5 things we learned about the Patriots from preseason
Photo via ftcsports.com |
Finally the preseason is over! Gone are the games where after about 10 minutes I don’t give a crap what happens and I start making up drinking games. Gone are the games where scrubs come in and play like scrubs. Now it’s time for the greatest season to start and I cannot wait!
While I do mock and hate the preseason at times, it is good to see young studs show off and, only in week 3, get a quick teaser for what this starting team is going to look like. So with preseason over, I shall celebrate by listing five things that we learned from the preseason. In no particular order. Or particular importance.
Starting at Number 1: This defense is going to be scary good
Like Seattle Seahawks meet…I don’t know, some other awesome defense. Against the Eagles, the defense was so good that they had to stay on the field into the 2nd quarter because Bill just didn’t get a good enough look at them. Against the Panthers, Chandler Jones decided that he was hungry and really wanted a Cam Newton for dinner. His running partner Rob Ninkovich also had an appetite for destruction as both players tailed three sacks against the QB.
These sacks were helped in large part due to the fact that Cam had no one to throw to since the secondary was draped over every single receiver out there. Now, granted the Panthers have the corpse of Jason Avant, the some how he’s still playing Jerricho Cotchery, two names I have never ever ever heard of, and the big rookie Kelvin Benjamin. But it’s good to see that against lesser opponents, this defense will just feast.
Number 2: Malcolm Butler is probably the steal of the draft; It’s good Brandon Browner is suspended
The biggest, feel good story to come out of the Patriots preseason (other than Ryan Mallett getting shipped out of Boston) was the tale of young Malcolm Butler. Coming in as a undrafted free agent into the deepest — and possibly best — position the Patriots had, Butler had a huge hill to climb to make the roster. Well, he started with shut down coverage all game long against Washington. Then started off Game 2 with a forced fumble and ending with a strip and recovery. Game 3 he started across from Revis and Game 4 didn’t play. He made the team. And will probably start along with Revis and have Dennard in the slot.
Of course, the presumed 2nd corner was Brandon Browner who did not have a good preseason. In fact, it seems that starting Browner was never on the mind of the Hoodie since Browner came in in the 2nd quarter and hung around until the 4th. Not a good sign for a big free agent signing.
Number 3: So who is gonna run the ball?
Good question Turk.
Stevan Ridley fumbled and had his job (all be it stupidly) brought into question. James White had praise thrown his way but then failed to show anything remotely close to being decent. Brandon Bolden was inactive when the starters started. Roy Finch, who actually played well, got cut. The only back who showed that he was a NFL players was Shane Vereen. But unless Vereen adds 20 pounds, not sure he can hold up running through the tackles. So looking at you Stevan Ridley. Or bring back the Law Firm. Or bring in Mikel Leshoure or Ryan Williams. Basically, still a question mark in the offense.
Number 4: Get excited for the new Randy Moss and Aaron Hernandez
That was totally just to get you interested in this number. Brian Tyms, though wearing 84 and rocking the Randy Moss “part the defense” TD celebration, is not Randy Moss. And although Tim Wright is wearing 81 and had every single fan comparing him to the once amazing Hernandez, let’s hope for the sake of others, Wright isn’t like Hernandez.
But Tyms did play well enough to make the roster (helped by a 4 week suspension) and consistently showed his ability as a deep threat and good hands. Maybe four weeks of practice with Brady turns him into a very reliable option down the field. Wright, for having joined the team a few days ago, looked fan-fricking-tastic in Game 4, hauling in 6 catches for 43 yards. Not bad for a player who just got off the plane. Along side a healthy Gronk, Wright has the potential to be a nice, non murdering version of our old No. 2 tight end.
Number 5: It’s nice having Tom Brady
The whole Ryan Mallett experiment is over. Thanks for that. Also, note that the starting QB for the Vikings, Browns, Patriots (obviously) and now Texans (presumably) are all Patriots alums. Jimmy can’t wait to take over some random crappy team. Or is Jimmy Garoppolo the answer as our future leader? He certainly looks the part. But in a preseason that seemed to be highlighted by QB battles, from Johnny Flippin Fingers vs Brian Hoyer to Teddy Bridgewater vs Matt Cassell to the Jets throwing out QBs to see which one sticks to Rams losing Sam Bradford again (feel really bad for him), it’s nice to know we have the best QB in the game lined up under center. Tom Brady is 148-43 in his career. 100+ games over .500. Add in a defense that can finally do something, I’m hearing Super Bowl bells and duck boats in six months.
Feel free to add your thoughts in the comment section for things I might have missed. For instance, I missed Bill showing again the fact that he is an evil master mind, getting Jerel Worthy from the Packers, cutting him so it cost us nothing, having him pass through waivers and now, if he is as conniving as I believe he is, sign him. Evil genius.
- Pete Rogers
get at me on twitter @petahrahgas