Boad Nebulous impressions....

[patfanken]

....because that's all you can make from a game where no one who was even NEAR starting got on the field.

1. Is it just me or did Cassell, Testeverde, AND Guitierrez, ALL play better than Rohan Davie EVER did in a preseason game. Cassell continued to improve on his pocket pressence, Vinnie still has a gun, and Guitierrez DOES NOT look like a QB from a 2-8 Idaho State team.

2. I'm kind of disappointed that I never heard Zak DeOssie's name called, or at least I don't remember him making a play.

3. I can understand the attraction AND frustration with Ryan O'Callahan. On one play he gets turnstyled which led to Cassell taking a big hit, and then on the next play (or close to it) he crushes his guy on a running play, then gets a hit on a second level player. He's a big time player if he ever develops his pass protection skills. Not as good a Kazcur right now, but with a much higher ceiling.

4 Bam belongs on someone's roster. You'd think teams like Atlanta, Minni, and Tenn, would jump at the chance at him. AND Kight looked like he belonged out there as well. What a WR group. We had 3 guys out there that played real well, more guys who will probably make the roster, and 2 more guys on PUP. That's 11 guys, most of whom are better than the WRs we had in 2001. (IIRC we had fewer than 15 catches from WRs not named Brown and Patten)

5. I'm starting to see why the Pats kept Billy Yates on the team these last 2 years.

6. Alexander had a big game and Woods in just his 2nd year in his DL to LB progression, showed he too is improving. The Pats were excellent at the point of attack all night. What few good runs the Giants had were when the RB bounced off of the point of attack, or was hit and not brought down.

7 Brandon Merriweather brings a level of speed to the safety position we haven't seen from NE safeties since....well forever. He isn't always running to the right places just yet, but where ever he is going, he is getting there FAST

8. I thought Wesley and James covered well at the corners. Still you can see the difference in between them and the top level CBs. Its not while they are running with the receivers. Every guy at THAT level can turn and run with WRs. The difference is when the ball is just reaching the receiver. Its at THAT point that separates the elite from the also rans. (I know because at one time WAS that also ran). The great ones have the body control, vision, and timing that allows them to compete for the ball with the great athletes that are most WRs. The JAGs, are THERE to make a play, but somehow CAN'T get their bodies into postion to make a play on the ball, can't run and get vision on the ball, or can't time their leaps to match the WR. I know becaue that was why I didn't make the team. too many tackles and not enough passes defended.

9. I thought it was very telling that Kelly Washington DID NOT play, even on special teams. If the Pats were going to cut or showcase him for a trade, he would have played a lot. Kelly Washington has MADE this team....along with Moss, Stallworth, Welker, Gaffney, and Caldwell. Gentlemen, welcome to the world of 2 QBs and 6 WRs. Vinny gets to sit by the phone and Gutierrez get to be the PS QB

10. One of the reasons I felt so good about the JV defense was that, for the most part, especially on the Giants first drive, they played them straight up and was very vanilla. Later in the game they came with a couple of blitz packages.

11. Now its finally for real, and we can talk about an opponent that MATTERS. Initially I thought the Jets were going to be a strong threat in the AFCE. However early on I felt they had a serious depth problem on the OL, and with the trade of Kendall, that has just gotten worse. The DL isn't a lot better.

Away from the ball the Jets have a lot of good players especially at WR and the defensive backfield. In fact I have BOTH Cotcherry and Coles as WRs on my FF team. along with Kerry Rhodes. They weren't my first choices, but since I drafted at the bottom of my league and picked RB/RB/QB in the first 3 rounds, I'm not unhappy with them. They are both good players

BOTTOM LINE - Its pretty simple. The Pats will beat up the Jets at the LOS on BOTH sides of the ball...and that's why they will win the game.

 

[DarrylS]

File under Broad obvious impressions, Brandon Meriweather is going to be a very good NFL player, comes as advertised... speed, great ball savvy and a big hitter..

BTW nice analysis.. agree completely with Cassel, Testaverde and Guitterez.. Rohan Davey never even looked like an NFL QB.. maybe it was those tiny shoulderpads.

 

[italian pat patriot]

very interesting, thanks

 

[Water Boy]

....
I'm kind of disappointed that I never heard Zak DeOssie's name called, or at least I don't remember him making a play.

He helped break up a pass to Rivers down the middle of the field

 

[Tippett56]

The difference is when the ball is just reaching the receiver. Its at THAT point that separates the elite from the also rans. (I know because at one time WAS that also ran).

Great post as always PFK, does the above hint at previous cornerback experience?

 

[patchick]

File under Broad obvious impressions, Brandon Meriweather is going to be a very good NFL player, comes as advertised... speed, great ball savvy and a big hitter..

I might add in:

Brandon Meriweather is a safety.

 

[jczxohn1]

He helped break up a pass to Rivers down the middle of the field

Was also their long-snapper. Was on the field (ILB) and had a couple of other tackles in the 2nd half.

 

[BTTA]

...
8. The great ones have the body control, vision, and timing that allows them to compete for the ball with the great athletes that are most WRs. The JAGs, are THERE to make a play, but somehow CAN'T get their bodies into postion to make a play on the ball, can't run and get vision on the ball, or can't time their leaps to match the WR.

To build on this - the great ones are also good enough at anticipating where a receiver is going that they can also get in position to make a break on a ball once in a while. The run of the mill CB's have to put all of the effort and concentration just to stay in position.

 

[Fixit]

My single biggest impression is that the Giants are a horribly undisciplined team.

 

[PonyExpress]

"Boad Nebulous" sounds like a character from one of those horrible Star Wars prequels, doesn't it?

 

[PonyExpress]

File under Broad obvious impressions, Brandon Meriweather is going to be a very good NFL player, comes as advertised... speed, great ball savvy and a big hitter..

BTW nice analysis.. agree completely with Cassel, Testaverde and Guitterez.. Rohan Davey never even looked like an NFL QB.. maybe it was those tiny shoulderpads.

Not sure I can agree with you on Meriweather just yet. My impression is that he is smart, plays within the scheme, and doesn't try to do too much, which points toward Brandon becoming a solid, dependable FS. I haven't really seen the great speed, ball savvy or big hits yet that would lead me to believe he will become a "great" player. It wouldn't be the first time I missed something right in front of my eyes.

 

[smg93]

Always enjoy your posts patfanken. Thanks a lot for the analysis.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

He helped break up a pass to Rivers down the middle of the field

That, and he broke up a certain Giants interception by colliding with his teammate.

 

[dhamz]

9. I thought it was very telling that Kelly Washington DID NOT play, even on special teams. If the Pats were going to cut or showcase him for a trade, he would have played a lot. Kelly Washington has MADE this team....along with Moss, Stallworth, Welker, Gaffney, and Caldwell.

Perhaps.

Or perhaps with a trade getting close on Washington he was sat to eliminate any chance or injury or a poor game hurting his value.

Or perhaps they've decided to cut him and wanted to see younger guys they might keep on the PS or bring back later in the year in game action.

In other words, we really don't know what Washington not playing meant.

 

[psychoPat]

Perhaps.

Or perhaps with a trade getting close on Washington he was sat to eliminate any chance or injury or a poor game hurting his value.

Or perhaps they've decided to cut him and wanted to see younger guys they might keep on the PS or bring back later in the year in game action.

In other words, we really don't know what Washington not playing meant.

True ... we don't KNOW.
But my money is on PFK's interpretation.
If not, it would make Washington the only one of 34 or so DidNotPlays
who would not make the big team.

 

[Mainefan]

Any ideas on how we can keep Bam Childress? Good things happen every time this kid gets his hands on the ball.

 

[patfanken]

The difference is when the ball is just reaching the receiver. Its at THAT point that separates the elite from the also rans. (I know because at one time WAS that also ran).

Great post as always PFK, does the above hint at previous cornerback experience?

No, Tip, I had one camp where I went from an undersized fast OLB (205) to a big SS with questionable speed....all in one day. I spent most of my time covering TEs and providing run support (I was good a that). I actually felt I had enough speed to do the job, but my athleticism (read body control) was a notch under what was the norm, even back then. I wasn't that far off, but on the other hand, they didn't make a mistake letting me go

 

[sieglo]

A couple comments:

- I was driving through NY listening to the game on Giants radio broadcast. DeOssie's name was called pretty frequently, so he was in on a lot of plays.
- Even the Giant's announcers remarked at how odd it was the Giants were so ndisciplined (with all the penalties) given Coughlin's reputation.
- Kelvin Kight > Bam Childress. Wish people would recognize that around here. There's a reason Kight played in the regular season last year. Bam Childress is more CJ Jones than guy-who-makes-the-53.

 

[Oswlek]

A couple comments:

- I was driving through NY listening to the game on Giants radio broadcast. DeOssie's name was called pretty frequently, so he was in on a lot of plays.
- Even the Giant's announcers remarked at how odd it was the Giants were so ndisciplined (with all the penalties) given Coughlin's reputation.
- Kelvin Kight > Bam Childress. Wish people would recognize that around here. There's a reason Kight played in the regular season last year. Bam Childress is more CJ Jones than guy-who-makes-the-53.

Yes, and that reason was special teams, not because he is a better WR. There is a reason why NE is trying Bam in a lot of different areas. They are trying to figure out if he can play any other roles, because he is just too small to be a factor in kick coverage. A #5 WR has to be able to help somewhere else because they just don't see the field enough to base it solely on their pass catching abilities. That said, there are plenty of teams that Bam would be enough of an upgrade over their #4 guy that he would be worth a pickup, IMHO.

 

[sieglo]

Yes, and that reason was special teams, not because he is a better WR. There is a reason why NE is trying Bam in a lot of different areas. They are trying to figure out if he can play any other roles, because he is just too small to be a factor in kick coverage. A #5 WR has to be able to help somewhere else because they just don't see the field enough to base it solely on their pass catching abilities. That said, there are plenty of teams that Bam would be enough of an upgrade over their #4 guy that he would be worth a pickup, IMHO.

Wait, doesn't Bam return punts? Seems like that is a pretty important special teams role.