Chiefs Clark Judge loves Matt Cassel, and so should you. - Page 2

Hammock Parties · 11-30-2010, 04:40 PM

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.

Hammock Parties · 11-30-2010, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pawnmower

NO WAY

He is "the most dangerous QB to his own team" and also a "fraud"

Right?

Clark Judge doesn't watch the Chiefs every week. I guarantee you.

It's pretty clear he looked at some pretty stats, got a couple quotes and elaborated on his CHIEFS WERE RIGHT! PIOLI WAS RIGHT! CASSEL ROCKS! premise.

This is all exceedingly premature.

**chasedude** · 11-30-2010, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pawnmower

NO WAY

He is "the most dangerous QB to his own team" and also a "fraud"

Right?

**OnTheWarpath15** · 11-30-2010, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

He only just had his most complete outing of the season and it was against the weak NFCW. Lets not crown his ass yet.

This week was probably the only week I had no complaints about the QB position.

Funny you say that, my wife asked WTF was going on the past few weeks, I hadn't said anything about Cassel during the games. (Arizona, Seattle)

I told her that if he always played like this, she'd never hear a peep from me on gameday.

**DaneMcCloud** · 11-30-2010, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

He only just had his most complete outing of the season and it was against the weak NFCW. Lets not crown his ass yet.

This week was probably the only week I had no complaints about the QB position.

He was good against Arizona as well.

Let's face it, guy: Matt Cassel is NOT the same player in Week 12 as he was in Week 1. He has improved throughout the season and as I've said in the past few days, at times it's been one step forward and two steps back.

But on Sunday, he looked off receivers, wasn't worried about the pass rush and play a nearly perfect game, which is something I thought he'd never accomplish. And I don't mean stats, I mean watching him play with my eyes.

I think there's a very good chance that he continues to ascend, thus proving he's a late bloomer. Worse things could happen than Matt Cassel growing into a Franchise QB at age 28.

stevieray · 11-30-2010, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

He only just had his most complete outing of the season and it was against the weak NFCW. Lets not crown his ass yet.

This week was probably the only week I had no complaints about the QB position.

sucks to be you.

ToxSocks · 11-30-2010, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gif Horse

Clark Judge doesn't watch the Chiefs every week. I guarantee you.

It's pretty clear he looked at some pretty stats, got a couple quotes and elaborated on his CHIEFS WERE RIGHT! PIOLI WAS RIGHT! CASSEL ROCKS! premise.

This is all exceedingly premature.

22 TD's and 4 ints are great numbers no matter how you slice it. I understand that you still have a bitter taste in your mouth, but give credit where credit is due. He's obviously doing something right.

**Ming the Merciless** · 11-30-2010, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gif Horse

Clark Judge doesn't watch the Chiefs every week. I guarantee you.

It's pretty clear he looked at some pretty stats, got a couple quotes and elaborated on his CHIEFS WERE RIGHT! PIOLI WAS RIGHT! CASSEL ROCKS! premise.

This is all exceedingly premature.

I actually agree that it could be premature...However weren't YOU guilty of the same sort of prematurely spewing of CHIEFS WERE WRONG ! CASSEL SUCKS!!! type of posts?

He may be premature, but at least he wasn't proven wrong yet..unlike you.

Hammock Parties · 11-30-2010, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Let's face it, guy: Matt Cassel is NOT the same player in Week 13 as he was in Week 1.

I still say he turns back into a pumpkin against the Chargers.

We can't be this lucky.

**OnTheWarpath15** · 11-30-2010, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gif Horse

Clark Judge doesn't watch the Chiefs every week. I guarantee you.

It's pretty clear he looked at some pretty stats, got a couple quotes and elaborated on his CHIEFS WERE RIGHT! PIOLI WAS RIGHT! CASSEL ROCKS! premise.

This is all exceedingly premature.

Judge is not different than the rest of the national media.

They see box scores and limited highlights, and think they are qualified to write a piece like this.

Hell, I read Easterbrook's TMQ on ESPN.com today, and he has Pioli's nuts so far down his throat, he wrote, "Not only is the undrafted-and-waived Ryan Lilja playing well for Kansas City but Ryan O'Callaghan, waived by New England, is having a fine year at offensive tackle."

Hammock Parties · 11-30-2010, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pawnmower

I actually agree that it could be premature...However weren't YOU guilty of the same sort of prematurely spewing of CHIEFS WERE WRONG ! CASSEL SUCKS!!! type of posts?

He may be premature, but at least he wasn't proven wrong yet..unlike you.

Wins over NFC West teams do not prove that the Chiefs are not frauds.

They remain frauds until they make the playoffs and prove they belong in the playoffs.

**DaneMcCloud** · 11-30-2010, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gif Horse

I still say he turns back into a pumpkin against the Chargers.

We can't be this lucky.

Who cares? QB's are prone to having a bad day here and there.

Having a bad day against the Chargers won't erase the progress he's made this season.

ToxSocks · 11-30-2010, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gif Horse

I still say he turns back into a pumpkin against the Chargers.

We can't be this lucky.

That won't mean that he isn't making strides and getting better. SD made Manning look like ass. They're playing good all around D.

I'm expecting him to struggle against SD.

But he's getting better, and hopefully next season, he'll be ready.

ToxSocks · 11-30-2010, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Who cares? QB's are prone to having a bad day here and there.

Having a bad day against the Chargers won't erase the progress he's made this season.

Beat me to it.

**Ming the Merciless** · 11-30-2010, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gif Horse

They remain frauds until they make the playoffs and prove they belong in the playoffs.

You apparently still have no ****ing clue what the word fraud means. That is pretty sad considering some of the people on WPI and CP have rammed dictionaries up your ass for the last few weeks and you still don't get it.

**DaneMcCloud** · 11-30-2010, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gif Horse

Wins over NFC West teams do not prove that the Chiefs are not frauds.

They remain frauds until they make the playoffs and prove they belong in the playoffs.

This is nonsense.

If they Chiefs win the division, they're not "frauds". If the Chiefs happen to make the playoffs at 11-5, they're not "frauds".

This is a young ascending team. It's not an old team put together for one last grasp.

And making the playoffs isn't a given for any team in the NFL, despite their pedigree.