DaBruinz's takes from Eagles/Pats Pre-Season game

[JPsPats]

Really wishing we grabbed tyrann Matthieu in the third

 

[Claremonster]

Also, the kicker still periodically sucks. He does have a strong leg, but, what is with all of the choking?

 

[AzPatsFan]

A Question for Monday.

I wonder how many of the missing dozen, who didn't even make the trip to Philly will rejoin practice on Monday after a week of R&R.

I wonder who else besides Mallett, who may have been concussed, was hurt doing the game?

 

[Patriot Missile]

Very impressive running game in the opening quarter. Ballard and Sudfeld can block pretty well.

Looks like they want to improve on their 8th ranked run game.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Really wishing we grabbed tyrann Matthieu in the third

Would have had to take him over Dobson in the 2nd, he went 14 picks before our 3rd round pick.

 

[supafly]

You forgot to mention that tavon wilson and logan ryan sucked.

I saw the same thing, although I didn't listen to the local feed that most of you did when they likely elaborated much more on actual players.

Before replying, please note that these are done with the understanding that the offense and defense were pretty vanilla and that it is just the 1st pre-season game. The Pats clearly didn't run their quick huddle, though the Eagles did. The Pats didn't run any stunts or twists, though the Eagles did.

PRO:
Thompkins and Dobson come as advertised. Both looked really good except for the 1 dropped pass by Dobson.
Fells looked really comfortable.
Blount ran better than expected.
Ridley looks like he's in mid-season form.
Brady looks ready.
Dane Fletcher looks like he's ready to step back in as the back-up MLB.
Zach Sudfeld looked good on the 1 pass thrown to him.
Edelman looks like he's recovered from his injury. Needs to be a bit better on handling the punts.
Vereen looked really good on the Endzone catch. Made a point to make sure he got his right knee down in the Endzone


CON:
Brandon Bolden seems to be playing his way off the team. He was slow to start a run. He took a horrible roughing the punter penalty.
Leon Washington isn't going to be our 3rd down back if he continued to block the way he did tonight.
Marquice Cole was horrible in coverage again.
Ryan Allen outkicked the coverage on the 1 punt. This was mentioned as an issue during some practices.
Tebow was just horrible on his passing reads and his throws. Also, there was clearly some miscommunications as some of the runs took way too long to develop. Not sure what the issue was, but when the RB hasn't even started to move when Tebow turns around, it's an issue.
Hoomanawanui was horrible for the most part in his blocking.
Reserve O-linemen: This is an area of concern. None of them looked good tonight. One who stood out was Mattes who gave up on the screen go Vereen which allowed the defender to get to Vereen from behind.

Other:
Pats didn't use Sudfeld enough in the passing game.
Amendola seemed non-existent in the game plan. As did Ballard.
Gostkowski missing the 44 yarder isn't a big deal to me as it's pre-season. If it was a play-off game, it would be a different story. He powered plenty of his kicks for TBs.

I've never considered Hooman to be the blocker that most around here seem to think, so it's not surprising that this was your assessment. I didn't pay close enough attention either play and was stuck with the NFLN feed--which sucked.

Fells has been labled the current clear cut TE1 at the moment in Gronk's absence, with Hooman as the H-back, and Sudfeld/Ballard battling for the #2 and #3 spots.

Gostkowski actually missed 2 FG's, although one was of longer range at 50+.

 

[supafly]

I wonder who else besides Mallett, who may have been concussed, was hurt doing the game?

It appears that Mallett spoke about the hit/injury to "his chest" after the game, despite the Patriots official report of "head."

Not sure what to think, other than the fact that he reportedly seemed to be fine.

 

[goheels22002]

The Pats Pass Rush without any stunts produced 3 sacks, one of which was a strip sack that should have been a TD return by Spikes. He was all alone at the thirty, ten yards ahead of others as he headed toward the end zone, when a Ref blew the return dead. Why?

Three sacks a game over 16 games give 48 sacks a season, first or second in the League.

I agree. I thought the pass rush was pretty good for the 1st pre-season game. And, the math on sacks in a season cuts both ways. Tebow was sacked three times while doing his Dan Quayle-stare-into-the-bright-lights impression. That would be 48 sacks in a year.

 

[stcjones]

I think you are forgetting that McCourty gets burned a ton on that type of play too. McCourty has proven to be a good safety when he has an excellent CB working with him (ie Talib...who yes got burned a few times last night and looked pretty flat last night) i don't know ...I'm still not that high on mccourty and never really have been. He is decent...not exceptional


QUOTE=JMC00;3510140]When the defense of

Nink-Wilfork-Kelly-Jones

Hightower-Spikes-Mayo

Dennard/Arrington Talib

McCourty A.Wilson/?Harmon?

Can't rush the passer and are getting carved up every game, i'll worry.

Until then i'm not going to worry about it.

If McCourty is in game form, DeSean Jackson isn't coming down with that ball because McCourty would have been over there to help. Just go look at that play again, Gregory was so out of position.[/QUOTE]

 

[AzPatsFan]

I have just reviewed the game with some plays in slo-mo. Here are some other observations.

Svitek played exceptionally well at RG, when he played there in the 1st Q.

Lane Patterson and RJ Mattes were getting the QBs killed, including two sacks on Mallett and Tebow, and a hard hit on Mallett another time. They made Vince Curry look like an All-Pro.

Neither put out much push in the running game either. Nor did Green.

Under Brady in just under a period he marched the team to 14 points and served notice the "Missing Offense" wasn't missing at all.

Obviously LeGarrette Blount served notice he was both a power back and much more.

Under Mallett in 3/4 of a single period, the Pats pulled ahead and posted the winning points scoring 10, and missing another FG attempt. I noted that only one throw a way pass, did not end up with a Pat receivers hand on the throw, completed or not. Accuracy is missing now by only a foot now. The sailing passes of last preseason have gone away with his coached better footwork.

Under Tebow the Pats sputtered and fooled around for 2 and 1/4 periods and scored an insurance TD.

People criticizng Talib for giving up a TD should be blaming Gregory who was very late in getting to the WR to provide inside support, while Talib was in perfect outside position.

Dane Fletcher won his spot on the team. He stood up a couple of receivers at the spot where he hit them and thwarted First Downs. He also should have had the fourth sack, but slid off the QB, when he had him dead to right.

Michael Buchanon has a burst off the edge. Jake Bequette is doing the job maintaining contain.

The Pats delivered a thorough pasting to the Eagles and might have scored 50.

The Pats Defense is maturing. It is becoming very hard to run on, and the Pass Defense despite missing 2 starters, still kept the Eagles QBs under 60% passing.

 

[Joker]

Lane Patterson and RJ Mattes were getting the QBs killed, including two sacks on Mallett and Tebow, and a hard hit on Mallett another time. They made Vince Curry look like an All-Pro.

Thanx, bud. I was wondering WTF was going on with this Curry seemingly playing Superman.

Patterson and Mattes, huh...? uh...WHO??????????????...no wonder. I think you found two cuts on the O line depth chart right there.

 

[supafly]

As much as I obviously agree with those who state that Gregory was at fault for the long TD pass, it also should be noted that our CB1 Talib will be in one on one coverage a lot. His specialty is man coverage.

His blame should not be unnoticed either, and it seems that the majority here are just running with the fact that Gregory was out of position on the inside. While true, Talib is going to be in man coverage plenty of times this season and he will be one on one in that situation a lot in the future.

A good sign is that D.Jackson is an elite, speedy WR who had gotten the better of Talib plenty of times over the course of the 3 day practice period; although Talib also got the better of him at times too.

Gregory fails to impress, but may make it anyway due to the poorer depth behind him. Tavon Wilson absolutely sucked, and Harmon hasn't shown enough yet. If Harmon plays strongly down the stretch of TC/preseason, he may make Gregory expendable.

 

[pdangle]

The only analysis of this game is how the individual match ups went. 20 or so plays for top players vs each other. Can't take anything away from teamwork based results like passing completions, unless u are looking at separation and throw accuracy. As an example.

 

[Gronkandez]

Not sure i would give Ridley an UP. The online was giving him huge holes so they should get the credit. Also disappointed in Ridley for running out of gas on the first play of the game. He got 40 yards downfield then almost collapsed from exhaustion. <exagerration>.

Also not sure i would critique the punter for booming one 60 yards. All he has to do is loft it a little more next time.

Tebow wasn't really down, Tebow was just Tebow. He is not good as a traditional qb. He can be effective though by doing those draws then hitting the occasional bomb.

I thought Mallett was disappointing. Missed a wide open Boyce for a TD. In general he was just ok.

I liked Sudfields moves in the open field and Thompkins is intriguing.

 

[Gwedd]

Not sure i would give Ridley an UP. The online was giving him huge holes so they should get the credit. Also disappointed in Ridley for running out of gas on the first play of the game. He got 40 yards downfield then almost collapsed from exhaustion. <exagerration>.

Also not sure i would critique the punter for booming one 60 yards. All he has to do is loft it a little more next time.

Tebow wasn't really down, Tebow was just Tebow. He is not good as a traditional qb. He can be effective though by doing those draws then hitting the occasional bomb.

I thought Mallett was disappointing. Missed a wide open Boyce for a TD. In general he was just ok.

I liked Sudfields moves in the open field and Thompkins is intriguing.

This. I especially agree with the assessment of Tebow. He's only had a relatively short time to learn a very complex offense, complete with a new language. In addition, he wasn't playing with the 1st team in there.

I hearken back to the 2008 pre-season when folks were screaming to cut Matt Cassel as being worthless, as never amounting to anything LIKE an NFL caliber QB, He was inaccurate, unable to connect deep, had poor grasp of defenses, couldn't move well, held the ball too long, etc. Yet, when Brady went down in game 1 of the regular system, Cassel took over and carved out an 11-5 season and would have got us into the post season if a certain other infamous QB hadn't thrown one of his patented interceptions. But.....

As long as Brady is on the team, I suspect that Tebow will always garner unfair criticism. It's like comparing a Crown Vic to a Ferrari. Let's see how things shake out over the season, because I honestly expect him to be on the 53 come opening day.

 

[patsderoer]

People criticizng Talib for giving up a TD should be blaming Gregory who was very late in getting to the WR to provide inside support, while Talib was in perfect outside position.

All those who blame Gregory do not notice that Gregory was covering initially the other part of the field. Gregory had to run across to get to the ball.

The TD is in this vid from 0.55 Vick vs Foles: Preseason Week 1: vs Patriots - YouTube



Initially Gregory was covering the other side of the field. Gregory was not at all to blame for that TD. Any other safety from his initial position could not had gotten to the ball. DJax run straight, while Gregory had to run across the field

 

[skspikex2]

I dont blame the gregory on that play and talib was right there with the speedy jackson. I blame more on the 6 man rush that couldnt get to the qb and he have all the time in the world to throw it too.

 

[Ring 6]

I'm sorry, but if you ignore that Dennard, Dowling and McCourty were out and the fact that we played using a vanilla defense, then let's ignore that Brady played. Let's ignore Tebow's horrible play. Let's ignore everything including pre-season.

You can't ignore the fact that Dennard, Dowling and McCourty were out. Nor can you ignore that the Pats were using a vanilla defense with no twists, stunts, and what, 2 blitzes the entire game.

The Secondary played better than people are giving credit for. Especially the 1st teamers. On the play to Avant, there should have been a flag for holding as Kelly had his jersey damn near pulled off him as he was trying to get to Vick. On the very next play, they should have called a false start on the O-line for a false start. Had those been called, the 1st team doesn't give up a score.

Furthermore, later in the game, one of the Eagles runningbacks was standing next to Finne moving his feet up and down as if he was doing the tire drill which also would have been called as a false start.

Wow. I'm all for understanding that there is no gameplanning and players were out, but we blitzed 6 and Talib got burned for a 50 yard TD, I'm not sure how you dismiss that by saying penalties weren't called.

 

[Ring 6]

All those who blame Gregory do not notice that Gregory was covering initially the other part of the field. Gregory had to run across to get to the ball.

The TD is in this vid from 0.55 Vick vs Foles: Preseason Week 1: vs Patriots - YouTube



Initially Gregory was covering the other side of the field. Gregory was not at all to blame for that TD. Any other safety from his initial position could not had gotten to the ball. DJax run straight, while Gregory had to run across the field

There is no way Gregory has that play. We rushed 6, that leaves 5 to cover 5. Gregorys man stayed in to pick up the blitz, leaving Grogory free.
There are 2 receivers on his side of the field, and the ball went to the sideline on the other side of the field. Thats a 1 in a million play for a safety to get there, and in fact he is probably only in the picture because he turned and ran once the ball went in the air.
Talib got beat by a good receiver and good throw.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

Bolden was playing behind a line that consisted of two players the Pats have already released this preseason and two others that were without a team until about a week ago. He also had only what 4 carries? Pretty small sample size. That penalty was a horrible call.

I believe Washington is here to return kicks, not be the third down back. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets less than 30 touches on offense this year. I'm looking at him as a ST only type player if he even makes the roster.

Blount may have surpassed Bolden on the depth chart but I still think he makes the team.