PostGame Thread Official Preseason Game 3: Patriots Lose 23-7 to the Titans - REACTIONS Thread

[Tunescribe]

Pile on Zappe all you want

The Titans sure did. (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

To a large extent you're right, but with three fumbles his ball security was bad. Overall the kid had a disappointing preseason, we can only hope he rises above it.

 

[PatsFan2]

Yawns wake me up when it's over.

 

[PatsFan2]

I wouldn't be surprised if they pick up a decent Vet QB off the scrap heap Zappe have limitations and McSorely sucks.

 

[PatsFan2]

The Titans sure did. (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

To a large extent you're right, but with three fumbles his ball security was bad. Overall the kid had a disappointing preseason, we can only hope he rises above it.

IF our Starting OL don't play significantly better we might be saying the same thing about Mac.

 

[goheels22002]

On speed dial: Jacoby Brissett, Colt McCoy, Marcus Mariota, TFB?

 

[PaulThePat]

On speed dial: Jacoby Brissett, Colt McCoy, Marcus Mariota, TFB?

Gardner Minshew?

 

[PP2]

I knew it was that kind of night after I saw ***ot couldn't even grab himself some Chestnut.

 

[stcjones]

Tough playing conditions tonight in that brutal heat. But the lack of good quality depth at certain positions is alarming. OL is going to be an issue all year ….hope Macs life insurance is paid up. Can’t blame Zappe entirely for his performance last night as he had crap OL working with him all game! I think he will still be a good backup in the league and with a decent OL maybe he does more. I personally would have honestly liked to see an entire quarter at the least of Malik Cunningham at QB and see what he could do and is there something there that would justify keeping him…..because so far I don’t see him making it at WR.

 

[ralmat55]

I’d be willing to bet they may explore an option there ahead of Cunningham during roster cutdowns. Too much uncertainty with a significant amount at stake this season. I just don’t know whether or not someone wouldn’t snag him if Bill put him on waivers. Not ready to give up on Zappe since the kid has proved he can play in a pinch, but Cunningham definitely complicates things.

It’s really not as much about Cunningham as the role he could play on the team. He’s far from being starter material as either a QB or WR, and I doubt he’ll ever be a starter at either.

If you have 3 QBs on the 53, you can have 3 dressed on game day. Gone are the days when the Pats had a QB who only failed to finish a game because of injury only twice in 22 seasons. QBs get hurt, and with the concussion protocols, it’s not up to the coach or QB whether a concussed player can return to the game.

This Patriots team is not so talented it can’t leave a 3rd QB on the 53 for just that reason. Why even subject Cunningham to waivers if he needs to be on the 53 to allow the Pats to take advantage of the emergency QB rule?

 

[Tunescribe]

IF our Starting OL don't play significantly better we might be saying the same thing about Mac.

Don't get your hopes up. Mac is a better player.

 

[Tunescribe]

Gardner Minshew?

I wanted the Patriots to get that guy a while ago.

 

[PatMan]

Gardner Minshew?

Mac couldn't handle that smoke.

 

[sb1]

I wouldn't be surprised if they pick up a decent Vet QB off the scrap heap Zappe have limitations and McSorely sucks.

Zappe is locked in to QB2. Wentz is available and he’s better than McSorely….maybe. Doubt he would agree to be a QB3.

 

[sb1]

On speed dial: Jacoby Brissett, Colt McCoy, Marcus Mariota, TFB?

+ Wentz I guess

TFB won’t do it as much as I wish he would.

 

[Ian]

I wanted the Patriots to get that guy a while ago.

Other than being more experienced, he’s not much better. Same height and watching him in Jacksonville, he was fairly turnover prone. Zappe is at least a little smarter with the football, but I don’t know how much of an upgrade Minshew would be. Feels like you’d be adding essentially a similar player.

 

[Family]

They're not making a switch at backup QB this late. This is a next year conversation IMO. We're at the end of camp with bigger problems.

The team is not eating cap space (unless Mac is hurt) on someone who doesn't even know the system.

 

[Stu Pidassle]

I wouldn't be surprised if they pick up a decent Vet QB off the scrap heap Zappe have limitations and McSorely sucks.

I agree that the team should take advantage of the cutdown to bring in a Hoyer type to provide mentorship to the QB room and help develop Cunningham on the PS. It would make sense that this was always in the back of BOB and BB's mind once Hoyer left. This is the perfect time to add the veteran from the team dynamics perspective. If another veteran QB was brought in leading into camp, the media would fixate on the competition with Mac, Zappe, McSorley and question the confidence in the young QBs. Letting Mac and Zap focus on BOB allowed the QB room to get through camp, establish their roles and learn the new offense without any unnecessary noise. With no QB controversy, bringing in someone now to fill a clear need, the new old guy will be welcomed in the lockerroom and with the press.

 

[Ian]

Honestly, the Zappe situation is just a case of people needing to lower their expectations, sort of like with Mac. Mac is a solid player who has shown he can win and be a decent starter, with the unknown being just how good of a player he can be. Zappe has shown he can be a capable backup who can come in and win a couple of games if they need him to. If he can eventually get to Hoyer's level, I don't think many of us would be unhappy with that. But trying to put him on this pedestal the way people did when he started and won 2 out of 17 games last season was just unrealistic.

Either way, last night was a reminder that the offensive line situation also remains a concern, regardless of who is back there. So hopefully, they get that figured out heading into the season. Obviously, there were no starters out there, but having not watched it back yet, I don't even know if any of those guys played well enough to feel like there was much to build off of.

 

[1960Pats]

By and large a disappointing preseason dominated by OL woes. I'm glad it's over, hoping to be pleasantly surprised when the real bullets fly.

It's very early but they seem to be where most here thought they'd be. An above average defense and a below average offense. Even the TD they scored was set up by the defense

 

[Patsfan1958]

Belichick's press conference: