05 Sep
A.A.D.Q.: 2008 LVP & MVP?
Posted by: Adam Best
Let’s predict Chiefs‘ 2008 Least Valuable Players and Most Valuable Players. I’m going to go with Brodie Croyle over Damion McIntosh and Pat Surtain for LVP, and Derrick Johnson for MVP in a close call over our triplets–Dwayne Bowe, Larry Johnson and Tony Gonzalez.
Addicts, who are your 2008 Chiefs’ LVPs and MVPs?
I’ll take some crap for it, but:
Brodie Croyle for MVP. I don’t think anyone can deny that the season rests squarely on his shoulders. If he shines we have a much better chance of winning. If he drowns we’re screwed. If he does even a decent job he’ll be the MVP of the team.
LVP should be a player that we have some high expectations of but don’t live up to them. Again I may take some crap:
1. Tamba Hali. Much as I hate to say it. We may not expect it, but we all hope he can step up close to what JA did. From what we’ve seen so far, he’s just not comfortable on the other side. We’ll see a big decrease in production from Allen’s old position and we’ll miss the production from Hali’s old position, as I don’t think that Turk, while serviceable, can live up to Hali’s potential there just yet.
2. Nick Novak. Not as much expectations here, but we’ve been dying for a consistent K for a long time. Any falters on his part will earn distaste from the fanbase and a call for Barth to be brought back. He’d better bring his A-game.
3. Jeff Webb. Probably not many expectations here at all. But if he has many more errors, or especially dropped balls, the Sippy crowd will be calling for his head. Unless he has a breakout year, he’ll be looking for a job next season.
September 5th, 2008 at 12:28 amMVP- Wishful thinking leads me to Herb Taylor. I think Albert either struggles in a few games, or gets (minorly) hurt at some point, and Herbie is back at LT, doin’ his thang. Could be the successor for Willie, if he can withstand the trial by fire that is the regular season.
Realistically I’m thinking Flowers. After having mediocre/bad corners (with but a few exceptions) we’ve finally found someone solid. Again, he has to prove himself, but having stepped up against LarFitz and others the way he did.. I’m impressed so far. Which backs up my theory that anyone with a ‘girly, sissy, or otherwise, ‘uncool’ name’ will grow up to be a badass. Much like A Boy Named Sue, by Johnny Cash himself, it’s a good thought. Mike Tyson sounded like a little person chick, so he compensated by punching you in the face. Hard.
Anywho back to football. LVP is a tough one. I’m going to go Surtain. I hate to say it but I’m going with MacIntosh. He’s going to be our RT heading in, and at some point I have to believe he’s just going to get smoked, and Barry will HAVE to step in, although it’s too early for him to do so, Barry will struggle, and that’s due to D-Mac struggling, and as I sit here and think about it more and more, I want to kick Damion in the juevos.
My second choice is gonna be Brian Waters. He won’t be the least valuable, exactly, but he’ll possibly be the one with the highest expectations going in, who will see a drop-off in play. He looked… fatigued, in pre-season. I don’t know if it’s the mental stress of being ‘the guy’ that everyone looks up to, especially the tight-knit group that are O-line units. I don’t know if it’s his personal life, I don’t know if he was just in a funk, but I do know he struggled hardcore-like last month, and I haven’t seen him struggle like that.. ever. I’m cautiously biting my cheek on this one, and hoping it turns out better than I expect.
September 5th, 2008 at 12:46 amhrmm… LVP:
It’s real hard not to pick Dmac as I’m already seriously not impressed with his attitude and the girlyman injuries… but I’m going to go with DVD. He’s one of the few who’s shown us the least so far, and to all outward appearances that’s not likely to change. Runnerup it Thiggy Smalls if he has to come in and play any length of time.
For MVP I’m going to go with Jamal Charles. The game just doesn’t seem to be too big or too fast for the guy, and if he’s our regular 3rd down change of pace back, I suspect he’s going to impress.
September 5th, 2008 at 12:57 amJamal Charles giving us a lil’ MJD–I like that.
I also like the Tamba LVP call, though I disagree on Turk.
Looks like Scott is more of a “Broadway” Brodie guy than a Brodie Boller one.
September 5th, 2008 at 1:10 amMan Adam, are you going to be able to watch a game this year? You have got to be one of the most pessimistic Chiefs fans out there!
September 5th, 2008 at 7:10 amI don’t know what you’ve seen that makes you think Brodie is going to be awful. The OLine is the key, not brodie, give him his time to read the D and if the line can open holes for LJ, then Brodie will be just fine. Like I stated in a earlier in a post I did, at the end of the year, Brodie Croyle will not be the weakest link of the Chiefs team when it’s all said and done.
Lots of interesting ideas you guys presented here but I will make my case.
MVP
Gawd I do love Flowers for Defensive Rookie of the Year, but MVP has to go to a tenaciously resurrected LJ.
If this team is to open up the lanes and slow the opponents pass rush… LJ must carry the load that he has carried in the past. This guy was the captain of the offense and needs to prove he will be next year.
LVP
Will NOT be Hali, or Dorsey, they will draw double coverage and open up successful blitz schemes not so surprisingly and most times overwhelmingly pressuring QBs… starting Sunday or if not very very soon.
I’m afraid I have to pick Brodie himself, it will be apparent eventually that his fleet of foot, razzle dazzle short of stature style is not long for this league. He simply MUST learn NOW to misdirect the defense with some head or arm fakes! The trouble is the second string option Huard with feet of clay will not help unless the O-line becomes a solid working unit by midseason.
My opinion… but you know what they say about opinions, lol!
September 5th, 2008 at 7:10 amMy LVP candidates are Darling and McIntosh. I’m giving the nod to Darling simply because we have seen NOTHING from him in the preseason. The coaching staff seems to be high on this guy but they have made some very questionable personnel decisions in the past so I can’t fully trust their judgment – I need to see performance in order to be a believer. McIntosh is (spell it with me) D.O.N.E. He is an easy pick for LVP and will certainly be a top choice for most people.
My top MVP candidates are DJ and Flowers. DJ is an easy choice here and for good reason – the guy has all the skills and physical attributes to be one of the greatest linebackers in the league and is poised for a monster year, especially with Gun coaching him. Flowers will get my vote though. He has been absolutely amazing in preseason games providing great man-to-man coverage and run support. He may be small for an NFL corner but he has HEART and that is what makes him stand out. I liked him a V-Tech but never thought the Chiefs would get him in the draft. Outside of Dorsey, this was my favorite pick of the draft.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:44 amRegarding Brodie, I intentionally left him off my list because he is a good candidate for both LVP and MVP. He could be LVP for the obvious reasons but some may choose him for MVP (and have) and I think I understand why. I don’t think he will be the MVP of the team but average play will make some think that he is a gift from the heavens and artificially inflate his status.
Call me a homer, optimist, idiot, moron…call me whatever you want but I am a believer in Brodie. I say that because I think he has the tools to be successful at this level. He can develop into a good QB with some more experience and a better supporting cast which I think he has this year.
Do I think he has proven anything yet, No. But I do think he can turn into a serviceable NFL QB. I’m not calling him a Franchise QB because it will take a small miracle for that to happen. There will always be someone better than Brodie out there and he will always have his critics but Franchise QBs don’t come around that often and we could spend the next ten years searching for ‘that guy’. I am happy with ’serviceable’ if it can get us a Super Bowl win. It has happened before…
September 5th, 2008 at 8:50 amAdam:
I am wondering how you think Brodie will stink up the joint while Tony and DBowe have good years. Just who is throwing them the ball?? Anyway, for my pics, DMac for LVP and Dorsey for MVP.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:42 amI think that if he stays healthy derrick johnson will be the most valuable chief. I think that my vote for lvp (most dissapointing) will be donnie edwards. I have a feeling he is getting old fast.
If we get decent blocking and a good running game Brodie will not kill us. I think he will be passable on the low and show promise on the high.
For us to be more than a 4 win team our offensive line will have to play alot better.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:46 amSaskwatch, good point on Donnie but don’t forget about his experience. Donnie may contribute more as a mentor to the younger guys like Williams and Thomas. He could bring many intangibles to the team in that regard.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:40 amMVP’s:(OFFENCE) Brodie Croyle, RUDY! RUDY! RUDY! Niswanger, Jamal Charles, Tony G., Brad Cottam, Mike Cox, and B.Rich (cuz D. Mc. SUCKS!) and Will Fraklin
MVP’s (Defence) Turk McB., M1-A1 Tyler, Glen Dorsey, Demorrio Williams, Pat Thomas?, D.J., Brandon (You Can Drive my) Carr, Brandon Flowers, B. Pollard, J.(Turn The)Page, DaJaun Morgan,
MVP’s (Special Teams) D. Colquitt, Dantrell Savage
LVP’s DVD, Sams and D.Mc.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:57 amI am surprised that Webb and Naps haven’t made anyone’s LVP list yet.
September 5th, 2008 at 11:11 amSaskwatch, great point on Donnie.
Merlin–predictable. I knew one of a handful of people was going to come back with that reply. My answer? Dwayne Bowe and Tony Gonzalez had awesome stats last year. Larry Johnson had three 100-yard games in his last six, and didn’t even finish one of those games. I expect solid numbers again, but not because of their QB. Just like a year ago.
September 5th, 2008 at 11:15 amSteven, I don’t think I’m a pessimist. I’m a realist.
Quarterback is the most important position in the NFL, and I don’t think we have one. I think we’re making a lot of progress in other areas, but that won’t be reflected in the box score because of our QB play.
September 5th, 2008 at 11:18 amYour right Jester…Harris is so “lvp” I forgot to put him on the list lol
September 5th, 2008 at 11:38 amMVP – There are a couple options here. Dwayne Bowe has shown leadership in the offseason and he is poised for a M O N S T E R Y E A R. How he is going so low in these fantasy drafts is beyond me, but I will happily take him for my team. In fact, I have a bet with my friend, $10 that Dwyane Bowe is a top 10 receiver, and $10 that Dwayne Bowe is a top 5 receiver, fantasy-wise. I digress.
LVP – You never WANT to pick a guy to play poorly. That being said, LJ is my pick here. That might suprise some of you, but it is not an easy feat coming back from a “freak” foot/ankle injury. Call me crazy, and I would never want it to happen, but LJ loses his job to Kolby Smith this year. Kolby/JC will be our 1/2 punch as we come down the home stretch and hopefully a playoff run.
September 5th, 2008 at 11:59 amI agree with you Red Dragon, LJ’s not on my mvp list, because I too am a little suspect.
September 5th, 2008 at 12:16 pmWhen I think of MVP, I think of who does the most to take it up a notch from last as well as who does the most to make the guys around him elevate their games. For me, even though he’s not a player, I have to believe that will be Chan Gailey. In preseason game 1, we saw a glimpse of “play action” Chan. In game 2, we saw a glimple of “run the ball” Chan. I was very impressed with both of those Chans and I have this funny feeling that our offense might, just maybe, blow some doors off this season.
As far as actual players go, I expect LJ to be LJ, Gonz to be Gonz, and Bowe to be Bowe in the sense that we can expect them to play as well as they ever have. In terms of who I think is in a position to add the most to the success of this team, I’ll go out on a limb and say Mike Cox because from what I’ve seen so far, he has the tools to give Brodie that extra second or two, he can lead block like T-Rich, and he knows how to sneak out for the big catch and has the hands to make it. DJ is my number 2, Franklin and Cottam tie for number 3.
Conversely, for LVP, I think the guy who is most likely to lose a step and create the most problems for the guys around him is Donnie Edwards. While it’s tempting (yeah I mean you D-Mac), I’m not ready to throw in the towel for any of our OL guys just yet.
September 5th, 2008 at 12:28 pmBrandon (You Can Drive my) Carr – lmao JohnND!!
I too am suspicious of LJ’s longterm prospects. Even if he has another season like we hope for… and that’s one of the reasons why I said we should shop him now for a trade in “Running Backs A Go-Go”. You have to wonder if he has any more of those seasons in him at all – and if he doesn’t return to form this season, we wont be able to get jack for him in a trade then.
September 5th, 2008 at 2:42 pmThanks CMF, but I thought M1A1 Tyler was better =+
September 5th, 2008 at 3:38 pmAdam:
Predictable, yes because it is logical. LJ is one thing, but Tony and D-Bowe have to rely on the QB passing the ball. IMO, it Brodie has a LVP year, as you suggest, it is not possible for Tony and D-Bowe to put up very good numbers. If they do, then Brodie is not your LVP. You can’t have both of these.
September 5th, 2008 at 5:26 pmMVP: PAT THOMAS. That’s right, I said Pat Thomas. A couple of reasons that I am making such a brazen selection. 1. Dorsey and Tank in the gut will give him every opportunity to make hits on RBs without having to deal with O-Lineman hitting him at the next level. 2. In that last preseason game, he showed some speed in making a tackle in the backfield on a sweep. Looks like he’ll be able to read plays and react quickly. Plus, eventhough Napolean whiffed far too much at the Mike spot last season, he was out leading tackler. Pat Thomas came out of nowhere to take the leading tacklers job. And, his teammates voted him team captain. That’s the kind of thing I like to see out of my MLB, leadership. I think he’ll start of slowly as he has to earn his chops as a legit NFL starter at such a central defensive position, but by the next offseason, I don’t think anyone will be starting the Draft Rey campaign.
LVP: I don’t even like the idea of making a pick on this criteria, and I think too many of you are guaging it relative to expectations, when the reality of the situation is that the least valuable player is whoever rides the pine all season long but collects a big check. Namely the man that Thomas is replacing.
September 5th, 2008 at 6:25 pmOh, one more quick thing on PT Bruiser, he looked good when he dropped into pass coverage as well in the preseason and had some good hops to knock down passes to receivers that had a good distance behind him. I think he will generate some turnovers for us, and more than any other stat, that is what we need to improve upon defensively this season.
September 5th, 2008 at 6:27 pmSudden:
If you are right about Pat Thomas, that will make a lot of Chief fans happy and help to set us up for next year.
September 5th, 2008 at 6:28 pmI like the PT Bruiser pick. I also was impressed by his selection as one of the four captains.
September 5th, 2008 at 6:37 pm