Could Matt Cassel be the Next Steve Young?

[Runnik's Hambones]

We've talked quite a bit about Matt Cassel, Tom Brady and the Patriot's future. I was doing a little brain stormming this morning on my way to work and I began to draw a comparison between Joe Montana and Tom Brady. I was thinking about the stats that I could remember off of the top of my head about these two outstanding QBs. Just take a look real quick at these:

Joe Montana
12 years in SF
167 games
2,929 comp
4,600 attempts
63.7% Comp
35,124 yards
244 TDs
123 INT
93.5 QB Rating
4 SB appearences and wins; 3x SB MVP; 2x NFL MVP

Tom Brady
9 years in NE
113 games
2,301 comp
3,653 attempts
63.0% Comp
26,446 yards
197 TDs
86 INT
92.9 QB Rating
4 SB appearences, 3 SB wins; 2x SB MVP; 1x NFL MVP

The impact that both of these players had on their organization and their team is undeniable. They are both studs, men among boys when they are on the field throwing the ball. In their primes, no one could touch them. I then thought of good ole Joe's decline in the league when the Young era took hold in SF. I thought then of how life in NE would fair without pretty boy Brady. The Cassel era perhaps? We can assume 1 of 3 things and come to quite a similar conclusion in at least 2.

1st scenerio: Tom Brady finds that he is not able to come back this season, and is unable to return this soon, and the Cassel era officially begins in NE. Cassel does well next year and the Brady era is officially put to rest, as the reigns are passed to star child #2.

2nd scenerio: Tom Brady comes back this year, plays like good ole Tom and spends the next 3 years or so finishing his career in NE, going down as one of the greatest QBs to ever put on a helmet. Then, Matt Cassel comes in and gets his shot.

3rd scenerio: Tom Brady comes back, Matt Cassel, either this year or next year finds himself in a different uniform.

The 3rd scenerio doesn't really work out for my point, so we'll just scratch that one off the list for argument's sake.

My question/point is this. Is it too hard or early to say that Matt Cassel could possibly be the new Steve Young? Could he come in, take the team from a proven HOF QB, and play so well that his number will as well be retired when all is said and done, and his name will as well be in the HOF next to his predecessor? I think not. We saw this guy lead a good team to an 11-5 season, and this thought, this notion that he could come in and keep the ball rolling in NE, actually makes me excited to follow the guy. (Even though I loathe the Patriots). Take a look at these stats, Steve Young's and Matt Cassel's, then you ask yourself the same question. What do you think?

Steve Young
12 years in SF
150 games
2,400 comp
3,648 attempts
65.8% comp
29,907 yards
221 TDs
86 INT
101.4 QB Rating
3 SB wins; 1x SB MVP, 2x NFL MVP

Matt Cassel
4 years in NE
30 games
349 comp
555 attempts
62.9% comp
3,946 yards
23 TDs
13 INT
88.2 QB Rating

 

[Coachnorm]

It still remains to be seen how the Brady/ Cassel situation plays out this of season. Rumors of Bradys condition are going up and down the scale. From he may not play at all next season to now he is back on track to recovering from his injury which is vauge. Is the truth somewhere in between? With Cassel be somewhere else? The Pats seem to have set the trading bar for Casssel at a # 1 pick according to rumors.

Cassel/Pats started out playing everything close to the vest but as he went further into the season Cassel was given a more aggressive set of responabilities and responded well.

If Cassel has to become the man in New England a Steve Young type of performance is not out of the question. If Cassel goes somewhere else maybe a lesser projection is in order. New England is the best place for Cassel to potential bloom into a big time QB.

 

[Runnik's Hambones]

I couldn't agree with you more Coach. I believe Cassel to have the ability to succeed and become a big time QB. But, like many people have suggested over the years, Joe Montana and Steve Young were system QBs. Where this may be true on some levels I tend to believe that those two guys were in the right place at the right time. Their talent seemed to hit its prime potential when they found themselves in a system that worked to their advantages. That's a tough argument to make though.

I think that Cassel would have to stay in NE and play there to become a great QB. He would be a starter anywhere else, and play well. But while I agree that he's a good QB, he could only be Steve Young type great, if he remains a Patriot. (Not that the decision is up to him though.)

 

[Coachnorm]

I think that Cassel would have to stay in NE and play there to become a great QB. He would be a starter anywhere else, and play well. But while I agree that he's a good QB, he could only be Steve Young type great, if he remains a Patriot. (Not that the decision is up to him though.)

A Steve Young type performer in the Pats system is the max potential. Other situations could well provide other results. With the Vikings he could very well become a winning Super Bowl QB but not with a Steve Young type of flash. The Vikings WR corp may limit the productivity but Cassel could be the over the hump factor. In this senerio he may be a boardline starter on your fantasy team depending on the size of the league. But he could be the difference between the Vikings QB being a fatal flaw to a solid asset.

 

[Runnik's Hambones]

There too I agree with you Coach. Matt Cassel's true potential will only be reached in a system like NE. That's actually why I said we'd have to throw out scenario 3 in my first post.

He has the skill set and the mentality to succeed in many systems, not just as a Patriot. But just like you said, for him to have a Steve Young type of career, he can't go anywhere else.

 

[MongerKhan]

Oops LOL

 

[Miller]

Lmao, now that's funny