Post game - instant reaction .....relatively

Replay on right now on NFLN

JMC00 said:

You don't have one of the best punt returners in the history NFL not returning punts.

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So let him return Punts in big games and playoff games. Not all 16 games, and pre-season.

patfanken said:

14. The biggest negative, I thought were the refs again. Matt Chatham hit it perfectly with his comments on the "hands to the face" penalties. I have no idea how defensive linemen and LB's can play this game without inadvertently getting their hand on the helmet. I can almost live with the ticky tack defensive holding calls, but this hands to the fact rule would absolutely ruin the game, since it could be called EVERY single play. Which means when it IS called, its being called capriciously. In other words, the official has the ability to throw it whenever he feels like it.

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Shortly after Chatham said that the Pats scored and were slapping each other on the helmet.

And it struck me that, when they make a good play, players (from all teams) hit their team mates heads harder than any opposing player is allowed to.* Kinda blows a hole in Goodell's "safety" argument.

* Not that there's anything wrong with that. I don't want to see that be a penalty now too.

Have only see the highlights on NFL.com which don't really tell you anything. Brady and Vereen looked on a level though. Garoppolo's box score looks very nice, can anyone expand on that?

MrNathanDrake said:

So let him return Punts in big games and playoff games. Not all 16 games, and pre-season.

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Not gonna happen. Sorry.

Gumby said:

ST (Punts incl ) is 1/3 of the game. IMO he is hands down the best p return man in the nfl; and you want to take him off the field.....?

If you look at his avg return it is like the offense already getting one first down (7-10yds) in their offensive series; on only one play!

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Yes, but its only a few yards (yes, which is more valuable than it sounds) more than what his average replacement would give you. I think he's too valuable to waste gaining a few dangerous extra yards (just like we wouldn't want him diving for every extra YAC on all plays right?), but i also think the extra injury concern for PRs is bit overblown too. So color me undecided.

Carolina is a highly touted team that we handled well.. our team was ready and our depth showed up, considering the folks on the D and O side that were missing.

As much as I would like to see Edelman not returning punts, that 12 yard average often puts us into good field position... would it be worth a risk to gain less yards and less ball security??

"Coverage Sack" is new to our Patriots Vernacular.. I like it.

Hard not to like Garapolo, for someone coming from a small college, he does not seem to be afraid of the bright lights.. I like his decision making(one mistake though), but overall he seems confident and competent..

In the NFL "war of attrition", much will depend on who remains healthy in January.. the addition of 10 practice squad players makes a lot of sense.. now there needs to be the next step, allow them to dress as some type of emergency player. They are on the payroll, so why should they just be practice fodder???..

I really like this team... as expected, Revis makes everyone on D better and a whole lot less pressure on #12 winning and losing is not completely in his hands.

I thought Roche and Fauria were much better last night, but the cut away to Perillo and Hart is completely unnecessary and idiotic... showing the newly built training and meeting facilities shows Mr. Kraft's commitment to this team.

Gumby said:

ST (Punts incl ) is 1/3 of the game. IMO he is hands down the best p return man in the nfl; and you want to take him off the field.....?

If you look at his avg return it is like the offense already getting one first down (7-10yds) in their offensive series; on only one play!

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Not to mention the bonus touchdown or two that he gets each year.

Archeryaddict12 said:

I can't wait until Dobson and gronk return. There's 2 more playmakers Tom hasn't been able to use yet

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I can't wait until Gronk and Dobson AND Mayo and Hightower return.

Photos - Carolina Panthers - New England Patriots - CharlotteObserver.com

I agree with most of your observations PFK

This was the first game I saw without the DVR and it definitely makes you feel optimistic, but preseason is always just that. Doesn't start counting until week 1.

I pointed this out in the game thread, but got no bites. it seemed (to me) that Edleman held the ball away from his body a couple of times during 2 of his punt returns and one was while in traffic/trying to avoid opposing players. It didn't seem like something that BB would approve of and the ends doesn't usually justify the means. (I realize its overly critical, but just something to keep an eye on).

Garapolo. His release is amazingly quick. Once he starts to bring his arm back, it's lightning fast. Lots to like so far about the kid and it'll be great to see how he develops (and your point about it being a worthwhile pick will hopefully take a few years to determine). Brady didn't seem to look "old" out there.

JMC00 said:

You don't have one of the best punt returners in the history NFL not returning punts.

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Excellent double negative!

RayClay said:

Despite an easy drop, I think more and more thomkins is going to have a huge impact while Dobson tries to catch up. He is always open, has the best cuts and has the Vulcan mind meld going on with Brady, he seems to catch balls in stride, meaning he's making theright choices..
Just get over the nerves on the easy ones and he's going to do damage, I predict.

Great stuff Ken, but didn't you get the memo? Our OLine stinks.

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Thompkins looks good so far. I was in the camp the entire offseason saying that he'll make the final roster while others were predicting he would get cut. Before he got injured, he looked like the best of the rookie WR trio last season. One thing he has to quit doing is relying heavily on his body to haul in the football, though. Other than that, he looks good.

And I was very impressed with Benjamin too. That catch he made on Revis, though well contested, was a pure show of upper body strength for the rookie. Revis is probably the strongest CB in the NFL and is notoriously difficult to get a clean release off of. Benjamin extended his arms within 5 yards of the LOS, pushed Revis back enough, and made a tough grab. Believe me, that's a lot more difficult than he made it look. I wanted the Pats to be all over him if he fell. Looks like Carolina may have a legitimate freak at the position.

BritPat said:

Have only see the highlights on NFL.com which don't really tell you anything. Brady and Vereen looked on a level though. Garoppolo's box score looks very nice, can anyone expand on that?

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He looked good and showed some poise under a pass rush. Kept his eyes downfield to find a receiver instead of scampering out. Delivered some nice, accurate passes and showed a good arm. He did make a bad decision that should have been picked but the LB dropped it.

RelocatedPatFan said:

I pointed this out in the game thread, but got no bites. it seemed (to me) that Edleman held the ball away from his body a couple of times during 2 of his punt returns and one was while in traffic/trying to avoid opposing players. It didn't seem like something that BB would approve of and the ends doesn't usually justify the means. (I realize its overly critical, but just something to keep an eye on).

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There might be special dispensation for the best punt returner in the game, who by necessity has better awareness of his surroundings than most mortals,...
but probably not. There's a flavor of humble pie for everyone this week, and that whirling dervish spazreturn is probably going to be Julian's.

JMC00 said:

Last year his 8 games averaged out to 16 his season would have been something like this

Receiving
94 Receptions
854 Yards
6 TD

Would have been an all-time top ten season by a RB in receiving.

I really want him to get 1050 yards receiving. Would knock marshall faulk out of the #2 spot for most rec. yards in a season by a RB.

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Who is 1?

BritPat said:

Have only see the highlights on NFL.com which don't really tell you anything. Brady and Vereen looked on a level though. Garoppolo's box score looks very nice, can anyone expand on that?

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JAG continued his fine pre-season showing. Played against the future Market Basket team later in the 2nd half. Couple plays under pressure he tried to force a last second throw which coulda been picked but went incomplete. Rookie decision making there. HOWEVER he was extremely poised under rush pressure several times stepping up in the pocket with pressure all around and making excellent throws. The kid is VERY poised. Really fun to watch. Does not look like a rookie out there.

My only concern with JAG is that almost all his throws arc. Has not shown the straight line arm strength throw capability that the premier QBs have. Mallett has it but he's less accurate and lacks the touch placement throws that JAG excels at. Mallett also has not shown me ability to progress thru his reads like JAG has.

As an aside, Will Smith has looked just about done this preseason. He's been blown off the ball multiple times as if he's just standing still. Not surprising, really. He looked done with the Saints before the injury last season. I would be surprised if he makes the opening day roster.

BelichickFan said:

JG was just a low #2, that's not a high price for a QB who looks like he can win for us if necessary.

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Absolutely. As Pats fans we get so used to picking at the end of each round that we sometimes lose perspective: #62 overall is a perfectly reasonable point to draft a backup QB, especially when your starter is 37 years old. (Peyton's backup was picked at #57.) Early returns suggest the Pats got terrific value for the pick.

KontradictioN said:

As an aside, Will Smith has looked just about done this preseason. He's been blown off the ball multiple times as if he's just standing still. Not surprising, really. He looked done with the Saints before the injury last season. I would be surprised if he makes the opening day roster.

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I'm sticking to my early prediction that Zach Moore sticks at DE and Smith doesn't. I wouldn't even gloat to the poster who informed me there wasn't any way that would happen.

In fact, I'll go beyond not gloating and eat some crow: I was firmly against Kelvin Benjamin in the draft, and he really impressed me last night.

pdangle said:

Yes, but its only a few yards (yes, which is more valuable than it sounds) more than what his average replacement would give you. I think he's too valuable to waste gaining a few dangerous extra yards (just like we wouldn't want him diving for every extra YAC on all plays right?), but i also think the extra injury concern for PRs is bit overblown too. So color me undecided.

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It's obvious BB values special teams more than most coaches from having core STers to using stars like Gronk and Jones on the FG unit to having starters return punts. Edelman does it, Welker has done it, and Troy Brown before them as well.

I think we're overlooking the impact of potential big plays. For example, last season there were 36 Patriots punt returns. 4 of them went for 20+ yards. That's roughly 11% "big plays" if you will. This was actually less than 2012, when it was 6 out of 42 for 14%.

Consider the leading rushing team last season, the Eagles, had 19 rushes out of 500 go for 20+ yards, or 4%. Consider the NFL record-setting passing attack of the Broncos had 88 passes out of 675 attempts go for 20+ yards, or 10%.

There are some advanced stats out there that show the significance of big plays in terms of scoring points and winning games which I will look up but I have to run because I am late and my wife is glaring at me for posting about preseason football games instead of running to our appointment. But the point is that the risk is quite well worth the reward when you consider the impact.