PostGame Thread OFFICIAL POSTGAME THREAD: 2025 Preseason Game 1: Patriots Blow Out Commanders 48-18

[DoubleDeluxe]

Well IR and back later on in the season, in case of Injuries if true.

I think based on Mikes and Drakes comments on Chism, I think he is on the roster. Baker makes it he looked great on special teams coverage.
And Mike Lauded both Chism and Baker as great blockers.

So I will say here is the wr Depth Chart.

Diggs, Boutte, Douglas, Hollins, Williams, Baker, Chism.

Hollins also is invoked in tight end packages,

Henry, Hopper, Hollins as tight ends

RBs, Henderson, Stevenson, Gibson.

FB/TE Westover.

QBs I think 2 with one on PS.

Oline Seems set, no surprises there.
Aside from a possible retirement from Moses. Or Bradbury being cut traded or early retirement.

DBs, surprise here is Mapu making it over Dugger. DJ James taking snaps from Marcus Jones when everyone is healthy.


DTs does Pharms make this roster?
Jennings doesn’t fit this scheme keeping a eye out for a trade with the Vikings.

So I have trade candidates as Dugger, Jennings, Bourne, Polk, Pharms,

Thoughts?

I'm not sure any team would trade even a 7th for Polk. He just doesn't look like an NFL athlete, he's a smaller N'Keal.

 

[Joey007]

Worth pointing out that this helps against the whole "Washington wasn't playing their ones!!" argument... The Pats also were without:

1. Their CB1 (Gonzo)
2. Their CB2 (Davis)
3. Their top DT (Barmore)
4. Their starting OLB (Landry)
5. Another OLB who will play a lot (Chaisson)
6. Their WR1 (Diggs)
7. Their starting RT (Moses)
8. A veteran starting-level WR (Bourne)

... and several other depth players competing for top backup jobs (Tavai, Sow, Wallace, Lowe).

Also worth mentioning how few snaps guys like Henry had. PFF marked him down with 6.

Douglas, Hollins, Boutte all had about 11 snaps each, really still too small of a sample size to get too worked up about.

 

[Joey007]

I'm not sure any team would trade even a 7th for Polk. He just doesn't look like an NFL athlete, he's a smaller N'Keal.

How did teams not see this with Polk? I heard plenty of these concerns from posters after he was drafted, but he was valued around being a late 2/early 3rd round pick. He wasn’t very heavily over drafted based on rankings. Not sure how teams didn’t see this coming.

 

[signbabybrady]

I also think part of this is that they know Marcus Jones is a bit fragile, and they might just get more value from him being primarily a punt returner who mixes in occasionally as a slot or outside CB in some packages. Gonzo and Davis have the outside covered, and if a safety is taking some slot work, plus Austin and James also being around, Marcus Jones might not really NEED to play defense that much.

Marcus Jones is really just not as physical as the other guys. He's athletic and smart but he isn't someone who is looking to smack you into the turf, he's more of a "finesse" type. I think Vrabel probably knows that.

I've said this at nauseum..Marcus isn't an outside CB.. I get Hobbs vibes whenever he's outside.. I love Marcus in the slot.. contract year for him I'm expecting him to play well.

I've got to completely disagree with you guys on Marcus.

I get the feeling Vrabel really likes him. I've heard him call him out by name in a couple of press conferences. Last night with Davis and Gonzalez out he was the CB1 on the outside. Yes his size sometimes gets a little exposed on the outside and Washington tried but Vrabel putting him out there to me is a clear indication he's CB3 if not CB2 since we still haven't seen Davis. Certainly not indicative of someone getting less reps.

Also during practice I've noticed on more than 1 occasion they have used him to blitz. Again I see this as indication of someone they are putting more on his plate and that they trust is physicality.

 

[DaBruinz]

Is there an injury update for Polk ?

Same Shoulder that had him out to start camp. No info as to severity that I've seen.

 

[Zuma]

Bryant and Jacobs get 40 something snaps each at T while Campbell get 14.

 

[Real fan 02]

I've got to completely disagree with you guys on Marcus.

I get the feeling Vrabel really likes him. I've heard him call him out by name in a couple of press conferences. Last night with Davis and Gonzalez out he was the CB1 on the outside. Yes his size sometimes gets a little exposed on the outside and Washington tried but Vrabel putting him out there to me is a clear indication he's CB3 if not CB2 since we still haven't seen Davis. Certainly not indicative of someone getting less reps.

Also during practice I've noticed on more than 1 occasion they have used him to blitz. Again I see this as indication of someone they are putting more on his plate and that they trust is physicality.

I love Marcus and I've expressed that.. special teams, slot CB, his attitude, his ball skills.. he's just not an outside CB and that's ok.. there have been plenty of examples of where he's exposed outside.. I never understood why BB wanted diminutive sized guys on the outside.. QB just right over the top of them.. he was out there based on necessity with gonzo and Davis being sidelined and Austin moving around.

 

[Love The Drake]

Same Shoulder that had him out to start camp. No info as to severity that I've seen.

Wolf may IR him to save face, but I have a feeling it’s a trade to Atlanta when that shoulder magically heals.

Only his college QB can get him out of his slump and I think he knows it.

 

[captain stone]

Is that his fault? He can only compete against the man across from him. He beat his man; Consistently all night. The QB didn’t deliver.

My point is this:

 

[Zuma]

 

[DaBruinz]

The McCourty's talked about keeping only 3 RB's. The TE and QB depth is not stacked.

Why not 7 WR's?

Exactly. If they only keep 2 QB on the main roster and only 3 RBs when they usually keep 5 RB/FB, there are roster spaces to be used.

The #3 TE spot is a toss-up right now. If one of Bell, Dippre, Westover, Scott, or Fotheringham don't step up, the Pats will be looking for a TE/FB at cut-downs as well as for the PS.

 

[Real fan 02]

Also worth mentioning how few snaps guys like Henry had. PFF marked him down with 6.

Douglas, Hollins, Boutte all had about 11 snaps each, really still too small of a sample size to get too worked up about.

I think you see guys playing into the 2nd quarter against minny.. a stiffer test.. our team who without gonzo and Davis will stress the secondary with Jefferson and Co.

 

[Love The Drake]

I love Marcus and I've expressed that.. special teams, slot CB, his attitude, his ball skills.. he's just not an outside CB and that's ok.. there have been plenty of examples of where he's exposed outside.. I never understood why BB wanted diminutive sized guys on the outside.. QB just right over the top of them.. he was out there based on necessity with gonzo and Davis being sidelined and Austin moving around.

I think BB felt they were quicker to move more twitchy and he likes his d backs to be more solid tacklers and hand fighters punchy.

Aside from Plaxico being on an island with Hobbs, the short DBS did rack up a lot of wins.

 

[Love The Drake]

Exactly. If they only keep 2 QB on the main roster and only 3 RBs when they usually keep 5 RB/FB, there are roster spaces to be used.

The #3 TE spot is a toss-up right now. If one of Bell, Dippre, Westover, Scott, or Fotheringham don't step up, the Pats will be looking for a TE/FB at cut-downs as well as for the PS.

I think Westover, is the FB/TE, Hollins also comes in on certain TE packages.
That opens a spot for Chism to be ST, Fourth RB, backup returner, Gunner on Sts, 4th to 6 WR on the chart based on formations.

I feel confident with Drake and Mikes praise he’s the kind of guy Vrab loves giving a spot to.

I couldn’t help but notice some annoyance, frustration about Polk from Vrabs when the injury was brought up.

 

[signbabybrady]

I love Marcus and I've expressed that.. special teams, slot CB, his attitude, his ball skills.. he's just not an outside CB and that's ok.. there have been plenty of examples of where he's exposed outside.. I never understood why BB wanted diminutive sized guys on the outside.. QB just right over the top of them.. he was out there based on necessity with gonzo and Davis being sidelined and Austin moving around.

Just saying Vrabel seems to agree with BBs assessment too. He's first man up after Davis and Gonzo.

I don't think BB or Vrabel necessarily want an outside guy who is small. I think it's more about wanting that quick twitch reaction for the slot guy and then living with the fact that he's also likely to be one of your top 3 cover guys and when injuries occur to the outside guys not being afraid to use him where needed.

 

[signbabybrady]

Exactly. If they only keep 2 QB on the main roster and only 3 RBs when they usually keep 5 RB/FB, there are roster spaces to be used.

The #3 TE spot is a toss-up right now. If one of Bell, Dippre, Westover, Scott, or Fotheringham don't step up, the Pats will be looking for a TE/FB at cut-downs as well as for the PS.

To me it looks like Westover is in the lead right now. They even lined him up at FB in short yardage last night.

 

[DaBruinz]

Also want to remind folks about the change to IR rules last year. At roster cutdowns, teams can designate two players already on IR to become "designated to return" instead. This means that a guy like Marcellas Dial, or Ja'Lynn Polk if he has to go to IR from his injury last night, may come back if they are given this designation. This could also potentially apply to other guys who are currently hurt and might end up on IR, like Kendrick Bourne or Sidy Sow.

Hey Ross. - I don't think you're fully correct. My understanding is that the 2 players to be DFR can only be IRed at cutdown. Players IRed prior to cutdown like Durant, Dial, and Roy, are done for the year.

 

[Lagaffe_07]

I don't know how much they played but overall I think Drake and the WR's have a loooooooooong way to go to get up to speed with Josh's offense before the 1st regular season game. We had concerns before Josh was hired about the complexities of his offense. The complexities are still there and I'm not sure Drake and the WR's have it figured out to a degree that will allow them to be somewhat productive just yet.

Diggs and Hollins already played in the McDaniels system and all the beat writers are saying that they are surprise by how well Pop is thriving in this system.

Pop was unguardable during the joint practices. Usually teams are running Vanilla offenses in pre season and are opening it way more during joint practices because there is no film of it for other teams to analyze.

 

[captain stone]

Henderson doesn’t evade contact, he initiates it.

But he can't be doing that all the time.

 

[mgteich]

He should get as many starter reps as possible at RT in next week’s joint practices vs. the vikings, Outside of QBs on rookie contracts day 3 OTs that can play are arguably the biggest roster construction cheat code.

Bryant should be considered our #3 OT as of now. He primarily played RT in the game.

Lowe, Jacobs and Wallace compete for the 4th OT spot.