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Disclaimer - The first impressions are just that. They are indications of what MIGHT happen in the future. We only have last season's first preseason game to remind us that first impressions aren't always correct. How can we forget the compete domination of the Buc offense had us dreaming of a dominant defense that turned into a near record breaking disaster.
But that being said here are my own "first impressions" in no particular order.
THE GOOD
1. The biggest positive impression was made by Chandler Jones. Clearly we all underestimated how quickly this first round pick would deliver an impact performance. It wasn't dynamic, but it was easy to see what the Pats saw in him, and the reason they traded up to get him. the thing I liked the best was that he did his work against one of the best LT's in the NFC.
The play I appreciated the most was the one when he rushed upfield to create the pressure to force the QB to run and then fell back into the play to make the tackle, In just one play he show a good rush and the quickness and motor to get back in a play down field.
2. The coverage - I saw only one completion that wasn't highly contested with tight coverage in the first half. My 2 favorite plays was a deep pass down the sideline against McCourty who had decent underneath position, but the best part was an actual S sighting, who was actually close enough to be considered in the play. That's was a very rare sight in 20011, and hear we had one on the very first NO drive.
My second favorite play was actually a completion and also involved a S. On the play before before the Gregory pick, The NO QB threw a laser down the seam that Tavon Wilson read, reacted and looked like he had the pick. Now the fact that the ball slipped through him and was miraculously caught was almost irrelevant because it had been a long time since I've seen that kind of play by a safety on a ball up the middle. Tavon Wilson passed the sniff test.
The coverage by the outside CBs are more of a inference than direct evidence IRRC There was only one completion outside the numbers in the first half and that one was highly contested and a perfect pass. Other evidence comes from the number of times the NO QB had to bring the ball down and look at his 2ndary targets,
Bottom line: The coverage was a lot better than what most of us were expecting. Be honest now. Especially after the Tuesday practice when the Saints moved the ball better than the Pats.
3. Our RB's - Ridley ran hard and decisively for a 5ypc, Vareen completely took over the 3rd quarter and was the main reason we got the 7 points we managed, and averaged 6ypc, albeit against the NO scrubs. He still looked good. Bolden was less successful, but could be a very nice addition to the PS. I liked what Katani showed blocking and catching the ball. Granted he's the only FB left standing, but he is a binky of mine, and if the Pats DO keep a FB this season, he's my pick.
THE MEDIOCRE
1. I was less enamored by Hightower even though he had that big hit. He often looked tentative hitting the hole against the RBs, especially early. Its not that he played badly. He just didn't show me "impact". He wasn't explosive or "sudden". On the other hand, he didn't look lost out there or outmatched. Hopefully it will be better next time. God knows he's going to get a lot more snaps with Fletcher out.
2. Bequette, Scott, and Francis. I didn't see consistent burst or explosiveness from any of them. Scott had that great strip sack in the 4th quarter, but you have to ask who he was playing against. Still it was good he showed that much, because the camp reports haven't been great. I don't think Beguette got in until the 4th quarter. He looked OK, but nothing special. I recall at least one QB hit. Francis was the same. I think I had my expectations raised because of some of the camp reports on him. Again, nothing bad, just nothing consistently good.
3. The receivers - They didn't have much of a shot last night given the poor play of the QB's (more on this later). LLyod had one drop on a tough catch he usually makes. It was a great throw by Brady to his outside shoulder. Its a throw we will see a lot this season, and with much greater success. I don't think Welker saw a ball in his short stint. I liked what Edelman showed. The rest was just meh. The only real memorable moments for our receiver corps was Davis' miss of the ball in the seam, and his catch in the endzone. But with under 170 yds in passing, its hard to have memorable receiving moments.
THE BAD
1. The QB's - Yes ALL of them. Brady missed on a couple of throws and in one instance (I think it was the nice throw to Lloyd that was called back) had a case of happy feet when he reacted to a rush that wasn't there, just before he reset himself and made a nice throw. I don't like to see him do that.
Hoyer was the best of the lot, but that's not saying much.
Mallett was so up and down it started to aggravate. He'd make a nice move within the pocket and throw a nice ball for a completion, and then throw 2 balls over the heads of everybody. No rhythm or consistency.
2. The OL - First my defense of Nate Solder, who wasn't exactly stellar. But he didn't hold when he got called, and Brady's sack wasn't his fault. Solder did his job riding the DE out of the play. By not getting rid of ball and moving outside to his right, Brady brought the DE back into the play. This isn't to say Solder, along with the rest of the OL needs to play al a lot better , but not on those 2 plays.
The run blocking wasn't bad. and the pass blocking seemed to get somewhat better in the second half (not that it mattered to the QB's)
Bottom line: when you average 32 ppg last season, and you ADD better skill players to the mix, totaling 7 points is NOT good. People should understand that this is NOT last year's offense. The language might be the same, but the plays and structure isn't. This is the Josh McDaniel offense, and right now the players haven't got it down yet. Its as simple as that.
3. Dane Fletcher's injury - What a shame. This was his opportunity to shine. He will be missed, both as a back up and on ST's. On the other hand Bobby Carpenter just called his wife to tell her to go house hunting.
General comments
a My overall impression is good because the defense was good. Some things were better than others, but after 2 years of watching yds pile up, it was refreshing to see some good solid play.
b. Frankly I won't worry a moment about the offense until at least the 3rd preseason game. Its just too early.
c. The two TV announcers were just too horrible to listen to. Its hard to believe the Krafts still bring these two guys back every preseason. The make so many simple logistic mistakes that you wouldn't expect to hear from professionals. Misnaming players. Wrong down and distance, etc, etc.
d. I wonder if anyone will get BB to tell us what he was complaining about to the officials. who missed some calls, but weren't horrible
But that being said here are my own "first impressions" in no particular order.
THE GOOD
1. The biggest positive impression was made by Chandler Jones. Clearly we all underestimated how quickly this first round pick would deliver an impact performance. It wasn't dynamic, but it was easy to see what the Pats saw in him, and the reason they traded up to get him. the thing I liked the best was that he did his work against one of the best LT's in the NFC.
The play I appreciated the most was the one when he rushed upfield to create the pressure to force the QB to run and then fell back into the play to make the tackle, In just one play he show a good rush and the quickness and motor to get back in a play down field.
2. The coverage - I saw only one completion that wasn't highly contested with tight coverage in the first half. My 2 favorite plays was a deep pass down the sideline against McCourty who had decent underneath position, but the best part was an actual S sighting, who was actually close enough to be considered in the play. That's was a very rare sight in 20011, and hear we had one on the very first NO drive.
My second favorite play was actually a completion and also involved a S. On the play before before the Gregory pick, The NO QB threw a laser down the seam that Tavon Wilson read, reacted and looked like he had the pick. Now the fact that the ball slipped through him and was miraculously caught was almost irrelevant because it had been a long time since I've seen that kind of play by a safety on a ball up the middle. Tavon Wilson passed the sniff test.
The coverage by the outside CBs are more of a inference than direct evidence IRRC There was only one completion outside the numbers in the first half and that one was highly contested and a perfect pass. Other evidence comes from the number of times the NO QB had to bring the ball down and look at his 2ndary targets,
Bottom line: The coverage was a lot better than what most of us were expecting. Be honest now. Especially after the Tuesday practice when the Saints moved the ball better than the Pats.
3. Our RB's - Ridley ran hard and decisively for a 5ypc, Vareen completely took over the 3rd quarter and was the main reason we got the 7 points we managed, and averaged 6ypc, albeit against the NO scrubs. He still looked good. Bolden was less successful, but could be a very nice addition to the PS. I liked what Katani showed blocking and catching the ball. Granted he's the only FB left standing, but he is a binky of mine, and if the Pats DO keep a FB this season, he's my pick.
THE MEDIOCRE
1. I was less enamored by Hightower even though he had that big hit. He often looked tentative hitting the hole against the RBs, especially early. Its not that he played badly. He just didn't show me "impact". He wasn't explosive or "sudden". On the other hand, he didn't look lost out there or outmatched. Hopefully it will be better next time. God knows he's going to get a lot more snaps with Fletcher out.
2. Bequette, Scott, and Francis. I didn't see consistent burst or explosiveness from any of them. Scott had that great strip sack in the 4th quarter, but you have to ask who he was playing against. Still it was good he showed that much, because the camp reports haven't been great. I don't think Beguette got in until the 4th quarter. He looked OK, but nothing special. I recall at least one QB hit. Francis was the same. I think I had my expectations raised because of some of the camp reports on him. Again, nothing bad, just nothing consistently good.
3. The receivers - They didn't have much of a shot last night given the poor play of the QB's (more on this later). LLyod had one drop on a tough catch he usually makes. It was a great throw by Brady to his outside shoulder. Its a throw we will see a lot this season, and with much greater success. I don't think Welker saw a ball in his short stint. I liked what Edelman showed. The rest was just meh. The only real memorable moments for our receiver corps was Davis' miss of the ball in the seam, and his catch in the endzone. But with under 170 yds in passing, its hard to have memorable receiving moments.
THE BAD
1. The QB's - Yes ALL of them. Brady missed on a couple of throws and in one instance (I think it was the nice throw to Lloyd that was called back) had a case of happy feet when he reacted to a rush that wasn't there, just before he reset himself and made a nice throw. I don't like to see him do that.
Hoyer was the best of the lot, but that's not saying much.
Mallett was so up and down it started to aggravate. He'd make a nice move within the pocket and throw a nice ball for a completion, and then throw 2 balls over the heads of everybody. No rhythm or consistency.
2. The OL - First my defense of Nate Solder, who wasn't exactly stellar. But he didn't hold when he got called, and Brady's sack wasn't his fault. Solder did his job riding the DE out of the play. By not getting rid of ball and moving outside to his right, Brady brought the DE back into the play. This isn't to say Solder, along with the rest of the OL needs to play al a lot better , but not on those 2 plays.
The run blocking wasn't bad. and the pass blocking seemed to get somewhat better in the second half (not that it mattered to the QB's)
Bottom line: when you average 32 ppg last season, and you ADD better skill players to the mix, totaling 7 points is NOT good. People should understand that this is NOT last year's offense. The language might be the same, but the plays and structure isn't. This is the Josh McDaniel offense, and right now the players haven't got it down yet. Its as simple as that.
3. Dane Fletcher's injury - What a shame. This was his opportunity to shine. He will be missed, both as a back up and on ST's. On the other hand Bobby Carpenter just called his wife to tell her to go house hunting.
General comments
a My overall impression is good because the defense was good. Some things were better than others, but after 2 years of watching yds pile up, it was refreshing to see some good solid play.
b. Frankly I won't worry a moment about the offense until at least the 3rd preseason game. Its just too early.
c. The two TV announcers were just too horrible to listen to. Its hard to believe the Krafts still bring these two guys back every preseason. The make so many simple logistic mistakes that you wouldn't expect to hear from professionals. Misnaming players. Wrong down and distance, etc, etc.
d. I wonder if anyone will get BB to tell us what he was complaining about to the officials. who missed some calls, but weren't horrible
