ESPN: Matt Cassel has best day, but one play will haunt

[jobberone]

Matt Cassel has best day, but one play will haunt

Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer

IRVING, Texas – A week after throwing for a mere 97 yards, Matt Cassel threw for 299. A week after directing no touchdown drives, he directed three. A week after no big plays, the Dallas Cowboys quarterback had plenty. A week after being unable to deliver a late-game drive for a possible winning field goal, he delivered.

Things were better for Cassel in his third start with the Cowboys, but the result was the same: a loss. This time it was a 33-27 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles in overtime Sunday.

But it was one play that will haunt Cassel – a 67-yard interception return for a touchdown by Eagles linebacker Jordan Hicks in the fourth quarter.

“They were playing two-high defense and we had a combination route,” Cassel said. “I don’t think I threw it behind [Darren McFadden] or anything. [Hicks] just made a good play on the ball. He got it and unfortunately it turned out to be a pick-six. Sometimes those plays happen.”

A pick-six by Eagles rookie linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) ruined an otherwise stellar performance from Cowboys QB Matt Cassel. AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas-cowb...t-cassel-has-best-day-but-one-play-will-haunt

 

[RunDMC]

Wasn't even that good. Dez bailed him out on that miracle in the end zone. He was late constantly. Has a horribly slow delivery. Missed the hot reciever Witten on a blitz. Three behind a number of times. Dude is garbage. That pick six was a back breaker just like the Giants game.

 

[jobberone]

That and the Williams non-TD was the ballgame. I could retort the prayer Eli-ish pass caught by Dez compensated for the pick six but we may have scored there anyway with a different pass although I doubt it.

Bottom line is we finished a close second. I feel like Sham finishing second to Secretariat.

 

[MRV52]

I always loved that 5 yard pass to to sideline pick 6 play in Red's playbook. When are teams going to throw away that play for good!!!!!

 

[Blue&Silver]

Cassel actually gave us way more than I expected last night. He played a better game than Romo last time. The loss wasn't about him. It was about our defense. It was about lack of pressure. And it was about lack of turnovers, and inability to stop the run.They won the line of scrimmage on both sides last night. That usually dictates the Winner

 

[Avery]

0-3.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

It wasn't that he was good or great. IT was that he did what it took to win. He at least attempted it. I don't mind the pick's. But that pick 6.....that is what I Don't like because that was simply a dumb throw. There was no benefit of even throwing it even if he didn't get picked. Cassel was good enough to win until he threw that pick 6. This team is not good enough to give the opposing team points and that was where the game was lost. Especially at that point.

 

[RunDMC]

Cassel actually gave us way more than I expected last night. He played a better game than Romo last time. The loss wasn't about him. It was about our defense. It was about lack of pressure. And it was about lack of turnovers, and inability to stop the run.They won the line of scrimmage on both sides last night. That usually dictates the Winner

LOL. Romo didn't have his best game by any stretch of imagination, but he still led us to a 10 point lead even without Dez and no running game. Cassel had both and still couldn't get it done. Romo wasn't constantly late, throwing behind, not reading blitzes, and throwing the game away with a pick six.

 

[erod]

Cassel was as good as he's capable of being, which is average at best.

 

[Seven]

I always loved that 5 yard pass to to sideline pick 6 play in Red's playbook. When are teams going to throw away that play for good!!!!!

It was a great route and McFadden was open had the ball had some air under it.

Man, Cassell is S-L-O-W. He even had good to great protection most of the night.

Tony would've shredded that defense. The line is coming together.

It kills me to see the open receivers..........consistently.

Proof is..........If they weren't, the run game would stink. It doesn't.

 

[goshan]

It was a great route and McFadden was open had the ball had some air under it.

Man, Cassell is S-L-O-W. He even had good to great protection most of the night.

Tony would've shredded that defense. The line is coming together.

It kills me to see the open receivers..........consistently.

Proof is..........If they weren't, the run game would stink. It doesn't.

The play was dumb. He wasn't open. That route is not a route you put air under it.

Cassel's delivery is slow-but his foot speed is pretty good. Also pass protection was mediocre last night, definitely not good to great. Smith was beaten 2-3 times around the edge and the pocket collapsed several times.

 

[MRV52]

It was a great route and McFadden was open had the ball had some air under it.

Man, Cassell is S-L-O-W. He even had good to great protection most of the night.

Tony would've shredded that defense. The line is coming together.

It kills me to see the open receivers..........consistently.

Proof is..........If they weren't, the run game would stink. It doesn't.

That type of pass play usually ends in misery most times than not. Too much risk vs reward, and I would rather they throw it down the middle if an INT is in the cards.

 

[erod]

Blaine Gabbert beat Atlanta yesterday.

That hurts.

 

[Idgit]

“They were playing two-high defense and we had a combination route,” Cassel said. “I don’t think I threw it behind [Darren McFadden] or anything. [Hicks] just made a good play on the ball. He got it and unfortunately it turned out to be a pick-six. Sometimes those plays happen.”

Cassel played really well overall, but that play didn't just happen. The man was covered and he threw a dangerous pass, anyway.

I expect a play or two like this from a backup QB, but, honestly, his explanation here is annoying. That wasn't just a good play by a defender. It was a pass that never should have been thrown and it was the biggest play of the entire game. He ought to own that one.

 

[BoysfanfromCanada]

LOL. Romo didn't have his best game by any stretch of imagination, but he still led us to a 10 point lead even without Dez and no running game. Cassel had both and still couldn't get it done. Romo wasn't constantly late, throwing behind, not reading blitzes, and throwing the game away with a pick six.

The reason he had a 10 point lead was because the defence was actually defending and creating turnovers. Cassel got zero help from his D on the night.

 

[Bleu Star]

Cassel actually gave us way more than I expected last night. He played a better game than Romo last time. The loss wasn't about him. It was about our defense. It was about lack of pressure. And it was about lack of turnovers, and inability to stop the run.They won the line of scrimmage on both sides last night. That usually dictates the Winner

Thank you.

 

[Bleu Star]

LOL. Romo didn't have his best game by any stretch of imagination, but he still led us to a 10 point lead even without Dez and no running game. Cassel had both and still couldn't get it done. Romo wasn't constantly late, throwing behind, not reading blitzes, and throwing the game away with a pick six.

Yeah. It's all on Cassells shoulders. Really dude? You just can't be serious.

 

[Bleu Star]

Why is that play even in our play book? It rarely ends well. Should we blame Cassell for designing the playbook too? So much misplaced blame. Unbelievable.

 

[lostar2009]

The reason he had a 10 point lead was because the defence was actually defending and creating turnovers. Cassel got zero help from his D on the night.

Now it's defend Cassel day?

 

[RunDMC]

The reason he had a 10 point lead was because the defence was actually defending and creating turnovers. Cassel got zero help from his D on the night.

But he had help from the running game which was GREAT. McFadden had yet another 100 yard day and Dez making a ridiculous catch in the end zone and had a 100 yard day overall and he still couldn't close the deal. He's garbage. I wouldn't say zero help from the defense. They stunk down the stretch, but they still had a number of key stops throughout the game. Cassel couldn't take advantage.