Chiefs Covitz: Cassel to Bowe has become one of NFL's most dangerous combinations

**Tribal Warfare** · 11-30-2010, 01:42 AM

Cassel to Bowe has become one of NFL's most dangerous combinations

It was shades of Len Dawson to Otis Taylor. All that was missing was the dirt.

Just as Dawson and Taylor famously drew up a play in the dirt on the sidelines at Shea Stadium that set up a touchdown in a Chiefs playoff win against the Jets more than 40 years ago, Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel and wide receiver Dwayne Bowe scratched out some pass patterns of their own in Sunday’s 42-24 victory at Seattle.

Instead of dirt, they diagrammed the plays in the field turf at Qwest Field, and the biggest one was on a third-and-1 when Cassel hit Bowe on a slant-and-go down the left sidelines for 17 yards, setting up the Chiefs’ final touchdown.

The completion was just one of 13 between Cassel and Bowe, but it represented the rapport the two are enjoying in becoming the hottest passing combination in the NFL during the past seven weeks.

“There were some plays, because of what was occurring in the game, that we had to draw a couple in the dirt that Matt and Dwayne specifically executed to perfection,” said coach Todd Haley. “I don’t think you can make a living on (that), but in my past experiences, when you can have a quarterback and a receiver who can do that according to what you’re seeing (in the defense), that’s a really good sign … a couple of the plays were not things we practiced.”

Just before that sideline play, Haley alerted the officials that Bowe would be making a double move that could draw contact, but Bowe blew untouched past cornerback Kelly Jennings to the Seattle 29, setting up Cassel’s fourth touchdown pass of the game, a flip to tight end Tony Moeaki.

“There’s something about when you’re able to do that in a game that just builds confidence and helps you as you move forward, not just in that game, but overall,” Haley said.

Bowe’s 13-catch, 170-yard, three-touchdown performance elevated him into a tie for sixth in the AFC with 58 receptions; fourth with 885 yards; and first in the NFL in touchdowns with 14 — the most receiving touchdowns through 11 games of a season since Randy Moss had 16 for New England in 2007.

And there’s more. Bowe’s 14 touchdown catches broke the franchise single-season record of 12 set by Chris Burford in 1962; he extended his team record with seven straight games with a touchdown catch; and he joined Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice (1990 and 1995) and Jimmy Smith (2000) as the only receivers since 1990 to record 13 catches, 170 yards and three touchdowns in a game.

Cassel, meanwhile, finished the Seattle game with a 129.3 passer rating, his fifth 100-rating of the season. He tied a career high with four touchdown passes and has thrown 127 consecutive passes without an interception. Cassel is tied for third in the AFC with 22 touchdown passes with just four interceptions, and his passer rating of 99.7 trails only New England’s Tom Brady (105.8) and San Diego’s Philip Rivers (104.9) in the AFC.

“It’s continued to build,” Haley said of the Cassel-to-Bowe connection. “It takes time. You’re seeing over a year and a half of that work together starting to really pay dividends.”

Cassel and Bowe have been at their best in November. During the month, only Colts tight end Jacob Tamme, with 38 receptions, had more than Bowe’s 37, while Bowe led the NFL in receiving yards with 528 and receiving touchdowns with eight.

Cassel threw an NFL-most 12 touchdown passes in November and just one interception, while only Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers (130.2) and New England’s Tom Brady (121.7) compiled better passer ratings than Cassel (111.2).

The Seattle game, Haley said, was an important step for Cassel.

“That’s a hard place to play quarterback in a very big game,” Haley said. “He did a tremendous, tremendous job of leading our football team. I’m proud of the way he handled the whole the game. My big goal with him was down in and down out, of the sense of urgency of understanding the clock, the crowd, when we’re audibling … with the crowd there, it’s difficult to do those things.

“He made some great checks, he made the right decisions, and other than one throw, in my opinion was picture perfect with not being careless.”

As for Bowe, who spent most of 2009 in Haley’s doghouse, not to mention having to serve a four-game league suspension for testing positive for a banned substance, he’s living up to the promise the Chiefs saw in him as a first-round draft pick in 2007.

“He’s learning, and he’s growing, and he’s growing up right before our eyes,” Haley said, “not a lot different than a lot of these guys, Matt being one of them.

“It’s one of the great, fulfilling things as a coach. We do this to win, and that’s No. 1, but when you see guys becoming pros, that’s what you’re seeing with Dwayne. He’s not there, he has a long ways to go, and how he goes forward and handles more people talking about him will be another step for him to take.”

11-30-2010, 01:42 AM	Topic Starter
Tribal Warfare The Boom Boom Room Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $652813	Covitz: Cassel to Bowe has become one of NFL's most dangerous combinations Cassel to Bowe has become one of NFL's most dangerous combinations It was shades of Len Dawson to Otis Taylor. All that was missing was the dirt. Just as Dawson and Taylor famously drew up a play in the dirt on the sidelines at Shea Stadium that set up a touchdown in a Chiefs playoff win against the Jets more than 40 years ago, Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel and wide receiver Dwayne Bowe scratched out some pass patterns of their own in Sunday’s 42-24 victory at Seattle. Instead of dirt, they diagrammed the plays in the field turf at Qwest Field, and the biggest one was on a third-and-1 when Cassel hit Bowe on a slant-and-go down the left sidelines for 17 yards, setting up the Chiefs’ final touchdown. The completion was just one of 13 between Cassel and Bowe, but it represented the rapport the two are enjoying in becoming the hottest passing combination in the NFL during the past seven weeks. “There were some plays, because of what was occurring in the game, that we had to draw a couple in the dirt that Matt and Dwayne specifically executed to perfection,” said coach Todd Haley. “I don’t think you can make a living on (that), but in my past experiences, when you can have a quarterback and a receiver who can do that according to what you’re seeing (in the defense), that’s a really good sign … a couple of the plays were not things we practiced.” Just before that sideline play, Haley alerted the officials that Bowe would be making a double move that could draw contact, but Bowe blew untouched past cornerback Kelly Jennings to the Seattle 29, setting up Cassel’s fourth touchdown pass of the game, a flip to tight end Tony Moeaki. “There’s something about when you’re able to do that in a game that just builds confidence and helps you as you move forward, not just in that game, but overall,” Haley said. Bowe’s 13-catch, 170-yard, three-touchdown performance elevated him into a tie for sixth in the AFC with 58 receptions; fourth with 885 yards; and first in the NFL in touchdowns with 14 — the most receiving touchdowns through 11 games of a season since Randy Moss had 16 for New England in 2007. And there’s more. Bowe’s 14 touchdown catches broke the franchise single-season record of 12 set by Chris Burford in 1962; he extended his team record with seven straight games with a touchdown catch; and he joined Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice (1990 and 1995) and Jimmy Smith (2000) as the only receivers since 1990 to record 13 catches, 170 yards and three touchdowns in a game. Cassel, meanwhile, finished the Seattle game with a 129.3 passer rating, his fifth 100-rating of the season. He tied a career high with four touchdown passes and has thrown 127 consecutive passes without an interception. Cassel is tied for third in the AFC with 22 touchdown passes with just four interceptions, and his passer rating of 99.7 trails only New England’s Tom Brady (105.8) and San Diego’s Philip Rivers (104.9) in the AFC. “It’s continued to build,” Haley said of the Cassel-to-Bowe connection. “It takes time. You’re seeing over a year and a half of that work together starting to really pay dividends.” Cassel and Bowe have been at their best in November. During the month, only Colts tight end Jacob Tamme, with 38 receptions, had more than Bowe’s 37, while Bowe led the NFL in receiving yards with 528 and receiving touchdowns with eight. Cassel threw an NFL-most 12 touchdown passes in November and just one interception, while only Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers (130.2) and New England’s Tom Brady (121.7) compiled better passer ratings than Cassel (111.2). The Seattle game, Haley said, was an important step for Cassel. “That’s a hard place to play quarterback in a very big game,” Haley said. “He did a tremendous, tremendous job of leading our football team. I’m proud of the way he handled the whole the game. My big goal with him was down in and down out, of the sense of urgency of understanding the clock, the crowd, when we’re audibling … with the crowd there, it’s difficult to do those things. “He made some great checks, he made the right decisions, and other than one throw, in my opinion was picture perfect with not being careless.” As for Bowe, who spent most of 2009 in Haley’s doghouse, not to mention having to serve a four-game league suspension for testing positive for a banned substance, he’s living up to the promise the Chiefs saw in him as a first-round draft pick in 2007. “He’s learning, and he’s growing, and he’s growing up right before our eyes,” Haley said, “not a lot different than a lot of these guys, Matt being one of them. “It’s one of the great, fulfilling things as a coach. We do this to win, and that’s No. 1, but when you see guys becoming pros, that’s what you’re seeing with Dwayne. He’s not there, he has a long ways to go, and how he goes forward and handles more people talking about him will be another step for him to take.”
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