Chiefs Clark Judge loves Matt Cassel, and so should you. - Page 8

Hammock Parties · 11-30-2010, 04:40 PM

Cassel proving to be difference-maker in K.C.

By Clark Judge
CBSSports.com Senior Writer
Nov. 30, 2010

Let's get this out of the way up front and admit what we should know -- namely, that the Kansas City Chiefs made the right move when they acquired quarterback Matt Cassel.


Matt Cassel's 2010 numbers put him among the league's elite passers. (Getty Images)

They thought they were getting someone who could stabilize the most important position in the game, and they did. They thought they were getting someone who was smart, accurate and reliable, and they did. They thought they were getting someone who could win, and they did. In short, they thought they were getting a quarterback they could trust. And they did.

Matt Cassel is having the best season of his career a year after he, the Chiefs and general manager Scott Pioli took heat for Cassel's underwhelming play -- with one local columnist so outraged that he characterized Cassel as "horrible."

Um, maybe not. Cassel has the Chiefs on top of the AFC West. He's won more games (7) in 11 starts than the club won the past two seasons (6). He hasn't lost at home. He leads the league in touchdown percentage. He's second only to Tom Brady in ratio of touchdowns-to-interceptions. And he's fourth overall in passer rating, ahead of luminaries like Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan.

"Matt Cassel keeps setting the bar higher and higher," coach Todd Haley said after Kansas City's latest victory.

I'll second that. It's not just that the Chiefs continue to win under Cassel's direction; it's what Cassel's done to put them in that position, and the envelope, please: Over his last seven starts Cassel has 18 touchdown passes and one interception. Let me repeat: 18 and 1, a ratio that is better than anyone -- including Tom Brady -- over that period, and tell me that shouldn't put this guy front and center of the national spotlight.

It should. Only it hasn't. And one reason it hasn't is because there's a lingering feeling that Kansas City is overachieving and, well, that the Chiefs will eventually get caught by San Diego anyway. I don't buy into the overachieving argument, but after watching San Diego dissect Indianapolis the other night I do believe the Chargers, not the Chiefs, are the team to beat in the AFC West -- basically because the schedule falls their way in December, a month where they have won their last 18.

But that's a projection. Let's look at what we know, and what we know is that Matt Cassel is everything Pioli and the Chiefs envisioned when they acquired him. OK, so it took offensive coordinator Charlie Weis and a system with which Cassel was comfortable for him to flourish. But that happens. It took Brees four seasons before he started to feel comfortable in San Diego.

No question about it, Cassel struggled last season, but let's be honest: There were an abundance of reasons. One was the change of offensive coordinators immediately prior to the season, with Cassel forced to learn on the fly. Another was the Chiefs' mistake-prone receivers, with Kansas City two flubs away from tying an unofficial record for most drops in a year (51). Still another was the team's inability to run the ball until Jamaal Charles stepped into the huddle midway through the schedule.

Now fast forward to 2010, with Weis refining Haley's system to add a few wrinkles that Cassel might have known or practiced when he was with New England. It was there that Cassel first became a starter, stepping into the lineup for the first time in nine years when Brady was hurt in the 2008 opener. And it was there he was supposed to flop. Only he didn't, leading the Patriots to an 11-5 finish.

Surprising? Yes. But that was the guy Kansas City thought it was getting when it traded for Cassel. And that is the guy it has.

Look, I don't know that kicked in this season, but it's hard to ignore the results. What I do know is that Haley worked with Cassel on being more precise in his drops within the pocket, and Cassel has responded. I also know that having the league's top-ranked running game -- with the Chiefs shredding Seattle for 270 yards -- has helped. And I know the emergence of wide receiver Dwayne Bowe -- one of those guys who last season looked more like a backboard than a pass catcher -- has been a huge plus.

In the end, though, it comes back to Matt Cassel. The Chiefs had Larry Johnson to run the ball in 2007-08, and they couldn't win. They had Tony Gonzalez to catch it then, too, and they couldn't win. And they couldn't win because they didn't have someone, anyone, at quarterback to throw the right passes, avoid the big mistakes and make the smart decisions.
Now they do.

"I think he's an NFL starting quarterback you can win with and win championships with," Pioli said at training camp last summer. "Matt adjusted to a lot of change, showed his competitiveness, resiliency and his ability. Beyond the mental and emotional (aspect) and his competitiveness, he showed the physical ability to be able to win."

Pioli was right. Kansas City is not where it is today without Matt Cassel, and it's high time the club, its G.M., its head coach, its assistants and Matt Cassel himself are recognized for what is working with the Chiefs. And what is working is their quarterback.

Adding Matt Cassel not only was a good move; it was a necessary one. And it has the Chiefs where they haven't been in years. Good for them. Good for Pioli. And, most important, good for Matt Cassel.

jd1020 · 11-30-2010, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

The level of optimism for Cassel after two good weeks is staggeringly more impressive than the level of disdain for 1 1/2 seasons of mediocrity.

We'll see which is the "real" Cassel.

This.

Even Grossman had acouple of good games. I'll wait til Cassel actually does something on his own in a meaningful game.

Hammock Parties · 11-30-2010, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Detoxing

If Cassel is who I think he is right now, he should have another solid game against the Donks and struggle against the Chargers.

If that happens, how would you label him?

A fraud, clearly.

**DaneMcCloud** · 11-30-2010, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Detoxing

McCluster has proved that he's every bit as explosive as advertised. Arenas has made some key plays and filled a HUGE whole in ST that has been void since Dante left.

IMO, Arenas has been somewhat of a disappointment on special teams but he's more than made up for that with his play at nickel/corner.

Considering that Washington was a completely wasted pick in 2009, the Chiefs definitely needed an upgrade at nickel, especially with the injury to Leggett.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Detoxing

Im curious to see how they incorporate McCluster in the offense now that Bowe has emerged.

Theoretically, he should soften the front seven of the opposing defenses and give even more looks to Bowe. If that happens, the Chiefs will definitely have a chance in San Diego.

**Ming the Merciless** · 11-30-2010, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gif Horse

A fraud, clearly.

At least you're honest.

ToxSocks · 11-30-2010, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gif Horse

A fraud, clearly.

You need to get that word out of your head because you don't know how to use it, clearly.

**007** · 11-30-2010, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gif Horse

Just a dab'll do ya!

**DaneMcCloud** · 11-30-2010, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

The level of optimism for Cassel after two good weeks is staggeringly more impressive than the level of disdain for 1 1/2 seasons of mediocrity.

We'll see which is the "real" Cassel.

I expect him to play well against Denver and struggle against San Diego.

But, that doesn't mean that the Chiefs can't beat San Diego, even if he struggles somewhat.

Injuries and player availability will play a key role in determining who wins and loses that game.

**OnTheWarpath15** · 11-30-2010, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

The level of optimism for Cassel after two good weeks is staggeringly more impressive than the level of disdain for 1 1/2 seasons of mediocrity.

We'll see which is the "real" Cassel.

At this point, it doesn't really matter.

He'll be here for the duration of his contract.

So I pray to God that the Cassel of Weeks 11/12 is the real Cassel, and the schmuck who started the other 24 games wearing #7 is gone forever.

stevieray · 11-30-2010, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

These next 5 games will tell us all we need to know about him.

no, it won't.

but it will tell us what we need to know about the team.

I find it funny how fans say..well, if he does this and this and this, then I'll give him praise, like their accepted level of praise actually validates him.

furthermore, fans that aren't willing to take the risk, really don't deserve the reward.

**OnTheWarpath15** · 11-30-2010, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pawnmower

Isn't our lead only one game?

We had a 3 game lead on SD.

Key word being, "had."

ToxSocks · 11-30-2010, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

IMO, Arenas has been somewhat of a disappointment on special teams but he's more than made up for that with his play at nickel/corner.

Considering that Washington was a completely wasted pick in 2009, the Chiefs definitely needed an upgrade at nickel, especially with the injury to Leggett.

Theoretically, he should soften the front seven of the opposing defenses and give even more looks to Bowe. If that happens, we'll definitely have a chance in San Diego.

I understand that Arenas hasn't been able to break one yet, but the guy holds onto the football and looks natural receiving it back there. That's huge IMO. Everytime we fielded a punt last season i almost shat myself. And he's shown he CAN break it. It's only a matter of time. I think he's paying off.

**007** · 11-30-2010, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I expect him to play well against Denver and struggle against San Diego.

But, that doesn't mean that the Chiefs can't beat San Diego, even if he struggles somewhat.

Injuries and player availability will play a key role in determining who wins and loses that game.

I definitely think we CAN win that game. I just don't have the confidence that we WILL win that game.

ToxSocks · 11-30-2010, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

I definitely think we CAN win that game. I just don't have the confidence that we WILL win that game.

We'll need turnovers, maybe some special teams plays. JC will need to have a monster game.

We can find ourselves up 21 points going into the 4th and still lose; that's how good Rivers is playing.

**OnTheWarpath15** · 11-30-2010, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Detoxing

If Cassel is who I think he is right now, he should have another solid game against the Donks and struggle against the Chargers.

If that happens, how would you label him?

An average QB.

One that can beat the Sisters of the Poor in the NFL, but can't win the games that matter most.

The last two weeks have shown us that he has the ability to play like an elite QB against bad teams.

Can he replicate that ability against good teams?

Against good teams on the road?

Or in a game in which Charles/TJ get shut down?

Can Matt Cassel perform like a franchise QB when his team needs him the most?

**Ming the Merciless** · 11-30-2010, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

So I pray to God that the Cassel of Weeks 11/12 is the real Cassel, and the schmuck who started the other 24 games wearing #7 is gone forever.

I suppose this would be easier for "God" to grant than making your incredibly simple brain come to the realization that they are the same person. Cassel did not suddenly become something different 2 weeks ago. This has been ongoing the entire season.

If your head is up your ass, and you pull it out and then see light....it doesn't necessarily mean God turned on a light switch....it might mean your head was in your ass.