Who surprised you last night vs Carolina? (in a good way)

[Kontradiction]

Cannon has actually been solid pretty much all preseason IMO. He screwed up a couple times, but every lineman has screwed up here and there - it's still camp, after all.

It's hard for me to say this, but I'm actually not worried about Cannon right now. Scar truly has some kind of dark magic.

There's definitely some sorcery afoot if he can somehow make Cannon a dependable RT.

 

[jri37]

The secondary as a whole. The coverage in the 1st half with and underwhelming Rush was pretty darn good.

 

[RayClay]

@MikeReiss
Playing-time note: Undrafted free-agent CB Cre'von LeBlanc played team-high 59 snaps. Coaches evaluating as he makes charge for roster spot.

The same treatment Butler got in 2014 vs. the Panthers in the third preseason game. He more than held his own vs. Funchess, Benjamin, and Ginn in the first half.

He covered 6'4/6'5 WRs on the outside and was step for step with Ted Ginn on a deep pass. He's made the team as CB5 imo.

Also, his 40 time of 4.67 seems as erroneous as Butler's 4.62. He's got game speed.

Yeah, Belichick must have slipped the timer a loaded watch.

 

[Brit patriot]

The secondary as a whole. The coverage in the 1st half with and underwhelming Rush was pretty darn good.

Tactics wise, they wouldn't have made a massive effort to pass rush. This would have been a containment job, as Cam is mobile. Same in the Superbowl against Wilson...keep him in the pocket and don't let him run.

Therefore, I think 'underwhelming' is harsh....

 

[mikey m]

Guys not mentioned yet:
Logan Ryan - of course got plenty of love in the game thread, but he definitely played great. Interesting how effective he has been particularly on bigger wideouts going back to last year. Listed at 5-11, 195 but he's got long arms and good awareness for the football which allow him to compete with the 6-3,6-4 guys when he's in good position, which was pretty much every play last night.

And I gotta throw some love Hightower's way. Not a bunch of highlight plays last night, but just impressed with him overall. He's always been a big dude with good straight line speed for his size, but I swear he has made big improvements in his lateral agility. There were a couple plays where I just watched him (in coverage or working around the line) and thought there is no way a 6'3+, 265+ guy should be able to move like that. I love how he's being used on the edge a bit more this year too, and, again I don't think he has registered any sacks but he's an even better rusher than I previously thought. Thought he was violent with his hands with good speed as mentioned before. I think this might go against the general consensus but I think he is the LB we will focus on locking up first over Collins, as DH is the rock you build around and what he does partially allows Collins to do his thing.

 

[JMC00]

and underwhelming Rush

Pass rush was fine. They contained (which is job #1 for Belichick when playing a very mobile QB) and brought pressure at times.

Pats pressured Newton on 42% of his dropbacks.

 

[Joey007]

Pass rush was fine. They contained (which is job #1 for Belichick when playing a very mobile QB) and brought pressure at times.

Pats pressured Newton on 42% of his dropbacks.

Exactly.

If it were a QB with average mobility last night, we would've piled up a good 3-4 sacks. Cam is just damn good at avoiding sacks.

 

[Mike the Brit]

D.J. Foster. I've been sceptical about some of the hype but he caught the ball smoothly and ran elusively. Perhaps he's the new Julian Edelman/Danny Woodhead.

And I can't post without complimenting Logan Ryan. To make that play in your first game back was pretty special. He's just got better every season -- it's a tribute to him and the coaches.

 

[Brady6]

Yeah, though he still "is what he is" in relation to short yardage. He's an effective running back, but he absolutely must work on lowering his head and shoulders in short yardage. got notably stood up while not getting a first down he could have IMO.

He could be a star for whatever time he has left, if he corrects this problem. Still an effective part of a committee otherwise.

They should have gave the ball to Develin on that play.

 

[Brady6]

@MikeReiss
Playing-time note: Undrafted free-agent CB Cre'von LeBlanc played team-high 59 snaps. Coaches evaluating as he makes charge for roster spot.

The same treatment Butler got in 2014 vs. the Panthers in the third preseason game. He more than held his own vs. Funchess, Benjamin, and Ginn in the first half.

He covered 6'4/6'5 WRs on the outside and was step for step with Ted Ginn on a deep pass. He's made the team as CB5 imo.

Also, his 40 time of 4.67 seems as erroneous as Butler's 4.62. He's got game speed.

The 40 yard dash is a lot about technique, small school players often struggle with it because they do not have the same coaching and resources to refine their technique.

 

[Brady6]

Vincent Valentine looked like a young Vince Wilfork out there last night.

 

[reflexblue]

Having never seen Brisset play before he impressed me the most. He has pocket presence, a strong accurate arm with a quick release, and poise. He stood in there till the last millisecond to deliver a strike on more than one occasion. He seems to have "it" which is hard to define, but i think he has it, at least he did last night. Also on my list are Leblanc, valentine, and hogan.

 

[AtomicDawg]

Folks here have taken mine so I'll offer up..well not really a surprise, but sort of an eye-opener. Cyrus Jones looks like he could be a great 2 way guy. Good at CB (especially last night in a dime package with Johnson amd Harmon) and explosive punt returns. I wouldn't be shocked if he took one to the house this season.

 

[Fencer]

By the way, they were throwing to Blount a bit. I think he could be effective in that role in a limited fashion. He's relaxed and seems to catch easily and starting in the second level plays to hit strengths

I'm flashing back to the time when I noticed Dillon freezing an LB with a double move. It was a lot slower and more visible than when a WR does it, but it sure was effective against that particular defender.

 

[50-yard-line]

After watching the game again (with rewinding and slow mo), Vincent Valentine looked like a monster. He was driving his man (sometimes men) backwards repeatedly.

 

[PatsFan37]

Valentine, Hogan, Logan Ryan, Blount catching passes, Cannon, Foster.
The starting secondary as a team. Butler going 100% in preseason. C. Jones on that return.

But really, Brisset. Preseason or not, scrubs or not, nine for nine is outstanding. Especially for a guy who seemed to be throwing the ball into the dirt in all the early practices.

 

[bbobbo]

One for me was Blount. Dude's moving like a halfback in a fullback's body. He has DEFINITELY lost weight. And I haven't seen him hurdle anybody since Tampa Bay days...



The guy looked fresh, hungry, and ready to rumble. Against a Super Bowl caliber defense!!!



...or maybe, more like HELL yeah!

almost exactly the same move. love how #33 completely whiffs:

 

[bbobbo]

By the way, they were throwing to Blount a bit. I think he could be effective in that role in a limited fashion. He's relaxed and seems to catch easily and starting in the second level plays to hit strengths

he did look pretty comfortable catching the ball:

 

[BradyFTW!]

By the way, they were throwing to Blount a bit. I think he could be effective in that role in a limited fashion. He's relaxed and seems to catch easily and starting in the second level plays to hit strengths

I agree, swing passes in particular seem like they should be really effective with him. He needs a few steps to get going, and a swing pass would give him a running start and get him in the open field where he could outrun linemen and force linebackers/secondary to try to take him down at full speed.

If he can be relied upon to make that catch, it seems like a very effective way to keep him on the field on passing downs.

 

[patchick]

How about the entire rookie class? On draft day, the mood on this board was pretty much outrage and despair. As of last night's game, almost every draft pick was looking like solid value -- and then there's the strong UDFA class.

Obviously they're only about 5 minutes into their careers, but so far so good.