Thigpen Takes A Step Backwards
From Arrowhead Stadium
If Tyler Thigpen is truly on the trading block, what happened Saturday night at Arrowhead Stadium is not going to convince any team to up its offer for him.
With Matt Cassel bounced from the game with a left leg injury just one minute, 59 seconds into the action, Thigpen was thrust into the game far earlier than he or anyone on the Chiefs sideline expected. And much as he has during practice sessions in this pre-season, Thigpen struggled to get anything going. Thus, the Chiefs offense struggled as well.
By the time he was lifted near the end of the third quarter, Thigpen had directed the Chiefs for eight possessions that produced no points. Three times the Kansas City offense reached Seattle territory, just once inside the 20-yard line. Half of those possessions saw the Chiefs go three plays and punt.
“I don’t think I played up to my ability,” Thigpen said. “I feel like I did some good things and some bad things and those bad things I have to correct.”
No offense to the Seattle defense, but the Seahawks are not among the NFL’s better defenses. Last year, they ranked at the bottom of the league – down there with the Chiefs defense – and their only major addition to the defensive lineup is No. 1 pick LB Aaron Curry.
But Thigpen could get nothing going against this group, not in the first half against the starters or even in the second half against the backups. He finished the game hitting eight of 15 passes for just 56 yards, a measly 62.1 passer rating on the night. Even his running game was off, as he went three times for a total of 10 yards.
“As a backup quarterback you have to be ready,” Thigpen said. “I witnessed that last year. Offensively, we did some good things. We moved the ball at times, but then we did some things badly, things we have to work on. We have to correct those.”
Thigpen was sacked once for three yards and the Chiefs were able to run the ball, so the quarterback says the focus shouldn’t be on the offensive line.
“I think they did a good job of protecting,” said Thigpen. “I give the offensive line a lot of credit. We had some receivers one-on-one and as the quarterback, I have to get them the ball … I had time.”
The last two possessions for Thigpen in the third quarter were bad. He was one of two passing on the first one, gaining just five yards. On the next possession, he was sacked, threw short to WR Bobby Engram and then scrambled away from pressures and gained seven yards. That was six yards short of a first down.
Questions now hover over the quarterback position. There’s Cassel’s injury and how long it might keep him off the field. It may take a possible trade of Thigpen off the table as well for the Chiefs.
He’s trying not to think about any of that.
“That’s something I can’t control,” Thigpen said. “Right now I’m a Kansas City Chief and I’m happy to be one. If something happens, it happens. But right now I have to prepare myself as a quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs.”
What everyone in that locker room is thinking about is trying to find a way to win a game.
“We just have to get over that hump,” Thigpen said. “That’s the biggest thing. We’ve had three close games that we could have won in the fourth quarter. That was a hump we couldn’t get over last year and it kind of carried over to this year.”
its really really really too bad….we had thiggy out the door at maybe a price of a 3 or probably a 4…now who knows, we have a franchise QB hurt because the right side of the line is awful….tough time right now, glad it happened now and not week one…Succop missing was due, some of it has to be placed on the long snapper changing constantly…I know hes been good in practice, but it is what it is…the 53 yarder was very close, right down the middle, that doesnt phase me as much…
Its not the coaching, or playcalling, its the execution, and injuries…its unfortunate…we wait all year for this.
It’s GREAT that we have QB Brodie Croyle ready to take over as the Chiefs #1 QB … he has been the best QB on the team by most accounts this year.
Now 0-3, the new regime has not impressed to date & the obvious factor – the lack of talent/players – is once again in ‘09 as it did in ‘08 resulting in L’s aplenty. Not the coaching, the PLAYERS.
Nothing is different in 2009 than 2008 – NOTHING. Well, outside of all the weight lost… said has had NO effect in the W/L column, just as Rin had predicted.
The best coaches adapt their players to what will work – like Herm/Gailey in 2008 with Thigpen. You do NOT try and put a square peg in a round hole – not if you want any success that is. Once agin it is proven, “any 22 will NOT do.”
Making something good out of a bad situation …
WR ‘Q’ Lawrence – with the injury to WR Darling – ‘may’ now be able to nab a spot on the Chiefs 53 man roster by default (but, as with the baseball adage a football sense, even a blooper will look like a hit in the box score/53 man the day aft.)
Not sure if it’s so much a matter of ‘Q’ standing out or the other guys at WR looking so pedestrian but rumor has it the old pro #88 Chris Burford is working out…
Since your post was above a kindergarten level FOR ONCE, I will respond to Rint.
Vermeil was 13-3, 8-8, 10-6 his last 3 years rebuilding from Goonther’s disection of Marty’s team.
Your lover, Hermit, was 9-7, 4-12, 2-14 after that. How is that adapting to anything???????
As a fan of the Chiefs since 1963, (and season ticket holder since ‘78) Herm Edwards is factually the worst HC in Chiefs History. Let’s pray he remains that way.
Pioli is an award winning GM. Haley is a Parcells trained HC. I believe we are headed in the right direction. But they are rebuilding from the worst coaching job in Chiefs history. It will take a year or 2 to recover from the complete incompetence of Hermit and his college staff.
By the way Rint, your raaaaaaders lost to the Saints at home 45-7. Tough day for you pretender.
Goff & Niswanger must be replaced. The new guys from Miami didn’t look too bad. Niswanger is just so tall he’s horrible with his feet in that “tight” area & he gets absolutely no push on running plays off the ball.
I think from here on out the OL will have to get set so they can work together. I still think we may waive/cut more than 5 just so we can have the option of being able to pick up somebody that could be cut.
I think Toomer won’t make it. Lelie might.
Since your post was above a kindergarten level FOR ONCE, I will respond . . . Your lover, Hermit”
- as yours was not, I Rin will not…
&
Rin, you MUST give time for Haley etc to actually turn things around, you write them off preseason game 1, 2, and 3…its the preseason Rin…Lions last year were 4-0 in the preseason, woo hoo!
And Lawrence has actually looked better as a reciever than I expected, not as much as a returner.
Charles really showed today that this team needs another playmaker, ive said it, if lawrence can do that…GREAT…we need someone to step up…
I expect a ridiculous amount of roster moves beyond just cuts.
And, btw, Jackson was flat out impressive….cant really talk much about a guy who is 50 percent and stopped 3 drives in the first quarter and a half.
As the blogger was not worthy of an audience with Rin, He that is I will rectify the errancy of the formers flawed history nonetheless.
“Herm Edwards is factually the worst HC in Chiefs History.”
- Herm Edwards – who inherited a non-playoff team from Dick Vermeil – was and remains the only Head Coach in franchise history to lead Kansas City to the playoffs in his first season – even having to rebuild a decrepit team he was left with Herm won 15 games in 3 years for an average of 5 per year.
Frank Gansz who inherited a playoff football team from John Mackovic won 8 games in 2 years, for an 4 per annum average- and no playoffs. Paul Wiggin won 11 games in his 2 1/2 years in KC, for an 4.4 per season on average – and no playoffs.
Any questions? No, didn’t think there wouldst be. What is it Larry says about ‘CK’? Yes, that’s it: “you suCK.”
“I believe we are headed in the right direction.”
- as Rin hath just demonstrated, you are so lost that not even a compass, map & SWAT team couldst rescue you from yourself…
Game, set & match, Rin Tin Tin… per the usual.
daddy-o
I thought the guys we traded for looked good. I thought the RT looked really good, hopefully he will be the starter. As soon as they went in the oline started to actually give the QB some time.
alex k
Lawrence has speed & quickness … that is about it. He stands out (as Charles) for those reasons. The Chiefs have so little of each that most any player who has some looks good in comparison the slew-footed rest. You can get blinded by said if you’re not careful.
Yes, ‘Q’ has looked better as a WR – questionable hands & awareness aside, and as a blocker – an LJ should hope to block as well. Alas, he is needed as a return man, more so the reason his drafting.
If KC can find something better on waivers/trade etc., ‘Q’ is still practice squad material opine mine.
One last time: it is in 2009 as it was in 2008 NOT the coaching- tis/twas the PLAYERS. You’ve said it yourself indirectly via more than one your own blog comments this website.
Yes, it’s goimng to take time, by all means. No different than it would have been with Herm, no different than it’s was via Vermeil, Cunningham, Schottenheimer, Gansz, Mackovic, Levy, Bettis & Wiggin since Hank Stram vanished 35 years ago.
I’ve seen this play before, just with different directors & actors, etc. We are doomed…
daddy-o
Richardson and Goff were awful tonight. Hopefully we find guys to step in that starting role on that side and be solid. Goff is washed up. I thought he had a little something left in the tank but its bare right now. He’s been awfull all preseason.
I watched the game via the DVR and stopped the action on each snap, then started/stopped again as the play developed. I’ll do it again and take more time later today but so far, here’s a snippet of what I saw:
1) THIGPEN: Never looked off a receiver all night! Easier to defend a guy with this tendency.
2) OT Richardson: Start brushing up on your insurance selling skills. You’ll need them.
3) NEW Olinemen from Miami: Didn’t embarrass themselves and looked fairly good on the plays I watched and re-watched.
4) ST play: I think you could empty out a Sports Bar and get guys nearly as good.
5) LJ: The good, bad and indifferent. Was that the surly LJ re-emerging? Whatever, pedestrian result. If the Bengals release RB Leonard, I’d be all over getting him on the next thing smoking toward KC.
6) WRs: Spark from Bowe and Lelie. The others? Might as well call the lot, “Hey, Joe”.
7) DEFENSE: Flowers and TJack showed up to play. DB Washington again caught my eye in a good way. Belcher has heart and is always around the ball. Tank Tyler looked average on most plays. Very little rush or pocket caving by the D, overall. Hali has a strong, consistent motor. Good comment by the Chief’s color man on why weren’t the CBs knocking the Seattle WRs off their routes instead of allowing them to get off the line clean? WHY indeed? LB Biesel looked solid.
OVERALL: We got a long way to go and a short time to get there. (Credit Jerry Reed on the lyrics)
Rip just a bad game not worth reviewing, Poili better start looking to the wavier wire.
I have to think the DB’s playing off were the coordinator’s call or it would have been corrected. Not understanding the logic though.
I hope all the calls for Thigpen to start now go away. He showed again that he is ready to be a backup. He can’t see over the line to throw accurately.
While there were a couple of bright spots (Charles, Colquit, Jackson) this team is just awful. I thought we would win 6 games. No way. We will be lucky to 2 with our schedule. Can’t wait for the off-season and draft to improve the talent. Can’t get much worse than what Herm left.
LJ may have a better attitude, but he’s still VERY lacking in the explosiveness. His first couple of years he ran “angry”…looked like he was shot out of a cannon. That’s not him anymore. He’ll be ok, but it wouldn’t break my heart if we found somebody else to go with Charles.
Lawrence is going to have to be coached up. He’s got very raw talent, but perhaps a practice squad guy.
If you can get a 5th for Thigpen take it and run.
“I think they did a good job of protecting,” said Thigpen. “I give the offensive line a lot of credit.
Wait – how did our starting QB leave the game with an injury? Are you just a good scrambler who’s covering for his O-Line? Until those 5 guys up front find a way to protect, until their coaches and QB hold them accountable, and until the GM gets guys on the roster who can do some quality work, this problem will persist.
Give Thiggy a gold medal for not throwing teammates under the bus. To reward him we should trade him, and get what we can. He doesn’t fit this style of offense.
Cassel is probably ok, but if not the Pats just cut Kevin O’Connell, a third round pick in 2008. He must be a pretty bad QB for Pats to cut him already, but I bet he knows the system. Might be a stopgap, if needed. Let’s get some value for Thiggy.
“the Pats just cut Kevin O’Connell, a third round pick in 2008.”
- wasn’t Mutt Ca$$el a 7th round pick comparison sake? Course he did get to drive the NE Cadillac last year when Brady went down…that’s gotta be worth more like, something (like $63 mill, like.)
“He must be a pretty bad QB for Pats to cut him already.”
- he’ll fit right in with the Chiefs, who like to pick up castoffs NE doesn’t want (Mutt & his other Mutt, G.) If the Kev was a 3rd round pick to Mutt’s 7th then it’s gonna co$t Kaycee to go Way of the Patriot again. Will probably have to pay him… what, $126 million and some change.
If they can sign Kev, keep Gutierrez & pickup the former Patriot QB & now coach Kliff Kingsbury who was the 6th round pick of ’search’ for NE in 2003, we’ll bet set.
Petterns or odd coincidences?
Some said it was Herm Edwards fault that his QBs kept getting hurt. Hmm … arrived in NE in 2000 and saw the following occur there on his watch:
NE’s Drew Bledsoe was injured (aft signing a then record $103 million contract – he was never again the starter); Brady was injured; Ca$$el’s injured now; Kingsbury spent his entire rookie season in NE on injured reserve … uh, Mr. Gutierrez – can you say AF-LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC!
daddy-o
Brodie’s got a great arm! Don’t you think?
New math KC style: Patriot Way + any 22 = 0-3
&
Here we have a young kid that just heard he has a chance to make an impression on some other teams in the NFL. I think that the pressure of the situation got to him. I don’t think that his head was in the game.