I tried to watch Haynesworth closely during the first half. I'm hoping one of the guys who DVD and chart the game, will do a more detailed report. These are just some anecdotal observations;
1. According to this thread he was in there for 14 plays. About half these plays he pushed the pocket a good 3 yds. I don't know what the match up was on the OL, but who ever it was had his hands full
2. On his best play, he showed the kind of potential we can hope for on a more consistent basis. On that play he broke through the LOS to the defensive right side of the line, then went down the LOS to make a tackle for no gain on the left side
3. On his worst play he missed a relatively easy tackle at the LOS that turned into a 7 yd gain.
4. There were several plays where he DIDN'T get penetration, but rather controlled his man on the LOS. Hard to tell if he was being effectively blocked or he was executing 2 gap techniques
5. The play I liked the most was something I saw on reply. It was a short completed pass. In the replay you could see Haynesworth take two steps up field then take off when the ball was thrown to try and help with the tackle. I don't think the Albert Haynesworth of the last 2 years would have made that 2nd effort
6. I saw at least 2 plays where he was late off the snap. For a guy whose main contribution will be penetration, this has to improve.
7; I'm sure in the film room where he will be criticized for having his pad level too high.
On the whole there was enough good to think this could work out well. But it STILL a work in progress. Undoubtedly the good news is the Pats will get there money's worth from him. The bad news is that the Pats didn't pay much for him in the first place .
In Washington Haynesworth was the coaching point for a new HC trying to make statement and change the culture of a team into his image. Plenty of blame to go around that entire situation on BOTH sides.
Here in NE where the egoless HC doesn't have anything to prove, He's protected Albert his entire stay. (mostly from the media) He gave him 3 weeks to get himself into some semblance of shape (like he's done with Ellis) It was also a test to see if he would work hard to comply with the "patriot way". Clearly he has worked hard to do what the team has asked. No cell phones and newspapers in the meeting rooms.
Right now what WAS a 50-50 chance that this will work out has risen to 80-20. And the 20% chance it won't work out is more likely about if Haynesworth can still play at a high level, rather than if he just wants to.
