Blame Haley For Cassel’s Struggles

[Hammock Parties]

Blame Haley For Cassel’s Struggles

The Chiefs’ offensive troubles continued to linger Sunday as the team failed to put up a single touchdown drive. As the team progressively moves further towards obscurity, who should we point the finger at?

The most likely candidate to feel the wrath of a frustrated Chiefs fan base is starting quarterback Matt Cassel, who in no way resembles the quarterback who led a similar Kansas City offense to the playoffs en route to his first Pro Bowl appearance a year ago.

Did Cassel over achieve in 2010 or is there another problem that hasn’t been brought to light?

After watching his performance the past two weeks, I have to say it is the latter.

It’s hard to sugarcoat the statistics Cassel has put up over the past two weeks, but I will try to make the case. Through two weeks, Cassel has gone 37 of 58 for 252 yards with one touchdown, four interceptions and a quarterback rating of 54.5. He finished the 2010 season with 27 touchdowns, seven interceptions and a quarterback rating of 93.

Say what you want about Cassel, but last year his numbers were not only acceptable for a third-year starter, but undeniably good. So, is Cassel really the one who deserves the finger to be pointed at him or is it the management around him?

Shane Williams, of Warpaint TV, recently pointed out to me that although Cassel had a strong 2010 showing, he made a drastic downhill turn after his performance against the Tennessee Titans in Week 16.

What was the significance of that game? It was the last time former offensive coordinator Charlie Weis was making the play calls. According to Warpaint Illustrated sources, Weis was relieved of his play calling duties during the Chiefs’ victory over the Titans and coincidentally, Weis announced the next week he was leaving the Chiefs to take a job in Florida.

Cassel hasn’t been the same since.

In the Chiefs’ final two games of 2010, Cassel was a forgettable 20 of 51 with no touchdowns, five interceptions and a quarterback rating of 19.75. Through two regular season games in 2011, Cassel is looking less like the quarterback we saw in the first 15 games of 2010 and more like the quarterback we saw the final week against the Raiders and in the playoff game against the Ravens.

Cassel is not blameless in his regression but you can’t ignore the fact that Weis turned Cassel into a Pro Bowl quarterback. In return for his efforts he was relieved of his duties and shipped down to Florida for some family bonding.

The fact that Weis got more out of Cassel than any other coach he’s worked with is undeniable. The fault of letting that coach leave (assuming you believe the Chiefs explanation for the Weis “resignation”) lies at the feet of either Todd Haley or Scott Pioli (or both of them).

Anyone who made the drive to St. Joseph, MO for Chiefs training camp this summer could tell you that Cassel receives little to no support from his head coach. In watching the Chiefs through the preseason, it was apparent that new quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn was doing all he could to shield Cassel from Haley’s negative reinforcement.

Cassel has not been good through two games but the lion’s share of this team’s problems are not at the quarterback position. Cassel threw three interceptions Sunday (although two hit his receivers square in the hands) but how could you blame the guy for taking those kinds of risks?

Haley, who is supposed to have his starter’s back, undermined Cassel’s quarterbacks coach (Weis) during Cassel’s best season. He also seems eager to give the starting job to a journeyman named Tyler Palko.

Cassel is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Until his head coach gets back to coaching receivers instead of trying to be an offensive coordinator/quarterback repressor, Cassel’s production in Kansas City will be limited.

[Okie_Apparition]

Maybe I'm being hasty
So you're saying he's tradeable...

[BigMeatballDave]

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by milkman

The reason Cassel is struggling is that he's not plying the wek sisters of the NFC West, and Haley isn't babying him.

EXACTLY THIS

Haley is putting Cassel in a sink or swim situation and Cassel is sinking fast.

Haley have PROVEN he can win big games with a quarterback and its ****ed that he might go down for being handcuffed to Cassel since the start.

I bet Haley wants to start Stanzi.

[FloridaMan88]

Sounds like Cassel is a giant pussy.

[FringeNC]

All the asinine editorializing aside in that piece, I think it's possible to start putting together a story that Haley doesn't like Cassel. It certainly could explain the rumored tension between Haley and Pioli.

[NJChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by FringeNC

All the asinine editorializing aside in that piece, I think it's possible to start putting together a story that Haley doesn't like Cassel. It certainly could explain the rumored tension between Haley and Pioli.

Of course he doesn't like Cassel. All the stuff Haley has done aside, if you were him, would you want your fate hanging on the play of Matt Cassel?

Haley has done a lot of things wrong, and I completely understand why people have had their fill, but I personally would be ok seeing what he does with another QB. Either way, whether you agree or not, Haley will end up helping us get rid of Cassel, possibly before the season ends.

I am also sick of hearing people talk about rumors like they are fact. The Weis stuff could be true, but we sure as hell don't know. You can walk around after seeing the answer is 4 and say the problem was 2 plus 2 all you want, and you may be right, but you have no way of knowing. A lot of different reasons why Weis could have left. Leaving for his son is FAR, FAR, from unreasonable.

And now the Pioli hates Haley stuff. People just say it in posts like its a fact of life or something.

[whoman69]

Another conspiracy theory. I have a theory. Other teams saw just how empty Check Down's numbers were last year and made the adjustment.

[Molitoth]

Cassel was never a pro bowl quality QB. He was a product of luck, a good ground game, and an easy schedule against shitty teams last year.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Cassel isn't very good, but neither are his receivers. Regardless of Haley's suck or not-suck, the new QB is going to need somebody decent to catch the ball. Period.

[nose]

I think I just shat my pants a little!

[oRYMANo]

I don't know how many times ive seen the PA Boot to Pope! I think Haley has called 3 plays all year. Sack, Fumble, Interception. Im still waiting to see all 3 occur at the same time.

[kcxiv]

Whats happening to this team sucks and Haley does deserve some blame, but lets be serious. Haley stood no chance when he was forced to play and start Cassel. There is no fixing something that was never meant to work.

lol The more Cassel plays like shit the more it hink Weiss leaving had to do with him not being able to "Fix" (Charlies words) the QB. Haley has pretty much pointed to Cassel sucking time and time again by saying we will be a run team first blah blah. Its all been there, most of us fail to see it. Haley cursing Cassel. Cassel flipping off the fans (with proof). Play calling being so obvious they dont want Cassel to be throwing the ball.

[Molitoth]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

Cassel isn't very good, but neither are his receivers. Regardless of Haley's suck or not-suck, the new QB is going to need somebody decent to catch the ball. Period.

Sorry dude, but a good QB makes good receivers... not the other way around.

Manning and Brady consistently make no-names, all stars.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

Cassel isn't very good, but neither are his receivers. Regardless of Haley's suck or not-suck, the new QB is going to need somebody decent to catch the ball. Period.

Isnt very good? He ****ing sucks.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by Molitoth

Sorry dude, but a good QB makes good receivers... not the other way around.

Manning and Brady consistently make no-names, all stars.

^