Birds of a feather

Cassel, Seahawks' Tatupu have enduring friendship

MATT CASSELRough outing

FOXBOROUGH - Matt Cassel first met Lofa Tatupu in the fall of 2002 at the University of Southern California, a fast friendship that, it seemed, would not have a speck of impact on the NFL.

Tatupu was a transfer from Maine, a step too slow and a size too small for most scouts. Cassel was a backup quarterback stuck behind a Heisman Trophy winner, Matt Leinart, who would graduate the same year as him.

On Sunday, though, they will look across the line of scrimmage and stare one another in the face, Tatupu the defensive leader of the Seahawks and Cassel the offensive general of the Patriots. Tatupu is "one of my close friends," Cassel said. On Sunday, Tatupu will try to become his primary tormentor as Cassel aims to erase last week's letdown.

Cassel occasionally plays golf with Tatupu's father, Mosi, and still chats often with Lofa. Mosi played fullback for the Patriots from 1978 to 1990, and Tatupu grew up watching him, living in Wrentham. After the Patriots drafted Cassel, who had lived only in Southern California, Tatupu gave him one piece of advice. "Wear a lot of layers, and stay indoors when you can," Cassel recalled.

"We had a great relationship in college and continue to have a great relationship," Cassel said. "Every offseason, we usually spend some time together. He is a great player, a great friend, and he's doing his thing. We always had a good bond together. I respected him as a player. On and off the field, we just clicked."

While opposing his college friend, Cassel will try to conquer his latest challenge in replacing Tom Brady: rebounding from perhaps his worst game. Cassel committed four consecutive turnovers (two fumbles and two interceptions) as the game spiraled into a 33-10 loss to the Steelers, who also sacked him five times.

Using fierce blitzes, the Steelers harassed Cassel into completing just 19 of 39 attempts for 169 yards. Pittsburgh linebacker LaMarr Woodley said the hard hits and constant pressure made Cassel a different passer. Afterward, Cassel spoke with Brady, who offered support and told him, "These games are going to happen." Brady had a knack for bouncing back after poor ones, something Cassel studied while backing him up.

Cassel's season has taken sharp turns. He became the fifth quarterback in NFL history to throw consecutive 400-yard games, then crashed against the Steelers.

Cassel will face a far less intimidating opponent Sunday, perhaps the worst secondary (statistically speaking) in the NFL. The Seahawks yield 265.2 passing yards per game, the most in the NFL. Opposing quarterbacks have completed 66.2 percent of their passes. The Seahawks have allowed 19 touchdowns and made only six interceptions, which ranks 27th and 28th, respectively, in the NFL.

Cassel has already won over the coach who will stand on the opposite sideline.

"Cassel, to me, has really impressed me with what he's done, given his experience," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said. "There's the case of a young quarterback who hasn't had a chance to play, gets his chance, but now he gets to throw the ball to Randy Moss. That's a pretty good deal. And he's got a veteran offensive line. He has Kevin Faulk. He has some guys that can really help him. But he's got to hold up his end of the bargain, and I think he's done it beautifully. I'm very impressed with the job he's doing."

Tatupu will not be the only former teammate Cassel meets Sunday. Before Cassel's rookie season, he threw to Deion Branch during training camp, then watched from the sideline as Branch won the MVP of Super Bowl XXXIX. On Wednesday, Branch was asked what he saw back then in Cassel.

"What you are seeing right now," Branch said. "Exactly what you are seeing now. That he was going to develop into the quarterback that he is now. Being that he had the opportunity to sit behind Tom [Brady] and to learn from Tom.

"He has been a sponge since the time I was there. He has taken everything that Tom Brady issued to him and told him what he should and shouldn't do. You are seeing everything I thought about him back then right now."

Adam Kilgore can be reached at akilgore@globe.com