Prisco comments on the Cassel/Vrabel deal

by PVChiefsfan on Mar 2, 2009 10:42 AM CST

and the people posting comments are not too kind...some of them are hilarious. I won't be too hard on him, but I had to post this part.

Prisco writes:

Cassel played well when Tom Brady went down in the opener. The most impressive thing was that he improved as the season went along. Cassel threw 21 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions for the season, but had 14 touchdown passes and four interceptions in the final eight games. He also averaged 265 passing yards per game in those final eight games.

Did he get better? Yes. Is it a sign he is a franchise passer? No. It could mean he was a product of a damn good offense, which some scouts insist.

I do like Cassel. I saw him play live twice last season and both times came away impressed. He was accurate, he got rid of the ball and he spun his head, which is a must for NFL quarterbacks.

But I have to ask: Is there that much difference between Cassel and Tyler Thigpen, the Chiefs' starter last year?

Yes, there is a difference. Cassel had better stats, especially over the last 8 games, and most importantly, he generated those stats in a conventional offense, not the "Arrowspread".

I'm not throwing Thigpen under the bus, but we all knew he would have to prove himself under center, and he will likely still have that chance. Depending on Haley's (or Haley/Gailey) offense, Thigpen may or may not have an advantage (i.e. how many "spread" formations will our new offense contain?)

I was actually surprised that Prisco tried to compare stats, given the fact that Thigpen's success came in a "pad those passing stats" spread offense. Pro scouts and writers often add the caveat "stats may be inflated by offensive system"...why didn't Prisco consider that when praising Thigpen?

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This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.

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Comments

Watching Cassel's highlight video...

I was amazed at how unspectacular many of the catches were. Every catch looks effortless because he is putting in the right place on damn near every throw.

by HIV 2 Elway on Mar 2, 2009 10:53 AM CST reply actions

Yeah

Cassel was throwing the ball really well on that video, the thing is that was a “highlight” video… didn’t really show those bad passes

by Pontiaclvr on Mar 2, 2009 11:07 AM CST up reply actions

The Biggest Difference

is that Cassel was a starter for 10 or their 11 wins. Thigpen has only won once

Never kick a fresh turd on a hot day.
Harry S. Truman

by kcguy on Mar 2, 2009 11:03 AM CST reply actions

listen pal

Cassle didnt carry that team on his back….

he has a O-Line, a good Defence that can stop the run or pass, and weapons to throw to.

thigpen and NO DEFENCE, NO LINE , and TWO WEAPONS.. and LJ blew..

honestly .. if our D was better we would have had alot more wins

by thewaffle1 on Mar 2, 2009 6:12 PM CST up reply actions

That's what FA and the Draft are for. Pioli will make us better in 2009 and even better in 2010

I don’t think anyone here disagrees that NE had a better roster around Cassel
than Thigpen had in KC. But you see that NE saw that KC could match up needs better than others.
KC has Cap and needed QB and NE had QB and no Cap.
Peterson never could work with people that was beneficial to both. Pioli I Hope does.
Then we will see more of these type trades.

by Steve_Chiefs on Mar 2, 2009 6:47 PM CST up reply actions

I'm also curious

to see a breakdown of Cassel by quarter. Every one I have seen of Thigpen shows how he got worse as the game went on and it would be interesting to see if there is a difference between them in that regard.

Never kick a fresh turd on a hot day.
Harry S. Truman

by kcguy on Mar 2, 2009 11:09 AM CST reply actions

I also watched the highlights

I agree that Cassel was very accurate. Kind of reminds me of the way Kurt Warner used to be able to hit his receivers in stride and allowing them to get extra yards after the catch. I have not seen any of our QBs that accurate since Joe was here. (And yes that includes Trent Green)
I have been so tired of watching our wideouts have to stop their pattern to go back for the ball. Once Cassel and D-Bowe get locked in together, man we are going to have one helluva offense.

by Chiefsfan1970 on Mar 2, 2009 11:10 AM CST reply actions

+ 1

by Jay 23 on Mar 2, 2009 11:14 AM CST up reply actions

OL

Anyone notice how much time Cassel had in that highlight video. He is a definite upgrade over Tyler, but we still need to improve the left side of our OL. I look forward to winning the west in 09

Jerome

by easyjb on Mar 2, 2009 11:16 AM CST reply actions

I think you mean the right side.

by paratrooper on Mar 2, 2009 11:20 AM CST up reply actions

I am on the Herb Taylor Bandwagon.

I think he would shore up the right side as a tackle. He deserves a shot to compete for it at least. I will bet that Pioli and Haley have already thought about it considering we havent made any moves in FA to fix it. The right side of the line was terrible last year.

by Chiefsfan1970 on Mar 2, 2009 11:51 AM CST up reply actions

Herb Taylor is the Tyler Thigpen of the offensive line

The plucky guy that goes out there and shows a lot of heart and is better than the other guys he replaced, but that doesn’t make him a good starter.

by ChiefDJ on Mar 2, 2009 5:51 PM CST up reply actions

Cassel's better period.

I loved watching Thigpen play but if you watched NE last year there is no comparison. I quit watching any Pats games early on since Brady was out but when they kept winning I started watching them again. Cassel was like a different player the second half of the season and his stats reflect it. Other than the Steelers game Cassel was very good with several QB ratings in the 100’s. Thigpen showed no improvement the second half and had some terrible games. If you don’t complete 60% in the NFL you won’t be a starter. If they shore up the line, Cassel will put up some big numbers for us.

by kongzilla on Mar 2, 2009 11:53 AM CST reply actions