He had 517 pass attempts, that's not a small amount. That's about as much as Rodgers had.

Cassel's average was a bit lower, because he can dunk it off to Wes Welker on every play, while standing behind a premier pass blocking O-line and some guy called Randy Moss pulling away all kinds of coverage.

I just don't think he'll do that good when he has a team that isn't that great. I don't think he will totally suck, but I think he will put up Brunell-like numbers at best and Frerrote-like numbers at worst.

I completely agree with the concept as laid out by Dhazer. I think it is stupid for the Lions to pay Stafford the same kind of money that would get them Cassell. Fortunately, that is probably what they will do.

Well if he goes to the Lions he has the new freak in the NFL in Johnson and will have a better running game. And whats with the comment about the dunk off to Welker what do you call the 5 yard slants the Packers run? If he goes to Detroit i will fear their offense for once. I just hope the Bears don't get a qb or we will have a very competitive conference with offenses. Sage is going to be good in MInn he's a perfect fit for them.


But Cassell to the Lions would scare me (hell we couldn't stop Johnson when they had crap qbs in).

---

Yes, we run the slant alot. They, however, require alot of timing, a quick release and very good accuracy. Also, it gets somewhat harder if you're running for your life 4/10 plays behind a shoddy O-line.

Cassel, from what I've seen in highlight vids and Patriots stream, usually stand behind his O-line for ages, eventually finds Welker who runs some kind of drag, in, out, or whatever and Randy Moss pulls double coverage away every time. I was amazed by his still somewhat high average, but I think that has something to do with coverage switches between Moss and Welker. I could get Moss the ball in single coverage and I haven't ever touched a football.

Another factor is this... Bellichick is an excellent coach. I don't like to say it, but he might be the best coach there is, looking at the passing game.

Like I said, I don't think he'll be a complete bust, but I think he'll be somewhere in between Mark Brunell and Gus Frerotte. And the Mark Brunell part is a compliment in my eyes.

OK, new developments make this whole discussion a LOT more interesting.

First, from my viewpoint, the Lions would be a lot better off drafting the rest of the team before worrying about their franchise QB. A new guy in there, learning the pro game, behind THAT line will get killed. I think they would be a lot better off picking up some reasonable, experienced QB, and pick up some OL and some defenders in the draft, and think about the franchise QB next draft. There are a going to be some really decent choices then.

At this point, it's hard to say WHAT they have in mind. Certainly it looks like they want to pick up Stafford, seeing as they actually managed to trade Kitna (rather than releasing him - wow!) If I was in the Lions shoes though, I am not sure I would take that road. I guess the question is who remains available at this point to be their designated tackle dummy at the QB position if they decide to pick up players for other parts of their team first. Cassel is gone. Jeff Garcia is still available, but would either Garcia or the Lions want a reprise of 2005?

Just speculating here 🙂

Well with the rumors flying with Denver it sounds like they could be shopping Cutler now. The Lions keep coming up in those convos i'm noticing.

---

That might make a bit more sense for the Lions. They really don't have a team to put around a developing franchise QB. They have far too many problems to address this year without worrying about getting a kid killed back there - i.e. wasting a pick who COULD be a great QB, but won't get the chance.

Well they do have 3 picks in the 1st 33 picks in the draft. I think they will take Jason Smith with #1 and Beatty at #20 and then maybe like Ron Brace at #33.

---

That would be the stupidest thing possible. 2 OTs in the first round? Remember Gosder Cherilus, their first round OT from last year? I doubt they give up on him after one year. Looking at their players, they should take a CB or LB with #20, assuming they take Jason Smith at #1, which is the move I think they'll do. I doubt they'll take Ron Brace either, but I'm not really sure, you never know how Schwartz will want to build this team. IMO they have 2 manageable DTs right now, they have far bigger needs.

---

Well they have picked up 2 CBs already this offseason and i forgot about the OT from last year.

---