Chiefs Babb: Injured Chiefs coordinator Weis’ priority is building up Cassel

**Tribal Warfare** · 08-10-2010, 12:55 AM

Injured Chiefs coordinator Weis’ priority is building up Cassel
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star

ST. JOSEPH | Charlie Weis eased himself off a golf cart and hobbled toward a group of reporters under a tent. He took it easy, leaning on a cane and keeping the weight off his injured left knee, bandaged and braced as it was.

“I’m on the injured reserve,” Weis said with a smile.

The knee went out the day before training camp began, nearly two weeks ago. He’d had problems for a while, he said, and then “a piece of it broke off” on that Wednesday. Weis said he needs surgery, but it’ll have to wait until after the season. Relief isn’t common for NFL coaches, particularly a coordinator for a team with further to go than most.

“I take care of myself,” Weis said of his health, his patience eroding. “Let’s talk about football.”

And so he did. For the first time since February, Weis addressed reporters and outlined some of his plans as the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator. He said that he likes what he sees and that he has fit well with head coach Todd Haley and the rest of the staff. He added that he especially likes the players he’s in charge of.

“That’s a good thing,” Weis said, “because that’s who we have.”

For better or worse, the Chiefs have Matt Cassel at quarterback. And Cassel was Weis’ top priority when Weis, a former New England coordinator and Notre Dame head coach, was hired in January. Weis said he pored over Cassel’s snaps from last season, identifying flaws and trying to think of ways to eliminate weaknesses. Then Weis looked at each snap from 2008, when Cassel filled in for the Patriots when Tom Brady suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Weis studied Cassel’s movements, tendencies and mechanics. Then he went about finding ways to make Cassel better.

“The first thing I wanted to do was help fix the quarterback,” Weis said. “It wasn’t like he wasn’t getting coached before. But I had to know what the problems were. … I wanted to know where we were with this kid.

“Usually if the quarterback plays better, the team plays better.”

So that’s where Weis started. He made Cassel his project, and anyone who watched the Chiefs last season knows that, at times, Cassel was a quarterback in need of a teacher.

Cassel has said he has grown from Weis’ attention, and having such an attentive and qualified mentor is just one of the ways the Chiefs have removed obstacles from Cassel’s path.

Haley has seen enough that, in a rare break from character Monday and his standard declaration that all positions are open competitions, revealed the worst-kept secret in camp: Cassel is the Chiefs’ starting quarterback.

“We’re seeing progress,” Haley said. “But I think Matt has continued to have to earn that, through last year, through the offseason.

“Without getting into specifics, I feel good about the direction that particular position is going.”

Haley wasn’t willing to spill everything Monday, holding back on predicting how much Cassel will play in Friday’s preseason opener at Atlanta. Haley said he’ll make that decision later this week, and it’s a good bet that Weis will be involved in the conversation that determines it.

Weis said his past relationships with Haley and general manager Scott Pioli, whom Weis worked with in New England, were instrumental in leading him to Kansas City. He said there were hurdles to cross, such as perception that he and Haley might clash considering their differences in age and experience. Weis said there have been no problems; that the old friends and colleagues simply understand each other and are committed to installing an effective offense.

The knee might be a bother, but he said things have been at ease otherwise in Kansas City — at least in these first months. Perhaps now Weis can impart some of that comfort to his quarterback.

“They’re all getting better,” Weis said. “I’m always mad at everyone all the time anyway, so that doesn’t really measure the difference. They’ve all shown significant improvements since I got here. Not necessarily just because of me, but they’ve all got a very good work ethic. I think they get it. I think they’ve all shown significant improvements.”

**RealSNR** · 08-10-2010, 02:01 AM

TO THE KNEE REPLACEMENT!

Ebolapox · 08-10-2010, 10:22 AM

I hope to christ weis can mold cassel into something more than he currently is.

**Bob Dole** · 08-10-2010, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SNR

TO THE KNEE REPLACEMENT!

TO THE BUFFET!

**RealSNR** · 08-10-2010, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H5N1

I hope to christ weis can mold cassel into something more than he currently is.

At the very least, it's good to see documented evidence of what Weis has gone through in his coaching of Cassel. Like, when Dick ****ing Curl was our QB coach, the play of our QBs spoke for itself. But we never knew what the **** he actually did in his coaching. Did he also scour through hours and hours of footage? Or did he just kind of sit there and say, "ehhh... work on your tap-dancing and show more shoulder, honey"

**DaneMcCloud** · 08-10-2010, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SNR

At the very least, it's good to see documented evidence of what Weis has gone through in his coaching of Cassel. Like, when Dick ****ing Curl was our QB coach, the play of our QBs spoke for itself. But we never knew what the **** he actually did in his coaching. Did he also scour through hours and hours of footage? Or did he just kind of sit there and say, "ehhh... work on your tap-dancing and show more shoulder, honey"

It ironic then that Tyler Thigpen put up better numbers in a far less number of games than Cassel.

CoMoChief · 08-10-2010, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SNR

At the very least, it's good to see documented evidence of what Weis has gone through in his coaching of Cassel. Like, when Dick ****ing Curl was our QB coach, the play of our QBs spoke for itself. But we never knew what the **** he actually did in his coaching. Did he also scour through hours and hours of footage? Or did he just kind of sit there and say, "ehhh... work on your tap-dancing and show more shoulder, honey"

Surely Curl didn't just act like he didn't give a shit like you say. You make it sound like he was un-interested in the QB position. No offensive coach is like that if you want to try and win in the NFL.

every coach wants to win. is Weis a better coach that Curl? I'd have to say so and his credentials would also pretty much prove that. But it also helps that you're QB runs the same offense and has the same HC w/ your philosophies as well. As opposed to having a broken rookie QB come in (Croyle) w/ a HC who was afraid to throw the ball downfield (Herm). They were all lame duck coaches, it was obvious after Herm's 2nd season that he wasn't going to the HC for much longer. By the 3rd year w/ Hard Knocks etc, they were all lame duck coaches.

I understand this is all a process, I dont like Cassel being our QB, I think Croyle is better, surely has better tangibles, it's just a shame he can't stay healthy because we wouldn't have all this $$$ tied up into the QB position and could go after better players in other positions. Oh well it is what it is. for the Chiefs sake I HOPE TO GOD, that Weis can make Cassel a respectable NFL starting QB....alot like how DV/AS made Trent Green into a good NFL starter, but I just doubt that will ever happen. Hopefully I'm wrong. This is still a transition process. I think this year we win some more games, show many flashes of greatness to come and hopefully brings some hope and excitement back to this football town, and maybe next year w/ some offseason moves and a good draft this team can turn the corner, win the division and start winning some playoff games. It's important this year that this team learns how to win some god damn football games.

**Rausch** · 08-10-2010, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

It ironic then that Tyler Thigpen put up better numbers in a far less number of games than Cassel.

Let's ****ing get this straight:

1) Thigpen might be the biggest over-achiever ever as a 3rd string QB. He clearly elevated his play to 2nd string level and at times was able to buy time and scramble like a playmaker.

This does not make him a starter OR a playmaker as a full time starter.

2) We traded a 2nd round pick and a ****-TON of cap space for the exact same type of player as Thigpen and then cut Thigpen...

Amnorix · 08-10-2010, 12:09 PM

Charlie Weis is a good guy, but the poor bastard is going to die young with the way he treats his body.

**Rausch** · 08-10-2010, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Charlie Weis is a good guy, but the poor bastard is going to die young with the way he treats his body.

His body is already dead. We're keeping him alive like the celebrities on Futurama.

2nd, he's not young...

**DeezNutz** · 08-10-2010, 12:18 PM

There's absolutely no content in this article. None.

HotRoute · 08-10-2010, 12:25 PM

“I take care of myself” Weis said

ya keep telling yourself that "jabba the weis"

**Rausch** · 08-10-2010, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC111110

“I take care of myself” Weis said

ya keep telling yourself that "jabba the weis"

...

**RealSNR** · 08-10-2010, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

It ironic then that Tyler Thigpen put up better numbers in a far less number of games than Cassel.

Or that Damon Huard has by FAR the best winning percentage of all the Chiefs QBs in the past 3 seasons?

I think the majority of people on this forum are grateful that we're starting Cassel instead of Thigpen. Even with the Cassel doubters (of which I am one)

**RealSNR** · 08-10-2010, 01:07 PM

Hell, go back to 2006. Huard has a record of 12-12. ****, if we want to go 8-8 this season we NEED this guy!

08-10-2010, 12:55 AM
Tribal Warfare The Boom Boom Room Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $922813	Babb: Injured Chiefs coordinator Weis’ priority is building up Cassel Injured Chiefs coordinator Weis’ priority is building up Cassel By KENT BABB The Kansas City Star ST. JOSEPH \| Charlie Weis eased himself off a golf cart and hobbled toward a group of reporters under a tent. He took it easy, leaning on a cane and keeping the weight off his injured left knee, bandaged and braced as it was. “I’m on the injured reserve,” Weis said with a smile. The knee went out the day before training camp began, nearly two weeks ago. He’d had problems for a while, he said, and then “a piece of it broke off” on that Wednesday. Weis said he needs surgery, but it’ll have to wait until after the season. Relief isn’t common for NFL coaches, particularly a coordinator for a team with further to go than most. “I take care of myself,” Weis said of his health, his patience eroding. “Let’s talk about football.” And so he did. For the first time since February, Weis addressed reporters and outlined some of his plans as the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator. He said that he likes what he sees and that he has fit well with head coach Todd Haley and the rest of the staff. He added that he especially likes the players he’s in charge of. “That’s a good thing,” Weis said, “because that’s who we have.” For better or worse, the Chiefs have Matt Cassel at quarterback. And Cassel was Weis’ top priority when Weis, a former New England coordinator and Notre Dame head coach, was hired in January. Weis said he pored over Cassel’s snaps from last season, identifying flaws and trying to think of ways to eliminate weaknesses. Then Weis looked at each snap from 2008, when Cassel filled in for the Patriots when Tom Brady suffered a season-ending knee injury. Weis studied Cassel’s movements, tendencies and mechanics. Then he went about finding ways to make Cassel better. “The first thing I wanted to do was help fix the quarterback,” Weis said. “It wasn’t like he wasn’t getting coached before. But I had to know what the problems were. … I wanted to know where we were with this kid. “Usually if the quarterback plays better, the team plays better.” So that’s where Weis started. He made Cassel his project, and anyone who watched the Chiefs last season knows that, at times, Cassel was a quarterback in need of a teacher. Cassel has said he has grown from Weis’ attention, and having such an attentive and qualified mentor is just one of the ways the Chiefs have removed obstacles from Cassel’s path. Haley has seen enough that, in a rare break from character Monday and his standard declaration that all positions are open competitions, revealed the worst-kept secret in camp: Cassel is the Chiefs’ starting quarterback. “We’re seeing progress,” Haley said. “But I think Matt has continued to have to earn that, through last year, through the offseason. “Without getting into specifics, I feel good about the direction that particular position is going.” Haley wasn’t willing to spill everything Monday, holding back on predicting how much Cassel will play in Friday’s preseason opener at Atlanta. Haley said he’ll make that decision later this week, and it’s a good bet that Weis will be involved in the conversation that determines it. Weis said his past relationships with Haley and general manager Scott Pioli, whom Weis worked with in New England, were instrumental in leading him to Kansas City. He said there were hurdles to cross, such as perception that he and Haley might clash considering their differences in age and experience. Weis said there have been no problems; that the old friends and colleagues simply understand each other and are committed to installing an effective offense. The knee might be a bother, but he said things have been at ease otherwise in Kansas City — at least in these first months. Perhaps now Weis can impart some of that comfort to his quarterback. “They’re all getting better,” Weis said. “I’m always mad at everyone all the time anyway, so that doesn’t really measure the difference. They’ve all shown significant improvements since I got here. Not necessarily just because of me, but they’ve all got a very good work ethic. I think they get it. I think they’ve all shown significant improvements.”
Posts: 42,059

08-10-2010, 02:01 AM	#2
RealSNR Special Teams ACE!!! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Where the hell is SNR Casino cash: $2370208	TO THE KNEE REPLACEMENT!
Posts: 90,394

08-10-2010, 10:22 AM	#3
Ebolapox remember, remember Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: como Casino cash: $2099903	I hope to christ weis can mold cassel into something more than he currently is.
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08-10-2010, 12:09 PM	#9
Amnorix In BB I trust Join Date: May 2003 Location: Boston, Mass. Casino cash: $10029808	Charlie Weis is a good guy, but the poor bastard is going to die young with the way he treats his body.
Posts: 43,125

08-10-2010, 12:25 PM	#12
HotRoute Veteran Join Date: Aug 2009 Casino cash: $9765656	“I take care of myself” Weis said ya keep telling yourself that "jabba the weis"
Posts: 2,274

08-10-2010, 01:07 PM	#15
RealSNR Special Teams ACE!!! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Where the hell is SNR Casino cash: $2370208	Hell, go back to 2006. Huard has a record of 12-12. ****, if we want to go 8-8 this season we NEED this guy!
Posts: 90,394