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Cowboys testing Matt Cassel at every turn
Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas -- Matt Cassel took only a handful of third-team snaps in his two practices with the Dallas Cowboys last week.
While some people may want to replace Brandon Weeden already, despite his completing 85 percent of his passes, it would help if Cassel, who was picked up in a trade from the Buffalo Bills last Tuesday, knew enough of the offense.
"He's working hard at it," coach Jason Garrett said. "He's a smart guy. He's an experienced guy. I think it comes to him quickly."
How can Garrett tell if Cassel is picking things up if he isn't seeing much action on the practice field?
"You ask him to call plays, ‘Give me a play call. What's the adjustment?' like you're a teacher," Garrett said. "You're constantly asking him questions, and you're trying to put him in situations as best you can to see what he knows. Did a lot of work with the two-minute stuff with the coaches last week during the defensive period. Those kinds of things. He can speak the language. I think he's getting more and more comfortable saying it. He's run a lot of these plays. He knows these concepts. As much as anything else, it's learning the terminology and learning the nuances of the system."
He has played in a system similar to what the Cowboys use under Norv Turner last year with the Minnesota Vikings.
Cassel was inactive in the loss to the Atlanta Falcons with Kellen Moore serving as Weeden's backup. Its possible he could be active this week against the New Orleans Saints.
Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas -- Matt Cassel took only a handful of third-team snaps in his two practices with the Dallas Cowboys last week.
While some people may want to replace Brandon Weeden already, despite his completing 85 percent of his passes, it would help if Cassel, who was picked up in a trade from the Buffalo Bills last Tuesday, knew enough of the offense.
"He's working hard at it," coach Jason Garrett said. "He's a smart guy. He's an experienced guy. I think it comes to him quickly."
How can Garrett tell if Cassel is picking things up if he isn't seeing much action on the practice field?
"You ask him to call plays, ‘Give me a play call. What's the adjustment?' like you're a teacher," Garrett said. "You're constantly asking him questions, and you're trying to put him in situations as best you can to see what he knows. Did a lot of work with the two-minute stuff with the coaches last week during the defensive period. Those kinds of things. He can speak the language. I think he's getting more and more comfortable saying it. He's run a lot of these plays. He knows these concepts. As much as anything else, it's learning the terminology and learning the nuances of the system."
He has played in a system similar to what the Cowboys use under Norv Turner last year with the Minnesota Vikings.
Cassel was inactive in the loss to the Atlanta Falcons with Kellen Moore serving as Weeden's backup. Its possible he could be active this week against the New Orleans Saints.
