PostGame Thread OFFICIAL Postgame Thread: Preseason Game 2 - Patriots Beat Vikings 20-12

[ctpatsfan77]

I don’t get them sitting McCarthy? He sat out his rookie season on IR, and that was their most obvious chance to get him playing time before the season starts, as next week pretty much every team goes with the true scrubs. I fully expect him to play in bubble wrap for his entire career.

The claim was they saw enough from him in the joint practices. Not saying I agree, just that that was the "logic."

 

[Huckleberry1]

That same question was probably asked of Edelman and it turned out alright.

Chism turned Christian Gonzalez around on a route earlier in training camp, he will be just fine playing with the ones.

 

[Uptown]

 

[jdlboot14]

Interesting 2nd unit on OL with Dobbs - Strange at RG, and Lowe at RT.

I still think Lowe has a tougher time making the 53 than Strange. Just because Wallace & Bryant can play both Tackle positions if needed, and at this point Wallace is a younger, more versatile guy (at LG) than Lowe. And Strange can also play the 3 IOL spots.
With Wilson, Wallace & Strange - you have a ton of versatility. And Brown too (who may end up starting if the game was any indication of how they see him vs. Strange/Wilson)

 

[PScottman]

The claim was they saw enough from him in the joint practices. Not saying I agree, just that that was the "logic."

The joint practices are the third preseason game now - 11s on 11s.

And we keep tuning in for the crap first two game product as these teams get used to hitting (and wrap tackling more importantly), being hit and the jump in speed and decision making.

It's just like voting - we have seen the enemy and it is us (same with the THU night games). We keep paying for them to shovel lesser product down our gullet and we keep lining up to eagerly consume (myself included BTW).

 

[TheRainMaker]

You know Bourne is not liking what he saw on Saturday with Chism making plays. Then you have Williams and Douglas flying open though coverage. Hollins making catches.

 

[PScottman]

The joint practices are the third preseason game now - 11s on 11s.

And we keep tuning in for the crap first two game product as these teams get used to hitting (and wrap tackling more importantly), being hit and the jump in speed and decision making.

It's just like voting - we have seen the enemy and it is us (same with the THU night games). We keep paying for them to shovel lesser product down our gullet and we keep lining up to eagerly consume (myself included BTW).

I forgot to add my hypothesis is that this is why QBs continue to make dumb decisions (especially younger ones) in early season games - the joint practice 11s on 11s give them a VERY false sense of the rush and it's impact on their processing speed to throw (how many times have you seen writers say "completion to X but he'd probably be sacked on that play").

Without actually practicing via a preseason game that interaction you build an artificial feeling of "I've got time" when in reality they don't and they either force balls they shouldn't or try some escape or throw while falling they shouldn't either.

 

[Patjew]

Not as much as the actual quality of the player. I mean, they're not out there on the field swapping paperwork or comparing bank accounts, right?

Well that’s just silly and who said they were? But if you think cap and salary do not play into the decision for bubble players come cutting-time, you are mistaken.

 

[mgteich]

WR depth chart

X: Hollins, Boutte
Z: Diggs, Williams
F: Douglas, Chism

There's some interoperability there - the guys who play X might play Z sometimes, and the guys who play Z might play X or F sometimes - but this is kind of how it looks if you bucket them in "primary" spots. The slot guys are probably pure slots for the most part, but maybe they see time at Z every so often.

Also intrigued by the idea of 2 TE sets, with Henderson in the backfield, and Hollins plus Diggs or Boutte outside. You can send all 5 out on a route or you can have them all block for Henderson on a pure run play without any substitutions.

I also think WR John Jiles has shown some good stuff. He threw a key block on Chism's big TD play. Hope they keep him on the PS to keep developing.

with 4 active WR's on Game Day, Boutte will back-up at all three positions.

 

[jdlboot14]

I didn't hear anything about Bell being hurt. Was he even active yesterday?
Westover certainly looks like TE3 right now. Dippre has become invisible sadly, I hoped he might show something, but maybe gets a development year on the PS.

 

[Ring 6]

with 4 active WR's on Game Day, Boutte will back-up at all three positions.

Boutte will start

 

[Uptown]

 

[dliverey44]

Yep, that 1/3 of an inch is glaringly obvious. Also, did you notice the pebbles on his left cleat in pass protection? There were at least 3-4 grains of sand between the #6 and # 8 spikes on his cleats, which really affected his 3rd backstop with his left foot, it slipped more than 1/8 of an inch, something a great pass rusher will really exploit.

Some other observations:

Ben Brown mouth breathes too much. I was watching him closely, and his mouth was open taking in air. He needs to be coached out of this problem. He should be nose breathing, it is far more effective, and he won’t wear down as easily.

Milton Williams waist was 1/10th of an inch larger than last week, The Patriots gave him the largest contract in their history, and he can’t stay away from the donuts. Lose that 10th of an inch Milt.

Javon Baker was slow off the line. His first step was .0003 slower than it was against Washington, and as a result he went 1-7, and will probably end up on the practice squad now.

There were so many other micro metrics I picked up on, but it’s too depressing to discuss them. more. Vrabel and Co. really botched the offseason, taking players no one else wanted whose micro metrics are just glaringly obvious to everyone but the densest of fans, who wouldn’t be able to tell a .00003 difference in a 40 time if it punched them in the face. Which hopefully Will Campbell will do the next time someone claims they can see the 1/3 of an inch of his arm length.

 

[jdlboot14]

with 4 active WR's on Game Day, Boutte will back-up at all three positions.

I think they'll have 5 active WR's with this group. They can bounce between Williams & Chism... but of course Chism gives you the added ST role as a return guy.

 

[BobDigital]

Surprised Chaisson only played 7 snaps. His presence felt bigger than that. I'm kind of glad to hear Farmer was a little banged up and not out there much, cause I had him as one of the few disappointing players on D this game before knowing that.

For all the talk of cutting Dugger, and i know he hasn't been amazing... who is their 10th DB if not him? And Mapu is an LB, not a DB. Do you cut him for Battle, Epps or Crossley? I just don't see it. And i don't see them carrying only 9 either with their injury issues.

Kind of surprised Pharms was out there so much... Is he not as solidly on the 53 as we think? Or did they just want to see the young guys besides a more experienced one to get a better feel for them?

Swinson and Ponder seem solidly on the roster (thought they would be) cause this is back to back weeks they played a fair amount of STs snaps... which they need to do).

On offense...

Baker being out so much and doing so little hurts his case even more. I know it wasn't all on him but still.

I thought Westover was out on STs more... only 3 snaps. Either he's already on or he isn't as on as we think and this competition isn't over.

I am not surprised they played Hooper some. He lacked game reps last week. Give him some this week just to make sure he's ready to go.

Also i know this may be controversial, but has anyone else come around to preferring Gibson over Stevenson? I know some may say Stevenson is built to carry more reps, but is he? They are nearly the same height and weight. Both have had exactly 1 1,000 yard season. But Gibson is a more dangerous duel threat and seems to do better in our blocking scheme.

Personally would prefer him as the #2 behind Henderson with Stevenson as a power back only role. I know he is well over paid for that, but so what? It was a bad contract then and still is. But it goes to show how good the Gibson contract is. We got a deal on him.

 

[mgteich]

THIS!

No team is 100% starters only AND with injuries guaranteed to effect the season having backups where the drop off is LESS than other teams' drop off is necessary.

That's also why the argument of Chism just dominating backups therefore he won't unseat Baker or Bourne for the #6 receiver is likewise just guesswork versus provable fact.

I agree the top four are locks Diggs, Douglas, Boutte and Hollins. Williams (if he isn't now IR with designation) is likely #5 and Chism #6. Neither Bourne nor Polk offer ST and Baker while trying hard cant bring the production at WR even if he's doing the ST thing. They might be able to IR Bourne with designation now too BTW. And do we really CARE if someone picks up Polk and or Baker off the PS or waivers??????

A team needs #2s to be a part of the 53. You simply cannot have a solid - possibly mid-level wins (7-9) to low playoff season without them.

Is your argument that that we have less of a drop-off from #5 to #6 than other teams?

 

[Patriot Missile]

Not surprised that Chism is going to make the roster. He was an exciting add via udf. What I am surprised about is how many routes the guy can run effectively. He’s been pretty fun to watch proving his doubters wrong.

 

[mgteich]

Interesting 2nd unit on OL with Dobbs - Strange at RG, and Lowe at RT.

I still think Lowe has a tougher time making the 53 than Strange. Just because Wallace & Bryant can play both Tackle positions if needed, and at this point Wallace is a younger, more versatile guy (at LG) than Lowe. And Strange can also play the 3 IOL spots.
With Wilson, Wallace & Strange - you have a ton of versatility. And Brown too (who may end up starting if the game was any indication of how they see him vs. Strange/Wilson)

You are choosing Wallace for the 4th OT position even though he has spent almost the entire camp with him as a guard. Wallace has shown nothing that shows that he should get an OT position.

The battle for the 4th OT is between Lowe and Jacobs. Both can play both OT spots.

 

[Sect140]

Chism turned Christian Gonzalez around on a route earlier in training camp, he will be just fine playing with the ones.

I know he will.

 

[Ian]

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