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

[One-If-By-Sea]

With the Pats recent history they needed to overpay get FAs to come here.

If things go as we are hoping, with good reason, NE will be a desirable destination for FAs.

Ben Johnson interviewed with the Pats before the Bears. We chose Vrable/McDaniels. We signed 6 or 8 FAs this past year. UDFAs signed with us as well. NE is a desirable destination already due to Vrabel, McDaniels, and Maye.

 

[signbabybrady]

Per Reiss:

 

[PScottman]

Is your argument that that we have less of a drop-off from #5 to #6 than other teams?

Is your argument that production against other team's depth players doesn't count as consideration for the final roster?

There are a lot of variables. Even cap hit and draft position are considered - likely differently by different coaching and general managing regimes.

I just don't rate past draft position or "potential" as highly as some. Call it the Americans love an underdogism if you want. I also think they can stash Bourne on IR designated now AND keep Chism and develop him and see if he is what he's produced at that higher level.

I've dismissed Polk and Baker regardless of past draft and "potential".

 

[JohnJH]

If they're using TE3 at FB, they will absolutely be on the 53.

Barring injury, I suspect Westover will be TE #3 and Primary FB.

 

[raduray]

I didn't hear anything about Bell being hurt. Was he even active yesterday?
Westover certainly looks like TE3 right now. Dippre has become invisible sadly, I hoped he might show something, but maybe gets a development year on the PS.

Seemed to me, on the plays I focused on him, that Westover was ineffective as a blocker, both in the FB and TE roles.

 

[BobDigital]

with 4 active WR's on Game Day, Boutte will back-up at all three positions.

I have more than 4. I have 5 or maybe 6. Seems like a lot, but they all do different things and it is a position which you rotate a lot cause they are constantly sprinting. I don't know any teams that only have 4 WRs on the game day roster.... Maybe Baltimore

My 48 game day roster (and it really is 48... no team doesn't use the exception of an 8th OL or 3rd QB) looks like this to me

QB (2) Drake Maye, Joshua Dobbs
RB (3) TreVeyon Henderson, Antonio Gibson, Rhamondre Stevenson
TE (3) Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper, Jack Westover
WR (6) Stefon Diggs, Demario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, Efton Chism III
C (2) Garrett Bradbury, Ben Brown
G (3) Mike Onwenu, Jared Wilson, Sidy Sow
T (3) Will Campbell, Morgan Moses, Marcus Bryant
ED (5) Harold Landry, Keion White, K’Lavon Chaisson, Truman Jones, Bradyn Swinson
DT (4) Christian Barmore, Milton Williams, Khyiris Tonga, Joshua Farmer
ILB (4) Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, Jack Gibbens, Marte Mapu
CB (5) Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, Alex Austin, D.J. James, Marcus Jones
SS (2) Jaylinn Hawkins, Dell Pettus
FS (2) Jabrill Peppers, Craig Woodson
ST (4) Bryce Baringer, Julian Ashby, Brenden Schooler, Andres Borregales

3rd TE is a maybe... but they with him doubling as a FB... they will probably dress a 3rd TE just about every game knowing Josh. But could i see a world were they only dress 2? Yes.

I know 6 WRs is a lot but Chism can help with return duties and try to keep the DBs healthy which is a thinner spot. Also if Douglas needs a rest he's a better slot option than anyone else by a mile. At the very least they dress 5 cause we saw what Hollins gives them... That big body option is nice to have as is his run blocking... As Williams with probably have limited snaps early as he just isn't up to speed yet, but you want him out there. So maybe they sit Chism, but i think since they will dress only 3 RBs they have room for the 6th guy. Also the last reason i think they carry 6 is i want Chism potentially in there. He just has the feel of a guy that has a chance to make a play, a catch, break a tackle and get you something which can maybe turn a game around if things are going bad and nothing in the passing game is working for you. I don't want him not having a chance to do that for you.

Keep in mind without a 6th WR they would dress only 21 offensive players.... Yes, more STs come from the D, but still that seems excessively lopsided, and lest we forget Schooler is an emergency DB. Which would only make it more lopsided. A 21 to 24 split to be exact.

And they'd want that 8th OL more than that 3rd QB even if they carry one on the roster, which i doubt.

On defense edge 5 and 4 interior guys seems right. I have Swinson and Truman as the 4 and 5. Swinson i think they want to role with early and see what he can do. Farmer vs Pharms is a tough question... but i think they go youth If they decide to have only 5 WRs Pharms is the add i think, even though its hard to say how many snaps there are for him. As for Ponder vs Swinson... That battle will go on into the year. We will get our answer eventually and it may just be trading someone away. Jennings even if he makes it... IDK if he gets to play. Maybe... but I'd hate to slow the progress of the young guys who need the reps.

LB not much of a surprise besides Mapu being the 4th. Could have been Tavai but i think there is only room for 1 of them on the roster. CB has no surprise. As safety even if we keep Dugger (I think they should) he is a healthy scratch. Pettus just offers too much on STs.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

Interesting analysis pointing out a couple Maye missed opportunities.

This is interesting stuff…. Would you rather have a strong armed QB who is overly aggressive and you have to teach to reign in, or a strong armed QB who is overly conservative that you have to teach to let loose? You really don’t see the latter very often.

My opinion is that both the prior coaching staff and this one have preached the importance of not turning over the ball, and Drake is extremely coachable and taking it a bit too far as he’s still getting used to the system and the league. I’m hoping once he gets more comfortable in his NFL skin and with the offense, he’ll have a better sense as to those shots he can make and those he can’t.

 

[DaBruinz]

with 4 active WR's on Game Day, Boutte will back-up at all three positions.

Boutte is ahead of Hollins on the depth chart. They'll have 5 WR dressed on game days with Hollins being primarily STs.

 

[mgteich]

Is your argument that production against other team's depth players doesn't count as consideration for the final roster?

.

Not at all.

Chism definitely won his spot based on his competition against backups.

That will likely be the case for others like DE Jones and DB James who are very likely to make the 53 (although I think that James did play some against starters).

It will also be the case for Sow should he make the roster or IR-DTR).

It is also true for players less likely to make the 53 like Swinson, Baker, Farmer, Battle, Wallace or Robinson.

 

[Ross12]

with 4 active WR's on Game Day, Boutte will back-up at all three positions.

I think they will probably have 5 active, but the 5th will sometimes be Chism who will mainly be playing as a returner. Some other weeks they will activate Williams instead.

I’m not sure who between Hollins and Boutte is the “starter” but in reality it probably won’t matter much. The two will likely play relatively equal snaps, and sometimes might both be on the field when Diggs rotates out, with one playing Z (probably Boutte).

 

[Joey007]

Last year the fanboys shat on me when I *****ed and moaned that they looked like **** in the preseason and I said preseason matters bc it very often is a reflection of the regular season in terms of overall operation, penalties, etc. Dumbass fanboys said preseason does not matter. Guess what, I was 100% correct even though the footie pajama Kraft/Mayo fanboys (yes, we had Mayo fanboys who refused any criticism of him) doth protest.
Well, it's night and day this pre season. It's amazing what a competent coach can do. Things are looking up and preseason should carry over into the regular season. There should be way fewer pre snap penalties and oline infractions....resulting in far fewer 1st and 15s and 1st and 20s. I like what I see. Go Pats.

I do agree that one of the biggest takeaways is the penalties, or lack thereof. This team has been playing pretty clean so far. That’s night and day from last season.

 

[Uptown]

 

[jdlboot14]

This is interesting stuff…. Would you rather have a strong armed QB who is overly aggressive and you have to teach to reign in, or a strong armed QB who is overly conservative that you have to teach to let loose? You really don’t see the latter very often.

My opinion is that both the prior coaching staff and this one have preached the importance of not turning over the ball, and Drake is extremely coachable and taking it a bit too far as he’s still getting used to the system and the league. I’m hoping once he gets more comfortable in his NFL skin and with the offense, he’ll have a better sense as to those shots he can make and those he can’t.

Agree. Also, for everyone who is mad because the Pats aren't pushing the down-field aerial offense - it's called preseason. Both Vrabel & JMD come from BB's long-range chess-playing mindset. They're not trying to scheme big plays right now, just seeing who can win in straight up matchups.

 

[Uptown]

 

[jdlboot14]

Baker is so lost. I'd seriously rather have Bourne or even Jiles.
Baker is like the sleek golden retriever who bolts down the field so fast and gracefully and then when the frisbee comes, he's so excitable and frantic he just bashes his face right off the thing, or stumbles over his feet before even jumping.
I think the WR corp is sealed today for this coaching staff. But, they will have to decide whether to cut Bourne or roster him for Wk 1, just to put him on IR-dtr. That would allow them to release someone at the bottom, in order to PS him and elevate later in the week. Someone like Hasty or Westover.

 

[Uptown]

 

[mike_usagisan]

They’re going against the twos and threes, but still, I’m glad they’re doing the right things with the opportunities they have.

 

[Uptown]

 

[mgteich]

They’re going against the twos and threes, but still, I’m glad they’re doing the right things with the opportunities they have.

Brown playing even close to adequate at LG against the 2's is a major step forward for the OL.

 

[Huckleberry1]

So maybe the Pats want to bite the bullet and start working Wilson in at center now?

Maybe they think they have better LG candidates to pair with Wilson at center, than they do with the other current centers on the roster to pair with Wilson at guard.

That would be the best solution imo. Bradbury is going to be too much of a liability against the pass rush. It’s possible that Caeden Wallace could work out at LG, which would enable them to move Wilson to Center.