Media reactions to the Pats-Eagles game

jmt57 said:

Patriots Polishing Edelman to Be Special Team Stud by John Chandler of NESN

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Preseason football isn't just for the players.

Coaches need their dress rehearsals as well, and Patriots' coach Bill Belichick believes that may be just as important as determining which players to keep and where to play them.

"I haven't called plays or made substitutions in basically six months," Belichick said Friday, "and neither has anyone else, so there's a breaking-in period there, for not only each coach individually, but coaches collectively, in working together, making adjustments and making sure we see the whole play."

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The list of those who didn’t suit up included linebackers Tedy Bruschi and Paris Lenon, tight end Benjamin Watson, and defensive linemen Ty Warren and Mike Wright.

Bruschi and Lenon are banged-up. Watson and Warren weren’t expected to play after getting medical clearance to participate in practice just days before the game.

Receiver Wes Welker and running back Fred Taylor were on the sideline, but didn’t play. The belief is they were healthy scratches. As for the others, it appears they’re making progress.

“I think that some of the players that didn’t play or weren’t dressed are going to be closer to being out there this week,” Belichick said. “We’ll take that day by day, but it seems like we’ve made some progress with those guys … so I think that’s heading in right direction as well.”

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Against the Eagles, it was Baker who took a giant leap toward becoming the go-to tight end.

"Chris has done a good job, he's gained everybody's confidence from the spring practices to the training program to the last couple of weeks," coach Bill Belichick said. "He's been steady, solid. Like any new player, there are always mistakes and corrections, but Chris is very professional."

And he's not even fully acclimated to the scheme yet.

Brady has helped. The 2007 MVP missed nearly all of 2008 with a major knee injury, meaning the quarterback has been working to rebuild a rapport with all of his receivers. But Brady drew everyone's attention early in camp by pulling Baker aside and working on plays inside the 20-yard-line.

It was evident Thursday.

"The timing and chemistry (takes time)," Baker said. "But it's obviously a step forward."

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Maroney’s return did not go as well as Brady’s. He carried six times for 14 yards, with a best of 5 yards.

Perhaps more important than the numbers, Maroney did not look as aggressive as he might have. As has been his practice in the past, he seemed to take a little extra time dancing, or looking for a hole, rather than driving straight ahead.

All signs point to the starting job being up for grabs. Sammy Morris came in after Maroney and had his ups and downs, but ended with more impressive numbers –– 12 carries for 45 yards. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who was such a pleasant surprise last season, kept himself very much in the picture with four carries for 31 yards.

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For those who pay attention to such things, there was excitement about the way the Patriots played defense Thursday night when they beat the Eagles, 27-25, in their preseason opener in Philadelphia.

In this case, the importance had nothing to do with how well –– or how poorly –– New England’s defensive unit performed. Rather, it was more about the way the team went about its work.

The Pats, known for their 3-4 defensive alignment in the Bill Belichick era, went much of the way with a 4-3 front. Vince Wilfolk moved from the nose to tackle. Rookie Myron Pryor started at the other tackle, and Richard Seymour and Le Kevin Smith were at the ends.

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It’s dangerous to make judgments based on preseason play, but Belichick may have provided a window into his answer for one of the team’s biggest question marks - outside linebacker. All offseason, fans have been asking how the team plans to replace Mike Vrabel, who was traded to the Chiefs. Vrabel was a versatile player who was an ideal fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker because he was adept at stopping the run, rushing the passer, and dropping into coverage.

Without an ideal replacement in-house, the Patriots might solve the problem by mixing in 4-3 fronts to take advantage of the pass-rushing ability of Derrick Burgess and Tully Banta-Cain, neither of whom is strong in coverage or against the run as a 3-4 outside linebacker.

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jmt57 said:

Maroney looks tentative in return to the field by Paul Kenyon and Shalise Manza Young of the Providence Journal

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Richard Seymour and Jarvis Green are two examples of players who had varied responsibilities depending on the four-man line the team was employing.

In more of the standard four-man front, they both played end. In the team's nickel front, which would be utilized in more passing situations, they kicked inside to tackle so speedier edge rushers Derrick Burgess and Tully Banta-Cain could work on the edges.

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There were times Thursday night when veteran defensive end Richard Seymour would glance up at the massive video screen at Lincoln Financial Field and see an unfamiliar image.

“I was popping straight up out of my stance,” said the Patriots’ five-time Pro Bowler. “Still got a lot of work to do.”

He has missed most of camp with a slight hamstring pull, an injury that just allowed him to return days before the 27-25 victory over the Eagles.

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Coming off a year away because of major knee surgery, and even without key target Wes Welker, Brady seemed as comfortable as ever in the rhythm of the offense. Yet thanks to the offensive line holding its ground, Brady wasn’t touched. He joked that he wanted some opponent “to come in and blast me.” Until that happens, the last few lingering queries about his surgically repaired left knee remain.

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You’re unsettled, you’re unsure, but shotgun is definitely a more comforting feeling when you’re back there and you can survey everything and you don’t have to drop as far.”

Upon further review, Miller said even some of the shotgun throws weren’t particularly Brady-like as far as accuracy or technique. There were times Miller noticed Brady failing to plant his left foot, which is the side of the injured knee.

“At one point, there was a bubble screen. I could tell how he kicked out with his right foot, and how he threw the football, he didn’t plant on his left foot like he should have,” Miller said. “I think that’s him sorting it out, because it was an inaccurate pass. It was behind the receiver (tight end Chris Baker). The receiver had to turn completely around. That can’t happen. It wasn’t his mechanics in delivering the football, it was his footwork.”

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jmt57 said:

Tom Brady's score sees drop-off by Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald

Guregian talks about comments made by former Pat Jim Miller on Sirius radio about Tom Brady, after reviewing the Pats - Eagles game.

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