My random thoughts on the game

[BlueThunder]

I see this as a reasonable observation after having given up a couple grabs to one of the best TEs who has ever played the game.

[/sarcasm] 10 characters

 

[Sicilian]

Aiken makes the cut.

I'm having a hard time seeing it, barring an injury or two. I think he's a valuable player as he can play a lot of different roles, but I feel like players we will be keeping anyway can all fill an aspect of that role themselves.

Price should be better as a #5 WR (though I'd like to see more from him right now).

Arrington should be just as good on kick coverage (and provides depth at corner, where we always have injuries).

Chung is being worked out at punt protection.

I like Aiken, but it may be a numbers game. He does a lot of things, but is he irreplaceable at any of them?

 

[Patspsycho]

I think that Arrington is a lock on this team, while Aiken is fighting for his life, in all honesty. That being said, has anyone noticed who has been the personal protector on the punting unit? Has it only been AIKEN? Or has someone else been there?

Chung has been there and also covers the gunner, both of which Aiken used to do.

Aiken is gone.

 

[Patspsycho]

Color me a little skeptical of Chung. Yes, he has a high motor. Yes, he hits like a freght train and yes, he's a good open-field tackler. Still, I think his coverage skills are suspect. Very suspect. Saw him out of position a few times last night. He recovers well....but there shouldn't be any recovery to be had, you know?

What are you talking about? Chung led in tackles last night and he was in coverage for most of the night.

 

[5 Rings for Brady!!]

I dont think its confusing at all. I think that BB hates to overuse his RBs in the preseason. Taylor sat last week, Maroney this week. You will probably see both of them splitting series next week, with the 1s then sit in the last game.
Maroney didnt play because he is a known quantity, half of the #1 RB tandem and doesnt need the work. Not because he is 6th on the depth chart.

I think they are playing rope a dope with Maroney...keep him fresh and don't let teams see any recent film of him. He is a known quantity at this point and keeping him fresh is a good thing. I have a feeling he is still the lead back on the team regardless of how things look in camp.

 

[5 Rings for Brady!!]

Casale was/is more of an Alice, he/she/it just used Alison because it sounded more pretentious. :snob:

How cute! Little schoolgirl with a crush! Awwwwww....

 

[Calciumee]

Anyone know if I can watch extended highlights of the game anywhere?

I went to the Liverpool game last night; and stopped at my brothers, so I didn't get chance to watch.

 

[patriot lifer]

Chung has been there and also covers the gunner, both of which Aiken used to do.

Aiken is gone.

Aiken's been with the one's on special teams, and has been involved with the starters on offense (so far). we'll see.

 

[Bostonian1962]

If Gronk is Beast 1, then Pat Chung is Beast 2. Awesome performance.

But then, does that make Spikes Beast 3? Or should he be 1, Gronk 2 and Chung 3, or maybe Spikes is 1, and....................nah,never mind.

In either case, they are "The Beast Brigade."

How about the Berbeasta Triangle? In any event, it truly IS nice to have the BEASTS!

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I'm having a hard time seeing it, barring an injury or two. I think he's a valuable player as he can play a lot of different roles, but I feel like players we will be keeping anyway can all fill an aspect of that role themselves.

Price should be better as a #5 WR (though I'd like to see more from him right now).

Arrington should be just as good on kick coverage (and provides depth at corner, where we always have injuries).

Chung is being worked out at punt protection.

I like Aiken, but it may be a numbers game. He does a lot of things, but is he irreplaceable at any of them?

If you ranked WR at the moment you have two Veterans (Moss, Welker) on top, followed by three youngsters (Edelman, Tate, & Price) on a probable depth chart. Tate and Price have both flashed talent in preseason, but not consistency. You may argue Aiken's overall playing level as a WR, but he plays his position well enough for a Special Teams' Ace to balance out the inexperience the other three reserves bring to the field. Thus before factoring in needs for Special Teams and for other positions, Aiken's value as a veteran WR brings him into play for a roster spot.

Now factor in Special Teams. Aiken plays on all the units. He can and does play multiple positions on those units.

Chung can play the same roles as Aiken, but Chung is also pegged to be a starting Safety, he's redundancy for Aiken's roles, but his primary role will impact how much time he can put into Special Teams.

Arrington plays on the coverage units and as a Vice on the PR unit. He is a valuable ST's player, but he doesn't completely replace Aiken.

 

[Sicilian]

If you ranked WR at the moment you have two Veterans (Moss, Welker) on top, followed by three youngsters (Edelman, Tate, & Price) on a probable depth chart. Tate and Price have both flashed talent in preseason, but not consistency. You may argue Aiken's overall playing level as a WR, but he plays his position well enough for a Special Teams' Ace to balance out the inexperience the other three reserves bring to the field. Thus before factoring in needs for Special Teams and for other positions, Aiken's value as a veteran WR brings him into play for a roster spot.

Now factor in Special Teams. Aiken plays on all the units. He can and does play multiple positions on those units.

Chung can play the same roles as Aiken, but Chung is also pegged to be a starting Safety, he's redundancy for Aiken's roles, but his primary role will impact how much time he can put into Special Teams.

Arrington plays on the coverage units and as a Vice on the PR unit. He is a valuable ST's player, but he doesn't completely replace Aiken.

All good points. And in looking at another thread, it seems the numbers game I alluded to earlier isn't even that much of a factor. Assuming we go with 2 QBs, 6 DL, and 9 OL (plus the 3 ST dedicated spots), we can choose 3 out of these 4:

10 DBs (including possibly 6 corners)
10 LBs
6 WRs
5 RBs

One of those needs to be reduced by one. Assuming Taylor and Morris make it out of the preseason healthy, I'd be willing to drop Green-Ellis in favor of keeping Aiken.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Believe me Aikman is usually a lot worse. He gripes about everything.

If this was late into the season, he would have fussed because Brady's first name is only three letters.

Technically you are wrong - His first name is THOMAS


Thats 6 letters to note

 

[jefmblrd]

I really like:

the way the offense is converting 3rd downs-especially with the run-and establishing long TD scoring drives.

the way Chung is playing. He looks like that tough guy who can be intimidating over the middle and a force in the box.

The versatility and hands of Hernandez and Gronkowski. Looks like they have more confidence than even last week.

Sammy Morris playing FB. He can be a weapon from that position as a quick dive runner, pass catcher and lead blocker.

The way Edelman continues to improve and the hard-nosed way he plays the game.

Improved intensity and tackling by the defense.

 

[Triumph]

FoxSports is a whore.

Did we all enjoy the various in-depth 20 minute reports on the Lions, Bears, Donovan McNabb, etc. while the game was going on?

Just rename it the NFC Channel and let us watch a different announcing team.

No, or the 10 minute interview with Matt Ryan.

Im so glad he likes the Atalanta Braves.

 

[Triumph]

Color me a little skeptical of Chung. Yes, he has a high motor. Yes, he hits like a freght train and yes, he's a good open-field tackler. Still, I think his coverage skills are suspect. Very suspect. Saw him out of position a few times last night. He recovers well....but there shouldn't be any recovery to be had, you know?

Chung is a work in progress.

If he starts, hes bound to make mistakes, but I'll bet you that Rodney Harrison screwed up too. Im not saying Chung is the next Rodney, but as he makes plays he will gain confidence and even more knowledge of the game.

 

[jefmblrd]

Just watching the game again and am very impressed with how Crumpler blocks. He just de-cleats guys. The guy is a beast!

Also loved the way Hernandez came out of the backfield and made a nice catch and run. Looking forward to watching him develop as a player.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

If you ranked WR at the moment you have two Veterans (Moss, Welker) on top, followed by three youngsters (Edelman, Tate, & Price) on a probable depth chart. Tate and Price have both flashed talent in preseason, but not consistency. You may argue Aiken's overall playing level as a WR, but he plays his position well enough for a Special Teams' Ace to balance out the inexperience the other three reserves bring to the field. Thus before factoring in needs for Special Teams and for other positions, Aiken's value as a veteran WR brings him into play for a roster spot.

Maybe it's just posting brevity but there is no comparison between Tate and Price. Sure both are young players on a steep learning curve but Tate has way outperformed Price each and every day I saw at camp and I'll wager the others here who attended will agree. And Tate outperformed Price in both preseason games although the amount of data is far less there. No alligator arms for Tate. Price has made some catches but shown little to none of the flash Tate displayed in camp.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Maybe it's just posting brevity but there is no comparison between Tate and Price. Sure both are young players on a steep learning curve but Tate has way outperformed Price each and every day I saw at camp and I'll wager the others here who attended will agree. And Tate outperformed Price in both preseason games although the amount of data is far less there. No alligator arms for Tate. Price has made some catches but shown little to none of the flash Tate displayed in camp.

Camp reports notwithstanding, both kids have shown flashes of potential in preseason games. Neither has put it together the way Edelbinky did last season and against NO. That's the standard I'm looking for from them when I'm talking about consistency. Folks may not like Sam as a primary receiver, I'd be a tad worried were that the case myself, but if I'm Billy O calling a play, I know just what I'm getting from Sam and have confidence I'll get that on game day. Sam makes the team, at least as I see the roster now, based on Special Teams and his consistency in all phases of the passing game (good blocker, decent with the ball in his hands, good route runner, will fight for the ball, okay hands - could be worse).

 

[JackBauer]

I don't have Aiken making the team.

...but if I'm Billy O calling a play, I know just what I'm getting from Sam.

Answer? Just about nothing.

 

[Ring 6]

I'm having a hard time seeing it, barring an injury or two. I think he's a valuable player as he can play a lot of different roles, but I feel like players we will be keeping anyway can all fill an aspect of that role themselves.

Price should be better as a #5 WR (though I'd like to see more from him right now).

Arrington should be just as good on kick coverage (and provides depth at corner, where we always have injuries).

Chung is being worked out at punt protection.

I like Aiken, but it may be a numbers game. He does a lot of things, but is he irreplaceable at any of them?

We need more than one guy covering kicks.