Chiefs Cassel Is Failing Chiefs - Page 8

Hammock Parties · 10-25-2009, 07:30 PM

http://kan.scout.com/2/912917.html

It’s easy to blame the Chiefs’ terrible pass defense or rotten, handicapped offensive line play for Sunday’s 37-7 blowout at the hands of the San Diego Chargers. But you can do that every week. At some point you have to call out the highest-paid player, so it’s time to lay it at the feet of Matt Cassel.

There’s no question Cassel shares some of the blame for the Chiefs’ 1-6 start. He blew a game against the Oakland Raiders in Week 2 but it was nothing compared to what transpired inside a soggy Arrowhead Stadium Sunday. The Chiefs had 19 net passing yards and zero passing first downs at halftime against the Chargers, and even that total was “inflated” by a two-minute drill. At one point, Cassel had dropped back to pass eight times and completed one pass for a grand total of two net yards.

When it was all over, Kansas City had only three passing first downs despite Cassel’s 25 attempts. His 25.3 quarterback rating, a horrifying statistic in a vacuum, appears even more revolting when you consider that it was the lowest rating a Chiefs’ starter has posted since Tyler Thigpen melted down in Atlanta a year ago.

Yes, we’re now revisiting a level of incompetence from KC’s passing game that we haven’t seen since Herm Edwards was trying to save his job by throwing Thigpen to the wolves.

Sunday’s game was that bad. The Chiefs appeared to be a team that cannot field even an average passing attack, and this came at home against a San Diego team with a mediocre secondary and a terrible pass rush. I’m not sure Shaw-knee Merriman touched Cassel, but it really didn’t matter.

As soon as his pocket became congested against the Chargers, Cassel looked lost. The play was dead. And when Cassel did throw, the results were less than inspiring. Specifically, his accuracy hit the bottom of the barrel against the Chargers.

In the second quarter, Cassel threw an awful pass that was intended for newly-activated wide receiver Lance Long. It was underthrown and nearly intercepted. On the next play, Long got a step deep on his coverage, but once again the pass was underthrown and Long was forced to reach back awkwardly in a failed attempt to catch it.

Were they difficult throws? Sure. But Cassel is the highest-paid Chief. He’s supposed to be a difference maker. He failed to make a difference. The Chiefs, already down 14-0 at that point, couldn’t really afford to punt again, but had to because they simply couldn’t move the ball through the air. At all.

A few plays later, Cassel badly skipped a ball to a wide-open Dwayne Bowe, who would have picked up a first down. It wasn’t a difficult throw, and Cassel had a perfect pocket to pass from. He just dumped the ball right in the dirt. Is there really any excuse for that from the highest-paid Chief?

But what really stings is, at one point, Kansas City had a chance to get back in the ball game. They were down 13 points, had been out-gained 2-to-1, and Arrowhead Stadium was a drippy, depressing, scene. But on their first possession of the third quarter, the Chiefs had scored, then KC’s defense had stuffed San Diego’s offense, and all the momentum was on Matt Cassel’s side.

It was at that point that he dropped back to throw, stepped up and heaved one of those long, graceful, arcing spirals you always see in slow motion on NFL Films highlights. For a brief second, Chiefs fans may have seen Jamaal Charles breaking open, seen the ball sailing through the air and thought – this is it! Matt Cassel is about to throw a 65-yard touchdown pass, no one can run down Charles, and this place is about to go crazy! We’re back in this game!

And then the pass fluttered off to the right as Charles made a hopeless stab at an over-the-shoulder miracle catch. The ball thumped into the wet grass and slipped away, just like the opportunity.

Cassel blew it, and he blew the next play when he badly overthrew a wide, wide open Bobby Wade streaking down the right sideline for what was, at least, a 20-yard gain and potentially a touchdown. The pass wasn’t even close. Wade would have needed a last-second gust of hurricane-force wind to catch up to it.

And that was it. On third and long, Cassel scrambled for two meaningless yards, the Chiefs punted, the Chargers torched KC’s defense for another long touchdown. Game over.

The Chiefs had missed their window of opportunity to get back in the game. When you’re a 1-6 team, those chances don’t come along that often. The highest-paid player on the team has to seize the moment. Matt Cassel failed to do that, and right now he is failing the Chiefs. His performance Sunday was as bad as anything we saw from Thigpen a year ago, and could have been worse. Cassel’s three interceptions could have easily been five. If Bowe doesn’t make a sensational play on the end-zone boundary, the Chiefs don’t even score.

Chiefs fans love to laugh at Oakland’s JaMarcus Russell, who is completing only 45.6 percent of his passes. But Cassel is now keeping him company, just four spots above at 54.8 percent. Cassel is 34th in the NFL in yards per attempt (note that there are only 32 starting quarterbacks) and the Chiefs have the league’s worst third-down conversion rate.

Are the questions that arose around Cassel last season in New England still an issue? It’s hard to argue otherwise. The Patriots had a woeful deep passing game a year ago and Sunday, Charles might as well have been Randy Moss getting wide open down the field only to watch the ball sail over his head. There are no shortage of plays where Cassel holds onto the ball and takes a sack, and at this rate, after taking 47 sacks with the Patriots and already another 23 this season, he may wind up as the most-sacked quarterback in the league over the last two seasons. These are not trends that should be ignored.

The saddest part may be that at times, Cassel actually shows signs of being the franchise quarterback he’s paid to be. Sunday, he made a spectacular throw to Long that would have gone for a touchdown had it not been dropped. He threw gorgeous passes to Bowe for clutch, game-tying touchdowns against the Raiders and Cowboys. He has protected the ball well, been a good teammate, played with heart and determination and said all the right things.

But the Chiefs are 1-6, have one of the league’s worst passing games, and here we are comparing Cassel to Thigpen and Russell. After Sunday, it’s hard to argue he hasn’t been a giant disappointment. The Chiefs had a chance, if only for the briefest of moments, and Cassel failed them. His contract demands success.

Micjones · 10-25-2009, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

Cassel is just wildly inaccurate down the field, he had the problem in NE and it's still with him. His other problem is when he hits his back foot on his drop if his first read isn't open his first instinct is to start moving. He never just drops back and progresses through his reads without running around even when he has a good pocket he does it.

He did that on the Bowe TD yesterday.
His first read wasn't open, he stood tall in the pocket, turned and fired a pass for #82...6 points.

WildTurkey · 10-25-2009, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

He did that on the Bowe TD yesterday.
His first read wasn't open, he stood tall in the pocket, turned and fired a pass for #82...6 points.

He's made some nice throws but he has been madly inconsistent he does seem to do better when the offense is in a quick rhythm tho IMO ....

Micjones · 10-25-2009, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildTurkey

He's made some nice throws but he has been madly inconsistent he does seem to do better when the offense is in a quick rhythm tho IMO ....

I'm not suggesting that he's a world-beater.
I said, myself, earlier today that he cost us 6 points on two separate wayward throws...

I don't know... I guess I'm just the kind of guy to give criticism AND credit where it's due.

**DeezNutz** · 10-25-2009, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

He did that on the Bowe TD yesterday.
His first read wasn't open, he stood tall in the pocket, turned and fired a pass for #82...6 points.

Good point.

And since I've criticized the man a ton today: the throw to Long was just perfect. High-quality NFL throw and one that a guy like Thigpen never makes.

Too bad that Matt Cassel lays dormant most of the time.

WildTurkey · 10-25-2009, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

I'm not suggesting that he's a world-beater.
I said, myself, earlier today that he cost us 6 points on two separate wayward throws...

I don't know... I guess I'm just the kind of guy to give criticism AND credit where it's due.

same here.... rep... I'm just not ready to call him shit after 6 games

Hammock Parties · 10-25-2009, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Good point.

And since I've criticized the man a ton today: the throw to Long was just perfect. High-quality NFL throw and one that a guy like Thigpen never makes.

Too bad that Matt Cassel lays dormant most of the time.

I see things like that and wonder if an offseason in the same offense with the same receivers won't develop more consistency.

Here's hopin'

Micjones · 10-25-2009, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Good point.

And since I've criticized the man a ton today: the throw to Long was just perfect. High-quality NFL throw and one that a guy like Thigpen never makes.

Too bad that Matt Cassel lays dormant most of the time.

Yep, the throw to Long was right on the money as well.
Several of his throws were today. But when you leave points on the board because you missed a wide open receiver fans forget the good ones. And I honestly can't say that I blame them.

blazzin311 · 10-25-2009, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRR

Jay Cutler threw 3 INT's today and the Bears got crushed by the Bungles....does this mean that Cutler is terrible too?

This Cassel hate is ridiculous. He had a bad game...move on. The whole team sucks.
Posted via Mobile Device

Agreed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildTurkey

This..... he's played 6 games for probably the least talented team in NFL history... shit even the best QB's in the NFL need some help... anyone who claims it's all his fault is a ****ing moron

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildTurkey

Nobody knows that he is or he isn't he's played 6 games for this franchise with one of the worst rosters ever. I would like to see what he does on this team with some talent if we ever get any

I agree with this too. It is unfair to have high expectations of Cassel or judge him with the lack of talent overall on this roster. Give it a year or two folks. It's really our only option at this point.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildTurkey

The whole team played like dog shit..... I fail to see how this is some great indictment on Cassel... this team is terrible not an excuse just a fact, honestly I expected his struggling, no o-line, one good but inconsistent WR, and no running game not to mention a brand new offense a week before the season... anyone who expected him to thrive under those circumstances need their heads checked... is he the answer at QB? who knows but it's tough to judge either way based on the start of this season, If Pioli really wants him to be the guy he needs to put him in a situation where he can thrive and he is not even close to that right now

I agree with ya here. Now if the Chiefs have not made some serious improvments by this time next year then I'm going to be concerned. But anyone who expected the Chiefs to even be a halfway decent team this year was kidding themselves. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

Actually I think a lot of people expect Cassel to play much better than he showed today.

This team could be 3-4 if Cassel has raised his level of play to match his bank account.

I don't know if the Chiefs would be 3-4 or not. Fact is no one really knows for sure. I do agree with you that there is plenty of room for improvement both from Cassel and from every other area of the the Chiefs football team. There's just not enough talent on this ball club yet plain and simple.

WildTurkey · 10-25-2009, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

I see things like that and wonder if an offseason in the same offense with the same receivers won't develop more consistency.

Here's hopin'

They need to develop the offense around his strengths... he needs to be the identity of the offense.... and IMO he is at his best in a quick up tempo offense...

Sweet Daddy Hate · 10-25-2009, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildTurkey

yeah that didn't happen so get the **** over it..... I wanted them to draft a QB too but that didn't happen,I however don't use it as a reason to constantly bitch and piss and moan about every little thing Pioli, Haley and Cassel do... shit people bitch about the homers and the do no wrong attitude... I almost think the whole sandy vagina attitude toward every little thing that the new regime does is just as ridiculous

I was speaking in future-tense, you cheeky little monkey. And by the by, I believe I'll enjoy fandom on MY ****ing terms, thank you very much.
When a million fools rush to proclaim the Headmaster of this porta-potty a "genius", I'll be there to remind them of the error of their ways.
I'm consistent like that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildTurkey

They need to develop the offense around his strengths... he needs to be the identity of the offense.... and IMO he is at his best in a quick up tempo offense...

Like...like...THIGGY!

WOOT! ELEVENTY BILLION!!!1111!!!!!

Dear GM,

Field a ****ing football team, you cannoli-eating ****.

WildTurkey · 10-25-2009, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raised On Riots

I was speaking in future-tense, you cheeky little monkey. And by the by, I believe I'll enjoy fandom on MY ****ing terms, thank you very much.
When a million fools rush to proclaim the Headmaster of this porta-potty a "genius", I'll be there to remind them of the error of their ways.
I'm consistent like that.

Like...like...Thigpen!

WOOT! ELEVENTY BILLION!!!1111!!!!!

Dear GM,

Field a ****ing football team, you cannoli-eating ****.

no I never said spread..... The Pats have been quite good over the years running that style of offense even before Moss and Welker...

WildTurkey · 10-25-2009, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raised On Riots

I was speaking in future-tense, you cheeky little monkey. And by the by, I believe I'll enjoy fandom on MY ****ing terms, thank you very much.
When a million fools rush to proclaim the Headmaster of this porta-potty a "genius", I'll be there to remind them of the error of their ways.
I'm consistent like that.

Like...like...Thigpen!

WOOT! ELEVENTY BILLION!!!1111!!!!!

Dear GM,

Field a ****ing football team, you cannoli-eating ****.

Nobody is calling him a genious

some would like to let things play out a little bit before he gets proclaimed one way or the other

blazzin311 · 10-25-2009, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildTurkey

Nobody is calling him a genious

some would like to let things play out a little bit before he gets proclaimed one way or the other

Exactly. I don't see why this is so hard for everyone to understand. I suppose the fact that for the past 3yrs. that's all the Chiefs have done is lose. I don't think it would matter much right now if somebody like Cowher was the Chiefs coach and they were 1-6. There would probably still be people crucifying the coaching and the front office.

Sweet Daddy Hate · 10-25-2009, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildTurkey

Nobody is calling him a genious

some would like to let things play out a little bit before he gets proclaimed one way or the other

If he fields a sub-.500 next year, there's going to be trouble in River City big-time.

He better get his ass to work in this coming off season, and shine like the top of the Chrysler Building.

WildTurkey · 10-25-2009, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raised On Riots

If he fields a sub-.500 next year, there's going to be trouble in River City big-time.

He better get his ass to work in this coming off season, and shine like the top of the Chrysler Building.

I agree.... there is no excuse for this team to not be competitive next year...

10-25-2009, 07:30 PM
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $810478	Cassel Is Failing Chiefs http://kan.scout.com/2/912917.html It’s easy to blame the Chiefs’ terrible pass defense or rotten, handicapped offensive line play for Sunday’s 37-7 blowout at the hands of the San Diego Chargers. But you can do that every week. At some point you have to call out the highest-paid player, so it’s time to lay it at the feet of Matt Cassel. There’s no question Cassel shares some of the blame for the Chiefs’ 1-6 start. He blew a game against the Oakland Raiders in Week 2 but it was nothing compared to what transpired inside a soggy Arrowhead Stadium Sunday. The Chiefs had 19 net passing yards and zero passing first downs at halftime against the Chargers, and even that total was “inflated” by a two-minute drill. At one point, Cassel had dropped back to pass eight times and completed one pass for a grand total of two net yards. When it was all over, Kansas City had only three passing first downs despite Cassel’s 25 attempts. His 25.3 quarterback rating, a horrifying statistic in a vacuum, appears even more revolting when you consider that it was the lowest rating a Chiefs’ starter has posted since Tyler Thigpen melted down in Atlanta a year ago. Yes, we’re now revisiting a level of incompetence from KC’s passing game that we haven’t seen since Herm Edwards was trying to save his job by throwing Thigpen to the wolves. Sunday’s game was that bad. The Chiefs appeared to be a team that cannot field even an average passing attack, and this came at home against a San Diego team with a mediocre secondary and a terrible pass rush. I’m not sure Shaw-knee Merriman touched Cassel, but it really didn’t matter. As soon as his pocket became congested against the Chargers, Cassel looked lost. The play was dead. And when Cassel did throw, the results were less than inspiring. Specifically, his accuracy hit the bottom of the barrel against the Chargers. In the second quarter, Cassel threw an awful pass that was intended for newly-activated wide receiver Lance Long. It was underthrown and nearly intercepted. On the next play, Long got a step deep on his coverage, but once again the pass was underthrown and Long was forced to reach back awkwardly in a failed attempt to catch it. Were they difficult throws? Sure. But Cassel is the highest-paid Chief. He’s supposed to be a difference maker. He failed to make a difference. The Chiefs, already down 14-0 at that point, couldn’t really afford to punt again, but had to because they simply couldn’t move the ball through the air. At all. A few plays later, Cassel badly skipped a ball to a wide-open Dwayne Bowe, who would have picked up a first down. It wasn’t a difficult throw, and Cassel had a perfect pocket to pass from. He just dumped the ball right in the dirt. Is there really any excuse for that from the highest-paid Chief? But what really stings is, at one point, Kansas City had a chance to get back in the ball game. They were down 13 points, had been out-gained 2-to-1, and Arrowhead Stadium was a drippy, depressing, scene. But on their first possession of the third quarter, the Chiefs had scored, then KC’s defense had stuffed San Diego’s offense, and all the momentum was on Matt Cassel’s side. It was at that point that he dropped back to throw, stepped up and heaved one of those long, graceful, arcing spirals you always see in slow motion on NFL Films highlights. For a brief second, Chiefs fans may have seen Jamaal Charles breaking open, seen the ball sailing through the air and thought – this is it! Matt Cassel is about to throw a 65-yard touchdown pass, no one can run down Charles, and this place is about to go crazy! We’re back in this game! And then the pass fluttered off to the right as Charles made a hopeless stab at an over-the-shoulder miracle catch. The ball thumped into the wet grass and slipped away, just like the opportunity. Cassel blew it, and he blew the next play when he badly overthrew a wide, wide open Bobby Wade streaking down the right sideline for what was, at least, a 20-yard gain and potentially a touchdown. The pass wasn’t even close. Wade would have needed a last-second gust of hurricane-force wind to catch up to it. And that was it. On third and long, Cassel scrambled for two meaningless yards, the Chiefs punted, the Chargers torched KC’s defense for another long touchdown. Game over. The Chiefs had missed their window of opportunity to get back in the game. When you’re a 1-6 team, those chances don’t come along that often. The highest-paid player on the team has to seize the moment. Matt Cassel failed to do that, and right now he is failing the Chiefs. His performance Sunday was as bad as anything we saw from Thigpen a year ago, and could have been worse. Cassel’s three interceptions could have easily been five. If Bowe doesn’t make a sensational play on the end-zone boundary, the Chiefs don’t even score. Chiefs fans love to laugh at Oakland’s JaMarcus Russell, who is completing only 45.6 percent of his passes. But Cassel is now keeping him company, just four spots above at 54.8 percent. Cassel is 34th in the NFL in yards per attempt (note that there are only 32 starting quarterbacks) and the Chiefs have the league’s worst third-down conversion rate. Are the questions that arose around Cassel last season in New England still an issue? It’s hard to argue otherwise. The Patriots had a woeful deep passing game a year ago and Sunday, Charles might as well have been Randy Moss getting wide open down the field only to watch the ball sail over his head. There are no shortage of plays where Cassel holds onto the ball and takes a sack, and at this rate, after taking 47 sacks with the Patriots and already another 23 this season, he may wind up as the most-sacked quarterback in the league over the last two seasons. These are not trends that should be ignored. The saddest part may be that at times, Cassel actually shows signs of being the franchise quarterback he’s paid to be. Sunday, he made a spectacular throw to Long that would have gone for a touchdown had it not been dropped. He threw gorgeous passes to Bowe for clutch, game-tying touchdowns against the Raiders and Cowboys. He has protected the ball well, been a good teammate, played with heart and determination and said all the right things. But the Chiefs are 1-6, have one of the league’s worst passing games, and here we are comparing Cassel to Thigpen and Russell. After Sunday, it’s hard to argue he hasn’t been a giant disappointment. The Chiefs had a chance, if only for the briefest of moments, and Cassel failed them. His contract demands success.
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