As always, I never feel like I’ve actually watched the game until I can sit and study it with easy pause and rewind abilities. Once again that was the case with this preseason game, where the 2018 Patriots continue to come into clearer view. Rookies and young guys continue to get auditions with the top defense, but who is actually making the most of those opportunities?
Here are my film review notes from the first half of the Pats-Eagles.
— Opened in 3-CB nickel with Gilmore, Rowe, Crossen. Van Noy, Bentley. Davis, Shelton, Brown, Clayborn. Third down – Harmon, Rivers, Butler in, Shelton, Brown, Bentley out. Clayborn stood out with disruptive pressure on third down.
— The offense opened in a spread with James White who was clearly the centerpiece of the attack. This was the offense they opened with many times last year and if often sputtered out of the gate. Jacob Hollister got a full audition as the primary “Y” tight end. He struggled blocking defensive ends which isn’t all that surprising.
— The Hogan, Edelman, Dorsett trio looks like the go-to guys at this point. Dorsett continues to not impress me. Brady’s pocket movement on Hogan’s touchdown was impressive and as good as it’s always been.
— 2nd defensive drive. J-Mac in for Rowe, Guy in for Brown. Same group on third down and they send six which is just crazy to me for a preseason game. They get home as they should with Chung getting the sack. The difference with Clayborn and Rivers, including the improved Butler and Wise, makes for an impressive rushing front. Who sits when Flowers is in there?
— 2nd offensive drive. Power package with Develin/Gillislee, Edelman/Dorsett and Hollister still the Y. Wynn in at RT, looks a little lost on the first snap. RIP. Will Tye in on third-and-short for blocking. Nothing is easy with Gillislee these days, every inch a grind. The dreaded underthrown toss up to Dorsett falls incomplete. Saw a bunch of those with Cooks last year. Brady’s throwing motion still looks so effortless and with great velocity. Hollister looks competitive blocking. Overmatched at times but he has pretty good technique. Incomplete to Dorsett, looks like a sloppy rounded off route to me.
— The problem everyone who wants to cut Richards ignores is that he’s the primary punt protector and that’s an important job. As a 4th safety I get it, but as always don’t ignore special teams.
— 3rd defensive drive. Roberts for Bentley, Brown back in for Shelton, Rowe in for Gilmore, with J-Mac. Three safety nickel. Rivers rushing from a standing spot in the middle ala a linebacker on third down. Still don’t see anything out of Keionta Davis who gets his first third-down rushing chance on this drive. Can’t say it enough – THIS IS NOT THE PHILLY OFFENSE THAT TORE THE PATS UP. This is a conventional preseason passing offense that the Pats always match up well against. Going against all those read options and specialty plays is where the Pats D really will have to prove themselves.
— 3rd offensive drive. More power package, now with Hill. Hogan in for Dorsett as 2WR with Edelman. Good block from Hollister at the point of attack. I continue to be impressed by his technique which helps make up for his lack of size.
— 3rd defensvie drive. Regular package with 3LB/4DB. Wise playing both DE spots. Roberts and Bentley ran into each other in coverage, allowing a good passing gain up the middle. Looked like Bentley had a rookie brainfart there as Roberts appeared to explain to him what he did wrong. Physical duo though. Clayborn forces the fumble and Bentley takes it in. Getting more and more excited about what Clayborn will bring off the right edge this year. Might be RDE only, not sure we’ll ever see him pass drop outside of a few SURPRISE! plays.
— Bentley started to show more signs of being a rookie later in the first half. It’s going to happen. He’s still really promising but growing pains are to be expected.
Final First Half Thoughts
I’m gonna stick to the first half here just because I think that’s what reveals the most about the 2018. As much as I’d love to do a bottom of the roster analysis, we’ll get a far better picture next week in the third game.
— There’s a clear three-man rotation at DT and a four-man rotation at LB and DE, with Adam Butler the DPR (designated pass rusher). The young corners are all getting a look this summer and this week it was Crossen getting the biggest audition in the slot. I’m still pretty sure JC Jackson is my favorite of the group.
— Dorsett continues to be the key focus guy for me on offense, at least until Kenny Britt gets out there. Eric Decker would appear to have a long way to go still.
