Originally Posted by keg in kc
(Post 6976101)
This was actually a comparison I made before the '09 season, and I think it stands up in some ways now, but not in others.
Similarities: Green did play in college, so he has Cassel in that regard, but he didn't play in the NFL - at all - until his 6th season. His arm strength was questioned (here) from day one (and in fact throughout his entire tenure in KC), there was concern that he threw too much to backs and tight ends instead of attacking downfield and he had a reputation for holding the ball too long and taking a lot of sacks (49 with the Redskins in '98, 24 in just 8 games with StL in '00, and then 39 his first season here).
Differences: Green showed much, much more in isolated spurts in 2001 than Cassel did in 2009. Green had 3 games where he exceeded 70% completions (Cassel had 1), 4 more where he was 60% or better (Cassel had 3), and he had 8 games where he threw in excess of 250 yards (Cassel had 3).
There is one final similarity of note: in the 2002 preseason, Green's performance was a real mixed bag. He came out hot (11-15 for 113 yards and a TD combined the first two weeks), but looked like complete shit the last two games (13-32 for 120 yards and 5 INT). Suffice to say, we weren't exactly jumping for joy about his play...
That said, there were moments in 2001 and early in the 2002 preseason where Green looked like a quarterback out there. I don't know how else to describe it. He was just the guy in charge on the field. It was obvious. And that's what I haven't seen from Cassel, not with any kind of consistency. No confidence, no swagger, no taking charge of the huddle, no intangible aura of leadership, none of that, except for (in my opinion) the Tampa Game this preseason. I thought that game was the best he's looked in a Chiefs uniform, he had a command of the offense, of the game, that I don't recall seeing any other time. In any case, that's the "it" that people talk about, and I think Green had shown signs in 2001. Cassel did not.
And that's what will determine everything, I think. He literally has a lot of the same 'problems' that Green had, the question is whether he can develop the presence that Trent had, and at this point in time I just have no earthly idea whether he can or not. Although I'd have to say I'm leaning more towards "not", because I haven't seen many signs pointing toward it.
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My prediction for Matt Cassel's season stats....
(https://chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=232947)