OK, realizing full well that this was Exhibtion Game #1, my first impressions of the 2006 Pats...
The Running Game
Maroney. We just might have a winner. Good patience, great burst and acceleration, looks like he can move the pile and looks like he likes contact. Maybe a young Corey Dillon?
Dillon. Corey's back. Hit the holes hard and with authority. A little concern when he came off after his last carry kind of holding his arm. Hopefully nothing serious.
The Offense
Cassel is at least a year or two away from being a solid #2. He periodically gets a case of happy feet and needs to develop that pocket "feel" that all the good ones have. It won't be a disaster if he has to take over for a game or two but pray for Tom Brady's health. The O-Line, even without all the starters was getting good push and opening big holes for Maroney and Dillon but this was against a team that was last in run defense last year. A little disappointing that again, like so many times last year, they moved it well into the Red Zone and the drive stalled forcing a FG. That's got to be fixed FAST this year if they expect to make a serious run at a February date in Miami.
Receivers
Caldwell had 2 passes thrown his way. Both catchable. One caught. If he can stay healthy, probably a pretty solid #2 or 3 receiver. After hearing the reports out of camp, I was expecting more. Probably too much.
The Defense
(Take a Big Gulp of Air...) OK, realizing there was no Seymour, no Harrison, no Tedy, overall...average at best. Tough to judge without at least a third of the starters playing but this group's got a long way to go and a short time to get there. I wasn't one of the worriers about Willie leaving but now I am. After Colvin, Tedy and Vrabel the LB's are THIN. You know you're in trouble when Monte Biesel starts looking good. A couple of the rookies showed flashes, but it was against other rookies. Not really sure if TBC is ready for prime time (if he ever will be). Mincey's probably a keeper but is gonna need lots of reps to be anywhere near a reliable backup. The secondary? It was torched. No way to sugar coat that. Warfield looked lost against Atlanta's 3rd string, Asante was burned badly multiple times but let's just say it was the lack of a pass rush that got the secondary lit up and wait and see. This is a long way from a Championship defense.
Special Teams
Ghost looks like he's got a leg. Kickoffs were deep, FG's accurate. We'll have to wait and see if he can do it in the clutch from 40+ yards but he should beat out Gramitica. Wasn't impressed with Andrews, again expecting more on kickoff returns based on camp reports. Kickoff coverage was spotty. Josh Miller looking like he's picking up where he left off last year so that's encouraging. Overall, special teams needs work, but nothing that a few more exhibtion games and practices won't cure.
Overall, considering how they played, it's amazing that they only lost by 3 to a team that is considered a top NFC contender, albeit a team with a terrible run defense. Lots of work ahead but let's see what happens after the Arizona game next week. If this was Exhibtion Game #4, there would be lines of Pats fans on the bridges ready to jump. Luckily it was only Exhibtion Game #1. Let's all take a deep breath, take a pill and lie down. There's still plenty of time to panic.
The Running Game
Maroney. We just might have a winner. Good patience, great burst and acceleration, looks like he can move the pile and looks like he likes contact. Maybe a young Corey Dillon?
Dillon. Corey's back. Hit the holes hard and with authority. A little concern when he came off after his last carry kind of holding his arm. Hopefully nothing serious.
The Offense
Cassel is at least a year or two away from being a solid #2. He periodically gets a case of happy feet and needs to develop that pocket "feel" that all the good ones have. It won't be a disaster if he has to take over for a game or two but pray for Tom Brady's health. The O-Line, even without all the starters was getting good push and opening big holes for Maroney and Dillon but this was against a team that was last in run defense last year. A little disappointing that again, like so many times last year, they moved it well into the Red Zone and the drive stalled forcing a FG. That's got to be fixed FAST this year if they expect to make a serious run at a February date in Miami.
Receivers
Caldwell had 2 passes thrown his way. Both catchable. One caught. If he can stay healthy, probably a pretty solid #2 or 3 receiver. After hearing the reports out of camp, I was expecting more. Probably too much.
The Defense
(Take a Big Gulp of Air...) OK, realizing there was no Seymour, no Harrison, no Tedy, overall...average at best. Tough to judge without at least a third of the starters playing but this group's got a long way to go and a short time to get there. I wasn't one of the worriers about Willie leaving but now I am. After Colvin, Tedy and Vrabel the LB's are THIN. You know you're in trouble when Monte Biesel starts looking good. A couple of the rookies showed flashes, but it was against other rookies. Not really sure if TBC is ready for prime time (if he ever will be). Mincey's probably a keeper but is gonna need lots of reps to be anywhere near a reliable backup. The secondary? It was torched. No way to sugar coat that. Warfield looked lost against Atlanta's 3rd string, Asante was burned badly multiple times but let's just say it was the lack of a pass rush that got the secondary lit up and wait and see. This is a long way from a Championship defense.
Special Teams
Ghost looks like he's got a leg. Kickoffs were deep, FG's accurate. We'll have to wait and see if he can do it in the clutch from 40+ yards but he should beat out Gramitica. Wasn't impressed with Andrews, again expecting more on kickoff returns based on camp reports. Kickoff coverage was spotty. Josh Miller looking like he's picking up where he left off last year so that's encouraging. Overall, special teams needs work, but nothing that a few more exhibtion games and practices won't cure.
Overall, considering how they played, it's amazing that they only lost by 3 to a team that is considered a top NFC contender, albeit a team with a terrible run defense. Lots of work ahead but let's see what happens after the Arizona game next week. If this was Exhibtion Game #4, there would be lines of Pats fans on the bridges ready to jump. Luckily it was only Exhibtion Game #1. Let's all take a deep breath, take a pill and lie down. There's still plenty of time to panic.
