Matt Cassel is trying to be Drew Brees, not Tom Brady

[KCrockaholic]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/footb...t-cassel_N.htm

By Jim Corbett, USA TODAY
Matt Cassel has numbers like Tom Brady, but his coach says his real comparison should be to Drew Brees.

Cassel, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback, has thrown 22 touchdowns and four interceptions this season — just one fewer touchdown and the same number of picks as Brady, his former New England Patriots teammate.

He fired four touchdowns in Kansas City's 42-24 blowout of Seattle on Sunday, posting a season-best 129.3 passer rating. Over the past nine games, Brady and Cassel have the league's highest passer ratings, according to STATS, LLC.

Brady has a 108.2 rating with 18 touchdowns and two interceptions the last nine games, while Cassel has a 107.7 rating with 21 touchdowns and two interceptions.

POWER RANKINGS: Chiefs climbing as they cling to AFC West

Yet the quarterback Cassel is emulating most isn't Brady. It's Brees, the New Orleans Saints signal-caller.

Chiefs coach Todd Haley had a Week 2 epiphany, creating a color-coded, key-read grading system during practices that fast-tracked Cassel's improvement. He now emulates Brees as a quick-drop, blitz-beating passer.

All the grinding Cassel has done honing his footwork and field vision on days off, before and after practice is paying off for the 7-4 Chiefs, who lead the AFC West by a game over San Diego.

He's thriving off play-action provided by a top-ranked rushing attack featuring Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones.

But Cassel's made his biggest strides by taking quicker ones away from center, shedding his habit of staring down the middle the duration of his drop backs.

"He's growing up before our eyes," Haley said of his quarterback. "The easy thing is to look at Matt and say, 'Well, let's try and make him like Tom Brady.'

"But his foot speed and athleticism is so much better. Drawing the parallel to Drew has been a huge key because of Matt's foot speed.

"I've charted Drew. He gets back faster and deeper than anybody in the league."

Brees shredded Seattle's blitz in a 34-19 win the week before Cassel followed suit.

"Drew pushes himself so far away from the line of scrimmage so quick that the pressure just can't get to him," Haley said.

"Matt did some real similar things. The Seahawks brought some pressure. He kept his cool and made real good decisions."

A combined 241 yards rushing by Charles and Jones against Seattle — 173 and a touchdown by Charles — opened the passing lanes that triggered Dwayne Bowe's 13-catch, 170-yard, three-touchdown explosion.

"The sky's the limit for Matt Cassel," says former Patriots receiver and current New England Comcast SportsNet analyst Troy Brown. "He always had the skills. They just had to be sharpened."

If it's a repost, Cassel doesn't suck.

[JD10367]

Originally Posted by beach tribe

All these stupid, you CAN'T do this you DO NOT draft that. When a player has done X he can't do Z bull shit that they spit is just laughable when you take into consideration that teams, and players hit their strides, surprise people, and do the improbable every year, and you still have the same idiots year after year, spouting off like anyone who disagrees with their stupid ass rules of building a team must be adhered to or the guy making millions of dollars to do it, is an idiot.

Wut?

[KCrockaholic]

Originally Posted by beach tribe

All these stupid, you CAN'T do this you DO NOT draft that. When a player has done X he can't do Z bull shit that they spit is just laughable when you take into consideration that teams, and players hit their strides, surprise people, and do the improbable every year, and you still have the same idiots year after year, spouting off like anyone who disagrees with their stupid ass rules of building a team must be adhered to or the guy making millions of dollars to do it, is an idiot.

You can't teach accuracy or arm strength. I've read it here.

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by JD10367

Wut?

It's going to be 20 deg. in RI Saturday night that's Wut.

Dress warm, and don't forget your sock.

[HemiEd]

Well I am not "throwing all in" with Matt Cassel yet, but if he continues to play like he did the last two games, I will be walking around with a big grin on my face.

Not much with the Chiefs would make me happier, than for Cassel to end up being the guy they need.

I have been one of his biggest haters, and was pretty pissed this team drafted in the top 5, 3 consecutive years, without taking a QB.

I was convinced they had blown two years.

Like many others, hoping like hell he would all of a sudden "get it." Hopefully he has.

[KCrockaholic]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

Well I am not "throwing all in" with Matt Cassel yet, but if he continues to play like he did the last two games, I will be walking around with a big grin on my face.

Not much with the Chiefs would make me happier, than for Cassel to end up being the guy they need.

I have been one of his biggest haters, and was pretty pissed this team drafted in the top 5, 3 consecutive years, without taking a QB.

I was convinced they had blown two years.

Like many others, hoping like hell he would all of a sudden "get it." Hopefully he has.

He's always had the leadership ability. I mean that's all I've heard about, is how he's the first guy in the build during offseason and last guy out, and working with his teammates everyday.

He just needed to get the mental aspect of quarterbacking down. If he continues like this, we could have a great player on our hands.

[JD10367]

Originally Posted by beach tribe

It's going to be 20 deg. in RI Saturday night that's Wut.

Dress warm, and don't forget your sock.

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by BigRock

Everyone's quick to credit Weis, and for good reason, but this is the 4th or 5th article that has specifically talked about Haley and the work he's done with Cassel.

Coordinators don't talk with media usually.......Haley does.

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by JD10367

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

Well I am not "throwing all in" with Matt Cassel yet, but if he continues to play like he did the last two games, I will be walking around with a big grin on my face.

Not much with the Chiefs would make me happier, than for Cassel to end up being the guy they need.

I have been one of his biggest haters, and was pretty pissed this team drafted in the top 5, 3 consecutive years, without taking a QB.

I was convinced they had blown two years.

Like many others, hoping like hell he would all of a sudden "get it." Hopefully he has.

let's be honest..like most honing their craft, it's obvious he's been putting in the time and hard work..that's usually how it works. very, very few are born with complete natural abilites in any field, and even then, they need to work at it.

I think to say he never had the skillset, or has a ceiling is preposterous at this point. We saw flashes of this against Denver last year.

dude has the tools, he just needed the time and guidance.

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by kcrockaholic4life

He's always had the leadership ability. I mean that's all I've heard about, is how he's the first guy in the build during offseason and last guy out, and working with his teammates everyday.

He just needed to get the mental aspect of quarterbacking down. If he continues like this, we could have a great player on our hands.

Yeah, wouldn't that be great!?!

I understand all of those skills and attributes, and the fact that he is a tough son of a gun.

But damn, he just didn't show the pocket presence, accuracy and ability to go to the second read, as late as three weeks ago.

I doubted he would ever overcome that, let alone after one live practice game with Denver.

Good thing I am just a fan, he would have been kicked to the curb half way through last season.

[Misplaced_Chiefs_Fan]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

Well I am not "throwing all in" with Matt Cassel yet, but if he continues to play like he did the last two games, I will be walking around with a big grin on my face.

Not much with the Chiefs would make me happier, than for Cassel to end up being the guy they need.

I have been one of his biggest haters, and was pretty pissed this team drafted in the top 5, 3 consecutive years, without taking a QB.

I was convinced they had blown two years.

Like many others, hoping like hell he would all of a sudden "get it." Hopefully he has.

I'm finding it odd when ESPN and CBS are both mentioning Matt Cassel and MVP in the same article and it not being "will never qualify for . . . "

That's a very nice but surreal feeling to it.

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

Yeah, wouldn't that be great!?!

I understand all of those skills and attributes, and the fact that he is a tough son of a gun.

But damn, he just didn't show the pocket presence, accuracy and ability to go to the second read, as late as three weeks ago.

I doubted he would ever overcome that, let alone after one live practice game with Denver.

Good thing I am just a fan, he would have been kicked to the curb half way through last season.

I know right. That's what I try to get at. None of us can see the future, it's impossible to really know what a player is truly capable of, but some are arrogant enough to act as if they can do just that.
What we can see is that the guy has a Manning like work ethic, and it's starting to turn into results. Cassel knows this offense in, and out. We can't just credit Weis either, Cassel has been waiting for the defense to set, and calling damn near half the plays on the field.
Damn, I hope this isn't a mirage,

[philfree]

Originally Posted by stevieray

let's be honest..like most honing their craft, it's obvious he's been putting in the time and hard work..that's usually how it works. very, very few are born with complete natural abilites in any field, and even then, they need to work at it.

I think to say he never had the skillset, or has a ceiling is preposterous at this point. We saw flashes of this against Denver last year.

dude has the tools, he just needed the time and guidance.

We saw flashes when he played in NE too. It seems that he is in the window of the number starts where QBs start to excel or stay the same. He's starting to excel it appears.


PhilFree

[Hydrae]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

Yeah, wouldn't that be great!?!

I understand all of those skills and attributes, and the fact that he is a tough son of a gun.

But damn, he just didn't show the pocket presence, accuracy and ability to go to the second read, as late as three weeks ago.

I doubted he would ever overcome that, let alone after one live practice game with Denver.

Good thing I am just a fan, he would have been kicked to the curb half way through last season.

As few a two weeks ago I was telling my mom (a Pats fan who loves Cassell) that it is his actions in the pocket that worry me. The slightest pressure and he would get happy feet and thus not throw a very good ball.

This last game against Seattle (big thanks for Grandlama for allowing out of towners like me to see the games!!!!), he looked much better. Almost comfortable in the pocket, stepping up in front of the rush to complete passes, and finally looking like an NFL QB.

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by MoreLemonPledge

He just needs a face birthmark and the transformation will be complete.

And to get shorter.