Curran: Pats should've been prepared for this

dhamz said:

I think the argument is they should have brought a veteran in during the offseason - not today.

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Still wouldn't know enough of the playbook compared to Cassel. Plus they are assuming Cassel has regressed based upon their limited views on him (which includes 0 meaningful games, well 1 now).

The main points against Cassel are pre-season and 1 play up by 6 TD's against Miami. Why would I believe they know more than BB who has seen Cassel in countless practices for 4 years?

RayClay said:

I would have agreed, but he played well Sunday and we won. I'd say the odds are on gaining confidence and growing into the job.

Based on one game, that is.

Jumpy, yes. Rushing throws? Not Sunday. He was an NFL quarterback for one game anyway.

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He looked extremely good (dare I say Brady-like) on the TD throw, stepping up in the pocket, poised, accurate, beautiful.

I agree, I'd feel more comfortable with a veteran backup, but Cassel is my QB now and that's that. I hope he does well.

SVN said:

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/26608029/


honestly i have to agree with this assesment. a volek,feely would make us more confident in my opinion.

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maybe they are prepared for it

Stupid argument based upon insufficient data. It's an article that writers of any quality should be ashamed to have written.

What did your guys think when Brady played his first NFL game after Bledson was injured? Was he better than Cassel?

They did prepare for it. That they didn't prepare for it how Tom Curran wanted them to is not noteworthy. It just puts him in a not-so-select group that were ridiculously harsh on anything Cassel did in pre-season.

Arrogant article by Curran. It looks that much worse when an exceptional player Brady goes down, but who's to say that aren't prepared with Cassel?

They have a guy who's been with the team for 4 years with adequate physical and mental skills. He's unproven but he has as much chance to succeed as a backup QB reasonably can.

SVN said:

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/26608029/


honestly i have to agree with this assesment. a volek,feely would make us more confident in my opinion.

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Been saying this all preseason....and last year as well.........I agree with T Curran....BB/Pioli seem to have this tremendous confidence in Cassel....despite the fact that almost everytime he goes out there in practice or preseason game.....he has happy feet, tunnel vision (AKA locking on one receiver) and makes POOR decisions.......Now, guys like Mo and Deus like these kinds of qualities in a backup QB......I, for one,.....don't.....

Nope Curran is dead on on this one......

Now in fairness to Cassel.....He came in and played a decent game yesterday.....and we were able to hang onto a win......His post game presser was weird....It was like it was finally "ALL about HIM".....and "His chances to finally start in the NFL" When the classy response....considering Brady has always gotten this kid's back....even when every fan was calling for his head......Would have been to talk about how he hoped Tom was ok....and that he would be able to be back in there soon etc.......

Curran is looking for a story and didn't dig very deep.

The Patriots were prepared for this, just not the way Curran wanted them to be prepared. No, the Pats don't have a David Carr, Kerry Collins, or Brad Johnson on the bench and I don't know if that would make me feel any better unless they had been with the team for a few years. Yes, I did feel good when the Pats had Damon Huard backing up Brady, but I am not convinced having a veteran in camp would had unseated Cassel and a veteran surely won't unseat him this week.

But the Pats were prepared....

1. Cassel is a 4 year veteran.

2. Cassel has been in the Patriots offensive system from day 1.

(Yeah, he hasn't started, but who does when you have a franchise QB?)

3. Cassel took all the reps this off season and took over for Brady in the preseason. Meaning, he threw more passes to Moss and Welker this off season than Brady.

4. Pats waived Gutierrez and not Cassel, despite the poor preseason. Having Gutierrez would scream "unprepared" for an injury.

Admittedly, the Pats aren't prepared for an injury to Cassel. So tell Curran to put that article in his pocket till another rainy day.

stcjones said:

Been saying this all preseason....and last year as well.........I agree with T Curran....BB/Pioli seem to have this tremendous confidence in Cassel....despite the fact that almost everytime he goes out there in practice

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And you fail right there... good day.

It's amazing, just friggin amazing how people still continue to be adamant about their fantasies that they know/see more than BB and the coaches. AMAZING!

Most of the doubters will be proven wrong about Cassel.

He'll do just fine.

That doesn't mean he will be great for us, but he will be AT LEAST what Trent Edwards is for the Buffalo Bills.

stcjones said:

he has happy feet

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Ever see Peyton Manning in the pocket? I saw Cassel moving in the pocket to avoid pressure, stepping up on some throws, etc. He looked fine to me.

tunnel vision (AKA locking on one receiver)

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Did you watch the game on Sunday? He was looking off his primary guy on almost every play.

and makes POOR decisions.

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I missed that on Sunday too. Which game were you watching? Oh that's right, you're basing your whole overblown premise on pre-season games with no gameplan and 2nd/3rd stringers to work with.

Now in fairness to Cassel.....He came in and played a decent game yesterday

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Hey, you noticed! 116 QB rating and such. Clutch throw from his own 1/2 yard line. Tough situation, nervous crowd and teammates, etc etc.

His post game presser was weird....It was like it was finally "ALL about HIM".....and "His chances to finally start in the NFL" When the classy response....considering Brady has always gotten this kid's back....even when every fan was calling for his head......Would have been to talk about how he hoped Tom was ok

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Ok, this is where I call BS. Watch Brady's press conference when HE got the starting job in 2001. Stuff like "Well, you never know when or how you're going to get your chance in this game, you just have to be ready to get out there and go". Same stuff Cassel is saying now. It must be nice to have such a selective memory..

Any day I gotta choose between believing whether BB or a self important football mediot or some moronic message board poster is right an easy day to make a comfortable football choice...

There isn't a veteran FA worth having on this team. If there were he'd be gainfully employed as at least a #2 somewhere else...

Did if ever occur to anyone that BB thinks he is prepared with Cassel at QB?

the reason why these QB's are on the street ,is because they stink.. In Bill we trust, some said it will be trent edwards like.. probably 10-6 is possible.. 12-4 would be amazing..


I just think this week is not going to be fair for Casell

Medowlands

Brett Farve's first home game

Mangini will blitz the heck out him

The defense will have to carry us on sunday..

But no matter what , and no matter how he plays , its his first start, he will be graded on major major major curve... He gets a pass for about a month in my book..

Bella*chick said:

Agreed. And if Peyton Manning were to go down in these circumstances, I doubt Sorgi would be leading the Colts anywhere but home.

Like previous posters have said, these articles are easy to write today.

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Agreed. If the Pats were unprepared for this, then the Colts are even MORE unprepared, because I'd take Cassel over Sorgi every day of the week and twice on sunday. Sorgi is AWFUL. He has no pocket awareness at ALL and less of an arm than Chad Pennington. Seriously, all they can run when he's in the game are screens and short outs, because he can't throw it more than 15 yards down the field.

Its why the Colts never win preseason games-as soon as Sorgi comes in, the defense moves up 10 yards.

The prevailing theory among Colts fans is that Sorgi possesses some sort of embarrassing photos of Polian, thereby making himself un-cut-able.

Sean Pa Patriot said:

the reason why these QB's are on the street ,is because they stink.. In Bill we trust, some said it will be trent edwards like.. probably 10-6 is possible.. 12-4 would be amazing..


I just think this week is not going to be fair for Casell

Medowlands

Brett Farve's first home game

Mangini will blitz the heck out him

The defense will have to carry us on sunday..

But no matter what , and no matter how he plays , its his first start, he will be graded on major major major curve... He gets a pass for about a month in my book..

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How much tougher than coming in to a game on the 2 yard line?

I think it is correct to say that this is a tough situation because of the hype that was already going to surround this game. But not at all unfair that a team might throw blitzes all day. That's a football matter that any QB has to deal with at times (like any time you play Pittsburgh).

Let's see if the Pats "prepared":

3rd and 11 on your 1. 51 yard pass as part of a 98 yard drive. Drive capped by 3rd and 10 TD pass.

How about the 18 yard pass to Thomas as part of the 2nd half TD drive?

126 yards on the ground against a good defense.

Zero turnovers

What else does one expect? Besides, except for McNabb, isn't it mean to blow out inferior opponents?