Cassel Succeeds Despite Chiefs

[Hammock Parties]

http://kan.scout.com/2/890791.html

Now you know why Scott Pioli decided Matt Cassel was worth a second-round draft choice and $63 million of Hunt money. He can make the best out of a horrible situation and look pretty calm doing it, as if it was business as usual. You saw it Friday night against the Minnesota Vikings.

Honestly, I hate to impugn the 10 other Chiefs who lined up with Cassel for a half. Football is the ultimate team game. But there’s no question about it – Cassel was the driving force. He was the engine that made the offense go, that directed two scoring drives.

The rest of his teammates? They tried to throw a monkey wrench into the machine more often than not.

On the first play from scrimmage, tight end Sean Ryan horribly blew a block on Minnesota’s Ray Edwards while Cassel carried out a play fake. But the Chiefs got a first down because Cassel had both the presence of mind to avoid Edwards and the burst to outrun Chad Greenway to the sticks.

One snap later, Mike Goff let Kevin Williams blow right past him and straight into his quarterback’s face. Not only did Cassel dodge Williams, he ducked under a Fred Evans tackle attempt and managed to ignore Ben Leber sprinting at him, hitting tight end Jake O’Connell for a first down. Oh, why was O’Connell open? Because Leber left coverage to try and stop the scrambling quarterback.

At this point, the Chiefs were past midfield with a promising drive going. After a dive play was stuffed and Jamaal Charles fumbled, any hope of a score was completely snuffed out, of course. Cassel can't do everything.

On the Chiefs’ next drive, Cassel fired a pass down the field towards Dwayne Bowe. It was fairly obvious the ball was thrown right where it needed to be – had it been thrown further to the outside, it was an easy interception for Antoine Winfield. But Bowe slowed his route coming out of the break and the ball sailed through the window, in and out of the hands of a safety backing up the play. Snaps like that may be why Bowe still hasn’t started a game this season.

But that’s OK – on the next play, Cassel was forced to run again, this time because of Edwards (Barry Richardson’s man). The progression of the play was blown, but as he ran, Cassel not only kept his eyes downfield, he sucked up the coverage and hit Bowe in stride for another first down.

There was some issue on this play as to whether or not Cassel was over the line of scrimmage. Perhaps he was. But what’s good enough for John Elway is good enough for another guy wearing #7. A few plays later, after Cassel ran around and completed another pass, the Chiefs got on the board with a field goal.

Later, the Chiefs had a third-and-15 after Devard Darling dropped a pass and Barry Richardson was flagged for a false start (two more monkey wrenches). The Vikings pushed the pocket right into Cassel’s face, but he acted as if he were standing alone in the middle of the Metrodome and hit Charles in stride for a first down. Of course the drive was doomed by a penalty and two sacks on the next series of downs. Cassel can’t do everything.

Alright, I’ll guess I’ll give credit to Larry Johnson for an 18-yard burst and Quinten Lawrence for a 14-yard end around. It’s amazing what happens when the Chiefs run the ball a little – Cassel leads a touchdown drive.

We probably shouldn’t be too hard on the Chiefs’ offensive line and running backs. After all, it was just a week ago that the Vikings got to Peyton Manning and the Colts in the worst way. Manning was sacked three times in five dropbacks. The Colts didn’t crack the end zone and totaled just 142 yards of offense for the entire game.

What the Chiefs did – or rather, what Cassel did, mostly - looks impressive by comparison. Think about this – what happens if Damon Huard, Brodie Croyle or Tyler Thigpen are under center? Most likely, Huard curls up into a little ball as Minnesota’s pass rush crushes him like a tsunami and Croyle leaves the game after something else breaks. Thigpen, while desperately looking for Tony Gonzalez, would likely escape only to chuck the ball into the ground, at a fan or a defensive back.

I could go on, talk about how Cassel was constantly turning his head, going through his progressions like a robot and throwing with consistent accuracy, but you get the idea. It’s nothing new, however. It’s all on tape, 16 games of it, from a year ago in New England. It’s the same player, doing the same things, leading his team down the field and into the end zone.

Oh, and speaking of New England, there was one other monkey wrench in the machine Friday night – the Chiefs placed Randy Moss and Wes Welker on their inactive list. Cassel looked totally helpless without them, didn’t he?


Richardson’s Opportunity

I could probably write an entire column about the disappointing play of right tackle Barry Richardson, but a blurb will do for now. Rarely, if ever, do you actually see an attached blurb in this space, but this is a special situation.

In River Falls this past week, Richardson received extensive snaps with the first-team offensive line. The Chiefs, like most of us, apparently aren’t huge Damion McIntosh fans, and knowing the youth, size and talent Richardson brings to the table, decided to give him an opportunity by starting him against the Vikings.

I’m no offensive line coach, but it’s doubtful Richardson impressed his too much Friday night. The Chiefs were counting on him to be the point man as they ran to the strong side in the first half, but all you really have to do is look at the box score – apart from one burst from Larry Johnson, KC’s running game ran into a brick wall and fell down, dazed.

When the Chiefs ran a stretch play on Johnson’s first carry, Richardson couldn’t seal Ray Edwards to the inside. Guess who dumped LJ for a two-yard loss? Edwards. Later, NFL Network’s Mike Mayock commented on how Richardson’s inability to pin Edwards to the inside made Johnson cut a run back up inside, into pursuit.

In pass protection, it was pretty clear Richardson struggled with Edwards’ speed. Cassel constantly had to step up in the pocket to avoid pressure to his right. But Edwards, who is only 268 pounds, even managed to embarrass Richardson with pure brute strength.

On the play in question, the Chiefs were in third and long, with an empty backfield. After setting up well initially, Richardson went flying and landed on his side after one well-timed shove from Edwards. Fortunately for Richardson, his quarterback was throwing the ball as this happened.

There were other things to dislike – Richardson had a false start, and looked a little slow getting off the ball on certain snaps. Immediately after Richardson was replaced by McIntosh in the second quarter, Johnson ripped off an 18-yard gain and the Chiefs scored a touchdown a few plays later.

Gee, I wonder why?

What happens if Richardson has to block Shawne Merriman? Yikes.

[Quiet Storm]

Give it some time

[DaneMcCloud]

Justifying his $63 million dollar contract AND a second round draft choice after a preseason game is ****ing stupid.

At some point in time, his play and the Chiefs success may prove that trading for and signing him was in the best interest of the Chiefs organization. But to make that call after two ****ing preseason games?

WTF?

[Quiet Storm]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Justifying his $63 million dollar contract AND a second round draft choice after a preseason game is ****ing stupid.

At some point in time, his play and the Chiefs success may prove that trading for and signing him was in the best interest of the Chiefs organization. But to make that call after two ****ing preseason games?

WTF?

I was fooling about

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Quiet Storm

I was fooling about

I was referring to Claythan's article

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Justifying his $63 million dollar contract AND a second round draft choice after a preseason game is ****ing stupid.

At some point in time, his play and the Chiefs success may prove that trading for and signing him was in the best interest of the Chiefs organization. But to make that call after two ****ing preseason games?

WTF?

It's a good thing we traded him with this o-line. Your boy Sanchez woulda gotten hurt.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by talastan

As far as pass protection goes, I think Richardson was not bad, but he'll defintely need to get more aggressive during run blocking. Otherwise we need someone mean to come in there and mow over some defenses.

Maybe we could fire up the DeLorean and draft Loadholt...

And, holy shit, is Percy Harvin fast.

[Pioli Zombie]

Originally Posted by milkman

I just finished rewatching the first half of this game, rewinding and replaying every snap, sometimes 7 or 8 times, and I'm here to tell you, Claythan, you don't have a ****ing clue.

Barry Richardson missed a couple of blocks in the run game, ut overal did a pretty good job.

In pass protect, he did his job.
He stayed between his man and Cassel, allowing Cassel to step up and make plays.

Overall, I think his performance rated a continued look at him into practice and the next game.

Wtf??? You watched every play of the first half of a preseason game, sometimes 7 or 8 times??????

Jason, you too? And you aren't on the Kansas City Chiefs coaching staff?

Ok, you people need a ****ing life.
Posted via Mobile Device

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by billay

It's a good thing we traded him with this o-line. Your boy Sanchez woulda gotten hurt.

That's irrelevant at this point because the Chiefs traded for Cassel.

I didn't state that Cassel was a bad QB or has performed poorly.

But to call his $63 million contract and trade an unquantified success after two preseason games is ****ing ridiculous.

What if he's injured next week behind this awful offensive line and never is the same? What if he's injured and doesn't play well again?

There are just far too many variable to make that kind of a statement at this point.

[BarrySPAMAID]

Originally Posted by milkman

I just finished rewatching the first half of this game, rewinding and replaying every snap, sometimes 7 or 8 times, and I'm here to tell you, Claythan, you don't have a ****ing clue.

Barry Richardson missed a couple of blocks in the run game, ut overal did a pretty good job.

In pass protect, he did his job.
He stayed between his man and Cassel, allowing Cassel to step up and make plays.

Overall, I think his performance rated a continued look at him into practice and the next game.

MILKMAN!!! I am proud to announce that I agree with you 100% on this post. Evidence of that can be found in episode 17 of the blog. GOOD STUFF man.

Now even the peeps over at WPI are trying to sell Doom and Gloom as well it seems at times. Monkey see, Monkey do. Hilarious!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV_PDb9CazA

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by milkman

The fact is, in rewatching the first half and replaying every snap, over and over again, I came to a couple of inevitable conclusions.

Mike Goff sucks ass, and LJ makes this O-Line look worse than it is because he has no vision, no patience, no power and no burst.

The one good run he made, he had a nice hole, created by a Richardson block, and he simply ran to the spot where the play was designed to run.

He's a by the book type-back with little to no improvisation skills.

Originally Posted by billay

It's a good thing we traded him with this o-line. Your boy Sanchez woulda gotten hurt.

Is it Monday night yet?

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Pioli Zombie

Wtf??? You watched every play of the first half of a preseason game, sometimes 7 or 8 times??????

Jason, you too? And you aren't on the Kansas City Chiefs coaching staff?

Ok, you people need a ****ing life.
Posted via Mobile Device

I'm sorry, where are we again? Oh yeah; a hardcore football board. It doesn't matter if this team wins 20 Championships, there will always be analysis and the picking apart of players and coaches because, well, we're football fans and that's what we do.

No go post me a mobile slab o' ribs; I'm hungry.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Pioli Zombie

Wtf??? You watched every play of the first half of a preseason game, sometimes 7 or 8 times??????

Jason, you too? And you aren't on the Kansas City Chiefs coaching staff?

Ok, you people need a ****ing life.
Posted via Mobile Device

I'm a ****ing milkman.

On my days off I "sleep in" till 4:30AM.

What the hell else am I going to do at 4:30AM on a Saturday morning.

And speaking of getting a life, what the hell are you doing on a football discussion board on Saturday?

Why the hell are you not out there enjoying life, dumbass?

[BDB]

Cassel is horrible. Chiefs are going to be a easy out again this year. Thank god they are in the AFC West. shitiest franchise in the league and a good punching bag for the Broncos.

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

That's irrelevant at this point because the Chiefs traded for Cassel.

I didn't state that Cassel was a bad QB or has performed poorly.

But to call his $63 million contract and trade an unquantified success after two preseason games is ****ing ridiculous.

What if he's injured next week behind this awful offensive line and never is the same? What if he's injured and doesn't play well again?

There are just far too many variable to make that kind of a statement at this point.

I agree. You don't live around KC you should hear the bullshit the media was spewing. They were making it sound like there was a QB controversy and Cassel sucked. I undertsand why alot of fans are really excited even if it was just a pre-season game.

[Halfcan]

nice one