Shawn Zobel: Lions are in serious dealings with Cassel

[Tribal Warfare]

Inside Info

February 20th, 2009 Shawn Posted in Zobel's Blog |

I had the chance to speak with one of my sources down here in Indianapolis. Here’s what he had to say:

- The Lions are currently seriously considering dealing for Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel. According to my source, New England is “actively looking to deal him.”

- Malcolm Jenkins’ 40-yard dash is going to be one of the biggest of the Combine. If he runs a 4.5 or slower, many teams will feel that his best fit at the next level will be safety. There’s talk that he could slide to the middle-to-late first round.

- The Broncos new staff is not going to continue to draft the smaller, quicker offensive linemen. They are looking to get somewhat bigger along the offensive line.

- If Knowshon Moreno runs a 4.4 40-yard dash or faster, he could be the first running back taken…followed by Pitt’s LeSean McCoy.

- Andre Smith’s stock is dropping. Teams are not happy that he decided not to work. Based solely on today, Jason Smith is beginning to look like one of the top tackles in this year’s draft.

- The Vikings talking about keeping both Gus Frerotte and Tarvaris Jackson could mean that they plan on drafting another quarterback this year. With Josh Freeman creeping into the first round discussion, he could be an option.

[Reerun_KC]

Originally Posted by ArrowheadMagic

Not really surprised you wouldnt take a stance. Followers never do.

Again Sunshine, thanks for asking... But I just dont feel like debating all night with you over the flavor of the offseason...

But I am sure there are plenty of people that would...

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by RustShack

The Patriots offense is a lot better now than it was in 01.

Yes it is. That's one of the reasons that it's so difficult to really get a handle on Cassel's play without having access to things like the coaches' tape, the plays called and his reads, the honest opinion of coaches and fellow players, etc...

The "Scott Mitchell 2.0" stuff is a bit ridiculous, because people can look at Stafford/Sanchez and talk about "Ryan Leaf/Tim Couch/etc... 2.0", but the question underlying such comments is certainly valid.

[Mecca]

I think the odds Cassell is a 1 year wonder made by the players around him is greater than the odds that Stafford and Sanchez are both worse than he is.

[ArrowheadMagic]

Originally Posted by Mecca

In fairness Brady was successful without the talent that offense has now...

True, but what other QB with no starts in college last won 11 games in the NFL? and did his team make the playoffs? Not saying Cassell is a QBOTF, but acting like what he did as a 1st time starter is no big deal is foolish. Was NE running game better than ATL's or Balt's? Maybe Balt's .... who had a better defense? Does Cassells play and the negative against Sanchez's lack of experience have something in common? Brady didnt win a championship with the talent Cassell had either.

[ArrowheadMagic]

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

Again Sunshine, thanks for asking... But I just dont feel like debating all night with you over the flavor of the offseason...

But I am sure there are plenty of people that would...

heh, cant and want are easily confused.

[Mecca]

Lets take into account this season was the most rushing yards NE has had in over a decade.

[ArrowheadMagic]

Originally Posted by Mecca

Lets take into account this season was the most rushing yards NE has had in over a decade.

Why would that be surprising? You think ATL didnt have its highest rushing total? Its how you protect 1st time starters, you wouldnt do the same?

[Reerun_KC]

Originally Posted by ArrowheadMagic

heh, cant and want are easily confused.

Sorry those make you confused... In time, with a little bit of studying, you will be able to correctly differentiate between the two and properly used them in sentences...

Best of luck!

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by ArrowheadMagic

Why would that be surprising? You think ATL didnt have its highest rushing total? Its how you protect 1st time starters, you wouldnt do the same?

If I'm going to trade for and pay Cassell I expect him to be much further along than a guy I'm drafting is the point I don't want to have to protect him..he's 6 or 7 years older than Stafford is.

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by Mecca

Lets take into account this season was the most rushing yards NE has had in over a decade.

You're playing down Cassel in order to build up Sanchez. That's not a wise way to make fair a fair analysis. For instance, this season's rushing numbers were about 150 yards more than in 2004, but it was on fewer carries. This season's Patriots also had only 14 more carries than the 2006 team, just for another example, and that's with a quarterback that ran the ball more often than Brady. Cassel ran the ball 73 times this season, which is 24 times more than Brady's career high, and he got 273 yards doing it, while Brady's career high is only 110 yards.

[ArrowheadMagic]

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

Sorry those make you confused... In time, with a little bit of studying, you will be able to correctly differentiate between the two and properly used them in sentences...

Best of luck!

so grammar is your only defense? Here, you cant defend your position because you have none. You dont want to defend you position, because you probably are unable. If Cassell if Mitchell part 2...... is it the system he was in? Or should all QB's with no starts since HS be able to succeed? Why didnt Brady win a championship with the same talent Cassell had?

[Mecca]

I'm a USC fan I'm aware of Matt Cassell I'm just not overly impressed I'm not saying he blows.

I think if you make him your QB you're trying to build a Titans esq team and always protect him and you aren't going to ever ask him to win games, I may be wrong but that's my view.

[Reerun_KC]

Originally Posted by ArrowheadMagic

so grammar is your only defense? Here, you cant defend your position because you have none. You dont want to defend you position, because you probably are unable. If Cassell if Mitchell part 2...... is it the system he was in? Or should all QB's with no starts since HS be able to succeed? Why didnt Brady win a championship with the same talent Cassell had?

Nah at this point its just more fun to jack with you than anything else...

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by Mecca

I'm a USC fan I'm aware of Matt Cassell I'm just not overly impressed I'm not saying he blows.

I think if you make him your QB you're trying to build a Titans esq team and always protect him and you aren't going to ever ask him to win games, I may be wrong but that's my view.

Cassel threw the ball over 500 times, for just under 3,700 yards in his first season as a starter, and that's with his learning curve. Collins only has 3 seasons in his entire career where he threw for more yardage, and 2 of those seasons were under 80 yards more passing.

A team that gets Cassel is going to be a team that passes the ball a lot, probably using the short pass as a form of run, the way the Patriots do today. Any team that tries to make Cassel play the way Collins did this season is misusing the quarterback.

Serious question, not meant to be a smartass in any way:

Did you watch Cassel play at all this season, other than the Chiefs game, or are you just extrapolating from that one game? He's one of only 5 quarterbacks in NFL history to have back-to-back 400+ yard games passing.

[ArrowheadMagic]

Originally Posted by Mecca

I'm a USC fan I'm aware of Matt Cassell I'm just not overly impressed I'm not saying he blows.

I think if you make him your QB you're trying to build a Titans esq team and always protect him and you aren't going to ever ask him to win games, I may be wrong but that's my view.

QB's develop, Brady wasnt thrown to the wolves, he was protected. Roethlisberger is a franchise QB.. yes? Was he protected as a 1st year starter? The Peyton's of the world are few and far between. Any coaching staff worth its wait in gold, will do what it takes to protect him. You see it as a fault, people that get paid, see it as necessary. You really see a Peyton Manning in this draft? I like both QB's, prefer Sanchez to have beat out Booty to start. I dont buy the excuse of why he didnt. If Carroll called him leaving a mistake in his own press conference because he wanted a Championship, then he isnt starting a lesser player. Cassell isnt Mitchell part 2, just his situation is. In the right situation, Cassell continues to develop, Bellicheat wouldnt franchise him if he wasnt a player with upside.