Mellinger nails it. Great article.
 

Sam Mellinger | One team looks better at QB, and it’s not Chiefs
BY SAM MELLINGER
The Kansas City Star

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/08/24...#storylink=cpy

You could run your finger up and down the Chiefs roster and wherever you choose to stop be fairly certain it will be on a player who looked rotten in what is traditionally the least unimportant preseason game. The frustration is real but might be fleeting.

Fifteen days separate the despair of this morning from the hope of the season opener, and that’s like two months in NFL time. But the Chiefs were absolutely throttled by the Seahawks, 44-14, and whatever the maximum amount of concern you think is appropriate for a preseason game that included no torn knees is appropriate for this one.

This was embarrassing, but there’s time for much of it to fade.

Here’s something that’s not going anywhere before the season opener, and probably not for long after: the Chiefs are four years into making up for a limited quarterback in a league full of better options.

Like, you know, Russell Wilson.

Six months ago, Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli made a point to promise better quarterback competition.

Five months ago, the Seahawks signed free agent Matt Flynn to a $19 million contract.

Four months ago, the Seahawks drafted Wilson in the third round.

They did it one pick after the Chiefs took an offensive lineman they think might play — next year. In other words: the Chiefs talked it, and the Seahawks walked it.

At a time like this, you can focus on any one of a million things to be ticked off about with the Chiefs. Brandon Flowers’ injury is showing no signs of healing, and Jalil Brown is showing no signs of being up to the job. The Chiefs didn’t force as much as one punt in until Tarvaris Jackson played the fourth quarter. Tamba Hali was called for two personal fouls. Dwayne Bowe didn’t impress, Tony Moeaki whiffed on some catches, and Andy Studebaker whiffed on some tackles.

But as much as Matt Cassel looked comfortable in the first two preseason games, he took a significant jump back in what’s supposed to be the preseason game that matters — a little bit, at least.

He completed virtually nothing but short passes, got points just once in seven possessions, and turned the ball over twice. Even when he threw a touchdown to Dexter McCluster, the celebration jump left him landing on his rear. It was like an entire evening spent highlighting his biggest weaknesses.

On the other side, Wilson was everything the Chiefs haven’t had in a quarterback in the better part of a decade. He completed 13 of 19 passes for two touchdowns and no interceptions and two brilliant scrambles for 58 yards. Even if you take away the throw to Kellen Winslow on a blown coverage, it was a terrific night.

It was the kind of night Chiefs fans thought they might get more of when Pioli talked about improving the quarterback situation.

Those hopes went from Peyton Manning to someone in the draft to signing Brady Quinn — who replaced Cassel midway through the Chiefs’ eighth possession — as some sort of stand-in for legitimate competition.

Pioli did a lot of good in the offseason. Most around the team agreed Romeo Crennel was the right choice as permanent head coach. Eric Winston is an enormous improvement at right tackle. Peyton Hillis, Kevin Boss and Stanford Routt are all promising additions.

But there was effectively nothing done at quarterback — the Chiefs actually took a step back losing Kyle Orton to free agency.

And that, again, will be a major takeaway for Chiefs fans when the team fails like this.

If Wilson wins the Seahawks’ job — and the Chiefs gave him a highlight tape — he would be one of 15 quarterbacks drafted after Pioli took over in Kansas City to be a starting quarterback when the season starts. The Chiefs passed over five of those quarterbacks.

So much of what we saw on Friday night is light enough to blow in the NFL’s temperamental breeze. What looked promising two weeks ago looks awful right now and might look promising again two weeks from now.

But games like this, when Cassel fails and quarterbacks the Chiefs passed over succeed will weigh around this team’s neck like an anvil.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/08/24...#storylink=cpy

Couldnt agree more. It's all flat passes or 7 yard comeback routes, we never see a deep post, usually he only throws the ball downfield when he feels that the receiver is completely wide open. Not too many times have we seen him make tight throws into windows 15-20 yards down the field. If you want to score points in the NFL you need big plays, and Cassel loves to throw 4-5 yard passes.

Mellinger is such a blah sports writer. Whitlock would have concocted some racial undertone to grab attention

Now that is putting the hammer down.

Did anybody see the play where Cassel threw the ball to Jonathan Baldwin on a comeback pass in the backfield?

Glad we drafted Baldwin so high for that reason:doh!:

Give Cassel some more time. Anyone who knows ANYTHING about the NFL will tell you that you can't accurately judge a quarterback until at least Year 8.

I still can't believe Pioli left the booth less than a minute after Cassel fumbled. He was sitting in the booth bragging about Cassel for 8 or 9 plays and then as soon as Cassel fumbles they cut to commercial and Pioli leaves as soon as the game came back on.

That would have pissed me off.

lol

I lol'd so hard at that moment.

It's like everyone outside 1 Arrowhead Drive realizes or at least isn't blind to Cassel's limitations. I've seen too many passes out in the flats. The first read isn't there - turn and throw into the flat. Too many comeback routes, too many passes into double or triple coverage. I've seen too many passes arrive late thus negating any chance for YAC or worse allowing the DB/LB to recover and knock the ball away, tip it or int. I've seen too many plays where things 'go south' and the bed gets shat in.

Sure the receivers/backs could help Matty out by not dropping balls. I agree. However when nearly every throw is not on target or late it makes their job that much harder. Yes they are paid to catch the ball. Matty is paid to throw the ball Accurately and on time.

Show me a good/great QB that makes it harder for his receivers to catch the ball.

Good/great QB's help their receivers by throwing a catchable ball.

we need to use our first 4 picks in next years draft on qbs

This really shouldn't be a surprise at this point. Serviceable QB that needs a great running game and defense to succeed.

Welcome new Chiefs fans!

The one thing that EVERYONE should know that KC does not have complete confidence (as if there was any to begin with anyways) was that they were in a 3rd and what, 7 or 8 situation, and what did they call?

A ****ing draw.

The cat burglar called a shit-ton of those calls last year, because he has no faith in Cassel, and I cannot blame him one bit for that. I don't even have any faith in Cassel at all.

I think you're putting too much stock into pre season play calling. Hillis ran twice Charles got a few carries and they only threw a few to bowe. It looked like daboll was doing some experimenting.