Matt Cassel swears by Josh McDaniels.
And with good reason.
The former Patriots quarterback was thrust into action in 2008 when Tom Brady went down with a season-ending knee injury Week 1. Cassel had been a backup to Brady for three prior seasons and had never made a start.
Appearing on the latest “Eye on Foxborough,” Cassel said thanks to McDaniels prep work with him over time, developing him on the side, and later adjusting the offense toward his strengths, he was able to succeed after taking over in the leading role.
“I think Josh McDaniels is one of the best coordinators you have in the NFL, and has been for a long time,” Cassel said. “I give him a lot of credit for that (2008) season based on the preparation he gave me my first three seasons there. A big component of being a really good coach is the teaching and development aspect. And Josh is a teacher first, and foremost.”
McDaniels next assignment is Drake Maye, and getting the most out of the Patriots promising young quarterback.
Cassel, who works with NBC as a college football analyst, was confident McDaniels would know exactly what to do with Maye, and even if the offense is altered a bit from Year 1, the Patriots offensive coordinator would still tailor it around the franchise QB.
“He understood me as a player. He understood my likes and dislikes even though I wasn’t the starter,” Cassel said. “When I took over that season, there were adjustments made to the offense, particularly because I was a little more of an athlete. No offense to Tommy, but I’m a better athlete than him.”
So instead of having Cassel drop back every snap, McDaniels designed more rollouts and boots. He moved the pocket to take advantage of Cassel’s strengths.
“Not all coaches are willing to have enough confidence in a young quarterback to say, ‘This is what he likes, this is what we’re going to do,’’ Cassel said.
In his view, the change in terminology looms as the toughest hurdle for Maye adapting to a new coordinator.
“Josh, in the entirety of his career, has called offense one way – formationally, protection scheme route concepts, run game … so that’s going to be the biggest adjustment for Drake,” Cassel said. “It’s a wordy offense. There’s a lot of different motions, a lot of check-with-me’s, but once you learn the foundation of the offense, particularly, the motions, how we call plays ….when you start to compartmentalize those, and understand it, it is a quarterback friendly offense. Josh McDaniels will put you in a position to be successful.”
Cassel cited McDaniels track record with quarterbacks not named Brady, be it Jimmy Garoppolo, Jacoby Brissett, Kye Orton.
“Everywhere he’s been, any quarterback he’s had, he’s been able to develop success with that quarterback. He adapts his scheme. He understands the strengths and weaknesses, but he’s also a master game-planner,” Cassel said. “He understands the defensive side of the ball as good as any defensive coordinator. So when he’s game-planning, and putting these adjustments in, you clearly understand why, philosophically, we’re doing something.”
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