Pre-Season Week One: Chiefs To Watch
From Arrowhead Stadium
As the Chiefs kickoff the 2009 pre-season Saturday evening at Arrowhead Stadium against the Houston Texans, there are a lot of nervous coaches and players. Openers do that to people, especially openers of a new era or regime.
On an 80-man roster where 75 players should be available to play, about half of that roster has real doubts and concerns about where they will be a month from now. This year under Scott Pioli and Todd Haley it may be more than half.
So there are a lot of players to watch in this Chiefs-Texans matchup. Here are five:
QB Brodie Croyle: Whether he’s the second or third quarterback in the game doesn’t really matter for Croyle; he’s just excited to get another chance to get on the field and play. None of the quarterbacks have looked very good in camp and there’s no question when practice began Croyle was very rusty. But he’s improved and appears to be far more comfortable in the drop back passing game than Tyler Thigpen. When he does hit the field, Croyle needs to have a good night. Whether that keeps him in Kansas City or opens up other avenues for him in the league, it’s vital he take advantage of any opportunities that come his way. There will not be many.
LB Corey Mays: Veteran Zach Thomas can’t get off the bike on the rehab team, and that’s opened a door for Mays. Cut loose by both New England and Cincinnati, Mays was signed by the Chiefs for his special teams ability. Now, he’s gotten the chance to play and has looked very comfortable handling one of the inside positions during practices. If he can transfer that work in the northwoods to under the lights of pre-season play, Mays may make himself a starter and the Chiefs won’t be worried about the health of Thomas.
RT Herb Taylor: Football coaches are always looking for players they call “knee-benders.” That would be players who are flexible and agile enough to be able to bend their knees, lower their frame and are still able to control their body and play with explosion. That’s not Damion McIntosh. The big man at right tackle has played for 10 seasons and his knees are feeling the accumulation of 115 games. He was taking limited repetitions during the last few practices in River Falls, so there’s a chance he may not play at all tonight. That opens the door for Taylor. The third-year pro has never really had the chance to make a position his, but based on the move of ‘09 draft choice Colin Brown inside to guard, Taylor can put the right tackle spot in his hands with strong performances in these pre-season games.
WR Quinten Lawrence: This young man has struggled in training camp. He’s far from being a polished receiver and Lawrence has shown one major chink in his game: he’s very inconsistent catching the football. But he does have the one item that can’t be taught and that’s speed. Lawrence has made some very athletic catches during camp practices, so the raw materials are there. If he’s going to be a factor for the ‘09 Chiefs, he must raise his level of play under the Saturday night lights.
WR Rodney Wright: In two weeks in Wisconsin, Wright and Terrance Copper were the best receivers on the roster. Wright, an Arena League refugee, is first in line at handling punt and kick returns and he must take advantage of every opportunity there. If he can show something on special teams, he’ll earn a spot on the final roster. Haley has been all over Wright in practices about how he catches the kicks and how he runs once he’s got the ball. That tells us several things: the coach thinks the guy can play and Wright needs work on his fundamentals. Watch him in this game: if he catches balls with his body square and takes off straight ahead on returns, not left or right, we’ll know he’s been listening.
Excellent heads up, Bob. I’ll be watching Croyle most closely to see if he’s progressed beyond rook status and the injury bug that’s retarded his progress in the NFL. Interesting to note that this former 3rd round pick is in competition with a couple of 7th rounders for the QB job which, by the enormity of the $$$ in his signing, has already been handed to Cassel.
However, things do change on occasion, like when Brady won his job at QB for the Pats over a seasoned vet a few years back.
I’m also wondering if this Zach Thomas situation is getting to the point of ‘game over’? At his age, with all the wear and tear, one has to wonder.
I WILL GET AN INTERCEPTION TONIGHT.
watch.
“None of the quarterbacks have looked very good in camp”
- they need to open their eyes/quit throwing the ball to the DBs. Under the heading ‘to whom much is given much is expected’, if he was being paid for promise delivered #7 would owe Jr. a refund.
Speaking of numbers here in Kansas City we spell bust $63-0-0-0,0-0-0.0-0
“Lawrence has shown one major chink in his game”
- if Sid Gillman was KC coach, would say re: ‘Q’: “Get him out of the game because he has no hands.”
Which means he has no place on the 53 man at WR.
daddy-0, ’search’ & ‘check’ affirming…
Things to watch:
-Defense
-Epic battle between Brandon Albert and Super Mario
Hope we get to see Croyle play with Brandon Albert at LT….anything else would be tragic.
I think Haley must be really the old school type man who requires a player to earn his money or get out the door. I like the guy more every time I read something about him. Now if only the players can be man enough to live up to expectations.
I am still irritated about Herm putting Croyle back in there behind that o-line last year. I remember telling my friend that I didn’t think Croyle would make it out of the first half, and lo and behold he didn’t. I liked Herm to a degree but that was a horrible call. People harp on Croyle being injury prone but any pocket passer in that game last year would have been sidelined. I would like to see Thiggy compete with Croyle for #1 if Cassell flops.
Ready For Some Football ???? He!! Yes Chiefs well win & Rin well choke on his cud . I sure hope they know the heimlich maneuver……….If not too bad. PufnStuf
Well Well 1st series D looks good Don’t Choke Don’t…………. R.I.P. Dog PufnStuf
Just saw Herm on Coors commercial ………With hello you play too win . Hello when did you win a game Herm ????????? Yes it me !!!!!!
TOUCHDOWN T-E-X-A-N-S!
Houston 7 – & 0 1st Q
daddy-o
Anonymous takes it in the shorts again…
heh heh heh
END OF A 1ST QUARTER D-O-M-I-N-A-T-E-D BY THE TEXANS
Houston 7 – & 0
heh heh heh!
Mutt “$63 mil man” Cassell in 3 series (including 2 against Texans backups) produces diddly squat…
This n that
‘Q’ receives a punt & [ drumroll ] doesn’t fumble it; life’s simple pleasures are the best, huh al(ex)…
Cassell – 4 series – 2 for 5, 16 yards and a fumble… OUCH x $63 million
heh heh heh!
daddy-o
And the Texans score AGAIN!
The FG is good! It’s a 2 score lead!!
Houston 10 – & 0 / early 2nd Q
KC backsides be a puckering… heh heh heh!
And QB Brodie Croyle comes into the game to replace the money pit, Ca$$ell
Just checkin Rin, you are a Chiefs fan, right?
TEXANS SCORE A-G-A-I-N!
The FG is good!!
Houston 13 – & 0
Halftime draws nigh, and a thankful Chiefs fandom is grateful…
TOTAL OFFENSIVE YARDS
Texans 194
& his self-created juggernaut offense Chiefs 48
heh heh heh!
Rin told ya all so – say, is that an Chiefs 0-16 regular season I see just ahead? I THINK IT IS!
I shouldn’t yank the chain ……..until the game is over But I ………… if wrong…….. well say so on this blog . PufnStuf
In a 1st half TOTALLY DOMINATED by those Texans just like Rin Tin Tin dominates this here blog with his intellect, insight & panache:
Texans 13 – & 0 – Succop 3
This is RIN’s HOUSE!
The only good thing from the Chiefs perspective the 1st half: Brodie Croyle totally outclasses and outshines Mutt Ca$$ell.
Chiefs #1 QB – BRODIE CROYLE – JUST LIKE RIN TOLD ALL YA ALLS HE WAS!
Rin: “I’m a pickin!”
Herm: “And I’m a grinnin’!!”
Rin & Herm: heh heh heh heh heh heh heh!!!
Halftime activities begin in just a moment!
daddy-o
I really do Like Your Banter …….. Dog . It wouldnt be the same w/o the Bull Shtttttttttt………….. Me
Matt Schaub 7-7…pickin’ that Clancy Pendergast swiss-cheese Kaycee defense apart nee to pieces…
This just in from Herm (and Gunther, et al):
“hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee!!!”
Jr. on suicide watch as he watches $63 mil go POOF, and too sees wasted head coach & gm hires…
daddy-o, & affirming via their 1st half squats…
Haaaaaaaaaaaaa OK that was funny
And we’re UNDERWAY with the 2nd half1
AND… the kickoff is FUMBLED BY KAN-SAS CITY! they recover…
Hey your favorite GM is on…….. Go Pioli…….. GO Baby……… just win
Pretty disappointing so far. But this is the first live action of the Pioli/Haley era. So there is lots of roomfor improvement. Considering how poor the team looks, the most recent draftees are not doing much and that bothers me more than the rest of it. For whatever reason the 09 draft class does not give much hope for the future. But time will tell and no one expected a superbowl appearance in 09.
Wow if only Brody could just stay on the field .Its against 2- 3 team
Croyle is the real deal …alas, his teammates – s handpicked Patriot Wayers – are not.
“Any 22 will do”…right ‘check’ ?
daddy-o
AHHHHHHH isn’t 51 Mays from the Patriots Way
CROYLE! CROYLE! BRO-DIE CROYLE!
No, he is NOT. A former Bengal though…same difference
AND IT’s ANOTHER FUMBLE BY KAN-SAS CITY!
Keep pourin’ it on Texans!!
heh heh heh!!!
daddy-o
A N D . . .
IT’S ANOTHER SCORE FOR THE T-E-X-A-N-S!!!
The FG is good! And it’s a 2 score lead for HOUSTON!!
Houston 16 – & 0 – Succop 3
3rd quarter mercifully nearing an end for the throughly beaten Chiefs…
daddy-o
A N D . . .
Tyler “The Little Big Man From Coastal Carolina” Thigpen (his preferred nickname according to him/ is what he told me) comes into the game to lead KAN-SAS CITY back from the jaws of defeat to an glorious victory…yeah right.
heh heh heh
END of 3 quarters -
Houston 16 & 0 – Succop 3
Anybody here, seen ol s high-powered offense…can you tell Rin where it’s gone?
Alright Herm, stop that hysterical laughing!
Rin..Where were you last season with your play by play..Hell you had plenty of crap to talk about then.
Another Coors commercial Herm was ask did you ever play to lose . Herm ya …………. 2 yrs if my memory is correct
Uh oh…another 3 and out KC offensive series. Hey, another real nice coaching job there
And now this message from the KAN-SAS CITY WATER AUTHORITY
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
I seen it!!! LMAO
Saw it? You were the main DRIP!
heh heh heh!
Pick that Int 47 McGraw what a wasted opportunity
1ST DOWN HOUSTON T-E-X-A-N-S!!!
Where was the great COACHING on that play – AGAIN – ? You big fraud – you loser!
heh heh heh
daddy-o
Texans punter outruns the Chiefs defense… heh heh heh
Rin… go take your meds.
Hey another of your fan base Clark was on talking about the turn around under Pioli & the stadium
NO No don’t turn your back on a goal line run Next RB please
Rin Tin Tin says:
“In a 1st half TOTALLY DOMINATED by those Texans just like Rin Tin Tin dominates this here blog with his”…rambling nonsense and random bullsh*t.
Pre-season…who cares what the final score is? Almost half these guys will be unemployed within a few weeks.
I see some promise. The D looks okay…despite the score. I thought Cassel looked decent. Would have liked to see a little more of LJ, and the run…and Cassel work some with Bowe. The weather could be better. But hey…that’s football, huh?
I’ve seen some guys playing with “heart”. Which is something that’s been missing for the last three years.
Haley does not look happy, though. Bet there’s going to be some extra running this week.
Rin…go away. You’re like a lingering hemorrhoid on the assh*le of the “old” Chiefs…aka Herm’s Chiefs. You’re not a fan of this team…you’re just a pain in the ass. A hemorrhoid. And from now on, I will address you as such.
Oh yeah…seen Herm’s Coors Light commercial several times tonight. “You play to win the game”. That’s funny…he never did. What a douchebag. No wonder he’s Rin Tin Hemorroid’s hero. They’re two of a kind. All talk…and nothing to back it up with. The only ones who actually believe their BS…is them.
AND…
Herm Edwards QB Thigpen throws a TD for the KC Chiefs & Herm’s TE Brad Cottam SCORES the TD!
And with 5:30 minutes to go in the game:
Houston 16 – Herm/Thigpen 7 – Succop 3 – roll: & 0 – heh heh heh!
Herm is STILL The Man!
daddy-o
Stop the clock Stop the clock ………I don’t want to have to eat crow on here
Scott said
“Pre-season…who cares what the final score is?”
- why…YOU do Scottie…your protest too much doth affirm said – HEH HEH HEH!
“I see some promise”
- that’s gravy on your glasses Mr. Potatohead…
“The D looks okay…despite the score.”
- wonderful…
“I thought Cassel looked decent.”
- close; ‘descent’…
“The weather could be better.”
- oh the humanity, e’en the elements doth vanquish us…
“But hey…that’s football, huh?”
- & are L-O-S-E-R-S
“I’ve seen some guys playing with “heart”.”
- Rin saw some guys playing like a bucnh of “any 22rs”… thanks ‘check’
“Haley does not look happy”
- he always look like this – his underwear must be too tight…
“Bet there’s going to be some extra running this week.”
- why not…sure worked wll so far as the game results indicate… heh heh heh!
“Rin…go away.”
- nyet…Rin’s gonna stay RIGHT HERE!
“You’re like a”
-God with an internet blog afore me… and you Scottie? How would you describe your knack?
“lingering hemorrhoid on the assh*le”
- harsh, but oh so true…
“You’re not a fan of this team…you’re just a pain in the ass. A hemorrhoid. And from now on, I will address you as such.”
- yup, tonights’ game means NOTHING at all to you…right… ‘check’ heh heh heh!
daddy-o, ’search’ & ‘check’ affirming…
Rin Tin Tin says:
“AND…
Herm is STILL The Man!”
LMFAO! I love it when you say that. It just proves what a moron you are. Not that we need more any more proof…
What……. What ………. punting its its ….. do I hear the singers warming up.
I think she ( the singer set back down )
TEXANS WIN !!!
‘check’ is a big LOSER in his KC debut!
’search’ too!!
Just like Rin told all ya alls he/they would be!
heh heh heh!!!
- – - – - -
Hey Scottie…
Herm’s 1st game ever as a Chiefs coach -
exhibition 2006 vs Texans – @Houston – Chiefs scored 14 points.
- – - – - -
s 1st game ever as a Chiefs coach -
exhibition 2009 vs Texans – @Chiefs – KC scored only 10 points.
Yup, that’s right – on the road, Herm’s offense OUTSCORED s best offensive effort there on ‘check’s own home field!
ah, ah, ah-hahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
Feel the burn Scottie!
Rin & Herm say “we win!”
0-1 in 2009… 0-16 regular season draws nigh!
X’s and O’s….
Pre-season game #1.
Impressive? No.
Horrible? No.
Some things look encouraging…and some things need work. That’s what pre-season games are for.
Well I have too say that I was wrong about my chiefs win So …….. Iam …….. Not ……….worthy as seen on Sat Night Live Dam that crow is tuff
You’re forgiven Anonymous…in your case it’s not chronic; in Scottie’s he’s a terminally dim bulb…
heh heh heh!
daddy-o
HEY RIN! WAKE UP! Herms first preseason game was with leftover players from the previous regime…Herm 6-26 last two seasons as chiefs HC. Now go back to donkey land ( or maybe your a bears fan now ) and stay there.
Bob, count me in as a paid subscriber as long as RIN is banned from the blog
heh heh heh!
Rin & Herm = WINNERS!
Chiefs are who we thought they were, a team that needs a lot of work.
Offense needs to get a lot better. The defense played pretty well, considering how different they are scheme and personnel-wise from last year.
Dumb penalties and turnovers made the difference, I’d say.
Nick, don’t try to talk sense to our resident troll. Arguing with him is like arguing with a chimp, he’ll just fling sh*t at you and grin his idiotic grin.
heh heh heh
Not going to work, Rin Tin Hemorrhoid. Your reasoning (and I use the word VERY loosely) is nothing but the delusions of a disturbed individual…and certainly not that of a Chiefs fan.
You keep just keep on banging that Herm’s the Man “drum”. Whatever keeps you warm at night.
But anyone who wishes bad things on the Chiefs, like you do, can **** ** ****.
Sour grapes 22¢ per a thousand – contact Scottie at pityme@i’mawhiner.com … “any 22″ will do.
heh heh heh!
daddy-o
Croyle & Thigpen BOTH outplayed Ca$$ell MASSIVELY
Sorry Jr., you were wrong – AGAIN…
Its fun being right once n awhile …….. but its a llllllllllllooooooonnnnnggggg season . Bask in the light as you never know when it might burn out. Excuse me I just belch up some crow.
Are you sure that’s crow? It smells like shi- er, Scottie…
heh heh heh
Scott(ie) said
“But anyone who wishes bad things on the Chiefs”
- oh, you mean like in 2008 when many folks even herein this blog were saying- “I hope the Chiefs lose all the rest of their games so Herm & Carl get fired” … suff like that Scottie?
Payback is a b***h… huh.
You can say whatever you want, Rin Tin Hemorrhoid. But I stand by what I said. Anybody who wishes bad things on the Chiefs, like you do, is a worthless piece of sh*t in my book. End of story.
You stand next to your alimentary canal?
Herm is STILL The Man!
heh heh heh!!!
Kyle Orton > mutt ca$$ell
First game of preseason, not much to make of it, unless your name is rtt2w. Possibly he should change his name to chicken little, his constant chant of the sky is falling bores.
Should be interesting to see the advancement of the team as the preseason goes on. Would like to see more offensive weapons. Time will tell, not the postings of a man, who had enough time to actually watch a preseason game, but try to put a poor man’s blog out about it. Strange what a lack of life will do for you.
The natives be not only restless but SEVERELY and SEVERALLY disappointed – heh heh heh!
&