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

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by Pittsie

Regarding RG3, we absolutely had a chance. The Rams needed a #1 CB and WR, and we had both to trade.

In before the "explain why they traded down to 14" argument.

[philfree]

I think Babby plagiarized this article from Chiefs Planet. It's been written here over and over for the last three plus years so it's not really such a great article.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by acesn8s

Oh god NO. Barkley=Cassel=Sanchez

What?



4 year starter versus one year starter versus no starts in four years?



Have you even seen Barkley play?

[Skyy God]

Originally Posted by jd1020

In before the "explain why they traded down to 14" argument.

When Sportsshrink is more lucid, you have a problem.

Originally Posted by jd1020

I've had a hard time trying to burn Pioli for the QB situation. He tried with Cassel and its not that he wants to live or die with him, its that there hasn't been an opportunity presented to fix the problem. He wanted Manning but Manning didn't want KC for w/e reason. But, if after our 2nd pick in next years draft we don't have a QB, I'll be done. I don't think we'll be in a position to get a top QB but you need 2 hands to count the QBs who have 1st round talent going into the season and they all aren't going to be drafted by the time the Chiefs are on the clock for the 1st and, maybe, 2nd time.

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by Pittsie

When Sportsshrink is more lucid, you have a problem.

When someone thinks that RG3 was a possibility for the Chiefs, you have a problem.

[Skyy God]

Originally Posted by jd1020

When someone thinks that RG3 was a possibility for the Chiefs, you have a problem.

So coming up just short in the Luck sweepstakes wasn't also an option??

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by Pittsie

So coming up just short in the Luck sweepstakes wasn't also an option??

Just short? We were 10 picks away.

[Skyy God]

Originally Posted by jd1020

Just short? We were 10 picks away.

Try to imagine a 2011 where we didn't shoot for meaningless wins.....

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by Pittsie

Try to imagine a 2011 where we didn't shoot for meaningless wins.....

So meaningless we were a Bowe TD drop away from the playoffs. Or a blocked FG away from the playoffs.

[Skyy God]

Originally Posted by jd1020

So meaningless we were a Bowe TD drop away from the playoffs. Or a blocked FG away from the playoffs.

Seriously, GFY.

Who gives a crap about the playoffs. 2010 made it abundantly clear Cassel will be able to engineer exactly zero playoff wins.

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by Pittsie

Seriously, GFY.

Who gives a crap about the playoffs. 2010 made it abundantly clear Cassel will be able to engineer exactly zero playoff wins.

This is why you are stupid.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

What?



4 year starter versus one year starter versus no starts in four years?



Have you even seen Barkley play?

I saw Matt Leinart play, too.

[BossChief]

Game 6.

Brady might the first shot at being the replacement qb, but I have almost no doubt that Cassel will be pulled and a new quarterback will take over during the bye week.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by jd1020

This is why you are stupid.

Can you honestly sit there and tell me that you think Cassel is capable of winning a Superbowl for this team?

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

Can you honestly sit there and tell me that you think Cassel is capable of winning a Superbowl for this team?

What does Cassel have to do with it? Who was the QB to end the season last year?