Immediate Game Thoughts - Rumors of Brady's Death are Exaggerated Edition

[Rob0729]

Ok, it is still a meaningless preseason game and much that is observed may mean nothing in the regular season:

• I think we saw tonight why Amendola has a chance to stay healthy all year. Brady just makes passes that protect his receivers. Unlike other, lesser QBs, he throws passes that are exactly where only his receiver can catch it in stride without leaving them exposed while catching it. I think Amendola may have been confused when he was not hit immediately after catching balls tonight. Welker got his big hits, but rarely while catching the ball. Usually, he could protect himself. I wonder if Amendola didn't have that luxury while in St. Louis.
  
  
• While on Amendola, the guy looks like a younger, faster Welker right now. If he can stay healthy, he has the potential to be better than Welker. May never get close to Welker, but assuming he stays healthy people I think people not miss Welker here.
  
  
• Chandler Jones has stud potential. He owned his blocker tonight. He was this close to about three sacks tonight. He works on his technique a bit more and he could be an elite pass rusher.
  
  
• I like the pass rush up the middle. I think an up the middle pass rush is more important than an edge rush. Belichick has been trying to get a true pass rusher up the middle and he might have found one in Tommy Kelly.
  
  
• On the up the middle pass rush, we saw some great from Spikes and some awful from Spikes while blitzing. He got some great pressure up the middle (credited with two sacks), but also let the RB run right by him on one play because he was so concerned about going after Freeman that he didn't realize that Freeman handed off the ball.
  
  
• The kick off coverage is atrocious. As of right now, it is the weakest part of the team. It was bad last year. They need to fix that quick.
  
  
• I like that Mallett is finally showing some significant signs of improvement. He is still really a throwback QB from the 1990s (a deep throwing, seven step drop, pure pocket passer) which is a bit obsolete today. But at least I have some confidence that he can come in and fill in Brady short term if necessary.
  
  
• Disappointed that Brady didn't spread the ball around more. These young WRs need some real receptions in game conditions.
  
  
• I think all the RBs did fairly well tonight except for Bolden. I think he is going to be the odd man out. EDIT: I posted this before he had a 25 yard run against the scrubs.
  
  
• I have nothing against Tebow, but he just isn't a QB. Unless the Pats use him at H-Back or TE, I don't see a reason to use a roster spot on him. From a character standpoint, I wish the Pats had 53 Tebows. From a football standpoint, I don't want them to have one.

I know the game isn't officially over, but it has been over for a long while.

 

[Rob0729]

Forgot one. The competition between Mesko and Allen is over. No way Allen beats out Mesko. Hopefully, the Pats can get something like a seventh for Allen.

 

[Christian]

Like everything you said. I am most happy we came out of the game unscathed injury wise. That is KEY in the pre-season.

Also wish Brady would've spread the ball around more. Amendola is going to become his Welker, aka GO TO GUY. Can be a good thing, but can also be negative at times. Really want to see Boyce break out a bit, but I don't think he's going to be that kind of player for us...yet.

 

[Marqui]

Preseason games aren't meaningless, you just have to know what you can and can't take from them.

 

[Rob0729]

Preseason games aren't meaningless, you just have to know what you can and can't take from them.

I should have clarified. It is meaningless to what we can tell for what will happen in the regular season. It is incredibly important for the coaching staff to evaluate individual players and players winning jobs, learning their positions, getting acclimated, etc.

 

[Whitt25]

I think Brady will spread the ball more. He did it in the Eagles game (though I think he focused on Thompkins the most.), and only threw to Amendola once, I think. This time, he passed to Amendola much more, but it was probably just to give Amendola some reps as well.

 

[Rob0729]

I think Brady will spread the ball more. He did it in the Eagles game (though I think he focused on Thompkins the most.), and only threw to Amendola once, I think. This time, he passed to Amendola much more, but it was probably just to give Amendola some reps as well.

I have no doubt that he will, but this is a perfect opportunity for the rookies to get some passes in real game situations without any negative ramifications for screwing up. I wouldn't care in a real game this year if Amendola has a game where he has 14 catches for 150 yards and 2 TDs. That is my only point.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Interesting to see if Thompkins wins out the #2 or #1 WR over Dobson. We all know Amendola is Bradys go to guy

 

[Rob0729]

Interesting to see if Thompkins wins out the #2 or #1 WR over Dobson. We all know Amendola is Bradys go to guy

Thompkins may have the edge with his versatility. Dobson can't do as many things or line up in as many places as Thompkins. That would make Thompkins more useful in a two WR set and allow Dobson come in on 3 WR sets.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Thompkins may have the edge with his versatility. Dobson can't do as many things or line up in as many places as Thompkins. That would make Thompkins more useful in a two WR set and allow Dobson come in on 3 WR sets.

Danny in on 1 WR sets i am assuming. Boyce is 4th/5th on the depth. Edelman went backwards wayyy too much tonight

 

[Rob0729]

Danny in on 1 WR sets i am assuming. Boyce is 4th/5th on the depth. Edelman went backwards wayyy too much tonight

I was going to mention that it looks like Edelman might be a little gun shy about the contact. I wonder if he is afraid to take a hit now. It will be interesting to watch in the next few weeks.

 

[BadMoFo]

Forgot one. The competition between Mesko and Allen is over. No way Allen beats out Mesko. Hopefully, the Pats can get something like a seventh for Allen.

Because teams will be giving up a draft pick for a player we will surely cut.

 

[Marqui]

Interesting to see if Thompkins wins out the #2 or #1 WR over Dobson.

I don't think it really matters, they'll both get plenty of snaps.

 

[Rob0729]

Because teams will be giving up a draft pick for a player we will surely cut.

If they are in need of a punter and they are low on the waiver list they might. Say the 49ers desperately need a punter, there is little chance Allen will pass through waivers and since they are second to last on the waiver selection they would have no shot at him. They might trade a seventh to get him.

Most trades around this time of year are players who are definitely going to get cut, but teams who are low on the waiver order have a need for that player. Better to give up a seventh than have several teams put in a waiver claim in for him and lose out.

 

[Gwedd]

Well,

From where I'm watching, Tebow is doing fine. It's pre-season, and it's pretty damned hard to be successful when you're having to play with the 3rd string most of the night.

He'll be on the 53, and we'll be a better team for having him there.

 

[Rob0729]

Well,

From where I'm watching, Tebow is doing fine. It's pre-season, and it's pretty damned hard to be successful when you're having to play with the 3rd string most of the night.

He'll be on the 53, and we'll be a better team for having him there.

I don't know. Dobson, Thompkins, and Sudfield were out there for a lot of the plays Tebow was in. Those guys are going to get a lot of reps in the regular season with one or two starting.

The guy was 1 for 7 for -1 yards and an INT. The deep pass to Dobson in the end zone was woefully under thrown. He threw another quick out pass about three yards on the ground in front of the receiver.

Tebow is awful as a passer. If you don't respect his passing skills at least a little, I don't know how he could be effective for this team.

 

[Fencer]

If they are in need of a punter and they are low on the waiver list they might. Say the 49ers desperately need a punter, there is little chance Allen will pass through waivers and since they are second to last on the waiver selection they would have no shot at him. They might trade a seventh to get him.

Most trades around this time of year are players who are definitely going to get cut, but teams who are low on the waiver order have a need for that player. Better to give up a seventh than have several teams put in a waiver claim in for him and lose out.

Are there really several teams that would upgrade at punter by landing Allen? If so, why didn't he sign w/ them as a UDFA instead of the Pats?

 

[Fencer]

I'm confounded by McDaniels' annual experiment with RB/FB and 2 RB sets.

 

[Rob0729]

Are there really several teams that would upgrade at punter by landing Allen? If so, why didn't he sign w/ them as a UDFA instead of the Pats?

Why didn't people sign Sudfeld or Thompkins? Undrafted free agents are not drafted for a reason.

Allen might not show enough to make him attractive enough to trade for him, but many UDFAs aren't drafted because people don't think enough about them and then they exceed expectations in the preseason.

I don't know if anyone would trade for Allen. I think it isn't great odds at this point. But there is hope someone would.

 

[Bruins29]

[*]I have nothing against Tebow, but he just isn't a QB. Unless the Pats use him at H-Back or TE, I don't see a reason to use a roster spot on him.

When did this "Tebow could try TE" start and who started it?