How's your confidence in Matt Cassel at the half-way point. - New England Patriots Forums

JSn · 11-05-2008, 08:58 AM

I thought I'd run a poll and see where everyone stands. Prompted after reading this little nugget by Michael Lombardi

The National Football Post | National Football Post Diner News

Quote:

I thought that Matt Cassel played his best game last week. I realize that it was against the Colts defense, but his poise, his timing and his confidence was very impressive. He was accurate and it appeared to me that the team was responding to him and had confidence in his ability to perform. As the offensive line gets better and he gets more reps, he is going to be able to work the ball down the field and make big plays. All they need to do is make one or two big plays and this will open up the inside passing game for Welker. As I have written about all year, teams that do the same thing each week and are fundamentally driven, as opposed to scheme driven, get better as the season goes along.

***MoLewisrocks*** · 11-05-2008, 09:09 AM

I was one of the original members of the much malaigned by the kneejerkers value of Matt Cassel fan club who never waivered and he has not disappointed me. It is a process but he is proving weekly he was always up to the challenge and it's gaining him national attention that could pay dividends. For my money he's the best performing backup turned FT starter in the league this season with unlimited remaining upside and I hope we benefit from that throughout the playoffs as well as at draft time next season...

billdog3484 · 11-05-2008, 09:27 AM

His improvement has been great. I am excited about the 2nd half of the season. After losing Brady I thought we had no chance at anything. Now I believe we can go a long way into January. He has been so much better than any realists could have imagined. Im excited

BradyManny · 11-05-2008, 09:32 AM

I'm stuck in between the last two options. I think we'll easily make the playoffs with Cassel & I think we can win the Super Bowl with him. But I don't think he's a very good QB yet, he's proven he's an above average QB surrounded by very good weapons.

Since 1993, the Patriots have been fortunate to have two very good QBs, one of them is beyond very good and is an all-time great. So I'm very reticent to put Cassel anywhere near that category at this point, having seen some truly great QB play over the last couple decades in Foxboro.

signbabybrady · 11-05-2008, 09:32 AM

I chose the he is very good and I am fully confident in him to win a big game.

Now that over states my feelings a little bit but to chose He's getting better, I think we can make the playoffs would be understating it too much for me.

I would really change that one to read more like this He's getting better, I know we can make the playoffs with him and compete in playoff games.

I wish I could say that I feel fully confident in him to win a big game but until he does it that is over stating it a bit.

Note: I was in his corner pre-season as I thought people had way to big expectations on a back up and he has proved to far exceed my expectations of him.

***PatsWickedPissah*** · 11-05-2008, 09:44 AM

Didn't think Matt had it in summer camp to do better than 8-8 were he QB, but before the cuts I read the tea leaves that BB & Co thought otherwise. Those of us who read what BB says and watch what he does, knew he would not (and should not) bring in a vet name @ QB as the fantasy absorbed fans here clamored.

I now believe that we CAN make the playoffs with Matt and I'm more concerned about other areas of the team than QB where the well coached Matt Cassel improves with experience. He still has not had his absolute stinker of a game that every starting QB has, some have several.

***NEPatriot*** · 11-05-2008, 09:46 AM

Cassels has 2 problems:

1- He can't finish it when we are in the red zone.
2- He needs to improve his medium and long range throw.

***TruthSeeker*** · 11-05-2008, 01:01 PM

Cassel is definately looking better.

***Leave No Doubt*** · 11-05-2008, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoLewisrocks

I was one of the original members of the much malaigned by the kneejerkers value of Matt Cassel fan club who never waivered and he has not disappointed me. It is a process but he is proving weekly he was always up to the challenge and it's gaining him national attention that could pay dividends. For my money he's the best performing backup turned FT starter in the league this season with unlimited remaining upside and I hope we benefit from that throughout the playoffs as well as at draft time next season...

10chas

***Deus Irae*** · 11-05-2008, 01:33 PM

He's a backup quarterback who's developing well under the tutelage of McDaniels, while being kept under wraps so he doesn't hurt the team. I defended him all during camp, and I will continue to do so when it's merited. As of this moment, however, he's still not a quality quarterback, and he may never become one. He's at the stage right now where the Patriots can win OR lose every game with him.

In the Patriots system, he's probably better, right now, than a third or more of the league's current starting quarterbacks. In a general pool, he may very well not fare quite that well, but that doesn't matter. I have confidence in the team to win, and a fair degree of confidence that Cassel will not actively lose the games. He's not yet proven to me that he's capable of putting a team on his shoulders and guiding them to victory. I look forward to him doing that should it be needed in the future.