Our First String Offense AND Our First String Defense Looked Awful

Rob0729 · Aug 23, 2015

I actually didn't watch much of the game last night. Like Ken, I become less interested in the preseason every year. It really tells us nothing. I will point to two examples why.

As pointed out, in the second game of the 2004 preseason, the Patriots starting defense played so bad that Belichick forced them to play well into the third quarter and they still got beat badly by the Bengals back ups. The Pats went 14-2 and won the Super Bowl that season and that defense was one of the best of the Belichick era.

In 2008, Matt Cassel was monumentally bad in the preseason. I mean an absolute train wreck. Not only did people want him cut from the team, but people thought he was done in the league. People complained when the Pats didn't cut him. Then Brady went down in the first quarter of the first game and Cassel played pretty well as the Patriots' starter getting the Patriots to 11-5 and the first pick in the second round in compensation in trade.

Triumph · Aug 23, 2015

My biggest concern is pass defense.

Honestly, how did the CBs look?

manxman2601 · Aug 23, 2015

Triumph said:
My biggest concern is pass defense.

Honestly, how did the CBs look?

Not great in coverage but excellent against the run.Butler wasn't thrown at, McCourty was beaten a couple of times as was Logan Ryan. Didn't see much of Tarrell Brown or McClain and Bradley Fletcher had a couple of good moments, albeit on screen type plays rather than having to turn and run. To be frank, after Brees left, the Saints' QBs didn't offer much of a test.

Triumph · Aug 23, 2015

manxman2601 said:
Not great in coverage but excellent against the run.Butler wasn't thrown at, McCourty was beaten a couple of times as was Logan Ryan. Didn't see much of Tarrell Brown or McClain and Bradley Fletcher had a couple of good moments, albeit on screen type plays rather than having to turn and run. To be frank, after Brees left, the Saints' QBs didn't offer much of a test.

Thanks

Just watched the Brees bomb for a TD.

WinstonSmith · Aug 23, 2015

BradyFTW! said:
Seems like a stretch to call the offense first string when Vollmer, Stork, Edelman, LaFell and Gronk are all on the sidelines. It was was a mix of first stringers and backups, not surprised that the chemistry was lacking. Not to take anything away from the Saints' D, which played well despite sitting its starting secondary. But drawing any conclusions off of this seems like a significant overreaction.

D didn't really bother me either. They were trying out some weird **** in the secondary, and playing the most vanilla D I've ever seen against one of the best QBs in league history. Brees exploited the middle of the field, which comes as no shock when Harmon and Chung are the safeties.

Preseason is a glorified practice. Saying they're not ready for prime time based on that is a mistake, IMO. Go back to any year where they turned out fine, and you'll see an inconsistent at best preseason. Belichick uses these games to try stuff out and avoid tipping his hand for when the games matter.

Evan Mathis also didn't play...

stcjones · Aug 23, 2015

If I had written this thread it would already be in THE PARKING LOT.....or pergatory....or wherever they go....somehow this irrational knee jerk is still here.....hmmmmmmm

JMC00 said:
Was this thread necessary? Could have just posted in the game thread.

manxman2601 · Aug 23, 2015

A concerning but perceptive indictment from Rich Hill:

Quick summation of rookie interior OL: Shaq lacks anchor, Andrews lacks strength, Jackson lacks agility. All can be improved. All exploited.

A man named Brady · Aug 23, 2015

If our defense this season is simply middle of the pack(12-15) I consider that a win.

TomPatriot · Aug 23, 2015

In preseason week 2 last year, the defense gave up 35 points and Brady threw a pick six.

All in all, I'm thinking last season might have turned out ok.

Ivan · Aug 23, 2015

I don't think this thread is an overreaction at all, last year the Skins crushed them in the pre season and went on to glory while the Patriots season ended in KC.

manxman2601 · Aug 23, 2015

To be fair to @mgteich , the premise of the headline is largely correct. We DID look awful in the 1st Q last night. I just disagree on the longer-term implications of one quarter of pre-season football.

Triumph · Aug 23, 2015

stcjones said:
If I had written this thread it would already be in THE PARKING LOT.....or pergatory....or wherever they go....somehow this irrational knee jerk is still here.....hmmmmmmm

On the reverse side, sone are fine with the Pats D heading into the season with a skeleton crew at DB.

Kinda like Jets fans who still believe Geno will lead them to the super bowl.

sb1 · Aug 23, 2015

For me the most interesting game of preseason is always game 3. Your starters will probably get a lot of reps and the experimentations usually end there so that's usually a decent measuring stick to see where your team really is at going into the season against good NFL competition.

Other than JG and a couple other guys last night was not really encouraging but I'll reserve judgement till the next one when we are a bit healthier.

Danger Zone · Aug 23, 2015

Triumph said:
On the reverse side, sone are fine with the Pats D heading into the season with a skeleton crew at DB.

Kinda like Jets fans who still believe Geno will lead them to the super bowl.

How about less "some of are fine with the Pats D" and more "some of us know Belichick will make the necessary changes because he's earned our trust"

Concussion Protocol · Aug 23, 2015

My only major concern coming into this season was losing Revis. Now that I'm convinced Butler is the real deal, this preseason is a smashing success. Get healthy and bring on the regular season.

borg · Aug 23, 2015

I am far more excited to begin reading 90+ pages of Deflategate testimony than I am to fire up my DVR and watch a preseason Patriots game full of scrubs living a 6 week dream. I gave up attending spring training baseball years ago and my official NFL off season is fully under way : First Monday after NFL draft to 5 minutes before Week 1. (I have a non binding agreement with PatsFans and the NY Justice system that allows off season participation)

PatsWSB47 · Aug 23, 2015

It's a well known fact that the outcome of a football team's season is evident by the end of the first half of the second preseason game.

patman52 · Aug 23, 2015

It is certainly up for debate on whether there was/is any cause for concern, I certainly wished they looked better.

It appeared to me that the saints DBs were very physical the first quarter until the refs started throwing flags. The pats oline got zero push in the run game.

Mike the Brit · Aug 23, 2015

manxman2601 said:
The OL and secondary were very poor against their 1 s, of that there is not doubt. But I'm reminded of the PS game against the Lions and the regular season game against the Chiefs. BB has a knack of minimising the problems and so I don't think it's time to worry yet. We were missing Stork and Vollmer on the OL, Solder was on his first game back and we have two rookies still learning. And on secondary we were experimenting with McCourty and Harmon.

If we're still struggling in late October, then I'll worry. August, not so much.

OK, thanks for settling the thread. A question: how much do you think that each was a matter of lack of individual talent and how much a lack of cohesion and the ability to read and react?

In positive news, Garoppolo seemed better than Cassel, Hoyer or Mallett ever were in pre-season, and Lewis and Harper looked like players.

Mike the Brit · Aug 23, 2015

Kdo5 said:
I always thought Blount is overrated. I always believed Ridley was better. So yeah I'm not surprised there.

Tom is fine and anyone who says the contrary can shut the hell up unless he flails for countless regular season games.

I too miss the Riddler. But Lewis seems to me to be able to do everything Vereen could.

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