Let's face it. the rest of the team is going to have to bring the wins.

[Grizzafted]

Can I ask why he's viewed so unfavorably by everyone here?

I didn't see any of the preseason games, living in NY, so I assumed he was godawful, but looking at the numbers, he doesn't look that terrible. He threw a bad interception in Baltimore, but news flash guys, people throw picks. Especially against a defense like Baltimore's. In the other games, he completed about 60% of his passes for around 5-6 yards per pass. That's not really that bad.

Did he look horrible? Was it just that he couldn't execute in the red zone? I'm not seeing anything that bad there. Yeah he threw an interception in Miami but until I see him throw 2 or 3 a game... I don't see why this is panicville right now. I think you are way overreacting, a lot of you.

In 2007, he had one great preseason game, one stinker, and two below average games. Granted, it's nothing to be super excited about, but I'm seeing a guy who can win games here.

 

[Grizzafted]

I'm looking at all his yearly numbers. He's going to surprise a lot of you this year. 18 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 11 wins.

The "we're doomed" room is over there.

 

[Kontradiction]

I like Daunte. No one wants him because of his age and he can't lead a lousy team. IMO, most of his problems came from his lack of mobility after his injury. The fact time has passed and I believe he is only 31 might mean he has had time to really heal. He is also the only one I see who has with the right cast proven he can be elite.

I say a one year flier on him might be the only direction.

As fro spelling Cassel I thought this place would be the last I would find the spelling nazis.

Culpepper can't find a job because he takes sacks BECAUSE he holds on to the ball too long. He wouldn't exact be our offensive line's dream guy.

 

[QuinielaBox]

Maybe, just maybe, oh never mind......


One game at a time for Matty!

 

[Patstopia]

Short quick passes and lots of running plays FTW.

 

[QuinielaBox]

Can I ask why he's viewed so unfavorably by everyone here?

I didn't see any of the preseason games, living in NY, so I assumed he was godawful, but looking at the numbers, he doesn't look that terrible. He threw a bad interception in Baltimore, but news flash guys, people throw picks. Especially against a defense like Baltimore's. In the other games, he completed about 60% of his passes for around 5-6 yards per pass. That's not really that bad.

Did he look horrible? Was it just that he couldn't execute in the red zone? I'm not seeing anything that bad there. Yeah he threw an interception in Miami but until I see him throw 2 or 3 a game... I don't see why this is panicville right now. I think you are way overreacting, a lot of you.

In 2007, he had one great preseason game, one stinker, and two below average games. Granted, it's nothing to be super excited about, but I'm seeing a guy who can win games here.

He played with the JV team. This time he is playing with the Varsity. I assume the coaching staff will manage the game differently than they would with Brady in there.

 

[Garbanza]

Stop kidding yourself. No one wanted him here. We wanted Gutierrez and O'Connell.

I know he's nothing like the statue, he doesn't have the arm.

Cassell's arm is fine - his inability to read defenses (or so I think, has anyone every really seen this guy play more than a few snaps in teh regular season?) is the problem. Teams will send all sorts of blitzes his way. He will get better with time - but this Sunday is 'gonna suck.

The defense - which many regarded as a weakness - suddenly is expected to win games for us. C'mon....The Pats d-line is one of the best in the league - no argument there - but the lbs and the db's? Not so much.

 

[Cannon Arm]

Let's face it. We are being way to optimistic about Cassell. This team has a superior supporting cast and that is what must do it. The defense has to step up big time, as do the running backs. Remember the Miami interception, the lousy preseason.

Low scorring football here we come.

All of our failures to win a Super Bowl since XXXIX have been because of our old defense, and that defense is older this year than it was last year and all the years before! Our defense was playing hard all those other times. It just wasn't good enough. We've never had a ferocious defense, like the Giants last year or the Baltimore Ravens in SB XXXV or the Bucs in SB XXXVII. That's what we need this year to win a SB with Matt Cassel because scoring is going to be way down unless Cassel suddenly has laser guided accuracy on a consistent basis.

Our hope this year was for Brady and Moss/Welker to have an even more intuitive relationship. And have Mayo play out of his mind as a rookie.

 

[goz421]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't we have one of the highest rated defenses in the league last year? I know we were down in some areas but our draft helped address that.

In the preseason the D wasn't bad. It was second string and special teams which gave up most the points.

I say we get back to red zone D and limit the other team to field goals like the old days.

 

[captadamnj]

FWIW, I believe the success of Cassel and the Pats offense over the next few weeks starts with Randy Moss. Cassel to Moss on 3rd-and-11 from the 1 wasn't just about getting out of being backed up on the goal line. It gave Cassel confidence, gave Randy a reason to stop looking back at the tunnel for Tom's return (by his own admission), and most importantly, forced the defense to continue to respect Randy Moss by keeping double/over the top coverage on him. How long do you think it will take an opposing team to catch on if Moss becomes disinterested and stops running routes? That opens the door to another safety down in the box on running downs or more pressure on the passing downs. Assuming Moss remains the professional he has shown he can be, the same result would manifest itself if Cassel demonstrates an unwillingness or inability to get Moss the ball downfield.

With the quality of the competition in the AFC, I don't believe the Pats have the luxury of trying to re-invent themselves as something they weren't built to be this season (i.e. - a smash mouth running team). Working out the kinks in that plan over 5-6 games, well, that just isn't a luxury the team has.

 

[O.Z.O.]

Can I ask why he's viewed so unfavorably by everyone here?

I didn't see any of the preseason games, living in NY, so I assumed he was godawful, but looking at the numbers, he doesn't look that terrible. He threw a bad interception in Baltimore, but news flash guys, people throw picks. Especially against a defense like Baltimore's. In the other games, he completed about 60% of his passes for around 5-6 yards per pass. That's not really that bad.

Did he look horrible? Was it just that he couldn't execute in the red zone? I'm not seeing anything that bad there. Yeah he threw an interception in Miami but until I see him throw 2 or 3 a game... I don't see why this is panicville right now. I think you are way overreacting, a lot of you.

In 2007, he had one great preseason game, one stinker, and two below average games. Granted, it's nothing to be super excited about, but I'm seeing a guy who can win games here.

Living in the Felons' market, that was the only preseason game I saw. Like somebody already pointed out, he was out there with a bunch of guys who were unlikely at best to make the roster. Not only that, but the Felons played their starting D (with the exception of the guy who does that human menstral cramp dance on his way out of the locker room before every game...Ray the Knife I think it is) for the entire first half.

Give the guy a shot. I think he'll be fine. Something to consider:

in the 80's, Joe Gibbs won 3 SBs with 3 different QBs. Why? Because of the way he built his teams. Start at the lines and build the backfields on both sides of the ball. Look at the way BB and Pioli have built this team...same formula.

 

[JSn]

The defense - which many regarded as a weakness - suddenly is expected to win games for us. C'mon....The Pats d-line is one of the best in the league - no argument there - but the lbs and the db's? Not so much.

What's that white stuff around your nostrils?

 

[JSn]

Let's face it. We are being way to optimistic about Cassell. This team has a superior supporting cast and that is what must do it. The defense has to step up big time, as do the running backs. Remember the Miami interception, the lousy preseason.

Low scorring football here we come.

Couldn't help going back and leafing through these posts. Good thing we didn't end up needing the game to hang on the D, eh?

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

I agree but 10-6 is the BEST case scenerio any normal Patriot fan with half a brain can expect at this point.

I am still holding out hope for 11-5, but that might not be enough for the playoffs.

GO COWBOYS!

 

[ALP]

Couldn't help going back and leafing through these posts. Good thing we didn't end up needing the game to hang on the D, eh?

if only the supporting cast did its job....we would haveclinched the division

 

[RoughingthePasser]

I think its pretty basic. There are three element we need to win.
Defence
Offense
Special Teams

We can't afford errant passes from Matt (or tipped balls)
The carriers need to hold it and get down
The recievers need to give 110% and catch the ball (Watson, Gaffney)
Hobbs should return a few more TB's this year-Gostkowski may save us in a couple tight games (Vinatieri-esque). I like ourSTeams
Defense needs to be more agressive on the blitz and pass rush and try to force junk plays. We need speed! Maybe a little more Rosie, Mike, Mayo or even Jarvis ,Rosie and Merriweather blitzing!
The db's need to step up and have some balls. We need to be faster. Go for the INT or pops/strips -I like Merriweather and Mayo alot-we need everyone to step up though and force TO's.

Our offense is fine-we need to convert and not **** up.
Defense we can't be too conservative-we need to attack hard.
Lots of cold snow for these desert chumps

Then its on to Buffalo