Teicher: Chiefs plan to have competition for quarterback Cassel

[Tribal Warfare]

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

[Messier]

Those with the idea (Nick Wright included) that Pioli doesn't want Orton here because he knows he could beat out Cassel, and it's more important to Pioli to start Cassel than win, are fools.

[tredadda]

Originally Posted by BoneKrusher

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

I agree, but that might be what it takes for him to finally get rid of Cassel. I want to replace him so bad that I would do whatever it took to trade up for Luck or RGIII, but if Pioli can't or won't do it and chooses to bring in crappy competition, then we will have to fail with Cassel. He doesn't need to bring in competition, he needs to bring in a QB who is clearly superior. That way we might actually win playoff games instead of being content actually making it.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by tredadda

I agree, but that might be what it takes for him to finally get rid of Cassel. I want to replace him so bad that I would do whatever it took to trade up for Luck or RGIII, but if Pioli can't or won't do it and chooses to bring in crappy competition, then we will have to fail with Cassel. He doesn't need to bring in competition, he needs to bring in a QB who is clearly superior. That way we might actually win playoff games instead of being content actually making it.

The problem is, Orton, at least in my eyes, is clearly superior, and he's nothing more than a scrub.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by tredadda

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.

I for one, just cant get into that 'lose to win' mentality.

The qbotf can be found by various means, without being a bad joke in the NFL, a joke nobody wants to play for.

No, Orton over Cassel eight days a week... it was CRYSTAL CLEAR from his first full game, just how much better the O moved, it was truly shocking to watch imo. Having only a bare minimum understanding of the playbook & players, he moved the team twice as well as Cassel. Thats when everyone should've known just how bad Cassel is.

Sucking to win is the most terrible kind of logic ever.

[tredadda]

Originally Posted by milkman

The problem is, Orton, at least in my eyes, is clearly superior, and he's nothing more than a scrub.

I will have to disagree with you on that one. Yes Orton is superior, but not clearly. To me clearly superior is Brees, Brady, Big Ben, Rodgers etc..... Those guys win, QBs like Orton put people in the seats with great "fantasy" numbers. He much like Cassel makes poor decisions and struggles to put the ball in the end zone. Let's not forget that Chicago gave up two 1sts AND Orton for Cutler. Him and two 1sts was considered a fair trade for Cutler. He then put up great numbers one year with Denver. He then got replaced by Tebow and when he was cut, only like three teams inquired about him. Teams that could have used a QB desperately (like Indy, Wash, Cleveland, Sea etc....) did not even try to get him. This just shows his value, which is sadly still higher than Cassel's. He is not the answer, nor is Cassel. At least with Cassel we have a better chance of sucking enough to actually address the QB situation. With Orton, I have my doubts.

[tredadda]

Originally Posted by scott free

I for one, just cant get into that 'lose to win' mentality.

The qbotf can be found by various means, without being a bad joke in the NFL, a joke nobody wants to play for.

No, Orton over Cassel eight days a week... it was CRYSTAL CLEAR from his first full game, just how much better the O moved, it was truly shocking to watch imo. Having only a bare minimum understanding of the playbook & players, he moved the team twice as well as Cassel. Thats when everyone should've known just how bad Cassel is.

Sucking to win is the most terrible kind of logic ever.

And he punched it in the end zone about as frequently as Cassel. TD's, not yards wins games in the NFL. There is a reason that very few teams went after him when Denver cut him. There is a reason that he is on team 3 and was beat out by Tebow. Just because he is better than Cassel does not mean he is either

A. Good
B. Good enough to win a SB with

[milkman]

Originally Posted by tredadda

I will have to disagree with you on that one. Yes Orton is superior, but not clearly. To me clearly superior is Brees, Brady, Big Ben, Rodgers etc..... Those guys win, QBs like Orton put people in the seats with great "fantasy" numbers. He much like Cassel makes poor decisions and struggles to put the ball in the end zone. Let's not forget that Chicago gave up two 1sts AND Orton for Cutler. Him and two 1sts was considered a fair trade for Cutler. He then put up great numbers one year with Denver. He then got replaced by Tebow and when he was cut, only like three teams inquired about him. Teams that could have used a QB desperately (like Indy, Wash, Cleveland, Sea etc....) did not even try to get him. This just shows his value, which is sadly still higher than Cassel's. He is not the answer, nor is Cassel. At least with Cassel we have a better chance of sucking enough to actually address the QB situation. With Orton, I have my doubts.

Overall, I agree with everything you say here, but I can't agree that Orton is not clearly superior.

Obviously, you need to score points, and Orton does struggle mightily in the red zone, but he also moves the chains, something that the Chiefs with Cassel couldn't do.

How many times has this team gone deep into the second qrtr with Cassel at the helm looking for it's first first down.

[O.city]

While I want the Chiefs to have a Rodgers or Brees or Brady, there are only so many guys like that in the league. Everyone doesn't have one.

I think, when healthy and after this draft, the Chiefs have the skill guys basically set on both sides save for qb.

Just gotta find that guy somewhere.

[tredadda]

Originally Posted by O.city

While I want the Chiefs to have a Rodgers or Brees or Brady, there are only so many guys like that in the league. Everyone doesn't have one.

I think, when healthy and after this draft, the Chiefs have the skill guys basically set on both sides save for qb.

Just gotta find that guy somewhere.

Draft. Every other weakness can be addressed in FA but that one. Ultimately every one of those guys was drafted. Until we are serious about drafting one, we are just spinning our wheels and wasting the talent on this team.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by tredadda

Draft. Every other weakness can be addressed in FA but that one.

I would love to draft a quarterback but there has to be a guy there to draft.

[tredadda]

Originally Posted by O.city

I would love to draft a quarterback but there has to be a guy there to draft.

Outside of Brees, how many franchise QBs are available in FA? They almost NEVER hit the market. Had Brees not been a late bloomer, SD would never have let him go. He only hit the market because SD all but gave up on him and drafted Rivers to replace him.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by tredadda

Outside of Brees, how many franchise QBs are available in FA? They almost NEVER hit the market. Had Brees not been a late bloomer, SD would never have let him go. He only hit the market because SD all but gave up on him and drafted Rivers to replace him.

And they were concerned that his arm strength would be negatively affected by the shoulder injury he sustained late in the season.

[tredadda]

Originally Posted by milkman

And they were concerned that his arm strength would be negatively affected by the shoulder injury he sustained late in the season.

Yes, but they had already drafted Rivers well before the injury. He, not Brees was the heir apparent. The shoulder injury made letting him go easier, but his days in SD were numbered the day Rivers was drafted.

[O.city]

I think they drafted Rivers after Brees injury? Or atleast I thought, I coudl be wrong though.

[O.city]

I'm intrigued by Osweiler. I like his size and arm strength alot.