Cassel Q&A 8/13

[DaFace]

http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2009/08...t_cassel__813/

Q&A WITH MATT CASSEL - 8/13
AUG 13, 2009, 3:25:43 PM


Q: How do you feel about how the offense has shaped up thus far?

MATT CASSEL: “We are making a lot of progress. We are working hard each and every day. There are a lot of things being thrown at us right now in terms of concepts and what we are trying to get done and we are trying to look at a bunch of different things. Overall we are definitely making a lot of strides.”

Q: What are your objectives going into this weekend’s game?

CASSEL: “I think anytime you go into preseason it is a great opportunity for the team and the offense to come together and work on different things whether it is the running game or the passing game. There are a lot new concepts going on right now in our offense in general. I’m sure we will take a lot of different looks at a lot of things this weekend.”

Q: What has it been like going into camp as the starting quarterback?

CASSEL: “It has been great. To be out there each and every day getting the reps, working hard with your teammates and seeing progress being made has been a lot of fun. Hopefully it will pay dividends once we get into the season.”

Q: How close are you to getting into your comfort zone with your new receivers?

CASSEL: “It is a work in progress is what it really is. We are trying to build that chemistry and rapport each and every day that we get to spend together is another day we have to build on that.”

Q: Does building that chemistry make the preseason games more valuable?

CASSEL: “It does. When you go into these preseason games you hope to build that chemistry a little bit more because you are in a game situation, you’re under pressure and you see how people perform.”

Q: How much do you expect to play on Saturday?

CASSEL: “I really don’t know. The coach hasn’t said anything. I am just going to go in there and prepare to play four quarters if I have too.”

Q: There have been a lot of receivers rotating in and out. Does that make it more difficult to develop the timing and chemistry?

CASSEL: “That is what camp is; there are a lot of different guys going in and out of the huddle. There are a bunch of different guys out on the field at any given time and you are trying to just build that relationship with the guys you are in there with. Being a quarterback you have to learn to adjust on the move because sometimes people get injured and you have to have the next best step in place and be ready to go with him.”

Q: Do you feel pressure going into your first game at Arrowhead?

CASSEL: “I’m excited, I really am. I don’t know if pressure is the word I would use but I’m definitely a little antsy, I’m excited for the opportunity to get in front of the Arrowhead fans because it is a historic place.”

Q: Does WR Dwayne Bowe being third on the depth chart worry you?


CASSEL: “I don’t make the decisions going into these games. You would have to ask Coach Haley about that. From what I have seen out there, Dwayne is working hard, he is doing a great job and we are just going to work through it.”

Q: There have been times where the passing game has struggled during camp and times where it has looked good. Is that just normal for training camp?

CASSEL: “It’s part of training camp. There are days when the defense is going to win and days when the offense is going to win. Especially when you get into these practices where it is the second week and they (the defense) have seen a lot of your concepts, they’re jumping routes. It is inevitable that they are going to have some success. They are also playing better which is great to see.”

Q: Are you guys where you want to be right now?

CASSEL: “It is hard to tell. It’s so early in the season and we have been out there for one week. We’ve got the pads on each and every day and we are not game planning anything, we are just installing each and every day. Right now it is hard to tell. Like I said before, we have made a tremendous amount of progress from where we were early on in training camp.”

Q: How involved is Coach Haley with the offense and how hands-on is offensive coordinator Chan Gailey with the quarterbacks?

CASSEL: “We meet with Chan (Gailey). He is not only our offensive coordinator but he’s also our QBs coach so he is really the guy who is handling the day-to-day operation with the QBs and also in terms of play calling. Todd (Haley) is out there and he is overseeing everything that is going on in terms of the overall team.”

Q: Does this feel like your team?

CASSEL: “It does, we are moving in the right direction. We still have a lot of work to go but I am comfortable with the guys now because I have been here a little while. Hopefully we can keep building and building to make this thing a finished product.”

Q: Is this training camp similar to the ones you have been a part of in the past?

CASSEL: “All camps are a grind. You are out there and banging against each other each and every day. We have had some nice weather up here and we have had some bad weather. It has been good to get some adversity playing in the rain already early this year. It has definitely been a tough camp, there is no doubt about it.”

Q: How is your relationship with the other quarterbacks?

CASSEL: “We talk all the time and that’s the great thing, those guys have been very supportive and very helpful in terms of helping me understand things that I have questions about. We have a great group of guys here with our QBs.”

Q: Have you been throwing more than in previous camps?

CASSEL: “My arm is about to fall off right now (laughs). We have gone out there and it has been one-a-day, two-a-day, one-a-day, two-a-day and you have every drill you could possibly think of. Obviously being the starter you get a lot more reps and a lot more throws and that is something I have to monitor going forward here.”

Q: What is your goal going into Saturday?

CASSEL: “My goal is to go out and be more efficient on the offense. Hopefully we will have a lot of success but my goal every time I get on the field is to be efficient, run the offense and do my job.”

Q: Are you running more than you have in previous camps?

CASSEL: “We don’t run much during the course of a practice, the receivers, the running backs and everyone else is doing the running, we are just dropping back five steps and trying to throw the ball. After practice, usually on the one-a-days, we try to make it a point to get our conditioning in.”

Q: When was the last time you have had a preseason like this where you have had this many snaps in practice?

CASSEL: “Last preseason was pretty interesting because Tom (Brady) had a few injuries that he was dealing with throughout the course of the preseason. I went about that preseason receiving a lot of reps and I started every preseason game.”

Q: How much do you want to play in this first preseason game?

CASSEL: “As much as they will let me. The more reps I can get now, the better.”

[KCDC]

When people say they are "making strides" or "making progress," it strikes me as saying our team is bad, but we are trying to get better so that we can be mediocre. I know it's early, but I'd like to hear a coach or player say some part of the team, offense or defense, is "looking good."

[CHIEFS58]

i think mediocre would still be a step up from last year.

[Ebolapox]

repost?

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by KCDC

I know it's early, but I'd like to hear a coach or player say some part of the team, offense or defense, is "looking good."

How about this from the article?

Q: There have been times where the passing game has struggled during camp and times where it has looked good. Is that just normal for training camp?

CASSEL: “It’s part of training camp. There are days when the defense is going to win and days when the offense is going to win. Especially when you get into these practices where it is the second week and they (the defense) have seen a lot of your concepts, they’re jumping routes. It is inevitable that they are going to have some success. They are also playing better which is great to see.”

[BigVE]

Originally Posted by KCDC

When people say they are "making strides" or "making progress," it strikes me as saying our team is bad, but we are trying to get better so that we can be mediocre. I know it's early, but I'd like to hear a coach or player say some part of the team, offense or defense, is "looking good."

They could say "things are looking good" even if they aren't, would that make you feel better?

[KCDC]

They could say "things are looking good" even if they aren't, would that make you feel better?

Sadly, yes. I'm dumb enough to believe that Haley or Cassell will tell me straight.

Frankly, my greater fear is that they are saying that we are "making strides" and they are lying with that. Truth could be that we are getting worse and they are just trying to put a positive spin on it.

[BigVE]

Originally Posted by KCDC

Sadly, yes. I'm dumb enough to believe that Haley or Cassell will tell me straight.

Frankly, my greater fear is that they are saying that we are "making strides" and they are lying with that. Truth could be that we are getting worse and they are just trying to put a positive spin on it.

To me it appears that improvement is inevitable. As bas as we were last year there is almost nowhere to go but UP. We, I think, have better players/talent in several areas, we have, I think, better coaching across the board and we have a better front office. Things are already looking up. What will be difficult is the fact that we have a brutal schedule.

[KCDC]

Coogs, "playing better" is better than "playing worse," I'll grant you. But, in this world of positive spins on anything, it doesn't afford much comfort.

The Detroit Lions are getting better too. They can't get any worse. The Royals are getting better as long as they aren't losing 18 in a row.

I know I sound too negative, but I want some ray of sunshine that some part of our team is good. I think we are okay at QB (crossing fingers), have half an OL, got a couple of good corners, couple of decent safeties, a good punter, one good WR, and maybe an LB or two.

Say what you will about the Vermeil years, but we had a great offense, as a unit. It was a source of hope and pride. That was something to cherish. Herm pretty much trashed the team, but picked up a couple of good corners. Not a fair trade.

Ah well, don't mind me. I hope to see the Chief's preseason game highlights. I don't live locally, so I'll have to find some way to find a video of Saturday's game. If not, I hope the CP bunch will help analyze it carefully to give some glimmer of hope.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by KCDC

Coogs, "playing better" is better than "playing worse," I'll grant you. But, in this world of positive spins on anything, it doesn't afford much comfort.

The Detroit Lions are getting better too. They can't get any worse. The Royals are getting better as long as they aren't losing 18 in a row.

I know I sound too negative, but I want some ray of sunshine that some part of our team is good. I think we are okay at QB (crossing fingers), have half an OL, got a couple of good corners, couple of decent safeties, a good punter, one good WR, and maybe an LB or two.

Say what you will about the Vermeil years, but we had a great offense, as a unit. It was a source of hope and pride. That was something to cherish. Herm pretty much trashed the team, but picked up a couple of good corners. Not a fair trade.

Ah well, don't mind me. I hope to see the Chief's preseason game highlights. I don't live locally, so I'll have to find some way to find a video of Saturday's game. If not, I hope the CP bunch will help analyze it carefully to give some glimmer of hope.

It'll be on NFLN Sunday if you have access to it.

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by DaFace

It'll be on NFLN Sunday if you have access to it.

What time will it be aired?

[wasi]

Sunday 10am EST

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by wasi

Sunday 10am EST

Thanks.

[KcFanInGA]

Originally Posted by KCDC

Coogs, "playing better" is better than "playing worse," I'll grant you. But, in this world of positive spins on anything, it doesn't afford much comfort.

The Detroit Lions are getting better too. They can't get any worse. The Royals are getting better as long as they aren't losing 18 in a row.

I know I sound too negative, but I want some ray of sunshine that some part of our team is good. I think we are okay at QB (crossing fingers), have half an OL, got a couple of good corners, couple of decent safeties, a good punter, one good WR, and maybe an LB or two.

Say what you will about the Vermeil years, but we had a great offense, as a unit. It was a source of hope and pride. That was something to cherish. Herm pretty much trashed the team, but picked up a couple of good corners. Not a fair trade.

Ah well, don't mind me. I hope to see the Chief's preseason game highlights. I don't live locally, so I'll have to find some way to find a video of Saturday's game. If not, I hope the CP bunch will help analyze it carefully to give some glimmer of hope.

Check out NFL Rewind, for 40 clams you can watch this season's games 24 hours after they air. That's how I am gonna catch the games this year, as I live in GA.

[KCDC]

I do have NFL Network. I'll watch it Sunday then. Thanks.