Cassel vs. Cutler

Hey guys. Since it has been slow I thought I’d throw together a post that might spark some conversation. With this whole Jay Cutler cry baby thing going on I thought it might be interesting to compare him with the guy the Broncos wanted. Our very own Matt "Matt-bo to D-Bowe" Cassel!

Now I am not a statistics person but I thought it would be interesting to compare Jay and Matt’s numbers from last season. I noticed the Cutler situation is getting worse for Donkeys, which I think is hilarious. I have read more than a few comments by Broncos fans that they are furious with McDaniels and they all seem to love Jay Cutler.  I haven’t watched many Broncos games the last couple of seasons but when they played KC I found myself intermittently impressed with Cutler. Every once in a while he would make a throw and I would find myself saying, “Wow.” However, there were a couple times Brodie Croyle made some decent throws too.

If you take a look at the stats below the two had pretty equal seasons as far as completion percentage and average completion yards.

 Cassel vs. Cutler 2008 Numbers:

Cutler:

Cassel

 Since these were Cassel's first 16 games, I decided to be fair I would compare Cutlers first 16 games as a starter to Cassels. Keep in mind I left out a 2007 week 9 game in which Cutler only completed 3 passes (probably due to an injury) but he returned to action the following week. Cutler’s stats also span two seasons. He started the last 5 games of the 2006/2007 seasons. I thought it best to include those numbers as he was sort of just thrown in there during a game like Cassel was. I know there is no perfect way to do this but here it is anyway. I also just decided to compare completions, attempts, yards, TDS and win/loss.

 Jay Cutler’s first 16 games;

CMP    ATT     YDS    TD       INT      Team Record

288      465      3579    22        17        7-9

Matt Cassel’s first 16 games;

CMP    ATT     YDS    TD       INT      Team Record

327      516      3693    21        11        11-5

The big difference here is INT’s and record. They threw pretty much the same number of touchdown passes. Now you could argue that Cassel was throwing to Randy Moss but who is to say that Moss made Cassel better and not the other way around? Moss wasn’t exactly turning Oakland QB’s into studs when he was there. You could argue that Moss has talent but is benefiting from playing with Brady, and now, Cassel. Cassel appears to be the better decision maker getting much more efficiency out of his TD’s vs. picks.

Since the numbers above show these guys as essential rookies, one would assume that as the years go by, they should get better. Obviously the jury is still out on Cassel but has Cutler gotten any better? Let’s compare Cutler’s first 16 games to his last 16 games.

Cutler; First 16 Games;

CMP    ATT     YDS    TD       INT      Team Record

288      465      3579    22        17        7-9

Cutler; Last 16 Games;

CMP    ATT     YDS    TD       INT      Team Record

384      616      4526    25        18        8-8

Cutler threw for more yards last year but his TD’s and INT’s stayed about the same. The team record also stayed the same. It doesn’t look to me like he is improving that much. Yeah, he threw for a lot of yards but I would rather have Cassel throwing just about as many TD’s and less picks and winning the games he should win instead of a gun slinging Favre type who is a cry baby.

And when it comes down to it, it is all about wins, no? Advantage Cassel.

That is just my opinion but my interpretation of the numbers may not be correct. What do you guys think?

Who is better now?

Who had a better “First 16 Games?”

Is Cutler improving at the rate he should be? Or were his yards only up die to the lack of a running back?

Who WILL be better when all is said and done?

Cheers.