A Case Of The “What Ifs”
I was thinking the other day during lunch-what if Jake Long does fall to the Chiefs at number 5? I smiled, took another bite of my sandwich and swallowed knowing that after Long’s name was announced on April 26th the Chiefs offensive line woes would be well on its way to being fixed. Then, just as I was going in for another scrumptious piece of ham and cheese on white, another thought dare entered my mind. What if the Chiefs don’t get Jake Long? My stomach turned sour, I couldn’t finish the sandwich, I had…ok, I’m lying, I did manage to finish my sandwich, it was too good to waste. But still the thought lingered in my head…what if?
After much debate in my pea-brain I have come to the conclusion that no matter what happens that glorious Saturday afternoon, the Chiefs will be a better football team. Hopefully. The problem teams have, and it’s a big one, when failing on their first round pick is that it sets the entire franchise back several years. The Chiefs still haven’t recovered in the middle of the defensive line after Ryan Simms (I had trouble even typing that name) decided to take his millions and invest in Big Macs and busted not only in the NFL, but also in the seat of his pants. No matter who the Chiefs pick that day, they have to be sure that selection will pan out. Now obviously there is no sure fire way of determining who is going to be a bust or be a boom, but so far, the Chiefs under Herm Edwards haven’t been doing too bad of a job.
Look at it this way, if Jake Long isn’t there, then that means the Chiefs will most likely have a choice of 3-4 players that have the potential – potential, of being great NFL players. Glen Dorsey or Sedrick Ellis at the defensive tackle position, a chance at a potential franchise quarterback in Matt Ryan or the possibility of Chris Long and Vernon Gholston being there, you just never know what is going to happen. No matter what takes place or what goes down come draft day or the couple days prior to, the Chiefs have to make this pick count.
Then, just as I was throwing my garbage into the trash can another “what if” scenario entered my mind; What if Brodie Croyle is an above average quarterback?
Then as I looked into the trash can, the thoughts of Ryan Simms, Junior Siavii, Sammie Parker and countless other Chiefs draft day failures of days gone by jumped into my mind uninvited, but I digress. I have heard over and over again since the season ended the following statement from analyst, pundits, and Chiefs fans alike– “Is anybody really sold on Brodie Croyle?” This statement is made most notably by the Chiefs fan that is wanting the Chiefs to take the overrated Matt Ryan in the first round or the TV sports reporter with a hidden agenda. Here is my reply and you are most welcome to use it. “Well, I sure would hate to sell Brodie before the Chiefs find out what he is worth.”
You see, Brodie hasn’t been given much of a chance. We all know what happened last year, he was brought into learn how to play big time quarterback behind an offensive line that leaked like a sieve and a rookie running back for the most part to carry the load. Now that, in my opinion, is not the ideal situation for a quarterback to be brought into. This is normally what happens to first round QB’s, they are stuck on an awful team behind a porous line and get absolutely destroyed the first year of playing (see Troy Aikman)
No my fellow Chiefs fans, it is unfair for us to judge Brodie on his performance last year, bringing in Matt Ryan is not the answer. Ryan is no better than the QB’s a team can get in the second or third round. If you for one second think Matt Ryan, a mediocre college quarterback, can come in a be some sort of a savior then you are sadly mistaken. Brodie Croyle hasn’t even shown us what he can do with the proper protection, a sound running game, and somebody other than Dwayne Bowe and Tony Gonzalez to throw the football to.
What if Brodie Croyle is a great quarterback and the Chiefs had to find that out while he was wearing a different color uniform? What if?
No I’m not sold on Brodie Croyle. He’s been injured just about every year that he has played football, including high school. He did play six games last year and never accomplished a foothold on the team. I agree that Matt Ryan is not the answer, but if he was a mediocre college quarterback then what was Brodie Croyle. Which was a reach in the third round.
March 31st, 2008 at 4:48 amMy, my, my. Brodie’s detractors are ready to pitch him when he hasn’t even had a chance to play with a decent line and running back at the same time. Brodie didn’t even have that great of protection when he played at Alabama. Doubtless Brodie has suffered some injuries simply because he stood in the pocket and attempted to do his job. Brodie is a man who HATES LOSING!!!! He has a good arm, he is learning, and I for one believe that if given the chance Brodie could be a GREAT quarterback. Alabama has a history of producing some very fine quarterbacks. Who is to say Brodie won’t be the next in that line of quarterbacks?
March 31st, 2008 at 9:27 amWith Brodie, we just don’t know. I am with you. I think we should roll this year with him and see how he develops. As you noted, without a line and a decent running game, it is hard to any QB to develop. The only reason folks are promoting Ryan is that there isn’t a Payton Manning in the draft. In any decent QB crop, he is a marginal first rounder at best.
March 31st, 2008 at 9:47 amGood thoughts guys. I don’t see the point in drafting QB’s in round 3 and higher if we are only going to give them 6 games in a bad situation to show what they can do. Sounds like it has high potential to be a repeat trend if we go that direction this year.
March 31st, 2008 at 10:02 amI’d say draft a guy in the later rounds such as Kevin O’Connell in the 5th or 6th round and give Brodie Croyle one full year of opportunity. Then if it doesn’t work out then we worry about QB in the next draft. Let’s get a good O-Line while the gettin is good.
March 31st, 2008 at 10:32 amI am willing to give Brodie a chance, and always have been. I think he looked pretty good when he had the time to throw. If the Chiefs don’t take Ryan at #5 then good. I will be ok. If they do take him, then good, I will be ok too. I am not so concerned about the QB situtation as I am the O-line situtation. I beleive with out protection, no QB will succeed. We need an O-line! Has anyone heard any news whatsoever on Shane Olivea (RT)?????????
March 31st, 2008 at 10:34 amThat’s all I’m talking about, give the man a chance. Let him play this year, you’ve already made the commitment. IF he doesn’t show improvement this year with an improved team (hopefully) then it’s time to go back to the chalk board…Whether Herm will be the man going back to the chalkboard will be another issue.
March 31st, 2008 at 11:39 amWell, well, well…let’s say Brodie is a good QB, a huge, ginormous “what if,” fringing on the verge of being a big fish story I can’t believe I’m even considering. I’ll go to the car analogy again. Fine, we found ourselves a Porsche at a bargain-basement price, but it’s a lemon. It can’t stay on the road and is in the shop all the time. Better have another vehicle, because if you only have this set of wheels to depend on you and your family are screwed.
As for the Peyton Manning comment. There is a Peyton type in, oh, about one of every 15 drafts, so…I just don’t understand that logic.
March 31st, 2008 at 12:10 pmAdam,
I think the Chiefs would be wise to possibly try to pick up another young quarterback if there is a plan to adequately deal with the o-line problems, and cornerback, etc. The Chiefs could spend a draft pick on a young quarterback and let the four Croyle, Huard, Thigpen,and the new guy battle it out before the season. Best three stay, the odd man out gets a real big “see ya later” and best of luck.
March 31st, 2008 at 12:48 pmADAM, I dont care who the qb is , If the o-line sucks as bad as last year, they are dog meat for a pack of hungry wolves. Every time I hear Croyle is to fragile, I cant help wonder why the same doesnt apply to Damon. He got hurt just like Brodie(running for his life). And looking over our free agent pick-ups ,They havent fixed the line one bit.
March 31st, 2008 at 1:46 pmDamon doesn’t get rid of the ball and is too immobile. He might be the easiest QB to sack I’ve ever seen. I haven’t seen that much tucking since the drag queen convention, er…
We can get a good OT in round two and a good OG in round three.
March 31st, 2008 at 2:33 pmAdam:
It seems like you and I are really crossing swords time and time again. My point is that I do not believe that Ryan is a good QB prospect and you do. That really is not a big deal. now, let’s get to something you said I agree with “We can get a good OT in round two and a good OG in round three.” I agree wholeheartedly. Now, when we draft a stud LT in round one, we will have the makings of an excellent line.
March 31st, 2008 at 3:05 pmIf Kansas City doesn’t tap at least 3 O-linemen in this draft, I would consider it poorly evaluated. I would expect to see 3 OL, 1DT, 2CB, 1QB then anything else they want.
March 31st, 2008 at 6:46 pmOk Adam. I have a suggestion for future articles.
For the last 10, or so, years, I would like to see how hard it is to pick up a good OT v. a good DT. Make one of those things, like ive seen here and other places, showing probowlers and busts each year. If it turns out, that most probowl DTs are taken in the top 10 and probowl OTs, say, in the top 30, we should give serious consideration to taking one of the 2 DTs over Long. Since we are in a long term rebuild, and all.
March 31st, 2008 at 11:44 pmSteven, nice article, but I would suggest that the question is What if BC is NOT and above average QB? Then what do we do? Thigpen? Bring back Steve Bono? Maybe at least if we do draft Run DMC maybe he can be Throw DMC too.
April 1st, 2008 at 9:43 pmIf he’s deemed healthy enough, I say we take Dennis Dixon in the 5th or 6th round to use as a 3/4th WR plus serve as QB-backup. Four receiver set, double reverse with a flea-flicker finale.
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:17 amDouble D, how ever much I would love to see a play like that, I am not so sure Chan Gailey has it in him.
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:53 amClinton – one can always dream.
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:56 amClinton, you forget that Chan Gailey had sort of the same thing in Pittsburgh with Kordell Stewart, aka Slash. A versatile quarterback who played receiver (and did it very well I might add) was a regular package in Chan’s game-plans. It could happen, and honestly I hope he does have something up his sleeve like that. Secondly.. as for quarterback situations, has anyone thought about this scenario: Chris Simms, from the Bucs, since they have, what, 57 quarterbacks on their team now, including Jeff ‘Crazy-legs’ Garcia? Chris Simms played through extraordinary pain in years past, with his appendectomy on hold, and still played well. Also, he’s a lefty, so Jake Long (should we pick him up) could play at LT, and thereby become our “RT” (since Simms is a southpaw) If we then picked up a RT such as Olivea, or someone else that’s competent, he would become our “LT”, and do fine. Jake Long (or Tackle X, since we don’t know who will be there) will still face the best pass-rush specialists the others team have, but it wouldn’t be from Simms’s blind side. I see a few kinks in this plan, but either way, that linemen will either face lesser pass-rushers, and therefore hold up better, or he will face the best, but Simms would see a rush coming and be able to avoid it. He’s experienced enough that our team could rally around him, but young enough that he’s able to adapt, and sit on the bench a year and soak in our offense. He’s more mobile than what we’re used to seeing (besides Casey Printers) in a red uniform, but he’s also got the strength to play through injuries, grind it out, sit in the pocket and deliver the ball. I like Croyle, and think he’ll do fine, but competition does breed results, and I think Damon is just now starting to show his age. In a couple of years, if that, he will be done, and we need an insurance plan pronto. Any thoughts on that?
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:46 am