PostGame Thread Official Pats-Packers Preseason Game Reaction Thread

[Rob0729]

I thought Zappe looked awful, just holding the ball way too long, indecisive in the pocket, happy feet, just a far cry from the see it, throw it player he was when getting playing time last year, which may have a lot to do with an opened up playbook and more responsibilities in terms of progressions, setting protections and calling plays.

Didn't think Mac was impressive either, I'm honestly a bit stunned at the positive reception to his performance. Not that he was bad, he was okay, but he missed Henry down the seam, he missed Parker deep and missed him on the called PI in the end zone that set up the TD (awful placement on the fade) and I'm sorry, if they are going to go five wide a ton and put him in shotgun with a lot of leeway in terms of changing the play and making adjustments at the line, he'll have to be his best pass protector. It's just the reality of playing that sort of game, guys will rush free and it'll take one loss by the OL for the pass rush to be on you. Or he'll have to make a ton of big plays to make up for sacks if he's willing to hold the ball, as Burrow does in a similar type of offense, at least formationally. It's why I thought the ball to Douglas in space was his best play. Recognize where they vacated to rush, get the ball there quickly, first down.

I blame Parker for the deep pass. Looked like Jones threw a perfect ball, but Parker slowed up his route and alligator armed the catch. I don't blame Jones at all.

And he did have a great throw to Bourne under pressure here:

 

[Patsgofor4]

Amazing how far we've fallen.
I used to love watching preseason to see all the backups potential, and which 4 or 5 pieces might be helpful in the coming seasons.
Now, we're looking for ANYTHING to be hopeful about for our starting lineup, just to try to be competitive THIS season.
In my objective view (when I override my heart) we're not going to be very good. Another mediocre season, scraping along, no playoffs.

Cool. If you feel like that then you should probably stop watching, and posting here.

 

[Rob0729]

Mac's overthrows to Parker and a wide open Henry were disappointing..

Mac didn't overthrow Parker. That was on Parker. Parker should have caught that one. He let up on his route and didn't lay himself out there to try to catch it. He might have lost track of the football.

The Henry mishap depends if there was a single high safety or a double high safety. If it was single high, it is on Mac. If it was double high, Henry ran the wrong route. One of them read the defense wrong presnap. I don't know if it was Jones or Henry.

 

[JMC00]

I do not see QB1 locked in at all.

Who started and was out after 1 quarter? Who played the rest of the game?

QB1 is locked if you don't see that then you are clueless

 

[Brotherblues]

Somewhat off-topic, I wonder if changing "Twitter" to "X" was so that he could report everybody clicked through to the site (when they try to X out of embedded tweets, or Xs, or whatever you call them now.)

I'd say it's more than somewhat off-topic from my booty shake joke you quoted.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I like the idea of Sow being adequate/functional at RT, with Reiff as the backup at both Tackle spots and RG.

Hopefully Sow's "anti-bull rush" technique improves. Strange struggled with bull rushes last year (his first year) too.

 

[JMC00]

 

[PWRxWLF]

“I’m an atheist, but I’ll be praying” that makes no sense. A little off topic, but you can’t have both.

Sure you can. Perhaps poor choice of words but I took it as him saying that he would be thinking about him and sending him positive vibes, well wishes etc..

 

[RobertWeathers]

I remember early Kevin "What The" Faulk staring at the ball he'd fumbled when (was it GB?) recovered the ball. He went on to have a Great career.
That said, Steub is Dead To Me.

Yep! Patrick Pass fumbled and the only guy who went after the ball was Stephen Neal. It was vs GB in 02. We got killed

 

[UGAPatsfan]

“I’m an atheist, but I’ll be praying” that makes no sense. A little off topic, but you can’t have both.

No such thing as an honest atheist.

When it hits the fan, humans innately know there is something bigger than themselves to seek help from.

Spoken as a reformed atheist

 

[Triumph]

Who started and was out after 1 quarter? Who played the rest of the game?

QB1 is locked if you don't see that then you are clueless

Its not locked in at all.

Zappe needs to stay ready.

 

[UGAPatsfan]

Thoughts:

Bolden seemed to get plain old Knocked cold…concussion will need to be managed safely and conservatively but should be ok.

Though…vicious ones can really change the brain. See: Antonio Brown, who was never the same after that Burfict Murdering.

O-line…woof. I mean, it’s that bad.

Need a RT who is not currently on the roster.

Interior should be fine once they get healthy and Brown is serviceable at LT.

WR separation + poor OL = rough sledding.

Defense…D line could be a problem, FS doesn’t seem settled but it’s early.

Feeling 4-7 wins may be the ceiling barring unexpected OL improvement.

 

[UGAPatsfan]

RE Zappe batted balls.

Odd thing is he isn’t much different in size to Brees who I don’t recall having that many.

Mayne release point?

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Its not locked in at all.

Zappe needs to stay ready.

You are like a bulldog. Never let go. Never admit a mistake. You are completely wrong but still say we need to ready for the change. Lol

 

[FCB02062]

nothing from the starting offense was encouraging as a whole. there a few good throws and catches, but they only scored 7 bc they got the ball inside the 25. same thing as last year. the offense had a very hard time putting together sustained td drives. that won't cut it in 2023.
if things don't improve we're in for another disappointing, middling season. it just feels like this team is stuck in some sort of netherworld of no top notch talent on offense, a bunch of "ok" guys on defense, and a coach who's lost his fastball.

 

[Horace's Ivories]

Mac didn't overthrow Parker. That was on Parker. Parker should have caught that one. He let up on his route and didn't lay himself out there to try to catch it. He might have lost track of the football.

The Henry mishap depends if there was a single high safety or a double high safety. If it was single high, it is on Mac. If it was double high, Henry ran the wrong route. One of them read the defense wrong presnap. I don't know if it was Jones or Henry.

I was thinking about the Parker overthrow in the endzone

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I was thinking about the Parker overthrow in the endzone

Yes that ball was poor. I agree.

 

[PWRxWLF]

Thoughts on the game after catching the replay this morning.

The offense looked more serviceable. Though there are a ton of similarities between Billy O and McD’s Pats offense, there’s a lot different for these guys too. They looked to be grasping what they were supposed to be doing but still not quite there. This offense should be hitting it’s stride come October if all goes well. Excited to see KB getting back into the mix of things. Mac looked more confident, had good pocket movement, good zip on some of the throws and stood tall in the face of pressure. I appreciated that. The OL performed much better but still has a way to go. Big Trent with that false start and getting away with another needs to stop real quick. Then again, dude has hardly played any ball this offseason. Overall vibe from me was poor recognition and lack of aggression by the OL throughout the whole game. This should get better over time, I hope. Douglas and Boutte look like they belong. Let’s hope their development continues. Rd. 2 of Branch & Givens would be a very welcome surprise. What is the plan at TE? I thought both Firkser and Sokol has some positive moments. Not sure what to say about Zappe. Seems like a boom or bust prospect at the moment. He appears to be thinking a lot more. Poor pocket movement, holding onto the ball too long…then he makes these great throws with the side arm delivery. His height is definitely an issue that I’m hoping he can overcome. Disappointed to not see Cunningham at QB but I get it. Maybe we’ll get a healthy dose next week?

Defense was surprisingly underwhelming in the interior of the trenches. Guy and Godchaux got pushed around quite a bit and the LB’s on quite a few occasions got caught up in the trash or took poor angles. I found the edge setting all game to be a big letdown regardless of who was in there. Bledsoe (as much as I want to see him succeed) just lacks instincts. He gets where he needs to get but his reaction time seems a bit slow. Where the hell did this Mills come from? Dude has been flying all over the field the last few games. Sure hope he stays healthy. Big surprise for me! Roberts had a really tough game and looks bound for the PS. Jack Jones is something else. Really hope he rebounds from all of the offseason drama and keeps his head on straight. I thought Gonzales played really well. His tackling really improved from the previous week and he got put into some tough zone responsibilities. That DPI that negated the tipped INT was dogshit, then again many of the PI calls on the night were dogshit against both squads. Bryant had a decent game as painful as it is for me to admit it. Wade looks like he has no business at CB. Gonna be interesting to see shat the Defensive Backfield looks like when we finally get to see the two other Jones’s out there. Anyone know what’s up with Jonathan Jones?

ST’s penalties and play has been concerning but my goodness can Baringer put some serious hang on that ball!

Overall, this is what you’d expect from a developing/young squad playing preseason football. Some mistakes, some positives. Things cleaned up from previous weeks. All in all, a solid ball club. I used the word hope a lot in my long ass ramble, but that’s where I’m at in regards to my feelings about the team. A lot of unknowns and just hoping for the best. These young guys have a chance to be the future. Let’s see what they do with the chances they’re given.

TL;DR: It was preseason football. You take the good with the bad and hope for progression. It’s too bad about Bolden but I have no doubt he wont recover and be back on the field when the time is right.

 

[Water Boy]

Sidy Sow Solidity

Has a nice ring to it.

 

[Water Boy]

Slater says Belichick quickly taking action to get the game canceled was tremendous leadership and is "his proudest moment playing for Bill in his 16 years here."

Is that a backhanded compliment?

I'm not serious. Just stirring the pot. I'll go f myself now. No need for a diatribe defending Bill and questioning my fandom.