Position Overview: Quarterbacks
With this overview of the quarterbacks, we conclude our series on the Chiefs 2009 roster and the nine main position groups as the team begins training camp.
There is no question that when they hit the practice field on Saturday morning for the first workout of the 2009 season that the Chiefs now belong to Matt Cassel (left).
Trading a second-round pick was evidence alone, but there’s no doubt after his six-year, $63 million deal got done with the team.
Cassel is the present and future of the Chiefs offense and he can now go about the process of elevating his game and that of his teammates. Todd Haley can talk about competition for jobs, but barring injury there’s no question that Cassel will start the opener against Baltimore.
Tyler Thigpen can only continue to work and be ready. It’s a similar situation for Brodie Croyle as he tries to come back from his knee injury. If Croyle falters in any fashion because of his knee or rustiness then Ingle Martin is still around to grab an opportunity.
Here’s how the position breaks down:
QUARTERBACKS
Matt Cassel (5th season/30 games-15 starts/349 of 555 for 3,946 yards, 21 TDs, 13 INTs/85 carries, 298 yards, 3 TDs.) Last season in replacing the injured Tom Brady with the Patriots, it was all about Cassel fitting in and keeping the New England offense viable. Now, it’s about Cassel. He doesn’t have to fit in. Everyone else has to fit in around him. It will be up to Cassel to make the Chiefs offense viable; sure he needs help, but he must establish himself for the first time as the man. He brings to the table a healthy dose of athletic ability, a strong arm, intelligence, leadership ability and a feel for the game. Cassel isn’t particularly mobile, but he can get away from a rush and keep himself alive as a thrower. Last year he was sacked as often as any quarterback in the NFL. The asterisk to that comes with the orders he was given by Bill Belichick and his coaching staff: don’t take any chances with the football. He ate the ball for a sack many times when it would have been possible to throw it away. The surest way for Cassel to lose his job would be to turn the ball over.
Brodie Croyle (left) (4th/13 games-8 starts/150 of 260 for 1,401 yards, 6 TDs, 8 INTs/10 carries, 15 yards, 0 TD.) Through the off-season program, Croyle was forced to watch the practices rather than take part because he was rehabbing his injured knee. Now, he’s got a limited number of snaps in the pre-season to gain the attention of Pioli/Haley. Croyle’s future is not in Kansas City; that’s something everybody knows and understands. But if he can go about in the pre-season and show something in his play and if he can stay healthy, Croyle might get an opportunity somewhere else in this league.
Ingle Martin (3rd/1 game-0 starts/no passes/1 carry, minus-5 yards, 0 TD.) During his time with the Chiefs last year as a practice squad and then third quarterback, Martin showed a strong arm and the ability to run the scout team. At this point, he’s going to need more than that if he hopes to stay with the team. It will be interesting to see who works as the No. 3 quarterback in the pre-season, whether it will be Croyle or Martin? Don’t count out Martin for that third spot, especially if Croyle shows any sign of being hampered by his knee.
Tyler Thigpen (right) (3rd/15 games-11 starts/232 of 426 for 2,649 yards, 18 TDs, 13 INTs/62 carries, 386 yards, 3 TDs.) The progress that Thigpen made last year was simply remarkable. It was a night and day difference between his play against Atlanta in September as a fill-in starter, to the end of the year when he was the designated starter. For a quarterback getting his first opportunity to start in the league, Thigpen was effective most of the time and improved as the games and starts wore on. Given the circumstances of the team and the season, Thigpen accomplished much. Now, he must find a way to stay motivated and ready to play. There’s a good chance Thigpen will play in ‘09, maybe even start a game. When that opportunity comes, he can’t waste it with a poor or bumpy performance.
CHIEFS ALMANAC/QUARTERBACK
Likely number of quarterbacks on final roster: 3.
- A pre-camp prediction on the QBs: Cassel, Thigpen, Martin.
Quarterbacks that started in this decade: 6.
- Trent Green 90, Damon Huard 21, Elvis Grbac 15, Tyler Thigpen 11, Brodie Croyle 8, Warren Moon 1.
Quarterbacks drafted by Chiefs in this decade: 2.
- Third-Round: Brodie Croyle 2006.
- Seventh-Round: James Kilian 2005
Passers For The Chiefs In This Decade: 14.
| Player | G | Att. | Cmp. | Yards | TD | INT |
| Trent Green |
88 |
2,777 |
1,720 |
21,459 |
118 |
85 |
| Damon Huard |
26 |
657 |
404 |
4,612 |
24 |
18 |
| Elvis Grbac |
15 |
547 |
326 |
4,169 |
28 |
14 |
| Tyler Thigpen |
15 |
426 |
232 |
2,649 |
18 |
13 |
| Brodie Croyle |
13 |
260 |
150 |
1,401 |
6 |
8 |
| Todd Collins |
12 |
27 |
18 |
229 |
1 |
0 |
| Warren Moon |
2 |
343 |
15 |
208 |
1 |
1 |
| Quinn Gray |
1 |
8 |
7 |
76 |
1 |
0 |
| Tony Gonzalez |
TE |
1 |
1 |
40 |
0 |
0 |
| Mark Bradley |
WR |
1 |
1 |
37 |
1 |
0 |
| Sylvester Morris |
WR |
1 |
1 |
31 |
0 |
0 |
| Marques Hagans |
WR |
1 |
1 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
| Larry Johnson |
RB |
3 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
| Priest Holmes |
RB |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
You think we could get anything for Croyle if he proves healthy in the preseason and does a good job. He has the talent he just needs to stay healthy. He could be a good backup for somebody. I could see us get a 6 or 7 rounder for him.
Real Rin ® sez, reply to Blake who said
“You think we could get anything for Croyle if he proves healthy in the preseason and does a good job.”
- no; other teams having seen his injury history will/would just wait till the Chiefs release him if that happened…
“He has the talent he just needs to stay healthy.”
- agreed; he has the best arm on the team. Pair his arm with Thigpen’s legs & Cassel’s overhype, and the Chiefs have their franchise QB…
“He could be a good backup for somebody.”
- for the Chiefs, my opine. Based on the injury factor (Croyle being exhibit #1), the flash in the pan one fluke season syndrome (Cassel being the poster child for said), & the you can’t ever have enough experience at QB (Thigpen’s limited but still more than Ingle Martin experience for example), Brodie stays in Kaycee.
“I could see us get a 6 or 7 rounder for him.”
- I could see the Chiefs getting a #3 for Cassel once they see he isn’t the guy in KC let alone a frnachise QB…
daddy-o, ’search’ & ‘check’ affirming…
Whether Croyle is the better QB or not (he is) over Martin, Croyle will get shafted simply because he makes more money.
Croyle will be the #2,#3 QB after camp, and he won’t get shafted because he makes more money, because it isn’t that much more, and the Chiefs are 30 Million under the cap. If Martin is on the team it will only be because someone gets injured in camp.
Jason,
You may be right,but I don’t think so. MAYBE IF, Croyle is willing to do a restructured deal with an extension. (he’ll be a free agent after this season)
Croyle is scheduled to make $530,000 this season, where Martin comes in $70,000 under that at $460,000 BUT he’s scheduled to make $545,000 next year.
I tend to believe that the Chiefs are in a cost saving mode right now, so Croyle currently being the more expensive player, he’s gonna get shafted.
Next season it may be Martin’s, or hell maybe even Thigpen’s ($460.000 this year but, $550,000 next) turn to be an expense casualty. Pioli likes late round QB’s, there cheaper and he’s had some success drafting them in the later rounds.
4 wins in 0′10
Good stuff again Bob. I feel Tyler may have a shot if Cassell starts to turn the ball over alot this year. Hopefully thats not the case and Cassell plays solid majority of the season. I only hope like you mentioned in your article that Tyler stays motivated and gets an opportunity somewhere else if Cassell lives up to what Pioli believes he can be. If Tyler can be more accurate throwing the football from under center I truly believe he can be a starter in this leaue. He’s definately shown the leadership and athletic ability at the position.
Ya gotta feel sorry for Brodie…I mean, he was seriously fed to the lions. After he went down, and Huard got hurt, they had to rearrange the whole offensive scheme just to keep the QB off his back. I know he is injury prone, but you have to believe that if he had a decent line last year, he might have shown some good stuff. I’d like to see him stick around as #2. I’m just not sold on Thiggy as a pro style QB.
Another thing shows you how crazy and unpredictable the NFL is. Last year this time Croyle was the starter and franchise and Tyler was the 3rd string Qb. Wow is all I can say. Now Brodie fighting for the #3 job and Tyler’s the solid #2 man with a chance to be the guy if Cassell faulters. Thats why the NFL is a billion dollar industry stories like these.
If at all possible, I’d like to see the Chiefs put Brodie on the PUP to give him more time to heal properly and back to 100%. If Ingle struggles, I can see Pioli cutting him and bringing in a new project to be our #3 at the start of the season.
The first QB that stumbles with inaccuracy or interceptions will be the odd man out. Brodie has everything a NFL QB needs except for health. I figure it is his kiss of death. Martin is unknown so he better shine every time a football gets in his hands. Thigpen does not fit the mold so he had better be really sharp. Lastly Cassel, it is his job unless he screws it up. We could be solid at QB for years OR be searching for the next golden boy in 2010.
“Croyle is scheduled to make $530,000 this season, where Martin comes in $70,000 under that at $460,000 BUT he’s scheduled to make $545,000 next year.”
Fetching Dunkin Donuts for the starter is usually what the #3 will do…but Croyle has $150,000 more value in talent than Martin, so Croyle will be allowed to stay on the roster. Now the real issue is whether they resign him to a new contract after his rookie contract runs out.
With Cassel & Thigpen as our top two guys, I really don’t care who is #3. I know last year our #3 stepped up to the challenge & we were fortunate to have what turned out to be a bonafide qualified backup.
How can you not like Brodie Croyle. He’s got all the qualities of a top flite QB. He has been conditioning & strengthening his leg for months. He’s got heart & believes in himself. His poor body just can’t take NFL punishment. I like him, always have, I don’t know squat about Martin. I say we keep Croyle & if we should need him at some point this year, we better have backup QB’s 4 & 5 in the wings.
Martin may be uknown to many, but he and Croyle have a lot in common. Same class at Elite 11. Both All Americans their same senior year. Both committed to big-time SEC schools. Martin got squeezed out in a coaching change and goes 1-AA. Croyle drafted 3rd round. Martin drafted 4th round. Martin is a much better athlete and probably has a stronger arm. Croyle has more experience and is considered a more pure passer. Both are quality people off the field. The funny thing is, they probably know each other very well. The Chiefs will be fine with either as a 3, but I wouldn’t totally write off Martin because he’s “unknown.”
“How can you not like Brodie Croyle?” What? I hope you mean for a #3. That I could understand. Maybe. I can not understand at all what this hanging on to Brodie is about. It doesn’t matter how much talent you think the guy has; if you can’t stay in the game you can’t win; if you can’t win you can’t be a good QB.
Let’s move on.
Let’s go Cassel!
Let’s go CHIEFS!!
Where’s Jonathan Quinn on the QB roster?
Quinn was cut a couple months ago.
I suspect it will be difficult for Croyle to beat our Martin unless he (Croyle) has a really strong camp. Which will be difficult to do while he’s still not 100%. Croyle seems like a good kid, but my money is on Martin for #3. And don’t be real surprised if neither makes the team, and they grab another QB off waivers from another team as camp finishes up in a few weeks.