Practice Report 11/12 Update
From the Truman Sports Complex
There are a lot of memories this week for Chiefs QB Matt Cassel. Last season as he was getting prepared to play the Raiders in Oakland, another situation came on his personal radar screen.
Cassel had to deal with the death of his father.
On Tuesday, December 9, 2008, Greg Cassel passed away in his home in San Bernardino, California. He was 57. Matt was in San Jose with the New England Patriots, who were spending the week in the Bay Area between games against Seattle and Oakland.
He spent several days with his family in southern California and then rejoined the Patriots. Cassel played against the Raiders that Sunday – five days after his father’s death - and threw four touchdown passes in a 49-26 New England victory.
This week has brought back the events of 11 months ago.
“There are a lot of memories and it will probably be a little emotional,” Cassel said after practice on Thursday. “What better way was there to honor him than to go up there on Sunday and we won.”
Cassel called the week “a whirlwind of emotion” as he left the team, returned to his family, and then returned to the Patriots.
“I came back and had a good discussion with Coach (Bill) Belichick and it was decided that I would be ready to go,” said Cassel. “Coach (Josh) McDaniels who was my (quarterback) coach last year was a rock for me during that time and really helped me. He just said whatever we have to do to get you ready for this game, let’s do it.
“It was pretty special, especially with the way the whole team reacted.”
The Chiefs got two players back to practice full-time on Thursday, as ILB Jovan Belcher and WR Chris Chambers took their regular turns during the morning session. Both were listed as limited during Wednesday’s practice; Belcher recovering from a blow to th head and Chambers with a sore foot. Belcher was in his normal spot with the nickel defense and Chambers was running all routes with the receivers.
Working in the rehab area where LBs Mike Vrabel (hip) and David Herron (knee). The Chiefs listed Vrabel as a limited participant in practice. It’s pretty apparent Herron is unlikely to play on Sunday against the Raiders.
OL Wade Smith was listed as limited with an ankle injury and FS Jon McGraw was a full participant as he recovers from what the club has called a thigh injury.
Skinny on LBs for Raiduh week unless Vrabel recovers in time. Good to see Belcher and Chambers back among the active participants.
This is a game the Chiefs could and probably SHOULD win and might have an impact on how the rest of the season will unfold. Key contest in the efforts to help the ongoing turnaround.
should win? after losing one we shouldve won to them last time…this is a MUST win..
The Raiders run D sucks. Even LJ put up 78 on them earlier this year! Haley needs to be committed to running the ball whether it’s Charles, Smith, Savage, or a combination of the three. Those three need to combine for 30 carries. If that happens I like our chances of winning! Also, MORE DOWNFIELD THROWS! Let Chambers and Bowe go up for the ball and make plays!
colby, I usually agree with ya, but imo we havent been going down field because cassel gets murdered as soon as hes done with a 5 step drop.
I think a good running percentage of plays and quick passes will help cassel get more time, than he can go down field.
regardless, we need to do better at all phases and I think we can do some good this weekend
Just wondering on the 3 vs 5 step drops and a nod to Chiefs distant history. Whatever happened to the Hank Stram moving pocket scheme?
Has it been rendered useless with the increased speed of modern defenders? Today’s QBs ‘roll out’ from time to time but I’ve not seen the Oline move in tandem with them, or have I missed something.
Final thought: What’s old is sometimes new again. Could the ‘moving pocket’ be yet another example of this? Then too, is Haley a bright enough student of history to consider or implement such a strategy?
I’m not the typical fan nor, in my view, is Bob Gretz the typical web site or blog creator. Comments?
Haley wont…they are tanking this season so they can get a bunch of high draft picks. We all have a common sense view of how 2 win or atleast compete in a game and Haley does the opposite week in and week out. I just watch the games now 2 see the different facial expresssions Haley makes. Then I ask myself “I wonder whats going on this guys head…..maybe its a combination of the sound of a bee hive and classical music”
Alexthe”GREAT” says:
“Haley wont…they are tanking this season so they can get a bunch of high draft picks.”
Yeah…Haley and Pioli are losing on purpose, just to secure better draft picks.
Be freakin’ serious.
LMFAO……How else can u explain the bad play calling/terrible clock management/players off the street r starters/cutting young players/shotgun on the goaline/wildcat with no playmakers…..Haley says “We r looking for an identity”(translation) We are gonna sling s*** tell something sticks….lol……….yep we r trying 2 win alright! We should try slinging Haley and see if he sticks.
He may be making mistakes…and he does things I don’t agree with. But, he’s not TRYING to lose games.
You’ve hated Haley ever since he got here. So no matter what, you’re going to find fault with whatever he does. So, enjoy.
No actually, I liked the guy. But after watching him thus far and his attitude, hes not ready 2 lead a group of men yet. If he changed his smug a** attitude and start believing half of the crap that spews out his mouth(not 2 metion win some games) then I would be his biggest supporter. Answer me this…What type of foundation is being laid for this year? Isnt that what u do in year 1?
I agree Mad Chief,
“THE GREAT ONE” has been negative through this 1st year for them. And no I dont agree with some plays haley does, but this team cant line up nose to nose and just whip the shit out of a team, we just arent good enough yet.
so, if we need to try diff things and new players to get this thing going again and trial and error on things for the future, than so be it!!!
If it was haleys 2nd or 3rd year, than I would be more worried
hmmmmmm lets see,franchise qb? new offense scheme? new defense scheme?
thats a start, plus trying a ton of players to get this team talent level up.
you have to have a good solid base BEFORE you build a foundation anyway dont you think?
though its been more rough than any of us wanted, their trying there ass off and it will pay off, i just have a gut feeling we will be a good in the next 2 years. I havent felt that way in a few years, so im going to stick with it and stay positive
Agreed gorillafan. Chiefs will continue to get better. They just need to add more playmakers at receiver and get more talent along that offensive line. If they accomplish that this offseason they can be a .500 ball club next yr.
A little disappointed – Remember Vermiel and now Haley, either understood what the Raiders games mean to those in KC. Today his comment was that while a division opponent nothing special about game. It is a shame that knowledgeable football people get jobs in KC and have no idea what we are about. We NEED this win, it is not just another division game to us.
I believe the Chiefs will surprise us this year. Really all they need is to play the way they play in the last few minutes of the game, say for 10 to 15 minutes more. Then we would have won 2 to 3 more games this year (Jax and Raiders at least). They’re closer than we think to turning the corner of being a decent team.
You guys have better memory than me. Tell me if this true. While Gunther went 16-16 during his 2 years as HC, wasn’t he 4-0 against the Raiders?
el cid says:
“it is not just another division game to us.”
We’ve won one game this year. The Raiders have won two. So, yes…it is basically just “another division game”.
If you remember…when we played the them earlier in the year, Haley talked about his dislike of the Raiders.
Things being what they are right now, though…we just need a win. And not just a win, but to play well. For four quarters. Not just at the end of the game. Not for a quarter. Not for two. But, for all four quarters. No matter who we are playing.
Mad Chief Sorry but that is so much garbage. Todd Haleys Chiefs won one game this year. There were years before Marty when the only win was Oakland. Yes the KC fans need a win for some degree of hope based on the c***p you, ED, and gorilla fan find so acceptable with hope for the future. I personnally do not think this team has a hope in h**l of winning based on what we have seen so far. But I still say we need this win. So quit kissing up to Haley, he does not read these blogs anyway.
November 12, 2009 – ED says:
Agreed gorillafan. Chiefs will continue to get better.
“Continue”, they haven’t started yet. This team has regressed since the season started. It is hard to find (at this point) a single thing that looks even remotely better than last year. Haley and Pioli have one year to cry this team is not our fault.
I don’t mind giving them that. I am looking forward to seeing what they can get done with a full off season to work.
You guys might have a better memory than me. Tell me if the following is true.
Gunther Cunningham was head coach for 2 years (true). He may have been 16-16 overall, but weren’t the Chiefs 4-0 against the Raiders?