“You have to have the quarterback to win.”

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Matt Conner of Arrowhead Pride posted a two part thought process that annually, every Chiefs fan should engage in: how did those guys in the Super Bowl get there, and how can we replicate that? It’s a great pair of posts.

The money shot comes in Part One where he breaks down the Colts:

If there’s anything we’ve learned in this 2009 season, it’s the same things we’ve come to learn in the several years up until now: you rise and fall with the quality level of your QB. Of the final four teams, three were quarterbacked by Peyton Manning, Brett Favre and Drew Brees. The other featured a dynamic rookie coming into his own, but that team only made it on the back of the NFL’s top defense armed with the NFL’s top defensive mastermind in Rex Ryan. In other words, if you don’t have a top-notch NFL QB, then you better have the best defense (and even then it didn’t work).

And while he seems to posit that the Chiefs are heading on the right track, I believe that the most logical conclusion you can draw from them is that the Chiefs should use that #5 overall pick on Notre Dame’s QB Jimmy Clausen if he’s still on the board (he won’t be), or even consider using it on Oklahoma’s QB Sam Bradford (50/50 chance).

Why? Because the old NFL Draft addage goes: you don’t pass on a franchise quarterback unless you already have one.

And when it comes to Matt Cassel, my friends, the jury is out.

This year’s Super Bowl does make a convincing argument, doesn’t it? You cannot get there without elite talent at QB. So naturally, that should be the position at which you should be the most certain. Spending the #5 overall on QB seems logical if you’re as uncertain about Cassel’s progression as I am.

The timing of this realization (if you’d consider it such) is intriguing. Our new offensive coordinator just joined us after coaching up the best young QB in this Draft. If there’s anybody in this league that can utilize Jimmy Clausen, it’d be former Notre Dame coach and current Chiefs OC Charlie Weis.

Clausen has the capability of being rather special. He comes from a pro offense with good receivers and otherwise questionable talent around him. He has had to make NFL quality throws for his entire career there. And after performing so well at the most widely-televised program in college football, we’d know he’d be prepared for the big stage of Arrowhead Stadium.

Bradford I’m less confident on. Coming off a major injury is one thing, but he stood largely behind the best offensive line in college football his Heisman year, and the couple games that year that he did feel pressure were by most standards very poor games. He would need a considerable amount of grooming compared to Clausen, although I won’t deny that the upside is there.

So you tell me, Addicts: if you are Scott Pioli, and Weis came into your office and said “I can make this kid a stud,” do you turn down Clausen with the 5th overall if he’s still there?

Ehud

Picking a QB at 5 is a no confidence in Cassel. It is also a statement that Pioli was wrong about Cassel. Very unlikely that Clausen is picked. Cassel is still an unknown quantity. Not like JaMarcus Russell who is a known failure. Cassel will get at least 3 years to prove who he is.

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chieflonghair

"You have to have the QB to win" Well I guess you do need a QB,, but I disagree with the whole idea of quarterbacks win games,,, wrong!! the TEAM wins the game,,,, you can argue passing skills, toughness, decision making, fleet of foot, or ability to walk on water but all of these QB's with "handle with care" and "fragile" signs all over them are way overrated, it takes great skills in ALL positions of ALL three departments,,,, I would rather have good overall balance as a team,,, you can keep your overpaid superstars,,,, Matt Cassel is a good example of an overpaid non-superstar, but I still think he will be a good QB for us once the rest of the team skill and balance is put together.............GO CHIEFS

Isla

Unfortunately I agree with Patrick. Pioli is not going to lose face so quickly by admitting he made a $60M error. If only these so called leaders could really lead instead of letting ego get in the way.

Dr. Paine

I think we should sign Casey Clausen off the street instead

luren

汽车用品

Andrew Crocker

Merlin,

The margin of error for teams that do not have a stud QB is precisely zero. Meanwhile, teams that have the Elways, Bradys, and Mannings get consistent shots at the playoffs and some years they can slip into the Super Bowl thanks to a QB that can carry the team.

You don't *need* a franchise QB, but man, your job gets about ten times easier when you have one.

Chad

I have to disagree with this article. We have no idea what the Chiefs have in Cassel because his Off changed 2 wks prior to the regular season, played a horrid schedule to start the season under that brand new offense, had a constant shuffling of the deck at WR and OL, not to mention have no running game whatsoever until Charles took over. There are a lot more questions about Clausen from the experts than I would care to entertain. I vote for putting a solid C and OL, consistency at WR, and Charles and another running wild together to see what Cassel can do. Additionally, I really think they need a slot to be his Welker (see Welker's '08 stats) for taking pressure off when the deeper routes aren't there. And yes, I'm speaking of Shipley.

merlin

Oh, and another point:

Earl Morrall
Joe Kapp
Crag Morton (X2)
Vince Ferragamo
David Woodley
Joe Theismann
Tony Eason
Doug Williams
Jeff Hostetler
Mark Rypien
Neil O'Donnell
Chris Chandler
Trent Dilfer
Kerry Collins
Brad Johnson
Jake Delhomme
Matt Hasselbeck
Rex Grossman

These are all non-franchise QB's that lead their teams to Super Bowl apperances. No you don't have to have the QB, but it certainly helps.

Do I turn Clausen down? I try to auction him off to the highest bidder and trade down a couple of slots.

LOL

There's no Chiefs media figure I hate more than Whitlock.

I genuinely love Clausen as a prospect. I think he'll be special in the NFL. Same with Spiller for that matter.

Patrick Allen

The only situation in which the Chiefs should draft Clausen is if Bradford is also off the board and they want to try to force another teams hand with a draft and trade. But if another team wants Clausen that bad they will probably trade with the Chiefs before the Chiefs would have to draft him. Not only that, trying to draft and trade is very risky with the 5th pick in the draft and most especially if you already have a QB.

It doesn't matter what we think about Cassel. Pioli traded out 2nd round pick for him, invested in him and he isn't going to bring about the shit storm that will occur if he drafts a QB in the top 5 unless he is sure Cassel is a bust.

And as you say friend, the jury is still out.

Though I do love you stirring the pot each week making an argument of a different, outside the box player for the Chiefs at #5. Been reading too much Whitlock?