Chiefs Matt Cassell -- My Assessment - Page 11

Amnorix · 02-28-2009, 04:15 PM

I've posted at some length about Cassell before in some no doubt long forgotten threads. Given the latest developments, however, I'll try to repeat my thoughts.

I think Matt Cassell has a better than average opportunity to succeed as a starting QB in the NFL. I think, therefore, he represents a much lower risk than nearly any pick that is taken in the draft.

Cassell's season with the Patriots last year showed much about him. It was really a tale of two seasons -- the early part, when he more or less stunk, and the latter part when he came into his own, the coaches and team played to his strengths and stayed away from his weaknesses, and the game clearly slowed down for him and he became more confident and capable in his position and play.

The GOOD:

1. Cassell CLEARLY has all the physical skills. He is big, tall, strong and tough. He takes a wallop and gets right back up. He has the arm strength to throw all the passes -- the deep out or the deep ball. He is reasonably shifty in the pocket (but note pocket presence/timing below) and has good speed in running out of the pocket. There is no physical limitation in his game.

2. Cassell appears to have good leadership skills. Everything I saw/read about Cassell suggests a mature and intelligent individual to whom the team responded. A veteran team, the Patriots players could have folded their tent on him, but he appeared to get the team to buy into him -- both coaches and other players.

3. He isn't a rookie. You may not appreciate this much, but rookies, whether QBs or any other NFL position players, take a hell of a lot of time to understand what the NFL is all about. It's relatively rare for players to have tremendous impact in their first years for precisely this reason. He not only isn't a rookie, but he has been well coached and has seen the best in the game conduct his business.

4. Patience/coachability. He clearly is very coachable. His tremendous improvement as 2008 went along is evidence of that, as well as all the statements made by the Patriots coaches and other players. He also took a beating early in the season, which was partly his fault and partly the fault of the OLine, but continued to progress and elevate his game.

The BAD:

1. He had no touch on the long ball. None. Whenever he went deep to Moss or anyone else, whether they were open or not, they were completely incapable of hooking up. I imagine that was a timing thing as much as anything, and it may be that having a full training camp/preseason to work on this will help tremendously, but I can't tell you how aggravating it was to see Moss 5 yards behind the entire defense running free and to have the ball overthrown, or whatever. It happened time and time again.

2. Timing/pocket presence. Although it got better as the year went along, Cassell took far too many sacks, held the ball too long, and didn't seem to have a good feel for the pocket. Note that this DID get better as teh year went along, and my main source of comparison was Tom Brady, who has about the best pocket presence since Dan Marino, so I may be a bit unreasonable here.

3. Needs the shotgun. As a result of item 2, above, the Patriots starting putting Cassell into the shotgun. ALOT. A whole lot. That definitely helped him quite a bit in terms of seeing/processing the field of play, making quicker decisions, avoiding sacks, etc., but the shotgun also limits the offensive playcalling a fair bit.

In summary, I think he has a better than average chance to be a high quality NFL starting QB. His ceiling is not yet determined, but I think it is quite high.

Ultra Peanut · 03-01-2009, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crush

You won't like him when he is angry.

I don't like him now.

The_Doctor10 · 03-01-2009, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Claythan

Do you remember when we played the Cowboys in Dallas? That was essentially a playoff game.

Our defense pissed down it's leg. Shat itself. All over.

Trent was magnificent.

In fact, he was so magnificent, he would have forced overtime if the ****ing kicker hadn't missed.

That defense wasn't passable. They were shit against most of the good teams. They were passable against teams like the Texans.

Passable against teams like the Texans = Not worthy of jack shit.

Hootie · 03-01-2009, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth CarlSatan

Enough of this shit: Unsubscribe.

So you think we're going to spend our 1st and 2nd round picks on QB's?

This dude is the dumbest drafturbator of them all.

Hootie · 03-01-2009, 04:31 AM

I just thought of this...

We have a great "Wildcat" QB on our roster! Maybe we haven't seen the last of Tyler Thigpen after all!?

Hammock Parties · 03-01-2009, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hootie

I just thought of this...

We have a great "Wildcat" QB on our roster! Maybe we haven't seen the last of Tyler Thigpen after all!?

Thigpen is perfect suited to be our fans-go-crazy freak sideshow. He'll be the new Dante Hall. Our X-Factor. The T-Factor. His jersey will sell like hotcakes.

Hootie · 03-01-2009, 04:45 AM

In my opinion...he's up there with Vince Young as one of the best potential Wildcat QB's...Thigpen is deceivingly fast...he has to run around a 4.55/4.6...

The_Doctor10 · 03-01-2009, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hootie

In my opinion...he's up there with Vince Young as one of the best potential Wildcat QB's...Thigpen is deceivingly fast...he has to run around a 4.55/4.6...

Only VY hasn't been on the field for a wildcat formation if I'm remembering correct... though i'm quite intoxicated by this point of the night. Gotta love the Rickards White, bitches. T'is the beer of those who fear scurvy

rad · 03-01-2009, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

We had a defense in 2005 that was passable, and we had an offense that was more than SB caliber. We didn't have an easy schedule, and we missed the playoffs.

You of all people should remember how much of a ****ing badass Larry Johnson was in 2005. It's not like losing Johnnie Morton or John Tait caused our O to crumble.

In 2003, the D had the best turnover ratio in the league. That helped the offense score more points, but if we didn't force any to's we couldn't stop a high school cheerleader squad.

UberSparky · 03-01-2009, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Claythan

+3 inches
+ an accurate arm
- lousy attitude

My wife is a Big Thiggy fan. I wasn't sure if she'd accept Cassel. Now, with those extra three inches it looks like I'll hafta buy her a new jersey for game day.

02-28-2009, 04:15 PM
Amnorix In BB I trust Join Date: May 2003 Location: Boston, Mass. Casino cash: $10029808	Matt Cassell -- My Assessment I've posted at some length about Cassell before in some no doubt long forgotten threads. Given the latest developments, however, I'll try to repeat my thoughts. I think Matt Cassell has a better than average opportunity to succeed as a starting QB in the NFL. I think, therefore, he represents a much lower risk than nearly any pick that is taken in the draft. Cassell's season with the Patriots last year showed much about him. It was really a tale of two seasons -- the early part, when he more or less stunk, and the latter part when he came into his own, the coaches and team played to his strengths and stayed away from his weaknesses, and the game clearly slowed down for him and he became more confident and capable in his position and play. The GOOD: 1. Cassell CLEARLY has all the physical skills. He is big, tall, strong and tough. He takes a wallop and gets right back up. He has the arm strength to throw all the passes -- the deep out or the deep ball. He is reasonably shifty in the pocket (but note pocket presence/timing below) and has good speed in running out of the pocket. There is no physical limitation in his game. 2. Cassell appears to have good leadership skills. Everything I saw/read about Cassell suggests a mature and intelligent individual to whom the team responded. A veteran team, the Patriots players could have folded their tent on him, but he appeared to get the team to buy into him -- both coaches and other players. 3. He isn't a rookie. You may not appreciate this much, but rookies, whether QBs or any other NFL position players, take a hell of a lot of time to understand what the NFL is all about. It's relatively rare for players to have tremendous impact in their first years for precisely this reason. He not only isn't a rookie, but he has been well coached and has seen the best in the game conduct his business. 4. Patience/coachability. He clearly is very coachable. His tremendous improvement as 2008 went along is evidence of that, as well as all the statements made by the Patriots coaches and other players. He also took a beating early in the season, which was partly his fault and partly the fault of the OLine, but continued to progress and elevate his game. The BAD: 1. He had no touch on the long ball. None. Whenever he went deep to Moss or anyone else, whether they were open or not, they were completely incapable of hooking up. I imagine that was a timing thing as much as anything, and it may be that having a full training camp/preseason to work on this will help tremendously, but I can't tell you how aggravating it was to see Moss 5 yards behind the entire defense running free and to have the ball overthrown, or whatever. It happened time and time again. 2. Timing/pocket presence. Although it got better as the year went along, Cassell took far too many sacks, held the ball too long, and didn't seem to have a good feel for the pocket. Note that this DID get better as teh year went along, and my main source of comparison was Tom Brady, who has about the best pocket presence since Dan Marino, so I may be a bit unreasonable here. 3. Needs the shotgun. As a result of item 2, above, the Patriots starting putting Cassell into the shotgun. ALOT. A whole lot. That definitely helped him quite a bit in terms of seeing/processing the field of play, making quicker decisions, avoiding sacks, etc., but the shotgun also limits the offensive playcalling a fair bit. In summary, I think he has a better than average chance to be a high quality NFL starting QB. His ceiling is not yet determined, but I think it is quite high.
Posts: 43,125

03-01-2009, 04:31 AM	#154
Hootie Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Casino cash: $10004900	I just thought of this... We have a great "Wildcat" QB on our roster! Maybe we haven't seen the last of Tyler Thigpen after all!?
Posts: 56,356

03-01-2009, 04:45 AM	#156
Hootie Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Casino cash: $10004900	In my opinion...he's up there with Vince Young as one of the best potential Wildcat QB's...Thigpen is deceivingly fast...he has to run around a 4.55/4.6...
Posts: 56,356