MiChargers
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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.I was unable to see your game tonight, but was interested in knowing how my boy O'Connell did. Input?
He had several advantages over Cassel:
1. He wasn't forced to follow a script that had him throwing to a receiver in tight coverage. He was probably given looser instructions. Cassel was probably told 'you WILL throw to Chad Jackson.
You're right. Knee-jerk reaction to the knee-jerk posters calling for his execution.Now this is over defending Cassel. Football doesn't work like this. QBs have reads on pass plays (with the exception of screens), not directives to throw the ball to one player no matter what.
Now this is over defending Cassel. Football doesn't work like this. QBs have reads on pass plays (with the exception of screens), not directives to throw the ball to one player no matter what.
Now this is over defending Cassel. Football doesn't work like this. QBs have reads on pass plays (with the exception of screens), not directives to throw the ball to one player no matter what.
O'Connell looked best with his ability to move around in the pocket to buy time for himself, while looking downfield and finding the open man. He had several advantages over Cassel:
1. He wasn't forced to follow a script that had him throwing to a receiver in tight coverage. He was probably given looser instructions. Cassel was probably told 'you WILL throw to Chad Jackson.'
2. His OLine wasn't playing against the Ravens #1 D, so he had a little more time. OTOH, when he got the rush, he looked terrific moving around and keeping the play alive.
That said (just to shut up the knee-jerk posters who want to cut anyone who looks bad in the first preseason game and send anyone who looks good to the HOF), I thought O'Connell had a terrific night. From what I've heard, he was probably under less pressure last night than on his best day in San Diego.
He was very cool throwing out of his own end zone.
Let's see what happens when he's using the regular playbook, faces a better defense, and his receivers are covered by top CBs. Remember how good Cassel looked playing against Miami in a regular season game. And now everyone thinks he's a chump.
It's never as good as you hope, or as bad as you fear.
(Sorry, michargers, as you might have guessed that wasn't directed at you, but at some of the overhyped posters on the board)
They should be able to teach him that. One of Cassel's problems has been protecting the football when he's sacked, and NFL defenders are a whole lot better at going for the ball when they sack the QB. Cassel has gotten a little better at that. I didn't like that he slipped on the field, but I liked his instinct to curl around the ball, anticipating the hit.His biggest weakness is if he gets touched and/or wrapped up. Instead of just going down and taking a sack, he will often toss up a duck. Enough to make you sick when you watch it. If he can get past that, you guys will find he's a solid, mobile, backup QB.