Chiefs Teicher: Chiefs like Cassel’s passion for football

ChiefRon · 03-24-2009, 10:54 PM

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/foo...y/1104993.html

Chiefs like Cassel’s passion for football

By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

DANA POINT, Calif. | New Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel has often been compared with Tom Brady, if for no other reason than they were both low-round draft picks by the New England Patriots and teammates for four seasons.

After watching Cassel on video and working with him for almost a month, Chiefs coach Todd Haley offers a different veteran quarterback comparison.

“I just came off two years of working with one of the best guys I’ve ever been around in Kurt Warner,” said Haley, who as Arizona’s offensive coordinator coached Warner the last two seasons. “In ‘best guys,’ I mean guys that are into football, like to talk about football. It’s not about much else for Kurt Warner. This Matt Cassel feels and acts a lot the same way. He is football 24/7 to the point where I’ve had to pull back the reins on him a couple of times and say, ‘Listen, Matt. These next couple of months are about getting in shape and getting your body ready for the season. There’s time enough for football.’

“He’s all about football. I’ve been telling everyone I hope he can play because he’s got all of the intangible things you get excited about as a coach.”

It’s becoming clear that most — if not all — players acquired by the Chiefs under Haley and new general manager Scott Pioli will share two common qualities: They will love to work at and play football, and they will want to play for the Chiefs.

That may be an underrated factor in the trade that brought Cassel from New England. The Chiefs coveted Cassel for more than his on-the-field skills.

“Oh, yeah,” Haley said Tuesday during the NFL meetings. “Kurt Warner, you could not get him away from football. It was full time. (Cassel) shows a lot of those same characteristics. He’s into football. I don’t think there’s a whole bunch else to him. He’s got a chip on his shoulder. He was told he wasn’t good enough to play for a long time. That served him well last year, and hopefully it will serve him well going forward.

“He’s calling me every day for numbers to call some of the other guys on the team. We picked up Bobby Engram, and Bobby Engram is texting me wanting Cassel’s number. At the same time, a text is coming in from Cassel: ‘Can I get Engram’s number?’ So he’s doing all of those things that get you excited as a coach. You don’t have to worry about what Matt Cassel is doing most of the time. He’ll be worrying about football.”

Haley continued to promote a looming battle for the starting job between Cassel and Tyler Thigpen, who started for the Chiefs most of last season. While it’s hard to see the Chiefs playing Thigpen and his $460,000 salary ahead of Cassel and his income of $14.65 million, Haley pointed to last season in Arizona as evidence that he’s serious about a competition for the job.

The Cardinals picked Warner over former first-round draft pick Matt Leinart as their starter last season. Arizona won its first NFC West championship and reached the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history.

“The guys that give us the best chance to win will play,” Haley said. “I heard a little interview with Tyler Thigpen right after we signed Cassel, and he sounded like he was kind of conceding that Cassel was the quarterback. I called him immediately and told him, ‘Don’t you dare concede anything.’ The best guy is going to play. We proved that in Arizona.”

The Chiefs turned to Thigpen early last season after injuries eliminated Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard. Thigpen had problems in their more conventional offensive system and flourished only after the Chiefs went to a spread formation to accommodate him.

That raises the issue of whether Thigpen has the skills to play in Haley’s system, which will feature the spread only on occasion. Even Haley, who hasn’t yet seen Thigpen on the practice field, isn’t certain.

“That remains to be seen,” Haley said. “The guy is a developing player. He played a certain way in college, so he didn’t learn all of those skills that maybe you’d want him to have. Does that mean he can’t do it? I don’t know. That’s where coaching comes in and getting the guy in during the offseason and starting to go to work on the craft he has to learn in order to be a complete quarterback.

“I don’t know the situation at Coastal Carolina. I don’t know if they went to the spread because that was what he did best or because that was their system. I don’t know those things. But you get a guy in like that that’s got some interesting characteristics, and then you go from there.

“Right now, we’ve got two guys. Thigpen threw (18) touchdown passes last year. That was coming from nothing. You talk about Cassel not playing (until last season)? Cassel was up there sitting with Tom Brady every day of the year. Thigpen was Coastal Carolina to into the league to playing and threw 18 touchdowns and ran for a bunch. The guy is a pretty interesting player. I’m as excited about working with that guy as I am with anybody.”

Though they have Cassel and Thigpen, Haley indicated the Chiefs might select a quarterback in the draft next month.

“We’re not going to draft for need,” he said. “It’s going to be trying to accumulate as many good players as you can accumulate. But it just allows you some flexibility. I will say that. It opens more doors, gives you that flexibility that you may not have if you didn’t feel more comfortable at that position.”

**Smed1065** · 03-24-2009, 11:02 PM

Damn True fans have invaded the press!

KcKing · 03-24-2009, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefRon

That’s where coaching comes in and getting the guy in during the offseason and starting to go to work on the craft he has to learn in order to be a complete quarterback.

What the hell is all that hubbub about?? Shouldn't our head coach be busy trying to figure out how to get a first down?

Discuss Thrower · 03-24-2009, 11:03 PM

It's Shane Falco!

RustShack · 03-24-2009, 11:03 PM

But but according to the Thigpen lovers they didn't go to the spread just for Thigpen and that Haley ran the spread. This article must be completely false.

**DeezNutz** · 03-24-2009, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefRon

“That remains to be seen,” Haley said. “The guy is a developing player. He played a certain way in college, so he didn’t learn all of those skills that maybe you’d want him to have. Does that mean he can’t do it? I don’t know. That’s where coaching comes in and getting the guy in during the offseason and starting to go to work on the craft he has to learn in order to be a complete quarterback."

I'm confused. Why didn't he say, "At the very least, Thigpen will make a great backup quarterback."?

I know this is what Thigpen would be because I've seen it on CP.

mikey23545 · 03-24-2009, 11:24 PM

But Mecca told me the best quarterback is the guy with the strongest arm...

RustShack · 03-24-2009, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikey23545

But Mecca told me the best quarterback is the guy with the strongest arm...

I really don't think he ever said that... and I think Cassel has a stronger arm than Thiggy anyways..

58kcfan89 · 03-24-2009, 11:31 PM

I can't wait for the Draft... I'm excited to see who we can put together with Cassel to make this a (hopefully) even better off-season. I was a little skeptical of Cassel when he was in New England, but I'm hoping that Haley can work his magic again and have Cassel help the Chiefs win games.

Mecca · 03-24-2009, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustShack

I really don't think he ever said that... and I think Cassel has a stronger arm than Thiggy anyways..

It's Mikey, he provides about as much to the forum as redrum does.

T-post Tom · 03-24-2009, 11:37 PM

Y all u fookers hatin' on Tyler? I like Tyler:

**Smed1065** · 03-24-2009, 11:40 PM

I actually hope Stafford is there @ #3 so we all win.

OK just Chiefs fans.......

**RealSNR** · 03-24-2009, 11:58 PM

Quote:

I don’t know the situation at Coastal Carolina. I don’t know if they went to the spread because that was what he did best or because that was their system. I don’t know those things.

Well, you kept Chan Gailey, the coach who made the decision to switch to the spread last year.

WHY DON'T YOU ****ING ASK HIM???

**DeezNutz** · 03-24-2009, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SNR

Well, you kept Chan Gailey, the coach who made the decision to switch to the spread last year.

WHY DON'T YOU ****ING ASK HIM???

I didn't know Gailey coached a CC. Interesting...

**RealSNR** · 03-25-2009, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

I didn't know Gailey coached a CC. Interesting...

Who gives a shit about Coastal Carolina? That was 3 years ago. Not much less than the time Cassel has been in the NFL and adapted appropriately.

03-24-2009, 10:54 PM
ChiefRon Starter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Memphis, TN Casino cash: $10004900	Teicher: Chiefs like Cassel’s passion for football http://www.kansascity.com/sports/foo...y/1104993.html Chiefs like Cassel’s passion for football By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star DANA POINT, Calif. \| New Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel has often been compared with Tom Brady, if for no other reason than they were both low-round draft picks by the New England Patriots and teammates for four seasons. After watching Cassel on video and working with him for almost a month, Chiefs coach Todd Haley offers a different veteran quarterback comparison. “I just came off two years of working with one of the best guys I’ve ever been around in Kurt Warner,” said Haley, who as Arizona’s offensive coordinator coached Warner the last two seasons. “In ‘best guys,’ I mean guys that are into football, like to talk about football. It’s not about much else for Kurt Warner. This Matt Cassel feels and acts a lot the same way. He is football 24/7 to the point where I’ve had to pull back the reins on him a couple of times and say, ‘Listen, Matt. These next couple of months are about getting in shape and getting your body ready for the season. There’s time enough for football.’ “He’s all about football. I’ve been telling everyone I hope he can play because he’s got all of the intangible things you get excited about as a coach.” It’s becoming clear that most — if not all — players acquired by the Chiefs under Haley and new general manager Scott Pioli will share two common qualities: They will love to work at and play football, and they will want to play for the Chiefs. That may be an underrated factor in the trade that brought Cassel from New England. The Chiefs coveted Cassel for more than his on-the-field skills. “Oh, yeah,” Haley said Tuesday during the NFL meetings. “Kurt Warner, you could not get him away from football. It was full time. (Cassel) shows a lot of those same characteristics. He’s into football. I don’t think there’s a whole bunch else to him. He’s got a chip on his shoulder. He was told he wasn’t good enough to play for a long time. That served him well last year, and hopefully it will serve him well going forward. “He’s calling me every day for numbers to call some of the other guys on the team. We picked up Bobby Engram, and Bobby Engram is texting me wanting Cassel’s number. At the same time, a text is coming in from Cassel: ‘Can I get Engram’s number?’ So he’s doing all of those things that get you excited as a coach. You don’t have to worry about what Matt Cassel is doing most of the time. He’ll be worrying about football.” Haley continued to promote a looming battle for the starting job between Cassel and Tyler Thigpen, who started for the Chiefs most of last season. While it’s hard to see the Chiefs playing Thigpen and his $460,000 salary ahead of Cassel and his income of $14.65 million, Haley pointed to last season in Arizona as evidence that he’s serious about a competition for the job. The Cardinals picked Warner over former first-round draft pick Matt Leinart as their starter last season. Arizona won its first NFC West championship and reached the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history. “The guys that give us the best chance to win will play,” Haley said. “I heard a little interview with Tyler Thigpen right after we signed Cassel, and he sounded like he was kind of conceding that Cassel was the quarterback. I called him immediately and told him, ‘Don’t you dare concede anything.’ The best guy is going to play. We proved that in Arizona.” The Chiefs turned to Thigpen early last season after injuries eliminated Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard. Thigpen had problems in their more conventional offensive system and flourished only after the Chiefs went to a spread formation to accommodate him. That raises the issue of whether Thigpen has the skills to play in Haley’s system, which will feature the spread only on occasion. Even Haley, who hasn’t yet seen Thigpen on the practice field, isn’t certain. “That remains to be seen,” Haley said. “The guy is a developing player. He played a certain way in college, so he didn’t learn all of those skills that maybe you’d want him to have. Does that mean he can’t do it? I don’t know. That’s where coaching comes in and getting the guy in during the offseason and starting to go to work on the craft he has to learn in order to be a complete quarterback. “I don’t know the situation at Coastal Carolina. I don’t know if they went to the spread because that was what he did best or because that was their system. I don’t know those things. But you get a guy in like that that’s got some interesting characteristics, and then you go from there. “Right now, we’ve got two guys. Thigpen threw (18) touchdown passes last year. That was coming from nothing. You talk about Cassel not playing (until last season)? Cassel was up there sitting with Tom Brady every day of the year. Thigpen was Coastal Carolina to into the league to playing and threw 18 touchdowns and ran for a bunch. The guy is a pretty interesting player. I’m as excited about working with that guy as I am with anybody.” Though they have Cassel and Thigpen, Haley indicated the Chiefs might select a quarterback in the draft next month. “We’re not going to draft for need,” he said. “It’s going to be trying to accumulate as many good players as you can accumulate. But it just allows you some flexibility. I will say that. It opens more doors, gives you that flexibility that you may not have if you didn’t feel more comfortable at that position.”
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03-24-2009, 11:02 PM	#2
Smed1065 Supporter Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Returning From Hell Casino cash: $4763673	Damn True fans have invaded the press!
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03-24-2009, 11:03 PM	#4
Discuss Thrower "You like to drink?" Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: "I like to drink." Casino cash: $-390000	It's Shane Falco! __________________ Chiefs 2016 Opponents: Home: JAX, TEN, NO, TB, NYJ. Away: HOU, IND, ATL, CAR, PIT Chiefs 2017 Opponents: Home: BUF, MIA, PHI, WSH, AFC North. Away: NE, NYJ, NYG, DAL, AFC South
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03-24-2009, 11:03 PM	#5
RustShack **** That Noise Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Jack Trice Casino cash: $3036954	But but according to the Thigpen lovers they didn't go to the spread just for Thigpen and that Haley ran the spread. This article must be completely false. __________________
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03-24-2009, 11:24 PM	#7
mikey23545 MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $10015321	But Mecca told me the best quarterback is the guy with the strongest arm...
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03-24-2009, 11:31 PM	#9
58kcfan89 Veteran Join Date: Mar 2009 Casino cash: $9653187	I can't wait for the Draft... I'm excited to see who we can put together with Cassel to make this a (hopefully) even better off-season. I was a little skeptical of Cassel when he was in New England, but I'm hoping that Haley can work his magic again and have Cassel help the Chiefs win games.
Posts: 2,252

03-24-2009, 11:37 PM	#11
T-post Tom Busy in a Kohl's restroom Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Milk/Honey/Gazland Casino cash: $1747293	Y all u fookers hatin' on Tyler? I like Tyler: __________________ You seem nice!
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03-24-2009, 11:40 PM	#12
Smed1065 Supporter Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Returning From Hell Casino cash: $4763673	I actually hope Stafford is there @ #3 so we all win. OK just Chiefs fans.......
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