News: DC: Phillips: How Cassel Delivered Signs Of Optimism On Offense (Turnovers Aside)

[NewsBot]

IRVING, Texas – Check it down vs. chuck it up.

For Cowboys fans badly in need of bye-week optimism, that might have been the perceived line between Brandon Weeden, so often labeled too conservative in three games, and Matt Cassel, the new starter who needed to shake things up Sunday at the Meadowlands by taking shots downfield, risk be damned.

In reality, Cassel attempted to be both against the Giants. Safe and aggressive. To play quarterback at a consistently functional level in this league, you can’t be one or the other.

The results in his first start with a star on his helmet, obviously, were mixed.

Continue reading...

 

[WoodysGirl]

Pretty much my thoughts on Cassel..

 

[Aven8]

The only positive I can take out of the 3 picks, is each time we were moving the ball, and driving into Gent territory. That's a hell of a lot better than 8- 3 and outs with Weeds!

They just need to reel him in a bit not put the handcuffs on him, just put him in better positions.

 

[RunDMC]

Decision making was about as bad as you'll see from a quarterback. That can't happen. Especially not when you're knocking on the door to score, but we still had a chance to win if it wasn't for the idiots on special teams not being able to stay in their damn lanes and allowing Harris to turn loose.

Cassel showed some great signs. Made some phenomenal plays. There is no doubt he gave the offense a spark. It's no coincidence the running lanes started to open up. Defenders have to increase their depth now that you at least have a semblance of an NFL quarterback under center.

The mobility, the pocket presence and awareness, the accuracy on the run, and when he was in the pocket he made quicker decisions than Weeden. He just processes things a lot faster. Showed some touch and being able to hit Terrance and Witten on time and on target on those drag routes. Really was refreshing to see.

 

[ShiningStar]

people do realize if the Giants were remotely better at catching the ball on defense, there were at least 2 more interceptions? Its not complete heartwarming to know.

 

[Super_Kazuya]

Talk about bad journalism. I'm pretty sure even Moore or Showers could pass for 400 yards if you told them they could throw any pass they wanted until they hit 3 interceptions (and 2 other dropped ones). This idea that Cassel did a good job except for the turnovers is a joke.

 

[RunDMC]

Talk about bad journalism. I'm pretty sure even Moore or Showers could pass for 400 yards if you told them they could throw any pass they wanted until they hit 3 interceptions (and 2 other dropped ones). This idea that Cassel did a good job except for the turnovers is a joke.

Not a joke at all. All you have to do is watch the game and how the offense was clearly jump started. They actually moved the ball. All game basically. Cassel made some throws that I highly doubt Moore or Showers could've done and we know for a fact Weeden couldn't. He can't throw past five yards. At least Cassel didn't play like a scared like *****. At least he tried to win the football game. Did he make mistakes? Sure, but I'd rather lose with a guy who at least tries to win then a guy who doesn't even try too.

 

[StarBoyz83]

people do realize if the Giants were remotely better at catching the ball on defense, there were at least 2 more interceptions? Its not complete heartwarming to know.

Lol that and the next 2 defenses dallas plays are way better. He's better than weeden but I don't he's going to be good enough to outscore the seahawks and eagles.

 

[RunDMC]

people do realize if the Giants were remotely better at catching the ball on defense, there were at least 2 more interceptions? Its not complete heartwarming to know.

You do realize if it wasn't for the gaffe on special teams and an overturned interception we win the game?

A whole lot of ifs.

 

[RunDMC]

Lol that and the next 2 defenses dallas plays are way better. He's better than weeden but I don't he's going to be good enough to outscore the seahawks and eagles.

He doesn't need to outscore them. The team as a whole needs to. Cassel isn't out there playing by himself. That's why he has teammates. Recievers did a better job getting seperation and they need to continue to do so. We showed we could finally run the ball. Seattle's defense was much better last season and couldn't stop it. The Eagles? Please. They have a great defensive front and everything else on that defense is average.

 

[StarBoyz83]

He doesn't need to outscore them. The team as a whole needs to. Cassel isn't out there playing by himself. That's why he has teammates. Recievers did a better job getting seperation and they need to continue to do so. We showed we could finally run the ball. Seattle's defense was much better last season and couldn't stop it. The Eagles? Please. They have a great defensive front and everything else on that defense is average.

Dallas hasn't ran 10% as good as they did last year. The eagles and Seahawks rb's will have a field day also. Just don't see how dallas wins either of these 2 games.

 

[Super_Kazuya]

Not a joke at all. All you have to do is watch the game and how the offense was clearly jump started. They actually moved the ball. All game basically. Cassel made some throws that I highly doubt Moore or Showers could've done and we know for a fact Weeden couldn't. He can't throw past five yards. At least Cassel didn't play like a scared like *****. At least he tried to win the football game. Did he make mistakes? Sure, but I'd rather lose with a guy who at least tries to win then a guy who doesn't even try too.

Is this supposed to be English? Cassel played the worst game of the year by a considerable margin. The only reason he moved the ball was because he threw tons of risky passes to a bunch of bad receivers and he eventually got burned. He gave us zero chance to win. Go look up how often teams win football games when they are -4 in turnovers. I'll wait eagerly for your report.

It's not his fault, he just got here. He'll be playing like Weeden soon enough, or he'll be sitting on the bench next to him.

 

[RunDMC]

Is this supposed to be English? Cassel played the worst game of the year by a considerable margin. The only reason he moved the ball was because he threw tons of risky passes to a bunch of bad receivers and he eventually got burned. He gave us zero chance to win. Go look up how often teams win football games when they are -4 in turnovers. I'll wait eagerly for your report.

It's not his fault, he just got here. He'll be playing like Weeden soon enough, or he'll be sitting on the bench next to him.

That's what a starting quarterback is supposed to do. You honestly think you can have success if all you do is check down or only throw a pass to a wide reciever if he's WIDE, WIDE OPEN? That ain't how it works. You have to fit the ball in tight windows which he did, you have to try and get the ball down the field which he did, you have to be able to step to your left, get out of the pocket at times and throw on the run. Cassel did all of those things. He just needs to dial it back just a little and not FORCE it down field. There's a difference between being aggressive and reckless. That was his problem. We shall see if he gets it fixed. If not maybe we consider going with Kellen Moore.

 

[RunDMC]

Dallas hasn't ran 10% as good as they did last year. The eagles and Seahawks rb's will have a field day also. Just don't see how dallas wins either of these 2 games.

Lol and the Eagles have ran the ball well? They've made the best back in the league last year look average without their absurd scheme. The Seahawks have ran it better in recent weeks, but their workhorse Lynch is averaging only 3.7 yards a carry. This Bowler kid had a couple of decent games and all of a sudden he's the second coming.

 

[VACowboy]

I give Cassel a mulligan on his first live action in two years. He can't make the stupid throws next week that he did this past Sunday, though.

I think Garrett and Linehan did a great job tweaking the running game. Lucky was a great wrinkle. But I'm going to continue thrashing the rotting corpse of this horse: the offense needs to help Cassel more. There needs to be more of what he does well in the game plan. He can nail deep crosses and intermediate outs. He did it Sunday, but they ran way too much deep outside stuff and not nearly enough over the middle. I saw one slant and a few drags, but the receivers looked slow and about half-hearted running them. Somebody needs to crack some fricking whips. I haven't re-watched the game yet, so I may have missed something, but why only one pass play out of a three TE set?

Just FYI: The Dallas D gives up seven more yards a game on the ground than Seattle and 44 total. Wilson has been sacked 31 times. Romo/Weeden/Cassel: 12.

 

[CowboyStar88]

So now we count almost interceptions.. Got it.. In that case Dallas's Defense leads the league in almost Interceptions!

 

[Aven8]

Talk about bad journalism. I'm pretty sure even Moore or Showers could pass for 400 yards if you told them they could throw any pass they wanted until they hit 3 interceptions (and 2 other dropped ones). This idea that Cassel did a good job except for the turnovers is a joke.

That was my point about him, the team screwed this up by thinking he was Romo and could make all those plays. They were more aggressive and it cost them. They just need to reel it in a little. Not, go dink and dunk, but not gunslinger either.

 

[Sasquatch]

The logic of this article only goes so far.

Checkdowns and lack of pocket presence aside, Weeden is a good QB statistically.

Their losing streak aside, the Dallas Cowboys have good cause for optimism.

You know you're in trouble when you need to set critical factors aside in order to reach a positive assessment.

 

[RunDMC]

So now we count almost interceptions.. Got it.. In that case Dallas's Defense leads the league in almost Interceptions!

Who said you can?

Some of you have reading comprehension issues. If you wanna play the what if game you can say the Cowboys almost had an interception, but obviously you can't.

The Giants had four interceptions that Dallas basically handed them.

 

[Aven8]

So now we count almost interceptions.. Got it.. In that case Dallas's Defense leads the league in almost Interceptions!

That is true. We have now I think 10 dropped INTS now! Which puts us at +1 in TO margin!!!! Yipeeèe