MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 16: Matt Cassel #16 of the Minnesota Vikings scrambles with the ball against the Arizona Cardinals during the game on August 16, 2014 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Cardinals 30-28. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
Matt Cassel is a Buffalo Bill. Hooray! Here today we have my boys over at PJ Diaries to dish the dirt on Matt and make some funny jokes.
1) Alright, make fun of the Bills for trading for Matt Cassel.
I don’t know if I can. I guess you gave up too much for him? But it depends on how quarterback desperate you are, and whether or not you actually thought you were going to get a legit starter in free agency, which you probably weren’t. I mean, look at the garbage names out there. Josh McCown? Jake Locker? Christian Ponder? I mean, I feel like one crappy Florida State quarterback on your roster is enough, right? Cassel is better then any of those guys – or any other free agent veteran out there – so if the goal was to get a stable veteran that can still win games when EJ Manuel sputters, then sure, it’s a fine trade I guess.
2) What were the pros and cons to Cassel’s game in Minnesota?
Cassel had a super hot wife. Between his wife and Samantha Ponder, Minnesota was doing alright for themselves. But now both are probably gone. He was also completely mediocre at his on-field job of leading a team, but had trouble staying healthy the last two years. He’s veteran enough and good enough to know where open receivers are and get them the ball, but he’s not going to take over a game or be a long term answer. But I don’t think you’re expecting that either. He kind of threw a lot of interceptions, though. But Minnesota probably forced him to do too much.
3) Do you see Cassel as being someone who could start 16 games where he’s counted on as being just a game manager and letting the defense and running game do everything else?
He can manage the game unless he stubs his toe, which he’s been known to do, and then miss the entire season. If he has the support of a decent defense and solid running back options, it makes his job much easier (obviously). That’s probably the best case scenario for Cassel, but he rarely found himself in that position with the Vikings, because our team (specifically defense) sucked donkey tail two years ago.
4) What are the types of passes Cassel seems to throw well? I kind of think of him as a classic dink and dunk guy.
That’s accurate, but probably not the entire picture. He doesn’t throw a sexy deep ball like Rex Grossman, but he can go a good 15-20 yards outside the lines. And hit on the slants pretty well. I think. Numbers would probably say I’m a liar, but I didn’t tighten my rectum when he’d be throwing short like I would with Christian Ponder.
5) Why was he yanked in and out of the lineup in Minnesota?
It was a weird situation while he was here. His first season he was suppose to play this same role with Christian Ponder. We had to give Ponder like 7 games to show just how awful he was before Cassel stepped in and went 3-3 with a god awful defense. Basically, did enough to not get put in a guillotine. Last year, we had Teddy Bridgewater in the fold. Cassel was suppose to be the starter for the entire year and let Teddy learn from the bench, but then he stubbed his toe or something and went on injured reserve, and Norv Turner decided he hated him I guess. So he didn’t actually “do” anything to get benched, per se, but just got caught on this team at a bad time.
6) Which offensive weapons do you see being effective in a positive or negative way? Does he throw to TEs mostly or does he like speedsters?
Tough to say. He rarely played long enough with our entirely healthy team to show any favorites. He – along with most of our quarterbacks – enjoyed throwing to Kyle Rudolph, but who wouldn’t? He did have a nice rapport with Greg Jennings – the wily veteran receiver of the team – so I imagine Matt likes to throw to guys he can trust, and can sync well with timing routes with him. But he was also on his back a whole lot with our team (sack or pressure, I guess) so it’s hard to say.
7) Anything else to add about stats?
He had a pretty awful interception percentage last year in his 3 games with the Vikings (5.6%), highest of his career. We did ask him to do a lot with a little, though, so I’m not sure how much of that is his fault. I think Matt still has a good couple of years as a steady veteran in him, and his career stats don’t change too much. By this point, we all know who Matt Cassel is, and he isn’t a franchise savior. Even though the Chiefs thought he was.
Also, watch out for his killer mustache. It will make female Buffalo fans slide right off their chairs.
