Grade Matt Cassel's performance

[emoney_33]

184 yards against a pathetic defense missing basically all of it's secondary. His reads were just ok and he still holds the ball too long. Check out the Passer ratings of WBs against Denver this year, all of which are above 100 except 1. I think he's improved, and I hope he can continue to, but I'm not going to get carried away. A B- grade is completely fair.

The 1 being Garcia . Oh and Cassel's is the best out of them all, and he's Quarterbacked 6 games (since HS).

 

[Deus Irae]

184 yards against a pathetic defense missing basically all of it's secondary. His reads were just ok and he still holds the ball too long. Check out the Passer ratings of WBs against Denver this year, all of which are above 100 except 1. I think he's improved, and I hope he can continue to, but I'm not going to get carried away. A B- grade is completely fair.

The team put up over 40 points, and Cassel was 18 for 24. The team only punted 3 times all game, and there was never a 3-and-out for the Patriots. The offense scored on 7 of the 10 non 'ending' drives. Exactly how many yards do you think he needed to throw for?

 

[PatriotNMP43]

I gave Cassel an A-, his best game of the year, no picks, found his 2nd and 3rd options much better, discovered he had a TE and 3 TD passes to big guns Moss/Welker. Cassel needed this game to boost his confidence, big thanks to the Denver D for helping out in a big way. Hard to believe 6 sacks but only 3 were his fault, the OL better start blocking better or Cassel will be rehabbing an injury like Brady.

 

[Wildo7]

The team put up over 40 points, and Cassel was 18 for 24. The team only punted 3 times all game, and there was never a 3 and out for the Patriots. The offense scored on 7 of the 10 non 'ending' drives. Exactly how many yards do you think he needed to throw for?

That's not the point. An "A" grade means he shined, and I don't think he did. He was just OK from what I saw and isn't responsible for the entire offensive output. Passer rating is the dumbest stat in sports. we ran the ball at will with whatever back we put in the game, I'm not going to give Cassel credit for that.

 

[Wildo7]

The 1 being Garcia . Oh and Cassel's is the best out of them all, and he's Quarterbacked 6 games (since HS).

Bly and Bailey didn't play for most of the game. That was a terrible defense playing without two of their best players.

 

[ALP]

B

with that type of running game, a lot of QB's could play like that

and he played a pretty bad D...

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Let's see:
- Turnovers = zero. When pressured he did not throw up prayers trying to force a play. He did a nice job of avoiding a strip sack on one play (that was one time I wanted to see him stop looking upfield and run the ball) and protected the ball despite the defenders often getting through the O-line and RBs like greased pigs.
- Continues to work his reads trying to improve and make plays, he continues to get better.
- Pretty decent accuracy when he's not being asked to rollout and throw on the run.
- Reports of "panic" are utter rubbish from too many intellectual midgets.

As a starting QB, I grade him a C, as a developing QB, bump it to B+.

 

[Hok]

A B, but a shaky one. He's got to go through his reads quicker and stop taking so many sacks for big losses.

 

[emoney_33]

Bly and Bailey didn't play for most of the game. That was a terrible defense playing without two of their best players.

Do not try to bring me down from my super high right now. Give them all an A!!! There shall be blind homerism for the rest of the night/morning and you shall love it!

 

[Wildo7]

Let's see:
- Turnovers = zero. When pressured he did not throw up prayers trying to force a play. He did a nice job of avoiding a strip sack on one play (that was one time I wanted to see him stop looking upfield and run the ball) and protected the ball despite the defenders often getting through the O-line and RBs like greased pigs.
- Continues to work his reads trying to improve and make plays, he continues to get better.
- Pretty decent accuracy when he's not being asked to rollout and throw on the run.
- Reports of "panic" are utter rubbish from too many intellectual midgets.

As a starting QB, I grade him a C, as a developing QB, bump it to B+.

Pretty much EXACTLY how I feel. I don't know whether you grade him as a starting QB or a developing one, so I graded him a B- according to the former.

 

[Deus Irae]

That's not the point. An "A" grade means he shined, and I don't think he did. He was just OK from what I saw and isn't responsible for the entire offensive output. Passer rating is the dumbest stat in sports. we ran the ball at will with whatever back we put in the game, I'm not going to give Cassel credit for that.

Of course it's the point, or you wouldn't have brought it up. As for the rest of your post, I assume you're kidding.

 

[Wildo7]

Of course it's the point, or you wouldn't have brought it up. As for the rest of your post, I assume you're kidding.

No, the overall offensive output isn't the point when grading Cassel's performance. I assume you have nothing to refute the rest of my post which is why you copped out.

 

[TheComeback]

Bly and Bailey didn't play for most of the game. That was a terrible defense playing without two of their best players.

While I agree with your grade of a B-, you must acknowledge that Cassel is at a tremendous experience disadvantage compared to other young quarterbacks. Even without Bly and Bailey, this is still an NFL defense he is facing. It might be one of the worst, but their pass rush was getting through the oline and Cassel still made good decisions. He deserves credit for that.

The touchdown pass to Moss--not the screen--was with Bly in coverage, so it seems your point is at least somewhat moot in that department anyway.

 

[jczxohn1]

B-/C+
I was left feeling he may develop into a serviceable strong back-up. Brad Johnson/ Matt Staub/Jon Kitna level. He has an awfully long way to go, tho, as it is just painfully apparent the game has not slowed down for him yet to the point that he can see beyond his first receiver. He hasn't the foresight to see where is receiver will be unless he is open, which is too late to throw the ball. Looked like Bledsoe in exhibition season.

 

[Wildo7]

While I agree with your grade of a B-, you must acknowledge that Cassel is at a tremendous experience disadvantage compared to other young quarterbacks. Even without Bly and Bailey, this is still an NFL defense he is facing. It might be one of the worst, but their pass rush was getting through the oline and Cassel still made good decisions. He deserves credit for that.

The touchdown pass to Moss--not the screen--was with Bly in coverage, so it seems your point is at least somewhat moot in that department anyway.

This is where different people's interpretation of "grading" comes into play. I graded him according to what you want from a starting QB, not according to expectations of him.

EDIT - and I agree that the Moss TD was the most impressive play, though again, that's a play most average NFL QBs could make.

 

[dakevdude]

B-/C+
I was left feeling he may develop into a serviceable strong back-up. Brad Johnson/ Matt Staub/Jon Kitna level. He has an awfully long way to go, tho, as it is just painfully apparent the game has not slowed down for him yet to the point that he can see beyond his first receiver. He hasn't the foresight to see where is receiver will be unless he is open, which is too late to throw the ball. Looked like Bledsoe in exhibition season.

B-/C+ for me too...the main thing was Cassel DID NOT have to win the game for the Patriots...if the defense could play like this for the rest of the season...the team will be in good shape...

Also...wow...this was the first time I did not blame Cassel for those sacks...wassup with the weak oline play?

 

[Deus Irae]

No, the overall offensive output isn't the point when grading Cassel's performance. I assume you have nothing to refute the rest of my post which is why you copped out.

I didn't cop out. The rest of your post was ridiculous, so I assumed it was a joke. You don't give him credit because the running game was working? And, the point WAS, according to you, the number of yards. It was the very first thing you pointed to in your response. The man did exactly what he's supposed to do.

 

[BennyBledsoe]

For a guy making his fifth full NFL start, I thought he did well above average. I gave him a B.

Still, the offensive line got exposed in the Super Bowl and this year it's been absolutely destroyed. For a line with that many Pro Bowlers, the quarterback hits the turf too much. I'd love to see what Cassel could do given just one extra second on each of his dropbacks.

 

[Wildo7]

I didn't cop out. The rest of your post was ridiculous, so I assumed it was a joke. You don't give him credit because the running game was working? And, the point WAS, according to you, the number of yards. It was the very first thing you pointed to in your response. The man did exactly what he's supposed to do.

which part was ridiculous, exactly? You do realize that the "you disagree with me therefore you're stupid" style of posting you love is wearing thin right? I mean, most intelligent people formulate arguments and back them up with facts without just resorting to useless hyperbole.

For the last time, I don't give Cassel too much credit because the Pats scored 40 points against a terrible, injury-ridden defense by mostly running the ball. If you think my grade of a B- is "ridiculous" then congrats, you're homerism is off the charts.

 

[Batman]

This is where different people's interpretation of "grading" comes into play. I graded him according to what you want from a starting QB, not according to expectations of him.

EDIT - and I agree that the Moss TD was the most impressive play, though again, that's a play most average NFL QBs could make.

I looked at what I expected from him what I wanted and took in to account what he is (a 3rd year rookie).

I expected him to managed the offense
have his high completion of passes
reduce mistakes
improve his reads

what I wanted was;
manage the offense well.
drive downfield
make good reads
and but 2 td's on the board
get the ball out quick enough to avoid sack


I think managed the game well while the team dove downfield his reads were not that great. He did improve his reads like the moss jumper. and all in all he reduced his mistakes. He didn't get the ball out quickly so didn't avoid the sacks. I didn't tuck and run any where near as much.