Chiefs Teicher: Cassel says he’s preparing as if he’ll play against Rams - Page 3

**Tribal Warfare** · 12-14-2010, 01:04 AM

Cassel says he’s preparing as if he’ll play against Rams
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

Left at home in Kansas City to watch on TV the Chiefs’ miserable performance in San Diego, Matt Cassel had that sinking feeling he said he never wanted to experience again.

Toward that end, Cassel said he would prepare this week as if he would quarterback the Chiefs in Sunday’s game against the Rams in St. Louis.

“That’s why I’m here,” said Cassel, who was with his teammates at the Chiefs’ practice facility Monday as they reviewed the San Diego game. “I’ll do what I normally do. It will be a normal week of preparation. It will be a better week for me.”

That doesn’t necessarily mean Cassel, who had an appendectomy last Wednesday, will play against the Rams. The Chiefs don’t hold their first practice of the week until Wednesday, and the first public indication of whether Cassel will play would probably come then.

Until then, all Cassel can do is remain hopeful.

“I honestly can’t say,” he said about his recovery process. “They just said day-to-day. It’s all about reviewing it each and every day, seeing my progress and how I feel, everything like that. I don’t think it’s anything set in stone.”

The Chiefs left Cassel behind when they went to San Diego. They didn’t want to subject him to the rigors of travel since he wasn’t going to play.

They suffered one of the most lopsided losses in franchise history in their 31-0 loss to the Chargers. With Brodie Croyle playing quarterback, the Chiefs didn’t convert on any of their 11 third-down tries and neared team-record lows with 67 yards and five first downs.

“That was more of a medical staff/coaching staff/training staff decision,” Cassel said. “I would have loved to go and been on the plane, but they made the decision very clear that they wanted me to stay and rest and be off my feet as much as possible.”

The Chiefs played so poorly, it couldn’t have made much of a difference whether they were quarterbacked by Croyle or Cassel. Between the Chiefs’ worst rushing game of the season, constant pass-rush pressure on Croyle and several dropped passes, nothing worked offensively.

The Chiefs thought they didn’t give Croyle a chance and were disappointed about that.

“We should have come through for Brodie,” running back Jamaal Charles said. “Things just got out of control.

“It wasn’t even about Matt. Some people have to step up, step their game up. It’s football, and guys didn’t step up. I didn’t step up. We didn’t step up as a team on offense.”

Guard Brian Waters said, “We didn’t do what we needed to do as a football team to make his job easier.”

A more urgent issue for the Chiefs now is whether they can do those things for Croyle if he plays in St. Louis. The 8-5 Chiefs are trying to protect their one-game lead over San Diego in the AFC West.

“I have the utmost confidence in our players, in Brodie,” coach Todd Haley said. “He’s disappointed because he’s worked awfully hard.

“Of all the players on our team, the backup quarterback is the one that really hasn’t gotten to play much at all. So he got an opportunity, and I know he wanted it to go better. But make no mistake, it was (the fault of) an 11-man offensive operation and it was not Brodie Croyle. That was not the difference. It didn’t matter who was in there (at quarterback). The result was not going to be good.”

Kansas City’s conservative game plan made it appear the Chiefs lacked confidence in Croyle. Despite the fact the Chiefs fell behind early and never caught the Chargers, Croyle tried just 17 passes before he was pulled from the lineup in favor of Tyler Palko late in the game

Haley defended the game plan and the play-calling.

“When you have a guy that hasn’t played quarterback in an extended amount of time, I don’t think you can just plug him in and expect him to do the job,” he said. “That’s not going to happen very often.

“We were unable to get any kind of rhythm going offensively that would have enabled Brodie to have a chance to succeed.”

vailpass · 12-14-2010, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carlota69

Um, I may have ditched my biology class too much in high school, but, dont we only have ONE appendix?

No, you are thinking of the fallopian tube.

Carlota69 · 12-14-2010, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vailpass

No, you are thinking of the fallopian tube.

Oh...gotcha!

**HemiEd** · 12-14-2010, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

Thankfully... That abortion of a game and performance by Croyle was just that...

We have a chance to win and sweep out with Cassel.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carlota69

Um, I may have ditched my biology class too much in high school, but, dont we only have ONE appendix?

I believe you need to put a new battery in your sarcasm meter.

vailpass · 12-14-2010, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carlota69

Oh...gotcha!

I'm not trying to talk down to you Carlota, I know you are one HELL of a great jock (love your new ink). It's just that I know a thing or two about anatomy.

Carlota69 · 12-14-2010, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vailpass

I'm not trying to talk down to you Carlota, I know you are one HELL of a great jock (love your new ink). It's just that I know a thing or two about anatomy.

Ok, I know you arent (thought you were being ssarcastic like myself), but we only 1 appendix right? And I know we have 2 falopian tubes because I had 1 removed and still have another...so what are you talking about?

Oh, and thanks for the love ;-)

vailpass · 12-14-2010, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carlota69

Ok, I know you arent (thought you were being ssarcastic like myself), but we only 1 appendix right? And I know we have 2 falopian tubes because I had 1 removed and still have another...so what are you talking about?

Oh, and thanks for the love ;-)

Darling, we are both rowing the boat sarcastic. I'd bet my ovary on it.

Carlota69 · 12-14-2010, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vailpass

Darling, we are both rowing the boat sarcastic. I'd bet my ovary on it.

You got an extra one? I had that removed as well.

Chiefs Pantalones · 12-14-2010, 01:18 PM

Cassel is playing this week. You'd have to strap him to his bed to get him not to play. The team isn't dumb they know what's at stake and they know their chances are NONE if Croyle plays.

vailpass · 12-14-2010, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carlota69

You got an extra one? I had that removed as well.

Red Dawg · 12-14-2010, 02:49 PM

You can't change your regular plan because of the back up QB. That's just mailing it in and playing to lose. Gotta give the guy a shot and go down swinging at least.

matthews1733 · 12-14-2010, 03:58 PM

i swear to GOD, Chiefs fans are the most hilarious people on earth. haha

RINGLEADER · 12-14-2010, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HemiEd

Especially with handcuffs on.

WTF have they been doing with the back up QB preparation for the last two years?

The starter could go down at any time, WTF?!

That's what I was thinking.

What a weird quote from Haley...

**Tribal Warfare** · 12-14-2010, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanilla Thunder

Cassel is playing this week. You'd have to strap him to his bed to get him not to play. The team isn't dumb they know what's at stake and they know their chances are NONE if Croyle plays.

If they allow Croyle to throw the ball like he did against the Ravens then everything will be fine

Chiefs Pantalones · 12-14-2010, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

If they allow Croyle to throw the ball like he did against the Ravens then everything will be fine

Right. I don't want to find out.

**Tribal Warfare** · 12-14-2010, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanilla Thunder

Right. I don't want to find out.

Yeah, if you want to go on a parade how Cassel is an efficient as QB, then don't forget the Raven game where Croyle did a good job also.

12-14-2010, 01:04 AM
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-2797187	Teicher: Cassel says he’s preparing as if he’ll play against Rams Cassel says he’s preparing as if he’ll play against Rams By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star Left at home in Kansas City to watch on TV the Chiefs’ miserable performance in San Diego, Matt Cassel had that sinking feeling he said he never wanted to experience again. Toward that end, Cassel said he would prepare this week as if he would quarterback the Chiefs in Sunday’s game against the Rams in St. Louis. “That’s why I’m here,” said Cassel, who was with his teammates at the Chiefs’ practice facility Monday as they reviewed the San Diego game. “I’ll do what I normally do. It will be a normal week of preparation. It will be a better week for me.” That doesn’t necessarily mean Cassel, who had an appendectomy last Wednesday, will play against the Rams. The Chiefs don’t hold their first practice of the week until Wednesday, and the first public indication of whether Cassel will play would probably come then. Until then, all Cassel can do is remain hopeful. “I honestly can’t say,” he said about his recovery process. “They just said day-to-day. It’s all about reviewing it each and every day, seeing my progress and how I feel, everything like that. I don’t think it’s anything set in stone.” The Chiefs left Cassel behind when they went to San Diego. They didn’t want to subject him to the rigors of travel since he wasn’t going to play. They suffered one of the most lopsided losses in franchise history in their 31-0 loss to the Chargers. With Brodie Croyle playing quarterback, the Chiefs didn’t convert on any of their 11 third-down tries and neared team-record lows with 67 yards and five first downs. “That was more of a medical staff/coaching staff/training staff decision,” Cassel said. “I would have loved to go and been on the plane, but they made the decision very clear that they wanted me to stay and rest and be off my feet as much as possible.” The Chiefs played so poorly, it couldn’t have made much of a difference whether they were quarterbacked by Croyle or Cassel. Between the Chiefs’ worst rushing game of the season, constant pass-rush pressure on Croyle and several dropped passes, nothing worked offensively. The Chiefs thought they didn’t give Croyle a chance and were disappointed about that. “We should have come through for Brodie,” running back Jamaal Charles said. “Things just got out of control. “It wasn’t even about Matt. Some people have to step up, step their game up. It’s football, and guys didn’t step up. I didn’t step up. We didn’t step up as a team on offense.” Guard Brian Waters said, “We didn’t do what we needed to do as a football team to make his job easier.” A more urgent issue for the Chiefs now is whether they can do those things for Croyle if he plays in St. Louis. The 8-5 Chiefs are trying to protect their one-game lead over San Diego in the AFC West. “I have the utmost confidence in our players, in Brodie,” coach Todd Haley said. “He’s disappointed because he’s worked awfully hard. “Of all the players on our team, the backup quarterback is the one that really hasn’t gotten to play much at all. So he got an opportunity, and I know he wanted it to go better. But make no mistake, it was (the fault of) an 11-man offensive operation and it was not Brodie Croyle. That was not the difference. It didn’t matter who was in there (at quarterback). The result was not going to be good.” Kansas City’s conservative game plan made it appear the Chiefs lacked confidence in Croyle. Despite the fact the Chiefs fell behind early and never caught the Chargers, Croyle tried just 17 passes before he was pulled from the lineup in favor of Tyler Palko late in the game Haley defended the game plan and the play-calling. “When you have a guy that hasn’t played quarterback in an extended amount of time, I don’t think you can just plug him in and expect him to do the job,” he said. “That’s not going to happen very often. “We were unable to get any kind of rhythm going offensively that would have enabled Brodie to have a chance to succeed.”
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12-14-2010, 01:18 PM	#38
Chiefs Pantalones GO CHIEFS!!!!!! Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $6878717	Cassel is playing this week. You'd have to strap him to his bed to get him not to play. The team isn't dumb they know what's at stake and they know their chances are NONE if Croyle plays. __________________ Don't be fooled by my username, I'm white.
Posts: 26,653

12-14-2010, 02:49 PM	#40
Red Dawg Going home eventually Join Date: Dec 2002 Casino cash: $1432858	You can't change your regular plan because of the back up QB. That's just mailing it in and playing to lose. Gotta give the guy a shot and go down swinging at least. __________________ If you're not first you're last!
Posts: 33,097

12-14-2010, 03:58 PM	#41
matthews1733 Rookie Join Date: Sep 2010 Casino cash: $10004900	i swear to GOD, Chiefs fans are the most hilarious people on earth. haha
Posts: 10