ESPN's First Take view on why Cassel has not been allowed to air it out more

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

On today's ESPN First take,They talked about Cassel developing into a surprising decent quarterback but they think is being held back from throwing long often right now because the running game is banged up and they think that BB does not want defenses to blitz all day not fearing the run if Cassel routinely passes long so if he keeps it short and the running game is used often and survives without its major players, it is the way it will be done up until Morris and Jordan are back and at that time they expect Cassel to open it up big time since the defense may be playing more up close guarding against the run more leaving Moss and Welker maybe a bit more open thus more long passes.

I guess they think teams will be ready to look for more run with Morris and Jordan back but both may be decoys for long ball passing

Whether that sounds right as to why Cassel is being held back, is up for you to decide to argue or agree with, but thats what they were saying earlier

 

[xmarkd400x]

Hey, just like anything else at this point, its a theory. It doesn't seem to hold too much water, however.

I'd question what the immediate upside is to 'not airing it out'. By running often and not passing deep, you concede part of the field to the defense. If one action by the offense (going deep more frequently) could predict what the defense was going to do (blitz a lot), wouldn't that be a good thing? Then BB would air it out until the defense blitzed, then use screens and reverses to get good yardage.

My theory is that the deeper passes are further along in the read progression, and Cassell doesn't consistently make it that far into the reads, usually because the pocket doesn't last that long.

 

[NYCPatsFan]

ESPN not having anything negative on us??

Do you know who gave these thoughts? Quite valid IMO.

 

[Ice Cold Bruschi]

I have no problems with us not airing it out, has it cost in any games at all? Certainly not in the Colts game. They'll do it when the situation calls for it

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

ESPN not having anything negative on us??

Do you know who gave these thoughts? Quite valid IMO.

It was that heavy-set black man on the roundtable discussion part of the show about 35 minutes into the first take segment
- Don't remember his name but I don't think he was a former athlete - If he was, then he must have spent alot of time post-career in an entenmann's bakery factory.

 

[NYCPatsFan]

It was that heavy-set black man on the roundtable discussion part of the show about 35 minutes into the first take segment
- Don't remember his name but I don't think he was a former athlete - If he was, then he must have spent alot of time post-career in an entenmann's bakery factory.

LOL. Good one!

 

[cmasspatsfan]

You only have to go deep once or twice to keep the defense honest, if its there Im sure they'll let Cassel air it out. I think they're taking what their given.

 

[SVN]

First take is one of the most useless programs. Every analyst wants the QB to air it out. they kept saying the same about favre and jets . ignore the facts that when favre did 'air it out' he threw a lot of INTs

 

[signbabybrady]

I thought they had a decent premise going there and they I think they jumped to the wrong conclusion. They were saying are lack of a run threat was a reason we are not airing it out but instead of concluding that this is because Cassel might get killed with out a run threat to slow down the pass rush they conclude once the backs come back he will air it out more.

 

[lostjumper]

It was that heavy-set black man on the roundtable discussion part of the show about 35 minutes into the first take segment
- Don't remember his name but I don't think he was a former athlete - If he was, then he must have spent alot of time post-career in an entenmann's bakery factory.

Jason Whitlock? oh wait...never mind

 

[fair catch fryar]

Maybe it's too simple, but I just assumed Cassel was being managed more to avoid interceptions for a good part of the season. Once he has a better grasp of picking up defenses and getting a feel for his receiver's tendencies, plus a little confidence, I believe they catch some team's off guard and air it out a bit more. If only Gaffney would've caught that ball against the Colts, some people might start giving Csasel some props.

 

[spacecrime]

I have no problems with us not airing it out, has it cost in any games at all? Certainly not in the Colts game.

Umm, we lost that game. You don't thing two or three 40 yard TD passes would have had an effect on the score? Or even two or three 40-yard passes that got us into FG range in lieu of punting.

 

[neuronet]

My theory is that the deeper passes are further along in the read progression, and Cassell doesn't consistently make it that far into the reads, usually because the pocket doesn't last that long.

This seems right.

 

[spacecrime]

If only Gaffney would've caught that ball against the Colts, some people might start giving Csasel some props.

Cassel would be a better passer if Gafney caught the ball? I don't think so. Brady or Montana couldn't have laid it in any better. Cassel deserves the props AND the right to throw deep. As soon as we do, we'll win more games. As long as we only require the other team to defend 20% of the field, we will have problems.

 

[ALP]

On today's ESPN First take,They talked about Cassel developing into a surprising decent quarterback but they think is being held back from throwing long often right now because the running game is banged up and they think that BB does not want defenses to blitz all day not fearing the run if Cassel routinely passes long so if he keeps it short and the running game is used often and survives without its major players, it is the way it will be done up until Morris and Jordan are back and at that time they expect Cassel to open it up big time since the defense may be playing more up close guarding against the run more leaving Moss and Welker maybe a bit more open thus more long passes.

I guess they think teams will be ready to look for more run with Morris and Jordan back but both may be decoys for long ball passing

Whether that sounds right as to why Cassel is being held back, is up for you to decide to argue or agree with, but thats what they were saying earlier

oww, ESPN making sense...u dont see that every month

 

[fair catch fryar]

Cassel would be a better passer if Gafney caught the ball? I don't think so. Brady or Montana couldn't have laid it in any better. Cassel deserves the props AND the right to throw deep. As soon as we do, we'll win more games. As long as we only require the other team to defend 20% of the field, we will have problems.

Read it again.....that was my point. ESPN's analysis would be totally different had Gaffney caught that ball and the Pat's won. They'd be signing a different tune. Cassel couldn't have placed that ball any better, but I also am not against the way BB and McDaniels have handled the situation so far. Minus some bad calls on BB's part, the Pats should've won that game easily hadn't it been for the penalty on Thomas and the DROP by Gafney.