Banks: With Brady as his co-pilot, Cassel has tools to succeed with Patriots

[SVN]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/don_banks/09/11/cassel/index.html?eref=T1

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Re: Banks:With Brady as his co-pilot, Cassel has tools to succeed with Patriots

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/don_banks/09/11/cassel/index.html?eref=T1

As someone else here as noted, the "recentism" towards the end is a bit annoying (Banks seems to forget that 18-20 TDs, a passer rating in the 80s, and not too many costly mistakes would be Bradyesque, as that was what Brady did in 2001; Brady's 2007 season seems to have made everybody think he's been playing like that his entire career).

 

[Tunescribe]

Re: Banks:With Brady as his co-pilot, Cassel has tools to succeed with Patriots

As someone else here as noted, the "recentism" towards the end is a bit annoying (Banks seems to forget that 18-20 TDs, a passer rating in the 80s, and not too many costly mistakes would be Bradyesque, as that was what Brady did in 2001; Brady's 2007 season seems to have made everybody think he's been playing like that his entire career).

Banks offers a great perspective, nonetheless. Excellent article. Cassel couldn't ask for a better support system to succeed at his level of zero experience, from coaching and teammates (on-field talent as well as knowledgeable input). It all boils down to how he processes things mentally and emotionally at game time. He certainly has the physical tools.

I wonder if Brady might be able to help on phones from the coaching booth.

 

[Rob0729]

Re: Banks:With Brady as his co-pilot, Cassel has tools to succeed with Patriots

Banks has been all over the place on this issue. One second he is saying the Pats are screwed with Cassel and the next he will be fine under the tutelidge of Brady.

I wonder if there is a chance that Brady will be in the coach's both the next two weeks. He obviously won't be in the sidelines during this time, but he might be able to give some advise through the headsets to Cassel. Is this even allowed?

 

[patchick]

Re: Banks:With Brady as his co-pilot, Cassel has tools to succeed with Patriots

Banks has been all over the place on this issue. One second he is saying the Pats are screwed with Cassel and the next he will be fine under the tutelidge of Brady.

Well, that puts him in the same camp as most of us!

 

[BradyManny]

Re: Banks:With Brady as his co-pilot, Cassel has tools to succeed with Patriots

Don Banks ripped me off:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=120681

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Re: Banks:With Brady as his co-pilot, Cassel has tools to succeed with Patriots

Banks has been all over the place on this issue. One second he is saying the Pats are screwed with Cassel and the next he will be fine under the tutelidge of Brady.

I wonder if there is a chance that Brady will be in the coach's both the next two weeks. He obviously won't be in the sidelines during this time, but he might be able to give some advise through the headsets to Cassel. Is this even allowed?

Drew wore a headset all through 2001. Sometimes that's just to listen in, other times it's a backup or mentor QB relaying in the plays rather than the OC. Some OC's sit in the booth and some stand on the sidelines. I believe we position Ernie in the box...

Brady can do a lot of scouting and film work for and with Matt. I doubt he'd be as vocal in game. Too many voices and all... More likely he'd be in communication with Bill and Josh in game and let them filter his observations first.

And no, NEM, he's not going to be the new defacto OC...

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Re: Banks:With Brady as his co-pilot, Cassel has tools to succeed with Patriots

Was just going to post this - got beat to it

Great article to read and hope for those like me who are not so high on Cassel for him to play a part to help the team win,not try and win on his own

 

[JSn]

Re: Banks:With Brady as his co-pilot, Cassel has tools to succeed with Patriots

I think we may now know the answer behind "the situation has changed" in reference to Simms and Ratay.

Sounds like Brady may have limped into the middle of this one. This article was encouraging. Love the picture.

 

[Rob0729]

Re: Banks:With Brady as his co-pilot, Cassel has tools to succeed with Patriots

Drew wore a headset all through 2001. Sometimes that's just to listen in, other times it's a backup or mentor QB relaying in the plays rather than the OC. Some OC's sit in the booth and some stand on the sidelines. I believe we position Ernie in the box...

Brady can do a lot of scouting and film work for and with Matt. I doubt he'd be as vocal in game. Too many voices and all... More likely he'd be in communication with Bill and Josh in game and let them filter his observations first.

And no, NEM, he's not going to be the new defacto OC...

Drew wasn't IRed in 2001. I don't know if an IRed player can be an active participant in any capacity during the game. I don't even know if they can be in any restricted areas during the game. I remember seeing Mike Alstott on the sidelines his last year when he was out for most of the year, but I can't remember if he was actually IRed or kept on the active roster.

 

[JSn]

Re: Banks:With Brady as his co-pilot, Cassel has tools to succeed with Patriots

Drew wasn't IRed in 2001. I don't know if an IRed player can be an active participant in any capacity during the game. I don't even know if they can be in any restricted areas during the game. I remember seeing Mike Alstott on the sidelines his last year when he was out for most of the year, but I can't remember if he was actually IRed or kept on the active roster.

Reserve/Injured (IR)
A player who sustains an injury in a practice or game that renders him physically unable to perform after passing his club’s pre-season physical may be placed on his club’s Reserve Injured list. While on IR a player will continue to receive his salary and medical care and is permitted to attend meetings, but he is prohibited from practicing and playing in games for his club for the remainder of the season. “The key benefit of being placed on IR is the club’s ongoing obligation to pay the player’s salary, medical care, and rehabilitation,” said NFLPA Staff Counsel Tim English. “It is the medical care and rehabilitation that allows the player to recover from injury and to get back out on the field. We all know that players want to play.”

Not super sure, but it sounds like he could. He's been in the weight room working out already and spent a couple of days in the building so maybe practicing and playing is the only restriction?

 

[stevedogc]

Re: Banks:With Brady as his co-pilot, Cassel has tools to succeed with Patriots

How much you want to bet that if Brady is seen on the sideline/coaches booth/locker room on Sunday and the Pats win the game we'll start seeing some articles written by uninformed windbags (NY Post maybe?) about the Pats breaking the rules by doing something illegal with Brady during the game?

 

[Kontradiction]

Re: Banks:With Brady as his co-pilot, Cassel has tools to succeed with Patriots

I just noticed something. Look closely at this picture. It appears that Brady is already wearing a knee brace on his left knee...

1. Am I seeing things or is that a knee brace?

2. If it is, did Brady always wear a knee brace?

 

[JSn]

Re: Banks:With Brady as his co-pilot, Cassel has tools to succeed with Patriots

I just noticed something. Look closely at this picture. It appears that Brady is already wearing a knee brace on his left knee...

1. Am I seeing things or is that a knee brace?

2. If it is, did Brady always wear a knee brace?

Awww crap. You just gave The Herald a cover story!

 

[spacecrime]

Re: Banks:With Brady as his co-pilot, Cassel has tools to succeed with Patriots

Well, that puts him in the same camp as most of us!

well said, Patchick!

 

[signbabybrady]

Re: Banks:With Brady as his co-pilot, Cassel has tools to succeed with Patriots

So if Don Banks thinks with Brady as his co-pilot that Cassel has his tools then why did he think Belichick should have responded more somberly in his press conference....actually he said he should have dropped the Stoic look....But if Cassel is as good as the article hopes he can be than why would he drop the stoic look.

 

[Cannon Arm]

Re: Banks:With Brady as his co-pilot, Cassel has tools to succeed with Patriots

Drew wore a headset all through 2001. Sometimes that's just to listen in, other times it's a backup or mentor QB relaying in the plays rather than the OC. Some OC's sit in the booth and some stand on the sidelines. I believe we position Ernie in the box...

Brady can do a lot of scouting and film work for and with Matt. I doubt he'd be as vocal in game. Too many voices and all... More likely he'd be in communication with Bill and Josh in game and let them filter his observations first.

And no, NEM, he's not going to be the new defacto OC...

The thing is that while Drew did something similar to this in 2001, I get the sense that Brady would be amazing at this job. His greatest skill is his brain. And not having to be concerned with the actual QBing job, allows him to focus more on things he wasn't able to before-- getting deep insights on those things. It's too bad we can't set up a webcam on Cassel's helmet so Brady could see what Matt does and have Brady talk into his headset, like a video game. Even up in the booth, Brady could reveal a ton of knowledge in game to Matt-- like a chessmaster standing up and watching a chess match unfold before him. Brady did a ton of OC stuff once Weis left. I'm sure he could do a better job than Josh, honestly.

 

[Cannon Arm]

Re: Banks:With Brady as his co-pilot, Cassel has tools to succeed with Patriots

I just noticed something. Look closely at this picture. It appears that Brady is already wearing a knee brace on his left knee...

1. Am I seeing things or is that a knee brace?

2. If it is, did Brady always wear a knee brace?

Yeah, the odds of it being the same leg hurt Sunday as in the photo are only 50%, but, still, it's 100% correct. It is a weird coincidence.

 

[BradyManny]

Re: Banks:With Brady as his co-pilot, Cassel has tools to succeed with Patriots

The thing is that while Drew did something similar to this in 2001, I get the sense that Brady would be amazing at this job. His greatest skill is his brain.

I've heard many times that Brady is as involved as anyone in the offensive game-planning. It's 3 people - him, McD and BB.

I find it hard to believe - or I want to find it hard to believe - that he'd suddenly stop going to these meetings b/c of his injury. As you say, I agree, Brady's brain can still be a huge asset to this team.

It's ultimately up to what the rehab dictates and what the coaching staff deems best, but knocking Brady's body out for the season is one thing, depriving the team of his mind is another. I really hope the team finds a suitable workflow for using him as an asset as the season goes on, whether during the week in the game-planning stage or during gameday on the sidelines when he reaches the point in his rehab when he is physically able to be on the sideline.

To boil it down - questions I've been wondering:

Will Brady continue to watch film? Will he continue to break down upcoming opponents despite the fact he won't be the QB?

Will Brady continue to be a part of the gameplanning meetings?

When healthy enough for it, will Brady be on the sideline or in a booth and will he have a headset like Bledsoe did? Will he reach a stage in his rehab when this is possible?

Thoughts??

 

[Mainefan]

Re: Banks:With Brady as his co-pilot, Cassel has tools to succeed with Patriots

Given Brady's past history, I am willing to bet the ONLY difference between Brady IR'd and Brady as the starter will be on the field of play during the game. Can anyone see him partying, spending time in the Bahamas or just sleeping in at home? I suspect he wouldn't know what to do with himself if he weren't watching film or working out or working with BB and others on game plans. We may have lost a quarterback, but I think we have gained a quarterback coach.