[ZootedGranny]

Cassel, Haley's growth bigger than score
By JASON WHITLOCK
The Kansas City Star

As best I can, I’m going to ignore the score today. It’s irrelevant.

The Chiefs don’t need to knock off San Diego and win a third game in a row to legitimize what we saw last week in their victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

All I want to see is Matt Cassel and Todd Haley pick up where they stopped last week.

I’ll start with Cassel, Kansas City’s quarterback.

I’m not calling for Cassel to throw multiple touchdown passes or for 300 yards or a completion percentage approaching 70. I’m calling for the continuation of the courage Cassel displayed after he nearly fumbled the Pittsburgh game away.

Cassel was a different player after his fourth-quarter fumble. He looked like a QB worth the $63 million Scott Pioli gave him.

Starting with a huge strike to Lance Long down the middle of the field, Cassel led the Chiefs on a game-tying, overtime-forcing TD drive and then hit Chris Chambers with a big pass that set up KC’s game-winning, overtime field goal.

Before those two drives, Cassel appeared to be intimidated by Pittsburgh’s pass rush. He was the total opposite of Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger, one of the league’s most courageous quarterbacks.

The fumble and circumstance triggered a resolve to make plays that we hadn’t seen from Cassel. I want to see that resolve again today.

If we see that, then the victory over the Steelers has long-lasting value. The Chiefs might have a leader at quarterback.

So what should we be looking for?

Courage in the pocket.

It’s a myth that Kansas City’s offensive line is so bad that it’s impossible for Cassel to play at a high level. Roethlisberger plays behind a line that has trouble protecting the passer. Big Ben faced more pressure than Cassel did last week. Roethlisberger has two Super Bowl rings (one more than Peyton Manning) because — like Tom Brady — he’s fearless against a pass rush.

Coming out of New England, I expected Cassel to demonstrate the kind of pocket toughness that has made Brady a winner.

The other thing I want to see from Cassel is a willingness to attack downfield. Chambers has proven he’ll make plays deep. Chambers is certainly going to be looking to make big plays today against his former team.

Cassel is playing with house money today. The Chargers are 13 1/2 -point favorites playing at home. Just fling it, baby.

As for Haley, I suspect the Pittsburgh victory is going to allow him to further relax. He’s put his stamp on the team. We’ve seen him calm his sideline demeanor and become much more positive with his players.

Now I want to see him embrace his entire roster. I want to see more Derrick Johnson on the field.

Whatever point Haley was trying to prove with his treatment and use of Johnson has been made. Let the guy play and make plays. No one is going to criticize Haley if Johnson makes several more big defensive plays in the final six games of the season. Haley can take credit for whatever success Johnson has.

It’s not a coincidence that Johnson’s knee ended Roethlisberger’s day. Johnson is a dynamic athlete with the speed to get around the football and make plays. In limited snaps this season, Johnson has routinely made game-changing plays.

Johnson needs to be let out of the doghouse. I’m not saying he has to start. But he should get 30 to 40 snaps today.

I hope I don’t regret this optimism later today, but I left the Pittsburgh game believing the Chiefs are closing in on being a competitive team.

The belief is based on the premise that Cassel can be a solid starting quarterback and Haley is going to continue to evolve as a head coach.

A little more evolution from the coach and a solid performance from the QB and the trip to San Diego will be considered successful regardless of the final score.

Here you go.