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

[captain stone]

Interesting. Every time I see Jacobs, I think 'he's a solid enough backup', I've been more impressed with him, admittedly, just from what I've seen, I'm not there every day.

I think they'll keep another backup OT besides Bryant, either Low or Jacobs... Jacobs might be the more impressive specimen but I don't know if the coaches trust him at LT...

 

[captain stone]

Shush, don’t point it out, maybe it will become a habit

I wish it could, but this team still has work to do, some of which should've been done already...

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I think they'll keep another backup OT besides Bryant, either Low or Jacobs... Jacobs might be the more impressive specimen but I don't know if the coaches trust him at LT...

Jacobs is atrocious.

 

[KCSVEN]

It’s saying more than a ton about the off season upgrades. The two starters he would have to displace are a $24,000,000 veteran FA signing, and the #4 overall draft pick.

True, BUT Moses was average, AT BEST, last year and now a year older. Big Question whether he can play all 17 and he’ll likely be slightly below average.
Not impossible that a rookie like Bryant could challenge him by end of year.

 

[oldrover]

Hey I was positive that Bill made a mistake drafting Aaron Dropson instead of Keenan Allen...

 

[Lansdowne]

I remember the preseason of 2010, seeing a rookie Gronk drag Rams linebacker James Laurinaitis with him on one leg as he hopped to the goal line for a touchdown. Sometimes you can just see there’s something special brewing with a player. I get that same feeling watching Henderson.

 

[dliverey44]

I’d prefer Sow, L. Robinson or Strange at LG than Brown but I have faith in the coaches.

I don't get the Brown hate, during the Vikings game he held his own just as much as Sidy did later. I think they are both players that can be upgraded, but to suggest Sow is better is crazy to me.

 

[Zuma]

I don't get the Brown hate, during the Vikings game he held his own just as much as Sidy did later. I think they are both players that can be upgraded, but to suggest Sow is better is crazy to me.

Yeah I think most of the Brown hate was because of last year. I give all the players a pass last year...I'm not selective. Brown was pulled from the Raiders Practice Squad and was immediately the starting Center for the Patriots. I'd say he did ok considering. Jabobs was the worse starter last season...followed by Lowe.

“Why the f*** would I care about what happened last year?” Mike Vrabel

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I don't get the Brown hate, during the Vikings game he held his own just as much as Sidy did later. I think they are both players that can be upgraded, but to suggest Sow is better is crazy to me.

It is not hate. Brown is physically limited with a limited ceiling, last year he was 54th ranked by PFF out of 64 Centers.

Ben Brown | New England Patriots C | NFL and PFF stats

NFL and PFF player stats for New England Patriots C Ben Brown on Pro Football Focus.

www.pff.com

Sow is more athletic and has a higher ceiling if he can regain his rookie form. Is Sow better? He is more athletic and we will see if that translates onto the field.

 

[n1997y]

It is not hate. Brown is physically limited with a limited ceiling, last year he was 54th ranked by PFF out of 64 Centers.

He should not be judged harshly for last year. Remember that PFF grade is on a guy who was signed off the Raiders PS in mid-October and started the next week, in the middle of the worst coaching staff dumpster fire the league has ever seen. He was not exactly set up for success.

 

[Ring 6]

He should not be judged harshly for last year. Remember that PFF grade is on a guy who was signed off the Raiders PS in mid-October and started the next week, in the middle of the worst coaching staff dumpster fire the league has ever seen. He was not exactly set up for success.

All that aside, he isn’t good at blocking, which still exists when you remove all of those excuses.

 

[n1997y]

All that aside, he isn’t good at blocking, which still exists when you remove all of those excuses.

Could coaching help that?
What kind of coaching did he get last year?

 

[BUSTAMOVE]

I am perplexed with both Sow and Strange.

Strange looked solid in 2023 in a similar scheme before hurting himself, now he barely plays. I have to think he is really limited by that injury and it’s not something he can fix, which is too bad.

Sow should also be good because he was previously good in 2023 as well, and he hasn’t had nearly as bad of an injury as Strange. I expected him to just pick right back up but instead he’s been pretty quiet.

I’m very curious to see how these two are used in the final preseason game.

Torn Patellar is no joke
I thought Simmons was a really good LT
His torn patellar scared me away from him
Some have come back from it
Many have not or it hinders their career

 

[BUSTAMOVE]

Yeah that's one of the things I took from the game Saturday: no matter the line combinations - and there were a few of them - it never once looked like a complete disaster out there. It's a one-horse race, but Marrone is the best OLC we've had here since Dante. In fact, after McD he's Vrabel's best coach period.

Wow
What are you having a beer with Mike Reiss
And you left your phone screen open while you went to the bathroom

 

[Ring 6]

Could coaching help that?
What kind of coaching did he get last year?

Anything is possible but some things aren’t likely.
Yes players make miraculous improvements. It’s just that far, far more don’t.
Should we argue that Polk who was a second round graded talent should be excused for his play last year because maybe it’s the coaches fault?

 

[n1997y]

Anything is possible but some things aren’t likely.
Yes players make miraculous improvements. It’s just that far, far more don’t.
Should we argue that Polk who was a second round graded talent should be excused for his play last year because maybe it’s the coaches fault?

I think some on here have made that argument. I don’t agree, because last year was no different than what he’d already shown, but can’t entirely discount it as a missed opportunity for improvement.

 

[Ring 6]

I think some on here have made that argument. I don’t agree, because last year was no different than what he’d already shown, but can’t entirely discount it as a missed opportunity for improvement.

Polk was highly regarded before last year.

 

[n1997y]

Polk was highly regarded before last year.

For what? Other than draft position that is.

 

[Ring 6]

For what? Other than draft position that is.

His college career and pro prospects.
He wasn’t a shocking 2nd round pick.

 

[Ross12]

His college career and pro prospects.
He wasn’t a shocking 2nd round pick.

Yeah, I think if he is healthy or close to healthy, some team that had a 2nd round grade on him in 2024 and is in need of depth WR help would pay a 4th for him.