PFF sunders Cassel

[Hammock Parties]

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blo...-bills-week-2/

Kansas City – Three Performances of Note

Feeling the Heat

The one thing that stands out most about Matt Cassel’s display (a performance whose numbers were padded by some late garbage time yards and touchdowns) was just how poor he was when pressured. On his 15 drop-backs under duress he was sacked five times, ran once, and otherwise completed only two of nine passes. While he came out with a marginal -0.8 grade, his work under pressure netted him a -3.7 against +2.0 when given time. Worse, when blitzed, he completed only one 6-yard pass. This is a veteran NFL quarterback but those numbers are more reminiscent of a rookie, and a poor one at that.


As You Were?

One of the bright spots of the 2010 NFL year for the Chiefs was the play of then rookie, Tony Moeaki (-2.2). Not only did his pass catching skills look the part but it appeared he may be one of those rarest of things; a receiving tight end who could block. When injury took away the whole of his 2011 season, it was a blow to fans — not just of the Chiefs, but of the game itself.

He’s back but not, so far, as we remember him. Despite being in pass routes for 46 plays he caught only one ball; a 9-yarder against the Bills’ second string with 2:11 left in the game. Add to this some sub-optimal pass and run blocking and things need to improve quickly. The way Mark Anderson threw him aside to tackle Peyton Hillis with 3:45 left in the third was an indication of his fall.

Secret Superstar

If there was one player on the Chiefs who stood out as playing well it was Justin Houston (+2.2). While as a pass rusher his single hit and hurry may be considered below average against a normal offense, going against the Bills, who get rid of the ball so quickly, it was certainly creditable and made up half the total pressure the Chiefs achieved as a team. However, it was in run defense he really shone and his change of direction and ability to get to the sideline quickly were shown time and again. Although not a run, watch the way he tracks down the lightning-fast C.J. Spiller on a flare with 9:42 left in the second.


Buffalo – Three Performances of Note

Taking the Strain

While he got the win, this was hardly Ryan Fitzpatrick’s finest hour (+0.7) and he had much to thank his new starting halfback, C.J. Spiller (+2.8) for. Averaging 8.2 yards a carry (with 78 after contact), this was a superb display, particularly as he also generated 47 yards on receptions. The fact that 52 of these came after the catch shows that they were really just elongated handoffs.

He’s not being asked to stay in to pass block much (a real strength of the injured Fred Jackson) but he did a good job in that regard last year so it appears for the time being at least, the Bills will not miss their Week 1 starter too much.

Maturing Nicely

We could talk about how well defensive tackle Kyle Williams (+4.4) played, but we’ll save that for our game ball shall we? Instead let’s talk about someone that got lit up like the proverbial Christmas tree last week and did rather better here. Rookie Stephon Gilmore played almost exclusively at right corner and gave up only five receptions on 11 targets. The fact that the biggest of those catches, the 26-yarder to Jonathan Baldwin, came well into garbage time shouldn’t be ignored. What was especially pleasing was of the three balls thrown to Dwayne Bowe he gave up none.

There were the two penalties — the hold on Steve Breaston and the stupid twelve men affair — but this was a markedly better showing and one much more befitting his high draft status.

Covering Thing Up

While the RCB spot is looking close to be locked up for some time, the LCB position is in flux. The Bills rotated both Aaron Williams (45 snaps at LCB) and Terrence McGee (22) and neither played well. Between them they gave up receptions on nine of 14 targets for 108 yards and two touchdowns and a cumulative coverage grade of -2.4 including missing three tackles.

They will play far better quarterbacks than Matt Cassel soon and, if the Bills have playoff aspirations, this is an area of concern.

Game Notes

- For the Chiefs, WR Steve Beaston’s salary cap number in 2012 is $4.5M. He ran 29 pass routes and was only targeted once; courtesy of being the closest Chief to the Hail Mary at the end of the game.

- Before leaving the game with an injury, Bill’s rookie LT Cordy Glenn had only given up a single hurry despite playing against Tamba Hali for a large proportion of snaps.

- On 15 running plays, Nick Barnett made three tackles all of which were stops for a Run Stop Percentage of 20%.

Game Ball

I know I blew it earlier but even people who didn’t watch the game probably know that Bills DT Kyle Williams was once again the best player on the field. Two sacks, two hurries, and a controlled performance against the run gives him this game ball by some margin.

[L.A. Chieffan]

I bet a lot of qbs have a worse rating facing the kind of pressure Matt did compared to when they have time.

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by L.A.Chieffan

Cassell was facing extreme pressure. QBs get sacked when they don't have enough time. Cassell looked really good when he wasn't getting DDTed to the ground.

Him facing that pressure is a direct result of what he has displayed on the field the last 4 years.

His release is slow, so if you get to him quick, he can't get the ball out
His thinking is slower so it wouldn't even matter if he had Tony Romos quick release
He is a mental pussy that stares right at the rush instead of his receivers
He is high anxiety, so if you pressure him once or twice..that's all he thinks about the rest of the game
After 4 years starting, he still doesn't understand the concept of hot reads
He doesn't trust hos own arm so the safeties can play up towards the line of scrimmage without fear of getting beat deep

I could probably go on with another hundred or so reasons, but those with a brain and a functioning set of eyes get the picture....as do his own teammates.

[L.A. Chieffan]

Odd that Cassell was getting his ass kicked in the first half and then once they decided to give him time and open up the playbook, voila! Success!

Direct contradiction to your statement that after being pressured that's all he thinks about.

[BossChief]

Haha

They were throwing high school kids out there to play defense at that point letting us complete passes to keep the clock running...
Shit...

I got trolled.

[KCrockaholic]

Random:


We've basically been playing Eric Berry as a linebacker these past 2 games.

88% of run snaps had Berry in the box at the time of the snap. That's 20% more than the 2nd closest guy, Charles Woodson.

We really aren't using Berry to his full potential.

Berry also leads all safeties in pass rush snaps (blitzes)

[gold_and_red]

Has Pioli been asked what qualities he sees in Cassel to leave him as the unquestioned starter for 4 years?

[L.A. Chieffan]

Where are the full game rankings? C'mon Clay, don't hold out on us.

And give us the cowboys game too so we can see Carr's stats.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by KCrockaholic

Random:


We've basically been playing Eric Berry as a linebacker these past 2 games.

88% of run snaps had Berry in the box at the time of the snap. That's 20% more than the 2nd closest guy, Charles Woodson.

We really aren't using Berry to his full potential.

Eric Berry is a linebacker.

That's what he was last season.

When he is asked to cover tight ends, he is getting killed.

He's beast in run defense, but, for whatever reason, he isn't getting the job done in pass defense.

[Hammock Parties]

Eh, there's not much noteworthy. You know what happened.

Albert had a very good game.

Lilja gave up 2 sacks.

Asamoah fail.

Safeties were all in the red.

Houston had a good game, though.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

I really, really wonder what the **** they watch at Arrowhead to keep trotting Cassel out there.

Scott is too busy searching for candy wrappers to worry about mundane details like QB play.

[L.A. Chieffan]

I need cold hard numbers

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning

Eh, there's not much noteworthy. You know what happened.

Albert had a very good game.

Lilja gave up 2 sacks.

Asamoah fail.

Safeties were all in the red.

Houston had a good game, though.

Asamoah has regressed so far this yr.

[L.A. Chieffan]

just give me Routt and Carr's rankings

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by L.A.Chieffan

just give me Routt and Carr's rankings

Carr hasn't been updated, ****stick, or I would.

[KCrockaholic]

PFF is giving some VERY favorable ratings to the QB's for some reason. There's no reason Cassel should be in the green. Even after his decent first half against Atl.