The really Official Patriots vs Giants Preseason Game Thread

This is why it's difficult to get a true read on the player's performances.

This boston.com report has Josh Kline as an "up," and Jimmy G as a "down" from last night.

Patriots vs. Giants Stock Report: Josh Kline, Aaron Dobson Shine in Preseason Finale - Boston.com

supafly said:

You guys are that confident about Jimmy G as our backup QB all year, I take it? While you may be correct in the end, I highly disagree.

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I want to clarify – I would not cut Ryan Mallett, if I could get something in exchange for him I would roll the dice and go with Jimmy G as the backup.

Well, that was interesting.

No doubt of Garoppolo's potential. He's got athleticism, leadership and a quick release. I like that little Philip Rivers thing he does, so long as he doesn't do it all the time. Whether he's got (or can develop) the ability to read complex defenses, not lock on to a single receiver and make throws that can't be easily intercepted by ball-hawking defenders, we still have to see.

One other thing.

Anyone who wants Cross and Criqui back is deluding themselves. Roche, Fauria and Chatham are getting much, much better every outing and I thought that they were really very good last night -- not just compared to what went before.

They should lose Hart and Perillo -- they look like a bad joke. And someone should tell Fauria to knock off the unfunny meathead banter with "Roachy". Save it for when you hang out with Zolak. As it is, it only draws attention to your lack of professionalism. But he and Chatham can look at what's going on on the field and straight away see something that's worth pointing out about how individuals were (or weren't) doing their jobs. They did that time and again last night. What more can you ask for?

Marqui said:

When has Brady ever missed a game because of a non season ending injury?

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Brady is also older, 37 now, injuries happen more in the NFL when QBs are that age. I know Brady trains hard and says he feels better than he did ten years ago, but it can happen (I hope he doesn't ever get hurt again in his career).

Marqui said:

When has Brady ever missed a game because of a non season ending injury?

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When had Manning missed a whole season before he did a couple of years ago, or Brady for that matter? Or Favre with his extreme game streak before starting to miss some tgames. Look at the Packers last year. That is the situation I want a good backup for. To keep the team in competition for a playoff spot if the QB goes down a couple of games. That can absolutely happen to Brady too. I don't want us to go 0-4 against sucky teams and miss out on the playoff because Brady is gone 4 games.

I'm happy that Belichick seems to agree with me on this. Especially as your QB gets older you should prepare that he can miss a few games every year. To say that it hasn't happened before(to us) and that it will never happen is just naive.

supafly said:

Yep, that's exactly it. While there have been hints of a pattern of keeping 3, we've also seen him gamble like in 2009.

It's up in the air to me.

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I think that BB believe that he can always add an old out of work vet QB to fill in if the backup QB goes south.

BobDigital said:

I think the throw was okay. Not perfect. It could have been half a yard more down field and on the outside as opposed to the inside shoulder. However for a ball 40 yards down the field it was pretty accurate. Even if the CB stays upright Dobson had a better chance at it and still probably makes the catch.

I know you are probably just going overboard to make a point but still I think you can't bash that pass too much.

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Nah, based off that vine, I thought the ball was god awful(the spiral I guess I am more talking about). I am just going by that vine tho. And that ball sure as hell does not look like a spiral at the end. It almost looks end over end.

That's really nick picking tho, and a reaction to just that vine replay of the TD. I thought Garpo looked fine all things considered. I am going to have to watch a clear replay of the TD today.

Like JAG's poise and pocket presence and touch. A bit erratic now & then with into the dirt missed throws. Possibly jitters as a rook.
Until I see examples, my biggest reservation about JAG is does he have a real NFL arm? The guy we have now starting can gun it cross field to the sideline in a flat trajectory. I've seen no such eye popping throws by the rook yet.

I'm not going to read through all 31 pages so if i have repeated anything sorry.

1.) Polo looked like a rookie QB tonight, he had some ups and downs, but he showed he can make some really great throws, I definitely see bright things in this kids future

2.) Dobson looked great with JG throwing him the ball, so passes from Brady should be just as good, if not better. He also took a couple of monster hits along the sideline, so it was good to see him get hit and keep playing.... even if he was coming off a foot injury

3.) the giants D was as good as always, and the backups were even really solid. This new Oline may need a couple of weeks to marinade

4.) Wright looked good, less then a week in the offense, with the current third string qb throwing passes, and he had what 50+ yards on 4+ catches. quick, strong, good hands.

5.) Thompkins looked solid, i think we are set at WR now that dobson is back which means

6.) Bye Bye boyce, gallon, and every other bubble wr

7.)Bye bye rookie running backs,

8.) Our backup bubble defenders were not very great tonight.

9.)So happy this announce team is done for the year, holy crap are they bad at their jobs, 4 people talking over the game, and not directly about the game, I had to mute it.

Boyce is worthless, guy needs to be cut....Dobson looked a little rusty, but you can see the talent there where in a couple weeks he will be going full speed. I thought he had a pretty impressive game. THat should have been a 2nd touchdown as I thought he did get both feet down.

Take aways from last night:

1. Dobson looks healthy. I thought he should have had a second TD. His knee came down inbounds before he hit out of bounds.

2. Tim Wright was impressive considering how recently he became a patriot.

3. A generally healthy game. I don't think Bucanhan's injury is that bad.

4. Boyce sucks.

5. Preseason is over and the real fun is only 9 days away!!!

PatsWickedPissah said:

Like JAG's poise and pocket presence and touch. A bit erratic now & then with into the dirt missed throws. Possibly jitters as a rook.
Until I see examples, my biggest reservation about JAG is does he have a real NFL arm? The guy we have now starting can gun it cross field to the sideline in a flat trajectory. I've seen no such eye popping throws by the rook yet.

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He is a bit inaccurate at times - Dobson's almost TD comes to mind. If that ball is a bit lower it's an easy TD (going off memory haven't seen a replay).

I think his arm is fine. Maybe not top of the league good but he can get enough behind the ball to put it in tight windows 10-20 yards downfield.

woolster22 said:

Something about chasing bad money with bad money comes to mind.

He has looked lackadaisical and utterly lost at times this preseason. Forget the speed on KR, that play is all but dead thanks Herrdell.

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I just watched the game. I don't think Boyce, whom I know is this year's whipping boy, looked as bad as everyone is saying. Did you ever think that maybe it was Jimmy G who was lost and not necessarily Boyce. Jimmy G was constantly late, throwing behind receivers and many times threw to the wrong spot. Just another perspective

Not saying Boyce won't be cut.

On a side note, any info regarding Buchanan?

I was not happy with Boyce last night he just about cut him self from the pats.

Pats-Phan said:

He is a bit inaccurate at times - Dobson's almost TD comes to mind. If that ball is a bit lower it's an easy TD (going off memory haven't seen a replay).

I think his arm is fine. Maybe not top of the league good but he can get enough behind the ball to put it in tight windows 10-20 yards downfield.

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The window on the Lafell touchdown was insanely small.

jmt57 said:

Perhaps, but on the other hand, for every end of the roster guy who eventually becomes a starter (Dan Connolly, Stephen Neal), there are ten guys like Eric Moore or A.J. Edds who are, for good reason, completely forgotten very quickly.

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Ten? How about at least a hundred?

I think the important thing people forget is, we are grooming a division two QB to take over some day (maybe). He looks good, but has gotten away with a lot of mistakes. He didn't have a playbook his last two years in college for pete's sakes. Do we want to risk his development by throwing him into pressure games with no backup, so he can panic, develop bad habits and wash out?

What do we do then? Spend another second, a first, trade our best players desperately looking for a QB that's ready when Tom (an actual mortal who ages) is ready to hand it over?

Garoppollo gets a clipboard. If needed, he shares reps with a more experienced guy so if he has a bad game, he can relax and recoup.

Worrying about the 53rd roster space is like losing a thousand dollars to save a nickel. It's, by definition, a player who is one slot removed from the practice squad and likely no better than what could be found on the waiver wire, if you looked.

Luxusdk said:

On a side note, any info regarding Buchanan?

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All I get from a news search is "ankle"

Big-T said:

QB (2) Brady, Garoppolo
RB (4) Ridley, Vereen, White, Develin
WR (6) Edelman, Amendola, Dobson, LaFell, Thompkins, Slater
TE (3) Gronkowski, Wright, Hoomanawanui
C (2) Stork, Connolly
G (4) Cannon, Halapio, Devey, Kline
T (3) Solder, Vollmer, Fleming
DE (5) Moore, Vellano, Easley, Jones, Worthy
NT (2) Wilfork, Siliga
ILB(4) Hightower, Beauharnais, Mayo, Collins
OLB(5) Jones, Ninkovich, Buchanan, Fleming, Bequette
CB (5) Revis, Dennard, Ryan, Arrington, Butler
SS (3) Harmon, Ebner, Chung
FS (2) McCourty, Wilson
ST (3) Gostkowski, Allen, Aiken

Total players: 53
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Tyms & Browner suspended, obviously.

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So, you have this team going with the 3-4 going forward. With Hightower at ILB, when he's been at OLB the entire time he's been here..

Also, I don't see Bequette making the team over Zach Moore and Chung over Mallett.

DaBruinz said:

So, you have this team going with the 3-4 going forward. With Hightower at ILB, when he's been at OLB the entire time he's been here..

Also, I don't see Bequette making the team over Zach Moore and Chung over Mallett.

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Moore is in that team and Hightower played ILB in a 3-4 in College with the odd snap at OLB.