Notes on Bubble Boys

[long distance]

Some under the radar notes on guys fighting for the job on 53 or PS . from watching and re-watching preseason game #2 incl. latest practice notes

@WR/R

McCarron was used as the only returner in both PR and KR this time (w only Lucien coming in deep in 4th Q). He didn't show anything special, quite conservative, mostly fair catching, when returning no real juice. On O he saw just one target for 6yd gain on a slant. Not really making the best of his opportunity w Berrios injury and Lucien underwhelming outing.
Decker and Lucien pretty much invisible with 2 targets and 1 drop each. I wonder if they give Decker a chance to play with Brady and challenge Dorsett in game 3. Don't know where they can go with Lucien after this (esp. after some shining moments in G1)
Britt & Berrios out for injuries. With underwhelming WR outings still have time to make their case but should get on the field. Turner played just a few ST snaps late in the game.

@RB

Hill played despite being limited at practice which was a good sign.
Gillislee continued to struggle on most part . not a single catch and just 2.4 ypa. Id guess not even enough for some trade value (esp. with his contract)
Webb got less playing time . still showed he might have some future here first through PS. Did not see him play special teams.

@TE

Tye and Izzo had more quiet games. Izzo again showed he is already a strong blocker. Both played some late ST

@OL

With Wynn's injury new opportunity for backups opens to 53.
Croston curiously didn't play a snap.

Tobin stepped up as LT backup after Wynn took RT reps this week and had another solid preseason game and John had a very good game as backup RT before leaving the field w injury and Waddle came back. They have a chance to make the team now with team being thin at tackle and Croston practicing mostly at guard. This will be interesting situation to follow. It looked like Waddle, Wynn, Karras and possibly Croston would take the backup spots and now (apart from Waddle) they seem to be all in play.

Karras had a solid outing on limited snaps mostly at G, Ferentz is playing mostly guard as well, as did Schwenke - they all have C experience yet it was Bowanko who took over C duties for most of the 2nd half . and he might be a sneaky option to make the team as well esp. since he can back up all 3 positions.

___
continues w notes on D and ST units..

 

[Bourne Again Christian]

I still feel we kick the tires on Dez or a Josh Gordon trade.
We need some firepower.

 

[jah]

I haven't been paying tons of attention to the late game OL but I think Ferentz might have turned into an okay player. Damn.

I figure with Wynn out for the year and 2 of the 3 remaining top tackles getting hurt fairly often, a 4th tackle must be carried. Does anyone have insight as to how Tobin and John have been playing overall since camp started? Croston was pretty good last preseason, but the way the team has used him this year makes it sound less likely he's the new #4 tackle.

 

[PatriotsNumero1Fan]

I still feel we kick the tires on Dez or a Josh Gordon trade.
We need some firepower.

Would love golden tate in his last contract year. Come on Patricia do us a favor lol

 

[maineman209]

McCarron fair-catching frequently isn't a bad thing at all, unless he's passing up obvious return opportunities.

Seems like the competition for OL backup spots is almost wide open. Maybe one of the veteran re-treads turns into the next Dan Connolly. Cornerback (aside from Gilmore) and backup OL seem to be the least "settled" spots for the projected 53.

 

[Hyped]

Tye did have one catch though in PS game 2...he bailed out Brady scrambling to the right by jumping high to catch a high ball thrown by Brady .

 

[long distance]

@DL

A.Butler looks like he has a clear role on D as the sub int. rusher. Still there was an interesting development in this second game. They played him as 1st and 2nd down DT in good part of the second half paired with Valentine and it was not always pretty. Valentine did ok but doesn't seem to have the juice from 2yrs ago and is hardly pushing anyone off the team.

K.Davis got extended look both at DE and later as sub interior rusher on 3rd downs. made the most of T.Flowers injury to showcase himself. When against better competition he didn't show much pressure. He did show good contain and patience. As the level of comp. dropped he was more and more disruptive also showing great motor. He is prototype Pats DE and Im sure they love his size . but he is not likely to see the field unless somebody from top 4 gets injured. Its obvious they want to keep him and probably think they'd lose him on waivers or PS so he has a good chance to make the team but it will be hard numbers game at DL. I wonder if using him as sub interior rusher could mean A.Butler is getting some competition there?

Grissom had another strong game against lesser competition at DE and had another strong game as core ST so he is making a strong case for the roster spot as well. Pity he didn't show that last year when Pats needed it more (he did shine towards the end of last season so maybe it is another case where Pats patience pays off - but ironically this year the DE is deep and healthy..

Lee and Harris flashed again against lesser competition but its hard to earn higher snaps this year. They are better rushers then run defenders . thankfully for them Pats played from the front so they could showcase their best side.

Atkins & Harris got limited opportunities and are possibly playing for PS.


@LB

Grigsby and Sam were the 2nd half LBs and looked ok with some hicups by Sam but also good plays. Grigsby is core ST player and they played Sam for the first time with the 1st unit as well. It will be interesting to see how the DL-LB math for 53 plays out. Id guess they'd like to keep both and M.Flowers could be the odd man out esp. if his injury lingers. It will be interesting what they do with Langi. Do they carry him on 53 for the IR-R option and risk losing one of the rookies or ST players. Last two years they lost a few young players they wanted to keep (and are still playing on other teams now). It might also be more difficult bringing back some cut vets (like Grissom and Bolden last yr) with Patricia &co out there.

@DB

Nothing new at safety position. DMC, Chung and Harmon are one world, Richards, Travis and Pleasant another. None of them made a real case for playing on D. Richards is continuing to be top STer, Pleasant showed less than expected there and Travis seems to be a step below him at ST. AJ Moore plays with starting ST units but is very much up and down as gunner and blocker.

Corner decisions will be most intriguing. JMC let one ugly TD and was not much targeted which is ok, Rowe still looks like frontrunner for #2 but Qs will remain. Crossen was the nickel corner with JJ's and Dawsons's absence and showed great range, speed, instincts and very solid tackling. He didn't play well on a few deep balls (but was competitive and with little safety help) but to me he showed plenty to work with. He also played some ST later and made a great hustle for combined huge tackle for loss at 1yd line.

JC Jackson had a down week of practice and it showed . both on D and ST. R.Lewis is out for injury. Both are worth keeping around but there will be only so many spots on 53 so they'll have to show up and show more. Wiltz got a lot of playing time on D and ST (gunner and blocking) but he wasn't competitive on a single play (D or ST) and he would be lucky to get a PS spot.

It will be interesting to see distribution of snaps in game 3 at CB when JJ and possibly Dawson, Lewis and Cyrus return. But I have a feeling Crossen's push is not over..

 

[maineman209]

Bolden isn't subject to waiver claims, AFAIK, and Grissom may not be anymore, either. If that's the case, then Patricia or Vrabel would need to make them "an offer they can't refuse."

 

[maineman209]

Davis might be really tough to cut, especially with T. Flowers hitting FA next spring.

I really can't see Davis making it through waivers now. Seems to me that there were a few teams interested in him before his injury was discovered at the Combine medical check, and he's clearly recovered from it.

 

[jah]

How do people feel about Grigsby vs Flowers? Flowers gave us a lot last year, but it seems like Grigsby might be taking over his role. Sam is in the mix too.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Davis might be really tough to cut, especially with T. Flowers hitting FA next spring.

I really can't see Davis making it through waivers now. Seems to me that there were a few teams interested in him before his injury was discovered at the Combine medical check, and he's clearly recovered from it.

If cut, Davis would be picked up faster than a snap of a finger.

If he decided he just cant keep him, I'd suspect BB would trade him to his buddies and get a pick as opposed to a team like the Titans, Texans or Lions missing out.

 

[RobertWeathers]

How do people feel about Grigsby vs Flowers? Flowers gave us a lot last year, but it seems like Grigsby might be taking over his role. Sam is in the mix too.

Seems like Flowers provides more value than Grigsby.

Not sure about Sam yet.

 

[Triumph]

I still feel we kick the tires on Dez or a Josh Gordon trade.
We need some firepower.

Maybe Gordon will be out of rehab before the Texans game.

 

[Hyped]

Man, we are gonna cut maybe 5-6 players this year that will be on NFL rosters by week 2.

 

[maineman209]

Man, we are gonna cut maybe 5-6 players this year that will be on NFL rosters 60 seconds later.

FIFY.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Man, we are gonna cut maybe 5-6 players this year that will be on NFL rosters by week 2.

Pretty much. You have 5-6 orgs that have the same player profile needs as the Pats.

 

[turkeyneck]

Only White, Hogan, and Patterson have more catches than Lucien (Edelman has the same). Lucien's almost 18 ypc is by far the preseason best on the team. He should get a chance to play with the ones in game 3. Unless, of course, Bill is trying to stash him.

 

[Schmo]

Crossen's hit on the sidelines on the TE redeemed him a little bit in my eyes. He's definitely putting out the effort.

 

[maineman209]

How do people feel about Grigsby vs Flowers? Flowers gave us a lot last year, but it seems like Grigsby might be taking over his role. Sam is in the mix too.

I feel like the #5 LB, #4 SAF, and backup CB, plus corresponding ST positions, may be a bit more inter-related and a much more messy projection this year.

If the run-D has been as significantly strengthened through personnel changes as many of us think, the may well be almost no need for a 4-safety-dime package, and potentially reduced use of the 3-safety nickel in favor of a 3-CB-nickel. Might mean that Sam or Grigsby stick at the expense of BOTH Richards and Pleasant. Even the #4 LB spot (Roberts) might be in play. Might mean a 6th CB sticks (Crossen for ST, like JJ in 2016).

The roster-end/ST part seems really difficult to feel certain about right now.

 

[rochrist]

Ray Lewis still killed a guy. Maybe two!