Matt Cassel has arrived!

[VJCPatriot]

400 passing yards, 3 TDs along with 62 yards rushing. Cassel had a phenomenal game that announced to the NFL world that he has arrived as a starting QB.

Was he perfect? No. He missed a few scoring opportunties on the deep ball. There was one play where he could have taken off and scored himself instead of throwing yet another incompletion to Watson. Is it me or has pass to Watson become almost synonymous with incompletion?

BUT when the chips were on the line, Cassel drove down the field with less than 2 minutes, no timeouts, and laid down a picture perfect pass to Randy Moss to tie the game. That's a hell of a performance for a kid who is essentially a rookie starter.

For better or for worse, Cassel has established himself as 'the guy', the starting QB for the New England Patriots. And the exciting part is that he is getting better every week. He finally had his payoff/arrival game. I can't wait to see what a more confident and mature Cassel can show to us in the remaining games of the season.

 

[JSn]

Is it me or has pass to Watson become almost synonymous with incompletion?

Yeah, it's just you.

8 receptions, 88 yards (11 YPC) 1 TD, 1 fumble lost (did not result in a score by the Jets).

He's not flawless but he's averaging a first down per catch and blocking well.

Just saying - the good and bad with most of our team is balanced and that goes from top to bottom.

 

[Leave No Doubt]

Impressive stats:

"CASSEL IS FIRST PLAYER SINCE 1970 AFL-NFL MERGER TO TOTAL AT LEAST 400 PASSING YARDS AND AT LEAST 60 RUSHING YARDS IN A GAME

CASSEL HAS MOST RUSHING YARDS FOR A PATRIOTS QUARTERBACK IN 30 YEARS "
Game Notes - Reiss' Pieces - Boston.com


Grogan's Mini Me

 

[Bella*chick]

Yesterday's disappointing ending is tempered somewhat by Matt Cassel's play. He looked really confident to me. He's a good QB and once more, BB's judgment in keeping him and going with him as our starter is looking pretty good.

 

[VJCPatriot]

PS although Matt Cassel missed some deep balls last night, I would note that even Tom Brady didn't look very good on deep balls earlier on in his career (although he had the disadvantage to throwing to mostly scrubs). It wasn't until later that he mastered the deep ball AND had decent targets to throw to. Of course the culmination of that was the 2007 season where he broke all kinds of passing records. In short, it may take some time for QBs to learn to throw the deep ball well. So Cassel might get the hang of that too, given some more time. One thing that Cassel has been pretty good at from the get go is his completion percentage. That speaks well for his accuracy and potential down the road.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Groganesque with all the running skills but a far superior passer and game manager. My man Grogs was Bledsoelike in throwing picks in the Red Zone.

 

[Bella*chick]

I just keep shaking my head and laughing at what we were all saying about Matt a few months ago.

If the injury bug weren't SO pervasive this year (for whatever reason), I wonder what our record would be. 8-2, almost certainly. I wish we had AD playing last night.

I thought when Brady went down that this season might be more fun to watch, less stressful, lower expectations. But it sucks just as bad to watch them lose games they could easily win. You get the feeling this team is on the brink, when they put it together, they look great. But with the constant injury barrage, it's getting harder and harder to do the patchworking and be effective.

 

[JSn]

Might be worth noting that for our observation, Cassel technically threw 4 TD's. What I mean is the two-point conversion was as good as a red zone TD, performance-wise. I recognize that statistically it's not that, but you can bet that play means no opponent from here on in can count on the run being the play we use to get red zone TD's anymore.

 

[Bella*chick]

It's also vastly entertaining to watch the guy run. When he takes off, the result is often very good. We didn't have that before because on the rare occasion it happened, we were all too busy holding our breath.

 

[LloydBraun]

The team will Franchise Cassel at this rate and then deal him before the tender is signed. A team like Minnesota will swing a deal for Cassel in a heartbeat if he keeps progressing.

We already have a 1st, two 2nd's and likely two 3rd's before even considering a Cassel deal.

When you consider the young players we have and then all of these picks, the future looks even brighter. My hope now is that Redd earns a chance to get reps this year and get ready for next year. My goal is to see Redd and Crable as bookend OLB's. That would beet 13 feet of athleticism out there!!!

 

[NEPatriot]

It's good to know that he finally ARRIVED but the REAL question is can he duplicate this kind of performance in the next 6 weeks?

We are going to find out soon.

 

[Bella*chick]

It's good to know that he finally ARRIVED but the REAL question is can he duplicate this kind of performance in the next 6 weeks?

We are going to find out soon.

Finally? Some QBs take years to arrive if they ever do. This is what, game 10 for him as an NFL QB?

Give me a break!

 

[NEPatriot]

Finally? Some QBs take years to arrive if they ever do. This is what, game 10 for him as an NFL QB?

Give me a break!

I still have my doubt on Cassel and his last night performance is not going to change my mind.

the REAL question is can he duplicate this kind of performance in the next 6 weeks?

 

[JSn]

I still have my doubt on Cassel and his last night performance is not going to change my mind.

the REAL question is can he duplicate this kind of performance in the next 6 weeks?

Dude. Seriously? This was a natural extension of his fantastic performance the last several weeks. Let it go. You're going to give yourself an ulcer.

 

[tajapandu]

It's also vastly entertaining to watch the guy run. When he takes off, the result is often very good. We didn't have that before because on the rare occasion it happened, we were all too busy holding our breath.

and we have way too many weapons for them to use a spy on cassel

 

[Leave No Doubt]

I still have my doubt on Cassel and his last night performance is not going to change my mind.

the REAL question is can he duplicate this kind of performance in the next 6 weeks?

I'm hoping he improves in certain ways and I see no reason why he'd lose everything he's developed so far Cassel's working very hard and he's gaining experience each week. I'm completely convinced he'll continue to follow advice, heed his coaches, and hone a few things. Barring anything horrific and unforseen he's given us NO reason to think he won't continue on this same path and that path can only lead to peaking at the right time, ie T-Day onward. If we can somehow avoid anymore key injuries,maybe get some guys back, there's absolutely no basis for doubting his continued progress.

He could even remain at status quo and succeed. I see no reason to think otherwise.

 

[mesoslo]

Cassel didnt play much in college, so right now, you're watching a college QB play in the NFL, once this season is over, and Cassel has time to reflect, and fix the small things, I expect him to be a lot better next year.

Now this is his first year, and he already has a game with 400 yards passing and 63 yards rushing, so its very safe to say, that in his career his will have another game with about +350 yards passing and +90 yards rushing.

 

[spacecrime]

I just keep shaking my head and laughing at what we were all saying about Matt a few months ago.

Not we all. Nope. Some of us were Cassel supporters the whole time. Some of us were not impressed with Gutierrez.

But yeah, most of YOU trashed Cassel to pieces, and praised Gute, who I'm sure is a nice guy but note that no one picked him up even for their practice squad. Were it not for Brady getting hurt, Gutierrez NFL career would be over.

The ultimate was some maroon who contended that in the end Gutierrez would have a better career than Cassel.

 

[spacecrime]

I still have my doubt on Cassel and his last night performance is not going to change my mind.

Some men are incapable of saying they are wrong. Something to do with diaper training or breast feeding, I forget which.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I just keep shaking my head and laughing at what we were all saying about Matt a few months ago.

Add me to space's 'who's "we" "all"' kimosabe. :snob: