With Brady away, the mice will play

[PonyExpress]

-This is the first preseason game under BB I felt I saw the "too cool for school" attitude from the vets. There was no fight in the team. Even when they were pounded in Cinci years back, the team was really trying and hitting, at least for a half. When the starters underperformed, BB kept the starting D on the field for 3 quarters. Not today. Maybe the short week, with Philly getting an extra 4 days rest, has something to do with it. Still, it felt damned un-Patriotic.

-Cassel has a great arm, is tall and athletic and smart. but because he had no college reps or game experience, he has no comfort level on the field. This lack of comfort leads to shaky field generalship and a lack of confidence in him from his teammates. That's the kiss of Death and looks to me like eventually they quit on him, mentally.

-I liked what I saw from Mayo, Wheatley and Crable. Mayo is clearly a starting caliber NFL player. He is physical, violent, fast and smart. Crable has tons of natural talent, which is obvious.

-Seymour looks better than I've seen him in years. Like, 5 years. He physically looks almost at 2003 level, when he was a top 10 player in the NFL.

-If Meriweather had a broken bone, i doubt they would have let him walk to the locker room. This defense will lose a lot of character fire and speed up the middle without him. d%#*!@t. Let's pray he's okay.

-Joey Harrington should be available in 2 weeks.

 

[Brady to Brown]

-This is the first preseason game under BB I felt I saw the "too cool for school" attitude from the vets. There was no fight in the team. Even when they were pounded in Cinci years back, the team was really trying and hitting, at least for a half. When the starters underperformed, BB kept the starting D on the field for 3 quarters. Not today. Maybe the short week, with Philly getting an extra 4 days rest, has something to do with it.

-Cassel has a great arm, is tall and athletic and smart. but because he had no college reps or game experience, he has no comfort level on the field. This lack of comfort leads to shaky field generalship and a lack of confidence in him from his teammates. That's the kiss of Death and looks to me like eventually they quit on him, mentally.

-I liked what I saw from Mayo, Wheatley and Crable. Mayo is clearly a starting caliber NFL player. He is physical, violent, fast and smart. Crable has tons of natural talent, which is obvious.

-Seymour looks better than I've seen him in years. Like, 5 years. He physically looks almost at 2003 level, when he was a top 10 player in the NFL.

-If Meriweather had a broken bone, i doubt they would have let him walk to the locker room. This defense will lose a lot of character fire and speed up the middle without him. d%#*!@t. Let's pray he's okay.

-Joey Harrington should be available in 2 weeks.

Great post.

On another note I am wondering if Belichick is pi$$ed about the 80 man limit.

 

[jmt57]

I know it's just a meaningless preseason game, but I have to admit that I did see a lot of smiles and laughing on the sideline from the starters. Not exactly the attitude that you would think BB would want the veterans to convey to the new guys in a game situation.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Great post.

On another note I am wondering if Belichick is pi$$ed about the 80 man limit.

I don't honestly know. He's actually opposed to increasing the 45-man gameday roster, believe it or not.

 

[Richter]

Great post.

On another note I am wondering if Belichick is pi$$ed about the 80 man limit.

There isn't a coach in the NFL that isn't. Goodell is a fool for not expanding the rosters. Well, he's a fool for a lot of other reasons, but especially for not expanding the rosters.

I think it may also play into the lack of effort we saw. Guys are probably just thinking about not getting hurt out there in a meaningless game.

 

[BionicPatriot]

I know it's just a meaningless preseason game, but I have to admit that I did see a lot of smiles and laughing on the sideline from the starters. Not exactly the attitude that you would think BB would want the veterans to convey to the new guys in a game situation.

Game situation? IT'S PRACTICE. THE VETERANS HAD NO REASON TO BE UPSET.

This damn board boy.

One week the D will be top 5, now we got problems.

 

[Brady to Brown]

There isn't a coach in the NFL that isn't. Goodell is a fool for not expanding the rosters. Well, he's a fool for a lot of other reasons, but especially for not expanding the rosters.

I think it may also play into the lack of effort we saw. Guys are probably just thinking about not getting hurt out there in a meaningless game.

From where I am sitting it looks like Belichick is pi$$ing away the preseason.

He is making the preseason games a joke.

 

[DefenseRules]

Game situation? IT'S PRACTICE. THE VETERANS HAD NO REASON TO BE UPSET.

This damn board boy.

One week the D will be top 5, now we got problems.

EXACTLY. I have never seen smiling or laughing on the sidelines when we were losing a game that mattered. People need to relax. I am concerned about the OL and the backup QB situation. We need some consistency at both positions, IMO. BB will not be happy with the stupid mistakes though. The ones that were PRIMARILY made by Cassel and CJ Jones.

 

[Richter]

From where I am sitting it looks like Belichick is pi$$ing away the preseason.

He is making the preseason games a joke.

Is it possible to piss away something that has next to no value to begin with?

Belichick isn't making the preseason games a joke, they already are.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Light and Brady need to get back. The pieces will look a lot better together then.

 

[mgteich]

A joke to you maybe, not to Belichick, and not to those players on the bubble. Perhaps we should have a thread on the purpose of perseason games to the patriots. Players were evaluated today. Rookies (and youngsters like Woods and Jackson) continued to develop. New players started to get used to the team (Hobson and Lynch).

From where I am sitting it looks like Belichick is pi$$ing away the preseason.

He is making the preseason games a joke.

 

[pheenix11]

Is it possible to piss away something that has next to no value to begin with?

Belichick isn't making the preseason games a joke, they already are.

Yup, too many people on this board are drinking the NFL Kool Aid that these glorified scrimmages actually matter. Just because the obnoxious announcers on the NFL Network tonight treated it like a SB doesn't mean we have to be as stupid.

Its bad enough the owners charge season ticket holders full price for these practices. Please don't dignify that absurdity by buying what the clowns on the NFL Network were selling tonight.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Yup, too many people on this board are drinking the NFL Kool Aid that these glorified scrimmages actually matter. Just because the obnoxious announcers on the NFL Network tonight treated it like a SB doesn't mean we have to be as stupid.

The best moment for me was when we had all backups in other than, I think, Mayo and Hobbs and Sharpe said "is this the Patriots ?" . . . well, actually it wasn't

 

[BionicPatriot]

The best moment for me was when we had all backups in other than, I think, Mayo and Hobbs and Sharpe said "is this the Patriots ?" . . . well, actually it wasn't

It was absolutely ridiculous listening to those morons get so damn giddy over a preseason game. We have one reason to panic, if Merriweather goes down suddenly we have huuuuuge secondary issues. Fingers crossed....

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

We have one reason to panic, if Merriweather goes down suddenly we have huuuuuge secondary issues. Fingers crossed....

I wouldn't panic, although I prefer Meriweather to Sanders we would be OK with Sanders and Harrison as the starters and Lynch to play some role - however we would be incredibly shallow in terms of depth.

 

[PATRIOT64]

I wouldn't panic, although I prefer Meriweather to Sanders we would be OK with Sanders and Harrison as the starters and Lynch to play some role - however we would be incredibly shallow in terms of depth.

Did any of you immediately think once you saw Brandon limp off, that that guy on the OTHER sidelines now who we affectionately used to call Geno could be missed pretty bad right now?

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Did any of you immediately think once you saw Brandon limp off, that that guy on the OTHER sidelines now who we affectionately used to call Geno could be missed pretty bad right now?

I didn't. In fact I still haven't thought it despite reading it He disappeared around, what, 2004 ? Basically never to be seen again except for moments few and far between.

 

[JoePats]

I don't honestly know. He's actually opposed to increasing the 45-man gameday roster, believe it or not.

Is that true? I thought I've read him say he would eliminate all game-day inactives and preferred to dress all 53. Not positive about that.

 

[tdw777]

Light and Brady need to get back. The pieces will look a lot better together then.

speaking of light...what's happened to him???

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Is that true? I thought I've read him say he would eliminate all game-day inactives and preferred to dress all 53. Not positive about that.

It's possible I'm confusing the 45- and 53-man rosters, but I remember reading a quote that he's not fond of the over-specialization that he thinks would result, Lonie Paxton notwithstanding.