Chiefs ATHAN - If Cassel can't lead them, there is another

Hammock Parties · 09-24-2010, 12:58 PM

Kolb to the Chiefs?

http://www.foxsportskansascity.com/0...24&feedID=5070

By Nicholas Athan
FoxSportsKansasCity.com/WarpaintIllustrated.com
September 24, 2010

To say that Sunday’s Chiefs game is important to quarterback Matt Cassel would be an understatement of titanic proportions. The San Francisco 49ers come into Kansas City possessing one of the better run defenses in the league. But that’s not the big story heading into the weekend. The bigger story is that if Cassel fails to impress and earn the Chiefs' third straight win, Kansas City should flirt with acquiring Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb.

When the Philadelphia Eagles visited the Chiefs in the preseason they came into Arrowhead flashing one of the best offenses in the NFC. At the helm of that offense was Kevin Kolb, the man who patiently waited for his chance behind Donovan McNabb the last three years.

McNabb was shipped to the Washington Redskins in the offseason. That move elevated Kolb to starter and put Michael Vick, the former Leavenworth detainee, as his back-up.

But in the Eagles' opening game this season at home against the Green Bay Packers, Kolb went down with a concussion. Enter Vick, who tried his best to mount a valiant comeback in the teams 27-20 loss.

A week later in Detroit, Vick led the Eagles to a 35-32 win over the Lions. On Monday his head coach, Andy Reid, said that Kolb would return as the teams starter this Sunday when the team traveled to Jacksonville to play the Jaguars.

But a day later, Reid did an about-face and Vick got the nod over the man who patiently waited his chance to guide the Eagles offense.

And that move could have repercussions in Kansas City.

In two games as the Chiefs starter, Matt Cassel has guided the team into the end zone just twice. One of them came courtesy of a long Jamaal Charles run, the other a short pass to tight end Tony Moeaki.Considering the blessed field position Cassel has enjoyed the past two games, that’s far from efficient or acceptable as a starting quarterback. And to assume the coaching staff won’t pull the plug on the Cassel experiment if he doesn’t play well Sunday, even if the Chiefs win, would be a big mistake. They might not have a choice.

We talked in clear terms that the Chiefs' opening game against the Chargers was big for this organization. When they traveled to Cleveland last Sunday, again the same was true. This was a game to show their opening victory wasn’t a fluke. And it wasn’t, because Kansas City defeated the Browns on the road.

Now Sunday against a wounded 49ers team, Cassel has to show he is indeed the leader of this offense. He’s going to have to win this game for the Chiefs at some point in the fourth quarter.

San Francisco might be 0-2, and they might be woeful as a road team, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to lay down on Sunday.

This is the game that Cassel makes a statement that he is, without question, the man to lead this team into the playoffs.

That means on Sunday he has to execute the offense to perfection. The coaching staff must be more diligent in their use of offensive personnel. They must support Cassel by surrounding him with their ten best players.

If not, Cassel could find himself on the bench when the Chiefs travel to Indianapolis in two weeks.

The Chiefs have Brodie Croyle as their back-up, but he’s never won a regular season game in five seasons. On the other hand, Kolb has had success as a starter.

In Philly, Kolb has been demoted to bench duty as he watches the more mobile Vick run the offense. An offense he thought was going to be under his direction when the season started.

I don’t subscribe to the unwritten NFL rule that if you suffer an injury, you lose your starting job. To me, the better player should always play.

But in this case, that didn’t happen. Vick isn’t better than Kolb. Sure, he’s more mobile. But as a pocket passer, there is no question that Kolb’s arm strength and accuracy are far superior to Vicks.

In his second season in Kansas City, Cassel has really never had anyone over his shoulder who threatened to take his starting job. It’s clear Croyle isn’t that guy. But the sudden availability of Kolb via trade, should have Cassel on high alert Sunday against the 49ers.

With a win Sunday, the Chiefs have a golden opportunity to move to 3-0. After the bye week they face their toughest stretch of the season with road games at Indianapolis and Houston. If they should be so fortunate to get the win against the 49ers, they’re going to need their best players on the field in order to compete in those very difficult road contests.

That means the quarterback play has to be in mid-season form. And if the coaches even remotely think that Cassel isn’t close, then the Chiefs should make a run for Kolb and get him ready for the Colts and Texans.

The trade would be risky and it would be a very difficult move for Kansas City Chiefs General Manager Scott Pioli. But this is a win now league, and this organization has to show the players they're intent on rebuilding a winner in Kansas City. Adding Kolb would help do just that.

It would also serve notice to the rest of the teams in the AFC West that the Chiefs are the team to beat in 2010.

09-24-2010, 12:58 PM	Topic Starter
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4210478	ATHAN - If Cassel can't lead them, there is another Kolb to the Chiefs? http://www.foxsportskansascity.com/0...24&feedID=5070 By Nicholas Athan FoxSportsKansasCity.com/WarpaintIllustrated.com September 24, 2010 To say that Sunday’s Chiefs game is important to quarterback Matt Cassel would be an understatement of titanic proportions. The San Francisco 49ers come into Kansas City possessing one of the better run defenses in the league. But that’s not the big story heading into the weekend. The bigger story is that if Cassel fails to impress and earn the Chiefs' third straight win, Kansas City should flirt with acquiring Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb. When the Philadelphia Eagles visited the Chiefs in the preseason they came into Arrowhead flashing one of the best offenses in the NFC. At the helm of that offense was Kevin Kolb, the man who patiently waited for his chance behind Donovan McNabb the last three years. McNabb was shipped to the Washington Redskins in the offseason. That move elevated Kolb to starter and put Michael Vick, the former Leavenworth detainee, as his back-up. But in the Eagles' opening game this season at home against the Green Bay Packers, Kolb went down with a concussion. Enter Vick, who tried his best to mount a valiant comeback in the teams 27-20 loss. A week later in Detroit, Vick led the Eagles to a 35-32 win over the Lions. On Monday his head coach, Andy Reid, said that Kolb would return as the teams starter this Sunday when the team traveled to Jacksonville to play the Jaguars. But a day later, Reid did an about-face and Vick got the nod over the man who patiently waited his chance to guide the Eagles offense. And that move could have repercussions in Kansas City. In two games as the Chiefs starter, Matt Cassel has guided the team into the end zone just twice. One of them came courtesy of a long Jamaal Charles run, the other a short pass to tight end Tony Moeaki.Considering the blessed field position Cassel has enjoyed the past two games, that’s far from efficient or acceptable as a starting quarterback. And to assume the coaching staff won’t pull the plug on the Cassel experiment if he doesn’t play well Sunday, even if the Chiefs win, would be a big mistake. They might not have a choice. We talked in clear terms that the Chiefs' opening game against the Chargers was big for this organization. When they traveled to Cleveland last Sunday, again the same was true. This was a game to show their opening victory wasn’t a fluke. And it wasn’t, because Kansas City defeated the Browns on the road. Now Sunday against a wounded 49ers team, Cassel has to show he is indeed the leader of this offense. He’s going to have to win this game for the Chiefs at some point in the fourth quarter. San Francisco might be 0-2, and they might be woeful as a road team, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to lay down on Sunday. This is the game that Cassel makes a statement that he is, without question, the man to lead this team into the playoffs. That means on Sunday he has to execute the offense to perfection. The coaching staff must be more diligent in their use of offensive personnel. They must support Cassel by surrounding him with their ten best players. If not, Cassel could find himself on the bench when the Chiefs travel to Indianapolis in two weeks. The Chiefs have Brodie Croyle as their back-up, but he’s never won a regular season game in five seasons. On the other hand, Kolb has had success as a starter. In Philly, Kolb has been demoted to bench duty as he watches the more mobile Vick run the offense. An offense he thought was going to be under his direction when the season started. I don’t subscribe to the unwritten NFL rule that if you suffer an injury, you lose your starting job. To me, the better player should always play. But in this case, that didn’t happen. Vick isn’t better than Kolb. Sure, he’s more mobile. But as a pocket passer, there is no question that Kolb’s arm strength and accuracy are far superior to Vicks. In his second season in Kansas City, Cassel has really never had anyone over his shoulder who threatened to take his starting job. It’s clear Croyle isn’t that guy. But the sudden availability of Kolb via trade, should have Cassel on high alert Sunday against the 49ers. With a win Sunday, the Chiefs have a golden opportunity to move to 3-0. After the bye week they face their toughest stretch of the season with road games at Indianapolis and Houston. If they should be so fortunate to get the win against the 49ers, they’re going to need their best players on the field in order to compete in those very difficult road contests. That means the quarterback play has to be in mid-season form. And if the coaches even remotely think that Cassel isn’t close, then the Chiefs should make a run for Kolb and get him ready for the Colts and Texans. The trade would be risky and it would be a very difficult move for Kansas City Chiefs General Manager Scott Pioli. But this is a win now league, and this organization has to show the players they're intent on rebuilding a winner in Kansas City. Adding Kolb would help do just that. It would also serve notice to the rest of the teams in the AFC West that the Chiefs are the team to beat in 2010.
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