Blitzing Chiefs QB Matt Cassel Creates a Lot of Sacks

by Joel Thorman on Dec 26, 2009 2:39 PM CST in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Campaign

Chiefs QB Matt Cassel has taken a beating this season, both literally and figuratively. From the fans and the media, he's been criticized for his poor numbers and the Chiefs lack of wins, among other things. On the field, he's been sacked more than all but two quarterbacks in the NFL.

Despite missing one game this season, Cassel is third in the NFL for times sacked. Only Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger have been sacked more.

23 of Cassel's 41 sacks have come against the blitz (rushing six or more). Roethlisberger leads the league in sacks against the blitz (25), followed by Cassel, Tony Romo (22) and Matt Hasselbeck (21).

What's a good number? Try Tom Brady, who has been sacked just twice in the face of a blitz. It's not fair to hold Cassel to Brady's standard but that shows you he's got a long way to go in this category. Remember, Cassel was sacked nearly 50 times with the Patriots last season.

The good news for the Chiefs this weekend is that Carson Palmer is not as comfortable when facing a blitz. His average yards per attempt drops farther than all quarterbacks except Eli Manning in the face of a blitz.

I think there's plenty of blame to go around when you're looking at Cassel's numbers against the blitz. Both Rodgers and Roethlisberger have similar sack issues yet both rank in the top 5 in passes over 50 yards, which I think is a great testament to exploiting the blitz at times.

(Numbers come courtesy Ed Thompson of Scout.com)

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I hope that Flowers Shuts Down Ocho

KC’s D shuts down LJ

and two of the biggest babies in the nfl can just be quiet….Even if KC loses….keep them both quiet…all of this is just so ridiculous, a pinata? play the game, act like you scored before.

by SDChief on Dec 26, 2009 3:00 PM CST reply actions

yah, Cassel has a distinct tendency to hold the ball too long ...

is he unsure of his reads? are the WRs not where they’re supposed to be? is he not reading the defense right prior to snap and then gets confused during the play? are the plays called the wrong ones for any given defense (or is the defense adjusting and we’re not catching up to it?)

Martin Manley of UFR did a post a couple of months ago (that I c/p’d here at the time) that showed Cassel having far more sacks than Brady … not just this year, but last year in New England (compared to Brady’s previous numbers in New England) and now, obviously, here in KC as well … it’s not JUST that he’s on a new team, or the line itself per se, or the system he’s in … it’s Cassel himself: he holds the ball way too long and invites the sack totals to go up far more than he should

apparantly he doesn’t know the meaning of “throw it away” and avoid the sack, and thus avoid the negative yardage

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisiton!

by upamtn on Dec 26, 2009 3:01 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

I have been saying this since we traded for him

He was behind a good line and led the NFL in sacks. That says something about him

Predictions for 2009:

The Chiefs will regret cutting LJ

Bowe's numbers regress due to lack of decent QB play.

The D gets better in the second half but still is plagued by big plays

Cassel looks more like the guy Pioli almost cut in the '08 preseason instead of the franchise QB he hoped he would be when he traded him for

Chiefs 3-13

by bonesjackson on Dec 26, 2009 3:52 PM CST up reply actions

That line wasn't that good last season, imo.

They’re not great this season. But Brady is able to get the ball out of his hands, better. No question. Brady’s increase in tempo was something that developed after he entered the NFL. He started showing this in training camp the year he succeeded Bledsoe, and even THEN it took serious injury for him to get his shot.

Prediction for '09: Chiefs are looking like a .500 team, especially considering Denver's inattention to D-Line, Chokeland's disarray, and a San Diego team that looks like it's on the decline. With a weak schedule, Chiefs steal a few and win between 7 and 9 games, and if .500 or better, will contend for supremacy in a weak division.

by hmills110 on Dec 26, 2009 4:56 PM CST up reply actions

Agreed

by WannabeChief_83 on Dec 26, 2009 4:57 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Their line is over-rated...

Has to do with one of the best quarterbacks of all time making them look good.

Don't forget to be an AP-vangelist...Tell A Friend...

by woodman212 on Dec 26, 2009 6:00 PM CST up reply actions

"are the WRs not where they’re supposed to be?' I think ...

this has a lot to do with it … especially the 2nd and third readS … we also do not have a lot of check-downs to the back since he is busy blocking the blitz and/or just the regular pass rush our OL sometimes has issues with.

I watched Cassel numerous times last year (due to my fantasy football/gambling) and most of the sacks there were due to (IMO) him not wanting to turn the ball over, and thus not throwing it away as well. RAC was much better for NE and he seemed to hit the WRs in stride better.

I tend to to give him the benefit of the doubt THIS YEAR. To me, he’s a sophmore quarterback. I consider last year his rookie year. Is there really much difference between him and the first round QB’s this year to include his up and down play and contract numbers? Maybe talent-wise … but maybe give him a whole year in the same system with a QB coach, with the same WRs, with a little better protection … I’m willing to.

Who tied the other end of my rope? I wanna move on, I wanna have hope!

by MattyMac44 on Dec 26, 2009 3:23 PM CST reply actions

Your kidding right?

He has Welker and Moss were they not where they were supposed to be either? As far as not turning the ball over, you are more likely to turn the ball over taking a sack than throwing the ball away. Cassel has a far far way to go to be a good QB.

Predictions for 2009:

The Chiefs will regret cutting LJ

Bowe's numbers regress due to lack of decent QB play.

The D gets better in the second half but still is plagued by big plays

Cassel looks more like the guy Pioli almost cut in the '08 preseason instead of the franchise QB he hoped he would be when he traded him for

Chiefs 3-13

by bonesjackson on Dec 26, 2009 3:54 PM CST up reply actions

Just

because the receivers are where they are supposed to be doesnt mean they are open for the qb to throw it to them

by badassz1987 on Dec 26, 2009 4:18 PM CST up reply actions

I'm talking ...

about the Chiefs receivers, brother. Would be pretty stupid for me to post that Bobby Wade and Dwayne Bowe, et al compare to Moss and Welker.

Who tied the other end of my rope? I wanna move on, I wanna have hope!

by MattyMac44 on Dec 26, 2009 6:28 PM CST up reply actions

we also do not have a lot of check-downs to the back since he is busy blocking the blitz and/or just the regular pass rush our OL sometimes has issues with.

I noticed last week, Cassel looking for the screen when the heat was on and Charles failing to get off his block and look for it. There’s still some 2-on-2 and 2-on-3 stuff that needs to be refined. Generally, Cassel appears to be more advanced than his teammates in terms of interpreting what he sees correctly. For all the faults I talk about in Chambers’ game, this is an areas where he, also, is more advanced than the other skill players.

I think that when the rest of the offense is upgraded, I think we’ll have a better sense of whether Cassel can lead the team to the promised land. He’s had about 2 – maybe 3 – games, where he’s been able to set up and throw in rhythm, which sets his learning curve back, some, but he’s looked fair, with room to improve. Trouble is, first you have to have that part, before you get to see if chemistry with WRs will also develop. Rarely do you see the ball thrown before the reliable WR makes his break. I think Cassel’s capable of that kind of crispness, but what he’s looking at so far hasn’t been all that reliable.

by hmills110 on Dec 26, 2009 5:06 PM CST up reply actions

I didnt

realize that Big Ben has been sacked that much!

I mean think about it…Big Ben is one of the best in the league at avoiding sacks. If he was just a normal QB as far as sack avoidance, he’d probably break Carr’s record for most times sacked in a season.

Wow.

by Petey14 on Dec 27, 2009 1:48 AM CST reply actions