FanPost

Give Matt Cassel a Break!

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I will admit that I have yelled at Matt during games this year. He has given us all plenty to be upset about. However, I'm not sure any QB (outside of Peyton Manning) would do much better had they gone through what Cassel has experienced since coming to KC. Here are a few things to consider:

Nightmares Of Running For His Life!

If you just look back on last year, Matt had the pleasure of scrambling for his life on nearly every passing play. Can you even begin to imagine coming from New England, with perhaps one of the best OL's in the league, to the limp protection KC was offering for most of last year? Toward the end of the year, the line was improving. It really showed in the Denver game when Matt had some time to think back there. When he did, he nearly always made the right decision. However, one or two games of decent protection does not take aware the nightmares of running for your life (that Matt no doubt had on many long sleepless nights)!

It is easy to criticize the man, but walk a mile in his shoes. One thing you must admit about Matt is that he is durable. He takes a licking and keeps on ticking.

Fast forward to 2010

Suddenly the OL has come to play, and is protecting Matt more than he is used to. Yet, he still has nightmares. Deep in his subconscious mind those fears haunt him. The only thing that will take it away is time. Playing time on the battle field. It is easy to say "Trust Your Team Mates".

If the first dog you ever saw viciously attacked you, would you believe the next dog you encountered was not going to do the same? Even if folks around you were saying "You can trust Spot", your subconscious mind would tell you otherwise. It would take several positive experiences with friendly dogs before you could overcome your fear that all dogs are bad. Does that mean that you will NEVER get to a point where you could pet a dog? NO! You can if you want to, and are willing to work on it.

Matt IS working on it. And he WANTS to be a top flight QB in this league. He has the skill to get there. At times he shines with courage (like the forth down play on the last drive in Indy, where he was about to be hit with a Mike Vick-type sandwich and threw a laser bullet to Bowe for the first down). At other times he looks like a scared boy on a field of vicious dogs with no protection (like the play in Indy where he threw the ball out of bounds when there were no defenders within 10 yards of him).

Players Dropping Passes

I know this is part of the game, but Matt has had to deal with more than his share of dropped balls. It all goes against his record, even when the ball is right on the money. It is hard to drive your team down the field and get into a rhythm if players keep dropping your passes. You can't run on every play.

Only 4 Games Into The Season - Fans & Media Already Calling For His Head

Nothing endures a QB to a city and team like fan support! When reporters, media, fans, and every other Joe around you is doubting your ability, things can get tough! Give this man a chance. Sure, the rest of the team is performing better than Matt right now. Cassel is also playing the most difficult position in the NFL! Mindset is BIG for any position, but it is HUGE for NFL QBs. I think we will see Matt start to improve (and so will all the players around him dropping balls) as the season goes along. He has guts, stamina, ability. The only thing holding him back right now is mindset, and that does not get corrected overnight.

The good news for us Chief fans is that the boys are now 3-1. Houston might well be the game that turns Cassel's season around. They have a weak and banged up secondary. Matt has already traveled to one of the toughest places to play (Indy), and did an above average job. This could well be the week that Matt lights it up, and then watch as the naysayers become Matt Cassel fans!

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.