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Thread: Chiefs have QB decision ahead

  1. #1
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    Default Chiefs have QB decision ahead

    Chiefs have QB decision ahead

    By ADAM TEICHER

    The Kansas City Star

    Will Kansas City pick the potential of Brodie Croyle (left) or the experience of Damon Huard?




    RIVER FALLS, Wis. | When forced to choose a starting quarterback between Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard, the Chiefs will have hour after hour of practice video to aid in the process.


    Some of that video will be more valuable, like that from two joint weekend practices with the Minnesota Vikings. The teams will get together Friday night at Vikings camp in Mankato, Minn., and then have a return engagement in River Falls the following night.


    After almost a week of training, the Chiefs have come to know themselves too well. Cornerbacks recognize pass routes and can jump into passing lanes without fear of getting burned. Quarterbacks recognize pass coverages and can avoid trouble.


    Against the Vikings, everything is new.


    “Those practices definitely will help us,” said Dick Curl, the Chiefs’ quarterbacks coach. “All of a sudden you’re going against a different team and they’re going to do some different things than we might be doing. We’ll see maybe some different looks, different types of schemes. That’s good for us. In some ways, it’s like a preseason game.”


    Publicly, the Chiefs are being noncommittal about what they’ve seen from Croyle and Huard through the first week of training camp. Work between the two has been split almost evenly.


    The Chiefs are also trying to give them similar plays so they can better make a side-by-side comparison.
    “We’re trying to be fair to both of those guys,” Curl said.


    Privately, the Chiefs are so pleased with Croyle that it’s hard to imagine he won’t be their choice as long as he continues his current arc. He has demonstrated a better ability to make all of the necessary throws than any Chiefs quarterback in a long time.


    An example came in a recent practice with the Chiefs inside the opposing 10-yard line. Croyle had the narrowest of windows in which to fit a pass to Jeff Webb over the middle. His release, zip and accuracy were all perfect and the Chiefs had a touchdown.


    Former Chiefs starting quarterback Trent Green certainly couldn’t have made the throw. Huard probably couldn’t, either.


    “Not only did he get rid of it real quick, but he put the ball in a position where only Jeff could catch it,” Curl said. “His accuracy has been really good. The thing that will determine a lot of how far we can go with him is his decision-making when he has (defenders) running at him.”


    Croyle didn’t fare so well in a recent practice with blitzing safety Bernard Pollard running at him. Croyle tried to force his pass to Michael Bennett, but Pollard tipped and intercepted it.


    “It’s little things like don’t try to force things down the field when you have a back who can get you to second and 5,” Croyle said. “I’ve probably been told that more times than anything in this camp.”
    Huard has been hanging on in the NFL for several years, so it’s wise never to count him out. He played better than the Chiefs dared hope last year when they lost Green.


    “Certainly there’s a sense of urgency for me,” he said. “Like every other year I’ve gone to training camp, you’re always fighting for something. Whether it’s to be the backup or make the team, or this year to be the starter. I’ve been in this situation before, so it’s kind of what pro football is about. It’s all about competition.”


    Croyle’s potential and inexperience make him the riskier pick. Huard is the safer choice. The Chiefs are certain what they would get from him.


    “You believe in yourself and more importantly your teammates know they can win with you,” Huard said. “I hope that gives me an edge. But again, I’m 34 and Brodie’s 24. That’s the reality of it. We’ll go out there and compete every day and both of us probably are going to have to play this season at some point anyway. We both know we’re fighting to learn the system and the gain the respect of our teammates and make this team better every day.”


    Coach Herm Edwards hasn’t set a date for deciding on a starting quarterback but has said he would like to have one halfway through the four exhibition games.

    “You’ll see the separation as we go through the preseason,” he said.
    THAT quarterback is NOT a Pro Bowl quarterback. Never was and never will be.

  2. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by stlchief View Post
    I don't follow at all... If Croyle IS good enough to be the future of the team -- which you have to accept as fact by giving him the job day one and working on developing him -- then why stop at 6 games if he doesn't cut it? Are you going to then release him at the end of the season?

    If he is our future, and we are saying we would be willing to sacrifice the season to develop him, then give him 16 starts. If you go 0-16, from you reasoning, then it was worth it because we are investing in a career, not a season.

    I think the two different philosophies are:
    1) Start Huard & try to get to the play-offs and see what happens. If it doesn't look like a play-off season, spend the rest working on developing Croyle.
    2) Start Croyle and say he is the future, come what may. Let him have the season.

    These are both valid and have some sense behind them. I happen to be for the first option, but I can understand the second.

    But the idea of giving Croyle a few starts and if he struggles yanking him for a "proven" backup... WHY??? There is no gain there. If Huard is not good enough to get us to the play-offs, why bring him in to finish a season. The whole idea of starting Croyle is to get him experience and develop him. If a season is over (meaning no liklihood of play-offs), why take away the remaining experience?

    The reason I like #1: You have a squad that went to the play-offs. You have Allen & Johnson (probably) both for one more year. The team seems to be improved. You have a guy who was 5-2 and should NOT have lost his starting job.

    The potential is there for another play-off year.

    Want to trade that potential play-off game for a sure-fire development QB and probably less likely play-off run? I just don't follow....
    I completely agree with this. Everyone was talking about switching up QB's mid-season, I just wanted to throw out another scenario. I'm all for starting Croyle and letting the season be his. Everyone calls him the QB of the future. With the Chiefs, the future never seems to get here.
    Everything happens for a reason.

  3. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by luv View Post
    I completely agree with this. Everyone was talking about switching up QB's mid-season, I just wanted to throw out another scenario. I'm all for starting Croyle and letting the season be his. Everyone calls him the QB of the future. With the Chiefs, the future never seems to get here.

    This is a good point. Elway's first season with the Donks was miserable IIRC.

  4. #23
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    That's why I say 2 choices:

    1) If Herm feels Huard is bettter: try to win now with Huard and if he fails, switch to Croyle.
    2) If Herm feels Croyle is better: let Croyle have the season, even if he struggles.

    If you don't make the play-offs, there is not much difference for next season between 8-8 and 5-11. So gain from the experience, move up a few slots in the draft, have 3 easier games next year and take your lumps.

    But just don't start Croyle and bring in Huard in the middle after the play-offs are out of reach. Long term there is no gain...
    You can only have one favorite team. There are no "second favorites".
    -- Chris, resident of Arrowhead East (St. Louis)

  5. #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by Chiefster View Post
    This is a good point. Elway's first season with the Donks was miserable IIRC.
    So was Brett Favre's.
    Everything happens for a reason.

  6. #25
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    I'm all for the youth movement especially at the QB position, but as the knock that has been on him, can BC go the distance? 16 games in the NFL...I mean I have not really seen him this year. you all are alot closer, has he truly bulked up some? Personally I hope it works out for him. I'll pull for whoever is at the helm,as long as he bleeds red and gold!!!!! on another note:
    When Joe Montana joined the 49ers as a rookie from Notre Dame in 1979, fellow draftee Dwight Clark mistook him for a free-agent kicker. Who wouldn't? By NFL standards, Montana looked a bit fragile, and his unassuming demeanor hardly demanded attention. -Phil Barber cbssportsline


  7. #26
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    Quote Originally Posted by luv View Post
    So was Brett Favre's.
    Yup; and last year it looked as if he had come full circle, but in the middle of that circle is a Super Bowl win.

  8. #27
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    Quote Originally Posted by stlchief View Post
    That's why I say 2 choices:

    1) If Herm feels Huard is bettter: try to win now with Huard and if he fails, switch to Croyle.
    2) If Herm feels Croyle is better: let Croyle have the season, even if he struggles.

    If you don't make the play-offs, there is not much difference for next season between 8-8 and 5-11. So gain from the experience, move up a few slots in the draft, have 3 easier games next year and take your lumps.

    But just don't start Croyle and bring in Huard in the middle after the play-offs are out of reach. Long term there is no gain...
    I agree.
    Thanks for all the yards, TDs, and memories, Priest!

  9. #28
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    This is the only thing I hate about Pre-Season. Not knowing who is going to start. I like to know things now.
    <a href=http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/5893/dthomassp2.jpg target=_blank>http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/5893/dthomassp2.jpg</a>

    Official thread killer I have heard.

  10. #29
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    Quote Originally Posted by luv View Post
    So was Brett Favre's.
    So was Troy Aikman's
    THAT quarterback is NOT a Pro Bowl quarterback. Never was and never will be.

  11. #30
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    Quote Originally Posted by Guru View Post
    So was Troy Aikman's
    WTF are you doing up in the middle of the day?
    Everything happens for a reason.

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