Deep Thoughts: By OnTheWarpath58

[JD10367]

Cassel may or may not be developing a case of Drew Bledsoeitis. This is a condition where, after being hit so many times and not having faith in your OL and skill players, you develop a.) happy feet, b.) lock onto a WR without seeing options, c.) hold onto the ball too long and get sacked, and/or d.) get skittish and throw the ball away too early. Having said that, Cassel is young enough and talented enough to work through it.

One issue is the same one I see with my Patriots: shitting OCing and playcalling. Both Brady and Cassel suffered similar fates: when they were allowed to open things up and do what they do best, they did well, but when the shitty offensive calling got in the way the team sucked. 1st down, run for 1. 2nd down, run for 1. 3rd down, incomplete (since 3rd and long is an obvious passing down). Punt. NO team will look good doing that.

Say what you want about him, but Cassel's not the problem on your team. Starting QB is low down on your list of worries. Frankly, if my Patriots had held onto him and let Brady come back slowly, the Pats would be 5-0 right now.

[DaneMcCloud]

Excellent analysis, OTWP58!

The I noticed immediately was that when Smith replaced Albert and Alleman replaced Goof, the running lanes opened up, Cassel appeared more confident and the offense put together a good drive. Why Goof returned to the game was beyond me.

The bottom line for me is that Alleman is far superior to Goof and that the Chiefs need to get Wade Smith on the field, whether it's at center or right tackle.

He's far too athletic to be sitting on the bench.

[KCUnited]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Excellent analysis, OTWP58!

The I noticed immediately was that when Smith replaced Albert and Alleman replaced Goof, the running lanes opened up, Cassel appeared more confident and the offense put together a good drive. Why Goof returned to the game was beyond me.

The bottom line for me is that Alleman is far superior to Goof and that the Chiefs need to get Wade Smith on the field, whether it's at center or right tackle.

He's far too athletic to be sitting on the bench.

Was the reason Smith got in because Eat Dookie was dinged? He's listed behind Waters and Niswanger on the depth chart with Dookie at the back up Tackle spot.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

Was the reason Smith got in because Eat Dookie was dinged? He's listed behind Waters and Niswanger on the depth chart with Dookie at the back up Tackle spot.

Nsuckwe was inactive. Why the Chiefs tried him at right tackle after he effectively started 15 games for the Dolphins at right guard is way beyond my ability to comprehend.

I believe that Wade Smith is their "utility" lineman, meaning he can play any spot on the line and fill in when needed.

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Excellent analysis, OTWP58!

The I noticed immediately was that when Smith replaced Albert and Alleman replaced Goof, the running lanes opened up, Cassel appeared more confident and the offense put together a good drive. Why Goof returned to the game was beyond me.

The bottom line for me is that Alleman is far superior to Goof and that the Chiefs need to get Wade Smith on the field, whether it's at center or right tackle.

He's far too athletic to be sitting on the bench.

You'd think our awesome coaching staff would have the best guys out there

[chiefs1111]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Excellent analysis, OTWP58!

The I noticed immediately was that when Smith replaced Albert and Alleman replaced Goof, the running lanes opened up, Cassel appeared more confident and the offense put together a good drive. Why Goof returned to the game was beyond me.

The bottom line for me is that Alleman is far superior to Goof and that the Chiefs need to get Wade Smith on the field, whether it's at center or right tackle.

He's far too athletic to be sitting on the bench.

well,lets hope Haley notices this and makes the changes....

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Excellent analysis, OTWP58!

The I noticed immediately was that when Smith replaced Albert and Alleman replaced Goof, the running lanes opened up, Cassel appeared more confident and the offense put together a good drive. Why Goof returned to the game was beyond me.

The bottom line for me is that Alleman is far superior to Goof and that the Chiefs need to get Wade Smith on the field, whether it's at center or right tackle.

He's far too athletic to be sitting on the bench.

100% correct. It wasn't just confidence. It was fundamentals too. When Cassel actually had a window to look through, you could see him going through his progressions like a real QB. Few top-tier QBs have even a fraction of the protection issues he has to deal with.

If Haley doesn't bench Goff after this game, then somebody needs to sit him the **** down.

[Sully]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Getting ready to watch the broadcast now, but I thought I'd share my thoughts from yesterday with Tiny and Clayton watching from Section 334 at Arrowhead.



Do they call it "offense" because it's offensive?

Watching from the upper level end zone gives you an opporunity to see the entire field, plays develop, etc - and just as suspected, our WR's ARE getting open. Cassel IS holding the ball too long. I lost count at how many times Bowe wasn't the 1st or second read.

There were a few plays that come to mind that Clay and I discussed. One was a completion to Ryan, where he ran 10-15 yards up the seam, then hitched, and Cassel hit him. Cassel's eyes never left Ryan, and I asked where the **** he would have gone with the ball had Ryan not been open. You can't lock onto one ****ing guy in this league.

Another, where Bowe ran a 10 yard out, was wide open, and Cassel threw the ball away.

Guys WERE open yesterday, but Cassel has to realize that guys aren't going to be WIDE ****ING OPEN like they were in NE. If the WR has a step, get the ****ing ball in there.

Which he did on the game tying drive. So if we can program Matt Cassel's brain to think that every drive is do or die, he might become a solid QB. Otherwise, we have a "franchise QB" that's afraid to throw the ball in tight spots.

Speaking of OL, pass protection and run blocking became noticably improved when Goff left the game.

I agree. I think he is so used to not having time, that those few instances where he does have the time to go to a 2nd or 3rd read, the internal clock is telling him to lock on. I hope we haven't broken the guy...but he seemed very David Carr-ish. That said, I still was impressed with his guts.

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

So, should they call the defense "offense" as well? They are offensive too.

I'll start with the only two positives I saw.

Glenn Dorsey had his best game of the season. And I thought that Flowers had a good game as well, though I don't recall them throwing at him much - there were several plays that he either made the play in run support, or turned the RB back inside to the big boys, usually Mays.

Mike Brown is a slower, dumber, undisciplined version of Bernard Pollard. I'm sure that Leggett is getting all the blame for the Austin TD's, but had Brown done his job, they would have been 15 yard gains instead of 60.

Mike Vrabel shoudl stick to playing TE, because he's ****ing worthless as a LB.

Another game giving up 500 yards of offense, 150 of it on the ground, and I'm sure someone, somewhere has said something to the effect of the "defense is getting better." Bullshit.

I think Dorsey had a better game last week, but have been very impressed with him the past two weeks.

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

The Cowboys were the gift that kept on giving, and we said "**** you."

I don't recall a game where the opposition did this much to give a game to the Chiefs. A bounty of gifts wrapped in nice paper and a bow, and we shunned it like it was socks and underwear from Great Aunt Gertrude.

13 penalties. 4 fumbles, two of which we recovered and started drives in/near the red zone. (Thanks for half out points, Dallas!) Austin dropped 2 TD passes, and there was a 3rd at our end of the stadium that was dropped, and I don't recall who the WR was.

And the best gift of all: Starting a drive in OT from the 50 ****ing yard line, and getting ONE YARD. Nothing like getting that bike you wanted for Christmas, then getting so excited you decided to take it for a spin before Dad installed the seat. Ouch.

Nothing to add to this...

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Someone tell Dorothy that "there's no place like home" is a crock of shit

At bare minimum, half the stadium was in blue, and personally I think we were outnumbered. Reminded me of the game in STL back in 2006 where we outnumbered Rams fans. Dallas fans were loader when thier team needed it that Chiefs fans were, crowd noise was even a factor on an offensive penalty we committed.

Wait 'til Pittsburgh comes in, it'll be 75/25 Steelers fans.

Greatest fans in the NFL, my ass.



That's it from memory, I'll probably post additional thoughts as the TV broadcast sparks some more.

I was livid leaving the game yesterday. I promised myself I wasn't going to let games affect me this year, and so far they haven't, but the fact that, IMO, it was at least 75% Cowboys fans in our place was bullcrap. KC fans have proven we aren't the greatest fans in the NFL.
We have proven that we belong among the elite of fair-weather fans, though.

[Micjones]

Cassel is definitely holding on to the ball too long in some situations.
No question about that.

To win he'll need to take more chances, but he will also need this Offensive Line to give him time to go through his reads.

He's not turning the ball over so I suppose all isn't lost.

[DaWolf]

Originally Posted by Micjones

Cassel is definitely holding on to the ball too long in some situations.
No question about that.

To win he'll need to take more chances, but he will also need this Offensive Line to give him time to go through his reads.

He's not turning the ball over so I suppose all isn't lost.

I have a feeling that after the Oakland game, he was basically told not to turn the ball over, which is leading to a lot of the hesitation. When a coach is constantly pounding into your head that turnovers are unacceptable, you are not going to be taking chances, especially with this O.

The reason Trent Green had so many INTs his first year here was that Vermeil was installing a super aggressive passing offense, which preaches throwing downfield and taking chances. They didn't stray too far from that even though the first year they didn't have the talent they needed. Right now you've got to question how these guys are being coached...

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by DaWolf

I have a feeling that after the Oakland game, he was basically told not to turn the ball over, which is leading to a lot of the hesitation. When a coach is constantly pounding into your head that turnovers are unacceptable, you are not going to be taking chances, especially with this O.

The reason Trent Green had so many INTs his first year here was that Vermeil was installing a super aggressive passing offense, which preaches throwing downfield and taking chances. They didn't stray too far from that even though the first year they didn't have the talent they needed. Right now you've got to question how these guys are being coached...

Excellent point. Haley has stressed the importance of not turning the ball over since the off-season program began. I'm sure if he had his choice he'd rather Cassel go down than get picked off.

I think the playcalls substantiate that claim.

[B_Ambuehl]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Our WR's ARE getting open. Cassel IS holding the ball too long. I lost count at how many times Bowe wasn't the 1st or second read.

There were a few plays that come to mind that Clay and I discussed. One was a completion to Ryan, where he ran 10-15 yards up the seam, then hitched, and Cassel hit him. Cassel's eyes never left Ryan, and I asked where the **** he would have gone with the ball had Ryan not been open. You can't lock onto one ****ing guy in this league.

Another, where Bowe ran a 10 yard out, was wide open, and Cassel threw the ball away.

Guys WERE open yesterday, but Cassel has to realize that guys aren't going to be WIDE ****ING OPEN like they were in NE. If the WR has a step, get the ****ing ball in there.

Exactly what I said back when we signed him:

http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showp...2&postcount=28

[Buehler445]

Good Analysis OTW. I'm not as low on Cassel as you are. The line blows. It really does. Just badly. People were saying Manning's line is bad and he still makes plays, but the mother****ers we have don't even get out of their stances before they're beat. Did Dallas send anymore than 4 all day? And they still hit Cassel every play.

I still think Barry Richardson should be starting. Goff should retire and we should activate Ndukwe for RG. I was surprised that Wade Smith wasn't epic fail at LT. Very surprised.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

Good Analysis OTW. I'm not as low on Cassel as you are. The line blows. It really does. Just badly. People were saying Manning's line is bad and he still makes plays, but the mother****ers we have don't even get out of their stances before they're beat. Did Dallas send anymore than 4 all day? And they still hit Cassel every play.

I still think Barry Richardson should be starting. Goff should retire and we should activate Ndukwe for RG. I was surprised that Wade Smith wasn't epic fail at LT. Very surprised.

We saw the O-Line improve markedly when Allenman replaced Goff in the game.

It was no surprise that the line play reverted to the same crap as soon as Goff re-entered the game.

[Mecca]

Choice killed us if they had given it to him instead of Barber that would have been a long ass day.