[Chiefs Blog] After watching three days of practice this week, coach Romeo Crennel said Kyle Orton would start at quarterback on Sunday when the Chiefs play the Packers Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.
The week began with the Chiefs unsure whether Orton, recovering from a dislocated index finger on his passing hand, would be able to play against Green Bay. But the Chiefs were pleasantly surprised with what they saw from Orton.
Crennel’s biggest concern heading into this week regarding Orton was not his ability to make all the necessary throws but to take the direct snap from center.
”The ball has not been on the ground when he’s taken a snap,” Crennel said. ”There have been no fumbles.”
Rookie Ricky Stanzi will be the number two quarterback. It’s unclear whether Tyler Palko, who started the last four games, will be available to play as the third quarterback or inactive.
ok Orton…the spot light is on you. do the right thing and win this 1 lol….
Comment by yokutchief — December 17, 2011 @ 11:55 pm
this may break the KC Chiefs streak of undefeated teams coming into arrowhead…
since the start of the chiefs, NO team leaves without a loss when they came to arrowhead undefeated….. I still remember the St Louis Rams game 45-17…
Comment by Dave — December 18, 2011 @ 10:07 am
I wouldn’t expect Orton to win this game for us. After all, no QB in the league has beaten this team in the last 20-something games. But it would be exciting if it happens. Good Luck to Orton!
Comment by Jeff in VA — December 18, 2011 @ 12:34 pm
I remember that game too Dave, Marshall Faulk was throwing up on the field.
Comment by Ted — December 18, 2011 @ 12:50 pm
AND THE STREAK REMAINS……. 6-0 the chiefs are when a undefeated team enters….. 13-1….. with one CHIEF loss on its bid to perfection.
Who will be next…. the axe is ready for the swing
Comment by Dave — December 18, 2011 @ 6:42 pm
damn game plan was executed almost to perfection today….we should have had atleast 3 touchdowns in this game…..good game boys.
Comment by yokutchief — December 18, 2011 @ 8:03 pm
Can somebody please reiterate what I said all along about how Cassel sux ballz b/c he cannot read defenses or throw a deep ball…man, look what our offense can do even without Charles and Moeaki. “oh, our O-Line sux, oh we’re missing our stud RB…” No problem today with a QB with confidence in the huddle. How much $$ are we gonna lose on gettin rid of Cassel’s ass?? I’m sure Clark and Pioli seen what we all seen yesterday…
Comment by Tammy H — December 19, 2011 @ 7:23 pm
New HC Tammy. Haley wouldn’t let Cassel throw it long very often, he said it in many press conferences. And, the O-line decided to block. Orton hardly ever got hit. First time this season.
We won’t be getting rid of Cassel and Orton will probably be gone at end of the year, unless Crennel stays on as HC and Josh McDaniels doesn’t come in as OC.
If Josh McDaniels comes here either as HC or OC, Orton will be gone. If Crennel becomes permanent HC, he may keep Orton and make Cassel back up. I wouldn’t get my hopes up on Orton after one very inspired performance, his career numbers are almost identical to Cassels, only Cassel has won more games. If McDaniels comes here, Cassel will be QB, that’s his boy.
Comment by Jeff in VA — December 19, 2011 @ 8:02 pm
I hope you’re wrong Jeff… I mean, hopefully Clark and Pioli feel that Cassel had his shot and he let it slip by and frankly we can’t sit idol waiting on him to suddenly be in command down after down. Cassel would be a good back-up, no matter if he’s McD’a boy or not, if Clark and Pioli are done with Cassel then he’s done.
Comment by Tammy H — December 19, 2011 @ 9:33 pm
Oh, and also, I noticed you have said “career #s almost identical..” on a few occasions and I can “sense” your Cassel vs Orton meter is lop-sided towards Cassel, just as mine is towards Orton.
But, even with that being said, I can’t help but see, sense, feel that Orton is a notch above Matt Cassel on the field, call it swagger/confidence, etc. and to his defense he has never had the weapons Cassel had/has in NE or KC. Let’s see what the next two games hold. If Orton continues to succeed, I don’t see how they can say with confidence that Cassel deserves to be starter!! I don’t beleive it, I won’t believe it!!!
Comment by Tammy H — December 19, 2011 @ 9:41 pm
Orton knows how to drop back in the pocket, and it showed with the excellent O-line play. When he had pressure, he got rid of it quick and put it in a place where his receiver can make a play. Cassel is garbage. Like I said a while ago on this site, he collapses his own damn pocket. He goes 10 yards back and forces the O-line to drop back much further than neccessary and they end up working their tails off every play. They also cant help eachother out when theyre spread that far out. Same with Palko. Dropped wayyy too far back. Made me sick to my stomach. Our O-line was always good. We just had stupid QBs. Run blocking is much tougher than pass blocking, and we run very well. It should be easy for those guys. Orton proved the O-line CAN pass block.
Comment by Brian — December 19, 2011 @ 11:52 pm
Ok….. what QB would you pick up from the draft…. REALISTACLLY
Comment by Dave — December 20, 2011 @ 3:52 pm
Brian, like I told you before, dropping back is a mechanical thing, you dont’ drop back too far, it’s either 3, 5 or 7 steps. Orton got good blocking yesterday, Cassel never stayed that clean.
Tammy, I never said I wanted Cassel, my point was don’t get too excited about Orton after one good game, he did after all lose his starting position to Tebow this year and his career stats are just average. I would also put him a notch above Cassel, but not by much. Remember Orton was in on that McDaniel, Cassel, Chiefs, Broncos Patriots mess a few years ago. If I remember right, McDaniel wanted Cassel but ended up with Orton. With that said, I would love for Orton to light it up here at the end of the year! I think Clark has a finger on the pulse of the fans and that helped send the coach out. I think Cassel will be a back up for the Chiefs next year.
Comment by Jeff in VA — December 20, 2011 @ 5:38 pm
Dave, right now we have 11 teams with the same or worse record to pick before us in the draft. Of those 11, it looks like 7 or 8 of them would take a QB. According to Mel Kiper and McShay the top QBs on the board are Luck, Barkley, RGIII, and Jones. All will be gone before our pick. The next best are probably Tannehill, Foles, Smith, Manuel, Cousins and and Weeden. But these guys aren’t first round picks. I would guess we might get one of them in the second round or third. Pioli says he likes to draft a QB somewhere in the draft, so we will get one. Maybe Weeden. It’s just not going to be the one everyone wants. Like I have said many times before, the stars have to line up to get a top caliber QB. There are only 5 or 6 in the league right now and we aren’t going to get any of them, UNLESS we could get Peyton Manning somehow.
Comment by Jeff in VA — December 20, 2011 @ 5:58 pm
Sorry Jeff I never saw when you told me that. I know dropping back is a mechanical thing. My point is Cassels mechanics at 7 step drops were horrible. He took too long of strides, and didnt step up in the pocket after those drops. Orton did have pressure that game too. When he did, he got rid of it. He has good pocket presence. Something Cassel just doesnt have.
Comment by Brian — December 21, 2011 @ 3:53 am
Very good post. Really Wonderful.
Comment by Kaylynn Giannini — January 28, 2012 @ 7:56 pm
I think this is a real great article.Really looking forward to read more. Wonderful.
Comment by Yaritza Mondragon — January 29, 2012 @ 9:12 am