Cotchery is a fine player, but I wouldn't want him as my top option. As far as the 2 clowns you mention, they have done NOTHING in this league to warrant being number 2's over anyone. They do have a guy in Keller that could be a pretty good TE in this league and I forgot about him.

They've looked pretty good in the limited chances they've gotten, and they're still young and developing. I honestly think the two of them, and definitely Stuckey, will be decent at worst.

Keller's going to be a very good TE for a number of years.

You could be right and since you seem to have actually watched these guys play, I'll quit arguing with ya on this subject.

As Jason Sauto mentioned, that YAC will almost certainly be improved when these receivers, especially Bowe can make catches in stride, because the ball is delivered accurately.

Cassel, if nothing else, is far more accurate than Thigpen.

It's really difficult to rack up any YAC when you are constantly having to make plays simply to make the catch.

Just to play Devil's Advocate, since there's no way to know without watching every pass Cassel threw last year, but...

How accurate do you have to be when a WR is WIDE open?

When I think of YAC due to hitting guys in stride, I think of Warner and the Rams "Greatest Show on Turf."

I didn't really see anything resembling that in the 8-10 Patriots games I watched last year. I saw a lot of separation from the WR's, and I saw guys making a move, a defender missing, and 20+ yards being picked up.

FWIW, I do agree that Cassel is much more accurate than Thigpen. That's a given, IMO.

With the closing speed that secondary defenders in the NFL have, even if a receiver is open by about ten yards, if the balll is delivered as inaccurately as Thigpen delivered it, there isn't much opportunity for YAC.

True enough. But even if Bowe and co. display immaculate timing, it's not gonna' mean jack when three defenders are tearing through your line and barreling at your ass full-speed.*

And WHO is it...that likes to take his sweet time releasing?

And WHO is it...that can't or won't block for jack-shit in the back field?

Variables. Tons of them.

*This is doubly-so if Waters is a no-go.

Well, yeah.

I was talking about Cassel.

And I'll to that:

That means shorter, more intermediate routes and well, less yardage.

You think our line is that bad Raised on Riots? Albert will be a better player and if Waters plays we'll have solid guards. Hopefully that Guycheck guy beats out Niswanger.

I'm sure you've already seen the youtube clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ctvPzDMfp0
Half of those plays are definitely short, gimme passes to a wide open receiver (usually Welker). But pay attention to the other half. For as good as the receivers are, the majority of the passes were perfectly placed balls. I was especially impressed with his command of when to lead a receiver and when to get it into his back shoulder.

I realize it's a highlight reel and you see the good, but not the bad. But it should be reassuring that there are enough highlights where you can clearly see his ability to put the ball in a perfect spot. I still believe that his offensive line handicapped him a lot more than people realize and I still believe that if the Chiefs can one day put a real offensive line in front of him and he can consistently step into his throws, he will have tremendous upside.

I don't buy into the inaccuracy stuff. I think people say that because he doesn't throw a real pretty deep ball. But from what I've seen, when he has an opportunity to set his feet, he throws a really hard, accurate ball.

This is why we will still see a similar offense to the one we saw last year.

Cassel will be in the shotgun at least 70-70% of the time.

The point is, when these receivers, especially Bowe have some separation, Cassel can deliver the ball accurately and give them an opportunity.

Do not discount for one moment the level of suck that KC's O-Line is capable of.

To go completely off-topic here (hey - it'w the offseason), I have to ask - is the Jason Sauto thing a running gag? I saw it all through the draft discussions.

Since the guy is a mechanic with his own shop IIRC, I assumed the username meant Jason's Auto, like the name of his shop. :shrug: