Here's my synopsis

[stcjones]

I know it was just a preseason game but there were some glaring points in this one.......

BB dropped the ball in beefing up our LB position.........Colvin, Vrabel, and TC/Beisel/Don Davis are NOT going to get it done for us this year......one man's opinion, but I feel he should have added better depth there.....Last night looked like 2002 all over again.....huge lanes up the middle....and yes I know.....it was just the first preseason game......Atlanta has issues there too.....Rosey looked slow and stiff.....Don Davis should STAY on special teams or cut........Vrabs even looked off......must have been the plane ride

Maroney was killer..........absolutely everything so far that I hoped he would be......he has INCREDIBLE potential and looks to step right in this year and be very productive...Maroney also has a kick a## attitude...and fought for every yard.....he made my night......Dillon looked very good and healthier in the brief time he was in there.........and Cobbs........he played mostly against the 2nd and 3rd teams.....but he looked GOOD......could be the end of Pass or Evans.......I see Faulk staying here......

WR......we have some problems here....Caldwell is a #2 at best obviously.....and if he had stiffer competition right now.....he'd be in trouble.......very sloppy....and hate to say this......but Givens catches that ball in the endzone...... Kight....not impressive thus far imho.....we need branch back and have to hope CJ comes along.......or add another vet....

TE....Watson looked great for the short time he was in there.....Dave Thomas needs to get used to taking hits in the NFL.....but he showed some good stuff overall.....not worried about the TE's........

QB.....Brady was chomping on the bit to get back in there......the guy is awesome.....he was pacing up and down and yelling stuff......wanted to win that game even though it is preseason!!!.....Cassel......up and down night.....I think given one more year of practice under his belt and he could be the #2 guy.......right now.....he is still slow to pick up reads and react....off mark with alot of throws etc....not so sure......we need a vet in there in case something god forbid happens to Brady.

Secondary.........still alot of holes there.....Samuels looked good out there....the rest were so so.......Rodney didn't play....right? Hopefully he can get back in there and provide some leadership....and stay healthy......

Kicking.....Grammatica kicked the ball deep on kickoffs.......and looked good on FG try........Gostkowski kicked more shallow on kickoffs like Vinny.......Too bad we couldn't sign Koenen Kicking game should be fine......

Return........guy from Baylor isn't going to do it imho........we need a guy like Bethel (yeah I know, if he could just have stayed healthy) back there with lightning speed......this guy didn't seem to have that......heard they were thinking of Maroney back there? Anyone else...???

Anyways....basically Running game was the highlight.....defense was a glaring issue......and now.....on to next week......GO PATS!!!!!!

one man's opinion

 

[JoeSixPat]

*sigh* Guess you can't be faulted. If NEM can do it why can't you?

 

[JoeSixPat]

Obviously, yo uhave a "covert" intention here. WOnder what it is?? Got anything to say abaout the game, nah, never mind, you have only one intent here...as everyone can see. Be careful. just a friendly word of advice.

Yup - and that's trying to keep the first page of the message board as clean and diverse as possible.

Nothing sneaky or covert about it NEM - I don't think we need you starting individual threads about your individual views of the team and the game.

We now have 4 individual threads with individual takes on the game or players - 2 of which are yours.

If no one else has any problem with it I'll just start my own threads about the game, Matt Cassell, the WRs and RBs - maybe one about the LBs too. If I'm over-reacting no one will have a problem with that.

Or NEM, maybe its just possible that you could take this as constructive criticism and try to show some respect for others rather than draw attention to YOUR thoughts by starting your own threads.

 

[stcjones]

*sigh* Guess you can't be faulted. If NEM can do it why can't you?

Joe

I guess I am not following you here....and god knows that I have tried to figure this one out.......what the heck are you talking about son???? I am just giving my viewpoints and opinions on the first preseason looks...as I believe I am entitled to....considering that this is a DISCUSSION board...correct? Instead of writing nonsensical drivel.....why don't you give me YOUR OPINIONS/VIEWS....on how the team looked to you last night.....I am all ears.....stage is yours.......

 

[PATRIOTS-80]

Andrews may not have had a big play, but he played PR/KR/gunner/CB all night. That's four positions. And Atlanta couldn't stop him as the gunner at all. He did have pretty good ball security.

 

[stcjones]

Andrews may not have had a big play, but he played PR/KR/gunner/CB all night. That's four positions. And Atlanta couldn't stop him as the gunner at all. He did have pretty good ball security.

you make some good points here my friend.....he didn't break one...but he also didn't cough it up.....he is going to be a good addition I am sure......thanks for your opinion.....

 

[marty]

All I can say is that was one of, if not the, most enjoyable pre-season games I've ever watched. Both teams played the whole game with a certain intensity that usually wanes in the later quarters of most pre-season tilts.
As far as our boys, I came away with a good feeling for the upcoming season. As has been much discussed, we're light in our WR and LB groups until some vets and Jackson get back on the field, but I was very excited about the developments in the RB,TE,and OL areas. Brady should be on his feet a bit more this season.
Can't wait to see the rest of these practice games and continue to observe the LB developments as well as the WR "soap opera"!

 

[rabthepat]

I know it was just a preseason game but there were some glaring points in this one.......

BB dropped the ball in beefing up our LB position.........Colvin, Vrabel, and TC/Beisel/Don Davis are NOT going to get it done for us this year......one man's opinion, but I feel he should have added better depth there.....Last night looked like 2002 all over again.....huge lanes up the middle....and yes I know.....it was just the first preseason game......Atlanta has issues there too.....Rosey looked slow and stiff.....Don Davis should STAY on special teams or cut........Vrabs even looked off......must have been the plane ride

Maroney was killer..........absolutely everything so far that I hoped he would be......he has INCREDIBLE potential and looks to step right in this year and be very productive...Maroney also has a kick a## attitude...and fought for every yard.....he made my night......Dillon looked very good and healthier in the brief time he was in there.........and Cobbs........he played mostly against the 2nd and 3rd teams.....but he looked GOOD......could be the end of Pass or Evans.......I see Faulk staying here......

WR......we have some problems here....Caldwell is a #2 at best obviously.....and if he had stiffer competition right now.....he'd be in trouble.......very sloppy....and hate to say this......but Givens catches that ball in the endzone...... Kight....not impressive thus far imho.....we need branch back and have to hope CJ comes along.......or add another vet....

TE....Watson looked great for the short time he was in there.....Dave Thomas needs to get used to taking hits in the NFL.....but he showed some good stuff overall.....not worried about the TE's........

QB.....Brady was chomping on the bit to get back in there......the guy is awesome.....he was pacing up and down and yelling stuff......wanted to win that game even though it is preseason!!!.....Cassel......up and down night.....I think given one more year of practice under his belt and he could be the #2 guy.......right now.....he is still slow to pick up reads and react....off mark with alot of throws etc....not so sure......we need a vet in there in case something god forbid happens to Brady.

Secondary.........still alot of holes there.....Samuels looked good out there....the rest were so so.......Rodney didn't play....right? Hopefully he can get back in there and provide some leadership....and stay healthy......

Kicking.....Grammatica kicked the ball deep on kickoffs.......and looked good on FG try........Gostkowski kicked more shallow on kickoffs like Vinny.......Too bad we couldn't sign Koenen Kicking game should be fine......

Return........guy from Baylor isn't going to do it imho........we need a guy like Bethel (yeah I know, if he could just have stayed healthy) back there with lightning speed......this guy didn't seem to have that......heard they were thinking of Maroney back there? Anyone else...???

Anyways....basically Running game was the highlight.....defense was a glaring issue......and now.....on to next week......GO PATS!!!!!!

one man's opinion

It looks as though you and I watched exactly the same game. I agree on all your notes. Dillon looked much better than I thought he would. I hope he keeps it up. And our WR situation is much more troubling to me after last night than I though it was going to be.

As far as these other guys with their comments, "Ignore the messenger and listen to the message. If the message makes no sense then ignore that too."

 

[RoughingthePasser]

Great points.
This was game #1 of testing the depth/value of the team.
I think our team deserves an A for the draft aquisitions.
It's obvious where our weaknesses are and it's been mention plenty of times so far on the post.

1. It was good to see Cassell get some time in.
2. Our STARTING O-line will be a monster plus the FB/TE blocking packages.
3. Maroney is a champ in the making.
4. Great KO distances etc....

With Tedy back and all STARTERS in we should be very competitive.
I'm anxious to see what we've become mid-season and next year we should have an even better package.
Atlanta has a good team. They have some deep talent.

9-10 is not far-I'll be there!

 

[Water Boy]

I know it was just a preseason game but there were some glaring points in this one.......

BB dropped the ball in beefing up our LB position...one man's opinion, but I feel he should have added better depth there.....Last night looked like 2002 all over again.....huge lanes up the middle....

I totally agree. It think the Pat's linebackers are going to have trouble against the run all season.

 

[PF1996]

While I also don't like the Pats current group of linebackers...on paper or on the field...the phrase "bb dropped the ball" suggests that there were viable options that BB didn't pursue. So, I'm curious...what were these viable options? What 3/4 linebacker was available on the free agent market that would have been definitely better than what the Pats currently have?

 

[Jimke]

One thing BB could have done to help the linebacker situation was to

draft a linebacker on day 1 some time during his tenure as coach. The

only linebackers he drafted were Turner, Claridge, TBC, Tisdale, and

Mincey.