Matty Cassel's very nice year, and a few thoughts

[Fixit]

Matt Cassel

For comparison: Mark Sanchez

Also, a few thoughts. They're from my brain, so feel free to skip them:

1) I'm not sure that Brady's ever played better than he is right now, and I'm including 2007.

2) It's become pretty clear to me that the entire defense is geared towards preventing the big play and getting stops when they need them. This has been great for wins (and the rookies), bad for stats, and a heart attack in waiting for me, but I'll take it.

3) Maybe it's just me, but it seems that our defenders routinely take bad angles/make bad decisions on potential sacks. For example: yesterday, Ninko flushed what's-his-face on a third-and-long and was chasing him to the sideline. As another defender was closing in, all he had to do was stay on his feet and corral him; I don't think Hill had any time to get a throw off. Instead, he dove for his feet and whiffed, Hill got outside on the other defender, who'd also taken a bad angle...first down. This seems to happen a lot. Again, maybe it's just me.

4) This offense is sooooo much scarier without Moss. There's no longer any argument about this.

5) The only thing Gronk has to fear is Gronk himself. He cannot be covered on a regular basis.

6) Been said a bunch of times, but McCourty's special.

7) I haven't given up on Tate...yet...but c'mon, man!

8) This is what I think of when I think of Branch's return.

 

[Jared]

In re Gronkowski: He is miles better than Watson in so many ways.

While he may not have the pure top speed that Watson had, he is no slouch in that department. But more importantly, he moves much more fluidly and seems to have some of the softest hands on the team when it comes to catching the ball. Once he gets one step behind the defender, that straight over the top, over the shoulder catch seems to be automatic.

I was telling someone I was watching the game with, I am thrilled to have Gronkowski and Hernandez for the next 4-5 years together, hopefully longer.

 

[SanAngeloState]

I've never gotten Cassel's delivery, very flat ball and weird sidearm motion. Guess it works but they looked like a pretty mediocre team when I've seen them.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

Matt Cassel


2) It's become pretty clear to me that the entire defense is geared towards preventing the big play and getting stops when they need them. This has been great for wins (and the rookies), bad for stats, and a heart attack in waiting for me, but I'll take it.

This defense is having a negative effect on my blood pressure, but I still love 'em.....

 

[Little Bill]

You know I have to say, Cassel has been solid this year but I am glad we made the trade. Brady is playing at a higher level now than he did in the season of perfection. He is on pace to win another MVP and I just wish that Tom was 25 again. I want him to play on Sundays forever.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

You know I have to say, Cassel has been solid this year but I am glad we made the trade. Brady is playing at a higher level now than he did in the season of perfection. He is on pace to win another MVP and I just wish that Tom was 25 again. I want him to play on Sundays forever.

Well, if the Patriots could have figured out how to freeze Matt in carbonite for a decade or so. . . .

 

[JoeSixPat]

Well, if the Patriots could have figured out how to freeze Matt in carbonite for a decade or so. . . .

That's currently a major sticking point in the CBA negotiations.

 

[WelshPat]

Cassel, much like Kyle Orton, has put up good numbers playing with our old Ocs. However, they are both limited and if those teams want to compete for championships they will have to upgrade that position at some point.

I think KC takes a QB in the first 2 rounds this year.

 

[Calciumee]

I think KC takes a QB in the first 2 rounds this year.

Even after the big contract they gave Cassel?

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Even after the big contract they gave Cassel?

There's a fairly large roster/option bonus due for Cassel early next year.

In any case, though, as I've said more than once, the Chiefs do not have a problem whose solution is "replace Cassel."

 

[VJCPatriot]

You know I have to say, Cassel has been solid this year but I am glad we made the trade. Brady is playing at a higher level now than he did in the season of perfection. He is on pace to win another MVP and I just wish that Tom was 25 again. I want him to play on Sundays forever.

Cassel was turned into Patrick Chung. And Chung has really been coming on. He's very physical out there and makes our defense better. So yeah I'd say it was a good trade for both teams. KC would not have a winning record right now without Cassel, and the Pats secondary would be weaker without a guy like Chung back there.

 

[Kontradiction]

1) I'm not sure that Brady's ever played better than he is right now, and I'm including 2007.

2007 was definitely Brady's best year, but he's currently on one of his finest stretches of football in his career. Tom Brady since Week 7...

124/190 1500 yards (not rounded, believe it or not) 13 TD's 0 INT

Simply put, he is playing absolutely out of his god damn mind right now.

2) It's become pretty clear to me that the entire defense is geared towards preventing the big play and getting stops when they need them. This has been great for wins (and the rookies), bad for stats, and a heart attack in waiting for me, but I'll take it.

This defense, as it is stacked right now, has a ceiling similar to the 2009 Saints. They're rarely going to shut you down, but they've been coming up with the big stops and timely turnovers when they need it. If they bring their A game every week and the offense (particularly Brady and the running game) keeps doing what they've been doing, we're as likely a representative as anybody else in the AFC for the Super Bowl bid.

3) Maybe it's just me, but it seems that our defenders routinely take bad angles/make bad decisions on potential sacks. For example: yesterday, Ninko flushed what's-his-face on a third-and-long and was chasing him to the sideline. As another defender was closing in, all he had to do was stay on his feet and corral him; I don't think Hill had any time to get a throw off. Instead, he dove for his feet and whiffed, Hill got outside on the other defender, who'd also taken a bad angle...first down. This seems to happen a lot. Again, maybe it's just me.

Combination of youth and sub-par personnel in some areas. The week before, Ninkovich bit very badly on a screen from Manning to his RB at the goal line. Instead of stay home (which is what he should have done), he came after Manning like a bat out of Hell. The result was an easy TD and Belichick giving Ninkovich an earful on the sidelines about how the Colts didn't have a running game and how he needed to stay home. Hopefully, they can improve on this. Many drives have been extended this year because of mistakes like these.

4) This offense is sooooo much scarier without Moss. There's no longer any argument about this.

I don't think that they're "scarier" without Moss. But they seem to be a lot less predictable. For example, the running game has been featured a bit more since Moss was traded. Another example is the way that Brady has elevated his game since Moss was traded. He's the front runner for the MVP award right now, IMO.

5) The only thing Gronk has to fear is Gronk himself. He cannot be covered on a regular basis.

His improvement on a week to week basis has been a welcome sight to behold. As has the fact that the coaching staff is finally letting him run more routes to become more of a factor in the passing game, and not just in the red zone. After Moss was traded, there were a few of us that were left wondering why we wouldn't use a 6'7" target with 4.6 speed and a tremendous wingspan more often in the passing game. His involvement in the passing game now gives Brady another target to throw to, puts some heat on defenders down the seam as well as over the middle, and also takes some pressure off of Welker.

6) Been said a bunch of times, but McCourty's special.

He may be special one day, and God knows that he's our undisputed #1 CB, but he still has quite a bit to improve on. I'm sure he'd tell you that as well as Belichick. But not to worry. Run DMc seems to be a very quick learner.

7) I haven't given up on Tate...yet...but c'mon, man!

Guy is basically in his rookie year and is coming off of serious knee injuries. He has all of the physical tools and can certainly improve.

8) This is what I think of when I think of Branch's return.

Great movie. The director of that movie also does "The Walking Dead", which is an awesome show on AMC that airs on Sundays. If you haven't seen it yet, I recommend that you get OnDemand and watch it from episode one. And yes, I'm glad to have Branch back too.