Community Projections: Bobby Sippio

by Chris Thorman on May 22, 2008 7:37 AM CDT in 2008 Off Season Comment 25 comments

Last summer, as the cameras of HBO's Hard Knocks series rolled on the fields of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, former Arena League wide receiver Bobby Sippio flashed across the screen and entered our minds forever. It wasn't his speed (or lack of it) that got our attention but the fact that he apparently didn't drop a ball thrown to him in training camp.

Sippio cleared the NFL waiver wire in early September and made his way to the Kansas City Chiefs active roster just a week later.

In retrospect, its clear why Sippio chose the Chiefs as much as why the Chiefs chose Sippio. He'll get the chance to start. Not that he will start mind you but our current WR situation is that wide open. Here are the wide receivers curently on the roster:

Dwyane Bowe
Devard Darling
Will Franklin
Kevin McMahan
Maurice Price
Kevin Robinson
Luke Swann
Jeff Webb

So, going just by the talent listed there, Sippio will be battling for a #3 spot with a fourth or even fifth spot the most likely. If Sippio doesn't play much again this season, I'll be dumbfounded as to why he's on the team. He's not that good of or even a particularly good special teams player.

He didn't register any catches last season and I think he may have actually touched a live game ball once on a punt or kickoff return. You can't really go by his previous Arena League stats for any indicators because he gained like 5 million yards in his career there.

I'm going to say Sippio ends the 2008 season with approximately 20 catches for 220 yards. Not sure why I like the "twos" this morning but I do.

What numbers do you think Bobby Sippio will put up in 2008?

Note: I'll have more community projections coming out over the next few weeks, unless they turn out to be uninteresting. Also, these posts are great for first timers to jump in and comment. No pressure on these.

Poll

Your thoughts on Sippio?

Just another WR body

106 votes

Are you crazy? Sippio just needs a chance!

232 votes

338 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 25 comments

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Comments

Simplified playbook

Will Sippio be one of the beneficiaries of a less complicated offense? Why (for whom?) is the playbook being made more understandable in the first place? I got the feeling in Herm’s first year that he felt Webb, for one, couldn’t take the field because of the complex Xs and Os.

Did Sippio not catch a pass last year because…
A) Lack of physical skills and separation?
B) Croyle never had time to get to a second or third read?
C) Sippio was in the wrong place too often, causing Croyle to avoid him and a possible INT?

I suspect the answer is “all of the above.” I think we all believe that a pass is thrown his way, that Sippio’s flypaper hands will snag the ball. Maybe this year’s OTA and camps will cement a relationship with Croyle and a star will be born.

by sunny D on May 22, 2008 8:09 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It is all of the above

And the fact that he rarely lined up as a wide receiver last year.

by Chris Thorman on May 22, 2008 8:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

True

It’s hard to make catches when you start a play lined up three yards behind the head coach. (Okay, and sometimes even on the field.)

by sunny D on May 22, 2008 8:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Making the cut

Looking at Sippio’s pic reminds me that if I’m trying to make the 2008 Chiefs, I wouldn’t show up at training camp with hair on my shoulders.

by sunny D on May 22, 2008 8:13 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Here's the reason

The simplified playbook if for Croyle http://www.kansascity.com/sports/story/629108.html

“The Chiefs also have simplified the offense for Croyle, and Edwards said Croyle has been quick to grasp new coordinator Chan Gailey’s system.”

Blame my wife!

by sir eccles on May 22, 2008 8:19 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'll have the #7

Thank you, Sir. So the playbook looks less like a Chinese menu to the Alabama native and more like the 12-item extra value meal menu at McDonalds? “Big Mac and fries” means “Charles, run off our new right tackle,” and burn the defense?

by sunny D on May 22, 2008 8:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Are you suggesting

people from Alabama aren’t the sharpest?

jumps up and down

I want the kids meal!!!!!!

Blame my wife!

by sir eccles on May 22, 2008 9:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, Sir.

Only that for the purposes of analogy, there are likely more 12-menu-item Golden Arches across Croyles’ home state than Mandarin Woks with 88 entrees that are hard to say and available in a plethora of combinations that are hard to understand. The Yellowhammer state is a fine, fine part of the country. And they know their football there, too. (That enough to make sure the Tide doesn’t turn on me?)

by sunny D on May 22, 2008 9:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

As bad as we were

last year, any warm body should have got a chance to get on the field!

by Eric Allen on May 22, 2008 8:33 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't think he will make the team.

Bowe, Darling, Franklin, Robinson, Webb, and Swann make it instead.

by JasonM on May 22, 2008 9:18 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The footage was impressive...

... but you have to wonder why he wasn’t able to beat out Samie Parker of all people at the #3 spot last year.

There’s more going on here as sunny D alluded to in the first post.

If he was doing well in practice- lining up in the right spot, catching everything, running precise routes- there’s no reason he shouldn’t be on the field.

I’m all for fan favorites… don’t get me wrong… but I’ve got a suspicion that he won’t be with the team in Foxboro for Game 1.

by mikvogel on May 22, 2008 10:22 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree

SOMETHING was keeping him off the field in the midst of our 9-game losing streak…

by PVChiefsfan on May 22, 2008 11:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

If he was talented enough to be playing, he would have played. Period.

The invisible hand if you will….

by Chris Thorman on May 22, 2008 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

B-SIPPIO

HE COULDN’T BEAT PARKER OUT BECAUSE WHILE PARKER COULDN’T CATCH A COLD BUTT NAKED IN ALASKA-HE DID KNOW THE OFFENSE AND BEING A FORMER QB I WOULD RATHER HAVE A GUY THAT COULDN’T CATCH BUT KNEW THE OFFENSE VS A GUY THAT COULD CATCH AND DIDN’T KNOW THE OFFENSE BECAUSE BEING WHERE U SHOULD BE WHEN THE QB NEEDS U TO BE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO OFFENSIVE COORDINATORS. SIPPIO WILL BE JUST FINE LEARNING THE NEW OFFENSE BECAUSE HE’S GOING TO BE THERE AT THE START OF CAMP SO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR BOBBY IN CAMP-WHY GIVE WEBB SO MUCH CREDIT HE HADN’T DONE MUCH -I WOULD HATE LET BOBBY SLIP TO ANOTHER TEAM AND END UP CLOWNING THE CHIEFS THEN WE REALLY WILL BE TALK OF THE NFL. SO GIVE B-SIP A SHOT HE DESERVES IT HELL WE PRAISE GUYS LIKE STOKELY,JUREVICIUS,DREW BENNETT,JOE HORN,HINES WARD ALL OF WHICH ARE FINE RECEIVERS BUT THEY ALL DO ONE AND ONE THING ONLY CATCH THE BALL AND THAT’S ALL WE NEED B-SIPPIO TO DO AND I FOR ONE THINK HE CAN DO JUST THAT.

by chiefrodawg on May 22, 2008 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

he’ll be one of the first set of cuts

by rdub on May 22, 2008 11:14 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

He's gone

I think we are only going to take 5 wide receivers this year. Bowe, Webb, Franklin, and Darling should make the team. That leaves one spot open and if Robbinson wins the KR job than there is simply no room. And even if he doesn’t he’ll have to beat him at that position, plus there is Swan who I’ve heard is a fairly good slot receiver prospect.

by chiefsfan1384 on May 22, 2008 1:32 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

SIPPIO

WE SHALL SEE -ALL U TALENT SCOUTS WHO THE HELL IS SWAN ANYWAY AND ROBINSON WON’T BE AROUND TO EVEN COMPETE FOR A SPOT TOO MANY OFF FIELD ISSUES AND IF WHAT U GUYS SAY ABOUT THE CITY OF KANSAS IS TRUE THEN HE’LL BE IN TROUBLE BEFORE CAMP IS OVER>>>GREAT WE ARE GOING TO KEEP A GUY WITH OFF FIELD ISSUES AFTER WE JUST LET ONE GET AWAY TO THE VIKINGS THAT WOULDN’T BE SMART HUH? WE HAVE TOO MANY YOUNG GUYS TO KEEP A GUY LIKE KOREN TOO MANY BAD HABITS PACKERS CUT HIM 4 A REASON!!! GO FIGURE

by chiefrodawg on May 22, 2008 2:09 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Huh?

by Eric Allen on May 22, 2008 5:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

WTF?

CHIEFRODAWG NEEDS TO STOP USING ALL CAPS AND HE WAS A FORMER QB BECAUSE HE KNEW THE OFFENSE>>>IM WRITING THIS BUT NOBODY HAS A CLUE WHAT IM SAYING MAYBE IF I KEEP WRITING I WILL LOOK BETTER OFF>>>KOREN ROBINSON HAS TWO LEGS AND TWO ARMS AND ONLY ONE HEAD GO FIGURE!!

by JasonM on May 22, 2008 8:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wrong Robison

the one we drafted. not the guy from the Packers…

by PVChiefsfan on May 22, 2008 10:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know that,

I was just messing around.

by JasonM on May 22, 2008 11:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I knew you were

that was to Chiefrodawg

by PVChiefsfan on May 23, 2008 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sippio

Bobby Sippio’s name should never be mentioned without providing a link to this U-Tube video. http://youtube.com/watch?v=UXSLiahzFq8&feature=related

Last year in looking at the Arena League video and stats of Sippio I was convinced he was going to be a star or at least a good receiver in the NFL. I heard the heckles and name calling regarding his never making it on several forums. I did my research and discovered Sippio has great hands, runs perfect routes, is a strong blocker, shields the ball well, and is a hard worker. Most important, he will do anything to get in the end zone as you can see in the video. He did run a 4.69 40 at the combine, which is slow. However, he has since recorded times in the 4.4 to 4.5 range, and so it was hard for me to imagine he is slow, and especially after looking at the video. Sippio stated last year, "I was in football shape because I was just coming out of the Arena League season," he said. "But I wasn’t in ‘40 shape.’ That’s the reason the coaches here thought I was slow." In another place I read when he reported to the Chiefs he was very tired after just completing a season in the AFL, but a door opened to the NFL, and he didn’t see how he could refuse.

Jason Taylor with the Star featured Sippio in an article last year, and I wrote and inquired as to why he thought Bobby was not getting more playing time. Jason responded, “I don’t know, I attended every one of the practices and you can clearly see he is the best receiver on the team and has amazing ability.” He admitted Sippio appeared to be slower than the other receivers. Obviously, because of his size and speed he was listed behind Bowe on the depth chart, because both are possession receivers. The fact that he was behind a number one draft pick also explains why he didn’t get much playing time. The Chiefs need a burner on the opposite end, and hopefully either Webb or one of the new guys will step up. That said, I hope Sippio makes the team and has a great year.

by GarySpFc on May 23, 2008 11:12 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Someone to root for

Having lost the calf-ropin’ Allen, and the fun-lovin’ Boomer, it would be nice to have one of the “folk heroes” (Sippio) make the team. Part of the fun in being a fan is having some personalities and even Cinderella’s (if I can use that term in a football blog) to root for. Thanks for bringing the link back, Gary.

by sunny D on May 23, 2008 12:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sippio the Legend

I don’t know if any of you remember or not, but Sippio was listed as the backup quarterback in one Chiefs game last year when we were short handed. He only played quarterback for one year in high school, but he appears to have done okay.

• A three-sport athlete at Kissimmee-Osceola High School in Kissimmee, Florida where he played in football, basketball and football.

• Named first-team all-conference and second-team all-state as a quarterback as a senior.

• Passed for 1,199 yards and rushed for 1,210 yards to become the first QB in the country to pass and run for more than 1,000 yards.

• Played defensive back as a sophomore and junior.

by GarySpFc on May 23, 2008 6:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs