Kansas City Chiefs - RAND: A tough spot for Croyle

RAND: A tough spot for Croyle

Nov 13, 2007, 1:50:54 AM by Jonathan Rand - FAQ

Chiefs coach Herm Edwards doesn’t have a great choice between quarterbacks Damon Huard and Brodie Croyle. But a change became inevitable in a 27-11 loss to the Broncos.

Perhaps because of the punishment he’s absorbed to his body and confidence, Huard has regressed in two straight home losses. He’s committed five turnovers, including two that set up touchdowns and two returned for touchdowns.

So it’s time for Croyle, in his second season, to lead the Chiefs’ offense. That’s putting him in a tough spot unless the Chiefs can find a way to protect him from the wolves.

A quarterback making his first NFL start will have his best shot to succeed when supported by at least a solid cast. Then he can begin with a limited role and not get overwhelmed. But the Chiefs’ offense ranks 30th in the NFL, mainly because its line hasn’t generated much of a running game or protected its quarterback. Yet they’ll be asking Croyle to make a difference.

This is exactly the situation you don’t want for any quarterback, especially not a youngster. NFL history is littered with young blue-chip passers who got stuck with weak offenses and never learned their crafts because they were always on their backs.

Croyle was on track to start opening day before throwing those awful interceptions in the preseason. The job was his to lose all summer because any coach would rather play a quarterback with a promising upside than a journeyman who’s as good as he’ll get.

Huard won the job partly by default but also because he minimized his mistakes and made key plays while leading the Chiefs to a 5-3 record in his starts last season. He remained reliable this year, too, while the Chiefs won four of five games after an 0-2 start. But now that his turnovers have become frequent and costly, he’s lost his edge over Croyle.

Sadly enough for the Chiefs, this switch isn’t likely to make a difference soon. The offense’s collapse shouldn’t be blamed mainly on Huard, yet quarterback is the last offensive spot left where Edwards can shake things up.

Croyle is more nimble than Huard, but he’ll still be running for his life, given protection that’s allowed 29 sacks. Croyle also whips the ball more quickly than Huard and his quick, short throws are difficult to defend.

Croyle’s crisp passes helped him methodically move the Chiefs to a field goal, their lone scoring drive once he took over against the Broncos early in the third quarter. But it’s difficult for a quarterback to nickel and dime his way down the field without a respectable running game.

Defenses facing the Chiefs generally load up against the run and dare the quarterback to beat them. Croyle should expect more of the same.

Edwards saw a quarterback change, from veteran Vinny Testaverde to youngster Chad Pennington, boost the New York Jets from a 1-4 team to a playoff qualifier in 2002. There’s always a chance that a new quarterback’s talent and leadership can wake up a sluggish attack. Given the problems around him, however, that’s too much to ask of Croyle.

But the Chiefs right now have no better option, and little left to lose.

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The opinions offered in this column do not necessarily reflect those of the Kansas City Chiefs.

A former sportswriter and columnist in Kansas City and Miami, Rand has covered the NFL for three decades and seen 23 Super Bowl games. His column appears twice weekly in-season.

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