My Chief Concerns: Kansas City’s QB Depth

by Chiefs

I feel way more confident in Matt Cassel than I did last year.  The fact that he has matured, played well, and now has better weapons is a definite plus.  The coaches now know him real well, and even more important is the fact that he knows himself even better.  Over the last three years he has received more snaps than at any time in his entire QB career.

But you have to wonder, do the Chiefs bring in a more experienced signal caller to back up Matt Cassel or do they go with Tyler Palko and Ricki Stanzi for the rest of the year? Both back up QBs have little to no NFL experience, and with all the talent and money the Chiefs have in players like, Charles, Bowe, Baldwin, Hali, Moeaki, and Flowers, you don’t want to waste a year should something happen to your starting QB.  You most certainly should have a better back up plan than the one the Chiefs currently have.

 More after the jump…

Tyler Palko has extremely limited NFL experience at with 4 completions for 35 yards, zero TDs and Zero interceptions in four games.  While in college,Tyler saw action in 41 games (35 starts) at Pittsburgh. He completed 645 of 1,075 passes for 8,343 yards with 66 TDs, and left Pittsburghwith the highest total passing yards in school history and his 66 TDs trail only Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino (79).  Pretty impressive, right?  Well “this isn’t college”.   The fact of the matter is Palko is really a third stringer at this point in his career and I believe it would be professional suicide for Haley to go with just Tyler Palko at number 2.

Ricki Stanzi, as a recent draft pick, is a younger better prospect at this point than Palko. While in college with the Hawkeyes, Ricki Stanzi appeared in 39 games and started his final 35 contests.  He completed 542-of-907 passes (59.76%) for 7,377 yards, 56 touchdowns and 31 interceptions.  He posted a 26-9 record during his time as a starter and saw action in 1,067 plays, generating 7,373 yards of total offense (189.05 avg.).   His 542 pass completions rank fourth in school history.  He completed 64.06% of his passes in 2010, the fifth-best season average by a Hawkeyes quarterback.  He closed out his career with a 141.62 pass efficiency rating and set the school record by throwing at least one touchdown pass in 21 consecutive games.Pretty impressive, right?  However, it too would be professional suicide to make this rookie, with absolutely no NFL experience, your number two QB as well. 

I would feel more comfortable with a more experienced QB as the number two, with Stanzi at number three and Palko on the practice squad.But it seems too late for that. The experienced signal callers are gone.  For all intents and purposes, the Chiefs are going thin on experience at number two and three.  They are going to roll with Palko and Stanzi. 

To say that I am a little “concerned” about the Chiefs QB depth right now would be an understatement.  I wonder if Bowe, Baldwin, Breaston, Moeaki and others feel the same?  Any thoughts?

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I've been waiting in vain for them to sign a veteran QB to backup Matt. Friday nights game should be interesting. If both Palko & Stanzi suck I bet we sign a QB before the weekend is over.

Just in case.. Haley should keep Kurt Warner's number handy.

As of now I say lets roll with Stanzi as our number 2. It's not unheard of for a rookie to have success with a team that runs the ball well and plays good defense. I may change my opinion after the preseason. I'm so freakin excited for the preseason

Someone get Favre on the phone!!!

@tm1946 I think it's a different situation. Peyton Manning is an elite, top ten QB's of all time. I like Cassel, but he isn't peyton manning. I think it's safe to say that KC is a more balanced team. Yes, it would hurt if we lost cassel, but we would still have our number one running game, a top ten WR in this league, arguably the best slot reciever in the game now. I think it's fallable logic to suggest that just because Stanzi is a rookie, he would not be a "decent" backup. There would be a talent drop off(no doubt) but we would not turn into the buffalo bills in one flailed swoop. Also, this talk about getting a veteran to back up Cassel: Is this just a way to keep stanzi away from playing time? I mean, say cass blows his knee out and we take marc bulger, who would suck(most likely), next season, Bulger is gone and Stanzi still doesn't have any experience. Rip off the bandaid.

You make a convincing argument and I agree. I certainly do not want Croyle back either. The best option recently decided to retire but maybe he could be convinced to come back in that role. I am talking about Marc Bulger. There is not much left out there but clearly they need someone. If they cannot find a solid #2 then I would make Palko the #2. I think Stanzi is the future, but has a long way to go and I would not want to risk screwing him up.

@Celtks I am not big on names. I can suggest a need but believe the coaches should figure out names of who they want. Also most of us who name kids are more interested in the kid "getting a chance" over any real skill level that fit the Chiefs or the NFL for that matter. Remember B Sippio, how many thinking fans were just dieing to have him play for the Chiefs, how did that work out?

@ben_cartmill Yayy!! Let's head down to the Bayou!

@Celtks I think this would be a good time to start some sort of Brett Favre rumor.

Just wait 'til teams have to cut their numbers down. I'm sure there will be at least 1 or 2 qbs out there with every team cutting 30 to 40 players.

@tm1946 Who ya thinking of in particular?

Wait Sims is available? An opportunity waiting.. Seriously who would we look at? They don't grow on trees..

@Celtks How about a old vet QB with a year or two left in him. Someone one who actually has a prayer of carrying the QB load for a game or two and chance of winning.

It's SHOCKING that Croyle is out there waiting on a call from someone - anyone! Gosh let's trade for CHRIS SIMS!

Remember that guy who Jacksonville signed as a qb the day before they played us last season? He was pretty decent as I remember, especially for not having played in forever.

Pretty alarming and I hadn't heard too much mention of it before. If Cassel were to lose a significant amount of time that would obviously put the Chiefs in a very tough spot. I think we all remember how things went with Brodie. At least with Brodie starting though... we knew Kelli Croyle was somewhere close by watching ;) They'd have no choice but to trade for someone with experience and a good track record. I suppose they could also try to resurrect a retired has-been, if desperate. Anyone have Trent Green's number?

Not concerned?? Look at Indy without Manning, the team goes from contender to nobody with Manning not playing at opt. level. We need a "decent" backup and not Stanzi or Palko. Why isn't Stanzi holding a clipboard and learning? Local says Stanzi looks better than Palko, need help.

nobody seems to think its a problem but I sure do

THANK GOD! IM concerned as HELL about this!

No politics please. Never turns out well. ;) @TomAntrim

I have more confidence in him then I have in obama and the democrats to lower the debt.

I still say both Palko and Stanzi are better than Croyle, and we already did that so i'm not too worried. Plus whoever comes in will have some great weapons and a hell of a run game, they'll be alright if it happens.

Stanzi was an iowa hawkeye, and I'm not too sure how good he will be as an NFL QB and Palko really scares me to be honest.....but,, I'm not too worried about that, Cassel has been very durable throughout his career. Ithink if he did go down, you know we'd be giving Mc'Clain an increase in carries.

KC_Fanactic69 21 pts

I've been waiting in vain for them to sign a veteran QB to backup Matt. Friday nights game should be interesting. If both Palko & Stanzi suck I bet we sign a QB before the weekend is over.

TrappedInDonkeyland 243 pts

Just in case.. Haley should keep Kurt Warner's number handy.

TrappedInDonkeyland 243 pts

As of now I say lets roll with Stanzi as our number 2. It's not unheard of for a rookie to have success with a team that runs the ball well and plays good defense. I may change my opinion after the preseason. I'm so freakin excited for the preseason

DavidFritch 36 pts

Someone get Favre on the phone!!!

Big Jim 233 pts

You make a convincing argument and I agree. I certainly do not want Croyle back either. The best option recently decided to retire but maybe he could be convinced to come back in that role. I am talking about Marc Bulger. There is not much left out there but clearly they need someone. If they cannot find a solid #2 then I would make Palko the #2. I think Stanzi is the future, but has a long way to go and I would not want to risk screwing him up.

BrettMurphy 14 pts

Just wait 'til teams have to cut their numbers down. I'm sure there will be at least 1 or 2 qbs out there with every team cutting 30 to 40 players.

Celtks 40 pts

Wait Sims is available? An opportunity waiting..

Seriously who would we look at? They don't grow on trees..

Celtks 40 pts

It's SHOCKING that Croyle is out there waiting on a call from someone - anyone! Gosh let's trade for CHRIS SIMS!

tm1946 183 pts

Celtks

How about a old vet QB with a year or two left in him. Someone one who actually has a prayer of carrying the QB load for a game or two and chance of winning.

Celtks 40 pts

tm1946 Who ya thinking of in particular?

ben_cartmill 7 pts

Celtks I think this would be a good time to start some sort of Brett Favre rumor.

Celtks 40 pts

ben_cartmill Yayy!! Let's head down to the Bayou!

tm1946 183 pts

Celtks

I am not big on names. I can suggest a need but believe the coaches should figure out names of who they want. Also most of us who name kids are more interested in the kid "getting a chance" over any real skill level that fit the Chiefs or the NFL for that matter. Remember B Sippio, how many thinking fans were just dieing to have him play for the Chiefs, how did that work out?

Chief Hokie 87 pts

Remember that guy who Jacksonville signed as a qb the day before they played us last season? He was pretty decent as I remember, especially for not having played in forever.

David_Schroeder 42 pts

Pretty alarming and I hadn't heard too much mention of it before. If Cassel were to lose a significant amount of time that would obviously put the Chiefs in a very tough spot. I think we all remember how things went with Brodie. At least with Brodie starting though... we knew Kelli Croyle was somewhere close by watching ;)

They'd have no choice but to trade for someone with experience and a good track record. I suppose they could also try to resurrect a retired has-been, if desperate. Anyone have Trent Green's number?

tm1946 183 pts

Not concerned?? Look at Indy without Manning, the team goes from contender to nobody with Manning not playing at opt. level. We need a "decent" backup and not Stanzi or Palko. Why isn't Stanzi holding a clipboard and learning? Local says Stanzi looks better than Palko, need help.

AdamSchefers 11 pts

tm1946 I think it's a different situation. Peyton Manning is an elite, top ten QB's of all time. I like Cassel, but he isn't peyton manning. I think it's safe to say that KC is a more balanced team. Yes, it would hurt if we lost cassel, but we would still have our number one running game, a top ten WR in this league, arguably the best slot reciever in the game now. I think it's fallable logic to suggest that just because Stanzi is a rookie, he would not be a "decent" backup. There would be a talent drop off(no doubt) but we would not turn into the buffalo bills in one flailed swoop.

Also, this talk about getting a veteran to back up Cassel: Is this just a way to keep stanzi away from playing time? I mean, say cass blows his knee out and we take marc bulger, who would suck(most likely), next season, Bulger is gone and Stanzi still doesn't have any experience. Rip off the bandaid.

Arrowhead Adventurer 97 pts

nobody seems to think its a problem but I sure do

Arrowhead Adventurer 97 pts

THANK GOD! IM concerned as HELL about this!

Aspen 13 pts

I have more confidence in him then I have in obama and the democrats to lower the debt.

Arowhead_Addict 491 pts

No politics please. Never turns out well. ;) Aspen

LennyNightwolf 70 pts

I still say both Palko and Stanzi are better than Croyle, and we already did that so i'm not too worried.

Plus whoever comes in will have some great weapons and a hell of a run game, they'll be alright if it happens.

AdamSchefers 11 pts

Stanzi was an iowa hawkeye, and I'm not too sure how good he will be as an NFL QB and Palko really scares me to be honest.....but,, I'm not too worried about that, Cassel has been very durable throughout his career. Ithink if he did go down, you know we'd be giving Mc'Clain an increase in carries.