Brodie Croyle, frankly, has looked appalling at times this preseason, and yet the third year, third rounder will likely be "the man" when the season starts.
Croyle seems to take one step forward and two steps back. You can actually see his brain shut off on occasion, as he wings one up for grabs or dances comically with a running back after blowing an ill-advised audible.
Chief fans should thank their lucky stars for Larry Johnson.
The big man can rumble, and he looks to be back in fighting trim. The 6'1", 230-lb. sixth-year man from Papa Joe’s Penn State could be looking at another 1,000-yd+ season.
That sounds peculiar to those familiar with KC’s offensive-line woes, but if rookie first-round draft pick (15th overall) Brandon Albert is anything like analysts figured him to be before the draft, the Chiefs could have a serious left side to run to.
Right now, former sixth-round pick Herb Taylor is filling for Albert, who rolled his ankle earlier in camp.
Missing invaluable snaps in camp will hurt him, but his power and quickness in the run game could be a major threat when coupled with All Pro guard Brian Waters.
With Taylor at his side, Waters has helped create massive running lanes for Johnson. Granted, it's the preseason, but when Albert settles in, it's not hard to imagine Johnson reeling off big gainers.
And that would be music to Croyle and Coach Herm Edwards.
Center Rudy Niswanger is looking like a serviceable starter, but the man working next to him, five-year vet Adrian Jones looks terrible. He’s listed as a tackle, but with Albert out, the line is all over the place.
The right side looks quite the opposite of the left, with right tackle Damion McIntosh missing a lot of practice time with injuries.
With the way KC’s line is, it's not difficult to imagine that whoever starts at QB could get injured at some point. The Chiefs have stalwart backup and 12-year veteran Damon Huard, but if the run game falters or Johnson gets injured, KC could be sunk.
As insurance against this, the Chiefs drafted 6'1", 205-lb. Jamaal Charles out of Texas with their 2008 third-round pick.
Charles is lightning fast, and despite a slow start and some inconsistencies in college, he exploded in the back half of his junior year, running for 997 yards and scoring 10 TDs in his final five games.
One knock on the former track sprinter is his tendency to put the ball on the ground. They’re working on it, to be sure, but it will be a concern if he starts seeing a lot of reps.
Kolby Smith put in time last year at RB and will likely see reps, too.
6'1", 215-lb. wideout Devard Darling could develop this year, if anyone can throw the ball to him.
Former LSU star Dwayne Bowe turned heads last year and could have a breakout year, again, if there is anyone who can throw it to him.
Of course, at TE, the Chiefs have a HOF shoo-in—Tony Gonzales—and a surprising rookie, Brad Cottam, who has shown some decent hands in the early going.
After the spectacular failure of kicker Justin Medlock last season, and the subsequent failure of replacement Dave Rayner, the Chiefs are not much closer to finding a solid starter.
You can bet they'll be watching closely to see what happens to current Raider fill-in kicker Aaron Elling when roster cut downs begin.
Competing for the roster slot are kickers Nick Novak and Connor Barth.
Novak has the edge with 16 games of NFL experience since 2005, and rookie Barth, out of NC has none, but Novak has done little to separate himself.
Barth nailed a 37 yarder that tied last week's game with Chicago, but Coach Edwards isn’t happy with their kickoffs.
He stated Tuesday: "It’s a 50-50 shot for both guys."
As all kickers know, that's not a very good percentage, but based solely on the offense, the odds of KC making a postseason trip this year seem a lot higher.
10 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
Ken Armer 10 months ago
For a Chiefs fan from birth this is pretty sad...another miserable season for fans in Kansas City, luckily I have the Cowboys to cheer for as well.
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Chiefs_5627 10 months ago
"Brody" (or "Brodie" as everyone else calls him) has not looked THAT bad, he came out with a decent showing in game 1 Vs Chi and wasn't horrible in #2 Vs Cards, he had sense enough to throw away some balls that were for sure INTs last year but all in all he's progressing just fine. They focused on the rush 10x more Vs Cards in case you didn't watch, that was the focus going in and the world knew it. They were pretty successful in doing so. BTW which "wrong audible" were you referring to? Where he danced so "comically"?
The line has actually done pretty well these last 2 games, more so Vs the Cards, you'd know if you watched them. They protected the Brodie pretty well and opened some nice lanes for LJ n Kolby.
As for Aaron Elling maybe you guys should keep him, i heard he knocked a 56 yarder.
Sooooooooooooooo is Jamaal Charles 6' 1" or 5' 11", you have him listed as both. ;) (5' 11")
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M VH 10 months ago
Sorry, got my games mixed. It was the Chicago game he and LJ danced. The 3rd play of the game.
Good job! You should be my editor! :)
Have a great week!
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Stuart Whitehair 10 months ago
Thanks for the update. As a another life-long Chiefs fan, I have been tuned out for much of the summer - not looking forward to the season.
Charles out of Texas is the real deal.
One more Big 12 note, I cannot forgive the Chiefs for passing over Mason Crosby from Colorado in last year's draft in favor of Medlock. I guess Crosby didn't kick enough 60-yarders for the Buffs.
Sigh.
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Samuel Bell Jr 10 months ago
Brodie Croyle isn't the answer to anything but a double-digit loss season. You're right about Larry Johnson, but if he doesn't stay healthy, it can be a lot worse in Kansas. At least the Jayhawks are showing some promise.
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M VH 10 months ago
Its going to be hard for them to adjust with out Roaf, SHields and Wiegmann, but Waters is the real dealio and Albert could be if he lives up to the pre draft hype.
McIntosh gets dinged alot...
Coach Edwards has grumbled about fielding a team who's O line hasn't practiced together much. Again...
Got some nice pieces and could be rebuilding faster than I thought. But still, rebuilding.
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Chad Hogan 10 months ago
Cryole didn't look bad at all, watch the games then talk.
I don't think you get that Bowe got 995 yards last year with pretty much a rookie at QB(that never took a snap with his star RB) for a few games and a terrible O-line to block that "rookie" or old washed up QB in Damon Huard. Now that o-line is alot better. The lineup will most likely be LT: Albert, LG: Waters, C: Niswanger, RG: Taylor, RT: McIntosh. The line also has the old O-line coach back that coached players like Willie Roaf, Will Shields, Brian Waters, John Tait, and Casey Wiegmann(when he was good). That old O-line coach(thats now back at the o-line) was offensive coordinator last year and did terrible(understatment) now Chan is in and is a good offensive coordinator. Croyle has games under his belt, a way better O-line, knows he will be the starting QB no matter what(helps his confidence), has built a bond and lived with his star WR D Bowe, can call autibles if the play they are running wont work(he couldn't do that last year), has a offensive coordinator that makes it simple for him, and is on the same page with his WR's and Tony now.
The real thing the Chiefs have to worry about is that the rookies might not live up to their hype(its not like all the rookies will be busts but some could), the rookies might make alot of rookie mistakes, injurys, and the kicker. If you or anyone need advice with wrighting a article about the Chiefs ask me and I will be very blunt about it, and give very good reasons for my input.
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Mike 10 months ago
2 things the chiefs need to do get rid of edwards and bring back marty ball
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M VH 10 months ago
"Chan is in and is a good offensive coordinator. Croyle has games under his belt, a way better O-line, knows he will be the starting QB no matter what(helps his confidence), has built a bond and lived with his star WR D Bowe, can call autibles if the play they are running wont work(he couldn't do that last year), has a offensive coordinator that makes it simple for him, and is on the same page with his WR's and Tony now."
Your O line looked better against the Fins, but oh man, Croyle is not ready for even a simplified game plan.
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M VH 10 months ago
Borne out by his play till injury.
Huard is nothing but a semi effective stop gap...until he goes down.
Croyle will be back.
Too bad for the Chiefs and their fans.
1 step forward...3 steps back.
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