Matt Cassel is the 22nd best quarterback in the league according to ESPN's Ron Jaworkski, who is counting down the NFL quarterbacks. Yesterday on ESPN Jaworski broke down Cassel, explaining what he does well and what he needs to work on.
Pretty interesting stuff. I transcribed the entire thing on NFL32 yesterday. Here's what Jaws said about Cassel, and then Merrill Hoge's quotes after that.
Ron Jaworski:
"My 22nd rated quarterback is Matt Cassel. Remember, two years ago Cassel led the Chiefs to the AFC West title. He was outstanding that year with 27 touchdowns and only 7 picks. His 2011 season was cut short by injury but his passing profile remained the same.
"Cassel is at his best in a managed offense that features run personnel, run formations and the play action pass game. Play action primarily gives the quarterback either-or to find reads. Cassel is very good in that system.
"This 42-yard completion maps it out perfectly. [Editor's Note: Week 4 vs. Vikings, Cassel to Breaston for 42 yards.] Steve Breaston was the only split wide receiver. He ran the deep dig that you just saw. So Cassel had to locate this safety after the run fake. The safety dropped down as part of the rotation to single high. Cassel read it and executed the play's design perfectly.
"Cassel throws the ball better to the inside -- digs, hooks and throws like that, better than he does to the outside. That's the way it is with quarterbacks with limited arm strength. In addition, the deep throws often come on first down. Play action is almost always featured as a six or seven man pass protection schemes.
"This was another safety read for Cassel coming off play action. [Editor's Note: Jonathan Baldwin's touchdown catch against the Chargers.) Again, the late rotation to single high. Does that deep safety play over the top and take out Jonathan Baldwin or sit low to defend Dwayne Bowe's hook route? He sat low, Cassel read it and went to the post. That's good stuff from Matt Cassel.
"You give Matt Cassel a solid run game, a good offensive line, room in the pocket to deliver the foobtall comfortably and he can be a very efficient NFL starter. That's what he is. He's a function of the team around him and he needs those pieces in place working effectively."
And here's what Merrill Hoge said to wrap it up:
"As long as his environment is perfect, and what I mean by that is there's a lot of people around him to support him, Matt Cassel's OK. Really, he's the prototypical quarterback in the NFL. 90 percent of them are Matt Cassels. You need a lot of people around you to be successful. As long as those are in place, he'll be OK. It wasn't just his injury. Everyone else around him was depleted, just ask my fantasy team."