Chiefs Matt Cassell -- My Assessment

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.

MTG#10 · 02-28-2009, 04:18 PM

So basically he is Tyler Thigpen.

Hammock Parties · 02-28-2009, 04:19 PM

I was waiting for this post. Thanks.

ChiefsCountry · 02-28-2009, 04:20 PM

Finally a post from a non-troll Patriot fan. Thanks Ammorix.

ArrowheadHawk · 02-28-2009, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTG#10

So basically he is Tyler Thigpen.

Hammock Parties · 02-28-2009, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTG#10

So basically he is Tyler Thigpen.

+3 inches
+ an accurate arm
- lousy attitude

ct · 02-28-2009, 04:22 PM

As always, thanks Amnorix!

MTG#10 · 02-28-2009, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Claythan

+3 inches
+ an accurate arm
- lousy attitude

Im not defending Thigpen and Im not mad about the Cassell trade, but when did Thiggy have a lousy attitude?

Deberg_1990 · 02-28-2009, 04:25 PM

heh, i hope people dont take this the wrong way, but he sounds kind of similiar to Elvis Grbac circa 1997.

chop · 02-28-2009, 04:25 PM

But can he catch the deep pass as well as TT?

sparkky · 02-28-2009, 04:26 PM

thanks for your input. always glad to read it. ALWAYS

ChiefRon · 02-28-2009, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTG#10

So basically he is Tyler Thigpen.

Does sound a lot like Thigpen.

Another thing that I haven't seen mention: Josh McDaniels knows this guy better than anyone, and will know how to attack his weaknesses. May not mean much, but...

Hammock Parties · 02-28-2009, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

heh, i hope people dont take this the wrong way, but he sounds kind of similiar to Elvis Grbac circa 1997.

He reminds me a lot of Grbac in many ways.

Except his attitude appears to be the exact opposite.

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 02-28-2009, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Claythan

+3 inches
+ an accurate arm
- lousy attitude

Just watch Cassel's highlight reel. You'll see how much more accurate he is. He's a major upgrade over Thigpen. Tyler was ****ing terrible.

Hammock Parties · 02-28-2009, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTG#10

Im not defending Thigpen and Im not mad about the Cassell trade, but when did Thiggy have a lousy attitude?

As soon as he started doing skeletons from the rear.

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.
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02-28-2009, 04:18 PM	#2
MTG#10 Mammoth penis Join Date: May 2006 Location: Springfield Casino cash: $7504386	So basically he is Tyler Thigpen.
Posts: 11,429

02-28-2009, 04:19 PM	#3
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4690478	I was waiting for this post. Thanks. __________________ Chiefs game films
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02-28-2009, 04:20 PM	#4
ChiefsCountry The Insider Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Lake of the Ozarks Casino cash: $2298752	Finally a post from a non-troll Patriot fan. Thanks Ammorix.
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02-28-2009, 04:22 PM	#7
ct u b illian Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: DooDah Casino cash: $10009436	As always, thanks Amnorix!
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02-28-2009, 04:25 PM	#9
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3914454	heh, i hope people dont take this the wrong way, but he sounds kind of similiar to Elvis Grbac circa 1997. __________________ Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning: Matt once made a very nice play in Seattle where he spun away from a pass rusher and hit Bowe off his back foot for a first down. One of the best plays Matt has ever made.
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02-28-2009, 04:25 PM	#10
chop Go Chiefs! Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Michigan Casino cash: $2784270	But can he catch the deep pass as well as TT? __________________ Never be satisfied with what you achieve, because it all pales in comparison with what you are capable of doing in the future.
Posts: 2,946

02-28-2009, 04:26 PM	#11
sparkky Veteran Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Arkansas Casino cash: $10004900	thanks for your input. always glad to read it. ALWAYS
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