Young arms, old arms

Oct 09, 2008, 4:28:34 AM by Jonathan Rand - FAQ

So it’s come to this. The Chiefs’ chances of a turnaround rest in the hands of a quarterback, Brodie Croyle, who’s still looking for his first NFL win.

No wonder graybeards like Kurt Warner at Arizona and Gus Frerotte at Minnesota are still gainfully employed.

This is not to second-guess Herm Edwards’ decision to develop Croyle, a third-round draft choice in 2006 and who’s scheduled to return from a shoulder injury October 19 against Tennessee. Trying to groom a young quarterback is a logical and conventional element in a rebuilding plan.

But pulling this off is much tougher than it sounds. In fact, you can pick up several former first-round draft picks at this position as cheaply as you can buy stocks these days.

The biggest problem with depending on a young quarterback is that the price for being wrong is so steep. Though Croyle isn’t the only youngster the Chiefs need to have blossom, he’s clearly the most important one. If he doesn’t move forward this year, the Chiefs, 1-4, won’t either.

Edwards has left himself with few options at his most important position. Damon Huard stands 10-11 as a Chiefs’ starter and has been their steadiest quarterback. But he’s having trouble staying healthy behind weak protection while being asked to outperform his resume as a career backup.

The Chiefs’ predicament underlines why some coaches feel more comfortable with a veteran starter who can play while a youngster sits and learns or starts but falters. Which is why we’re seeing so much of Frerotte and Super Bowl starters Warner and Kerry Collins of the Titans.

Some coaches, on the other hand, don’t want an ex-starter looking over a youngster’s shoulder and compromising his confidence or playing time. A coach who falls back on a veteran arm while a promising youngster sits could be letting “good” stand in the way of “great.”

But the “good” is based on history and the “great” is based on potential.

Marty Schottenheimer was often criticized for starting recycled quarterbacks during his decade with the Chiefs. Indeed, his inability to find a top quarterback in his prime probably was all that stood between his teams and a Super Bowl.

Yet Schottenheimer coached seven playoff teams here and his ex-49er quarterbacks – Joe Montana, Steve Bono and Elvis Grbac – each made a Pro Bowl for the Chiefs.

Schottenheimer also drafted three promising quarterbacks, including two in the second round. But when none panned out, he still had steady hands to run his offense. Occasionally, a recycled quarterback, like Trent Dilfer in Baltimore or Brad Johnson in Tampa Bay, will bring home the Lombardi Trophy.

Croyle’s situation is especially difficult because he’ll be taking over one of the NFL’s weakest offenses. Ideally, a young quarterback is introduced to a unit that elevates his performance until he acquires enough polish to return the favor. The Patriots’ Tom Brady is exhibit A of how this is supposed to work.

Though Trent Green had been a veteran backup at St. Louis when acquired by the Chiefs in 2001, Dick Vermeil gave him a familiar offense and excellent personnel that allowed Green to finally reach his potential. He made two Pro Bowls here and twice led the NFL’s top offense.

Croyle, however, is picking up the keys to an offense just installed this season and that ranks 29th in yardage per game. These are hardly ideal circumstances for a quarterback who’s been injured three times while going 0-7 as a starter.

But then again, circumstances are hardly ideal for anybody around Arrowhead these days.

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

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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.