Post by MizzouTiger on Dec 31, 2007 11:18:02 GMT -5
www.kansascity.com/sports/chiefs/story/424368.html
Chiefs see growth in Croyle despite losses
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. | Here he was again, the same look on his face and the same thing on his mind. Brodie Croyle hardly wanted to talk about his sixth loss as the Chiefs’ starting quarterback.
What more was there to say?
“As a quarterback, you’re supposed to win,” he said. “We didn’t win.”
Not in six starts since replacing Damon Huard. Not once.
Croyle said he established goals before coach Herm Edwards named Croyle the Chiefs starter before the team’s Nov. 25 game against the Oakland Raiders. Those goals included “winning some games,” Croyle said, and learning something in each contest. He said he accomplished the latter, and Edwards said he noticed Croyle’s improvements. Edwards said Croyle’s play — or the perception of it — suffered as a result of the Chiefs’ rushing woes.
He also suffered as a result of poor protection. Croyle was sacked 17 times in his six games. One of the men whose job it is to protect him, guard Brian Waters, said he has noticed Croyle’s growth, much of which centered on his maturity and ability to lead the offense.
In the huddle, Waters said, Croyle is authoritative, and he does not blame his offensive linemen for their mistakes. Croyle is 24 years old, but his teammates view him as a leader.
Waters said Croyle’s most noticeable growth has come in avoiding his own mistakes, including Sunday when he did not throw an interception.
Waters said that with each game, he has noticed Croyle’s confidence grow, from an Alabama kid without a start, to a quarterback Edwards has repeated will be the team’s starter in 2008.
“He’s got his country swagger,” Waters said. “He’s getting better at controlling the huddle and being aware of his surroundings and saving some plays, not taking sacks, throwing the ball away — not hurting us.”
Croyle seems to be somewhere on the road toward becoming a leader, even if he wears reminders of his youth and his background. He is country enough that he stores his wedding band in his cowboy boots during games but city enough to wear a scarf when he appears on camera and to accept blame for his team’s mistakes.
Describing his team’s shortcomings is a requirement Croyle does not yet seem comfortable with but is one he understands he must endure if he is to remain the team’s starter. The same is true for enduring the Chiefs’ losing streak and facing questions about how prepared he is for the NFL’s grind.
“There’s a lot to learn in this league,” said Croyle, who was 20-for-43 passing for 195 yards. “Every game is a learning experience. Every practice is a learning experience.”
Still, Croyle said he would give himself a low grade for his six-game season. Growth or not, he said failing to win means he was not a success.
He added an additional loss Sunday, a lopsided record that coaches have downplayed to Croyle. It might have
Chiefs see growth in Croyle despite losses
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. | Here he was again, the same look on his face and the same thing on his mind. Brodie Croyle hardly wanted to talk about his sixth loss as the Chiefs’ starting quarterback.
What more was there to say?
“As a quarterback, you’re supposed to win,” he said. “We didn’t win.”
Not in six starts since replacing Damon Huard. Not once.
Croyle said he established goals before coach Herm Edwards named Croyle the Chiefs starter before the team’s Nov. 25 game against the Oakland Raiders. Those goals included “winning some games,” Croyle said, and learning something in each contest. He said he accomplished the latter, and Edwards said he noticed Croyle’s improvements. Edwards said Croyle’s play — or the perception of it — suffered as a result of the Chiefs’ rushing woes.
He also suffered as a result of poor protection. Croyle was sacked 17 times in his six games. One of the men whose job it is to protect him, guard Brian Waters, said he has noticed Croyle’s growth, much of which centered on his maturity and ability to lead the offense.
In the huddle, Waters said, Croyle is authoritative, and he does not blame his offensive linemen for their mistakes. Croyle is 24 years old, but his teammates view him as a leader.
Waters said Croyle’s most noticeable growth has come in avoiding his own mistakes, including Sunday when he did not throw an interception.
Waters said that with each game, he has noticed Croyle’s confidence grow, from an Alabama kid without a start, to a quarterback Edwards has repeated will be the team’s starter in 2008.
“He’s got his country swagger,” Waters said. “He’s getting better at controlling the huddle and being aware of his surroundings and saving some plays, not taking sacks, throwing the ball away — not hurting us.”
Croyle seems to be somewhere on the road toward becoming a leader, even if he wears reminders of his youth and his background. He is country enough that he stores his wedding band in his cowboy boots during games but city enough to wear a scarf when he appears on camera and to accept blame for his team’s mistakes.
Describing his team’s shortcomings is a requirement Croyle does not yet seem comfortable with but is one he understands he must endure if he is to remain the team’s starter. The same is true for enduring the Chiefs’ losing streak and facing questions about how prepared he is for the NFL’s grind.
“There’s a lot to learn in this league,” said Croyle, who was 20-for-43 passing for 195 yards. “Every game is a learning experience. Every practice is a learning experience.”
Still, Croyle said he would give himself a low grade for his six-game season. Growth or not, he said failing to win means he was not a success.
He added an additional loss Sunday, a lopsided record that coaches have downplayed to Croyle. It might have