spacecrime
Veteran Starter w/Big Long Term Deal
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With the caveat that it is impossible to absolutely compare the two, that the teams around them are not the same and that when they started their first games Brady was more talented than Cassel but Cassel was more NFL-ready by dint of three plus years in the system, consider this:
Cassel's numbers for last week are close to what Brady's were for his first start. Some of this obviously is a coincidence, but the general tone of shorter passes, lots of runs, and lots of screen passes was likey BB's plan for Cassel's first game as it was for Brady's first game.
So, what can we look for in the next few games if BB runs true:
In Brady's second start, he was held back again. Also, he sucked. He had 69 net yards passing. 12 for 24, 4 sacks for -17 yards. He scrambled for 9 yards, and Antowain and other RBs combined for 71 more yards. They lost 30-10 in a game that wasn't nearly that close. This is the game where BB buried the game ball and did not review the game tapes.
In Brady's third start, he aired it out against San Diego. 33 of 54, 364 yards, 2 TDs, no INTs. Pats won a wild one 29-26.
In Brady's fourth start, Brady was held back again. 16 of 20 for 202 tards, 3 TDs. Pats beat the Colts 38-17.
In Brady's fifth start, it was back to first start-type numbers but this time he lost to Denver 31-20. He was 25 of 38 for 202 yards, with 2 TDs and 4 INTs.
From this point Brady seemed to have hit this stride and had around 28-30 pass attempts per game except:
15 of 21 for 104 yards, Bills
19 of 35 for 237 yards, 2nd Bills game
11 of 19 for 108 in a win agaisnt the Dolphins
Conclusions: Brady aired it out only one game in 2001, against San Diego. He had three games where he threw around 20 times (not counting his first start with 23 attempts).
Of course, Cassel has better receivers, but I would not be looking to see Cassel let loose for the immediate future.
Cassel's numbers for last week are close to what Brady's were for his first start. Some of this obviously is a coincidence, but the general tone of shorter passes, lots of runs, and lots of screen passes was likey BB's plan for Cassel's first game as it was for Brady's first game.
So, what can we look for in the next few games if BB runs true:
In Brady's second start, he was held back again. Also, he sucked. He had 69 net yards passing. 12 for 24, 4 sacks for -17 yards. He scrambled for 9 yards, and Antowain and other RBs combined for 71 more yards. They lost 30-10 in a game that wasn't nearly that close. This is the game where BB buried the game ball and did not review the game tapes.
In Brady's third start, he aired it out against San Diego. 33 of 54, 364 yards, 2 TDs, no INTs. Pats won a wild one 29-26.
In Brady's fourth start, Brady was held back again. 16 of 20 for 202 tards, 3 TDs. Pats beat the Colts 38-17.
In Brady's fifth start, it was back to first start-type numbers but this time he lost to Denver 31-20. He was 25 of 38 for 202 yards, with 2 TDs and 4 INTs.
From this point Brady seemed to have hit this stride and had around 28-30 pass attempts per game except:
15 of 21 for 104 yards, Bills
19 of 35 for 237 yards, 2nd Bills game
11 of 19 for 108 in a win agaisnt the Dolphins
Conclusions: Brady aired it out only one game in 2001, against San Diego. He had three games where he threw around 20 times (not counting his first start with 23 attempts).
Of course, Cassel has better receivers, but I would not be looking to see Cassel let loose for the immediate future.
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