Some observations on the game
Disclaimer: The longer I follow the Pats the LESS I care about what happens in these pre season games. I think practices will tell you more sometimes. It's hard to watch individual battles and techniques, which is what really matters in these scrimmages There is little or no game planning, and that's a huge factor in the team results, so aside from effort and communications, it is very hard to get a fix on where your team is. So for that reason I only watched the first quarter of the game, and then switched, only coming back during commercials. Keep that in mind as you read my comments
1. Lots of things to be critical of and lots of teaching points to be made. But there were a few mitigating factors that have to be mention beyond the players who weren't on the field.
a. The play calling wasn't in reaction to either down and distance or what the Saints were playing.
b. C on the OL is weak. Andrews held up pretty well in pass protection but was over his head vs the run. The fact is you cannot run the ball if your C is getting handled. The good news that IS the #3 C, who happens to be an UDFA rookie
c. That being said it didn't seem like the Rookie OG's weren't getting much movement either in the first half. But at first glance it looked like Mason showed improvement vs the pass.
d. Pass protection was decent. From what I saw, Brady was rarely touched, even though he was hurried a few times.
2. Hard to follow the defense. I thought the first DL played well against the run. And showed some decent inside push. Malcolm Brown got too high a few times I watched him and that can kill an initial push. Easley looked a bit quicker off the ball, but was too high as well. BTW - it was nice to see Siliga back, but he looked like a guy who's missed a lot of camp
3. Interesting to see McCourty still at CB, though he played the slot as well on the GL. Most of the succes Brees had on his first 2 drives was with his RB's and check downs. That's an easy fix when you game plan. Having Collins covering RB's from a MLB position is NOT something they'd do during the season.
4. Based on what I read during the 2 practices with the Saints it was very clear that very little was being done in the running game. So I wasn't surprised that neither side was particularly sharp in that area.
5. I like the way Deion Lewis runs the ball. White STILL as shown nothing in the running game. It has now taken him almost 2 years to come up with one nifty run for his TD, but that's been IT for his running highlight film. However it's clear even to me that he is definitely a threat out of the backfield. Unlike when he runs the ball, on almost every catch he makes the first guy miss. So to me at this point the guy is giving us only ONE value to his game, when he needs to be trying to have 4 (running, catching, blocking, and ST's)
6. The way the Giants are losing S's, it might be the time to pull of a trade, since we are very deep and strong at that position. It wouldn't be a bad thing to pick up a low round pick for either Ebner or Wilson.
7. JG improved his game considerably. He was much more aware of the pass rush, and moved productively when pressured, something he didn't do well against the Packers. His TD pass was a nice preview of his field awareness. I didn't see his pick.
