FOXBOROUGH -- Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel answered questions from reporters today at Gillette Stadium, and here were a few highlights:
On his thought process when Randy Moss is double-covered and if he automatically looks away when he sees that. "It really depends on my read and what we've talked about in meetings. Sometimes there are plays that my read will take me somewhere else based on him getting doubled, and there are other reads where I'll stick with him a little bit longer because he still has an opportunity to get open on that particular pattern. To say that I eliminate him right away, just based on the fact he's being double-covered, is not necessarily true all the time."
On how much he's evolved since the team's Week 3 loss to the Dolphins. "I feel like I've grown up a little bit. What is it, my ninth or tenth start now? I understand my role a little bit better. I feel like I'm a little more confident in what I'm doing."
On reflecting on being intercepted by Jason Taylor last year as a low point of his career -- and how did he bounce back. "You never want to go into a game in that situation -- where you're winning by a bunch -- and throw an interception. But that happens as a football player and you have to recognize it. I told you guys last year that it won't be the first time I throw an interception and it won't be the last. As a player, your confidence is shook a little bit but you have to tell yourself 'Look, there is the next day.' Luckily for me, I was able to come back out the next week against Washington and have a good week and score a touchdown, put together a scoring drive. That's football. That's sports. You're going to go through some adversity on the field and off the field, and you just have to continue to push through."
On if the coaches have called quarterback draws this year, or if all his scrambles have been reactions to what unfolds on the field. "They haven't called any designed quarterback draws. They've all been scrambling, something where I feel like I can make a play with my legs."
On if there are certain plays he feels like he has an opportunity to scramble, such as against man coverage. "We saw that a lot against the Jets. We knew they were going to try to double some guys and play a lot man coverage, and probably not account for me in terms of running the ball. We had a few holes open up there and I was able to take off and get some good yardage."
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