Ups and downs?

I didn't watch the game, but I gather:

• Passing numbers were horrible when targeting Boyce. (1-8). And the media guys say he wasn't fighting for or holding onto the football.
• Passing numbers were actually very good when targeting anybody else.
• The "starting" OL was horrific.
• Two young pass rushers -- Flowers and Johnson -- each showed well and then got injured.
• Gostowski boomed a FG.
• Logan Ryan had a very mixed night.

What else?

Fencer said:

I didn't watch the game, but I gather:

• Passing numbers were horrible when targeting Boyce. (1-8). And the media guys say he wasn't fighting for or holding onto the football.
• Passing numbers were actually very good when targeting anybody else.
• The "starting" OL was horrific.
• Two young pass rushers -- Flowers and Johnson -- each showed well and then got injured.
• Gostowski boomed a FG.
• Logan Ryan had a very mixed night.

What else?

Click to expand...

Butler looked awesome. Roberts looked good. McClain looked good. Gibson & Harper impressed. Mason impressed. White was impressive in space but awful between the tackles. Gray looked good. Easley and Brown mostly looked good. Sheard impressed. Richards looked good. I thought Harmon looked okay. Morris was okay.

I just like watching pre for more individual performances

I thought pass rush looked p strong - easley + chandler should beast.
it's really hard to evaluate much.
like, you commented about 'starting OL', but how many of those guys will start an actual game, and wouldn't you think that affects the entire offense?

Fencer said:

I didn't watch the game, but I gather:

• Passing numbers were horrible when targeting Boyce. (1-8). And the media guys say he wasn't fighting for or holding onto the football.
• Passing numbers were actually very good when targeting anybody else.
• The "starting" OL was horrific.
• Two young pass rushers -- Flowers and Johnson -- each showed well and then got injured.
• Gostowski boomed a FG.
• Logan Ryan had a very mixed night.

What else?

Click to expand...

1) I thought that Gibson stood out. After a solid camp, I think that he will is our #4 WR at this point.
2) The secondary was really excellent, at least everyone but Ryan.
3) White probably made the 53, unless Cadet comes back very strong.

Man, Boyce is such a disappointment. He just can't catch. I guess he gets open some but he doesn't seem to have this crazy speed that I remember hearing about. Too bad, he was good in college though.

I am very comfortable with Butler as the #1 CB. The guy can cover and he brings a lot of physicality.

patriot1136 said:

Man, Boyce is such a disappointment. He just can't catch. I guess he gets open some but he doesn't seem to have this crazy speed that I remember hearing about. Too bad, he was good in college though.

Click to expand...

As many have said, there's a big difference between straight line shorts and T shirt speed, and real football in pads speed. Sadly it appears Boyce has lots of the former but not enough of the latter.

patriot1136 said:

Man, Boyce is such a disappointment. He just can't catch. I guess he gets open some but he doesn't seem to have this crazy speed that I remember hearing about. Too bad, he was good in college though.

Click to expand...

I was kinda disappointed in the pick, but boyce is probably buried behind 4 or 5 guys right now, so I doubt it's much of a concern.
wouldn't surprise me if he's auditioning for his job in pre.

Malcolm Brown needs a lot of work disengaging from the blockers.

Boyce looks so lazy running his routes. He reacts to the ball so late. This means A)he drops passes constantly and B) the DB is in better position to make a play than him. He has the physical ability to be a good deep threat, so I want to see him improve, but he looks no better than he did in the past. Not a fan. I expect him to be cut.

Gibson is a decent receiver who makes sense to keep around in case of an Amendola or Edelman injury. I can't see him getting cut at this point.

I can't find the predictions thread anymore, but I predicted a big year from Gray. I love his quick delivery. Blount uses his time wisely while he waits for plays to develop while Gray takes off and tries to predict the future. That's two very different backs that will complement each other well.

I don't like White's ability to block for his QB, but he is a very good receiver. No better than Vereen as a runner though. Can't break tackles, but can break ankles.

Garoppolo looks like he has picked up on the offense well, but his body is still a tick behind his mind.

Gibson and Harper looked good. Neither seemed to have blazing speed.

The two backs looked good.

Thought Freeny had some moments. He played a lot. Probably outplayed Morris.

Butler, McClain looked good on secondary. Fletcher and Roberts also played well. Ryan had some bad, some good.

Defensive line played pretty good all around. From Jones on the first play, Sheard, Flowers and Rufus Johnson.

I think Andrews may make the team as a center/guard.

Gostkowski appears ready for the season.

eom said:

I just like watching pre for more individual performances

I thought pass rush looked p strong - easley + chandler should beast.
it's really hard to evaluate much.
like, you commented about 'starting OL', but how many of those guys will start an actual game, and wouldn't you think that affects the entire offense?

Click to expand...

Glad to hear a lot of people think Easley looked good. I think his penetrating style will be 50/50 against the run, but it should lead to a lot of pass rush potential. Easley may not have big sack numbers but a player like him makes Nink, Jones, and Sheard more valuable. He'll chase the QB into the arms of the Defensive Ends.

I've said in another thread that I believe Sheard could very well be the starter opposite Nink this season, but I also think that Jones has the "potential" to be the Patriots single season sack record breaker and maybe even record holder if he finishes his career here. But something always gets in the way of the potential. In 2 of 3 seasons it's been injuries and in his healthy year he posted 11 or 12 sacks.

He can certainly do that every year if healthy.

I'll show you an up and a down...

Fencer said:

I didn't watch the game, but I gather:

• Passing numbers were horrible when targeting Boyce. (1-8). And the media guys say he wasn't fighting for or holding onto the football.
• Passing numbers were actually very good when targeting anybody else.
• The "starting" OL was horrific.
• Two young pass rushers -- Flowers and Johnson -- each showed well and then got injured.
• Gostowski boomed a FG.
• Logan Ryan had a very mixed night.

What else?

Click to expand...

Ben VolinVerified account ‏@BenVolin 38m38 minutes ago
Chris Harper: 7 targets, 7 catches.
Josh Boyce: 11 targets, 2 catches

hope white keeps improving, we need a new 3rd down back.

boyce..stinks.

I have zero confidence in Boyce or Ryan - lots of positives from the pass rush tonite though

Fencer said:

I didn't watch the game, but I gather:

• Passing numbers were horrible when targeting Boyce. (1-8). And the media guys say he wasn't fighting for or holding onto the football.
• Passing numbers were actually very good when targeting anybody else.
• The "starting" OL was horrific.
• Two young pass rushers -- Flowers and Johnson -- each showed well and then got injured.
• Gostowski boomed a FG.
• Logan Ryan had a very mixed night.

What else?

Click to expand...

A few obnoxious Packers fans at the game thought it was the Super Bowl. The Patriots had what -- 23 guys who didn't dress because of injury? Aside from that, not much else.

Here are my impressions

#1 Injuries - I hope Flowers and Roberts are okay. They did not look super serious but both played well tonight and I want to see them not miss time cause i think they can contribute this year if they are healthy.

#2 Butler - Everything we have heard appears to be true. Looks legit. He is the #1 CB no question. Who is opposite him though? I will get back to that later. He really only had 1 completion on him IIRC but made the WR pay for it and probably not want to catch a ball around him again.

#3 OL - Had some protection issues at times but the run blocking was good and at times amazing. Jackson was good in his own right but at times Mason was down right beastly. He needs to improve at pass blocking though

#4 Boyce - Boyce was featured a lot tonight and played himself off the team. A player with tools but can't put it together. Common story in the NFL.

#5 Jimmy - Jimmy stats when throwing to Boyce - 2/9 1 int When throwing to anyone else 18/21. He held on to the ball too long at times and took sacks he should not (he had 7) but some were just jail breaks. Lots too improve here but after his Int he ignored Boyce and was better. He has tons of room to improve but did better as the game went on. If throwing to Gronk/Edelman/Lafell with a good OL blocking for him I think he would do better. Keep in mind Brady did not fare so well tonight either.

#6 Grey - He had the play of the night (well maybe Mason did) on a 55 yard run for a TD. Also looks better. Clearly the #2 if there was any doubt.

#7 The 2nd CB - This is wide open. Ryan had some good and bad plays. Roberts was good but went down and Brown did not play. Fletcher a few plays and McClain had a few too mostly from the slot. It will be interesting to watch. Even though he did not play maybe Brown is in the lead by default though.

#8 DL - Overall very good. Flowers, Jones, Sheard and Brown all popped at times. Easley and Grissom had a few moments too. Should be interesting.

#9 LB - Collins looked very good but no Mayo or Hightower. Backups were meh but okay considering the level they were up against.

#10 DBs - The unit as a whole was impressive. Several times Rodgers held on to the ball for 5+ seconds and had no choice but to run or scramble to extend the play. Coverage sacks happened.

Edit: #11 White - can not run between the tackles. Does not have it in his DNA but made some very nice moves when thrown to in space.

Overall whenever you play GB's starters and in 3 drives hold them to 3 points you really can't ask for a better outcome. The Pats offense was missing almost all the starters and it showed. Nothing to gleam there. Not worried about it.

An encouraging game overall particularly for the defense in a lot of ways. If Flowers/Roberts can practice next week i will be very happy with it.

eom said:

like, you commented about 'starting OL', but how many of those guys will start an actual game, and wouldn't you think that affects the entire offense?

Click to expand...

Not many and a lot.

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/...los_efficiency_adjustments_were_a_bright_spot

Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo recovered from a spotty start during the 22-11 loss to the Packers to have an efficient night.

“Ups and downs, I’ve got a long way to go obviously,” Garoppolo said. “There’s room for improvement.”

Garoppolo completed 20 of 30 passes for 159 yards and one interception, and he was sacked an alarming seven times, including three times on third down. The pick wasn’t his fault, as Josh Boyce didn’t come back hard enough on a sideline route and had the ball taken away by cornerback LaDarius Gunter.

Garoppolo’s best throw of the night was probably his first, which was a 16-yard out route to Boyce on the left sideline, but the connection between the pair quickly simmered. Garoppolo only completed 2 of 9 passes for 19 yards when targeting the TCU product.

The 2014 second-round pick was far better when taking the shorter routes with wideouts Chris Harper (seven catches on seven targets for 48 yards), Brandon Gibson (3 of 3, 19 yards on Garoppolo passes) and Jonathan Krause (3 of 3, 20 yards) and running back James White (4 of 5, 52 yards), Garoppolo actually closed the game by completing 15 consecutive passes for 97 yards to receivers other than Boyce.

Garoppolo was particularly impressive on third down by completing 5 of 6 passes (four conversions) for 38 yards and scrambling once for a 5-yard conversion. However, three of Garoppolo’s seven sacks occurred on third down, as the protection was an issue throughout the night.