Chiefs Teicher: Chiefs plan to have competition for quarterback Cassel - Page 8

**Tribal Warfare** · 02-25-2012, 01:06 AM

Chiefs plan to have competition for quarterback Cassel
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

Of the players who served as a backup quarterback for the Chiefs the last three seasons, none could be considered a serious candidate to take Matt Cassel’s starting job.

General manager Scott Pioli said he couldn’t promise the Chiefs would find a more significant challenge for Cassel this year. But he indicated that if the Chiefs failed, it wouldn’t be for a lack of trying.

Just as it wasn’t, Pioli said, the last three seasons.

“The answer is yes, there’s going to be competition at quarterback,” Pioli said Thursday at the NFL scouting combine. “But that doesn’t make it different from any other year. That’s not different from the past.

“I don’t think we haven’t tried (to bring in competition for Cassel). Part of it was circumstances. When we traded for Matt, he was coming to a program that had two starting quarterbacks here already. It’s easy to sit here now and say, ‘You can’t say player X wasn’t competition.’ That’s not fair. Look at it in the snapshot of that place and time. It certainly appeared there was going to be competition.”

Tyler Thigpen and Brodie Croyle were the Chiefs’ quarterbacks when they traded for Cassel three years ago. Neither has been a productive player since leaving the Chiefs.

Matt Gutierrez, Tyler Palko, Ricky Stanzi and Kyle Orton have been quarterbacks who have come, and in some cases gone, since.

Stanzi, who was drafted last year, is the only Chiefs quarterback other than Cassel under contract for next season. Orton played in four games for the Chiefs last season after Cassel injured his hand and was lost for the year.

“Last year, free-agency never started (until training camp),” Pioli said. “We had Matt on the roster. We had Tyler on the roster. We had Ricky, who we drafted. We didn’t draft someone high who was perceived as competition, but I’ll say this: I think Ricky is competition. Let’s not get lost in where a guy was drafted as to whether or not he’s a player. This league has shown time and time again at many positions, including this particular position, that where a player is drafted doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with how good he is or how good he becomes.

“You just don’t wave a wand and magically say, ‘There’s competition.’ We drafted a quarterback last year who I truly believe has good ability and has the potential to start in this league. I really do believe that.”

With only Cassel and Stanzi signed for 2012, the Chiefs will add at least one quarterback and probably two before training camp starts in July. Veteran possibilities include Peyton Manning, if he’s released by Indianapolis.

Two other free-agent possibilities are Chad Henne, who played for Miami last year with new Chiefs offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, and Jason Campbell, who played two seasons for Washington under Jim Zorn, now the Chiefs’ quarterbacks coach.

“You don’t know what’s going to happen in free-agency and you don’t know what you’re going to be able to get done,” Pioli said. “Quarterback seems to be one of those positions where there’s pretty good ones, veteran guys who are cut and have outpriced their role.

“So you don’t know about quarterbacks (in free-agency). You can’t create a person out of nothing. Availability and circumstances are (key factors in acquiring a quarterback). You can only work with the pool of players you can work with even though you might have certain intentions.”

The draft is another option for the Chiefs to add a quarterback.

“My hope and strong desire is to draft a quarterback every single year,” Pioli said. “There’s great value in that. Last year I didn’t know if we were going to draft (a quarterback) in the first, second, third, fourth, fifth round, but we ended up drafting a guy who a number of us really like and really think can be a starter in the National Football League.”

One of Pioli’s first moves after joining the Chiefs three years ago was to trade for Cassel, who was coming off a strong season as a starter for New England. Cassel had a big season for the Chiefs in 2010, when he made the Pro Bowl.

Otherwise, he has struggled to fulfill Pioli’s vision for him. Last year, the Chiefs struggled at the start after losing running back Jamaal Charles and tight end Tony Moeaki for the season with injuries.

Cassel’s season ended after nine games because of the broken hand.

“In 2010, Matt was certainly on his way to becoming that player, on his way to becoming a good NFL quarterback,” Pioli said. “He was winning games and he was producing and he was a reason good things were happening.

“This past year was a tough set of circumstances to measure and evaluate his progress. I don’t ever want to make excuses for a team or a player, but playing without one of the best young running backs in the National Football League and playing without one of the

milkman · 02-25-2012, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tredadda

Did you say Orton outplayed Cassel in this offense? Maybe he moved it better, but from a TD standpoint both were equally inept. We were 2-1 with Orton because of the defense, not him.

You can't win with defense if your defense is worn out.

O.city · 02-25-2012, 07:54 PM

Orton with the same wr's and rb's, threw for more yards in two games than Cassel did in 4.

He didn't get us in the endzone like he should have, but he also had two dropped passes that would have been touchdowns.

Hammock Parties · 02-25-2012, 07:54 PM

Orton was with the team for what, a month?

The fact the offense moved better with him when he had barely played in it is an indictment of Cassel.

Given a full offseason there is no doubt in my mind we'd have a more productive offense if he was the starter.

But of course, that will never happen.

el borracho · 02-25-2012, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustShack

Do tell. Who have all these better options than Cassel been? Don't point to having a better backup now, point to who all these QB's are that we missed better than Cassel.

The first time I recall being able to upgrade was when Orton hit the waiver wire, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Pioli pulled the trigger there.

Mallet.

qabbaan · 02-25-2012, 07:56 PM

Settling for Orton puts us no closer to the Super Bowl than continuing with Cassel.

tredadda · 02-25-2012, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

Orton with the same wr's and rb's, threw for more yards in two games than Cassel did in 4.

He didn't get us in the endzone like he should have, but he also had two dropped passes that would have been touchdowns.

Damn, I wish this were fantasy football where you were awarded points for passing yards. Sadly though you need to put it into the end zone for it to matter. All QBs have had TDs dropped. Not saying Cassel was better, but Orton was by no means all world. The best argument for him is how he is better than Cassel. Not exactly a shining endorsement.

BoneKrusher · 02-25-2012, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qabbaan

Settling for Orton puts us no closer to the Super Bowl than continuing with Cassel.

it's like a family trip, at least with Orton the ride will be a little more enjoyable.

milkman · 02-25-2012, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tredadda

Damn, I wish this were fantasy football where you were awarded points for passing yards. Sadly though you need to put it into the end zone for it to matter. All QBs have had TDs dropped. Not saying Cassel was better, but Orton was by no means all world. The best argument for him is how he is better than Cassel. Not exactly a shining endorsement.

I really think the question is this.

Would you rather go into the season with Matt Cassel as potentially your entrenched starter that it looks like Pioli is tied to, or with Kyle Orton as a guy that would likely be a bridge to your eventual QBoTF?

BoneKrusher · 02-25-2012, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkman

I really think the question is this.

Would you rather go into the season with Matt Cassel as potentially your entrenched starter that it looks like Pioli is tied to, or with Kyle Orton as a guy that would likely be a bridge to your eventual QBoTF?

i'd rather have the Bridge.

milkman · 02-25-2012, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoneKrusher

i'd rather have the Bridge.

Let me clarify this so there is no confusion or misunderstanding here.

This is only my opinion, an opinion I firmly believe, but I grant you that I may be worng.

My belief is that as long as Matt Cassel is the starter, he will be entrenched there, and Scott Pioli will only bring other, lesser scrubs, and late round picks to compete.

But if one of those other lesser scrubs (or more accurately, one that he believes to be lesser), beats out Cassel for the starting position, then Pioli will be forced to re-evaluate the QB position, and might actually aggressively persue a QBoTF.

I believe that Orton is that lesser scrub (in Pioli's eyes) that can beat out Cassel.

BoneKrusher · 02-25-2012, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkman

I believe that Orton is that lesser scrub (in Pioli's eyes) that can beat out Cassel.

and that's why he wont be resigned in KC

tredadda · 02-25-2012, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkman

I really think the question is this.

Would you rather go into the season with Matt Cassel as potentially your entrenched starter that it looks like Pioli is tied to, or with Kyle Orton as a guy that would likely be a bridge to your eventual QBoTF?

Good question. Until Cassel proves he is garbage in the mind of Pioli, I would rather go with him. I know this sounds weird, but Orton will give us more wins, but wont take us to the SB. He promises us 9-7, or 10-6 seasons. We will continue to spin our wheels like we have for ever. We need to fail with Cassel in order for him to ever give up on him. Until then, it is nothing but excuses and reminiscing over the "Pro Bowl season of 2010". At least with us sucking with Cassel, we stand a better chance of drafting high enough for our franchise QB, while with Orton that is doubtful. But at least with Orton we will win more and thusly put butts in the seats which seems to be the ultimate goal of this franchise.

whoman69 · 02-25-2012, 08:36 PM

Orton's fail has never been that he can't move the ball. Its that once he does get the ball in the red zone, he can't get TDs. The game everyone points to is the Oakland game where Bowe dropped a game winning TD. On the next play he threw the ball right down the middle where we didn't even have someone while Baldwin wasn't even covered to the left side.

Orton is better than Cassel, but I don't even think you can call him a bridge until he does better getting TDs.

Hammock Parties · 02-25-2012, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whoman69

Orton's fail has never been that he can't move the ball. Its that once he does get the ball in the red zone, he can't get TDs. The game everyone points to is the Oakland game where Bowe dropped a game winning TD. On the next play he threw the ball right down the middle where we didn't even have someone while Baldwin wasn't even covered to the left side.

Orton is better than Cassel, but I don't even think you can call him a bridge until he does better getting TDs.

Yes, and at the same time, he's never played with a RB like Charles, or a defense like ours (other than his rookie year).

BoneKrusher · 02-25-2012, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tredadda

Good question. Until Cassel proves he is garbage in the mind of Pioli, I would rather go with him.

makes me sick to think of him at QB for another game not to mention an entire season.

02-25-2012, 01:06 AM
Tribal Warfare The Boom Boom Room Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $632813	Teicher: Chiefs plan to have competition for quarterback Cassel Chiefs plan to have competition for quarterback Cassel By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star Of the players who served as a backup quarterback for the Chiefs the last three seasons, none could be considered a serious candidate to take Matt Cassel’s starting job. General manager Scott Pioli said he couldn’t promise the Chiefs would find a more significant challenge for Cassel this year. But he indicated that if the Chiefs failed, it wouldn’t be for a lack of trying. Just as it wasn’t, Pioli said, the last three seasons. “The answer is yes, there’s going to be competition at quarterback,” Pioli said Thursday at the NFL scouting combine. “But that doesn’t make it different from any other year. That’s not different from the past. “I don’t think we haven’t tried (to bring in competition for Cassel). Part of it was circumstances. When we traded for Matt, he was coming to a program that had two starting quarterbacks here already. It’s easy to sit here now and say, ‘You can’t say player X wasn’t competition.’ That’s not fair. Look at it in the snapshot of that place and time. It certainly appeared there was going to be competition.” Tyler Thigpen and Brodie Croyle were the Chiefs’ quarterbacks when they traded for Cassel three years ago. Neither has been a productive player since leaving the Chiefs. Matt Gutierrez, Tyler Palko, Ricky Stanzi and Kyle Orton have been quarterbacks who have come, and in some cases gone, since. Stanzi, who was drafted last year, is the only Chiefs quarterback other than Cassel under contract for next season. Orton played in four games for the Chiefs last season after Cassel injured his hand and was lost for the year. “Last year, free-agency never started (until training camp),” Pioli said. “We had Matt on the roster. We had Tyler on the roster. We had Ricky, who we drafted. We didn’t draft someone high who was perceived as competition, but I’ll say this: I think Ricky is competition. Let’s not get lost in where a guy was drafted as to whether or not he’s a player. This league has shown time and time again at many positions, including this particular position, that where a player is drafted doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with how good he is or how good he becomes. “You just don’t wave a wand and magically say, ‘There’s competition.’ We drafted a quarterback last year who I truly believe has good ability and has the potential to start in this league. I really do believe that.” With only Cassel and Stanzi signed for 2012, the Chiefs will add at least one quarterback and probably two before training camp starts in July. Veteran possibilities include Peyton Manning, if he’s released by Indianapolis. Two other free-agent possibilities are Chad Henne, who played for Miami last year with new Chiefs offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, and Jason Campbell, who played two seasons for Washington under Jim Zorn, now the Chiefs’ quarterbacks coach. “You don’t know what’s going to happen in free-agency and you don’t know what you’re going to be able to get done,” Pioli said. “Quarterback seems to be one of those positions where there’s pretty good ones, veteran guys who are cut and have outpriced their role. “So you don’t know about quarterbacks (in free-agency). You can’t create a person out of nothing. Availability and circumstances are (key factors in acquiring a quarterback). You can only work with the pool of players you can work with even though you might have certain intentions.” The draft is another option for the Chiefs to add a quarterback. “My hope and strong desire is to draft a quarterback every single year,” Pioli said. “There’s great value in that. Last year I didn’t know if we were going to draft (a quarterback) in the first, second, third, fourth, fifth round, but we ended up drafting a guy who a number of us really like and really think can be a starter in the National Football League.” One of Pioli’s first moves after joining the Chiefs three years ago was to trade for Cassel, who was coming off a strong season as a starter for New England. Cassel had a big season for the Chiefs in 2010, when he made the Pro Bowl. Otherwise, he has struggled to fulfill Pioli’s vision for him. Last year, the Chiefs struggled at the start after losing running back Jamaal Charles and tight end Tony Moeaki for the season with injuries. Cassel’s season ended after nine games because of the broken hand. “In 2010, Matt was certainly on his way to becoming that player, on his way to becoming a good NFL quarterback,” Pioli said. “He was winning games and he was producing and he was a reason good things were happening. “This past year was a tough set of circumstances to measure and evaluate his progress. I don’t ever want to make excuses for a team or a player, but playing without one of the best young running backs in the National Football League and playing without one of the
Posts: 42,156

02-25-2012, 07:54 PM	#107
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2504064	Orton with the same wr's and rb's, threw for more yards in two games than Cassel did in 4. He didn't get us in the endzone like he should have, but he also had two dropped passes that would have been touchdowns.
Posts: 81,434

02-25-2012, 07:54 PM	#108
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4430478	Orton was with the team for what, a month? The fact the offense moved better with him when he had barely played in it is an indictment of Cassel. Given a full offseason there is no doubt in my mind we'd have a more productive offense if he was the starter. But of course, that will never happen. __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 278,709

02-25-2012, 07:56 PM	#110
qabbaan Veteran Join Date: Jan 2012 Casino cash: $10004900	Settling for Orton puts us no closer to the Super Bowl than continuing with Cassel.
Posts: 2,973