PostGame Thread OFFICIAL Postgame Thread: Preseason Game 2 - Patriots Beat Vikings 20-12

[zydecochris]

His TD catch was a real pro catch and run. Also broke tackles to get a 1st down on 3rd and long, after getting hit well short.

There are many differences. I know the speed is different. Edelman was a small college running QB instead of receiver. He and CP3 have many other differences as players, with the only similarity being setting records at the smaller college level.

…Nevertheless, what I remember about Edelman was that he didn't really know the WR position coming in, and I remember him being somewhat on the bubble for a few years, especially with the injuries. But, even early on, once the ball was in his hands (whether on punt returns or receiving), good stuff would happen, sometimes he would appear to be swarmed with defenders and sometimes he would pull a rabbit out of his hat for an eye opening big gain. But, even more often when the pile came off he had somehow burrowed an extra 2-3 yards. It was just a football instinct he had even early on. Once he learned the new position (WR) he was absolutely awesome of course.

He is not Edelman, and the preseason competition is of course inferior, but in the last preseason game i saw something similar from CP3. The TD was of course awesome when he bowled over defenders like an accomplished tough RB. However, there were other plays that impressed me almost as much. When he ran into a pile of defenders and when the defenders were pealed off he had somehow burrowed/squirted and extra 2-3 yards. THAT is what reminds me of Edelman. So, it is way too early….and I see the flaws, but if he can become even a poor man’s version of Edelman….Well that is exciting. Let’s hope

 

[n1997y]

Chism = EC3
Henderson = Must-See TV

I think Henderson = Trey Hey.

 

[Ross12]

It’s really obvious that he has exceptional field sense and instincts. As soon as he touches the ball he’s looking to make the most out of the play, and he’s a ***** to bring down. Like any other rookie there will be plenty for him to learn, but he’s shown he can take the coaching and turn it into better and better performances. And overall that’s my biggest takeaway from this draft class. It looks like they brought in a bunch of tough, smart players who will take the coaching and improve game to game, and ultimately to year to year.

I think you are really hitting the nail on the head when it comes to why this draft is better than previous - they have coaches who can actually identify players with the right mental makeup and the right scheme fit. Last year, the front office most likely got zero help or guidance with this from the coaches, which is a problem. The scouts can measure athleticism and personality to an extent, but you really need coaches in the interviews who can get a feel for what kind of football player they are. It is very obvious that Vrabel has made a big impact. If I remember right, the word is that Mayo’s interviews with coaches and prospects barely had anything to do with football.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I think you are really hitting the nail on the head when it comes to why this draft is better than previous - they have coaches who can actually identify players with the right mental makeup and the right scheme fit. Last year, the front office most likely got zero help or guidance with this from the coaches, which is a problem. The scouts can measure athleticism and personality to an extent, but you really need coaches in the interviews who can get a feel for what kind of football player they are. It is very obvious that Vrabel has made a big impact. If I remember right, the word is that Mayo’s interviews with coaches and prospects barely had anything to do with football.

Another problem with last year is that they were still using Belichick's system for assessing players.

 

[tuckeverlasting]

patriots backups stand out against vikings backups.

 

[tuckeverlasting]

It's also slang for a hot woman as in..."That's a nice piece of crumpet"

where would that be ?...stow on the wold ? welcome to the new world.

 

[Dec54]

A hot woman or a hot breakfast treat. Take your pick.

I bit of Crumpet

 

[Dec54]

That's a woman of ill-repute.

Crumpet or Strumpet. One you could take home to meet your Mother, the other not

 

[Dec54]

He played well, but his arms really do look really short compared to everyone else, and I noticed that he was often the only OL in a 2-point stance.

That's a wind up right. His arms look "really" short to everyone else. What you do, run every play in slow mo so you can gauge every ones arm length. Give us a break.

 

[PatsFan2]

Any word on Kyle Williams?? Asking for an X.

 

[PP2]

Can somebody tell Maye day Pop Douglas is 5'5 and not 6'5. Terrible touch right there to a wide open guy: Passing it on for a friend.

Douglas correctly identified that he was in a zone and sat in the hole. Maye did not and led him on the corner he was running. I suspect this is a lingering effect of switching from the WC system back to the EP. With the EP, unlike the WC, you take what the defense gives you. The QB and receiver have to see and recognize the same thing in order for the EP to work.

I've said many times that going from the EP to the WC is like going from writing right hand to writing left hand. It's not simple- and now they're switching back to the EP.

No matter what happens within the next few years, Vrabel and McD have got to stay put for consistency's sake, otherwise we're no better than the Jets installing a new HC, a new system, literally every year. Their tree never bears fruit because it's not allowed the necessary time to grow and bloom.

 

[PP2]

Yes, Kyle Williams was possibly concussed by a hospital ball from Dobbs. I blame @Steve102 and @TommyD4207 for continually leaving him off 53 man roster projections…..

Dobbs is a ****ing disaster. They have got to cut him. He's not picking up the system at all, and he doesn't have the ability to lead his throws or protect the receivers. His ball placement is ****.

You have to hand it to the Patriots for continuing their proud tradition of having a steep dropoff between QB1 and QB2.

 

[Dec54]

Another problem with last year is that they were still using Belichick's system for assessing players.

Didn't Eliot Wolf try to introduce his new system?

 

[signbabybrady]

Football guy

 

[manxman2601]

Football guy

Feel about life the way Vrabel clearly feels about football in this pic.

 

[Huckleberry1]

He played well, but his arms really do look really short compared to everyone else, and I noticed that he was often the only OL in a 2-point stance.

Yep, that 1/3 of an inch is glaringly obvious. Also, did you notice the pebbles on his left cleat in pass protection? There were at least 3-4 grains of sand between the #6 and # 8 spikes on his cleats, which really affected his 3rd backstop with his left foot, it slipped more than 1/8 of an inch, something a great pass rusher will really exploit.

Some other observations:

Ben Brown mouth breathes too much. I was watching him closely, and his mouth was open taking in air. He needs to be coached out of this problem. He should be nose breathing, it is far more effective, and he won’t wear down as easily.

Milton Williams waist was 1/10th of an inch larger than last week, The Patriots gave him the largest contract in their history, and he can’t stay away from the donuts. Lose that 10th of an inch Milt.

Javon Baker was slow off the line. His first step was .0003 slower than it was against Washington, and as a result he went 1-7, and will probably end up on the practice squad now.

There were so many other micro metrics I picked up on, but it’s too depressing to discuss them. more. Vrabel and Co. really botched the offseason, taking players no one else wanted whose micro metrics are just glaringly obvious to everyone but the densest of fans, who wouldn’t be able to tell a .00003 difference in a 40 time if it punched them in the face. Which hopefully Will Campbell will do the next time someone claims they can see the 1/3 of an inch of his arm length.

 

[KCSVEN]

He was such a bad edge-rusher that he had 3 sacks, 6 hits, and 22 hurries on 348 pass rush attempts. He also had 41 stops. Mind you. That's with no Barmore. No Bentley. No Gonzalez. Godchaux playing too much. And a lack of coaching,. He's improved every year since he was drafted.

He's an above average Edge guy who is very good against the run. He's never going to be Judon or LT, but he's not the scrub you want to make him out to be..

His pass rush win rate was 8.9%, Over the past five years, the NFL average pass rush win rate against a single pass-blocker was 17% for a qualified rusher.

He has a 59.2 PFF Pass Rush rating and the only game above 66 all year was the Bills game vs backups which boosted his overall number. He ranks 113 out of 210, just below average.


Not sure how a stop is related to pass rush? I didn't say he's not a good run defender.
Edge RUSHER is the need I was talking about.

I remember the note from tape review: "I can't watch another Jennings pass rush, we need to get an edge rusher next year"

 

[Pape]

patriots backups stand out against vikings backups.

Bedard is gonna Bedard...

 

[Huckleberry1]

Didn't Eliot Wolf try to introduce his new system?

Wolf’s grading system was used for this draft. According to Ryan Cowden Patriot scouts had spent 18 months scouting and analyzing the prospects for this draft, and Vrabel’s team came in with 3 months to go in that process. However that 3 months are the most important months in the process. And @Ross12 has it right that the process for Wolf worked much better in tandem with Vrabel, Cowden, and Streicher than it did with Mayo, as they were able to articulate the culture they wanted to create, and the types of players they wanted to bring in to create that culture. And Vrabel ultimately gets the credit for this draft in that he led the decision making.

 

[KCSVEN]

No matter what happens within the next few years, Vrabel and McD have got to stay put for consistency's sake, otherwise we're no better than the Jets installing a new HC, a new system, literally every year. Their tree never bears fruit because it's not allowed the necessary time to grow and bloom.

1,000 times YES. I can't imagine a scenario disastrous enough where that doesn't happen. The fact nobody will hire Josh as OC is the reason it was a great hire. If you are not hiring an Andy Reid/Ben Johnson OC guru as head coach you need an OC that will stick around for 5 years.