can’t keep playing the way we’re playing. There comes a point to where if we don’t get this thing going, I’m going to have to do something.”
The Chiefs rank 30th in total offense, 30th in rushing and 17th in passing. Huard, who started eight games last season and had a 98.0 passer rating that was second in the NFL to Peyton Manning’s 101.0, ranks 20th this season at 79.1 and has thrown eight touchdowns and nine interceptions. He’s also been sacked 23 times.
“It’s not always on the quarterback, it’s on a lot of other people, too,” Edwards said, “but we have to find a way to be more productive in points. We’re just going along, going along, and now we’re going into our ninth game … but what’s great about it is we still have a shot at winning the division. That’s the good thing.”
It hasn’t helped that the Chiefs’ kickoff-return team ranks 29th, resulting in an average starting position at the 22 1/2 -yard line. That ranks 31st in the league and gives the offense poor field position to start drives.
“It seems like we’re always starting inside the 20,” Edwards said. “You’re always asking your offense to go 80 yards. That’s hard to do. There are a lot of things we need to do better, and it’s not just the quarterback.”
Croyle, the club’s third-round draft pick in 2006, was given every opportunity to win the starting job during training camp and the preseason, but poor judgments on his part led to interceptions in exhibition games. He failed to seize the job, even as Huard was sidelined because of a calf injury.
“We have to do a better job offensively because it puts a lot of pressure on you when you play like that,” Edwards said. “I don’t like going in at halftime when it’s 6-0 or 10-3 … it’s too much pressure because you’re always one play away from being down two scores when you play games like that.
“I’d like to have like a 20-point lead, and go in there, and say, ‘Wow.’ … I might not come back. I might go home.”
Croyle has made mop-up appearances in losses to Chicago and Jacksonville this season, completing 10 of 17 passes for 138 yards with one touchdown, no interceptions and two sacks.
The way Croyle can demonstrate whether he is ready, Edwards said, is by going into a game.
“That’s the only time you can really show the team is by playing, and he hasn’t had the opportunity to play yet,” Edwards said, “but obviously, that’s something you juggle with as a head coach.
“It’s week nine, we have eight games left … ”
If and when Edwards makes the move, it will be for keeps. After Sunday’s game, the Chiefs play Nov. 18 at Indianapolis, which may not be the most hospitable place for Croyle’s debut as a starter. That will be followed by home games against Oakland and San Diego.
“When you make a move like that, in my opinion, you live with it,” Edwards said. “That’s always a position that raises the eyebrows. You can change receivers, you can change offensive linemen, you can change the secondary … but when you change the quarterback, it’s a big deal, and it should be a big deal because that’s the guy.
“There’s going to come a time, and I don’t know when that time is, but if we keep struggling, I’m going to have to do something. Offensively, that’s the last position I can do anything about.”
Edwards made a similar move in 2002 with the New York Jets when he promoted Chad Pennington, then in his third season, over veteran Vinny Testaverde.
“I did it in New York because I felt like we needed a spark, and it got us sparked,” Edwards said of a Jets team that started 1-3 and was 8-4 the rest of the way with Pennington. The Jets won the AFC East and went 1-1 in the playoffs.
Chiefs president/general manager Carl Peterson, who usually prefers going with the safer, more experienced quarterback, understands Edwards’ dilemma.
“We need to score more points, so Herm’s got to do what he’s got to do there to stimulate that, particularly in the first half,” Peterson said.
“It’s always tough,” Edwards added. “It’s the toughest decision you make.” __________________
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