Lack of quality WR's hurting Cassel & Chiefs

[KChiefs1]

http://arrowheadaddict.com/2010/11/0...ng-the-chiefs/

Lack Of Quality Receivers Hurting The Chiefs
Updated 11/09/2010 10:58 AM
by Patrick Allen


It is time to throw Kansas City Chiefs QB Matt Cassel a bone.

If you've been reading this site for more than a couple of weeks, you know that I have been highly critical of Cassel. I have particularly been hard on him about his completion percentage which has spent more time on the wrong side of 60 percent than I would like. However, now that we are halfway through the season I think it is time to give the Chiefs signal caller another look.

After giving it much thought I think that Matt Cassel is in a very tough position with this year's team. He is a Quarterback with no receivers.


Scott Pioli has had a lot of his bets pay off this season but one of his failures has been the resigning of WR Chris Chambers. I think even Pioli was worried about Chambers which is why he waited so long to resign him and in the interim, tried to trade for Anquan Boldin. It came down to the Chiefs and the Ravens battling for Boldin's services and in the end, the Ravens were willing to give up more draft picks than the Chiefs. For the record, I think Pioli did the right thing, especially considering the talent level of his 2010 draft class. Boldin woul dhave helped out a lot this year but these rookies will be more valuable in the long run.

After failing to make the trade for Boldin, Pioli resigned Chris Chambers. He also drafted WR Dexter McCluster who he figured could be a solid outlet for Cassel in the slot.

He was kind of right.

McCluster is a dynamic weapon but he wasn't ready to step in and be an impact receiver from day one. Most of the damage McCluster has done this season has come when he has lined up in the backfield. That doesn't mean that McCluster isn't going to turn in to a good receiver, it simply means he is a rookie who wasn't that experienced at receiver to begin with, learning to play the position at the NFL level. It was always going to take time.

The other side of the Chambers/McCluster bet, however, is what has hurt the Chiefs and Cassel the most. Chambers is a bum. I don't know if he just got old or if he really does quit once he gets paid. I'm not sure what goes on in the head of a guy who would get a restraining order against a woman and then marry her a few months later. All I do know is that they guy hasn't shown up this year and it doesn't appear he is going to show up any time soon. He is dead weight but unfortunately, he is all we've got.

Before being overly critical of Cassel, you have to look at what the dude is working with. He's got Bowe and then…er…

McCluster (injured)

Terry Copper

Chris Chambers

Verran Tucker

Seriously? Look, the way Chambers is playing he would probably get cut by most NFL teams at this point. Tuker and Copper wouldn't even BE on other NFL teams. Maybe Copper would sneak on a squad as a special teamer but you can bet your behind he wouldn't be lining up at receiver.

Cassel is doing the best he can with what he has to work with. The last two games he has had three targets:

Dwayne Bowe

The team’s best receiver is actually having a pretty decent season. He has a few drops but for the most part, he has been very productive.

Tony Moeaki

Moeaki is the Chiefs second best wide receiver and he is a freaking tight end!

Jamaal Charles

The team’s third best wide receiver, Jamaal Charles, is also the leagues best second string running back.

When McCluster comes back, he’ll slide back in tot he #3 slot and Charles can go back to being a backup running back.

And before you all start going gaga over Verran Tucker, remember that his spectacular TD catch from Sunday is his ONLY catch in the three weeks that he has been active. This isn't an indictment on Tucker. The dude has potential but he isn't getting open and right now, that is what Cassel needs.

The reason the Chiefs threw so much against the Raiders is because Oakland wasin single coverage all day long with no safties. People have been talking about how Oakland's strategy was an indictment on Cassel. They've been saying the Raiders didn't believe Cassel could beat them. I disagree with this. I think the Raiders believed the Chiefs receivers couldn't beat them and they were right. Look Bowe has never been a burner but you are telling me not Chambers, Copper or Tucker could put a good enough move on their man to blow by them and get wide open over the top? If the Raiders tried that kind of crap on the Indianapolis Colts Peyton Manning would throw for 37 touchdowns. Every time Cassel completed a pass Sunday, his man was covered pretty well. There were very few passes that went to wide open receivers.

While watching Sunday's game, the guy across from me kept bemoaning that Cassel wasn't throwing the ball. He wasn't throwing it because he can't see wide open receivers. He wasn't throwing it because there were no open receivers. It is obvious that the Chiefs and Cassel have made it a priority to take care of the football. Cassel is under strict instructions not to force passes and to get rid of the ball if he senses trouble, even if that means throwing it away. He has been doing that and the results, for the most part, have been positive.

Cassel is doing a fine job of hitting Moeaki and Bowe when they are open. He is fairly efficient at hitting Charles when he comes out of the backfield. Before Dexter McCluster got injured, Cassel started finding him more down field as well. He just doesn't have the tools he needs in the receiving game. Philip Rivers might be able to succeed with receivers off the street but Cassel is no Philip Rivers. * I think the Chiefs passing game is going to continue to struggle until they get Dexter McCluster back. I think the presence of McCluster helps both Bowe and Moeaki. It will also keep Jamaal Charles in the backfield where he belongs. With the absence of McCluster, the Chiefs have been using Charles a little more in the passing game because they know they need another threat out there. *

The*Cassel lead Chiefs will likely never be a passing team but if they don’t get some more help at the WR position soon, KC’s air attack will stay grounded.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

All I know is Andre Johnson CAUGHT his game winning TD, and didn't let the ball him in the damn chest and bounce to the turf.

Nope....but he did drop a critical pass that resulted in an INT that ended the game.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

All I know is Andre Johnson CAUGHT his game winning TD, and didn't let the ball him in the damn chest and bounce to the turf.

Andre Johnson also let a perfect pass that hit him in his hands in stride on what might have been a game winning drive go right through his hands and into the hands of a DB for a game ending interception against the Chargers.

[Hammock Parties]

People should really stop bitching about Bowe.

Put him on a team with a legit QB and he probably has 700 yards right now.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

All I know is Andre Johnson CAUGHT his game winning TD, and didn't let the ball him in the damn chest and bounce to the turf.

Well, this isn't meant to say Bowe is better than all the players on that list. He's not.

The purpose of this was to show that Bowe is quietly having a decent year and has improved on his drops and TDs. People are calling to throw him off the team. Hell, I heard a caller on 810 today say that he'd hate it if the Chiefs got to the Superbowl this year, cause Bowe might drop a pass.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

Well, this isn't meant to say Bowe is better than all the players on that list. He's not.

The purpose of this was to show that Bowe is quietly having a decent year and has improved on his drops and TDs. People are calling to throw him off the team. Hell, I heard a caller on 810 today say that he'd hate it if the Chiefs got to the Superbowl this year, cause Bowe might drop a pass.

People lack perspective.

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

Well, this isn't meant to say Bowe is better than all the players on that list. He's not.

The purpose of this was to show that Bowe is quietly having a decent year and has improved on his drops and TDs. People are calling to throw him off the team. Hell, I heard a caller on 810 today say that he'd hate it if the Chiefs got to the Superbowl this year, cause Bowe might drop a pass.

I heard that too, the idiot would rather not be in the SB with bowe and have a different WR and not be in the SB

****ing moron

[Sofa King]

Originally Posted by Gif Horse

People should really stop bitching about Bowe.

Put him on a team with a legit QB and he probably has 700 yards right now.

Something like this.......



****ing Cassel....

i pray a top 3 QB falls to us in the draft...

[Chiefaholic]

Yeah... It's the WR's fault that they don't have a 60" vertical jump to catch the balls 10 foot over their heads. Quality WR's catch balls thrown 5 feet behind their backs on crossing routes and balls that hit the turf 5 yards in front of them. Sure Bowe has his faults, but I'de like to see how many "catchable passes" he drops when the QB hits him in the numbers in stride.

[Chiefaholic]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

If you had to choose one QB for a "game winning drive" who would it be?

1. Bono
2. Grbac
3. Cassel

Grbac

[michaelj_58]

receiver will be a top priority this coming offseason

[TEX]

The lack of quality WR's has been a constant for the past 20 + years or so. Think about it...

[TEX]

Originally Posted by Gif Horse

People should really stop bitching about Bowe.

Put him on a team with a legit QB and he probably has 700 yards right now.

No way. Bowe will get in his own way regardless of the QB.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Gif Horse

This hasn't really been discussed enough but consider this:

Both of the Chiefs TD "drives" were aided by the refs.

They gifted us with 40 yards on a bogus pass interference and with a 30-yard field on the bogus fumble.

Basically the only way we were scoring a TD in that game was the refs.

Without a running game Cassel couldn't lead a real drive worth a shit in that game, and he proved it in overtime.

I think that's an unfair statement to make given that the 2nd play was a designed screen to Moeaki that was blown up and the 3rd down play, there was nobody open.

I was originally pissed at Cassel for not doing better in OT. But looking back at the tape, I don't think that was his fault. Not this game. To me, the biggest reason we lost OT was Charlie Weis, not Cassel.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

I think that's an unfair statement to make given that the 2nd play was a designed screen to Moeaki that was blown up and the 3rd down play, there was nobody open.

I was originally pissed at Cassel for not doing better in OT. But looking back at the tape, I don't think that was his fault. Not this game. To me, the biggest reason we lost OT was Charlie Weis, not Cassel.

I agree in part. Cassel did his job on the last drive of the 4th quarter. He got the ball to Bowe, it was a bit under thrown but very "catchable." We all know what happened. The moment was there - Bowe didn't seize it. The game never should have gone into OT.

[boogblaster]

We're building .. in need of a couple WRs .. another LBer .. another good OLman .. and draft a QBOTF .......