Before we review preview, one thing I’m monitoring:
No contract extensions… … …
First, I love that Bill Belichick gets extensions done with players that strengthen the overall team in the least evaluated area of the game, special teams. It reminds me of the moment before Super Bowl XXXVI when they were announced as a team and that gives me chills and anything that does that is good. The Patriots for a decade and a half have been the ideal of a working organization, each piece doing their part (or job, to turn a phrase) to serve the greater goal.
But the marquee extensions of Matthew Slater (1-year) and Jonathan Freeny (2-years) don’t exactly make me feel good about the most important unit of this football team, the defense. Jamie Collins and Hightower (and Sheard and Butler) are huge cogs that play their parts extremely well in what could be an all-time Patriots defense and I’m beginning to fear we’re going to lose one of them. There’s always the chance that if nothing materializes in contract talks, one of them is on his way to Jacksonville or Detroit for a 1st or 2nd round pick. At this point, the best-case scenario is to hang on to them and go the compensatory pick or franchise-tag route.
All I can say is, I’ve got my prepper kit and a season’s worth of provisions in the bunker in anticipation of the Huckster Hurricane should Belichick pull the trigger. I urge Jim Cantore to get his LL Bean parka because level-5 “Shaughnessy Shitstorm” is building strength off the Atlantic coast.
On to the Review/Preview…
Review
1.Do we see Brady or Garoppolo first?
I’m among the considerable group that thought the Patriots QB gameplan was not very effective for the Carolina game, though I think, like all things Hoodie, it may have been the right thing in the long run. Bringing Brady in late in the 1st quarter and reinstalling Garoppolo late in the 2nd showed fans, sports journalists and the reactionary sports “media” (there’s a difference between journalists and media, everyone) what Belichick has been trying to say since the ’14 KC game: “Until further notice, Tom Brady is the Patriots starting QB.” Low expectations are good going into the season for Garoppolo and with an actual offensive game plan every week, Jimmy Garoppolo should be able to find enough success to put 20+ points on the board, but the game’s fast and it’s going to take discipline and balls. Unfortunately discipline and balls only come with experience, so here we go.
2.How does the front-7 defense contain Cam Newton and the Panthers rushing attack?
Newton was straight chucking with little success into the third quarter. Barring a trade, this is as exciting and athletic a defense as the Patriots have had in my lifetime.
3.Can Belichick wipe “the other Jerra’s” grin from his face?
I can’t tell with those jowels whether he’s grinning or what, but Cam certainly looked human.
4.What’s our LB depth look like after the addition to Mingo?
Humber is gone. Roberts, Snyder and yes, Grugier-Hill (more on him in the preview) still seem like long shots to make the 53. Consider me thrilled if they keep: McClellin, Mingo, Hightower, Freeny, Collins (and Rufus Johnson).
5.The WR position. Where are we?
This is still a decent concern not with depth at the position, but timing and comfort in the offense. Edelman was on a different page with Garoppolo against Carolina, it was his first real preseason action so let’s call it rust, but they need to sync up, now. Hogan’s a perfect fit and probably makes Amendola expendable. I can’t imagine Amendola’s not PUPed or cut. My vote is PUP because of his unique catch radius for someone his size. Dobson, Carter and Harper all seem clumped together and Lucien’s shown some nice athletic skills. I have to be honest, I’ve fallen a bit for Carter, Mitchell and Lucien, but all are sort of wild cards, my hope is Carter and Lucien make it through waivers and stick on the practice squad and Mitchell is kept on the 53.
And can we see Rob Gronkowski for a few series, please?
No? Okay, fine.
Preview
1.What’s Brady give us tonight?
Everyone is saying, only a few series, but I think he should be out there the whole half. He needs reps with his targets with a live tackling defense. Edelman and he traveling makes it seem like there’s a chance the Best Buddies get some game action together. Maybe someone in the organization read Mark Daniels’ defense of his suggestion that Bennett could be cut and orders him out there for some prove-it reps. Fans will always be worried about injuries, but to my mind this season is more about preparation than any other in Pats history. There is no over-preparation when you’re put in a position no team in league history has ever had to face with one quarterback coming back from the dumbest, most arbitrary, “we can’t admit we screwed this up this badly” and pathetically knuckle-headed suspension ever after a full quarter of the season.
2.Gugier-Hill is a roster lock? Huh?
Several roster projections by the great reporters and bloggers of New England have 6th round Kamu Gugier-Hill as a roster lock; I simply haven’t seen it on the field. He didn’t play against Carolina, but as I noted against the Bears was a total washout on defense and only plays one down essentially. He’s a core-four special teams guy, we think, but I haven’t seen him hit very hard, so I’m skeptical. My understanding is that he’s been the best in practice, but really we’re talking about PRACTICE?!! In fact, I think safety and mobster hitman, Vinnie Sunseri, played the role intended for Gugier-Hill with much more speed and bang last Friday. I think Gugier-Hill is an interesting guy for the future, but right now he seems best as practice squad guy, that’s it.
3.Who gets cut? Nah, who cares?
The Pats still need to shed 22 more names from the list, which seems like a lot right now. And that’s a very good thing. The fact that nearly every starting role on the team is solidified and roster debates are almost exclusively being considered for back-ups and 3rd string guys means this team is deep as hell. Really, truly, deep as hell. When Mike, PatsPropaganda himself, sent the new staff the depth chart on July 7th, I responded:
“Good god that team is stacked everywhere! I mean, you could probably field a not last place team with their cuts.
I feel the same way now. There are going to be tough cuts everywhere on the roster. Contrary to Mike, I don’t think outside of a big trade, there are going to be any new players on the roster for week one against the Cardinals because the Patriots have stocked the roster with talent. My one area of concern is..
4.Do the Patriots get cute and try to put these standouts on the practice squad?
AJ Derby. Pats fans fell ha’d for Zach Sudfield in the preseason in ’13 only to watch him languish with Rex Ryan. You certainly can’t blame Belichick on that one, but AJ’s looked more than competent as a receiver than a blocker, so there’s a chance.
DJ Foster. Inside the Patriots, there are clearly some powerful supporters of James White. To his credit, he’s starting to show flashes of being a more complete back. He just needs to learn how to break the plane of the endzone, twice being stopped at the one on long scampers. But DJ Foster looks like he’s a potentially electric, athletic freak-type of player and he does one thing that White should, he churns his legs after contact, fighting for yards. For me that’s the difference, he’s like a stronger, bigger Danny Woodhead (Read our own Rick Starke’s piece on him… OOOOOH!). I don’t think either White or Foster should be cut, but I fear with practice squad eligibility Foster’s lower on the depth chart. But I don’t think he makes it through waivers…
And my personal favorite, first and last name MVP Cre’Von LeBlanc (sorry Bartavious, but your brother’s name is Hughtavious, not even the MVP of your family). Cre’Von is so competitive all the time. I really think he has a chance to be Malcolm Butler 2.0 and I hope it’s not for someone else.
5.Can this week be over yet?
I’m excited to watch Brady tonight, but man, the preseason is too long. Let’s get to it.
