Matt Cassell -- My Assessment

[Amnorix]

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.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

47 sacks in a season is pretty troubling. Thats number 1 in the NFL.

That's why we need to take a RT at #3.

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

47 sacks in a season is pretty troubling. Thats number 1 in the NFL.

It's a high number, but I also don't find it to be as disturbing as most.

Why?

1) This was the first time the guy started since high school. Most inexperienced QBs are going to hold the ball too long. That number actually went down in the second half of the year when the Patriots threw MORE.

2) The Patriots were in the shotgun a lot. I don't know their pass to run ratio, but it has to be lopsided.

I do not think under any circumstance we draft a RT 3rd overall. Herb Taylor can play RT for all I care.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

It's a high number, but I also don't find it to be as disturbing as most.

Why?

1) This was the first time the guy started since high school. Most inexperienced QBs are going to hold the ball too long. That number actually went down in the second half of the year when the Patriots threw MORE.

2) The Patriots were in the shotgun a lot. I don't know their pass to run ratio, but it has to be lopsided.

I do not think under any circumstance we draft a RT 3rd overall. Herb Taylor can play RT for all I care.

or maybe richardson might wake up

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

It's a high number, but I also don't find it to be as disturbing as most.

Why?

1) This was the first time the guy started since high school. Most inexperienced QBs are going to hold the ball too long. That number actually went down in the second half of the year when the Patriots threw MORE.

2) The Patriots were in the shotgun a lot. I don't know their pass to run ratio, but it has to be lopsided.

I do not think under any circumstance we draft a RT 3rd overall. Herb Taylor can play RT for all I care.

The Patriots finished 4th in the league in rushing yards.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by Mecca

The Patriots finished 4th in the league in rushing yards.

earlier someone said 6th

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

earlier someone said 6th

4th 6th whatever it is, they ran for over 2000 yards. With something like 140 yards a game.

[unlurking]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

earlier someone said 6th

People are saying A LOT of wrong shit today. Don't believe half of it.

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by Mecca

The Patriots finished 4th in the league in rushing yards.

Another deceiving stat. They were 6th in the league.

Sammy Morris basically racked up almost half of his rushing totals in 2 games.

Kevin Faulk got his yards on 3rd down mostly.

Green Ellis had one 100-yard game.

Cassel was actually their 4th leading rusher.

They never had a consistent ground game. They were like the Chiefs of the late 90s. A lot of bodies, but not much in terms of striking fear into the opponent.

[BradyFTW!]

Originally Posted by Mecca

4th 6th whatever it is, they ran for over 2000 yards. With something like 140 yards a game.

It was 6th. I can say that with 100% certainty. Maroney, Green-Ellis, Jordan and Morris both started at various points throughout the year, and Faulk picked up lots of yards as the 3rd down back too, so we didn't have any statistical studs. Cassel was responsible for like 250 of those yards too.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by BradyFTW!

It was 6th. I can say that with 100% certainty. Maroney, Green-Ellis, Jordan and Morris both started at various points throughout the year, and Faulk picked up lots of yards as the 3rd down back too, so we didn't have any statistical studs. Cassel was responsible for like 250 of those yards too.

Well good cause we aren't gonna have one either...

[unlurking]

Originally Posted by Mecca

Well good cause we aren't gonna have one either...

Sad but true.

[tk13]

He definitely got better as the season progressed. If you take a look at his last 8 games as he got hot down the stretch:

171-283, 2127 yards, 14 TD, 4 INT, 94.4 rating, 6-2 overall record

And that includes that final game of the season against Buffalo when the wind was blowing 70 mph, that kinda skewers those numbers a bit.

[The Bad Guy]

The game against Arizona too was a massive snow storm and he still posted huge numbers.

The comeback win against the Jets showed me a lot about him.

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

The game against Arizona too was a massive snow storm and he still posted huge numbers.

The comeback win against the Jets showed me a lot about him.

They lost to the Jets in overtime. That did seem to be the key game for Cassel's season, though. After they fell behind, the coaches just had him sit back in the shotgun and cut loose. It was the first time all season Cassel truly looked relaxed and confident, and it showed in his play. The throw to Moss for the touchdown was an amazing throw/catch and the coin flip going to the Jets was yet another single instance that probably would have resulted in the Patriots going to the playoffs if it had gone the other way.

It was a really weird year.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by MTG#10

Yeah, Trent Green sucked.

Originally Posted by frazod

Yeah, because leading the best offense in football totally sucked.

Seriously, if you don't appreciate what Trent Green did for the Chiefs, you're dumber than a box of shit.

IT'S NOT TRENT GREEN'S FAULT THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE A DEFENSE.

Originally Posted by melbar

#10 was a better passer. #16 was a good game manager on a much better team.

I dont give a damn about the #1 offense we never won shit. I want a freaking Super Bowl champion - Dawson delivered, Trent didnt. Dont get me wrong I loved Trent to death. Down to earth nicest guy but he didnt win a Super Bowl. Thats the bottom line in the NFL. Its not to go 8-8 or 10-6 and feel good on Sunday or get entertained.