All-In: Cassel's Last Hand

Can this be it?! The year we make it past the first round and deep into the play-offs?! Even - should I say - Super Bowl run???

Chiefs' fans, the pieces are there and in place. But there is one piece that is raising more than enough questions this off-season; Is Cassel ready?

I don't believe he has a choice. The Chiefs signed Brady Quinn as a backup and still have Ricky Stanzi is waiting in the wings. Not to mention hosting Peyton Manning this off season which definitely had some Chiefs' fans saying "Matt who?" All signs are pointing to Cassel as the starter but those actions had to rub Cassel the wrong way and showed that Crennel won't hesitate to pull him if he begins to struggle.

Now with that said; Cassel isn't a slouch ( most people beg to differ). In 2010, his last healthy year as a Chief, Cassel threw for 3116 yards and 27 touchdowns. He has shown that he could excel when under center and coming off of an season ending injury in addition to his critics should motivate him to work harder than he ever has...but will that translate to a playoff win?

Let's hope the elements around him can get us there. Not saying that is incapable of doing so himself but the Crennel's game plan won't call for it. What most people fail to realize is that the Chiefs are one of the last organizations that play old school football; run first and play good defense. Last year the Chiefs finished 15th in rushing (without Jamaal Charles) and the defense ranked 12th. Adding Poe should instantaneously push us into the top 10. The backfield resembles a Kentucky Derby line-up and hopefully with the re-signing of D.Bowe; the options are limitless.

Maybe Cassel has to play the Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson role on this team but if winning a Super Bowl his ultimate goal; he should be jumping at the opportunity.

Locked and Loaded

It was a dark dreary day on turf in mid September that we watched our All-Pro running back Jamaal Charles go down out of bounds with a torn ACL. The pain; The hurt; The uncertainty we all shared as he was carted off with "that look". The question of if he could return for Week 1 or if he could simply recover from this injury was 80 percent answered two weeks ago. Via the Chiefs organization; Jamaal had this to say:

"I'm hungry. I want it this year. I've got the passion for it. I can be patient. I just can't wait to play football, I can't wait to bring stuff back to this community and show how much we can win. And I feel like this is a year for us, that we can go all the way because I can feel it. And me, I feel I can bring a lot to the team this year being bigger and stronger, and I don't know, maybe even faster. I can wait awhile. In my mind, I want to get back out there because I want to see where I'm at, but I feel like I'm already there, so I can just wait. Just like when I had my shoulder surgery, I waited the whole training camp to go back. I didn't do anything really during OTAs or minicamp."

Make ya feel good don't it?!

When asked about how he felt watching the games on the bench from the sideline after his injury; He replied:

"It was sick. It made me stronger. It made me the person that I am today, I can't wait and I know how to take care of my body, how to eat right and do the right things and it's made me not want to wait to touch that field again. When I touch that field going out there, you're going to feel my pain; you're going to go through what I went through. That right there is going to be there for the rest of my career because I don't want to be out a whole year ever again. That point, at my stage, I'm 25 years old, I'm at the point in my life that I've got to win games, I want to go to the playoffs, I wonder why we can't go to the Super Bowl. That had me thinking a lot and made me a better player."

Over-excited would be an understatement! I can't wait to see Charles back to 100%. With all the pieces coming back and the additions from the draft; I'm thinking about what design will Nike come up with this year for the division champs shirts.

Kansas City Chiefs Full Draft Results

Here is a more in-depth look of all of the Kansas City Chiefs' 2012 draft picks.

Rd 1: DT Dontari Poe (Memphis)
In case you missed the write up; here's the scoop on Poe.
http://thaboothreview.blogspot.com/Dontari Poe

Rd 2: OT Jeff Allen (Illinois)

A very versatile lineman that can play on the left or right side of the line. Served as a team captain his senior year and was rated the #12 rated prospect at his position. 

Strengths: He has a lot of experience playing the right and left side of the line.  Good hands and feet.

Weaknesses: Lack the physicality most good lineman possesses.

Rd 3: OT Donald Stephenson (Oklahoma)

One of the steals of the draft. He has the ability to be molded into one of the best but it may take some years.

Strengths: Great vision with his 6'5" frame. Naturally quick and an athlete. He ran a 4.94 in the 40 and jumped 35.5 inches in the vertical leap at the combine.

Weaknesses: Inconsistency. He is a very raw prospect but he must commit himself to the game in order to get the most out of it.

Rd 4: WR Devon Wylie (Fresno State)

An undersized receiver that may be used solely as a kick returner and slot receiver. Wylie ran a 4.37 the 40 yd dash and impressed scouts with his strength; benching 225 17 times at the combine. ( He weighed in at 186 pounds).

Strengths: Quickness, speed, and strength. He has the ability to be a very effective as a kick returner and a deep threat from the slot position. Look for quick screens going his way as well.

Weakness: Injury prone. His durability will definitely come into question throughout the season.

Rd 5: CB DeQuan Menzie (Alabama)

Somewhat the forgotten DB for the Crimson Tide but remembered by opposing teams. Menzie was around the ball a lot and is a great tackler.

Strengths: Good cover corner and great at blitzing.  Has enough speed to stick with his man. Very good foot quickness.

Weaknesses: Extremely risky player. Would rather go for the pick 6 than the pass deflection and punt.

 As a result, he gets burned.

Rd 6: RB Cyrus Gray (Texas A&M)

Work horse. Gray carried the ball 632 times racking up 3,298 yards and 30 touchdowns.

Strengths: All around back. Can run, catch, and block.

Weaknesses: Tends to dance in the hole a lot and lacks that "burner" speed.

Rd 7: DT Jerome Long (San Diego State)

Was All Mountain West two consecutive years. Smaller name prospect big the 285 pounder begs to differ.

Strengths: Has a nose for the ball. Long was second on the team in tackles, sacks, and tackles for loss.

Weaknesses:Will need a lot of coaching to make the team. Has more potential than most will give him.

Rd 8: WR Junior Hemingway (Michigan)

The draft ended for the Chiefs' with a sleeper pick. Hemingway led Michigan in receptions last year and was named the Sugar Bowl's MVP (y'all saw the catches!).

Strengths: He's an all around good possession receiver. Pretty decent blocker and reliable hands.

Weaknesses: Doesn't have blazing speed or great route running ability.

All in all I think we did pretty good in draft. We filled some troubled areas from last year and added some other potential play-makers into the fold. As long as we stay healthy; we should destroy the AFC West.

Go Chiefs!