Coaching Matt Cassel

When I was at training camp one thing I wanted to see with the Quarterbacks was specific.  For Cassel I wanted to see him throwing vertically.  I felt with the wide receivers we had, that it was necessary for Cassel to make his mistakes with the new scheme there.  Problem was I became frustrated watching him.

He would target our slots in the flats v. man, and hit the TE up the seam/post v. Cover 2.  His play had me frustrated because this year was about growth for Matt Cassel.  But during camp he threw mostly the same routes he always had success with.  The same slant he beat Vikings/Indy cover 2, he beat at practice.  Most of the routes v. certain coverages were throws that he had always had success with.

At rare points did we work the packages and throws that Cassel has always struggled with.  The timing and touch to throw a 9 route vs. man/cover 2 never got the needed reps.  The offense Daboll runs requires the ability to throw vertical.  So far most of the problems Cassel is having are due to him and the coaching staff taking the time and preparations to familiarize themselves with it.

The problem with being a successful running team, is that defenses will adjust to that.  It takes numbers in football to run.  Teams that describe themselves as running teams have to adjust their personnel accordingly.  They are likely, as is the case in Kansas City to carry more TE's/FB's/RB's than teams that considering themselves passing teams.

By having more TE's/Backs they face adjustments for opposing defenses.  The defense typically adds a linebacker or defensive lineman.  These numbers in the run game effects the passing game, how it applies to Kansas City...

The Chiefs by bringing more numbers (defenders) in the box...the openings in the passing game become vertical.  With the middle of the field covered by alignment, the natural passing lanes are in favor of the split ends.  Which is in contrast to spread/horizontal passing schemes which spreads defenders across the field opening up the middle.  Giving a West Coast system easier/more reads in passing game.

The traditional successful running teams like the Steelers, and Ravens have prototypes for their system. Schematically the big arm is needed more so than the more mechanical QB's in Rodgers/Brees/Peyton who depend on quickness and options.  True running teams are going to be limited in their options in the passing game.

With the running teams that bring defenders up, having a big arm to back them up compliments a strong running team.  That defense in theory should have to worry about run fills and getting beat vertically.  Currently the Chiefs don't do that to defenses, because Cassel doesn't do that to defenses.

Cassel having a big arm would be great, but he doesn't need one.  Kurt Warner built a Hall of Fame career simply by having great timing on his throws.  The thing that separates Kyle Orton from Matt Cassel is timing.  Timing partly attributed to playing at Purdue, but Orton threw receivers open...Cassel mostly throws to open receivers.

What made me frustrated as I left camp was the praise Daboll was putting on Cassel.  Right then I saw a coach that was satisfied with a Quarterback that wasn't growing as a passer.  The mistakes that are happening right now are a byproduct of that moment and moments like them.

We have an owner, GM, coaches that are satisfied with this flawed passer not growing.  It's good that they want him to play better.  But show it!  Make Cassel throw the flag under the safety and over the corner every fricken time until he commands that throw.  Make Cassel throw a post inside the free safety on cover 3 until he commands it.

Matt Cassel can drive a throw, he can throw for touch...but he isn't a passer.  Steve Young once said the difference between him and Mike Vick was thousands of reps at BYU.  Cassel needs to get back every rep that he lost at USC.  We can't four years in have Cassel learning on the job.