Cassel 24th out of 29 quarterbacks in downfield passing.

[Hammock Parties]

We debated Cassel's downfield passing in another thread earlier this week. I said I would wait for the splits to get updated before I compared him to the rest of the league, and here are the results (completion percentage, TD/INT):

Cassel is 24th out of 29 quarterbacks in the NFL in completion percentage on pass attempts over 10 yards.

I threw out the names in red because they have fewer than 40 attempts.

Henne - 58.6 1/1
Rivers - 54.5 7/5
Schaub - 54.4 4/4
Fitzpatrick - 54.3 7/3
Romo - 51.7 4/2
E. Manning - 50.6 8/4
Young - 50.0 6/1
Kolb - 50.0 2/2
Flacco - 49.4 10/4
Ryan - 49.3 7/2
P. Manning - 48.4 8/1
Rodgers 48.3 10/8
Orton - 47.5 7/3
Favre - 46.9 5/6
Palmer - 46.5 4/3
Garrard - 46.4 4/5
Hasselbeck - 45.2 3/3
Anderson - 45.1 1/2
Bradford - 45 5/5
Sanchez - 44.8 6/2
Cutler - 43.2 3/4
McNabb - 42.8 5/
Brady - 42.0 4/4
Cassel - 41.5 4/2
Brees - 41.4 4/5
Smith - 40.2 4/3
Wallace - 38.2 3/0 (34 att)
Moore - 38.2 3/5 (34 att)
Gradkowski 38.1 2/4
Freeman - 34.2 3/2
Clausen - 30.4 1/1 (23 att)
Hill - 29.5 4/2
Campbell - 25.8 1/2 (22 att)


For comparison, Cassel's downfield passing history:

2009 - 38.8 percent, 8 TD, 13 INT
2008 - 40.2 percent, 12 TD, 8 INT

Notes:

1. Jason Campbell and Bruce Gradkowski suck. We have no business losing to the Raiders.

2. Brees will bump Cassel to 25th in short order.

3. Sanchez, bitches!!!

4. Flacco is a ****ing stud.

5. Impressed by Chad Henne and fearful of Fitzpatrick.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by JD10367

Translation: "Wow, a lot of people must have you on ignore".

I don't think that's the case at all.

It was pointed out in the second post after he made that post, and there are only about 7 or posts after, two of hwich are Claythan himself, one of which is another post pointing out his error by the original poster.

It would actually be pretty stupid to put Claythan on ignore because of his gifs.

[Brock]

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Gif Horse

You've got to be shitting me.

I think it's a legitimate question.

While I do believe that you have to keep defenses honest by chucking it downfield occassionally, I also believe that some of the greats took their shots sparingly, specifically Joe Montana.

To me, the measure of greatness is more about what you do in the last 5 minutes of big games, in the playoffs, and the SB.

Now, it is a team game, and guys like Marino and Dan Fouts were limited by the teams around them on the defensive side, so it's really hard to get a true measure of their greatness.

On the other hand, I believe a guy like Kenny Stabler is highly underrated.

[milkman]

Another QB I think is highly underrated is Terry Bradshaw, who changed and evolved as the team around him changed and evolved more than any other QB that I can remember watching.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by milkman

I think it's a legitimate question.

No, the guy is sitting there saying Montana and Brady couldn't throw down the field or didn't do it with efficiency.

At least that's what he's implying.

Montana made some gorgeous ****ing throws down the field during his career.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by 2bikemike

Personally I think one of the most important things Cassel has done well is protecting the ball. He also has not been knocked around near as much as last year.

He is never going to be a great QB. But he has been playing pretty well. I think that Weiss has a way of making his QB's better. He has certainly done that with Cassel. I am willing to give Cassel the benefit of doubt and hope he can take a few more steps toward being better.

That being said this team has appeared to me to always be on the lookout for someone who can do a better job at all positions. I don't think its any different with the QB position. I am hopeful that the organization will continue to improve this team in ways that will have us excited for years to come.

Case in point. The battle of turnovers. The team that turns over the ball the least wins the most, generally speaking.

Phillip Rivers is 2-5 because he and his team turn the ball over despite all the amazing down-field throws that he makes.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Gif Horse

No, the guy is sitting there saying Montana and Brady couldn't throw down the field or didn't do it with efficiency.

At least that's what he's implying.

Montana made some gorgeous ****ing throws down the field during his career.

Yes but Montana didn't make a living chucking the ball down the field. The West Coast Offense is not an "air-em-out" offense.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Yes but Montana didn't make a living chucking the ball down the field. The West Coast Offense is not an "air-em-out" offense.

You miss his point.

Montana was, and Brady has been through most of his career, very effective and efficient throwing the ball downfield, regardless of the limited number of attempts to go downfield.

[Reerun_KC]

Originally Posted by milkman

Another QB I think is highly underrated is Terry Bradshaw, who changed and evolved as the team around him changed and evolved more than any other QB that I can remember watching.

Damn your old...


but to your previous post, I think it is a valid arguement. I do like how Weis and Haley are slowly growing this offense as a unit and not worried about stats (ala DV)... Each week we see a little more and a little more stuff down the field, but I dont ever recall a Weis team being a martz type of team....


I think by years end, we will have a better attack downfield, but I wouldnt bet the farm on it. Just dont think the OC and HC give two shits about throwing the ball 30+ yards in the air...

I was watching a replay of the bills/ravens game last night... There was a good drive where they were mixing up the pass and run, moving the ball, Then when they got to about the 25-30, 3 straight incompletes to the endzone... Why? What was wrong with the shorter underneath routes that were working the whole drive long? People are enamored with the big play and focus way too much on one persons stats...

Now it was a 46 yard FG instead of moving the ball and eating clock...

[Reerun_KC]

Originally Posted by milkman

You miss his point.

Montana was, and Brady has been through most of his career, very effective and efficient throwing the ball downfield, regardless of the limited number of attempts to go downfield.

Agree completely...

It was cool watching Brady with 10 seconds in the pocket launching a bomb and letting moss go abuse someone for it....

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by milkman

You miss his point.

Montana was, and Brady has been through most of his career, very effective and efficient throwing the ball downfield, regardless of the limited number of attempts to go downfield.

Well I agree that when those guys go downfield they have had better success.

[Chiefnj2]

Originally Posted by milkman

You miss his point.

Montana was, and Brady has been through most of his career, very effective and efficient throwing the ball downfield, regardless of the limited number of attempts to go downfield.

I think Matt could increase his downfield % with a Jerry Rice.

[petegz28]

Then again, Cassel throws a long pass down field, Bowe catches it and runs another 15-20 yards into the endzone and it results in a 53 yard TD pass and all we can do here is bitch about the throw.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

I think Matt could increase his downfield % with a Jerry Rice.

I think Cassel could improve his downfield % with better accuracy.

Rice doesn't gain the kind of yac he did throughout his career with a QB that constantly forces him to adjust.

Fortunately, I'm seeing Cassel improving in that area.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Then again, Cassel throws a long pass down field, Bowe catches it and runs another 15-20 yards into the endzone and it results in a 53 yard TD pass and all we can do here is bitch about the throw.

I really think that was a much better throw than he is given credit for, because a pass that leads Bowe leads him right into the safety.