6B SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
>> NFL
FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2007
Questions still loom over winless Chiefs
BY DOUG TUCKER ASSOCIATED PRESS
ASSOCIATED PRESS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — With one preseason game to go, Drew Brees was already showing off his Pro Bowl form.
The same cannot be said of the Kansas City Chiefs, whose murky quarterback picture was only muddied further Thursday night as Brodie Crouch struggled and a nearly perfect Brees led the New Orleans Saints to a dominating 30-7 victory.
Playing in all but one series in the first half, Brees hit 17 of 19 passes against the first-team defense for 182 yards and one touchdown. His quarterback rating when he retired for the night was 124.1 — a sharp contrast to the 153 of Croyle.
ABOVE, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Brodie Croyle, right, was sacked by New Orleans Saints linebacker Brian Simmons during a pressure football game Thursday in Kansas City. Croyle did not look impressive going only 5-for-17 in the losing performance.
The second-year pro, battling veteran Damon Huard for the starting job, was only 5-for-17 for 45 yards. Hurried by a New Orleans defense that frequently beat the Chiefs' offensive line, Croyle was also sacked twice and threw his third interception in three outings. This game was viewed as a golden opportunity for him to wrest the job away from Huard, who was held out with a sore calf.
RIGHT, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Kris Wilsondow was tackled by New Orleans Saints linebacker Scott Fuita (55) during the first quarter of game Thursday in Kansas City.
But instead of seizing his chance, Croyle seemed to help make the case for Huard, a 34-year-old career backup.
In three preseason games, the Chiefs (0-3) have scored only 29 points. The defense has scored eight.
Pierre Thomas, a free agent rookie out of Illinois who came into the game deep on the depth chart, scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns for the Saints on runs against the Chiefs' reserves and could have made a good case for himself to win a job.
In both of their first two possessions the Saints drove nearly to the line, but were stopped.
Reggie Bush rushed for 51 yards on six carries, including a 12-yard
scamper on the second possession that was capped by the first of Olindo Mare's three field goals, 28-varder.
Brees led the Saints on a six-play, 45-vard drive late in the half capped
by Patten's 4-yard touchdown catch when he got wide open in the back of the end zone.
Marcus O'Keith scored the Chiefs' touchdown on a 2-yard run with 1:53 left.
BIG 12
New players might jeopardize Baylor bowl spot
BY CASE KEEFER ckeefer@kansan.com
On the surface, it looks like the Baylor football program is improving.
The Bears won three Big 12 conference games last year for the first time and were only one victory away from bowl eligibility two years ago.
All that progress may be washed away in 2007.
OFFENSE
The Bears will employ their version of the spread offense for the second year. Usually, teams progress with a new offense in the second year as players become more familiar with the system. Baylor, however, returns only four offensive starters from last year, and the learning curve should be just as large. No fewer than five candidates have been considered for Baylor's quarterback vacancy. Kent State senior transfer Michael Machen went into camp at the top of the depth chart but failed to impress coach Guy Moriss. The competition is now between sophomore Blake Szymanski and redshirt freshman Tyler Beatty. Szymanski started three games last year with less than stellar results. But his experience still gives him a slight edge to be the starter when the Bears play their first game. If the offense plans to be the least bit dangerous, senior
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running back Brandon Whitaker must return to the form he showed in his sophomore season. Whitaker struggled mastering the spread offense last year and was demoted from his starting job. Baylor loses its two leading receivers but hopes that junior Thomas White will transform from a simple deep threat to a well-rounded No. 1 receiver. The offensive line is another area of concern as Baylor's was the Big 12's worst last year.
DEFENSE
In the Bear's 4-2-5 defensive scheme, the linebackers must be ferocious. And Baylor's are. Sophomore Joe Pawleek led the team in tackles last year and was selected to the freshman All-American team. Senior Nick Moore is a former Georgia Tech transfer and has ability to slow down an opponent's rush. The defensive line must do a better job penetrating the opponent's offensive line to clear the way for Moore and Pawleek to make plays. Baylor was ranked 113th in Division I football last year against the run. The hope is that junior defensive tackle Vincent Rhodes can turn into a premier lineman. Rhodes began showing promise at the end of last year and started the Bear's final two games. The secondary may be the biggest of all the Bear's concerns. Seniors Josh Bell and Alton Widemon will start at cornerback, but neither showed true play-making ability in their first three seasons. Senior Brandon Stiggers and junior Daina Crawford make an adequate pair of safeties.
SEASON OUTLOOK
With holes at nearly every position, it is hard to see Baylor anywhere near bowl eligibility this season. The Bears hope an easy nonconference schedule will provide this inexperienced team with the confidence to pull off a few upets in the big 12. Baylor's only real test in the nonconference is its opening game at TCU. The bears then play Rice, Texas State and Buffalo, all games they will be expected to win. The best opportunity for a Big 12 victory falls on Oct. 6 when Colorado travels to Waco, Texas. Baylor is 2-37 all-time in Big 12 road games and plays at Texas A&M, Kansas, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in 2007. This is clearly a rebuilding year for the Bears.
PREDICTION
3-9
Edited by Amelia Freidline
MLB
Cardinals want home run trot from Puiols every time
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Albert Pujols showed St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa he could play under control in 2003, avoiding cutting loose with throws from left field to prevent blowing out his elbow.
So La Russa has no doubt that Pujols, who felt one side go numb from a high hamstung injury on Wednesday night, can be just as careful now. The Cardinals' star was in the lineup and batting third on Thursday against the Florida Marlins with orders to take it easy on the basepaths.
"I don't want to change the way I play the game," Pujols said. "Obviously, I know I have an injury that I need to be careful with."
La Russa wanted to remove Pujols Wednesday, but Pujols twice talked him out of it.
"He's been running under control for a long time," La Russa said. "Today will be an exaggerated example of that, I'm guessing."
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