Chiefs Ranking the Chiefs’ 2014 training camp battles: No. 1 — backup quarterback

Mr_Tomahawk · 07-18-2014, 05:59 PM

As a lead-in to the Chiefs’ training camp in St. Joseph, which begins when rookies and quarterbacks report July 20, The Star will rank the 10 most interesting position battles.

1. Backup quarterback

Quarterback is the most scrutinized position on the field, so there should be little surprise that the three-man race between Chase Daniel, Tyler Bray and Aaron Murray for the No. 2 job behind Alex Smith is the most interesting battle of camp.

All three players bring different strengths to the table, but before we dive into that, allow me to say this about Smith: he does not have the strongest arm in the world, and he isn’t a flashy guy. But he is, far and away, the best quarterback on the roster, and his performance during organized team activities proved it. In general, he made good decisions and was easily the most accurate quarterback of the four on the roster. The offense simply performed at a different level when he was on the field.

However, the others are interesting. Daniel proved he could play in the regular-season finale against San Diego, when he and the rest of the backups almost engineered a win over a playoff team. Though he doesn’t always make it look pretty, Daniel is a smart, heady player whose professionalism was valued by the Chiefs last season, and with this being his fourth season in the league, he is a veteran now.

Although the San Diego game was the only regular-season start he has during his entire career, if Smith goes down with an injury at some point, Reid might prefer it if a player Daniel’s age (27) took the reigns of a team hoping to earn playoff berth, as opposed to youngsters like Bray, 22, or Murray, 23.

Still, the problem for Reid is that the latter two probably have a higher upside than Daniel. Bray went undrafted in 2013 amid maturity concerns, but his physical tools are undeniable. At 6 feet 6, he is tall enough to see over his linemen, and he is blessed with a very strong arm, easily the strongest of all the quarterbacks on the roster. Because of this, he is a bit of a gunslinger — he never hesitated to chuck it deep during OTAs — but he can also make throws that the other quarterbacks cannot make. Reid also says Bray is more mature than he was last season and has a much better command of the offense. His potential is intriguing.

However, Bray still has a ways to go when it comes to pocket awareness, consistency and accuracy, and it was apparent during OTAs that he’s still got plenty to learn. But if he can prove during the preseason that he’s made significant strides since last season, the Chiefs could have a hard time cutting him, and might be forced to pick between keeping four quarterbacks — which is unusual — or making a tough choice between Daniel and Bray.

Murray, a fifth-round choice in this year’s draft, is likely a lock to make the team, even though he seems poised to spend this season learning Reid’s offense, just like Bray did a year ago. Like Daniel, he is 6 feet tall and isn’t the physical prototype of a quarterback like Bray is, but Murray possesses enough arm strength to throw it deep and has been praised for his intelligence and intangibles.

During OTAs, he took nearly all his reps behind Smith, Daniel and Bray, but he showed a willingness to scan the field in search of the open man, which is a sign of poise. He is certainly one to keep an eye on throughout the preseason, provided he continues to make progress in his recovery from the torn ACL he suffered last November. The Chiefs have to like the fact Murray, who wore a kneebrace during OTAs, did not seem terribly hampered by the injury once he reported for OTAs..

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt...#storylink=cpy

In58men · 07-18-2014, 06:02 PM

Gay for Bray

Deberg_1990 · 07-18-2014, 06:02 PM

Ill trust whatever QB depth chart Reid decides to go with.

In58men · 07-18-2014, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Ill trust whatever QB depth chart Reid decides to go with.

Not me

**Bowser** · 07-18-2014, 06:05 PM

It just feels like an upcoming stint on IR for Murray so he can learn Reid's system coming up with Bray and Daniel competing for #2. I don't think we can get away with putting any of the three on the practice squad - someone will swoop in and steal them for free.

**Bowser** · 07-18-2014, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inmem58

Not me

What are you going to do when Alex throws for 4,300 yds 34 TDs and 11 INTs?

**OnTheWarpath15** · 07-18-2014, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bowser

What are you going to do when Alex throws for 4,300 yds 34 TDs and 11 INTs?

In58men · 07-18-2014, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bowser

What are you going to do when Alex throws for 4,300 yds 34 TDs and 11 INTs?

1. We will probably still be 7-9

2. That means JC will have 3,900 receiving yards and 30 TDs

**Bowser** · 07-18-2014, 06:09 PM

That'd be pretty badass for JC.

Mr. Laz · 07-18-2014, 06:11 PM

Alex Smith
Chase Daniel
Tyler Bray

IR - Aaron Murray

**Bowser** · 07-18-2014, 06:12 PM

Alex will go for 3500-3800, about 25ish tds with 10ish picks. That's generally the numbers of a west coast cube, provided he makes it all season injury free.

**RealSNR** · 07-18-2014, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bowser

It just feels like an upcoming stint on IR for Murray so he can learn Reid's system coming up with Bray and Daniel competing for #2. I don't think we can get away with putting any of the three on the practice squad - someone will swoop in and steal them for free.

Can teams even do that? Murray is participating fully in practices. At this point there's no reason why the Chiefs wouldn't throw him out there at some point in the preseason to see if he can play or not.

He's basically healthy. Can teams just say, "Ehh, we want to keep this guy for at least a year... IR"?

**Bowser** · 07-18-2014, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

This gif always makes me laugh.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

Alex Smith
Chase Daniel
Tyler Bray

IR - Aaron Murray

That's the way I see it week 1.

Mr. Laz · 07-18-2014, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bowser

That's the way I see it week 1.

unless Bray tweaks a hamstring during the preseason

I figure Bray or Murray ends on on IR somehow

**Dave Lane** · 07-18-2014, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SNR

Can teams even do that? Murray is participating fully in practices. At this point there's no reason why the Chiefs wouldn't throw him out there at some point in the preseason to see if he can play or not.

He's basically healthy. Can teams just say, "Ehh, we want to keep this guy for at least a year... IR"?

He could tweak his knee in the last preseason game.

07-18-2014, 05:59 PM
Mr_Tomahawk Prestige Worldwide Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Spring Hill, KS Casino cash: $2790526	Ranking the Chiefs’ 2014 training camp battles: No. 1 — backup quarterback As a lead-in to the Chiefs’ training camp in St. Joseph, which begins when rookies and quarterbacks report July 20, The Star will rank the 10 most interesting position battles. 1. Backup quarterback Quarterback is the most scrutinized position on the field, so there should be little surprise that the three-man race between Chase Daniel, Tyler Bray and Aaron Murray for the No. 2 job behind Alex Smith is the most interesting battle of camp. All three players bring different strengths to the table, but before we dive into that, allow me to say this about Smith: he does not have the strongest arm in the world, and he isn’t a flashy guy. But he is, far and away, the best quarterback on the roster, and his performance during organized team activities proved it. In general, he made good decisions and was easily the most accurate quarterback of the four on the roster. The offense simply performed at a different level when he was on the field. However, the others are interesting. Daniel proved he could play in the regular-season finale against San Diego, when he and the rest of the backups almost engineered a win over a playoff team. Though he doesn’t always make it look pretty, Daniel is a smart, heady player whose professionalism was valued by the Chiefs last season, and with this being his fourth season in the league, he is a veteran now. Although the San Diego game was the only regular-season start he has during his entire career, if Smith goes down with an injury at some point, Reid might prefer it if a player Daniel’s age (27) took the reigns of a team hoping to earn playoff berth, as opposed to youngsters like Bray, 22, or Murray, 23. Still, the problem for Reid is that the latter two probably have a higher upside than Daniel. Bray went undrafted in 2013 amid maturity concerns, but his physical tools are undeniable. At 6 feet 6, he is tall enough to see over his linemen, and he is blessed with a very strong arm, easily the strongest of all the quarterbacks on the roster. Because of this, he is a bit of a gunslinger — he never hesitated to chuck it deep during OTAs — but he can also make throws that the other quarterbacks cannot make. Reid also says Bray is more mature than he was last season and has a much better command of the offense. His potential is intriguing. However, Bray still has a ways to go when it comes to pocket awareness, consistency and accuracy, and it was apparent during OTAs that he’s still got plenty to learn. But if he can prove during the preseason that he’s made significant strides since last season, the Chiefs could have a hard time cutting him, and might be forced to pick between keeping four quarterbacks — which is unusual — or making a tough choice between Daniel and Bray. Murray, a fifth-round choice in this year’s draft, is likely a lock to make the team, even though he seems poised to spend this season learning Reid’s offense, just like Bray did a year ago. Like Daniel, he is 6 feet tall and isn’t the physical prototype of a quarterback like Bray is, but Murray possesses enough arm strength to throw it deep and has been praised for his intelligence and intangibles. During OTAs, he took nearly all his reps behind Smith, Daniel and Bray, but he showed a willingness to scan the field in search of the open man, which is a sign of poise. He is certainly one to keep an eye on throughout the preseason, provided he continues to make progress in his recovery from the torn ACL he suffered last November. The Chiefs have to like the fact Murray, who wore a kneebrace during OTAs, did not seem terribly hampered by the injury once he reported for OTAs.. Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt...#storylink=cpy
Posts: 18,406

07-18-2014, 06:02 PM	#2
In58men Baba Ganoush Join Date: Jan 2012 Casino cash: $2018026	Gay for Bray __________________ My Kansas City Chief record 9-9
Posts: 29,351

07-18-2014, 06:02 PM	#3
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3744454	Ill trust whatever QB depth chart Reid decides to go with. __________________ Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning: Matt once made a very nice play in Seattle where he spun away from a pass rusher and hit Bowe off his back foot for a first down. One of the best plays Matt has ever made.
Posts: 66,914

07-18-2014, 06:05 PM	#5
Bowser sorta mod-ish Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: KC North Casino cash: $3201616	It just feels like an upcoming stint on IR for Murray so he can learn Reid's system coming up with Bray and Daniel competing for #2. I don't think we can get away with putting any of the three on the practice squad - someone will swoop in and steal them for free.
Posts: 101,049

07-18-2014, 06:09 PM	#9
Bowser sorta mod-ish Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: KC North Casino cash: $3201616	That'd be pretty badass for JC.
Posts: 101,049

07-18-2014, 06:11 PM	#10
Mr. Laz Don't Tease Me Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: KS Casino cash: $11047037	Alex Smith Chase Daniel Tyler Bray IR - Aaron Murray __________________
Posts: 95,626

07-18-2014, 06:12 PM	#11
Bowser sorta mod-ish Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: KC North Casino cash: $3201616	Alex will go for 3500-3800, about 25ish tds with 10ish picks. That's generally the numbers of a west coast cube, provided he makes it all season injury free.
Posts: 101,049