My Chief Concerns: The Cassel Conundrum, What Do You Propose?
By author
It is painfully hard to write about the Chiefs right now. Chiefs craziness abounds! Everyone sounds so torn, confused and frustrated. I am torn and confused too. The Chiefs are winning, but winning ugly, but ultimately does it really matter how we win?
Sure, it would make us all feel better if we looked great winning a game, but we should feel better already, right? Would you rather put up great offensive stats and lose the game, or put up terrible stats and win it? You do not even have to answer. You know the answer to that question, don’t you?
For once in five (5) years, (a.k.a. 1,825 days, a.k.a. 43,800 hours), the Chiefs are 2-0 winners to start the season. Enjoy it, because it might not last long, especially with all the trash talking going around here. The players and coaches are not immune to it. You may be downright hurting their team chemistry and feelings. (That line was meant to be funny, but I’m serious). Please tell me that you do not want the Chiefs to lose so you can gloat about how bad Matt Cassel is? I hope not. It is time to build the players up; starting with Matt Cassel.
More after the jump…
Face the fact: Matt Cassel is our starting quarterback this season. (He may even be next season). Cassel has been the most polarizing Chief in recent years. I am not an idiot. I can see he is struggling. I see both sides of the argument with Cassel, but it is time to pick a side. The way I see it, you can either help “build the Cassel up”, or “tear the Cassel” down. I have no complaint with either decision; however, I am choosing to build him up. Why? Because, Matt Cassel is our team leader, like it or not, we better get behind him. The Chiefs will go only as far as Matt Cassel will take them.
Make no mistake about it: Matt Cassel can be good. I will say it again: Matt Cassel can be good. You want proof? Look no further than last year when he had the following games during the 2009 season:
Week 5 vs. Dallas Cowboys; 262 Yards Passing, 2 TDs, 0 INTS, and a 96.3 Rating
Week 11 vs. Pittsburgh; 248 Yards Passing, 2 TDs, 0 INTS and a 100.4, Rating
Week 15 vs. Cleveland; 331 Yards Passing, 2 TDs, 0 INTS, and a 99.1 Rating
Those aren’t elite numbers, but they are good. Admittedly, he had a few bad games in 2009 and a bunch of mediocre games too. He also had a new offense he was learning, new teammates, new surroundings, poor offensive line and bad receivers. (i.e. Bobby Wade, Quinten Lawrence, Mark Bradley, Sean Ryan, etc.) He also had a very bad defense and terrible special teams. Oh, and don’t forget he does not have a lot of playing time under his belt going all the way back to high school. (Yes, I am making excuses).
This year he has the arguably better receivers, a consensus genius of an offensive coordinator, more experience, a drastically improved defense and special teams. But….something is not translating. That is why all of you are so baffled and angry that Matt Cassel has appeared to regress. There has to be a problem. We know he can be a good QB. We have seen it. So what is missing?
Confidence.; his confidence is missing. I know that sounds simple but it is true. I can see it when he drops back. He looks unsure, hurried and inaccurate. He goes to his “check down” on most occasions. He dinks and dunks to the middle of the field (usually to his tight end) or throws to his RBs in the flat. Why? Because those are easy throws with a low percentage of turnover. He does not want to make any mistakes. Especially because Todd Haley will chew his ass off.
The pressure of being a starting QB is getting to him. He has never felt that pressure before. In New England, no one was expecting much from him. He did not really have too much pressure on him when Brady went down, simply because everyone thought New England was done. Last year, he was a new QB on a really bad team. Again, his expectations were not too high. This year is different. He no longer has that crutch. He has to produce in order to see the rest of his 60 million dollar contract. You know it and he knows it. The Administration knows it too.
It sure does not help his confidence when Bowe continues to drop balls, Chambers does not fight to defend an underthrown pass, or when his lineman give him little time and cannot keep the passing lanes open. Couple that with the apparent lack of confidence Charlie Weiss has in the passing game, (receivers, and lineman, not just Cassel), curious play calling, and his regression seems to make sense. He is playing scared. (Yes, more excuses).
What is even worse is the team is now 2-0 despite his play. Tell me that is not even more pressure on him. He knows they are winning without their team leader. Winning that way won’t last long, so what are we going to do about it? What are they Chiefs going to do about it? What would you do about it? I am serious, what do you propose we do about Matt Cassel?
My suggestions: First, relieve the pressure. Lay off him in regards to turnovers. Let him off his “Haley leash” and let him stretch the field. Interceptions will always be a part of the passing game. Second, we need better play calling involving our best players. Cassel will be helped when we give Charles the ball more, and stop running Dexter McCluster up the middle. We need to be more aggressive on offense and not so conservative. I truly think the Chiefs are not used to playing with a lead, and go ultra conservative to run out the clock when they have it. Want proof? To start the second half we were down and opened up the Offense a little more. When we had the lead again we reverted to just trying to protect it.
Don’t get me wrong, I would rather have bad offensive stats and win than great offensive stats and lose. Just ask the 49ers. But deep down inside we all know that this (winning) is not going to last long unless we start scoring on offense.