Cassel 24th out of 29 quarterbacks in downfield passing.

[JD10367]

Originally Posted by 2bikemike

Personally I think one of the most important things Cassel has done well is protecting the ball. He also has not been knocked around near as much as last year.

He is never going to be a great QB. But he has been playing pretty well. I think that Weiss has a way of making his QB's better. He has certainly done that with Cassel. I am willing to give Cassel the benefit of doubt and hope he can take a few more steps toward being better.

This. His protection has been better (in another thread there's a comparison between Cassel and Brady and IIRC Cassel has 5 sacks to Brady's 12). Brady has not looked that great at many points this season, and it's usually when he's under the most pressure. Again, as has been the case for a season and a half now, Cassel's problems can't ALL be blamed on the O-line, but when they play better it helps a lot.

The bottom line is this: playing defense and running the ball is a fine way to win a Super Bowl. Ask Brian Billick, who won one with Trent freakin' Dilfer. Or the Colts, who only finally won a SB when they played a little D and ran the ball (the Great Peyton was the least important player on the field that day IMO). Or even Elway, who finally only won SBs when he had a running game. I don't think the Chiefs will mind if Matt Cassel gets mentioned along with Doug Williams and Jeff Hostetler and Trent Dilfer as "one of those mediocre QBs who won a Super Bowl".