The defense they played last week was exceptional, this week not so much... even with backups with a smattering of starters mixed in... they're simply not a good team. This tells me the Patriots are somewhere in between last weeks team and this weeks team in terms of level of play.
The QB's looked good as you'd expect them to against a team that had trouble defending the pass. I was heartened by what I heard about them shutting down the Eagles pass rush in joint practice, despite this inability to cover they actually had a decent pass rush last year. Cam played the way Cam should play. He threw 9 passes in three series. He's a thrower not a passer. His darts to Jakobi and others in the middle of the field is his bread and butter, his inaccurate throws to check down RB's is still maddening though... James White had to make a spectacular grab to keep the ball in play and could have picked up additional yards if not for the errant throw. Mac was the opposite of Cam but also threw a questionable ball over the middle which had me thinking either he or the receiver screwed up. If Harry connects on that long strike both guy's day looks a lot more impressive.
The RB's are good and they're deep, we know this. I still have Stevenson getting the Foxboro flu or placed on the IR so they can bring him back late if they have injury issues, his ball control issues and last place on the depth chart cement that barring injury or trade.
The OL is what we expected, very good and powerful. I want to go back and watch the backups like Tex suggests. I did that against Washington and two players stood out especially in the run game, Cajuste and Marcus Martin looked like road pavers and Hoyer stayed clean in the pocket. If Cajuste can finally give us some football we may have some real depth at the position outside of Herron and maybe have a swing guy who can play some guard with effectiveness.
TE's were pretty much non-existent and I suspect Asiasi was called upon to block a lot more than run pass routes. The coaches are grading him on that as well, so let's review the film and see what was asked of him and how he performed before we suggest he sucked because he didn't light up the box score.
WR's were good, have been, will continue to be. Cam is confident throwing to the middle of the field where big WR's like Jakobi and Bourne do their best work. Mac throws outside the numbers more and both guys were throwing well. I wonder if N'Keal got hurt on that dive, if not I wouldn't rule him out just yet. Yes he should have caught it, but he was open downfield and that's what you want to see... say what you want about him but the kid catches almost everything, hands haven't been an issue. Plus if TE depth gets thin again he can fill in at that move TE position. I'll let the ghost of N'Keal die once he's gone... course now he may be injured again. Gunner is eventually the future in the slot once Mac's starting, Cam has issues with small targets but Gunner can get open and catch it.
DT's... they look really good with Carl Davis, Christian Barmore and eventually Lawrence Guy when he returns. Godchaux sucks... he gets blown off the ball in the run game and as of yet has done nothing in pass rush. What's frustrating most of all is they developed Adam Butler from poor run defender to good run defender then let him walk for less money than they paid Davon. Now what... we need to wait for them to coach Godchaux up so he can defend the run? Why not just pay Butler less money instead? Speaking of which... did Henry Anderson play last night at all? He has been invisible all offseason. Montravius Adams and Akeem Spence are jags. Some depth would be nice here but I suspect BB won't admit he and his personnel guys screwed up and we'll see Godchaux until he's so obviously godawful that they actually replace him. I don't get this obsession with DT's who can pressure but suck against the run, I never will... why not both like Davis, Barmore and Guy?
LBer's are great, a strength. Size, speed, depth... I hope Uche is okay after getting injured. He was kind of fragile in college which makes me think he's a part time player until he gets more durable.
DB's looked good, even against Flacco who can still make rudimentary throws. That they look decent with Gilmore and Jones out is great, add those two back to a more improved mix and we have a great group again. The safeties look solid, Duggar made a great ranging FS type play to prevent a TD in the end zone. We knew he could tackle, it's good to see him taking the right angles. For anyone who wants to moan about dropped passes by Pat's WR's take a look at high priced hood ornament Devonta Smith last night... the kid was dropping everything. I expect him to improve but preseason is about improvement, the Pats receivers meanwhile caught almost everything.
ST's look decent, they need to block better on return teams.
