Chiefs Clark Judge loves Matt Cassel, and so should you. - Page 7

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.

ToxSocks · 11-30-2010, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

How? Because those (NT and OLB) are extremely difficult to fill for a 34, with far more teams running this defense.

Can we get a complimentary WR (what happened to our HOF second rounder from '10? should there be another apology thread?) and a C? I should hope so.

That's why i said I doubt we get our NT. OLB isn't that difficult to fill. Not nearly as hard as NT.

I see no reason why we can't come away with a starter at WR and OLB in the first two rounds. Especially considering how deep this draft is suppose to be at WR.

**DeezNutz** · 11-30-2010, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I suppose but I didn't think that the Chiefs be able to acquire a back like Jones, a center like Weigman, guards like Lilja and Asamoah, a tight end like Moeaki and safeties like Berry & Lewis (not to mention Arenas & McCluster) all in one offseason, either.

Every one of those guys have been difference makers.

True. Although I believe Jones and Weigman could easily be replaced. Moeaki has been the real surprise for me. Lewis was a great late pick, too, it seems.

Jury still out on round 2, unfortunately. But even if these picks drink from the dick sock, ultimately, the '10 draft appears to be a very strong one.

**OnTheWarpath15** · 11-30-2010, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

Dane is the voice of reason in this thread. I agree, if he does lay an egg in SD, it won't diminish what Cassel has done so far.

If Cassel fails at San Diego, the same usual suspects who have ripped him every chance they get will come out in droves.

Whereas, they typically make backhanded compliments when he plays well, or show up days later to offer their "support that he keeps playing well".

But the minute he ****s up again, they will be all over this board bitching. One day he's called the worst starting QB in the NFL, then a few weeks later people, the same people complaining, want him to perform like an elite QB.

It's comedy gold.

And what if he fails Sunday?

Or in STL?

You might find it funny, I don't.

Look around the league. 8 of the 12 division leaders have elite QB's.

It's a QB driven league, and will be for quite a while, I think.

He's 28 years old, and he's yet to prove he can win an important road game against a solid opponent. He's yet to show that if parts of the team are faltering, he can put the team on his back and win.

I don't see what the issue is in needing to see that happen at least once before we say the guy is a ****ing franchise QB.

ToxSocks · 11-30-2010, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brock

I'm sipping the koolaid just a little.

Tastes good huh?

**DeezNutz** · 11-30-2010, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Detoxing

That's why i said I doubt we get our NT. OLB isn't that difficult to fill. Not nearly as hard as NT.

I see no reason why we can't come away with a starter at WR and OLB in the first two rounds. Especially considering how deep this draft is suppose to be at WR.

I agree about WR, but I think we should temper our expectations for OLB if we're looking at round 2. Can it be better than the broke dick we have? Definitely.

And Hali needs to continue to be visible every single week.

**Ming the Merciless** · 11-30-2010, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

And what if he fails Sunday?

Or in STL?

You might find it funny, I don't.

Look around the league. 8 of the 12 division leaders have elite QB's.

It's a QB driven league, and will be for quite a while, I think.

He's 28 years old, and he's yet to prove he can win an important road game against a solid opponent. He's yet to show that if parts of the team are faltering, he can put the team on his back and win.

I don't see what the issue is in needing to see that happen at least once before we say the guy is a ****ing franchise QB.

Wow I think he is crying IRL

Brock · 11-30-2010, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Detoxing

Tastes good huh?

I'm prepared for it to end up giving me dysentery, though.

**The Bad Guy** · 11-30-2010, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

And what if he fails Sunday?

Or in STL?

You might find it funny, I don't.

Look around the league. 8 of the 12 division leaders have elite QB's.

It's a QB driven league, and will be for quite a while, I think.

He's 28 years old, and he's yet to prove he can win an important road game against a solid opponent. He's yet to show that if parts of the team are faltering, he can put the team on his back and win.

I don't see what the issue is in needing to see that happen at least once before we say the guy is a ****ing franchise QB.

I'll never say he's a franchise QB. There are about 5 of them in the entire NFL and Cassel never will be that so if that's your expectation then I guess there will be a continued insane amount of bitching.

I do think he's turning into a really solid to very good QB right before our eyes and has made progress that no one on this board thought possible after Week 1.

**Ming the Merciless** · 11-30-2010, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brock

I'm prepared for it to end up giving me dysentery, though.

Let's wash down some pepto with our kool aid, just to be safe.

ToxSocks · 11-30-2010, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

True. Although I believe Jones and Weigman could easily be replaced. Moeaki has been the real surprise for me. Lewis was a great late pick, too, it seems.

Jury still out on round 2, unfortunately. But even if these picks drink from the dick sock, ultimately, the '10 draft appears to be a very strong one.

McCluster has proved that he's every bit as explosive as advertised. Arenas has made some key plays and filled a HUGE whole in ST that has been void since Dante left.

Im curious to see how they incorporate McCluster in the offense now that Bowe has emerged.

**DeezNutz** · 11-30-2010, 05:43 PM

The level of optimism for Cassel after two good weeks is staggeringly more impressive than the level of disdain for 1 1/2 seasons of mediocrity.

We'll see which is the "real" Cassel.

**OnTheWarpath15** · 11-30-2010, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

So calling this team awful in the off-season now gives you free reign to continue to complain if they don't meet your new lofty expectations? The same ones that didn't exist 13 weeks ago?

There's not a person on this board that HONESTLY thought this team would be 7-4 right now, and you know it.

People say it so in the event it happens, they look like ****ing superfans.

If you want to be happy if they blow a 3 game lead and lose the division, be my guest.

I've seen that they are capable of more than I, or anyone else thought, and expect them to succeed.

Is holding a 3 game lead and winning the division really a "lofty" expectation?

Christ, half this board had them penciled into the playoffs a month ago when we were 5-2.

Hammock Parties · 11-30-2010, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

The level of optimism for Cassel after two good weeks is staggeringly more impressive than the level of disdain for 1 1/2 seasons of mediocrity.

Just a dab'll do ya!

ToxSocks · 11-30-2010, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

The level of optimism for Cassel after two good weeks is staggeringly more impressive than the level of disdain for 1 1/2 seasons of mediocrity.

We'll see which is the "real" Cassel.

If Cassel is who I think he is right now, he should have another solid game against the Donks and struggle against the Chargers.

If that happens, how would you label him?

**Ming the Merciless** · 11-30-2010, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

If you want to be happy if they blow a 3 game lead and lose the division, be my guest.

Isn't our lead only one game?