Chiefs Q&A with MATT CASSEL - 12/17

**Tribal Warfare** · 12-17-2009, 07:43 PM

Q&A with MATT CASSEL - 12/17
Dec 17, 2009, 3:31:41 PM

Q: How much easier is it on the offense to have a guy like RB Jamaal (Charles) around?

MATT CASSEL: “Jamaal’s done a fantastic job for us. He’s done everything we’ve asked of him. He continues to make big plays and he’s a guy that has such an explosive nature about him that it’s great to have him on the field because defenses have to start accounting for him so he’s done a great job and hopefully he’ll keep that production up.”

Q: He seems like a pretty quiet guy. What’s he like in the huddle?

CASSEL: “He is a pretty quiet kid. As he’s started to play a little bit more, you can see he’s grown with confidence and he continues to build that confidence each and every week that he has success. It’s fun to watch him develop in that area.”

Q: So he’s starting to speak up a little bit, be more vocal?

CASSEL: “A little bit. I think he’s quiet by nature and just goes out and does his job. At the same time, you can see through that confidence that he’s playing with right now, it’s fun to watch that development.”

Q: How big is it to have WR Dwayne Bowe back?

CASSEL: “It’s huge. We’ve missed Dwayne over the last few weeks. He’s a playmaker and he’s a guy that we’ve relied on in the past and started to really build a relationship with before he was gone for the last four weeks. To have him back out on the field will be great.”

Q: How quickly will he be able to come back, will he be starting?

CASSEL: “You know, I don’t know, that’s probably coach’s decision right now. I think he’s still trying to get caught up to speed, we’re doing a lot of different things now from when he left, so it’ll just kind of be up to the coaches to see how far he progresses throughout the week.”

Q: You guys have been trying to convert some fourth downs. Does it seem to you that there have been a lot of fourth-and-ones, fourth-and-twos where you guys are coming up just a little short?

CASSEL: “There have been. Throughout the course of the year, it’s crazy, we’ve had a ton of fourth-and-short situations and on third down, we’re getting right to the sticks, but for whatever reason, we’re coming up a yard short or a few inches short. That’s resulted in a lot of fourth-down tries and fourth-down conversions.”

Q: Is it surprising to you to know that you’re leading the league in going for it on fourth down?

CASSEL: “I’ve never heard that stat, so that’s pretty interesting that you said that. I know that we’ve been in that situation quite often this year.”

Q: After you get the game plan each week, do you generally feel good about short-yardage stuff that you guys have in, that if you need that yard or two, that you guys have some different things that could work?

CASSEL: “There’s no doubt. We go out there each and every week and the coaches do a great job of putting together that package and we practice it, we rep it and we feel like at any point, we should be able to get a yard as an offense.”

Q: How frustrating or upsetting was it for you last week to hear the home crowd voicing their displeasure?

CASSEL: “You know, that’s part of football. That’s part of being in this profession. You never want to have the home crowd booing, but we didn’t give them much to cheer about either. We’ve got to do a better job of being more productive on the field, giving them something to cheer about. At the same time, they pay their ticket, and I’ve said this before, they can come here, they can cheer, they can yell, they can scream, they can do whatever they want, and that’s their right.”

Q: How much does this team need a win, and how important is it to get a win in the final home game of the year, in front of the home crowd?

CASSEL: “It would be huge, especially to end the year at Arrowhead with a win and on a high note, because we won’t play here again until next year. We really would like this one for ourselves and for our fans and give them something to cheer about. We’re working hard this week and we’re trying to do whatever we can to get it headed in the right direction.”

Q: You mention that as a team you’re doing different things since WR Dwayne Bowe left. It’s only been a month. Are there really that many things that he would need to catch up on?

CASSEL: “There’s no doubt. We’ve changed the offense in so many different ways over the last month or so and we continue to build on different aspects of what we’re doing offensively and he’s definitely going to have a learning curve this week.”

Q: From your time in the NFL, is that unusual to change something that much in December?

CASSEL: “No, I think that we’re a game plan team by design and so each and every week, based on what the defense is doing, we’ll try to exploit that and so when you get the game plan, there’s not a ton of carryover from week to week unless you’re playing a team that’s similar.”

Q: Looking back and assessing your games over the past couple of weeks here, would you use the word pressing at all? Are you pressing a little bit?

CASSEL: “No, you know, I’ve tried to go out and execute the game plan. San Diego, you look at that game and it got out of hand, obviously you don’t want to have the turnovers but at the same time, I felt like I was throwing the ball really well during that game. The Broncos, I just never got in a rhythm and I don’t think we really got into a rhythm as an offensive unit. And then last week, we went back, we watched the tape, and you look at the stat sheet and you see four interceptions, you go ‘Jeez, what’s going on?’ But as you assess the play and I get my grading sheet week, there weren’t any mental errors, I was making and going to the right place with the ball throughout most of the day and three of the interceptions, obviously, you wish you had back, but at the same time, there’s really one of those interceptions that I would have thrown it to the same place, and that’s the one I was scrambling out and tried to make a play.”

Q: But there’s no doubt in your mind that you’re still trusting your abilities out there?

CASSEL: “Oh there’s no doubt that I’m trusting my abilities and I’ll continue to trust my abilities as we go forward.”

Q: You guys have had problems with dropped passes recently. What’s the trust level like then between you and the receivers out there?

CASSEL: “Again, it just goes back to everybody doing their job. As a quarterback, I can only control what I can control. I’ve got to be able to go out there and throw the ball and trust that they’re going to do their job and at the same time, they’re going to trust that I’m going to give them an opportunity to make those catches and put the ball in the right spot. I think it starts with yourself, what can you do better or what do you have to do to execute the game plan and then everybody else, if we do that collectively, we’ll have success.”

Q: You want to trust everybody, but the tendency is to trust one person more, then you go there first. Does that kind of stuff creep into your head?

CASSEL: “Ideally, if it’s a certain situation that dictates, you know that your first read would take you here, but you have a good matchup over here, you might say, ‘Alright, I’m going to the receiver over here because of the situation.’ It’s all kind of dictated on the play and what the conditions are in the game.”

Q: When you say ‘no mental errors,’ for those of us who don’t get a grade sheet on it, can you explain more about a mental error?

CASSEL: “A mental error, in terms of the operation, you break the huddle, you come to the line, you’re running the play successfully or you’re making the right read, you’re doing those types of things. You’re not making mental errors out there on the field which would be costly in many cases.”

Q: So the interception you described?

CASSEL: “I think that’s a poor decision.”

Q: With three games left, does it seem like the season has gone by quickly, or is it the opposite?

CASSEL: “You know, it’s gone by pretty quickly to be completely honest. We only have three games left. It’s crazy when you get involved and you start going, it just feels like one week to the next. At the same time, it’s been a learning experience throughout this whole year for me and as we go on forward. Hopefully we get some wins as we finish the year.”

**Bane** · 12-17-2009, 07:51 PM

ArrowheadHawk · 12-17-2009, 07:52 PM

Who cares what he thinks?

TheGuardian · 12-17-2009, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArrowheadHawk

Who cares what he thinks?

Not I. I wish he'd

and throw touchdowns.

**Tribal Warfare** · 12-17-2009, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Cassel

Q: Looking back and assessing your games over the past couple of weeks here, would you use the word pressing at all? Are you pressing a little bit?

CASSEL: “No, you know, I’ve tried to go out and execute the game plan. San Diego, you look at that game and it got out of hand, obviously you don’t want to have the turnovers but at the same time, I felt like I was throwing the ball really well during that game. The Broncos, I just never got in a rhythm and I don’t think we really got into a rhythm as an offensive unit. And then last week, we went back, we watched the tape, and you look at the stat sheet and you see four interceptions, you go ‘Jeez, what’s going on?’ But as you assess the play and I get my grading sheet week, there weren’t any mental errors, I was making and going to the right place with the ball throughout most of the day and three of the interceptions, obviously, you wish you had back, but at the same time, there’s really one of those interceptions that I would have thrown it to the same place, and that’s the one I was scrambling out and tried to make a play.”

Matt is getting so pampered he thinks this wasn't his fault

DBOSHO · 12-17-2009, 08:07 PM

i guess rolling out to your right and throwing on the run to a dude that was triple covered isnt a mental error?

Hammock Parties · 12-17-2009, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBOSHO

i guess rolling out to your right and throwing on the run to a dude that was triple covered isnt a mental error?

Actually I can see why they didn't grade it out as a mental error. Bradley wasn't triple covered. He was actually open. It was just a really poor throw.

Although you could grade it as a mental error because Cassel didn't appear to know the limitations of his arm. That's why it was a poor throw. He couldn't get the ball where it needed to be because he threw from an awkward position and it had no mustard on it.

**doomy3** · 12-17-2009, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBOSHO

i guess rolling out to your right and throwing on the run to a dude that was triple covered isnt a mental error?

I'm thinking he was saying that WAS the mistake. The other three, he is saying, were good reads and throws.

FWIW, one INT went off Bradley's hands and was thrown to the outside, away from the defense. Another INT was a bad throw, IMO, but was tipped by a linebacker and then picked by the safety. And the last INT was a Hail Mary, and our guy tripped over his own two feet on the play.

I think those are the three he is saying he made good reads/throws on.

**DeezNutz** · 12-17-2009, 08:13 PM

That was the most embarrassing line of questioning that I've ever seen.

Seriously.

After two of the most shameful performances by a QB in Chiefs history, that's the best we can get? And while we're at it, it's time to cancel the QB presser. ****ing embarrassing listening to ****ing douches like Cassel and Thigpen.

Hog's Gone Fishin · 12-17-2009, 08:14 PM

Question: Do you realize that the concensus on Chiefs Planet is that you suck and that Brodie Croyle is wanted to finish out the season ?

Well, If my receivers wouldn't drop so many passes they wouldn't feel that way.

Hammock Parties · 12-17-2009, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doomy3

FWIW, one INT went off Bradley's hands

Chambers. But I agree.

DBOSHO · 12-17-2009, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doomy3

I'm thinking he was saying that WAS the mistake. The other three, he is saying, were good reads and throws.

FWIW, one INT went off Bradley's hands and was thrown to the outside, away from the defense. Another INT was a bad throw, IMO, but was tipped by a linebacker and then picked by the safety. And the last INT was a Hail Mary, and our guy tripped over his own two feet on the play.

I think those are the three he is saying he made good reads/throws on.

i saw the one i posted and the one that charles took away from the linebacker(and yes, he DID) but the other 2 i wasnt able to see because my friends were bitching that they wanted to leave, and he drove so we did.

idk why people pay good money for tickets and leave early. i paid for both their tickets so i thought that was kinda shitty on their part.

Hog's Gone Fishin · 12-17-2009, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBOSHO

i saw the one i posted and the one that charles took away from the linebacker(and yes, he DID) but the other 2 i wasnt able to see because my friends were bitching that they wanted to leave, and he drove so we did.

idk why people pay good money for tickets and leave early. i paid for both their tickets so i thought that was kinda shitty on their part.

Thats why I don't have friends !

Well, that and my hand smells really bad !

**doomy3** · 12-17-2009, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

Chambers. But I agree.

Ah yes, that's right. I'm just so used to Bradley dropping passes, I guess.

Micjones · 12-17-2009, 08:27 PM

I'm guessing he'll find Bowe early and often the rest of the way since what he's "got's been gone" the last 4 weeks.

12-17-2009, 07:43 PM
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-2997187	Q&A with MATT CASSEL - 12/17 Q&A with MATT CASSEL - 12/17 Dec 17, 2009, 3:31:41 PM Q: How much easier is it on the offense to have a guy like RB Jamaal (Charles) around? MATT CASSEL: “Jamaal’s done a fantastic job for us. He’s done everything we’ve asked of him. He continues to make big plays and he’s a guy that has such an explosive nature about him that it’s great to have him on the field because defenses have to start accounting for him so he’s done a great job and hopefully he’ll keep that production up.” Q: He seems like a pretty quiet guy. What’s he like in the huddle? CASSEL: “He is a pretty quiet kid. As he’s started to play a little bit more, you can see he’s grown with confidence and he continues to build that confidence each and every week that he has success. It’s fun to watch him develop in that area.” Q: So he’s starting to speak up a little bit, be more vocal? CASSEL: “A little bit. I think he’s quiet by nature and just goes out and does his job. At the same time, you can see through that confidence that he’s playing with right now, it’s fun to watch that development.” Q: How big is it to have WR Dwayne Bowe back? CASSEL: “It’s huge. We’ve missed Dwayne over the last few weeks. He’s a playmaker and he’s a guy that we’ve relied on in the past and started to really build a relationship with before he was gone for the last four weeks. To have him back out on the field will be great.” Q: How quickly will he be able to come back, will he be starting? CASSEL: “You know, I don’t know, that’s probably coach’s decision right now. I think he’s still trying to get caught up to speed, we’re doing a lot of different things now from when he left, so it’ll just kind of be up to the coaches to see how far he progresses throughout the week.” Q: You guys have been trying to convert some fourth downs. Does it seem to you that there have been a lot of fourth-and-ones, fourth-and-twos where you guys are coming up just a little short? CASSEL: “There have been. Throughout the course of the year, it’s crazy, we’ve had a ton of fourth-and-short situations and on third down, we’re getting right to the sticks, but for whatever reason, we’re coming up a yard short or a few inches short. That’s resulted in a lot of fourth-down tries and fourth-down conversions.” Q: Is it surprising to you to know that you’re leading the league in going for it on fourth down? CASSEL: “I’ve never heard that stat, so that’s pretty interesting that you said that. I know that we’ve been in that situation quite often this year.” Q: After you get the game plan each week, do you generally feel good about short-yardage stuff that you guys have in, that if you need that yard or two, that you guys have some different things that could work? CASSEL: “There’s no doubt. We go out there each and every week and the coaches do a great job of putting together that package and we practice it, we rep it and we feel like at any point, we should be able to get a yard as an offense.” Q: How frustrating or upsetting was it for you last week to hear the home crowd voicing their displeasure? CASSEL: “You know, that’s part of football. That’s part of being in this profession. You never want to have the home crowd booing, but we didn’t give them much to cheer about either. We’ve got to do a better job of being more productive on the field, giving them something to cheer about. At the same time, they pay their ticket, and I’ve said this before, they can come here, they can cheer, they can yell, they can scream, they can do whatever they want, and that’s their right.” Q: How much does this team need a win, and how important is it to get a win in the final home game of the year, in front of the home crowd? CASSEL: “It would be huge, especially to end the year at Arrowhead with a win and on a high note, because we won’t play here again until next year. We really would like this one for ourselves and for our fans and give them something to cheer about. We’re working hard this week and we’re trying to do whatever we can to get it headed in the right direction.” Q: You mention that as a team you’re doing different things since WR Dwayne Bowe left. It’s only been a month. Are there really that many things that he would need to catch up on? CASSEL: “There’s no doubt. We’ve changed the offense in so many different ways over the last month or so and we continue to build on different aspects of what we’re doing offensively and he’s definitely going to have a learning curve this week.” Q: From your time in the NFL, is that unusual to change something that much in December? CASSEL: “No, I think that we’re a game plan team by design and so each and every week, based on what the defense is doing, we’ll try to exploit that and so when you get the game plan, there’s not a ton of carryover from week to week unless you’re playing a team that’s similar.” Q: Looking back and assessing your games over the past couple of weeks here, would you use the word pressing at all? Are you pressing a little bit? CASSEL: “No, you know, I’ve tried to go out and execute the game plan. San Diego, you look at that game and it got out of hand, obviously you don’t want to have the turnovers but at the same time, I felt like I was throwing the ball really well during that game. The Broncos, I just never got in a rhythm and I don’t think we really got into a rhythm as an offensive unit. And then last week, we went back, we watched the tape, and you look at the stat sheet and you see four interceptions, you go ‘Jeez, what’s going on?’ But as you assess the play and I get my grading sheet week, there weren’t any mental errors, I was making and going to the right place with the ball throughout most of the day and three of the interceptions, obviously, you wish you had back, but at the same time, there’s really one of those interceptions that I would have thrown it to the same place, and that’s the one I was scrambling out and tried to make a play.” Q: But there’s no doubt in your mind that you’re still trusting your abilities out there? CASSEL: “Oh there’s no doubt that I’m trusting my abilities and I’ll continue to trust my abilities as we go forward.” Q: You guys have had problems with dropped passes recently. What’s the trust level like then between you and the receivers out there? CASSEL: “Again, it just goes back to everybody doing their job. As a quarterback, I can only control what I can control. I’ve got to be able to go out there and throw the ball and trust that they’re going to do their job and at the same time, they’re going to trust that I’m going to give them an opportunity to make those catches and put the ball in the right spot. I think it starts with yourself, what can you do better or what do you have to do to execute the game plan and then everybody else, if we do that collectively, we’ll have success.” Q: You want to trust everybody, but the tendency is to trust one person more, then you go there first. Does that kind of stuff creep into your head? CASSEL: “Ideally, if it’s a certain situation that dictates, you know that your first read would take you here, but you have a good matchup over here, you might say, ‘Alright, I’m going to the receiver over here because of the situation.’ It’s all kind of dictated on the play and what the conditions are in the game.” Q: When you say ‘no mental errors,’ for those of us who don’t get a grade sheet on it, can you explain more about a mental error? CASSEL: “A mental error, in terms of the operation, you break the huddle, you come to the line, you’re running the play successfully or you’re making the right read, you’re doing those types of things. You’re not making mental errors out there on the field which would be costly in many cases.” Q: So the interception you described? CASSEL: “I think that’s a poor decision.” Q: With three games left, does it seem like the season has gone by quickly, or is it the opposite? CASSEL: “You know, it’s gone by pretty quickly to be completely honest. We only have three games left. It’s crazy when you get involved and you start going, it just feels like one week to the next. At the same time, it’s been a learning experience throughout this whole year for me and as we go on forward. Hopefully we get some wins as we finish the year.”
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12-17-2009, 07:51 PM	#2
Bane C.H.I.E.F.S Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: **** your face Casino cash: $10005055
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12-17-2009, 07:52 PM	#3
ArrowheadHawk Rock Chalk! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Topeka, KS Casino cash: $7744961	Who cares what he thinks?
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12-17-2009, 08:07 PM	#6
DBOSHO trap champ Join Date: Mar 2009 Casino cash: $10004900	i guess rolling out to your right and throwing on the run to a dude that was triple covered isnt a mental error?
Posts: 5,445

12-17-2009, 08:14 PM	#10
Hog's Gone Fishin Fish are scared of me Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $-1539523	Question: Do you realize that the concensus on Chiefs Planet is that you suck and that Brodie Croyle is wanted to finish out the season ? Well, If my receivers wouldn't drop so many passes they wouldn't feel that way.
Posts: 40,649

12-17-2009, 08:27 PM	#15
Micjones Whose house? Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: KCMO Casino cash: $10005180	I'm guessing he'll find Bowe early and often the rest of the way since what he's "got's been gone" the last 4 weeks. __________________ It's like when I'm right I'm right, when I'm wrong I could been right, so I'm still right cause I coulda been wrong.
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