Q&A with MATT CASSEL - 6/6

[Mr. Arrowhead]

http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2009/06...tt_cassel__66/

Q&A with MATT CASSEL - 6/6
Jun 06, 2009, 2:54:13 PM

MINI-CAMP

Q: How’s it going?

CASSEL: “It’s going well. We’re out there on the field playing football and we’re trying to get better each and every day. We’ve got the whole team out here in attendance. So, it’s good to see everybody back. It’s good to have (LB) (Mike) Vrabel here and (G) Brian Waters. And it’s good. We’re building chemistry, we’re building rapport. And, everybody’s working hard and that’s the main thing you want to see.”

Q: Coach Haley said the other day that you guys have lost 300-something pounds.

CASSEL: “He reminds of us that constantly.”

Q: What do you see as a player with guys that have shed pounds and are learning the system. Is it starting to work like a well-oiled machine, yet?

CASSEL: “I think so. We’ve had great attendance this whole off-season, especially during the workout program. Guys have taken great pride in getting after their workout, being there each and every day, giving 110 percent, doing their running and it’s paid off. We’re losing weight, we’re getting faster, we’re getting in shape and it’s just given us a better opportunity to do our job when we get out there on the field.”

Q: Is this starting to feel like your team? Do you start to feel like you’re the captain of this thing out there?

CASSEL: “Slowly but surely. Like anything, everything’s new to me. It’s a new environment. It’s new teammates. I’m getting to know the receivers, getting to know my linemen and my running backs and we’re progressing. There’s no doubt about that. We’re getting better each and every practice I’m out there and it’s a new playbook as well for me. So, I’m sharpening up my reads each and every day, I’m working hard and that’s all I can do. I can go out and do what I can do, control what I can control and try to perform out there every day I get an opportunity to.”

Q: What kind of things are you looking for out there from the guys that may be signaling to you that you have their trust?

CASSEL: “Each and every day you just go out there and you try to build on stuff. Whether it’s working on a route, whether it’s a certain play, whether it’s a concept you want to see. It’s just building that rapport. That’s something that comes with time. That’s all it is. It’s repetition and time. So, the more that we can do that and the more reps that we can get during this time of year it’ll help us once we go into the season.”

Q: Coach hasn’t officially named his starter yet. Does that matter to you?

CASSEL: “Not at all. It’s one of those things. I welcome competition. I’ve been at competition my entire career. I’ve had to fight for everything that I’ve ever had to achieve or get and I don’t expect anybody to hand me anything now. So, I go in there with open arms to competition anytime and it’ll make me better.”

Q: Do you expect to be the starter?

CASSEL: “I do. I go out there each and every day with that focus that I’m the starter. And like I said, competition brings out the best in everybody. There are other quarterbacks here and they’re competing as well and they should. They should come at me as hard as they can and I should come at them and that’s going to make us all better.”

Q: Coach said you were drawing up some things. When the season starts will you have some say when it comes to play selection?

CASSEL: “We’ll see how it goes. I’ve been in a great system for the last few years. Obviously, when you’ve been in a system for so long you’re comfortable with certain things and you’re very familiar with certain routes. So, some of those things I would love to get implemented and be able to put into the offense and kind of know where I’m going with the ball. So, if we can do that in some way, obviously you modify it to a certain degree but for the most part you’re going to stick with what (offensive coordinator) Chan’s (Gailey) calling in the playbook and we’re going to go from there.”

Q: If it were completely up to you, would you want to have a long-term contract done before the year?

CASSEL: “There’s no doubt. You always love the fact that you have some stability and this, to me, isn’t a one-year deal. I want to come here and I want to build this team and work toward the common goal of getting better and making playoffs and winning championships. That’s what we strive to do in this. I’m looking about going out there and competing to the best of my ability but I think the fact of the matter is all that stuff all takes care of itself once it’s said and done.”

Q: Since you have the franchise tag for this one year, do you go into it with the franchise tag and feel like it’s a tryout at all?

CASSEL: “No, it’s one of those things where if I go into the year with just the franchise tag, I do. I’ve proven that I can play and I’ve proven that I can win and so I just want to try to continue to do that here. We’ve got a long way to go, but we’re working and doing the right things right now, this time of year.”

Q: Do you expect it will get worked out between now and when the season starts?

CASSEL: “You know, I hope so and whether or not it does, I don’t really know. I really try to remove myself from it. With all honesty, I really do because I believe that it’s a distraction to me. They’ve got guys upstairs that are working on it and I’ve got an agent for a reason and I let them do that so I can concentrate on the football side because that’s what I do. I play football, I don’t do contracts.”

Q: Would it be helpful if you did get it done? Do you think that would be a relaxing thing for you?

CASSEL: “Like I said, anytime you can have stability, of course. It’s great for any player to know that. But, at the same time, it’s not going to change my work ethic. It’s not going to change how I go out and approach each and every day. It’s me, I’m going to go out and give you 100 percent whether I’m on my first rookie-year salary or I’m on a six-year deal or a 10-year deal. It doesn’t really matter.”

Q: From that competition aspect, when you have competed in the past, it’s probably safe to say that this is your best shot to win the job.

CASSEL: “Are you kidding me? Against Brady last year? They totally gave me a shot. They were like ‘it was me - Brady,’ juggling it (laughs).”

Q: Do you feel different because you are maybe the favorite?

CASSEL: “It’s great because you get an opportunity to go out there and get the first- team reps and really get to start building that relationship with the receivers. I think any time you’re a backup quarterback and have to step into that role, it took me a little time last year to get on the same page with those guys because you just don’t get those reps. But right now, this time of year, like I said, it’s so valuable to be out there and be with the ones and be able to get those reps and see the defense and go against the number one defense because they’re doing a great job out there and they’re getting a lot better, as well.”

twitterQ: A lot of people nationally and locally and the fans wonder how much of your success was the system they ran up there and the receivers. Can you replicate it here?

CASSEL: “There’s no doubt they have a great system and they have some great players in place. I think any time you look around the league and you look at some of the guys that have the best stats, whether it’s Kurt Warner or Peyton Manning, they have an outstanding supporting cast. If you take away Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin and these guys, well, they can have the same thing. You know what I mean? So it’s really interesting to me that like, ‘Can you replicate it?’ Well, we’ve got some guys here that can play. So, there’s no doubt about that. We’re working for success and that’s what we do. I can’t tell you what the future holds but I can tell you we’ve got some good players here that can definitely go up and step up and make big-time plays and I know that I can play and if you turn on the film last year and watch any of those games, you know that it’s not just those guys making plays and me. I’m going through my reads. I’m making the throws and I’m doing what I need to do to have success.”

Q: (Head coach) Todd (Haley) mentioned you’re a gym rat, for lack of a better term, that you’re so engaged off the field. Is that something that was a learned trait or is it something you picked up throughout your career?

CASSEL: “I’ve had an opportunity to really learn behind one of the best, which is Tom (Brady). I credit a lot of my work ethic and what I do off the field to what he’s been able to teach me and really how to be a professional. He’s a professional in every sense of the word. I was lucky enough, like I said, to kind of learn the work ethic, how to be a professional, how to study and do those things that I need to do to make myself the best on Sundays. But, at the same time, I’ve always had a work ethic of the utmost. I love to go out, I love to be in the gym, I love to work out and that just carries over.”

Q: Aside from that, you got stuck behind some great quarterbacks in college. You got stuck behind a great quarterback in New England. What did you learn from that experience that you can apply now to this opportunity?

CASSEL: “It’s one of those things, you get toughened up by everything that goes on, overcoming a lot of adversity. You know what I mean? There’s going to be adversity that comes up during the season whether we lose a game or whether it’s a tough play or an interception or something like that. You just always have to be able to overcome it and be mentally tough. I think throughout the years you continue to be mentally tough and you continue to push through and know that there is a bright spot at the end of the tunnel.”

Q: Your locker is next to (LB) Mike Vrabel. You guys have a good relationship. Can you talk about what type of guy he is, what you think he might do in this locker room?

CASSEL: “Oh, Mike’s one of the best. I’ve got a lot of respect for him, obviously, as a player. But, not only that, he’s a great leader, he’s a great friend. It’s great to have him here and he’s got a presence about himself and not only that, but a lot of people don’t understand how smart Mike is. He brings a lot to the table in terms of going out and being able to run the defense, get you in the right calls and do that. So, I’m really excited to see him out here and the banter is definitely starting to pick up because Mike can talk. In practice, games, you name it, you know Mike Vrabel is on the field, that’s for sure.”

Q: You’ve been here a lot in the off-season. Do you plan to make Kansas City your home or is that dependent on a long-term contract?

CASSEL: “My wife and I are settled here. I love Kansas City, the people have been wonderful. A lot of people were telling me it’s a real small town and I was like, ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about. They’ve got great places to eat and everything,’ so it’s been great.”

[DaFace]

I do like his attitude. Hopefully his confidence is warranted.

Q: Matt how does it feel to be a starter for the first time in your career since High School?


CASSEL: Feels great! I've got 15 MILLION reasons to feel great! First time for everything!


Q: Are you going to alter your expectations. Instead of throwing passes to prolific wide receivers such as Randy Moss and Wes Welker, you'll be trying to establish chemistry with younger targets Dwayne Bowe and Jeff Webb.


CASSEL: You forgot my best weapon Tony Gonzalez!


Q: He was traded to Atlanta.


CASSEL: Oh...


Q: the scouts said your big games due to Moss and Welker and Belichick.


CASSEL: Well being surrounded by that kind of talent doesn't hurt.


Q: The Sporting News points out that your late-season success came almost exclusively out of the shotgun spread formation and that you were not comfortable under center, often seeming “robotic and mechanical” and lacking a feel for the pass rush.


CASSEL: Now I know why I liked being a back up.....

[Pants]

Each and every day.

[crazycoffey]

Originally Posted by DaFace

I do like his attitude. Hopefully his confidence is warranted.

14 million reasons warrent his confidence.....

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Metrolike

Each and every day.

That's "good".

How goes it? "Good".

How ya' feelin'? "Good".

How's the Gatorade? "Good".

[RufusRJones]

They’ve got great places to eat and everything

Clearly, he's capable of standing on the shoulders of giants...at least if you consider Steve Bono a giant.

I wonder if he was actually aware of Bono's comments about KC's restaurants.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by RufusRJones

Clearly, he's capable of standing on the shoulders of giants...at least if you consider Steve Bono a giant.

I wonder if he was actually aware of Bono's comments about KC's restaurants.

Rufus! How dare you, Sir!

[chiefzilla1501]

I think I once saw him do an interview on Family Guy:

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

[RealSNR]

This interview reminds me of one of my favorite passages from Catch-22, with one of the names replaced:

He was as good at ping pong as he was at making friends, and he was as good at making friends as he was at everything else. He was amiable, dressed sharply, and could always brighten up a room. Everyone who knew him loved him, and he loved them, too.

"I hate that son of a bitch," growled Thigpen.

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by RufusRJones

Clearly, he's capable of standing on the shoulders of giants...at least if you consider Steve Bono a giant.

I wonder if he was actually aware of Bono's comments about KC's restaurants.

love the screen name..rufus was AWESOME!

[Fish]

I lose a little confidence every time I hear Cassel interview.....

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

I lose a little confidence every time I hear Cassel interview.....

I'm sure he's given a very specific set of guidelines in terms of what he can and can not say.

[BarrySPAMAID]

I think he is a good listener, and a good communicator. I'm really excited about watching this kid play this summer. I cant freaking WAIT for Training camp.