Last chance for Cassel verus San Francisco

[marcus]

BB is too competitive to let more than one more game go down the drain with poor QB play.
Despite Brady being gone for the season, I am sure BB believes he can make this team competitive.

MC better lead this team to more than 21 points and at least 2 red zone td's versus SF or else he can say hello to the bench.


I know that the right side of the O-line sucks...all the more reason to get someone in there who is more instinctive and can use their legs.


I am willing to bet the D rises to the occasion

 

[PATRIOT64]

Re: Last chance for Cassell verus San Francisco

Ways to beat the Niners.....

You shut down Frank Gore

You eliminate Patrick Willis from making big plays from his LB spot by blocking him well throughout the game

You force O'Sullivan to beat you through the air

And then they should beat the Niners no matter how many points are needed because those 3 guys (2 on offense and 1 on defense) are keys to victory.

 

[Seymour93]

Re: Last chance for Cassell verus San Francisco

I tend to agree with the OP. But while the SF game may seal Cassel's fate, I don't think BB would make a change at the QB position during the middle of the two week long West Coast trip.

 

[PATRIOT64]

Re: Last chance for Cassell verus San Francisco

If this team does not sign a vet at QB within the next 7 days then you can likely expect the 3 musketeers we have on the QB depth chart to be the guys to finish the season although it may be Gutz or O'Connell to start if Cassel continues to suck

- If there are any new additions it will probably be no later than next week sometime,I don't see it happening as bringing in another QB could be harmful to the makeup of the team even if it means potentially throwing the season down the tubes and suffering till a REAL QB comes back in 2009.

 

[CheerforTom]

Re: Last chance for Cassell verus San Francisco

BB is too competitive to let more than one more game go down the drain with poor QB play.
Despite Brady being gone for the season, I am sure BB believes he can make this team competitive.

MC better lead this team to more than 21 points and at least 2 red zone td's versus SF or else he can say hello to the bench.


I know that the right side of the O-line sucks...all the more reason to get someone in there who is more instinctive and can use their legs.


I am willing to bet the D rises to the occasion

I'm not so sure. I think if he throws another 1 TD/0 INT game he'll stay in for at least another game. If he repeats how he did against Miami it'll be a different story.

Only one way to find out

 

[Alex24]

Re: Last chance for Cassell verus San Francisco

BB is too competitive to let more than one more game go down the drain with poor QB play.
Despite Brady being gone for the season, I am sure BB believes he can make this team competitive.

MC better lead this team to more than 21 points and at least 2 red zone td's versus SF or else he can say hello to the bench.


I know that the right side of the O-line sucks...all the more reason to get someone in there who is more instinctive and can use their legs.


I am willing to bet the D rises to the occasion

LOL at your thread Cassel needs to develop his game a bit more so I know BB has a brain and a another lost will not make him take out Cassel.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Re: Last chance for Cassell verus San Francisco

If this team does not sign a vet at QB within the next 7 days then you can likely expect the 3 musketeers we have on the QB depth chart to be the guys to finish the season although it may be Gutz or O'Connell to start if Cassel continues to suck

- If there are any new additions it will probably be no later than next week sometime,I don't see it happening as bringing in another QB could be harmful to the makeup of the team even if it means potentially throwing the season down the tubes and suffering till a REAL QB comes back in 2009.

If they haven't signed that mystery vet by now he ain't comin.... If they were in any way displeased with Cassel's performance in context, they'd have done something about it by now...

 

[zippo59]

Re: Last chance for Cassell verus San Francisco

BB is too competitive to let more than one more game go down the drain with poor QB play.
Despite Brady being gone for the season, I am sure BB believes he can make this team competitive.

MC better lead this team to more than 21 points and at least 2 red zone td's versus SF or else he can say hello to the bench.


I know that the right side of the O-line sucks...all the more reason to get someone in there who is more instinctive and can use their legs.


I am willing to bet the D rises to the occasion

Why? Because you say so?

 

[Ian]

Re: Last chance for Cassell verus San Francisco

If they haven't signed that mystery vet by now he ain't comin.... If they were in any way displeased with Cassel's performance in context, they'd have done something about it by now...

I would tend to agree. I think that Cassel will have to make the most of his opportunity to show that he can play in this league. If it doesn't work out, then it will be up to O'Connell.

Either way, Belichick knows he has nothing to lose. Granted he wants to win now, but with Brady hopefully coming back next year, the guy who plays the best will either give himself a chance to backup Brady, or start somewhere else. Belichick's not coaching to save his job, he's coaching to do the best he can to salvage this season. But he won't do it for the sake of sacrificing his future and part of that means developing guys on his roster, one of which is a 3rd round draft choice.

So I agree with MoLewisrocks, I don't see the point of bringing in a veteran at this point of the year.

 

[Hardboiled]

Re: Last chance for Cassell verus San Francisco

If they haven't signed that mystery vet by now he ain't comin.... If they were in any way displeased with Cassel's performance in context, they'd have done something about it by now...

I think that too. The crazy "send the vet QBs home after arriving" story indicates to me that Beloli have their guys and that's it. Get use to it.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Re: Last chance for Cassell verus San Francisco

If they haven't signed that mystery vet by now he ain't comin.... If they were in any way displeased with Cassel's performance in context, they'd have done something about it by now...

Exactly. We've had 2 weeks now and didn't make a single move. That's 2 weeks the pickup could have put towards learning the new offense. At this point I think Cassel is the man for the long run.

 

[Sicilian]

I think this is a make or break week for Cassel in the minds of the fans, but I'm not convinced Belichick is of the same mind. Consider this:

- He hasn't brought in a vet, which (right or wrong) means he doesn't think there's anyone out there who could come in and learn the system soon enough to make a difference.

- 99% of O'Connell's throws, reads, and experience has come in practice. The remaining 1% was late in preseason games against 3rd stringers, and those handful of throws in garbage time on Sunday. It is entirely possible that Belichick, having seen 100 times more of O'Connell than we have, doesn't believe he's ready to be thrown to the wolves.

If the latter is the case, Cassel will either play well and keep his job, or play poorly and be the sacrificial lamb until O'Connell is deemed ready. That could be as early as week five, or as late as next season. We just don't know what the Pats see from this guy in practice and the film room.

 

[richpats]

BB is too competitive to let more than one more game go down the drain with poor QB play.

If we start losing games 17-13 then you may have a point but we just lost 38-13. The D gave away any chance of making a comeback on Sunday.

Stay the course with Cassel, give him time and we will see improvement in our QB position.

 

[Ring 6]

I'm not understanding this thinking.
For me to believe that Cassel is in a put up or shut up position, I would have to believe that BB is disappointed in his play, which I do not, and BB blames him for the Miami loss, which I do not. I would even moreso have to believe that BBs approach to this issue was to throw Cassel out on the field and THEN make a judgment on him, and if he plays poorly that means he got his answer, and takes his next chance.
I totally disagree. I believe that BB has decided on Cassel over a 4 year period. That 95% of the traits, skills, characteristics and abilities he needs to assess are already assessed and BB has a real close expectation of what Cassel is going to do.
I think Cassel is our QB for the season unless one of a few things happens:
1) We are awful, out of it, and we play OConnell because he is under contract beyond this year
2) Cassel is injured
3) Cassel folds under pressure, and the 5% BB doesnt know yet turns out disasterous.

Otherwise we are sinking or swimming with Cassel.

 

[Rob0729]

BB is too competitive to let more than one more game go down the drain with poor QB play.
Despite Brady being gone for the season, I am sure BB believes he can make this team competitive.

MC better lead this team to more than 21 points and at least 2 red zone td's versus SF or else he can say hello to the bench.


I know that the right side of the O-line sucks...all the more reason to get someone in there who is more instinctive and can use their legs.


I am willing to bet the D rises to the occasion

By your standards, Tom Brady may have never been the Patriots starting QB past game three. His first start of his career, he had 168 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, and completed 53% of his passes. His second game he had 86 yards (yes, that isn't a typo), 4 sacks, two fumbles that were both lost, 0 TDs, and 0 INTs. He played really well his next two games (564 yards and 5 TDs) only to meet total disaster in Denver (4 INTs).

Sorry, but Cassel's job barring a total meltdown is safe for at least another month or so. Cassel's first two starts were more successful than Brady's first two starts. I don't expect him to be as successful as Brady, but Brady had two disaster games in his first five starts, one stellar game, and one good game.

 

[richpats]

Let's not forget the MVP OF THE FUDGIN' SUPER BOWL last year threw THREE pick-6's in Week 12 at home against a mediocre Vikings team.

 

[mgteich]

That doesn't make Cassel a better QB. Before the season started, few on this board wanted him on the team. The patriots can go to the playoffs with Cassel. We have a weak enough schedule and a solid enough team. The defense will need to play better. I just think that we would have a better chance in the playoff run and in the playoffs if we were to secure a better QB. I think that Belichick has decided the O'Connell won't be ready this year and Gute never will be ready. This argues for at least a backup veteran for the squad instead of Gute.

Just BTW, the backup vet should be signed to a contract through 2009 so we won't need to pressure Brady to come back too early next year.

Let's not forget the MVP OF THE FUDGIN' SUPER BOWL last year threw THREE pick-6's in Week 12 at home against a mediocre Vikings team.

 

[richpats]

That doesn't make Cassel a better QB. Before the season started, few on this board wanted him on the team. The patriots can go to the playoffs with Cassel. We have a weak enough schedule and a solid enough team. The defense will need to play better. I just think that we would have a better chance in the playoff run and in the playoffs if we were to secure a better QB. I think that Belichick has decided the O'Connell won't be ready this year and Gute never will be ready. This argues for at least a backup veteran for the squad instead of Gute.

Just BTW, the backup vet should be signed to a contract through 2009 so we won't need to pressure Brady to come back too early next year.

Well since our starter hasn't had as bad a game as Eli had in week 12, I think people should stop calling for his head until that happens.

 

[emoney_33]

That doesn't make Cassel a better QB. Before the season started, few on this board wanted him on the team. The patriots can go to the playoffs with Cassel. We have a weak enough schedule and a solid enough team. The defense will need to play better. I just think that we would have a better chance in the playoff run and in the playoffs if we were to secure a better QB. I think that Belichick has decided the O'Connell won't be ready this year and Gute never will be ready. This argues for at least a backup veteran for the squad instead of Gute.

Just BTW, the backup vet should be signed to a contract through 2009 so we won't need to pressure Brady to come back too early next year.

And the bolded statement does not make him a bad QB. There is one thing that is certain, MC has NOT reached his ceiling. Where that ceiling is and how long it will take him to approach it remains to be seen. Vets that people want have hit their low ceilings and are falling downwards.

 

[mgteich]

I get it. Matt Cassel gets to start his first games since HS, learn the pro game, improve all year, and then go get a job for another team. In the meantime, we hope to make the playoffs. A team that was SB favorites three weeks ago are playoff maybes with a HS QB.

Why is it worse to get a veteran who will improve as he learns the system, and has no upside potential, but who gives us an NFL experienced QB for the playoffs? After all, Cassel's upside potential will be realized in 2009 or 2010 for some other team.

And the bolded statement does not make him a bad QB. There is one thing that is certain, MC has NOT reached his ceiling. Where that ceiling is and how long it will take him to approach it remains to be seen. Vets that people want have hit their low ceilings and are falling downwards.