1st offensive series: Patsox23, here's my first take on Cassel & Chad.
KR: Lamont Jordan is Slater's lead blocker and fails to hold his block. His man brings down Slater at the 18 for a 20 yd return.
1st and 10: Pats balanced 2 wide, offset I left, TE left. Ravens have the SLB on the line over the TE. Run. Evans led across the formation behind RT, Yates was beaten inside forcing Maroney left for 1 yd. If he had been able to follow Evans he looked to have more running room - though Britt left the DE for Evans and went upfield as if the play was designed to go left...
2nd and 9: Shotgun, 3 wide, 2 right, TE right, RB offset right. Ravens 3-4 press coverage. Corner Blitz left side did not get picked up, but was too late for the quick throw so Kaczur may have just left him to watch inside rushers. Decent blocking. 3 step drop, Cassel made the right read, he picked Chad to be open on a go and led him with nice touch - Chad was tripped up when the CB stepped on his heel. Incomplete. Maroney had a nice block - the Ravens sent 6.
3rd and 9: Shotgun, 3 wide, 2 right, TE left, Faulk offset right. Ravens 3-4 playing off on the right, and press left. Bubble screen to Chad Jackson - last season Chad telegraphed his screens, I don't know that he did that this time, but the LB on that side either read Cassel or Jackson quickly...if Cassel had better rapport with Chad the play still might have gone, but Cassel's throw was too slow/soft allowing the LB to get there with the ball. I think lack of time together had more to do with this incompletion, I do think Cassel could have set and thrown quicker, but it appeared as if he wasn't sure of Chad and took an extra fraction of a second to set up and throw while checking where Chad was - it wasn't the snap, bam, completion of Brady to Welker or Moss. More practice needed, not a major break down. Gaffney had a nice block upfield.
4th and 9: Punt. Both gunners had good releases and coverage, Slater just outran L. Sanders to force the fair catch. Nice high, deep kick by Hanson.
- Cassel didn't move the team on that series, but other than an apparent lack of rapport with Chad Jackson, looked okay.
- Chad Jackson didn't look bad, he was tripped on the first play, he and Cassel need to get on the same page, but that's more practice together.
- There was one clear breakdown on the O-line, they did okay otherwise.
- For a preseason opening drive, there were positives to build on - score it okay.