Post by MizzouTiger on Dec 3, 2007 12:33:11 GMT -5
www.kansascity.com/sports/story/387029.html
Huard can’t deliver the magic in his start
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star
It felt like old times for Chiefs quarterback Damon Huard. At least for a little while.
Huard marched the Chiefs to a field goal on their first possession Sunday, and his touchdown flip to defensive end Jared Allen on a tackle-eligible play stunned the San Diego Chargers and electrified the crowd at Arrowhead Stadium.
Maybe Huard — coming off the bench and starting in place of injured Brodie Croyle — would ignite the kind of spark he provided a year ago as Trent Green’s replacement.
And then, just as quickly, the magic faded.
Two interceptions. Seven sacks. A lost fumble. An injury that forced him from the final 3 minutes, 38 seconds of a 24-10 loss to San Diego.
“I felt good and comfortable out there,” said Huard, who had won his two previous starts against the Chargers. “We made some plays, but not enough. Certainly when you get down in the red zone, you’ve got to score touchdowns. That’s been the story all year for us.”
The game was tied 3-3 in the first quarter when the Chiefs had the ball at the San Diego 40 after an interception by Ty Law. But Huard returned the favor when his pass intended for Eddie Kennison was intercepted in the back of the end zone by Antonio Cromartie.
“I was trying to throw a post to Eddie,” Huard said. “I thought it was pass interference, but I don’t know. I know Eddie got knocked down. I tried to put it up there and give him a chance to make a play, and Cromartie made a nice play.”
Huard thought the touchdown pass to Allen in the corner of the end zone would give the Chiefs some momentum.
“You would hope so,” he said. “But we’re not finishing the games.”
Huard lost the feeling in some fingers after he was hit on the elbow on the seventh time he was sacked in the game. After throwing his second interception, he gave way to rookie Tyler Thigpen.
Thigpen, in his first NFL game, completed a 22-yard throw to Dwayne Bowe with his first pass. His second was intercepted.
“When they called my number, I think I was half frozen at the time from the cold air,” Thigpen said of the raw 34-degree day with a 24-degree wind chill. “I got warm and tried to perform to my best. I expected to play better than I did.
“The ball came out of my hand funky on the one I was trying to throw to Tony (Gonzalez) that was intercepted.”
Thigpen completed two of six passes for 41 yards.
“There were a certain amount of plays set aside for me that I felt comfortable with,” he said. “I felt comfortable about the situation I was in. Earlier in the week, if you asked, I don’t know how I would have felt.”
Huard can’t deliver the magic in his start
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star
It felt like old times for Chiefs quarterback Damon Huard. At least for a little while.
Huard marched the Chiefs to a field goal on their first possession Sunday, and his touchdown flip to defensive end Jared Allen on a tackle-eligible play stunned the San Diego Chargers and electrified the crowd at Arrowhead Stadium.
Maybe Huard — coming off the bench and starting in place of injured Brodie Croyle — would ignite the kind of spark he provided a year ago as Trent Green’s replacement.
And then, just as quickly, the magic faded.
Two interceptions. Seven sacks. A lost fumble. An injury that forced him from the final 3 minutes, 38 seconds of a 24-10 loss to San Diego.
“I felt good and comfortable out there,” said Huard, who had won his two previous starts against the Chargers. “We made some plays, but not enough. Certainly when you get down in the red zone, you’ve got to score touchdowns. That’s been the story all year for us.”
The game was tied 3-3 in the first quarter when the Chiefs had the ball at the San Diego 40 after an interception by Ty Law. But Huard returned the favor when his pass intended for Eddie Kennison was intercepted in the back of the end zone by Antonio Cromartie.
“I was trying to throw a post to Eddie,” Huard said. “I thought it was pass interference, but I don’t know. I know Eddie got knocked down. I tried to put it up there and give him a chance to make a play, and Cromartie made a nice play.”
Huard thought the touchdown pass to Allen in the corner of the end zone would give the Chiefs some momentum.
“You would hope so,” he said. “But we’re not finishing the games.”
Huard lost the feeling in some fingers after he was hit on the elbow on the seventh time he was sacked in the game. After throwing his second interception, he gave way to rookie Tyler Thigpen.
Thigpen, in his first NFL game, completed a 22-yard throw to Dwayne Bowe with his first pass. His second was intercepted.
“When they called my number, I think I was half frozen at the time from the cold air,” Thigpen said of the raw 34-degree day with a 24-degree wind chill. “I got warm and tried to perform to my best. I expected to play better than I did.
“The ball came out of my hand funky on the one I was trying to throw to Tony (Gonzalez) that was intercepted.”
Thigpen completed two of six passes for 41 yards.
“There were a certain amount of plays set aside for me that I felt comfortable with,” he said. “I felt comfortable about the situation I was in. Earlier in the week, if you asked, I don’t know how I would have felt.”