Mellinger nails it. Great article.

[RunKC]

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

[Coach]

Originally Posted by billay

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.

Pre-season or not, the whole team sucked, period. They all were unprepared to play. The whole ****ing football team blew it today. So many ****ing opportunities that just was ****ing wasted.

That ****ing draw play tells everybody in the world that they have ZERO confidence in Cassel, yet we keep that little ****er around every year. Why is that? Oh right, because Pioli needs someone to wax him off. Then letting the goddamn rookie perform like he's a damned All-Pro, shredding our defense and doing things that Cassel could only dream. Along with Daboll's bizarre fetish of dumpoff/checkdowns is just getting really old quickly. And to top it off, our dumbassery Quarterback can't even celebrate right, as he just was high and away from his intended target and landed right on his ass.



So much ****ing fail, right there.

And I never understood why our General Manager is trying his damnest to try to make Matt Cassel become a ****ing hero every ****ing time. The Chiefs sure as hell didn't help themselves by doing nothing to address the most important position. Pioli needs to ****ing man up, and admit his mistake, cut that fruity bastard from this team, and find a legitimate QB that can at LEAST perform better than Cassel can.

If I was Clark Hunt, I would tell Pioli "If Matt Cassel is the starting QB next year, I will wipe that ****ing dumb-ass smile off of your rosey ****ing, cheeks, then I would have you escorted to your ****ing automobile: your ****ing Jaguar, your ****ing BMW, your ****ing Mustang, or a ****ing Buick! Doesn't matter, it's just four ****ing wheels and a seat! And I will find me a new ****ing general manager who knows how to properly identify a ****ing quarterback."

[brorth]

Originally Posted by billay

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.

Shitbag.

[InChiefsHeaven]

right at the end of the gif, Baldwin sort of looks over at Matt like "Really??"

[threebag]

Originally Posted by billay

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.

Experimenting, well he should just start covering it with sand. It looks like shit smells like shit smears like shit. It's shit.

[dannybcaitlyn]

Im really missing Orton now. Pioli was suppose to have competition but just brought in backups.
This team will never be able to come from behind with this coach killer Qb pioli has given us. King of dink and dunk you piece of s***!

[bevischief]

Originally Posted by Chief_For_Life58

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

Just die noob.

[bevischief]

I stop watching the after the Seahawks scored their first TD....

[Marcellus]

He pretty much nails the article, one of Hali's penalties was such a travesty its hard to even comprehend though.

[Dave Lane]

Originally Posted by bevischief

I stop watching the after the Seahawks scored their first TD....

Well then good news for you. The Atlanta game you will probably only have to watch for 30 seconds or so.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by AZORChiefFan

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.

That's something that I've talked about.

Matt Cassel, and every other QB that Bowe has worked with since being drafted by the Chiefs, are guys with weak arms and marginal accuracy.

It's tough to maintain focus and concentration on the ball play after play, after play, after play.

At some point, you're going to lose that focus because yo are trying to make a play.

[Lightrise]

First, letting Orton go will prove a huge mistake. Frankly, this game may have been entirely different if Flowers and Lewis played.

[TimeForWasp]

Wilson had ice bags on both elbows after his effort. Short lived fame?

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Lightrise

First, letting Orton go will prove a huge mistake. Frankly, this game may have been entirely different if Flowers and Lewis played.

The fact remains, this team can not compete with teams that can pass the ball.

You can compete if your O-Line isn't among the best (Steelers, Packers, Giants).

You can compete if your receivers are pedestrian (Pats).

You can compete if your defenses isn't top half of the league (Pats, Saints).

The one and only absolute necessity to be a SB contender in the NFL in this day and age is QB.

We don't have one.

[bevischief]

So who are we sucking for this year?

[ILChief]

Originally Posted by saphojunkie

Paging Tyler Wilson. Tyler Wilson, please report to the Chiefs' draft room. Tyler Wilson, to the Chiefs' draft room.

He would be my pick. I bet he goes #2 overall