We all know regular season games, seasons and even dynasties are won and lost in the trenches of the first preseason game of the year. In the NFL it is all about getting off to a good start, so THANKFULLY we don’t have to start writing strongly worded letters to Robert and Jonathan Kraft just yet. I was expecting to see Drew Brees play well into the 4th quarter, but thankfully those Cowards from NOLA benched his ass after 1 series. Looks like 2016 is off to a ROUGH start for New Orleans, would not want to be those guys. On to our boys…
Justin Coleman: Mike broke this down in his Pats Posits piece and I couldn’t agree more. There will be Taeks that Coleman played his way off the roster this week, but don’t buy into them. After putting Coleman under the microscope I think he did a decent job in coverage this game, and was decidedly physical.
Again, a lot of people will criticize him for this, but in looking at the first play from scrimmage again, Coleman was in pretty good position but just got beat by a better throw from Drew Brees. Coleman gave up another big reception to Michael Thomas, but was right there again in coverage and showed decent technique with an arm-bar trying to force the receiver to the boundary. I still am not sure how this was ruled a catch, but hey, those are the breaks (read: if this was a playoff game I’d be climbing the NFL offices with suction cups to get an audience with Goodell & Blandino).
I loved seeing Coleman absolutely POP 222-lb Tim Hightower in the flats last night. I jumped off my couch and starting jumping around my apartment when I saw this play in real time, so if nothing else, Coleman deserves credit for forcing me to exercise for the first time in about a half decade. Side Note: No freakin clue how Adam Magnacca was able to complete that conditioning test, if you haven’t seen it check it out here. That’s straight up masochism if I’ve ever seen it.
He also had a solid PBU in the second quarter. Don’t give this kid the splash play PFF treatment. He did a lot of good in this game.
Cre’Von LeBlanc: Cre’Von Leblanc had a statement game with 5 tackles, 2 PBUs and a sexy one-handed interception in the end-zone. Do I feel a hype train a’comin? Cre’Von has a crazy story. He watched his father die of a heart attack at the age of 15, and then watched his brother get sentenced to life in prison. Yet, he has somehow rebounded and has now put himself on the map in New England. That’s crazy to think about. I would love to see him end up on the practice squad as he clearly has some great potential. Chalk this up as another win for Caserio and the scouting department.
Jonathan Jones: Very solid night for Jonathan Jones. As an UDFA he has incredible upside despite his lack of physical stature. His play of the night came in defending Michael Thomas who gave the Patriots defense a very hard time in this game. Jones showed great technique to run with the receiver then get his body around and make a play on the ball. I liked his ability to tackle in space. He did get burned late in the game for a TD in what looked to be a communication breakdown between him and KGH as the receiver nestled into a spot spot in their zone.
Kamu Grugier-Hill: The First two snaps that I saw him on the field he was lined up at Linebacker in a 4-2-5 look, which effectively would make it an even softer nickel look since In addition to lining up in the box, KGH also was split out wide against former Patriot Travaris Cadet and showed decent coverage skills on a couple of occasions. Here’s another. KGH has been working with the DB’s. That should be a nice new wrinkle for Matt Patricia & co. to work with… KGH, love typing that. KGH. Can’t help myself.
Malcolm Butler: Didn’t see much of him as he wasn’t thrown at on the night. Probably a good sign. I saw him out there for the first three series of the game, the second of which was 1-play and a Jamie Collins pick-6. Butler laid down a nice block on New Orleans QB, Garrett Grayson that let Collins sneak into the end zone, but that was about it.
Duron Harmon: I have grown so fond of Duron Harmon over the past couple of years. He has quietly become one of the more reliable role players on the patriots roster. I loved him forcing a fumble early in the game. Great nose for the ball. God forbid there was ever an injury to the secondary, but knowing this team… I’d feel very comfortable trotting Harmon out there for all 3-downs at FS.
Patrick Chung: Was the reason Jamie Collins was able to get that pick. He is really one of the better safeties in the league when he is on. His coverage ability has improved dramatically as his career has developed, which is a necessary complement to his run stuffing prowess. When he was on the field he was shadowing Saints TE Coby Fleener. This is one of the strengths of Chung’s game — his ability to come down into the box and cover tight ends. Really makes you think about how dumb Chip Kelly really was for letting him get away. Gonna miss that idiot.
Cyrus Jones: Jones was Johnny on the spot with the fumble recovery on the first series of the game. Tenacious is a word that comes to mind when describing Jones. When you are 5’8″ you need tenacity. I thought his athleticism was on display on this play going sideline to sideline to make the play on a running back with a good angle. I also loved how he welcomed Michael Thomas to the NFL in his own right, with a nice “get-off-me-son” as the receiver tried to initiate contact before going out of bounds.
Jordan Richards: Richards had a great special teams stop on this play, I didn’t see him at safety too much. I do think his light playing time indicates his favorable position on the depth chart though. He’s a solid backup for Chung.
Devin McCourty: Quiet night for McCourty, the only time I remember seeing him was after the first play of the game forcing the receiver OB.
Cedric Thompson, Jr.: Rough game for Thompson Jr. didn’t as he didn’t look great in the run or pass games. He over-pursued the front side on a 3rd Quarter run which led to a 9-yd gain when the RB cut back into his lane. He also got beat in coverage multiple times in this game. I’d say he’s a very long shot to make the team.
V’Angelo Bentley: #9 is a weird number for a defensive back. Just doesn’t look right to me. Not much room to operate in the kickoff game for Bentley so we didn’t get to see a lot of him. I mean really, they were tackling this guy on punts before the ball even got there. He also had a defensive holding later in the game. He remains a roster long-shot.
Brock Vereen: I only saw him on a couple of group tackles on the run coming from the safety position. Quiet night but doesn’t mean it was bad.
Darryl Roberts: Tough to put too much stock in one preseason game but you’d have to say that all of the other DBs sans maybe Biggers played better than Roberts. He had a brutal DPI in the third quarter that was even uglier the second time I watched it. [NSFW]
E.J. Biggers: Ok, you can say it. I fell in love with another back half of the roster player. I admit it. If there’s one thing you can say in his defense the Pass Interference was committed on Michael Thomas, a rookie with a ton of talent and also the player who made the catch on Coleman. Looks like the Saints nailed their 47th overall pick with this kid.
I think it’s safe to give Biggers his place in my hall of shame of roster predictions. I simply can’t help myself.
- Dax Swanson
- James Morris
- JeMea Thomas
- & now E.J. Biggers
All things considered there are a lot of things to be excited about after 60 minutes of fake football. This shaping up to be one of the deepest secondaries that I can remember in recent history.
Malcolm Butler STINKS!
Dave stinks