Super Opportunity for Cassel

Looking to solidify his standing as a reserve quarterback for the New England Patriots, rookie Matt Cassel threw a touchdown pass in a recent exhibition against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Nothing earthshaking there.

But here’s something for Ripley’s: It was Cassel’s first touchdown pass since his days at Chatsworth High.

The player who backed up USC Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart is on his way to landing a quarterback job with the defending Super Bowl champions despite never reaching the end zone in college. What are the odds?

“Well, I guess it is pretty interesting,” Cassel said this week from Foxboro, Mass., where he’s making a strong run at the third quarterback job behind Tom Brady and Doug Flutie. “That was definitely my highlight of camp.”

If he sticks with the team, he’ll be understudy to a third Heisman Trophy winner. Flutie won it in 1984, Palmer in 2002 and Leinart last year.

A seventh-round pick, Cassel has been among the most impressive of 18 rookies from USC and UCLA who remain on NFL rosters. Team insiders say the Patriots love the way he has picked up the nuances of the playbook, and, if he doesn’t unseat Rohan Davey -- or possibly Flutie -- for the third spot, he is a no-brainer to make the practice squad.

Then again, Cassel knows not to get too comfortable. He’s a dedicated student of the game, gathering every bit of knowledge he can from Brady and Flutie, watching not only how they conduct themselves on the field but in the film room. Flutie, in particular, has been a help, teaching him some tricks about reading defenses, cues that otherwise might have escaped his notice.

Not everything has gone smoothly for Cassel, though. In an exhibition against New Orleans, he was flattened by a corner blitz from his blind side.

“It’s the hardest I’ve ever been hit,” he said. “I didn’t even catch the guy’s name. It’s probably better that way -- no face, no name. He just crushed me.”

A look at the other rookie hopefuls from Los Angeles schools:

* Linebacker Lofa Tatupu (USC), Seattle -- From the first time he set foot on the field for the Seahawks, Tatupu has been directing traffic from the middle linebacker spot. As expected of a second-round selection, he has latched on to the starting job and isn’t letting go. Defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes loves his maturity and intensity. “He’s what you call a gym-rat linebacker,” Rhodes said. “He’s consumed with the sport.” Explained Tatupu: “Some people do it for the pay. Some people do it for the fame. Some people do it because it’s all you know, it’s what you love doing. That’s me. I can’t think of any better job than this.”

* Receiver Mike Williams (USC), Detroit -- No Krazy-Glue catches yet, but Williams has done a respectable job for a team loaded with young, talented pass catchers. He’s the fourth receiver and still has a lot to learn. “Everything is new to him,” offensive coordinator Ted Tollner said. “He’s making progress every day. He’s a very physical guy. You can see when we get balls to him inside, he’s not easy to tackle.”

* Defensive tackle Mike Patterson (USC), Philadelphia -- Patterson, a first-round pick, has been a bright spot in an otherwise distracting and disappointing Eagle camp. He’s stout against the run and a better pass rusher than coaches expected, picking up a sack in each of two exhibitions. If Corey Simon holds out much longer, Patterson might start the opener.

* Defensive tackle Shaun Cody (USC), Detroit -- A second-round pick, Cody is a regular in the Lions’ No. 1 nickel package. He should make an immediate difference.

* Running back Manuel White (UCLA), Washington -- Making the transition to H-back in Joe Gibbs’ system has been hard for White, a fourth-round pick who has yet to touch the ball in an exhibition. He’s now more of a tight end than a running back and is third on the depth chart.

* Safety Ben Emanuel (UCLA), Carolina -- Third on the depth chart at free safety, Emanuel faces fairly long odds of making the team. Then again, teams aren’t quick to give up on fifth-round picks. It doesn’t help Emanuel’s cause that first-round pick Thomas Davis has moved to free safety.

* Defensive tackle Manuel Wright (USC), Miami -- It made national news when Coach Nick Saban made him cry at camp. What we haven’t seen is that Wright is occasionally dominant on the practice field. Coaches and teammates question his desire, dedication and maturity. What they don’t question is his raw ability to be very good. Don’t expect the Dolphins to cut him. They used a fifth-round pick to get him in the supplemental draft, and they want time to squeeze that value out of him.

* Receiver Craig Bragg (UCLA), Green Bay -- After a so-so camp, Bragg, a sixth-round pick, is a longshot to make the Packers’ 53-man roster. Green Bay typically keeps five receivers, and he isn’t one of them. His chances are much better of making the practice squad.

* Receiver Tab Perry (UCLA), Cincinnati -- The Bengals really like Perry, a sixth-round pick, it’s just that they want to see more of him. He missed part of the off-season program because of a late graduation date, and he has been hampered in camp by a hamstring injury. That said, he’s emotionally mature and a good route runner.

* Linebacker Matt Grootegoed (USC), Tampa Bay -- As an undrafted free agent buried on the Buccaneer depth chart, Grootegoed’s best chance of making the team is as a special-teams maniac. He has yet to emerge in that role. He isn’t among the top six linebackers the Buccaneers are sure to keep.

* Cornerback Matt Clark (UCLA), New Orleans -- There’s a good chance Clark will be gone by Saturday, when the Saints make their first round of cuts. He could be re-signed to the practice squad, however. He seems to have the edge on Dwight Ellick, another undrafted rookie, who’s competing for the same job.

* Punter Chris Kluwe (UCLA), Seattle -- The undrafted Kluwe will have a hard time beating out experienced veteran Leo Araguz for the job, especially considering special-teams coach Bob Casullo lobbied hard to get Araguz there in the first place.

* Safety Jason Leach (USC), San Diego -- Listed fourth on the depth chart at free safety, the undrafted Leach will be hard-pressed to make the 53-man roster.

* Running back Lee Webb (USC), Jacksonville -- As the Jaguars’ third fullback, Webb probably will not survive the first round of cuts.

* Tight end Alex Holmes (USC), Miami -- Not only is Holmes listed fourth on the tight end depth chart, but he has been slowed by a shoulder injury. Things look bleak.

* Kicker Ryan Killeen (USC), Detroit -- With longtime Lion Jason Hanson still in place, the undrafted Killeen probably won’t be kicking around Detroit this season, but he might have a chance to hook on elsewhere after camps conclude.

* Tight end Gregg Guenther (USC), Tennessee -- Some of the NFL’s best tight ends are former college basketball players -- Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates come to mind -- and Guenther skipped his final football season with the Trojans to concentrate on hoops. He’s a longshot to make the 53-man roster, but it helps him that Norm Chow is the Titan offensive coordinator and knows him from their USC days.