Hash-tag For a Cure: Finding the Next Chiefs Quarterback
Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE
I’ve been moaning and groaning about the debacle that was Sunday for too long! It’s time to take back my week, take back my life, and take back my Twitter. It’s time to stop concentrating on last Sunday and start concentrating on next April.
That’s right, I’m looking at the upcoming NFL draft.
Yes, this is very defeatist of me, but I am doing myself and all those readers out there who are sick and tired of thinking about the Chiefs 1-3 start a favor; particularly the guy at the helm.
Sure, there are more people to blame than just QB Matt Cassel. Jamaal Charles had two costly fumbles on Sunday. Brian Daboll looks like his cup is so overflowing with talent that he’s drunk off it, which could explain why Shaun Draughn has gotten so many carries this season. Romeo Crennel is making a strong case for the worst head coach in the AFC. And Scott Pioli… calm down Nathan, remember what you’re writing about [deep breath].
Ok.
Cassel is on pace to be awful. Currently, Cassel is 22nd in the league in completion percentage (58.4%), 28th in quarterback rating (70.4), tied for 27th in average yards per pass 6.6, tied for 3rd in sacks taken (13), tied for first in interceptions (7) in contrast to his 5 TDs. And if Cassel was the improbably victim of stats not telling the whole story, he has also failed any sort of eye test fans and scouts have seen. His passes are high, wide, low, behind, and anywhere but on his wide receivers.
While only four games into the season, Cassel certainly has plenty of time to turn it around. But even if he did, I still want a quarterback in the first round. For a team so deep, the Chiefs are so weak at the most important position on the field. And despite the chants for Brady Quinn and Ricky Stanzi after the multiple-interception game by Cassel against the Chargers, I am looking for a long-term fix. I am looking for the Chiefs’ first 1st round quarterback since Todd Blackledge in 1983 (Blackledge < Eason, Kelly, O’Brien, Marino).
Not only could a high round quarterback help fix the Chiefs offensive problems, he could restore faith into the Chiefs fan base. I am going to ignore the Pioli tendencies and make it a democratic decision for the next face of the franchise. And by democratic decision, I mean a twitter campaign of #Suck4Luck proportions. I am going to list a few quarterback twitter hash-tags, list their statistics, and leave it up to you, the fans, to get the campaign spreading far and wide throughout Chiefs kingdom. And no, this doesn’t have to be confined to the limits of Twitter. Facebook it, text it, Pinterest it (whatever that is), shout it at the top of your lungs when the Chiefs are down three touchdowns to the Ravens next week like Frank Costanza would use the ‘Serenity Now!’ technique to help calm his anger.
It’s up to you, ladies and gentleman; you are the fans. Get this thing going; let people know that we are not satisfied by the current state of the franchise. Let your friends and followers know something must be done. And, of course, add your own hash-tags in the comments section to make this thing your own.
Let’s get this campaign started!
#Bark4Barkley
Technically, I started this campaign last year when I thought Matt Barkley would enter the 2012 draft. Instead, Barkley stayed at USC for his senior year and allowed me to keep dreaming about this draft pick. He will go very high in the 2013 draft, so either the Chiefs will have to trade up to get him, or just be so awful they are in the position to nab the 4-year starter (which is conceivable). And for those saying you don’t want another USC quarterback? Actually, history is on your side, but I’d still love to have this guy on my team.
2012 Stats: 88/143 (64.1%), 1,005 yards, 12 TDs, 5 INTs Career: 843/1,318 (64.0%), 10,059 yards, 92 TDs, 38 INTs
#Blow4Geno
Yes, I know there wasn’t the Barkley-like hype entering this season for Geno Smith, but he has, without question, been the best quarterback in college football this year. His meteoric rise resembles that of Cam Newton and Robert Griffin III, the two prior Heisman winners. While it will be interesting to see how he performs against tougher Big 12 competition than Baylor, the West Virginia Senior is as electrifying as it comes. I mean, just look at the stats.
2012 Stats: 141/169 (83.4%), 1,728 yards, 20 TDs, 0 INTs Career Stats: 760/1,116 (68.1%), 9,185 yards, 76 TDs, 15 INTs
#Tank4Tyler
Nowhere near the Heisman watch list for this season, Arkansas fifth-year Senior, Tyler Wilson, has suffered the repercussions of a new head coach, loss of talent around him, and a porous offensive line. But as the losses continue to pile up for the Razorbacks, it should not be forgotten how good of a prospect Wilson is at the quarterback position. With some analysts even penciling in Wilson as the second QB off the board in April, it will be interesting to see how high or how low Wilson’s stock goes based on his team’s performance.
2012 Stats: 76/145 (54.5%), 1,355 yards, 9 TDs, 5 INTs Career Stats: 423/692 (61.1%), 5,733 yards, 40 TDs, 18 INTs
#Erring4Aaron
Currently sixth on ESPN’s Heisman watch list, Aaron Murray, the junior quarterback for Georgia, is putting together a very nice season. Murray might be viewed as an under-the-radar sort of first rounder, but if Murray chooses to come out, I think there will definitely be the market.
2012 Stats: 88/129 (68.2%), 1,370 yards, 12 TDs, 3 INTs Career Stats: 535/874 (61.2%), 7,568 yards, 71 TDs, 25 INTs
Barkley, Smith, Wilson and Murray are my top four contenders. Here are some honorable mentions that might not make the first round but could be an improvement at the QB position.
#LandingLandry
This one was more conceivable last year.
2012 Stats: 68/107 (63.6%), 773 yards, 5 TDs, 2 INTs Career Stats: 1,089/1,735 (62.8%), 13,152, 98 TDs, 43 INTs
#Pray4Bray
Tyler Bray could easily move up into my top four by the end of the year, but must remember he’s just a junior.
2012 Stats: 118/193 (61.1%), 1,582 yards, 14 TDs, 6 INTs Career Stats: 390/664 (58.7%), 5,414 yards, 49 TDs, 22 INTs
#LoseAway4EJ
Clearly not a good hash-tag, but Florida St Quarterback, E.J. Manuel, is good.
2012 Stats: 88/120 (73.3%), 1,147 yards, 9 TDs, 1 INT Career Stats: 425/630 (67.5%), 5,491 yards, 33 TDs, 19 INTs
Well, that does it for looking at the 2013 draft class. Like I said earlier, add your own hash-tags to the comment section and let’s make it happen. And if you can’t wait for the season to end to see someone other than Cassel start for the Chiefs, here are a few hash-tags for that as well:
#WinWithQuinn #Antsy4Stanzi #Starve4Favre
The last one’s a joke of course. Unless…. Nah.