Next Day Thread: Patriots Pre-Season

[KDawg]

Short and simple…

We had 30 players not dress for this one… and boy was that evident.

The good:

Defense:
Iggy and Amos looked pretty solid. Stayed stride for stride with receivers, Iggy tackled well and was aggressive.

Newton and Ferrell held their own on the defensive line.

Reaves flies around.

Offense:
Gallup will play on Sundays.

Bill has some explosiveness and good quick cuts.

The offensive line, and Connerly, held their own.

The Okay:
Medrano was a mixed bag but I like how he gets in the mix in the run game.

Josh Johnson came in and the offense could actually move.

Butler - looks better in coverage and is still downhill but he still has a lot to improve as far as footwork and breaks. But he is improving.

The bad:

Our kicker left something to be desired.

Hampton - out of position, guessing, playing sideways, got driven 12 yards back on one play, struggled with angles.

Hartman - He is popular, but he played poorly. He had a few passes that were dropped; the deep ball down the sideline to Moore was a great ball - but overall he locked in on his targets and was throwing to his first read as fast as he could. Skittish behind the OL that held their own.

Tackling - again, I know we had a lot of the guys we will see on Sunday watching. But the backups were not good tacklers.

Overall: it’s preseason, if you’re upset about it, take a deep breath. Most of our contributors weren’t on the field. These guys were essentially competing for the last 20ish spots on the roster.

But boy did that show in the performance. I watched the game in the background in the second half while I was watching some paint dry. I’m not sure which was more entertaining.

 

[Faithful Fan]

48-18 is ugly, even in preseason, especially when a 12-win team is getting beat down by a 4-win team. Luckily it doesn’t count, but as DQ said, there must be lessons learned. If you look at the stat-line, Washington and New England were actually pretty even in yardage, first downs, etc., the main differences in the game were special teams, turnovers, and penalties.

Special teams were especially horrible. Gay missed a field goal, we gave up two huge kick returns including one for a TD, and even Tress Way was having trouble pinning them inside the 20. Hopefully that’s mostly a matter of knocking the rust off and trying out the roster to see who can do what on teams, but it obviously needs work, and it is concerning because you would expect most of the guys playing yesterday to be special teamers.

We had 13 penalties. Staters or not, that’s just undisciplined.

We still can’t stop the run. You can chalk it up to not having Wagner, Payne, etc., except this was our biggest weakness last year and remains so in my mind until proven otherwise.

Croskey-Merritt looked pretty good, and I am rooting for him like everybody else, but McNichols is not giving up his roster spot without a fight - he had the only rushing touchdown, averaged 6 yards a carry, and added a 14-yard catch. Any chance we keep four running backs?

Our depth tight ends and receivers were as bad as advertised. Sinnott, Luke, Lane, Gallup, and KJ all disappointed. I really hope they play better next week. I wish we had brought in that Chism guy, he looked like the player we hoped Luke would be.

Josh Johnson may be old, but his arm looked good. Any chance we keep a 39-year-old QB as third string?

 

[KDawg]

48-18 is ugly, even in preseason, especially when a 12-win team is getting beat down by a 4-win team. Luckily it doesn’t count, but as DQ said, there must be lessons learned. If you look at the stat-line, Washington and New England were actually pretty even in yardage, first downs, etc., the main differences in the game were special teams, turnovers, and penalties.

Special teams were especially horrible. Gay missed a field goal, we gave up two huge kick returns including one for an TD, and even Tress Way was having trouble pinning them inside the 20. Hopefully that’s mostly a matter of knocking the rust off and trying out the roster to see who can do what on teams, but it obviously needs work, and it is concerning because you would expect most of the guys playing yesterday to be special teamers.

We had 13 penalties. Staters or not, that’s just undisciplined.

We still can’t stop the run. You can chalk it up to not having Wagner, Payne, etc., except this was our biggest weakness last year and remains so in my mind until proven otherwise.

Croskey-Merritt looked pretty good, and I am rooting for him like everybody else, but McNichols is not giving up his roster spot without a fight - he had the only rushing touchdown, averaged 6 yards a carry, and added a 14-yard catch. Any chance we keep four running backs?

Our depth tight ends and receivers were as bad as advertised. Sinnott, Luke, Lane, Gallup, and KJ all disappointed. I really hope they play better next week. I wish we had brought in that Chism guy, he looked like the player we hoped Luke would be.

Josh Johnson may be old, but his arm looked good. Any chance we keep a 39-year-old QB as third string?

I actually think Gallup looked alright. Sinnott was “okay”. That penalty was dumb.

McNichols looked alright, too. He and Bill looked about the same.

We’ll see as preseason goes on.

But Johnson over Hartman at QB3 for now in my eyes. If we can keep Hartman on PS I’ll always advocate for developing QBs over time.

 

[RexTomb]

But Johnson over Hartman at QB3 for now in my eyes.

Hartman just looked completely weak out there. He was putting everything into his passes, but they were still floating a bit and inaccurate when he would really try to drill one in there. It reminded me of Taylor Heineke. Maybe he's still getting over the shoulder injury, but man was it painful watching him play.

 

[RandyHolt]

Hartman looked terrible. Ill be the first to dare go there. Got the job based on his good looks or relationship with 5.

Teams coverage scheme may need to be tossed

I think its detrimental to have SO many players all throughout preseason. I'd like to see 25+ cuts on Monday. Coaches are wasting time and reps on countless players everyone knows have zero chance. Who looked worse than the Pats 4/5's. If teams only keep that many players to avoid injury in preseason games, I understand. I just prefer the old cut deadlines and roster sizes.

 

[Commander PK]

I think most of us here don’t need to see this, but some of the mouth breathers on X could use some perspective lol.

In the 2002 American Bowl in Osaka Japan we beat the 49ers 38-7.

https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/49ers-no-match-for-Redskins-Secondary-can-t-2787172.php

Final records in 2002.

Redskins 7-9
49ers 10-6

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I actually think Gallup looked alright. Sinnott was “okay”. That penalty was dumb.

McNichols looked alright, too. He and Bill looked about the same.

We’ll see as preseason goes on.

But Johnson over Hartman at QB3 for now in my eyes. If we can keep Hartman on PS I’ll always advocate for developing QBs over time.

My question with Hartman is can he develop? I’m not entirely sure he has the physical tools to be anything other than an emergency QB at the best or practice squad.

I also don’t care that much one way or the other, but I question whether he’s the guy to try and develop. Maybe this year. Also I heard reporting he’s good friends with JD5, so maybe that’s enough good juju to keep him around.

But I don’t think that project is going to result in anything.

 

[RexTomb]

I think most of us here don’t need to see this, but some of the mouth breathers on X could use some perspective lol.

In the 2002 American Bowl in Osaka Japan we beat the 49ers 38-7.

https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/49ers-no-match-for-Redskins-Secondary-can-t-2787172.php

Final records in 2002.

Redskins 7-9
49ers 10-6

 

[Commander PK]

The Patriots were doing a whole lot of jubilating with the ball last night lol

 

[burgold]

I think the rough thing about yesterday from a fan perspective is that we kept being told “Great practice!” And how sharp the team was looking. So, that set us up for a fall.

 

[Commander PK]

I think the rough thing about yesterday from a fan perspective is that we kept being told “Great practice!” And how sharp the team was looking. So, that set us up for a fall.

Yup, the practice was so good the ones who practiced got to sit the game out.

😂

 

[burgold]

Mind you, Tay Martin, Brooks, Amos, and some of the others we had been hearing about shining in practice actually did seem to have good games. Sinnott starated out okay, got open for two passes and then had that knuckleheaded penalty.

 

[Emir of Schmo]

 

[bowhunter]

We lost last seasons Pre-season opener as well, had a missed FG, and only scored 17 points against the Jets. Daniels and our O-line actually started that game. This game was used to help separate the wheat from the chaff. And apparently we have a fair amout of chaff!

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

In 2010 we smoked the Bills in the first pre-season game. Only had 6 wins that year though.

I don't think we keep 3 QB's. Maybe 4 RB's though.

 

[MartinC]

My question with Hartman is can he develop? I’m not entirely sure he has the physical tools to be anything other than an emergency QB at the best or practice squad.

I also don’t care that much one way or the other, but I question whether he’s the guy to try and develop. Maybe this year. Also I heard reporting he’s good friends with JD5, so maybe that’s enough good juju to keep him around.

But I don’t think that project is going to result in anything.

Hartman just does not have the arm talent to be even a backup in the NFL. If Daniels likes having him around make him an assistant coach or something - but he’s not worth a practice squad spot let alone a roster spot.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Hartman just does not have the arm talent to be even a backup in the NFL. If Daniels likes having him around make him an assistant coach or something - but he’s not worth a practice squad spot let alone a roster spot.

Did I read somewhere that he got a hair cut? I haven't seen a recent picture and missed the game.

If he got a haircut, then you're 100% right, no reason to keep him around.

If he didn't, man, that's some sweet hair. I'd keep him around just for moisturizing advice.

Somebody on ES back in the day wrote a post about only Ugly QBs win anything. Which clearly is not true because Tom Brady exists. I don't remember who wrote that. But it was funny.

 

[Bulldog]

resign Jeff Driskel to be the #3 if we are going to keep 3.

Hartman still doesn’t show NFL regular season caliber play and Johnson is 39 years old.

 

[MartinC]

Did I read somewhere that he got a hair cut? I haven't seen a recent picture and missed the game.

If he got a haircut, then you're 100% right, no reason to keep him around.

If he didn't, man, that's some sweet hair. I'd keep him around just for moisturizing advice.

Somebody on ES back in the day wrote a post about only Ugly QBs win anything. Which clearly is not true because Tom Brady exists. I don't remember who wrote that. But it was funny.

I don’t feel qualified to discuss hair. Not my strong suit.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I don’t feel qualified to discuss hair. Not my strong suit.

Mine neither. My kids have cost me a lot of hair over the last 11 years.

That said, I know good hair when I see it.