colossal choke by the Patriots yesterday. They've played some terrible football the past 2 weeks. And the way Brady got hammered, I don't think he'll be 100% for their next game for sure.
And WTF was with the switch over to the beginning of the 49ers/Seahawks game when the Saints were going into the two minute drill? Unreal.
Location: Chiefs Kingdom, Yankees Universe, C of Red.
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Originally Posted by Sylvanfan
I really don't know what the Chiefs are trying to do on offence though, as they are a complete mess right now. They need to upgrade the entire unit, so I suppose the best place to start is the line. After that they can find some backs and receivers. Pointless to draft a QB this year as they're financially married to Cassel and he'd just end up busting behind the current line anyways. They're still at least a 2 year project.
I think the Chiefs O-line takes too much blame for the poor play of the QB. Many people assume that the success of the passing game is the result of an elite group up front. That is not the case in the NFL. A QB that has great timing, anticipation, and makes good decisions protects the O-line from mistakes and breakdowns. If the QB can't read the blitz before the snap, sense where the pressure is coming from, move in the pocket, or deliver the ball to the right receiver it will appear that his O-line is not giving him the time he needs to deliver the ball effectively. In reality it is the QB who is at fault for not reading the play and setting up his protection accordingly, staying or moving within the pocket and delivering the ball accurately to the right receiver.
Look at the Patriots O-line with Brady under center and then the following year with Cassel under center. Big difference for that O-line with Brady who is pretty much the perfect example of an elite QB and Cassel who should be on the practice squad.
The Chiefs O-line has done a pretty good job of protecting Cassel this year and giving him time to deliver the ball. Cassel won't move in the pocket or stand up and deliver the ball under pressure. He tucks his head and runs instead of delivering the ball down field and taking a shot. Cassel will never be a good QB if he won't stay in the pocket to pass the ball down field. I was even impressed with Alex Smith's ability to stay in the pocket under pressure and deliver the ball yesterday knowing full well he was going to get creamed. I guess that is the difference between the first overall pick and a scrub like Cassel.
Too bad the Chiefs invested so much money into Matt Cassel. They will never get any better on offense with him under center. He simply doesn't have the physical or mental ability to be an average NFL QB never mind an elite one. Hopefully Pioli learns from his mistake of making a business decision based on emotion.
The AFC has turned into a bit of a dog's breakfast here. Right now it would seem that 10 wins will get you in. But if things get a bit funky here the next couple weeks and it ends up being 9 games for that final spot get out the tie breakers!
The Ravens would set themselves up nicely with a win in Green Bay tonight to get their record to 7-5 and in position to claim one of the AFC Wild Card spots. After tonight the Ravens have @ Detroit, @ Chicago, vs. Pittsburgh, & @ Raiders. They should win 3 of those so if they're 7-5 that gets them 10 wins. If they lost tonight they'll need to win out to get to that number.
Denver who have 8 wins as well as remaining home games against KC and the Raiders seem like a good bet to get to 10 wins which should be golden in the AFC. They do have road games in Indy and Philly though so they can't blow the home games.
Jacksonville has a tough schedule in the next three weeks playing Miami, Indianapolis, @ New England before closing out @ Cleveland. They'll need to pull at least one pretty good upset as well as beat a tough Miami team to finish out with 3 or 2 more wins. But they are the team who control their destiny.
Miami at 6-6 probably need to win out, and they might have a better chance at their own Division. They have @ Jacksonville, @ Tennessee, vs Houston, and vs Pittsburgh. They'd be in a lot better position had they beat Buffalo last week.
Pittsburgh and the Jets both sit at 6-6 and at this point the only thing they can do is win out and pray. The Steelers play Cleveland this week and than vs. Green Bay, vs. Baltimore, and @ Miami. The Jets are @ Tampa, vs. Atlanta than @ Indy and home to Cinci. So they might get teams resting guys the last two weeks to give them half a prayer.
Should be interesting to watch.
New England who are struggling and can't win a real road game do get into the easier part of their schedule here as they have vs. Carolina, @ Buffalo, vs Jacksonville & @ Houston to go.
__________________ "Some guys like old balls"
Patriots QB Tom Brady
Well Burn_baby-burn...I think it's easier to build an above average offensive line to protect an average QB to put up good numbers. It worked with Trent Green.
The Chiefs line is below average and even an elite level QB would be hard pressed to win behind that line, and just as importantly...with those receivers and backs who are also less than average NFL talent.
__________________ "Some guys like old balls"
Patriots QB Tom Brady
Location: Chiefs Kingdom, Yankees Universe, C of Red.
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Originally Posted by Sylvanfan
Well Burn_baby-burn...I think it's easier to build an above average offensive line to protect an average QB to put up good numbers. It worked with Trent Green.
The Chiefs line is below average and even an elite level QB would be hard pressed to win behind that line, and just as importantly...with those receivers and backs who are also less than average NFL talent.
Trent Green was 10 times the QB Matt Cassel is. Obviously he had a lot more talent to work with including future HOF O-lineman Will Shields and Willie Roaf not to mention Priest Holmes and Tony Gonzalez.
Now a WR like Bobby Wade isn't doing Matt Cassel or Brodie Croyle any favors by having alligator arms on one play and Heyward-Bey hands on the next. Still there are a lot of dropped passes by all the Chiefs receivers this season including RB Jamaal Charles. What is the constant between all these receivers? QB Matt Cassel. He over throws receivers, he under throws receivers, he throws behind receivers, and this is when he steps up in the pocket with no pressure to throw the ball.
The only way I can see a team have any success with a QB that has very limited ability like Matt Cassel would be for the team to posses a very, very strong defense with a strong running game. Much like the Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens. I think Matt Cassel would be a good QB for a team like that. He has a great work ethic, prepares well, and is a great teammate. He doesn't make a lot of mistakes in the way of interceptions, because he can't thread a ball through a needle's eye so he simply doesn't try.
There is a reason Matt Cassel hadn't started a game since high school until Brady's injury last year. He isn't comfortable in the pocket, he has a slow delivery and his velocity is average at best. I don't claim to be a NFL scout by any means but even an arm chair QB like myself can spot the obvious. Maybe your seeing things differently than me when you watch the games so please correct me if I'm wrong. But Cassel will not stand up in the pocket and deliver the ball under pressure. Which may be another reason he throws so few interceptions. He just tucks the ball and runs instead of making the throw and exposing himself to a big hit.
Sean Payton: "We're going for it.''
Payton's about to have a lot more admirers around the United States. He told me Saturday he's not going to take the foot off the accelerator down the stretch, not even if the Saints have homefield advantage clinched in the NFC playoffs. The Saints, instead of taking the last game or two to let players heal for the playoffs, will try to make history if they're in position. They're aiming for a perfect season...
When I asked Meachem about it Sunday, he said, "I feel good about that. We always want to play. If our coach says that, we've got to back him and go out and do it.''
I like the idea, unless Brees gets his ankle rolled up on in the 4th quarter of the last game against Carolina, then I hate the idea.
I like the idea, unless Brees gets his ankle rolled up on in the 4th quarter of the last game against Carolina, then I hate the idea.
I like the idea as well. It seemed to work for the Patriots. Injury can happen at any time. Brees could get his ankle rolled in the first quarter of the semi finals. Keep the players focused and in game shape seems like the best way to prepare for the NFL play offs.
I can't see a team being very successfully in the post season filled with a roster of players who are fine taking games off until the playoffs. Competitors live to compete and win. You would think it would eat somebody like Peyton Manning alive to sit on the sidelines with a clip board.
Trent Green was 10 times the QB Matt Cassel is. Obviously he had a lot more talent to work with including future HOF O-lineman Will Shields and Willie Roaf not to mention Priest Holmes and Tony Gonzalez.
Don't forget that Trent Green was like 30 years old when he got to KC too, whereas Cassel is still relatively young and pretty inexperienced. Trent Green was god awful his first year as the Chiefs QB and that was with players like Holmes, Gonzalez, Roaf, Shields on his offence. Jason Whitlock hated him too. Than again Whitlock would hate himself if he was Chiefs QB, he's a ######. Cassel has nothing even close to that to work with, and is starting with a lot less experience at the position. The Chiefs paid him too much, but I'd give him the rest of this year and next year.
I'd start building the rest of that offence first and look to get my next QB in a couple years when the team might be ready to win a few games. Carl and Herm absolutely ruined the team, and it's a 2-3 year project to fix it unfortunately. They're miles behind everyone in the Division in terms of talent, and sadly the Raiders may finally be getting a bit smarter about how they deploy their underachievers.
__________________ "Some guys like old balls"
Patriots QB Tom Brady
Location: Chiefs Kingdom, Yankees Universe, C of Red.
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Originally Posted by Sylvanfan
Don't forget that Trent Green was like 30 years old when he got to KC too, whereas Cassel is still relatively young and pretty inexperienced. Trent Green was god awful his first year as the Chiefs QB and that was with players like Holmes, Gonzalez, Roaf, Shields on his offence. Jason Whitlock hated him too. Than again Whitlock would hate himself if he was Chiefs QB, he's a ######. Cassel has nothing even close to that to work with, and is starting with a lot less experience at the position. The Chiefs paid him too much, but I'd give him the rest of this year and next year.
I'd start building the rest of that offence first and look to get my next QB in a couple years when the team might be ready to win a few games. Carl and Herm absolutely ruined the team, and it's a 2-3 year project to fix it unfortunately. They're miles behind everyone in the Division in terms of talent, and sadly the Raiders may finally be getting a bit smarter about how they deploy their underachievers.
Green set a Chiefs record with 24 interceptions his first year in KC if memory serves. At the time Vermeil blamed a lot of that on the receivers not understanding the offense. Green knew the offense already from his time with Vermeil in St. Louis. In that system the QB throws to spots in the field. The receivers job was to meet the ball at the right spot at the right time. The following season when everyone had a year in that system under their belts the results were dramatically better. A big knock from the media and other critics about that team was the fact that they didn't have a superstar receiver. Which was hogwash since that offense was the top in the league for three years and Green consistently threw for over 4,000 yards every season. The problem with that team was a cream puff defense.
Green was 30 maybe even 31 his first season in KC. Cassel is 28 maybe only 27. That isn't a big difference in age. Green had a lot more to work with, but also possessed the physical tools to be successful in the NFL. A strong arm, accuracy, the ability to find the right receiver. If that team ever got in a third and long situation I was never worried, they seemed to get the first down every time.
As for Whitlock. I enjoy his column from a humor standpoint and like the fact that he isn't scared to give his opinion, however misguided it may be. But I sure wouldn't take what he says seriously, especially about talent at the QB positing. This is a guy who lobbied for the Chiefs to sign Geoffe George repeatedly. When it comes to Whitlock's take on Cassel the only thing I would agree with is that Pioli seems to be delusional when it comes to his believe that Matt is a franchise QB.
Green set a Chiefs record with 24 interceptions his first year in KC if memory serves. At the time Vermeil blamed a lot of that on the receivers not understanding the offense. Green knew the offense already from his time with Vermeil in St. Louis. In that system the QB throws to spots in the field. The receivers job was to meet the ball at the right spot at the right time. The following season when everyone had a year in that system under their belts the results were dramatically better. A big knock from the media and other critics about that team was the fact that they didn't have a superstar receiver. Which was hogwash since that offense was the top in the league for three years and Green consistently threw for over 4,000 yards every season. The problem with that team was a cream puff defense.
Green was 30 maybe even 31 his first season in KC. Cassel is 28 maybe only 27. That isn't a big difference in age. Green had a lot more to work with, but also possessed the physical tools to be successful in the NFL. A strong arm, accuracy, the ability to find the right receiver. If that team ever got in a third and long situation I was never worried, they seemed to get the first down every time.
Trent Green had a strong arm? From what I remember that was the knock on him, lack of arm strength. He was a bit like Chad Pennington where he had nice touch on his passes, but he didn't have much velocity on his ball. Cassel is 27 the difference in experience is pretty significant still. In time Trent Green learned to stay in there that extra second or make a move to wait for the receiver to get open down the field. Maybe Cassel can too.
Still I think you helped make my point in that if Cassel is lousy again next year with some better players around him who know the system better, than you know he is lousy. But to flip out and get rid of him after this season would be a knee jerk reaction in my opinion.
__________________ "Some guys like old balls"
Patriots QB Tom Brady
Location: Chiefs Kingdom, Yankees Universe, C of Red.
Exp:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sylvanfan
Trent Green had a strong arm? From what I remember that was the knock on him, lack of arm strength. He was a bit like Chad Pennington where he had nice touch on his passes, but he didn't have much velocity on his ball. Cassel is 27 the difference in experience is pretty significant still. In time Trent Green learned to stay in there that extra second or make a move to wait for the receiver to get open down the field. Maybe Cassel can too.
Still I think you helped make my point in that if Cassel is lousy again next year with some better players around him who know the system better, than you know he is lousy. But to flip out and get rid of him after this season would be a knee jerk reaction in my opinion.
The Chiefs are not getting rid of him. If it was that easy I would have nothing to worry about. Good or bad the Chiefs are stuck with him.
Maybe I'm exaggerating about Trent Green's arm strength since I pretty much consider him a God. Still he was an absolute joy to watch on Sundays. Not like this team now.
I'm getting so used to losing that I'm shocked at how accepting I am of some of the stats the Chiefs are putting up. The Chiefs gave up over 40 points to back to back opponents for the first time in 27 years. It feels like that is happening all the time. The 44 points the broncos put up was a record for them at Arrowhead. It just seems that the worse the Chiefs get the less surprised I am. My wife thinks I'm insane watching them get killed week in and week out. I tell her it will be worth it when they win the Super Bowl some day. It really makes me wonder how long I'll have to live to see that day?
Maybe I'll elaborate on that more tomorrow....but let me say The University of Phoenix Stadium is BEAUTIFUL!! And Cardinal fans sure know how to party.
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Well that is a pretty significant win for the Pack tonight. With a record of 8-4 it gives them a bit of breathing room here in terms of a playoff spot.
As for the Ravens that one hurt because now they're forced to go into Pittsburgh and beat the Steelers to get to 10 wins.
Now that I know the week 13 results
1. Indy, pretty easily the number one seed
2.San Diego, laugh at Norv all you want his Charger teams win in December
3.Cincinatti, I think they'll finish 11-5
4.New England, Miami will regret that loss to Buffalo
5.Denver, they'll win enough games to avoid the mess
6.Jacksonville, They'll win a mutli team tie breaker due to a better AFC Conference record.
NFC
1.New Orleans, they might go 16-0
2.Minnesota, they'll falter a bit here in the final quarter
3.Philly, Will beat Dallas next week and be in good shape
4.Arizona, They'll sew the Division up early again
5.Green Bay, will win 10 games and get the first wild card
6.New York Giants, the head to head wins over Dallas save them.
__________________ "Some guys like old balls"
Patriots QB Tom Brady
6.Jacksonville, They'll win a mutli team tie breaker due to a better AFC Conference record.
.
I see 3 losses on Jacksonville's schedule. I don't think they get in.
__________________ I am in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection, but with Montana it is love." - John Steinbeck
I see 3 losses on Jacksonville's schedule. I don't think they get in.
The way this season has been going of late, they probably end up winning 3 of those games. They always seem to play Indy tough at home, so I wouldn't be surprised to see them being the team who knocks off the Colts. In the last quarter of the season things got pretty weird and I'm thinking it continues on through to the end.
__________________ "Some guys like old balls"
Patriots QB Tom Brady
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I have to admit, I have an unreasonable disdain for that franchise. Have from day 1. It started with their ridiculously ugly uniforms and was augmented by that playoff loss in Denver in 1996.
__________________ I am in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection, but with Montana it is love." - John Steinbeck
Wasn't able to post on here yesterday. Just wanted to say I am really impressed with the defense all year. Hayden looked like he didn't miss a beat.
Offensively, i'm really impressed with Pierre Garcon this year. He could have a 1,000 yard season if he can get 75 yards average in the last 4 games. That is exceptional for him. I think he will turn into a special reciever. Wayne-Garcon will be the combo in Indy for awhile.
