Over the next few days, Boston Globe megablogger Mike Reiss will post observations I gave him based on research from the New England chapter of the FO Almanac. The first one has to do with the shotgun formation and quarterback value, and I'll post the other ones in this spot as they come up.
I remember writing about Matt Cassel's game against the Eagles in Week 3 of the preseason [1], and thinking that Matt Gutierrez had to have the inside track because he looked so much better.
I haven't seen as much of Cassel as most Patriots fans have, and I'm generally loath to pass judgment on quarterbacks before their time, but the thing that stands out about Cassel to me is that in this point in his career, he makes this ruthlessly efficient offense look clunky and slow ... Gutierrez took his team 99 yards in nine plays for a touchdown, beginning with a long crossing route to Tyson DeVree in which the quarterback stood unflappable in the pocket in his own end zone, waiting for the play to develop ... overall, my impression was that Gutierrez looked far more comfortable in command of the New England offense.
So much for MY analysis.
Links:
[1] http://www.footballoutsiders.com/every-play-counts/2008/every-play-doesnt-count-week-3