MORSE: What to Look for In Patriots Preseason Game Number 2
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Brutal, that was the word Greg Bedard used to describe the joint practice weeben the Patriots and Eagles. The Offensive line was truly offensive giving up a total of 14 sacks. Many of those were on Drake Maye as he was indecisive and holding onto the ball.
Here is what I am looking for in the 2nd Pre-season game with the Eagles.
Offensive Line Can they protect the QBs? The Patriots are not going to show any part of their offense to a team they will be playing in the Opening game. It will be very basic football. I expect them to run the ball and pass infrequently. The tackle play must improve if they are going to do anything this year. Vederian Lowe at Left Tackle is a problem. The starting line is ok but the backups have been awful, especially Atonio Mafi at Center. Caedan Wallace and Layden Robinson are rookie middle round draft picks and they are playing like rookies. I expect more out of Nick Leverett, Calvin Anderson and Michael Jordan as they are NFL veterans that have started in the NFL. The Patriots don’t trust them enough to put Drake Maye behind them and expose him unnecessary hits. They don’t want to turn Maye into Mac Jones in his pre-season games. Maye is extremely inexperienced as a QB having played just two seasons of college ball and missing his senior year of High School ball to COVID. He has never played under center, and this is all new to him, especially reading defenses. We are looking at a two-year project to get him up and ready to play in the NFL. Get use to that. If I am the Patriots, I would have Joe Milton as the Game Day backup and Maye as the emergency QB.
Defensive Line That is the one area the Patriots did well against the Eagles. They put constant pressure on the QBs. Can they contain Hurts? Jeremiah Pharms is having a great camp and he was a force against a good offensive line by Philly. The last 4 games of 2023, Pharms had a 20% win rate per Pro Football Focus. He is one to watch. Will they have a drop off now that Judon has been traded?
Cornerbacks With Jon Jones and Marcus Jone out there is an opportunity for Alex Austin, and Marco Wilson to secure a spot on the team as backup. Shaun Wade is also expected to miss this game. Isaiah Bolden and Marcellus Dial have special teams ability. Christian Gonzalez has had a mediocre camp and got eaten alive by AJ Brown in the joint practice. Brown does that to a lot of NFL corners. Gozalez will face top WRs every week as the Patriots schedule is the worst in the league.
Wide Receivers The few times the QBs were able to throw the ball downfield the receivers dropped too many passes. I don’t get the insistence of having Tyquan Thornton as the principal outside deep threat. He has great speed but doesn’t know how to be a receiver. Kayson Boutte has the skills, but he and Jalen Reagor have the dropsies and can’t be relied upon. I hope we get to see Pop Douglas, especially if the QBs have to get rid of the ball quickly. Reagor has one plus factor going for him, and that’s his kickoff return capability, which Thornton and Boutte don’t. Will we get anything out of KJ Osborn?
I am sorry to see Matthew Judon traded. He was a leader on the team and a stand-up guy. Judon was colorful and, always came out and faced the media no matter how bad things were. When healthy, he was a force on the pass rush. Getting a 3rd round (top 100) pick from Atlanta is very good compensation. The Patriots are going nowhere this year, Judon was not in the team’s plan past this year. He is 32 and that played against him for getting a new contract from the Patriots. The way he played this out worked against him too. They are making an example of him for the younger players too. Last year Anfernee Jennings played very well in Judon’s place. He doesn’t have the pass rush skills that Judon does. Keon White is another player that could step in. This also gives Oshane Ximines and Josh Uche opportunities to make the team! Houston and Chicago were teams that were listed as interested. It looks like Atlanta stepped up with the best offer. Houston’s pick would be later in the round and not as good as Atlanta’s. Chicago’s offer was believed to be a 4th round because it would probably been at the top of the round. The Patriots also get back another $6.5M on the salary cap.
Backup Safety Jaylin Hawkins and Dell Pettus have a good chance of making the team. Pettus also has special team playmaking ability. Joshuah Bledsoe has been hurt for most of training camp, but he did play in the joint practice. Hawkins has been playing with the ones some.
Open Training Camp is Over Tuesday’s joint practice is the last open practice for the Patriots. The media will have limited access to the beginning of practice, so we won’t be getting reports on the number passes completed and one-on-one battles. They will be able to report on the start of practice but that is it.
Kicker Competition I don’t think either kicker is lighting it up in practices and this may be an area where the patriots will be looking at the waiver wire for help. Hopefully we will have a few opportunities to see them kick in the game.
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Thanks Mark. I don’t always agree with you but you’re my favorite PatsFans writer. Absolutely agree that Maye should be the emergency QB. Foolish to rush him into a team that isn’t going to make the playoffs. Nothing at all to be gained. I do think Tyquan can be a very good receiver though. Injuries are always make or break but he has the talent, is running much better routes according to some of your fellow sports writers and has put on a little muscle. I wish Boutte luck but the gambling/legal issues suggest to me he doesn’t have the… Read more »