MORSE: Observations From Patriots Preseason Loss to Eagles

Some observations from the Patriots Pre-Season Loss to Philadelphia:

There are jobs to be won and lost in this game. Some players flourished while other failed miserably. In two weeks, the final cutdown will come and some 18 players will be looking for employment elsewhere.

First point is that none of the Eagles Offensive stars played in the game. Jalen Hurts, Saquan Barkley AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith all sat out. We saw our first Defense against their 2^nd team Offense.

The Patriots Defense dominated and if it wasn’t for the 47-yard Interception return, the Eagles would have been shut out in the 1^st half. I believe the number on 3^rd down was 3 for 7. The Patriots were the more physical team, putting constant pressure on the Philly QBs. Despite this, Kenny Pickett completed 11 of 13 passes.

Three Up

Drake Maye They finally took the bubble wrap off Maye and let him wing it. It appeared the Patriots drew up plays that played to Maye’s strengths rather than try and force feed him into the AVP West Coast Offense. He rolled out, and even had a bootleg with an option to pass or run which ended up as a TD. Was he good? Not so much, completing 6 of 11 passes, with many drops by the receivers. Maye dropped a dime on a deep pass to Javon Baker who stretched out for the ball and had possession of it until he hit the ground. That kind of catch has to be made. Maye showed good command of the huddle and the field. He looked like the #3 pick in the draft. There is some optimism after this performance.

Defense Had 5 Sacks Five different players were credited with sacks and Pickett made a few escapes for short gains, but overall there was good pressure all night. That was the carryover from the joint practice with the Eagles that the team was causing pressure. Except for that 47 yard INT return by Maddox, Philly would have been shut out in the 1^st half.

This kind of pressure may have contributed to the Patriots decision to trade Matt Judon. Keon White had a sack for his lone tackle and Anfernee Jennings also played well.

Raekwon McMillan He has been hurt coming out of training camp the last two years after performing well in both camps. The Patriots resigned him despite the injury, and he led the team with 9 Tackles. He was all over the place. I think he secured his place on this team.

3 Down

Jacoby Brissett I expected more from him, having played in this Offense of AVP before. Throwing an Interception at the 3- yard line ended up being the difference in the game. He was 3 for 7 with an abysmal 10.7 QB rating. Do we now have some concerns about Brissett’s ability to run this offense? He has not looked good in either Pre-season game.

Liam Fornadel Two fumbled snaps ( I thought one was on Milton) for a player that had never played Center until two weeks ago. The last one ended the game when Bailey Zappe was driving the team towards a potential game winning Field Goal. What happened to Charles Turner the UDFA from LSU? We all know that Atonio Mafi can’t play Center and the Patriots mercifully ended that experiment. I’m not sure Mafi has the ability to play in the NFL period. I felt bad for Fornadel who was being consoled by his teammates on the sideline. I still think there is a place for him on the Practice Squad to continue to develop.

Marcellus Dial I don’t know what the Patriots coaches saw in this player to draft him in the 6^th round. He can’t cover my grandmother, and she is in her grave! I have never seen such a poor performance in a pre-season game. Philly kept pounding the ball at him on the same type of routes. They even targeted him on the two-point conversion. He just cut himself with that performance and I don’t think being a draft pick will save him now.

Other Notable Players

Dell Pettus He had 5 Tackles and he hits very hard, as a hit broke up a pass. He also has Special Teams potential.

AJ Thomas He had 6 Tackles and he is in competition for a spot on the roster if not then the Practice Squad.

Joey Slye I think Slye won the kicking competition last night by banging home a 45-yard kick.

Overall the Patriots were very competitive, and I thought they dominated the game with the exception of the 4^th quarter and the atrocious play of Marcellus Dial. Unfortunately, they cannot afford to make mistakes like Jacoby Brissett did. They don’t have that kind of margin for error.

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About Mark Morse

Merrimack Valley native and lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. My earliest memories of the Patriots were attending as a child with my dad, the off-season practice at Phillips Academy. I was at the Patriots game at Harvard Stadium in 1970 where Bob “Harpo” Gladieux was called out of the stands by the stadium announcer over the PA to play in the game. Analyzing the draft since ESPN first started to televise it in 1980 and former writer for the Lowell Sun Newspaper.

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