Trend or Mirage: Tyler Thigpen
By Brian Jonas
November 17, 2008 3:01pm CST
In college sports, you'll find a vast selection of team nicknames. There are the "tough guy" nicknames like the DePaul Blue Demons, the Miami Hurricanes, or the Texas Tech Red Raiders, for example. You'll find another category which is made up of "wimpy" nicknames, such as the Providence Friars, the University of California-Irvine's Anteaters, and the university where quarterback Tyler Thigpen hails from; the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. A rooster? Really, they decided on a rooster? At least Tyler possesses a tough guy last name. Oh, wait a minute.
Career:
As a four-year starter, Thigpen owns every passing record imaginable in every major statistical category (for quarterbacks) at Coastal Carolina.
In Thigpen's senior season, he earned the Big South Conference's player of the year award when he passed for 3,296 yards and 29 touchdowns. Also, in what would be a precursor to his rushing accumen in the NFL, Thigpen also ran for 656 yards and five touchdowns.
Originally drafted in the seventh round by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2007 draft, Thigpen became the first player from Coastal Carolina ever to play in the NFL. OK, to be honest, the football program only existed since 2003, but still, I'm sure Thigpen feels it's a feather in his cap, or cockscomb, as it were.
2007 (Kansas City Chiefs) 1 game, 41 yards, 0 touchdowns, 1 interception. Thigpen saw nary an opportunity on the field, but in a late season game in December, he came on in relief for an injured Damon Huard. Unfortunately for Thigpen, he too succumbed to the cruel bite of the injury bug, as he tore his MCL during practice following his debut game, and was shelved for the remainder of the season on injured reserve. As fate would have it, Thigpen would soon get his starting chance handed to him yet again due to injuries to the top two quarterbacks in 2008.
GOOD NEWS
If Thigpen went to Tennessee-Chattanooga, I could have said that Chattanooga Choo-Choo just keeps chugging along. But being a product of Coastal Carolina, I'll just say that he keeps pecking his way through defenses.
Before injuries to starters Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard, Thigpen was the third-string signal caller and in no danger of getting his uniform dirty (although he did impress Herm Edwards in camp and in practices). Then, due to major injuries to both Huard and Croyle (both placed on injured reserve), he was thrust into the limelight. With his inexperience at the NFL level, most thought this kid would be a deer in the headlights, yet the opposite proved to be true. Perhaps the most amazing part of this Cinderella story is that Thigpen is performing admirably with barely a running game to speak of considering all the time running back Larry Johnson has missed this season (Weeks 7-10 due to Johnson's benching by the Chiefs, plus a league-mandated one-game suspension), which coincides with the emergence of Thigpen into being one of the hottest fantasy quarterbacks in the league over the past four weeks.
Just what makes him one of fantasy football's hottest commodity at his position? The last four games has saw him average 235 yards and two touchdowns per game. During this four-game stretch, he's thrown for eight touchdowns and only one interception. In fact, in Week 11's matchup with the Saints, Thigpen was picked off for the first time in his last six starts. Overall, his streak had reached 161 pass attempts without an interception.
Thigpen's value doesn't stop with his arm, as he's also keeping drives alive with his legs. He's churned out an average of 28 yards on the ground per contest, including a nice 45-yard effort this past week versus the Saints. Among starting quarterbacks, Thigpen is currently ranked third in the league in rushing yards. While he won't be confused with Donovan McNabb or Michael Vick during their prime, fantasy owners will welcome 20-30 yards rushing from their quarterback and a healthy 7.3 yards per carry average.
Further adding to the ways Thigpen has been able to move the ball this year, he also has caught a touchdown pass from wide receiver Mark Bradley, whom he's formed a nice pitch and catch rapport with over the last five weeks.
Lastly, in the category headed "trivia question," Thigpen became the first quarterback (and the fifth Chiefs player ever) to throw, run, and catch a touchdown pass in a single season.
BAD NEWS
After continuing to befuddle NFL defenses without the aid of a quality running game, it was thought that the return of Larry Johnson would take a bite out of Thigpen's opportunities and return to the more conservative ways that head coach Herm Edwards usually employs in his game plan. Week 11 did see Johnson carry the ball 19 times to the tune of 67 yards, yet Thigpen still managed to post his fourth-straight game of 2+ touchdown tosses. That being said, we know how diva-like Johnson can get when he's not getting his carries, and coach Edwards is sure to hear about it.
When Johnson missed that chunk of games, offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, in an effort to maximize Thigpen's opportunity for success, implemented the spread offense, which was the same type of system that Thigpen excelled in at Coastal Carolina. Now that Johnson is back, there's the possibility (even considering the Chiefs' success at moving the ball through the air) that they might see a return to the power running game. Remember, Edwards is a conservative play caller, and that basic tenet of his coaching philosophy could play a bigger role as Johnson starts shaking more rust from his wheels as the season progresses into its home stretch. With as porous as the Chiefs defense seems to be, their best defense might just be ball control, courtesy of Larry Johnson.
VERDICT
It would be safe to say that Thigpen is past being a spot start or matchup play in fantasy. With the weapons that Thigpen has in wide receivers Dwayne Bowe, the emergence of Mark Bradley, all-pro tight end Tony Gonzalez, and running back Larry Johnson, Thigpen is nearing must-start status.
Strengthening that claim is the competition that Thigpen and his Chiefs face the remainder of this season. Their toughest matchup looks to be their next game at home against the Bills, who have only surrendered seven touchdown passes all season, which ranks them third in passing touchdowns allowed. Combating that, however, is Thigpen's tendency to put up his best efforts at home.
Favorable matchups include contests at Denver (fourth-worst in passing yards allowed), and at home against San Diego (worst in passing yards allowed, and third-most passing touchdowns allowed). In the Chiefs' matchup earlier in the season against the Chargers in San Diego, Thigpen torched them for 266 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions.
Considering the efforts put forth by Thigpen, Brodie Croyle should be thinking about doing some hat shopping, because he'll probably be sporting the ballcap and clipboard on the sideline next season as Thigpen's backup.
Thigpen's above-average production has been a trend, and with the same supporting cast around him, and the fairly easy schedule ahead for the Chiefs, he is in line to put up similar numbers to his recent highly productive stretch of four games he's put up.
Finally, we love what he has to say regarding his play. Consider his post-game comments after Week 11's matchup versus the Saints. "We've got to do better. We've got to win a game. That's the bottom line. It's not about me. It's not about what I do or what I put up stat-wise. It's about this team and we want to win a game."
With fire in his belly (as those comments would indicate), we love his chances of putting the burden of winning on his shoulders, and continue to carry himself and the Chiefs receivers to fantasy glory through the rest of the season.
Career:
As a four-year starter, Thigpen owns every passing record imaginable in every major statistical category (for quarterbacks) at Coastal Carolina.
In Thigpen's senior season, he earned the Big South Conference's player of the year award when he passed for 3,296 yards and 29 touchdowns. Also, in what would be a precursor to his rushing accumen in the NFL, Thigpen also ran for 656 yards and five touchdowns.
Originally drafted in the seventh round by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2007 draft, Thigpen became the first player from Coastal Carolina ever to play in the NFL. OK, to be honest, the football program only existed since 2003, but still, I'm sure Thigpen feels it's a feather in his cap, or cockscomb, as it were.
2007 (Kansas City Chiefs) 1 game, 41 yards, 0 touchdowns, 1 interception. Thigpen saw nary an opportunity on the field, but in a late season game in December, he came on in relief for an injured Damon Huard. Unfortunately for Thigpen, he too succumbed to the cruel bite of the injury bug, as he tore his MCL during practice following his debut game, and was shelved for the remainder of the season on injured reserve. As fate would have it, Thigpen would soon get his starting chance handed to him yet again due to injuries to the top two quarterbacks in 2008.
GOOD NEWS
If Thigpen went to Tennessee-Chattanooga, I could have said that Chattanooga Choo-Choo just keeps chugging along. But being a product of Coastal Carolina, I'll just say that he keeps pecking his way through defenses.
Before injuries to starters Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard, Thigpen was the third-string signal caller and in no danger of getting his uniform dirty (although he did impress Herm Edwards in camp and in practices). Then, due to major injuries to both Huard and Croyle (both placed on injured reserve), he was thrust into the limelight. With his inexperience at the NFL level, most thought this kid would be a deer in the headlights, yet the opposite proved to be true. Perhaps the most amazing part of this Cinderella story is that Thigpen is performing admirably with barely a running game to speak of considering all the time running back Larry Johnson has missed this season (Weeks 7-10 due to Johnson's benching by the Chiefs, plus a league-mandated one-game suspension), which coincides with the emergence of Thigpen into being one of the hottest fantasy quarterbacks in the league over the past four weeks.
Just what makes him one of fantasy football's hottest commodity at his position? The last four games has saw him average 235 yards and two touchdowns per game. During this four-game stretch, he's thrown for eight touchdowns and only one interception. In fact, in Week 11's matchup with the Saints, Thigpen was picked off for the first time in his last six starts. Overall, his streak had reached 161 pass attempts without an interception.
Thigpen's value doesn't stop with his arm, as he's also keeping drives alive with his legs. He's churned out an average of 28 yards on the ground per contest, including a nice 45-yard effort this past week versus the Saints. Among starting quarterbacks, Thigpen is currently ranked third in the league in rushing yards. While he won't be confused with Donovan McNabb or Michael Vick during their prime, fantasy owners will welcome 20-30 yards rushing from their quarterback and a healthy 7.3 yards per carry average.
Further adding to the ways Thigpen has been able to move the ball this year, he also has caught a touchdown pass from wide receiver Mark Bradley, whom he's formed a nice pitch and catch rapport with over the last five weeks.
Lastly, in the category headed "trivia question," Thigpen became the first quarterback (and the fifth Chiefs player ever) to throw, run, and catch a touchdown pass in a single season.
BAD NEWS
After continuing to befuddle NFL defenses without the aid of a quality running game, it was thought that the return of Larry Johnson would take a bite out of Thigpen's opportunities and return to the more conservative ways that head coach Herm Edwards usually employs in his game plan. Week 11 did see Johnson carry the ball 19 times to the tune of 67 yards, yet Thigpen still managed to post his fourth-straight game of 2+ touchdown tosses. That being said, we know how diva-like Johnson can get when he's not getting his carries, and coach Edwards is sure to hear about it.
When Johnson missed that chunk of games, offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, in an effort to maximize Thigpen's opportunity for success, implemented the spread offense, which was the same type of system that Thigpen excelled in at Coastal Carolina. Now that Johnson is back, there's the possibility (even considering the Chiefs' success at moving the ball through the air) that they might see a return to the power running game. Remember, Edwards is a conservative play caller, and that basic tenet of his coaching philosophy could play a bigger role as Johnson starts shaking more rust from his wheels as the season progresses into its home stretch. With as porous as the Chiefs defense seems to be, their best defense might just be ball control, courtesy of Larry Johnson.
VERDICT
It would be safe to say that Thigpen is past being a spot start or matchup play in fantasy. With the weapons that Thigpen has in wide receivers Dwayne Bowe, the emergence of Mark Bradley, all-pro tight end Tony Gonzalez, and running back Larry Johnson, Thigpen is nearing must-start status.
Strengthening that claim is the competition that Thigpen and his Chiefs face the remainder of this season. Their toughest matchup looks to be their next game at home against the Bills, who have only surrendered seven touchdown passes all season, which ranks them third in passing touchdowns allowed. Combating that, however, is Thigpen's tendency to put up his best efforts at home.
Favorable matchups include contests at Denver (fourth-worst in passing yards allowed), and at home against San Diego (worst in passing yards allowed, and third-most passing touchdowns allowed). In the Chiefs' matchup earlier in the season against the Chargers in San Diego, Thigpen torched them for 266 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions.
Considering the efforts put forth by Thigpen, Brodie Croyle should be thinking about doing some hat shopping, because he'll probably be sporting the ballcap and clipboard on the sideline next season as Thigpen's backup.
Thigpen's above-average production has been a trend, and with the same supporting cast around him, and the fairly easy schedule ahead for the Chiefs, he is in line to put up similar numbers to his recent highly productive stretch of four games he's put up.
Finally, we love what he has to say regarding his play. Consider his post-game comments after Week 11's matchup versus the Saints. "We've got to do better. We've got to win a game. That's the bottom line. It's not about me. It's not about what I do or what I put up stat-wise. It's about this team and we want to win a game."
With fire in his belly (as those comments would indicate), we love his chances of putting the burden of winning on his shoulders, and continue to carry himself and the Chiefs receivers to fantasy glory through the rest of the season.
