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

[L.A. Chieffan]

Originally Posted by JohnnyHammersticks

Listen buddy, I don't know if you're blind, or you're just ****ing stupid--but either way, it's pretty obvious that I lose more NFL quarterback evaluation ability in my morning dumps than you've amassed in a lifetime.

doing what? Evaulating other posters opinions on the internet? Playing Madden? Go back to your hot pockets dude.

[BossChief]

I find it silly that when Stanzis receivers drop good passes or he gets poor protection, Stanzi takes the blame...when the same thing happens to Cassel, he gets defended.

[RunKC]

I'm wondering what this city is going to do when Cassel sucks again this year and Pioli starts him in 2013?

[ShowtimeSBMVP]

Originally Posted by RunKC

I'm wondering what this city is going to do when Cassel sucks again this year and Pioli starts him in 2013?

Gonna Happen.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by ChiefsandO'sfan

Gonna Happen.

What's gonna happen? Riots?

People are still gonna go to the games and give Clark his money. That's all he cares about.

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by BossChief

I find it silly that when Stanzis receivers drop good passes or he gets poor protection, Stanzi takes the blame...when the same thing happens to Cassel, he gets defended.

Which plays that Stanzi was getting nailed to the cross on were dropped by the receiver?

The slant to Copper? Nope. Copper never even touched the ball.

The Fumble? Nah.

The sacks he took?

In case you didn't notice, no one has defended Cassel for the sacks he took, the interception, or the fumble. The difference is Cassel actually did some good in the game.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by BossChief

I find it silly that when Stanzis receivers drop good passes or he gets poor protection, Stanzi takes the blame...when the same thing happens to Cassel, he gets defended.

Who exactly has done that?

[BossChief]

"cassel was just trying to make a play"

[L.A. Chieffan]

Cassell took the sack so it wouldn't get intercepted a couple of times. Veteran savvy there

[philfree]

Originally Posted by RunKC

I'm wondering what this city is going to do when Cassel sucks again this year and Pioli starts him in 2013?

If Cassel doesn't play at least to the level he played at in 2010 and then they try and trot him out next year as the starter the fans in mass will stop buying tickets. The stadium will become Emptyhead with the Sea of Orange. (The color of most of the seats that will be empty.)

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by L.A.Chieffan

Cassell took the sack so it wouldn't get intercepted a couple of times. Veteran savvy there

Yeah, except that pick 6.

Or the fumble in the red zone.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by KCtotheSB

Give Cassel some more time. Anyone who knows ANYTHING about the NFL will tell you that you can't accurately judge a quarterback until at least Year 8.

God Castle sucks...

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by philfree

If Cassel doesn't play at least to the level he played at in 2010 and then they try and trot him out next year as the starter the fans in mass will stop buying tickets. The stadium will become Emptyhead with the Sea of Orange. (The color of most of the seats that will be empty.)

Sadly, you are wrong.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Cassel:

Reaching Herm-esque levels of fan support.

[L.A. Chieffan]

Originally Posted by BossChief

Yeah, except that pick 6.

Or the fumble in the red zone.

Could've been even worse. Leadership oozes out of the guy.

170 1 and 1 in two and a half quarters ain't that bad. You guys are acting like he looked like Ryan Leaf out there.