Two Yoots

[Bostonian1962]

I mean YOUTHS.

I'm not one of those folks that puts the Pats in the Super Bowl, or buries them after one preseason game. Especially, with 15ish players sitting this one out.

However, I did leave with a good feeling about some of the teams' younger players.

Players like Richardson, Merriweather, Rogers, and Washington (not a rookie, but still young) have gotten some good "training camp press", and it was nice to see them perform well on Friday.

Merriweather to me, just looks like a football player. You could expect him to seem lost for his first NFL game, but he wasn't. I expect big things from him in time, and maybe less time than normal.

Everybody saw Rogers stand out. 6 tackles, 1 QB hurry, 1 sack, and 1 fumble recovery (oh, and it was LeKevin Smith that stripped the ball on said fumble) was a great start for him.

I'm a Washington fan, and hope the numbers game doesn't send him out of town. It'd be nice to finally have a WR with size AND skill around these parts. He had a couple of nice catches on Friday.

On that near interception by Richardson, he played the man perfectly. He showed a burst when the ball went in the air, and turned to look at the ball. He had the better chance of catching it, and if the WR didn't play DB and swipe at the ball, Richardson may well have had a nice int. He looked smooth out there.

I still consider Wright a youngster, and every time you watch him perform, he makes players. Another sack, and a QB hurry Friday night. He makes plays, whether subbing on D, or on Teams.

I didn't get a good look at the OLine to see how Elgin looked, but here's hoping he ends up being a player.

The bottom line is, it is too early to finalize roster spots for most the young players, but I for one left the game Friday feeling good about many of the 20 somethings. If they continue to shine, we may have to start some posts on which veterans get canned.

 

[patsox23]

Had to respond if for no other reason than to back the "Two Yoots" reference. Kelley Washington did indeed flash a little something in the game, 'though it's worth pointing out that he has had anything but a good training camp. (Also, I heard we brought in another WR who combines size and skill. Randy Something.)

I hope along with you that some of these kids - especially a guy like Richardson (since he's cheap and plays a need position) - turn out to be the real deal. Meriweather for sure sounds like it, and so far Elgin has done a good, solid job.

We'll see as the games move forward.

 

[Bostonian1962]

Had to respond if for no other reason than to back the "Two Yoots" reference. Kelley Washington did indeed flash a little something in the game, 'though it's worth pointing out that he has had anything but a good training camp. (Also, I heard we brought in another WR who combines size and skill. Randy Something.)

I hope along with you that some of these kids - especially a guy like Richardson (since he's cheap and plays a need position) - turn out to be the real deal. Meriweather for sure sounds like it, and so far Elgin has done a good, solid job.

We'll see as the games move forward.

All true. Washington is going to have a bear of a time making the team, with the 42 wide receivers on the roster. But you are right, it would be nice to have a youngster like Richardson at a need position really make his mark. Let's hope so. As nervous as I get when I see aging vets like Rodney, Tedi, and Junior throwing their bodies around, I do have to sit back an remind myself that Woods, Lua, Merriweather, Richardson, and Rogers are all 23 - 25, and will continue to hope one or more of them are "finds".

 

[patsox23]

It looks like Woods could be a player down the road, or maybe sooner.

Meriweather is off to a terrific start.

James Sanders has progressed nicely.

The DL is young.

If one of Rogers or Lua could make a mark and surprise people, that would be huge (especially given their Day Two-ness).

And if Mike Richardson could be a CB version of Givens, I'd be very happy.

 

[Metaphors]

All true. Washington is going to have a bear of a time making the team, with the 42 wide receivers on the roster.

If I assume:

• Moss, Stallworth and Welker as the top 3
• One of Caldwell or Gaffney being #4
• Troy and CJ on PUP

then about the only way I can see Washington making the cut is if he can significantly contribute to special teams (much like Kassim Osgood in SD). Since I couldn't watch the game, anyone notice if Washington was a part of any ST packages? If he was, that is a good sign for him. If he wasn't, not so much.

 

[Bostonian1962]

If I assume:

• Moss, Stallworth and Welker as the top 3
• One of Caldwell or Gaffney being #4
• Troy and CJ on PUP

then about the only way I can see Washington making the cut is if he can significantly contribute to special teams (much like Kassim Osgood in SD). Since I couldn't watch the game, anyone notice if Washington was a part of any ST packages? If he was, that is a good sign for him. If he wasn't, not so much.

Not sure on the ST package question. I wanted to re-watch TIVO of the game last night, but with a two year saying "daddy let's play playdoh, daddy read book, daddy let's go swimming, daddy what is the square root of infinity", and so on, it's tougher than it use to be.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

Not sure on the ST package question. I wanted to re-watch TIVO of the game last night, but with a two year saying "daddy let's play playdoh, daddy read book, daddy let's go swimming, daddy what is the square root of infinity", and so on, it's tougher than it use to be.

Wow, interesting Yoot ya got there.

 

[Bostonian1962]

Wow, interesting Yoot ya got there.

Now THAT is funny! I was in between Special K bites, so no skim milk out the nose, but still very clever.

 

[primetime]

It'd be nice to finally have a WR with size AND skill around these parts.

That Randy Moss sure is tiny.

 

[dryheat44]

Washington has been an underachiever for four seasons now. I don't think you can put him in the same category as the other guys you mentioned.

I was disappointed with Meriweather's performance. Maybe some of the Miami boosters on this board conditioned me to expect an immediate contributor, but I just don't see it. He looked non-instinctive at corner and safety. There's nothing unusual about that in a player playing his first NFL game, but I guess I had built him up too much in my mind.

I also felt that Kwame Brown was in over his head, Justin Rogers flashed some play-making ability but showed a rookie's lack of discipline, Lua was awful at diagnosing plays, although that should come with experience.

The rookies that I am most impressed with so far are Elgin, Richardson, and Gutierrez.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

Now THAT is funny! I was in between Special K bites, so no skim milk out the nose, but still very clever.

I loved your comment about square root of infinity...... and those special k bites through the nose can hurt. I shot a grape nut out mine one morning and blinded the dog....

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Washington has been an underachiever for four seasons now. I don't think you can put him in the same category as the other guys you mentioned.

I was disappointed with Meriweather's performance. Maybe some of the Miami boosters on this board conditioned me to expect an immediate contributor, but I just don't see it. He looked non-instinctive at corner and safety. There's nothing unusual about that in a player playing his first NFL game, but I guess I had built him up too much in my mind.

I also felt that Kwame Brown was in over his head, Justin Rogers flashed some play-making ability but showed a rookie's lack of discipline, Lua was awful at diagnosing plays, although that should come with experience.

The rookies that I am most impressed with so far are Elgin, Richardson, and Gutierrez.

Based on a general impression from the game and one offensive & defensive series breakdown each in the second half, I agree.

Head of the class:
- Elgin showed he could handle all three interior positions and had Koppen/Neal-like mobility.
- Richardson showed decent coverage skills and ball awareness, a nice foundation for Coach Collier to build on. He also showed good discipline in run support and a willingness to enter the fray.
- Gutierrez showed some nice poise, decent arm, and some pocket presence - another good foundation project.

Middle of the pack:
- Rogers showed good ball awareness, decent strength at the point-of-attack, decent quicknees and speed. When he stayed with his assignment he was effective. As a conversion project he's in the plus category.
- Bissinger showed fair strength/quickness/speed, he played with discipline in the limited time I watched him closely - as a project player I am impressed. A year on the Practice Squad working with Coach Woicik/Nash/Davis, Coach Patricia, Coach Seeley, Coach Belichick, and the veterans may produce a solid ST/Reserve I/O LB.
- Meriweather, I never bought into the Miami hype so I wasn't disappointed with what I saw - a rookie. To date Mankins is the only "starter" drafted in the first round, the rest all played significant roles/reps their first year, but developed behind and with veterans, I think that's where Meriweather is now.
- Oldenburg took LG and LT reps in the game and looked like another Tom Ashworth, and that's not a bad thing, they can't all be Logan Mankins.
- Dunlap looked good for a guy who was almost always offscreen, one nice catch working back to Gutierrez; I really wish I could have seen him blocking.

Lowered expectations:
- Lua, perhaps here is where I had unrealistic expectations based on hype, the kid looked like a puppy at a family gathering during the first defensive series of the second half - I don't expect him to get better in this game. All is not lost, but I believe he needs to go to the Practice Squad.
- K.Brown also earns the distracted puppy nod, athletic as all get out, if his talent can be harnessed good things will come - Practice Squad.

I haven't seen enough one way or the other:
- Hilliard looked okay, but I want a closer look - he also only took reps at RT, not a good omen compared to his rookie peers who worked more than one position.
- Anam, a couple goofs on Special Teams in the first game can be written off to training opportunities, I'll need to watch more tape.
- Q.Smith I need to watch tape.
- West I need to watch tape.

First and Second year players I liked:
- Mays needs to improve his technique and strength, but he was in the right spot at the right time.
- L.Smith needs to improve his technique and patience, but he looked like a little Vince (2005 almost ready to take the next step version).
- Williams looked good as a KR, decent with lot's of room for improvement as a Gunner, and decent as a nickelback, I think he makes the team as a KR and ST/Reserve CB project.
- Baugher looked like Josh Miller has competition.
- Britt looked like a solid Reserve Swing Tackle.
- Childress still looks like a still growing Troy Brown clone, BB/SP will find a way to keep him another year.
- Gostkowski deserves 20 lashes with a wet noodle for the KO out of bounds.
- Kight looked like he is almost there to be in-sync with Gutierrez, I'd need to see him with Cassel and Brady, but I think the kid's okay (and unfortunately at the most competitive position).
- Mills blocking looked good, he needs more reps with the QBs for timing.
- O'Callaghan is Kaczur's "back-up" at RT - yes, you read that right.
- The others didn't play or didn't standout during the game, I need to watch more tape.