Chargers Won't See the Same Starting Chiefs

by Chris Thorman on Dec 11, 2008 1:39 PM CST in 2008 Kansas City Chiefs Campaign

Week 10 @ SD			Week 14 @ DEN
Offense	Defense		Offense	Defense
WR 82 D.Bowe	LDE 91 T.Hali	*	WR 82 D.Bowe	LE 91 T.Hali
LT 76 B.Albert	LT 93 T.Tyler	*	LT 76 B.Albert	RT 72 G.Dorsey
LG 54 B.Waters	RT 72 G.Dorsey	*	LG 54 B.Waters	RE 94 J.Babin
C 64 R.Niswanger	RDE 70 A.Boone	*	C 64 R.Niswanger	MLB 56 D.Johnson
RG 73 A.Jones	LOLB 59 D.Edwards	*	RG 74 W.Smith	OLB 50 R.Boiman
RT 77 D.McIntosh	MLB 55 P.Thomas	*	RT 77 D.McIntosh	CB 31 M.Leggett
TE 88 T.Gonzalez	ROLB 50 R.Boiman	*	TE 88 T.Gonzalez	LCB 39 B.Carr
WR 83 M.Bradley	LCB 39 B.Carr	*	TE 87 B.Cottam	LT 93 T.Tyler
QB 4 T.Thigpen	RCB 31 M.Leggett	*	WR 81 D.Darling	RCB 24 B.Flowers
TE 87 B.Cottam	SS 49 B.Pollard	*	QB 4 T.Thigpen	FS 44 J.Page
RB 25 J.Charles	FS 44 J.Page	*	RB 27 L.Johnson	SS 49 B.Pollard

What a difference in only five weeks.

The Chiefs have been battling tons of injuries all season long and they seem to have slowed down a bit over the past few weeks. Even still, this weekend the Chiefs will likely field seven starters that did not start against the Chargers in Week 10. The starters who did play in Week 10 who may not play this weekend are bolded in the table above.

WR Mark Bradley is fighting a stingy calf injury that has kept him out the last two weeks and much of the game against the Buffalo Bills.

Center Rudy Niswanger again injured his knee in Week 13 and will likely be done for the year.

G Adrian Jones fully participated in practice yesterday after missing four games with a sprained ankle. He'll likely start actually, if Wade Smith moves to center to replace Rudy Niswanger.

RB Jamaal Charles started in place of the inactive Larry Johnson in Week 10. Larry will get the starting nod this week.

LBs Pat Thomas has missed the last four games and Donnie Edwards has missed the last three. Thomas participated fully in practice yesterday and Edwards was limited. Interestingly enough, the Chiefs only listed two linebackers in their starting line up last week.

DE Alfonso Boone has up to last weekend been starting for the Chiefs in the latter half of the season. He's a player who you never hear about anymore.

The Chargers will likely face seven or so new starters on the Chiefs' team that they didn't face in Week 10. That's one third of the starting lineup.

Advantages of having the new starters? Disadvantages? What new starter makes the most difference, good or bad?

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Comments

I hate to say it...

..but I hope Donnie retires after this season. I really was excited to see him come back, but I don’t think his body can handle the rigors of the NFL anymore.

Bill Parcell’s: "You are what your record says you are."

The Chiefs need to be playoff contenders in 2009 for me to consider improvement. Clark wanted it in 2008...I'll give them an additional year.

by THE_TRUTH on Dec 11, 2008 2:09 PM CST reply actions

Judging by this season

The decision will probably be mutual.

by Joel Thorman on Dec 11, 2008 2:11 PM CST up reply actions

I Think He's Done

He was solid enough last year, but when a guy his age has this many physical problems it’s time to cut him loose.

I hope he retires as a Chief, but if not the Chiefs need to cut him loose next season.

The Chiefs should win 5 to 6 games this year and no less than 4 for this season to be considered progress in any way. If he can't win at least 9 games next season, Herm's a joke.

by UCrawford on Dec 11, 2008 2:12 PM CST up reply actions

Stingy Calf Injury?

How is it stingy? Does it skip out on tips at restaurants? Does it always call collect? Did it get Mark Bradley a used sweater for Christmas?

The Chiefs should win 5 to 6 games this year and no less than 4 for this season to be considered progress in any way. If he can't win at least 9 games next season, Herm's a joke.

by UCrawford on Dec 11, 2008 2:11 PM CST reply actions

All of those things

Arrowhead Pride

by Chris Thorman on Dec 11, 2008 2:24 PM CST up reply actions

Guessing it was meant to be

sting-y (like a bee) not stingy as in cheap :)

have you seen my baseball?

by IISaiNtII on Dec 11, 2008 9:50 PM CST up reply actions

Thiggy

Did some research. If you could take the last seven games and multiply them out over the season these would be Thigpen’s stats…
Yards 3506 TD 28 INT 9 and a rating of 88.9
Chew on that for a little while…

by RockU on Dec 11, 2008 2:25 PM CST reply actions

Well we can all hope for the same thing next year.

A couple of slight upgrades on offense and he just might have those numbers.

Indecision is the key to flexibility

by cmpotter on Dec 11, 2008 2:27 PM CST up reply actions

Jamaal Charles

Charles In Charge

The Chiefs should win 5 to 6 games this year and no less than 4 for this season to be considered progress in any way. If he can't win at least 9 games next season, Herm's a joke.

by UCrawford on Dec 11, 2008 2:41 PM CST reply actions

I'd Butter Her Biscuit

With a little Arrowspread. :)

The Chiefs should win 5 to 6 games this year and no less than 4 for this season to be considered progress in any way. If he can't win at least 9 games next season, Herm's a joke.

by UCrawford on Dec 11, 2008 2:42 PM CST up reply actions

Here she is today....GO TEAM

Bill Parcell’s: "You are what your record says you are."

The Chiefs need to be playoff contenders in 2009 for me to consider improvement. Clark wanted it in 2008...I'll give them an additional year.

by THE_TRUTH on Dec 11, 2008 2:44 PM CST up reply actions

Why Must You Suck, Truth?

You and I had established such a nice rapport and then you feel a need to post photos that make me throw up in my mouth.

The Chiefs should win 5 to 6 games this year and no less than 4 for this season to be considered progress in any way. If he can't win at least 9 games next season, Herm's a joke.

by UCrawford on Dec 11, 2008 2:54 PM CST up reply actions

ROFLMAO...ok, I spewed soda out of my nose reading that post

Bill Parcell’s: "You are what your record says you are."

The Chiefs need to be playoff contenders in 2009 for me to consider improvement. Clark wanted it in 2008...I'll give them an additional year.

by THE_TRUTH on Dec 11, 2008 2:55 PM CST up reply actions

That's an excellent picture

Kudos, my friend.

by Joel Thorman on Dec 11, 2008 3:15 PM CST up reply actions

Once again, as a Bronco fan watching your team from the outside, I think you are already a very good team...

and will be a playoff contender next year. I think we have been crushed in blowouts (week 4 as example) more than you guys this year. San Diego is in the final process of being, ‘Norved’ and won’t be able to stand up to your team this weekend. Beat San Diego this weekend (not a totally unselfish thought) and build momentum for next year.

The best defense is a good defense!
And last week's young players. Yes!

by Mike Clark on Dec 11, 2008 5:54 PM CST reply actions

That's the hope anyway

I don’t want to lose out for a draft pick, I want them to win out for pride. San Diego holds their own fortune. If the Chiefs go in and just lay down, I’ll be supremely pissed off.

have you seen my baseball?

by IISaiNtII on Dec 11, 2008 9:53 PM CST up reply actions

Next year you will be the "How did they do that?" kinda like Miami this year--only better.

The best defense is a good defense!
And last week's young players. Yes!

by Mike Clark on Dec 11, 2008 11:02 PM CST up reply actions

Miami Fired Their Losing Coach And Losing GM

The Chiefs haven’t. So there’s not going to be any shocking turnaround next year unless Clark Hunt fires Carl and Herm. They’ve already demonstrated what they can do, and it’s not much.

The Chiefs should win 5 to 6 games this year and no less than 4 for this season to be considered progress in any way. If he can't win at least 9 games next season, Herm's a joke.

by UCrawford on Dec 11, 2008 11:15 PM CST up reply actions