Huard is making QB job interesting
JASON WHITLOCK
The Kansas City Star
The 51-yard dime that Damon Huard unspooled to Eddie Kennison in the final minutes Sunday saved Ty Law from postgame embarrassment, killed the visiting Seahawks and birthed a premature quarterback controversy.
We should remember this play. It rescued the Chiefs from a potentially season-turning defeat and stamped them and their backup quarterback as legitimate threats.
We began the day wondering whether Huard’s groin would allow him to play. We ended it convinced that Trent Green shouldn’t rush back from his concussion. Damon Huard’s hot hand needs plenty of time to cool.
He scorched the Seahawks with it, completing critical downfield passes to Tony Gonzalez throughout the day and unleashing the big one to Kennison shortly after Seattle had burned a fallen Law and taken a one-point lead.
Huard’s bomb set up Larry Johnson’s game-deciding fourth touchdown in Kansas City’s more-difficult-than-it-should’ve-been 35-28 victory over the starless Seattle Seahawks.
“I know who my quarterback is,” Kansas City coach Herm Edwards said, referring to Green.
No doubt, Green is KC’s franchise quarterback and unquestioned leader, but Huard should remain the starter until there is some sign of trouble.
“Damon is making it hard on Trent,” Edwards joked. “(Damon) has won all of the games.”
Huard is 4-2 as a starter. You can’t pin the Denver loss on Huard. The Chiefs lost that game the week after Green suffered a concussion and with a game plan more conservative than Ann Coulter. The ladies of Passion Party can claim credit for the Chiefs lying down in Pittsburgh.
Huard isn’t making things tough on Green. If Huard keeps this up, he’s going to make things tough on Herm Edwards, offensive coordinator Mike Solari, quarterbacks coach Terry Shea and Chiefs fans who remember Elvis Grbac vs. Rich Gannon in 1997.
This thing is starting to smell like Grbac-Gannon, except Green is far more respected and liked by Chiefs players and fans.
Sticking with Huard is not a statement about Green. He’s a proven Pro Bowler. He’s a warrior. But the reality is he suffered a major injury, and at age 36, there’s no way to know how he’ll play coming off a severe concussion.
Will he play as well as Huard has the last two Sundays?
Against the defending NFC champions, Huard threw for 312 yards and one touchdown. He completed 17 of 25 passes. All three times the Chiefs trailed on Sunday, Huard rallied them.
“Incredible. Incredible,” tight end Tony Gonzalez said, speaking of Huard’s resiliency.
Huard saved his best rally for last. The Chiefs appeared to be in the process of blowing a game they had led 27-14. They’d let Seattle back in the game by surrendering a 61-yard fumble return on a botched field-goal attempt and Law falling down on a 49-yard touchdown pass.
The Chiefs got the ball back with 6 minutes, 25 seconds to play and trailing by a point.
Huard opened the drive with an 11-yard pass to Kennison. After a 1-yard run by Johnson, Huard hit Gonzalez for 11 yards. Johnson lost a yard on a run; then Huard dropped back to pass, stood firm against the rush and floated a perfect strike to Kennison along the Seattle sideline.
“I can’t say enough about Damon Huard,” Edwards said.
Well, he could say Huard is the starter. But there’s no reason to right now. There’s no reason to say anything. Green won’t be back for a couple more weeks. Green has the kind of injury that can be finessed and prolonged if necessary.
If Huard stays hot, Green may not get “100 percent” healthy until the offseason.
