Clark Judge loves Matt Cassel, and so should you.

[Hammock Parties]

Cassel proving to be difference-maker in K.C.

By Clark Judge CBSSports.com Senior Writer Nov. 30, 2010

Let's get this out of the way up front and admit what we should know -- namely, that the Kansas City Chiefs made the right move when they acquired quarterback Matt Cassel.

Matt Cassel's 2010 numbers put him among the league's elite passers. (Getty Images)

They thought they were getting someone who could stabilize the most important position in the game, and they did. They thought they were getting someone who was smart, accurate and reliable, and they did. They thought they were getting someone who could win, and they did. In short, they thought they were getting a quarterback they could trust. And they did.

Matt Cassel is having the best season of his career a year after he, the Chiefs and general manager Scott Pioli took heat for Cassel's underwhelming play -- with one local columnist so outraged that he characterized Cassel as "horrible."


Um, maybe not. Cassel has the Chiefs on top of the AFC West. He's won more games (7) in 11 starts than the club won the past two seasons (6). He hasn't lost at home. He leads the league in touchdown percentage. He's second only to Tom Brady in ratio of touchdowns-to-interceptions. And he's fourth overall in passer rating, ahead of luminaries like Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan.

"Matt Cassel keeps setting the bar higher and higher," coach Todd Haley said after Kansas City's latest victory.

I'll second that. It's not just that the Chiefs continue to win under Cassel's direction; it's what Cassel's done to put them in that position, and the envelope, please: Over his last seven starts Cassel has 18 touchdown passes and one interception. Let me repeat: 18 and 1, a ratio that is better than anyone -- including Tom Brady -- over that period, and tell me that shouldn't put this guy front and center of the national spotlight.

It should. Only it hasn't. And one reason it hasn't is because there's a lingering feeling that Kansas City is overachieving and, well, that the Chiefs will eventually get caught by San Diego anyway. I don't buy into the overachieving argument, but after watching San Diego dissect Indianapolis the other night I do believe the Chargers, not the Chiefs, are the team to beat in the AFC West -- basically because the schedule falls their way in December, a month where they have won their last 18.

But that's a projection. Let's look at what we know, and what we know is that Matt Cassel is everything Pioli and the Chiefs envisioned when they acquired him. OK, so it took offensive coordinator Charlie Weis and a system with which Cassel was comfortable for him to flourish. But that happens. It took Brees four seasons before he started to feel comfortable in San Diego.

No question about it, Cassel struggled last season, but let's be honest: There were an abundance of reasons. One was the change of offensive coordinators immediately prior to the season, with Cassel forced to learn on the fly. Another was the Chiefs' mistake-prone receivers, with Kansas City two flubs away from tying an unofficial record for most drops in a year (51). Still another was the team's inability to run the ball until Jamaal Charles stepped into the huddle midway through the schedule.

Now fast forward to 2010, with Weis refining Haley's system to add a few wrinkles that Cassel might have known or practiced when he was with New England. It was there that Cassel first became a starter, stepping into the lineup for the first time in nine years when Brady was hurt in the 2008 opener. And it was there he was supposed to flop. Only he didn't, leading the Patriots to an 11-5 finish.

Surprising? Yes. But that was the guy Kansas City thought it was getting when it traded for Cassel. And that is the guy it has.

Look, I don't know that kicked in this season, but it's hard to ignore the results. What I do know is that Haley worked with Cassel on being more precise in his drops within the pocket, and Cassel has responded. I also know that having the league's top-ranked running game -- with the Chiefs shredding Seattle for 270 yards -- has helped. And I know the emergence of wide receiver Dwayne Bowe -- one of those guys who last season looked more like a backboard than a pass catcher -- has been a huge plus.

In the end, though, it comes back to Matt Cassel. The Chiefs had Larry Johnson to run the ball in 2007-08, and they couldn't win. They had Tony Gonzalez to catch it then, too, and they couldn't win. And they couldn't win because they didn't have someone, anyone, at quarterback to throw the right passes, avoid the big mistakes and make the smart decisions.
Now they do.

"I think he's an NFL starting quarterback you can win with and win championships with," Pioli said at training camp last summer. "Matt adjusted to a lot of change, showed his competitiveness, resiliency and his ability. Beyond the mental and emotional (aspect) and his competitiveness, he showed the physical ability to be able to win."

Pioli was right. Kansas City is not where it is today without Matt Cassel, and it's high time the club, its G.M., its head coach, its assistants and Matt Cassel himself are recognized for what is working with the Chiefs. And what is working is their quarterback.

Adding Matt Cassel not only was a good move; it was a necessary one. And it has the Chiefs where they haven't been in years. Good for them. Good for Pioli. And, most important, good for Matt Cassel.

[The Bad Guy]

Dane is the voice of reason in this thread. I agree, if he does lay an egg in SD, it won't diminish what Cassel has done so far.

If Cassel fails at San Diego, the same usual suspects who have ripped him every chance they get will come out in droves.

Whereas, they typically make backhanded compliments when he plays well, or show up days later to offer their "support that he keeps playing well".

But the minute he ****s up again, they will be all over this board bitching. One day he's called the worst starting QB in the NFL, then a few weeks later people, the same people complaining, want him to perform like an elite QB.

It's comedy gold.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by jd1020

My eyes are wide open. I've seen a comfortable QB taking advantage of a #1 run offense the last 2 weeks against god awful defenses. Denver stuffed the run 3 weeks ago and Cassel couldnt get 1 first down. We dont know what we have yet. All we know is that there is a POTENTIAL for something. Every player that is drafter has ****in POTENTIAL.

YOu will NOT dominate every game. Even the mighty mighty Patriots have lost and lost bad this year. I think twice, Jets put a thumping on them and so did the Browns. Even earlier in the year when we played shitty teams, Cassel and Bowe were still not doing much. I firmly believe that Denver game was just one of those fluke games. Young team that had to much confidence and got their chin checked. It happens to all young teams.

This team has still competed with even the good teams it has played. We just never found a way to close it out. We have closed it out even if its against bad teams. Remember the previous 3 years. We just lost lost lost lost. Didnt matter who it was. Shitty team? ****, we made them look good. REAL good. WE made shitty quarterbacks/running back/wide receivers look like hall of fame players. YOu had a defense that was struggling? Play the Chiefs, that will get them going. Thats NOT the case anymore. AT ALL!.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Hoover

The position takes time to learn in the NFL, and here we have Matt Cassel entering into the prime of his career and people want to bitch about it because they just hate to be proved wrong.

People are bitching because they don't believe it's real.

They don't want to get their hopes up just to be disappointed.

It has nothing to do with wanting to be wrong or right. Believe me, I want to be wrong.

In the end though, I can't lose, because I was gaga over Matt after the trade.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

How so?

These are obvious needs that can't and won't be overlooked. I don't think we'll get that NT that we're looking for, but im positive we'll see a OLB and a WR in the first 2 rounds.

I think we'll see:

OLB
WR
C
RB
S

For sure.

How? Because those (NT and OLB) are extremely difficult to fill for a 34, with far more teams running this defense.

Can we get a complimentary WR (what happened to our HOF second rounder from '10? should there be another apology thread?) and a C? I should hope so.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

We have to take advantage of a golden opportunity, and it will be a damn shame if we don't.

There are some similarities here to the arguments about the "evaluation year" in '09. Some were pissed at a wasted year, while some saw it was an unavoidable step.

Overall, I'm going to be happy about this team's progress in '10. If we piss away these final 5 games and an opportunity at the playoffs, however, I will be worried about next year, when our schedule will certainly be dramatically more difficult.

Oh, and SD isn't going to go away because they have a pretty important position on lock.

(not trying to start stuffs)

I'm quoting this post to show my agreement with its contents.

Nailed it, Deez.

[007]

Originally Posted by Hoover

I love how we all want the Chiefs to develop a young QB, and then when it actually starts to happen before our eyes we have a bunch of jag bags who bitch because well he sucked at the start of season, or sucked all of last season.

Face it, some of you would have never had the patience to coach guys like Payton Manning, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Matt Ryan, and basically any other QB

The position takes time to learn in the NFL, and here we have Matt Cassel entering into the prime of his career and people want to bitch about it because they just hate to be proved wrong. I know, I know, its easy always being the guy who finds fault with everything.

Face it, none of those guys were 28 when they started their career.

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by kcxiv

YOu will NOT dominate every game. Even the mighty mighty Patriots have lost and lost bad this year. I think twice, Jets put a thumping on them and so did the Browns. Even earlier in the year when we played shitty teams, Cassel and Bowe were still not doing much. I firmly believe that Denver game was just one of those fluke games. Young team that had to much confidence and got their chin checked. It happens to all young teams.

This team has still competed with even the good teams it has played. We just never found a way to close it out. We have closed it out even if its against bad teams. Remember the previous 3 years. We just lost lost lost lost. Didnt matter who it was. Shitty team? ****, we made them look good. REAL good. WE made shitty quarterbacks/running back/wide receivers look like hall of fame players. YOu had a defense that was struggling? Play the Chiefs, that will get them going. Thats NOT the case anymore. AT ALL!.

So your argument for Cassel is the defense now? WTF? Make sense?

[Ming the Merciless]

Originally Posted by Hoover

I love how we all want the Chiefs to develop a young QB, and then when it actually starts to happen before our eyes we have a bunch of jag bags who bitch because well he sucked at the start of season, or sucked all of last season.

Face it, some of you would have never had the patience to coach guys like Payton Manning, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Matt Ryan, and basically any other QB

The position takes time to learn in the NFL, and here we have Matt Cassel entering into the prime of his career and people want to bitch about it because they just hate to be proved wrong. I know, I know, its easy always being the guy who finds fault with everything.

Oh and now many of them 'expected this' and 'knew Matt Cassel' would play like this.....

LOL

Its a ****ign joke, really.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by Gif Horse

People are bitching because they don't believe it's real.

They don't want to get their hopes up just to be disappointed.

It has nothing to do with wanting to be wrong or right. Believe me, I want to be wrong.

In the end though, I can't lose, because I was gaga over Matt after the trade.

You go Gaga after everything right away. IN all honesty, your opinions here mean absolutely SHIT. you lost ALL credibility about anything a LONG ass time ago. your great at making videos' though. I give you an A+ for that.

[Hoover]

You act like he's a short term option. What about Rich Gannon?

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

This looks like the type of Christmas list I sometimes assembled as a kid--far reaching.

I suppose but I didn't think that the Chiefs be able to acquire a back like Jones, a center like Weigman, guards like Lilja and Asamoah, a tight end like Moeaki and safeties like Berry & Lewis (not to mention Arenas & McCluster) all in one offseason, either.

Every one of those guys have been difference makers.

[B2chiefsfan]

Good for you, Matt.....

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by kcxiv

You go Gaga after everything right away.

Not true.

See the 2010 draft.

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

There's no way to say this nicely, or sugar coat it, so...

I guess that this team, and their performance means more to than others than it does to you.

With that said, if I thought this team wasn't capable of making the playoffs or making a run, then yeah, I wouldn't be all that upset.

But I believe this team CAN, if they play to their potential.

So I'll be damned if I lower my expectations now, when the team should be raising theirs.

So calling this team awful in the off-season now gives you free reign to continue to complain if they don't meet your new lofty expectations? The same ones that didn't exist 13 weeks ago?

[Brock]

I'm sipping the koolaid just a little.