Okay, so I know I said Matt Cassel would flounder after Tom Brady got hurt. You may now throw your tomatoes. I was wrong. He is a beast, and deserves a starting job.
So I thought about where he might start. I looked at three places: Minnesota, San Francisco, and Houston.
Houston has an okay starter in Matt Schaub, but their backup has a "backfire" tendency. San Francisco really needs a quarterback that can run and throw.
But I think his best fit would be in Minnesota. I look at Gus Frerotte, but does anyone think he'll be the guy for 10+ years? The answer is no. Matt Cassel is a better fit than Tarvaris Jackson.
Jackson is a runner, much like Vince Young in Tennessee. While he is a good leader, his style isn't good for a conservative, power offense. The same goes for V.Y. in Tennessee's offense. You don't really need a scrambler in a power offense.
Come to think of it, guys like V.Y. and Jackson are better suited in a southern-style offense, like Indianapolis or San Francisco. Those offenses are pass-oriented, so they can use their big arms, and still make plays on the ground.
Matt Cassel, however, is more of a pocket quarterback. He likes to be behind his O-line and throw the ball, but can be a leader during the running game too. He has a deadly play-action, and can draw defenders off with the draw.
To see Cassel and the Peterson/Taylor duo in the back field in the Metrodome on Sundays would be pretty amazing. I think his experience with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick could give him an advantage in the NFC.
Here's hoping he'll end up in purple.
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about 1 month ago
JUST. SAY. NO.
It looks great now, but in the long run he's probably better suited to remaining a backup
He has 3 great factors in his favor:
A coach that puts him in a great situation to win every week and makes adjustments better than any coach in the league
A variety of extremely great weapons to work with (Moss, Welker, Watson, Faulk, Gaffney)
Most importantly, this is the only system he has ever known in the NFL, new system, new players, it would take at least half a season.....its not gonna happen.
More likely we'd make a play for Derek Anderson, his trade value is down, he's no longer first round pick worthy
about 1 month ago
Matt Cassell will be a top notch backup but won't be a starter for 10+ years. Even if he gets a shot to start on a different team I don't think he will last as a starter for more than a couple years. Matt Cassell just threw for 400 yards and 3 TD but once again showed he cannot throw deep with any accuracy to Randy Moss or any of his talented receivers. Let's not forget Tom Brady threw for 50 TD with 8 Int last year and would probably have thrown 35+ this year... Cassell is at 10 TD and 7 Int after 10 games which is very good for a top notch backup who plays with a great O-Line and a great receiving corps.
from about 1 month ago
good point.
I think he would make a great fit in the Minnesota offense though. Not much throwing, a lot of quick throws. Adrian Peterson would help too.
about 1 month ago
I agree with you Ryan, Cassel is not my favorite option but he is definitely a better option than T-Jack or Gus.
from about 1 month ago
Well not even just that! He can learn from Gus too!
about 1 month ago
True. We brought Gus in to be a mentor for T-Jack, not our starting Quarterback. If we bring in cassel, Gus can be a mentor for him That is just pathetic he is starting for us. We should have kept Tyler Thigpen.
about 1 month ago
Cassel would flourish with a truly devestating running game keeping defenders honest. As a New England fan, I have to disagree with Kobina. Tom Brady himself has exactly one 400 yard passing game in his career: same as Cassel. Offensive schemes are significantly more easy to learn than defensive schemes; sure, there's lots of option routes these days for QBs to think about, but so long as you know generally where your receivers are going to be, you can read some defensive looks, and you can put the ball on the money to a guy in motion, you'll do fine running an offense.
A good offensive line is a great asset in giving you time to do all these things, but so is a great running game. From everything I hear, the Vikings have both. My biggest concern for the Viking's success if they go for Cassel at QB? The coaching. In fact, I think that's even currently the biggest damper on your success.
Truthfully, I wish Matt would take a bit of a pay cut and stay in New England. I could see Josh McDaniels having a LOT of fun with a two-QB backfield with a precision pocket passer like Brady and an athletic slinger like Cassel. Wildcat Formation v2.0?
from about 1 month ago
Minnesota's offense isn't like New England's spread. It is a power offense, and the defenses in the division are run-oriented. If Cassel came to Minnesota, and showed off an arm, able to get the ball to a Randy Moss-esque Sidney Rice, and speedster Bernard Berrian, I think Cassel in Minnesota would end up like Kerry Collins in Tennessee mixed with Jeff Garcia in Tampa.
from about 1 month ago
Concurred, and they would have one hell of a play-action
about 1 month ago
Check out my article on Cassel:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/82900-the-best-thing-that-ever-happened-to-matt-cassel
Great article by the way
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