The Aaron Rodgers Effect

by Nathan Bramwell on Feb 12, 2011 5:18 PM CST

[This is from http://tipofthearrowhead.blogspot.com/]

Last Sunday, we saw Aaron Rodgers lead the Packers to a Super Bowl victory. Some would say this was a great achievement considering so many starters and key contributors found themselves on injured reserved during the season, including a starting running back, linebacker, and tight end. Even in the Super Bowl, star corner back Charles Woodson and veteran wide receiver Donald Driver, left the games with injuries and didn't return. Yet, throughout all these injuries during the season, and throughout the injuries suffered in the Super Bowl, the Packers held on and won it all.

And Chiefs fans scratched their heads.

How could a team sustain so many injuries and still be competitive? They finished with the same 10-6 record that the Chiefs did. They won three playoff games on the road (including a dominating performance over Atlanta). They never even trailed in the Super Bowl. How could this be done?

And then the answer came: an elite quarterback.

Aaron Rodgers' performance had made Chiefs fans (or at least myself) doubt Matt Cassel more than his 5 interceptions and 0 touchdowns in the final two games of the year. Rodgers' ability to make the players around him better and, at times, put the team on his back is something that any team can envy. But especially the Chiefs.

Throughout the Chiefs history, one could argue that the Chiefs have only had two elite quarterbacks: Len Dawson and Joe Montana. Dawson won us our only Super Bowl. Montana, at nearly the very end of his career, was able to get us to the AFC Championship. And then that is it.

We've had good teams, don't get me wrong. In the early 90s, the Chiefs were a dominant force. But here's a stat for you to look at: seven different quarterbacks started games from 1990-1997 for the Chiefs. In those eight years we went to the playoffs seven times. If we had a young, elite quarterback like Rodgers (and some would say we did in Rich Gannon but we chose to keep Grbac) instead of a different starter every other year, who knows how successful we might have been.

Fast forward to present day. Are we in danger of being that sort of team from the 90s? Good all over the field but incapable of reaching that next level because we don't have an elite quarterback?

Teams have won Super Bowls with quarterbacks that managed the game (Brad Johnson, Trent Dilfer), but not on a regular basis. Do we want to be one of those lucky teams that wins a Super Bowl once because of a great team effort, or do we want to be in contention every year because our quarterback is just that good (Patriots, Colts, etc.).

That should be an easy answer.

Can Matt Cassel be that quarterback? I just don't know. I want to think he can be that quarterback, and I don't want to write him off yet, but at times it doesn't look very good. To become an elite quarterback is simple: one must do something elite. Let's hope that Cassel does something elite very soon. Otherwise, history might just be repeating itself.

[For more articles like this on the Chiefs, visit tipofthearrowhead.blogspot.com. I am the writer of the posts on that blog, in case somebody sees and thinks I'm plagiarizing]

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

Nice thoughts

And it’s definitely the tried and tested debate for many on this site, “Is Matt Cassel the answer?”

I said pretty much the exact same thing in a comment on some random post the other day: teams with elite QBs are regularly in contention and the conversation of being division champs/superbowl champs, while a great defensive team can be in the conversation, but never consistently as it’s rare enough that a dominant defensive team wins a superbowl to consider it often.

Can Cassel do it? He has shown “flashes” of greatness, against Tennessee, St. Louis, @ Denver (excuses?), @ Oakland. But also looked like a dud against SD, Cleveland, Buffalo, Denver, Oakland, etc. The consistency is what makes the good QBs great/elite. The inconsistency is what holds the good QBs back. Whether it’s on Cassel entirely (throw progression, accuracy, pocket presence) or his team (bad WR corp, bad O-line pass blocking, bad play calling), it won’t matter in the end if he doesn’t become consistent. And the inconsistency enrages us all as we see what he could be, so we give him the chance to keep doing it, but let’s us down when we need it the most until we finally give up.

Consistency
Consistency
Consistency

It's one thing to see something wrong and have good ideas how to fix it, it's another to complain about everything because nothing is ever good enough. Look in the mirror, which one are you?

by FalconMF27 on Feb 12, 2011 5:40 PM CST reply actions

Aaron Rodgers wasn't the answer...

until he was.

by nycchief on Feb 12, 2011 7:47 PM CST up reply actions

heh :-)

Winner: 2009 Nostradamus of Arrowhead Pride Award (I'd like to thank my producer, my director, all of my wonderful fans ... )
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hi, Mo! 5 minutes!!!

by upamtn on Feb 12, 2011 7:51 PM CST up reply actions

Is that like saying " brodie croyle wasnt the answer, until he was"? ;-)

It's one thing to see something wrong and have good ideas how to fix it, it's another to complain about everything because nothing is ever good enough. Look in the mirror, which one are you?

by FalconMF27 on Feb 12, 2011 8:32 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

"until he wasn't"?

by chiefdan on Feb 12, 2011 8:47 PM CST up reply actions

was never?

Just try to STOP US

by Steve_Chiefs on Feb 12, 2011 8:52 PM CST up reply actions

so apparantly it isn't a very easy answer, is it?

That should be an easy answer.

Can Matt Cassel be that quarterback? I just don’t know

btw, is all this an “advertisement” for your blog? ;-)

by upamtn on Feb 12, 2011 5:48 PM CST reply actions

Guilty as charged

Well, the easy answer is that a team would prefer an elite quarterback. The not so easy answer is determining if Cassel is that quarterback.

And yes, this was slightly done as advertisement for my blog lol

by Nathan Bramwell on Feb 12, 2011 5:55 PM CST reply actions

ntw, welcome to AP

(use the “reply” button to respond directly to any given comment)

by upamtn on Feb 12, 2011 7:01 PM CST up reply actions

oh, Nathan ...

you might be interested in this blog, posted in the fanshots the other day about, oddly enough, franchise quarterbacks … just click on this here red and it’ll take you to it, from gridironguru

by upamtn on Feb 12, 2011 7:25 PM CST up reply actions

Love that last line:

“’To accept mediocrity at the QB position is to doom the entire franchise to irrelevance.” This has been, and remains, my greatest concern for the Chiefs. Matt Cassell has never demonstrated the ability to lead this team against a premiers NFL defense in a manner that causes other players on the team to elevate their level of play (the way Rodgers consistently did through the playoffs). I hope we are seriously looking for someone to replace him by end of next season at latest, if he doesn’t become Tom Brady 2.0.

Ancora imparo.

by midcalchief on Feb 12, 2011 8:09 PM CST up reply actions

Not the QB thing again....

Good post but this horse has been beaten to death. ( nice blog – simple – but nice $

We need BEEF; This is my mock prediction 2011

1. Houston LB - Georgia
2. Moffit G - Wisconsin
3. Powe NT - Ol' Miss
4. O'Dowd C - USC
5. Carter S - Oklahoma
6. V. Brown WR - San Diego State
7. Taua RB - Nevada

by Mas Cervezas on Feb 12, 2011 7:08 PM CST via mobile reply actions

I thought about it a while and rec

it is the Rodgers effect.

A new group of elite? QB’s is coming on the stage soon and we might not have one.
This bothers (The Force) in the Chiefs Dynasty plan. I would not want Mallett or Newton.
Gabbert, Ponder, and Locker might end up as plums we passed on. Or wasted 1st round picks again

Just try to STOP US

by Steve_Chiefs on Feb 12, 2011 7:15 PM CST reply actions

we won't have a chance for Gabbert

by upamtn on Feb 12, 2011 7:26 PM CST up reply actions

never know till draft day

Just try to STOP US

by Steve_Chiefs on Feb 12, 2011 7:38 PM CST up reply actions

That's a fact he could facf but would the team take him?

by dubld on Feb 13, 2011 7:53 AM CST up reply actions

Cassel

He is better than Dilfer and Johnson, but not as good as Brady, Rodgers, etc. at this point in his career. This upcoming season may be Cassels make or break year. If he can pull off 10 or 11 wins with this schedule, then he is the man. There will be a slim margin for error at our QB position this next season.

by chief66 on Feb 12, 2011 7:27 PM CST reply actions

Beat that horse

Elite QB. Elite QB. Elite QB. Elite QB. Elite QB. Eli—screw it.

Do elite QBs grow on trees? Can Pioli eat $100 and find an elite QB in the toilet 8 hours later? How hard are you going to look to find this alleged elite QB and how much are you willing to dump into getting him? When you think you got him and you don’t, then what happens?

I’ll tell you what happens. Your season is ruined just like the Panthers because you blew the farm on one position and the rest of your team sucks. The Bears blew the farm on Jay Cutler. How did the Bears do in 2009? Pretty bad. This year? Better, although I’d argue they practically won games on accident and in spite of Jay Cutler. Is Jay Cutler an elite QB? No one knows because he’s too busy running for his life and throwing passes to a TE in triple coverage. That’s what happens when your offense is a QB and 10 guys in a football uniform.

If you want to assume that Aaron Rogers is the only reason that Green Bay won the Super Bowl, fine. You want to assume that Matt Cassel sucks because he’s not Aaron Rogers, you can do that too. But I’m going to take into account that there’s 10 other guys that share the offensive formation with the QB and I figure they’re probably important, too. And there’s defense, and coaches, and plenty of other people that also are not the QB. So maybe Green Bay decided to stop being a team that beats itself, or maybe they just have great depth players. In any event, until someone proves otherwise, I’m going to assume that there’s more ways to win a Super Bowl than “elite QB and 52 guys in football uniforms”.

by NotAGoodName on Feb 12, 2011 8:13 PM CST reply actions 4 recs

Buttttt

We got Jamaal Charles and 10 guys in a Chiefs uniform with him :)

Just try to STOP US

by Steve_Chiefs on Feb 12, 2011 8:23 PM CST up reply actions

How in the hell did you fit all those guys in one uniform?

by chiefdan on Feb 12, 2011 8:53 PM CST up reply actions

it was Shaun Smiths' Uniform

Just try to STOP US

by Steve_Chiefs on Feb 12, 2011 8:55 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

LOL!

by chiefdan on Feb 12, 2011 8:56 PM CST up reply actions

Boy that was a mouth full.....agreed

by ONECHIEFan on Feb 13, 2011 12:44 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

rec'd NotA ...

the Bears did indeed do pretty well this year, w/o an elite QB … the Steelers too, because Big Ben is not what I call “elite” … the Jets, another team that made it to the playoffs w/o and “elite QB” and the Ravens and yes, the Chiefs … in fact, of the 6 AFC teams in this year’s post-season, I’d say only Manning and Brady are truly “elite” status QBs … and both those teams lost in their first game

in the NFC, Rogers “maybe” and Brees (another first round bites the dust-er) and who else … ?

no, there are a lot of ways to skin a cat … or win football games

I do love me some killer defense (see: Chiefs, 1969)

by upamtn on Feb 13, 2011 10:49 AM CST up reply actions

I admit. Watching the Superbowl made me put some things into perspective.

I have been one of the biggest Cassel supporters on this board. However, when I watched the play of Rodgers, and even some of the other elite QB’s, in the playoffs, it did raise some questions about our QB. We had games where he did carry the team, when the running game wasn’t clicking, but it wasn’t against great defenses. We also saw the last 2 games Cassel played this season. He was beyond bad. At the time (and this still may be a valid arguement) I focused on his lack of wide receivers, as it does seem that as Bowe goes, so goes Cassel. The lack of other talented WR’s has to be addressed this offseason. I think Cassel has the work ethic and drive to be a top notch QB, and he made definite strides this season, but I agree that we have to see consistency. We also have to see him produce against some of the elite defenses in the league. He will get that opportunity this season, with our schedule. This season should give us the answer of if he is our franchise QB, or not. If not, it may set this team back a good 2 years. You can’t win a Lombardi without a top notch QB anymore.

There once was a man from Nantucket......Nevermind.

by Racyman on Feb 12, 2011 8:27 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

and might well seal Haley's fate too

I hope that Pioli takes Cassel into consideration when it comes time to judge Haley as a Head Coach

Just try to STOP US

by Steve_Chiefs on Feb 12, 2011 8:54 PM CST up reply actions

Yes, I think they are joined at the hips.

by chiefdan on Feb 12, 2011 8:56 PM CST up reply actions

I really feel it was Pioli that Chose Cassel rather than Haley

Just try to STOP US

by Steve_Chiefs on Feb 12, 2011 8:56 PM CST up reply actions

Yep, you are right. But Haley is joined with Cassel and his future is riding on it.

Even though Cassel may not have been first on Haley’s list. We will never know.

by chiefdan on Feb 12, 2011 9:01 PM CST up reply actions

Very good points, indeed.

by chiefdan on Feb 12, 2011 8:54 PM CST up reply actions

QB coach to

First, let me say I’m not, as of now, on the Cassel bandwagon. However, he hasn’t had a “full deck” yet. You just cannot lay the last two loses on his doorstep. Both the Raiders and the Ravens exploited two glaring weaknesses on the Chiefs’ O. First, physical defenders generally had their way with our center & RT. Second, without a #2 WR, Bowe was hampered. Both opponents were comfortable doubling Bowe & not worrying about our #2 WR. I’ll wiithhold judgement on Cassel for one more season, and I surely hope we get hm a QB coach to help him.

by Special K on Feb 12, 2011 10:26 PM CST reply actions

and a Center and RT and WR

Just try to STOP US

by Steve_Chiefs on Feb 12, 2011 11:00 PM CST up reply actions

K, you forgot that both teams also exploited glaring weaknesses in out defense

not once did we stop the Ravens … not one single time all day long …

we moved the ball SOME in the first half, we even got a TD off a nice Charles run, but never … NEVER … did we stop the Ravens … they made it into Chiefs territory every time they had the ball

by upamtn on Feb 13, 2011 10:52 AM CST up reply actions

Well, technically the Chiefs did.

not once did we stop the Ravens … not one single time all day long …

They forced them to punt two times (well three, but as there was a penalty that gave the ball back to the Ravens that doesn’t count- while the defense did stop them then ST unstopped them) and they forced a fumble once.

they made it into Chiefs territory every time they had the ball

Part of that was on the offense too. There was what, three interceptions and two fumbles? So subtracting the one that the Chiefs got back that was four turn-overs. Two of those started the ball in Chiefs territory and a third put them on 48 yard line- practically in KC territory.

While the defense had a (extremely) hard time stopping the Ravens, the offense kept putting them on the field. The Ravens had the complementary thing down. The Chiefs were working about as uncomplementary as you can get.

by tidnes2ko on Feb 13, 2011 12:27 PM CST up reply actions

but they did get into our territory on every possession

not that our offense helped any … it helped not at all (although it did help the Ravens) … then there was the Raider game when nobody showed up to play except … ummmm … Colquitt

by upamtn on Feb 13, 2011 2:26 PM CST up reply actions

I've always liked Colquitt.

He seems to be pretty good at remembering what time the game starts and getting there for it.

And there was one drive the Ravens didn’t make it! Okay, so it was the last drive of the game that they had already clearly won and they began on their own 30 yard line with only 3 or so minutes left, but still, it was a possession and they didn’t make into KC territory. So there! :P

by tidnes2ko on Feb 13, 2011 3:56 PM CST up reply actions

up

you are correct. I did not forget. The focus of this post was the QB position.

by Special K on Feb 13, 2011 6:57 PM CST up reply actions

Dilfer and Johnson still made some key plays that made the difference.

Dilfer might have won a championship in Tampa Bay, if they’d kep Karl Williams healthy. He was eating the Packers for lunch until Williams got hurt and Green Bay re-established control in the deep middle.

I know enough to know I don't know very much.

by hmills110 on Feb 13, 2011 2:12 AM CST reply actions

Don't forget Eli Manning

Elite quarterback?

by old_school on Feb 14, 2011 2:57 AM CST up reply actions

Cassel is the QB.

But I have said over and over again that the best way to win consistently in the NFL is to have an elite QB. There are not many to go around, If you do not have one on your roster you should always be looking. If you ever have the opportunity to draft a player you think has the chance to be elite you always take the player if you do not have an elite QB.

The views expressed by craig in calgary do not necessarily represent the views of all Canadians.

by saskwatch on Feb 13, 2011 7:02 AM CST reply actions

Not a good name said it well, Elite QB's do NOT grow on trees

This team needs help and Jamaals fumble in the playoffs was Cassel’s fault because he didn’t make Charles a better player. Lay it all on Cassel.. It is always the qb’s fault. Can we with Cassel? Just look who was in the playoffs.

by dubld on Feb 13, 2011 7:59 AM CST reply actions

Good idea

AFC:
NE-Brady
Pitt-Big Ben
Indy-Peyton
KC-Cassel
Balt-Flacco
NYJ-Sanchez

NFC:
Atl-Ryan
Chi-Cutler
Philly-Vick
Sea-Hasselbeck/Whitehurst
Saints-Brees
Packers-Rodgers

I would say at least 5 of those teams have elite QBs. I would argue that the only current “elite QB” left out of the playoffs was Rivers. That’s app. 6 elite QBs in the league. That is a 19% chance of the Chiefs having one right now. There are some fledgling QBs right now that might have the makings of “elite” status eventually, such as Ryan, Bradford, maybe Freeman. Where does Cassel fit? IMO, he’s the Flacco/Sanchez/McNabb type of QB that will need a great team around him to succeed. But we’ll see

It's one thing to see something wrong and have good ideas how to fix it, it's another to complain about everything because nothing is ever good enough. Look in the mirror, which one are you?

by FalconMF27 on Feb 13, 2011 9:18 AM CST up reply actions

Hell yes it's easier to win with a "elite" qb. Some elite qb.s did NOT go to the S.B.

It’s all their fault so they ain’t no good. So cut Brady, Manning, Brees and Big Ben and draft a rookie who will have you in the big dance this coming year.

by dubld on Feb 13, 2011 9:38 AM CST reply actions

Aaron Rodgers isn't the answer....

as to how could the Packers be so competitive with so many injuries. I will give him props though. He did play a pretty good game. The answer is that the Packers are the future of the Chiefs. They are what the Chiefs are trying to become. They are a team that drafted well until the team was so deep that they could sustain the injuries because they had players behind those players that were not much worse than the guy in front of them. That is where we are trying to go. We still have a ways though because we are still in our infancy. Another year or two and we will be well underway.

by KCChiefsfan75 on Feb 13, 2011 10:52 AM CST reply actions