Krieger: Chiefs' investment in Cassel falling short - The Orange Mane

Bronco Rob · 12-03-2009, 03:09 AM

Krieger: Chiefs' investment in Cassel falling short

By Dave Krieger
Denver Post Columnist
Posted: 12/03/2009 01:00:00 AM MST

the beginning, Matt Cassel was Josh McDaniels' Frankenstein.

A career backup quarterback not only in the NFL, but also in college, Cassel emerged from McDaniels' New England laboratory an apparently finished product who threw for more than 3,600 yards and led the Patriots to an 11-5 record.

He was so good that when McDaniels got his own team in January, he briefly considered a Cassel-for-Jay Cutler trade before his former mentor, Bill Belichick, traded his former pupil to Kansas City.

The Chiefs immediately proffered a six-year, $63 million contract because, clearly, Cassel was a franchise quarterback.

Today, Cassel ranks 24th in the NFL by passing yardage, 22nd by passer rating, 26th by completion percentage and 28th by yards per pass attempt. The Chiefs, whom the Broncos play Sunday, are 3-8.

Cutler and Kyle Orton, who were eventually traded for one another, haven't exactly set the world on fire either, but at least Orton can claim a winning record.

The best thing you can say for Cassel is that it's too early in his Kansas City tenure to say anything.

"Anytime you change teams, I think it takes a little while to get used to different players, different system," McDaniels said. "He's got a different offensive philosophy, different play callers, different receivers.

"So I think a lot of things change when you change organizations. I see that all the time here in my role, so I'm sure he's going through some of those same things himself."

In fact, in Cassel's defense, he was on his second offensive coordinator in Kansas City by the time he played his first regular-season game. That's unstable even by Chiefs standards.

"It's not something I wanted to happen, and it wasn't my initial plan," said Chiefs coach Todd Haley, who replaced Chan Gailey's offensive system with his own at the end of August, two weeks before the opener.

"I was hired very late in the game coming out of the Super Bowl and decided to go a direction that I thought was best for the team at the time. And after getting through most of training camp, it wasn't a snap decision, it was kind of something that built up over time."

Cassel acknowledges the transition has been bumpy.

"It was definitely a huge adjustment when I first got here because I went from being in New England for four years, and then coming in and we were learning Chan Gailey's offense, and then a week before the season Coach Haley took over play-calling responsibility," Cassel said.

"And he really did change up a lot of the terminology and the protections and everything else, so we've kind of had to learn a whole new offense throughout the course of the year. It's been challenging, but at the same time it's been for the better, and coach has done a great job of getting us to try to understand what he's trying to get done."

All three of the quarterbacks in last winter's soap opera have the same excuse, although not quite to Cassel's extent. Cutler joined a dysfunctional offense in Chicago and, trying to do too much, leads the league in interceptions (20). This might be why McDaniels emphasized that Cassel has at least taken care of the ball.

The Bears would have been well-advised to pull a Haley and change offensive coordinators after training camp. They will apparently take the tack Haley rejected and wait a year to do it.

Of the three, only Orton has a winning record. And, interestingly, only Orton doesn't have a lucrative new contract. He has done what McDaniels has asked of him, competently running a modest offense, and the Broncos have been led by their defense.

But the notion that a coach and a system can make a franchise quarterback isn't getting a lot of traction this season. The league's best teams so far, the undefeated Colts and Saints and the 10-1 Vikings, are all led by star quarterbacks who make their teams go.

No one is going to confuse Cassel or Orton with Peyton Manning or Drew Brees this year. Someone could confuse Cutler with Brett Favre, but only because Favre has thrown 20 or more interceptions six times in his career.

Cassel might yet justify the Chiefs' enormous investment, as Cutler might justify the Bears'. But for now, all of last winter's histrionics look like much ado about three pretty ordinary quarterbacks.

http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_13914207

Cool Breeze · 12-03-2009, 07:32 AM

It's year one Krieger
Cassell is in the bottom 3rd of starting qb's with 7 interceptions, but 2nd with 35 sacks.
That tells me he does not force the ball, but holds on to it too long with his porous offensive line.

They gave him a six year deal to build around him. Lets see if Pioli can acquire more beef up front, a running game, and some guys who can catch.
A defense wouldn't hurt too...

On a side note- I hope Doom crushes him this week & pads his stats!

tsiguy96 · 12-03-2009, 07:52 AM

so orton and cutler were traded for each other? or was cutler traded for 2 first round picks, and orton for a 5th...

Beantown Bronco · 12-03-2009, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cool Breeze

Cassell is in the bottom 3rd of starting qb's with 7 interceptions, but 2nd with 35 sacks.
That tells me he does not force the ball, but holds on to it too long with his porous offensive line.

Bingo. This was his MO in New England as well (just ask Jarvis Moss who, because of Cassel, looked like freakin Lawrence Taylor for a few hours last year). I doubt it will ever change.

bronco militia · 12-03-2009, 08:03 AM

The best thing you can say for Cassel is that it's too early in his Kansas City tenure to say anything.

I stopped reading after this

Rabb · 12-03-2009, 08:05 AM

to play Devil's advocate here, I have a hard time placing it all on Cassel but for the kind of money he is getting it is hard NOT to

let's face it, KC wasn't just a QB away from ****...they are still a team away from an NFL franchise

Tombstone RJ · 12-03-2009, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McRabb

to play Devil's advocate here, I have a hard time placing it all on Cassel but for the kind of money he is getting it is hard NOT to

let's face it, KC wasn't just a QB away from ****...they are still a team away from an NFL franchise

Well said.

LonghornBronco · 12-03-2009, 08:14 AM

I have to admit changing offensive philosephy (sp?) a week before the season doomed (no pun intended) Cassell from the start...

OABB · 12-03-2009, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LonghornBronco

I have to admit changing offensive philosephy (sp?) a week before the season doomed (no pun intended) Cassell from the start...

well that, and the fact that he sucks hurt him alot too.

Rabb · 12-03-2009, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orangeandblueblooded

well that, and the fact that he sucks hurt him alot too.

I don't think that is fair really, I don't think he is a bad QB whatsoever

_Oro_ · 12-03-2009, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Of the three, only Orton has a winning record. And, interestingly, only Orton doesn't have a lucrative new contract.

crazyhorse · 12-03-2009, 09:38 AM

The article lacks focus.

1st he states that the QB is falling short. Then goes on to say it's to early to say that.

Then why write it?

Anyway, I agree with most here. It's early yet, but he hasn't shown much to this point.

Popps · 12-03-2009, 09:42 AM

Cassel is the least of their problems. He's looked good at times.

I just don't think it was the right fit for him. You need to build up more of a foundation for a QB like that.

TonyR · 12-03-2009, 10:07 AM

He'll never earn that contract but I think if he was in a better situation he'd be fine. I think if he was in Denver he'd produce similarly, perhaps better, than Orton has. And I don't say that as a knock on Orton, just that Cassel proved himself in McD's system last year and he's probably more skilled all around than Orton.

SJ Bronco · 12-03-2009, 10:15 AM

In his defense, it's really hard to hit open receivers from the bottom of an 800 pound pile, and hard to concentrate with more defenders in your backfield than running backs.

Bronco Rob · 12-03-2009, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McRabb

to play Devil's advocate here, I have a hard time placing it all on Cassel but for the kind of money he is getting it is hard NOT to

let's face it, KC wasn't just a QB away from ****...they are still a team away from an NFL franchise

baja · 12-03-2009, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsiguy96

so orton and cutler were traded for each other? or was cutler traded for 2 first round picks, and orton for a 5th...

2 1's and a 3rd.

BroncoBuff · 12-03-2009, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cool Breeze

It's year one Krieger
Cassell is in the bottom 3rd of starting qb's with 7 interceptions, but 2nd with 35 sacks.
That tells me he does not force the ball, but holds on to it too long with his porous offensive line.

Good points. It's fun to think he's a bust and the chefs wasted all that money, but it's way too early to be sure.

tsiguy96 · 12-03-2009, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baja

2 1's and a 3rd.

i was being sarcastic, that dbag wrote that they were traded for each other.

Bob's your Information Minister · 12-03-2009, 09:15 PM

Krieger didn't even touch on Cassel's biggest issues: inaccuracy and fumbling, and his god-awful long ball.

Cassel's arm has been scattershot this year and he leads the league in fumbles.

KCStud · 12-03-2009, 10:01 PM

The Chiefs have had problems this year, but Cassel has not been the focal point of any of them (except last week). Put an OL in front of him and resign Chambers to a long term deal and you will see a better QB.
Yes he does hold onto the ball too long at times and no doesn't have the strongest arm, but he also doesn't turn the ball over and throw the ball up for grabs like other QB's (calling Jay Cutler on line 2)

ScottXray · 12-03-2009, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob's your information minister

krieger didn't even touch on cassel's biggest issues: Inaccuracy and fumbling, and his god-awful long ball.

Cassel's arm has been scattershot this year and he leads the league in fumbles.

my god....a griese clone.

Bob's your Information Minister · 12-04-2009, 12:11 AM

Matt Cassel wishes he was Brian Griese.

Given protection Griese could pick a fly off a warthog's ass.

Cassel misses the mark like Tyler Thigpen at times.

Bronco Rob · 12-07-2009, 03:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob's your Information Minister

Matt Cassel wishes he was Brian Griese.

Given protection Griese could pick a fly off a warthog's ass.

Cassel misses the mark like Tyler Thigpen at times.

M. Cassel 10/29 84Yrds 34.5% 0TDS 2INTS 14.6 QBR

The Moops · 12-07-2009, 04:01 AM

Gee, I'm surprised that all that money the Lions have paid for Scott Mitchell and it's not working out . . . I mean,

Gee, I'm surprised that all that money the Bills are paying for Rob Johnson and it's not working out . . . I mean,

Gee, I'm surprised that all that money the Chiefs are paying for Matt Cassel and it's not working out . . .

Gee, I'm surprised as anyone!

One hit wonders do not always translate long-term success...

12-03-2009, 03:09 AM	#1
Bronco Rob Ring of Famer There's A New Sheriff In Town Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 4,588 Adopt-a-Bronco: Bill Vinovich	Krieger: Chiefs' investment in Cassel falling short Krieger: Chiefs' investment in Cassel falling short By Dave Krieger Denver Post Columnist Posted: 12/03/2009 01:00:00 AM MST the beginning, Matt Cassel was Josh McDaniels' Frankenstein. A career backup quarterback not only in the NFL, but also in college, Cassel emerged from McDaniels' New England laboratory an apparently finished product who threw for more than 3,600 yards and led the Patriots to an 11-5 record. He was so good that when McDaniels got his own team in January, he briefly considered a Cassel-for-Jay Cutler trade before his former mentor, Bill Belichick, traded his former pupil to Kansas City. The Chiefs immediately proffered a six-year, $63 million contract because, clearly, Cassel was a franchise quarterback. Today, Cassel ranks 24th in the NFL by passing yardage, 22nd by passer rating, 26th by completion percentage and 28th by yards per pass attempt. The Chiefs, whom the Broncos play Sunday, are 3-8. Cutler and Kyle Orton, who were eventually traded for one another, haven't exactly set the world on fire either, but at least Orton can claim a winning record. The best thing you can say for Cassel is that it's too early in his Kansas City tenure to say anything. "Anytime you change teams, I think it takes a little while to get used to different players, different system," McDaniels said. "He's got a different offensive philosophy, different play callers, different receivers. "So I think a lot of things change when you change organizations. I see that all the time here in my role, so I'm sure he's going through some of those same things himself." In fact, in Cassel's defense, he was on his second offensive coordinator in Kansas City by the time he played his first regular-season game. That's unstable even by Chiefs standards. "It's not something I wanted to happen, and it wasn't my initial plan," said Chiefs coach Todd Haley, who replaced Chan Gailey's offensive system with his own at the end of August, two weeks before the opener. "I was hired very late in the game coming out of the Super Bowl and decided to go a direction that I thought was best for the team at the time. And after getting through most of training camp, it wasn't a snap decision, it was kind of something that built up over time." Cassel acknowledges the transition has been bumpy. "It was definitely a huge adjustment when I first got here because I went from being in New England for four years, and then coming in and we were learning Chan Gailey's offense, and then a week before the season Coach Haley took over play-calling responsibility," Cassel said. "And he really did change up a lot of the terminology and the protections and everything else, so we've kind of had to learn a whole new offense throughout the course of the year. It's been challenging, but at the same time it's been for the better, and coach has done a great job of getting us to try to understand what he's trying to get done." All three of the quarterbacks in last winter's soap opera have the same excuse, although not quite to Cassel's extent. Cutler joined a dysfunctional offense in Chicago and, trying to do too much, leads the league in interceptions (20). This might be why McDaniels emphasized that Cassel has at least taken care of the ball. The Bears would have been well-advised to pull a Haley and change offensive coordinators after training camp. They will apparently take the tack Haley rejected and wait a year to do it. Of the three, only Orton has a winning record. And, interestingly, only Orton doesn't have a lucrative new contract. He has done what McDaniels has asked of him, competently running a modest offense, and the Broncos have been led by their defense. But the notion that a coach and a system can make a franchise quarterback isn't getting a lot of traction this season. The league's best teams so far, the undefeated Colts and Saints and the 10-1 Vikings, are all led by star quarterbacks who make their teams go. No one is going to confuse Cassel or Orton with Peyton Manning or Drew Brees this year. Someone could confuse Cutler with Brett Favre, but only because Favre has thrown 20 or more interceptions six times in his career. Cassel might yet justify the Chiefs' enormous investment, as Cutler might justify the Bears'. But for now, all of last winter's histrionics look like much ado about three pretty ordinary quarterbacks. http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_13914207

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12-03-2009, 07:32 AM	#2
Cool Breeze Ring of Famer Broncos Rock! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: south of town Posts: 1,221	It's year one Krieger Cassell is in the bottom 3rd of starting qb's with 7 interceptions, but 2nd with 35 sacks. That tells me he does not force the ball, but holds on to it too long with his porous offensive line. They gave him a six year deal to build around him. Lets see if Pioli can acquire more beef up front, a running game, and some guys who can catch. A defense wouldn't hurt too... On a side note- I hope Doom crushes him this week & pads his stats!

12-03-2009, 07:52 AM	#3
tsiguy96 Ring of Famer New to the Forum Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 12,559 Adopt-a-Bronco: None	so orton and cutler were traded for each other? or was cutler traded for 2 first round picks, and orton for a 5th...

12-03-2009, 08:03 AM	#5
bronco militia Ring of Famer THE GREATEST Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: colorado springs, co Posts: 22,591	The best thing you can say for Cassel is that it's too early in his Kansas City tenure to say anything. I stopped reading after this

12-03-2009, 08:05 AM	#6
Rabb Zombie Slayer Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 5,258 Adopt-a-Bronco: Von Miller	to play Devil's advocate here, I have a hard time placing it all on Cassel but for the kind of money he is getting it is hard NOT to let's face it, KC wasn't just a QB away from ****...they are still a team away from an NFL franchise

12-03-2009, 08:14 AM	#8
LonghornBronco Ring of Famer Hook'em Horns Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Austin Posts: 1,356 Adopt-a-Bronco: Rahim Moore	I have to admit changing offensive philosephy (sp?) a week before the season doomed (no pun intended) Cassell from the start...

12-03-2009, 09:38 AM	#12
crazyhorse All Motor!! You can only hope to contain me Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 7,338	The article lacks focus. 1st he states that the QB is falling short. Then goes on to say it's to early to say that. Then why write it? Anyway, I agree with most here. It's early yet, but he hasn't shown much to this point.

12-03-2009, 09:42 AM	#13
Popps TEAM FIRST. Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 29,786	Cassel is the least of their problems. He's looked good at times. I just don't think it was the right fit for him. You need to build up more of a foundation for a QB like that.

12-03-2009, 10:07 AM	#14
TonyR Franchise Poster Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Mid-Atlantic Posts: 15,600	He'll never earn that contract but I think if he was in a better situation he'd be fine. I think if he was in Denver he'd produce similarly, perhaps better, than Orton has. And I don't say that as a knock on Orton, just that Cassel proved himself in McD's system last year and he's probably more skilled all around than Orton.

12-03-2009, 10:15 AM	#15
SJ Bronco Ring of Famer Real Tree, No Seeds Join Date: May 2001 Location: San Jose Ca Posts: 9,798 Adopt-a-Bronco: John Elway	In his defense, it's really hard to hit open receivers from the bottom of an 800 pound pile, and hard to concentrate with more defenders in your backfield than running backs.

12-03-2009, 09:15 PM	#20
Bob's your Information Minister Chiefs > Broncos Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 25,922 Adopt-a-Bronco: CHRIS KUPER!!!	Krieger didn't even touch on Cassel's biggest issues: inaccuracy and fumbling, and his god-awful long ball. Cassel's arm has been scattershot this year and he leads the league in fumbles.

12-03-2009, 10:01 PM	#21
KCStud Ring of Famer AmeriStanzi! Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 4,019 Adopt-a-Bronco: None	The Chiefs have had problems this year, but Cassel has not been the focal point of any of them (except last week). Put an OL in front of him and resign Chambers to a long term deal and you will see a better QB. Yes he does hold onto the ball too long at times and no doesn't have the strongest arm, but he also doesn't turn the ball over and throw the ball up for grabs like other QB's (calling Jay Cutler on line 2)

12-04-2009, 12:11 AM	#23
Bob's your Information Minister Chiefs > Broncos Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 25,922 Adopt-a-Bronco: CHRIS KUPER!!!	Matt Cassel wishes he was Brian Griese. Given protection Griese could pick a fly off a warthog's ass. Cassel misses the mark like Tyler Thigpen at times.

12-07-2009, 04:01 AM	#25
The Moops Old School Dude Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Princeton, NJ Posts: 1,115 Adopt-a-Bronco: None	Gee, I'm surprised that all that money the Lions have paid for Scott Mitchell and it's not working out . . . I mean, Gee, I'm surprised that all that money the Bills are paying for Rob Johnson and it's not working out . . . I mean, Gee, I'm surprised that all that money the Chiefs are paying for Matt Cassel and it's not working out . . . Gee, I'm surprised as anyone! One hit wonders do not always translate long-term success...