Mogamedogz

"If the Patriots decide to get creative without Brady, O'Connell could see the field in the coming weeks whether Cassel is injured or not. They reached the red zone five times against the Jets but scored just one touchdown. O'Connell showed some ability to run the football during the preseason and could be a weapon inside the 20 with his mobility.

"I just want to help the offense any way I can," said O'Connell. "Like I said before, I'm just going to do anything that they ask me to do, whether it's supporting Cassel or if I have to run the team. I'm just really focusing on being ready to go, basically."

Link

Obviously I fully expect BB to give Cassel every opportunity to prove himself, but let's just say for sake of discussion, that Cassel continues to struggle inside the 20's. Can anyone see the coach experimenting a little and letting O'Connell get some snaps in the RZ? It wouldn't be the first time this coaching staff has done something unorthodox.

BPF

With the importance the Pats place on NO TURNOVERS I don't see this happening. Personally I don't like the idea at all either, this isn't college, with more playing time Cassel will become more consistent as will the entire offense. You also need to remember that Watson, who is now seemingly healthy, can also be a big weapon down inside the 20, especially for a young QB like Cassel.

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"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit."
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STH since 1994....sec 236

emoney_33

That might happen in say the superbowl in a really rare desperation case, but not in the regular season especially early. Putting O'Connell in only gives you an advantage over Cassel if he RUNS. After he is put in and runs once, it loses it's "got ya" value, if it had any to begin with.

Unless O'Connell somehow learned extremely quickly and become a good passing threat as well, which won't happen this year.

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Lampshade

Cassel has thrown a grand total of 9 passes in the redzone, with one of them going for a TD. It's way too early to be suggesting he needs to be taken out in those situations.

Rob0729

People need to go back and look at the Pats' offense in 2003. It had a horrible third down efficiency and there were four games where the Pats didn't score a single TD (1st Buffalo game, Cleveland, Dallas, and th the last Miami game) including two games where the Pats scored 4 FGs a piece. Brady was under center those games. When you make a concerted effort to go back the old ways of the Patriots, you gotta conceed TDs for strong defense and no mistakes no matter who the QB is.

Sorry, putting O'Connell in is a weak idea that can only risk more chances of turnovers.

Pats726

I COULD see it in a special situation..a trick play sort of thing..but Cassel has to learn to get the ball into the endzone. PART of the learning curve..and that will take time...and is OK. A good thought..but ONLY in that one occasion..special.

Metaphors

Agreed. One other pass was a poor route by DThomas and another was a throw to DThomas that was a little late and low (tipped by a defender). It looks like he has a reasonable feel for the red zone but he needs some more experience and to get on the same page with his receivers. He is plenty athletic enough to run a bootleg with a run/pass option if needed. I've been as critical of Cassel as anyone, but I don't think jerking him around in the red zone is doing him or the team any favors.

I really think O'Connell is going to be a player and would like to see him get a full year of learning and refining his mechanics. Hopefully Gutierrez takes over as the #2 soon and keeps O'Connell in a developmental role this year.

FloridaPatsFan

I have not seen O'connell play, but I remember the Steelers throwing Kordell Stewart in at QB just for the mere fact that he was a shifty little bastard to tackle....I'm not saying the Pats seem like a team that would do this, but it might be an option.....

patsfaninpittsburgh

Perhaps he's working extra time with Randy to get those jump ball type passes down.

Besides it seems easier to throw from around the 7/8 yard line. We were down around the 3 for a couple of those drives.

xmarkd400x

I don't think that O'Connell would replace Cassel at QB. I could almost see the possibility of sticking him in at RB and be a run/pass threat, but that would just increase the chances of injury at a position where the Pats can't really afford injuries.