We’re a mere three weeks away from the start of the Patriots 2018 regular season and with most of training camp done and two games under their belt the team has very much started to take shape.
Two significant injuries have befallen the two first-round picks, but since neither were really needed to immediately step in and start, the impact of both isn’t all that significant. Unfortunate yes, but neither constitutes a critical blow like losing Julian Edelman was last year.
What else have we learned about this version of the Pats? How much can we take away from their two preseason games? How might the team evolve this season? Let’s dive in on this Sunday morning with a bunch of Posits.
— The Isaiah Wynn torn achilles is just one of those freak injuries that happen in football. Injuries were never a major factor for him in college. But Sony Michel had knee issues in college and that’s why he fell in the draft. The Pats took a chance on him but the fact that the knee is already a problem is not a good sign and brings back memories of another Georgia pick Malcolm Mitchell. It’s especially frustrating because they haven’t drafted a running back in the first round in 12 years and have done just fine getting by with lower round picks and veteran castoffs. Unfortunately, I think it’s a pretty good bet we’ll be talking about who they could’ve had with that pick instead of Michel, as I have limited hope that Michel turns into a 10-year outstanding player. But hey, when you don’t draft for need at least you’re protected. Imagine if that injured pick had been the guy they were penciled in to start at left tackle.
— Ultimately though injuries are just an unpredictable part of the game and there’s really no way to know what’s going to happen so complaining about it is just useless.
— Kenny Britt has flirted with practicing for the last couple weeks but continues to miss team periods. He was looking really good in OTAs before a hamstring injury hit him. If I had one wish for this week it’s that he gets back and gets into the game. Phillip Dorsett needs to be pushed because I’m very much on the verge of being as blah on him as I was on Brandin Cooks. I like my Patriots receivers of two varieties — quick open or big/physical. Every good Patriots receiving corps was a variety of this, but Cooks and Dorsett are more long speed guys. Sometimes it’s great, like every time Brady hit Cooks deep or he drew a PI penalty last year. But the side effect is that many fall incomplete and don’t play to the true strength of the Patriot offense, short and surgical. Give me Branch and Givens or Edelman with even Brandon LaFell over the chuck and duck. Dorsett has a long way to go with me and Britt would appear on paper to fit my desired personality for the offense far better.
— Keionta Davis played a ton with the starters and I was surprised to see him getting praised and sliding onto a couple 53-man projections. I didn’t see one play I liked out of him in the first half against the better Eagles offensive linemen. Slow to react, trouble getting off blocks… I don’t get it. At best he’s the 5th-best DE behind Flowers, Clayborn, Wise and Rivers, and the dropoff from those four is significant. Unless he beats out Geneo Grissom (who is cut-and-resign-able) as a special teams ace, I don’t know why anyone is putting him on the 53-man.
— Is this the week we get Jonathan Jones and Cyrus Jones in a game. There are needed roster spots for both with Duke Dawson injured after taking first team snaps in the slot and Riley McCarron looking like just a guy as a punt returner. I don’t want to run Edelman into the ground but unless Cyrus steps in, I think it’s Jules or bust as a punt returner. They’ll just have to fair catch their way through the first four weeks.
— Malcom Brown‘s regression is something watch. The Pats declined his 5th-year option and that sure looks like the right decision. Someone needs to remind him he’s playing for a contract because Shelton and Guy have both looked better than him this summer. He’s had his moments over his first three years and I was hoping this would be his breakout year. Clearly, the Pats weren’t quite as high on him doing so.
— As much as I’m dreading the likely Dont’a Hightower injury this year, I’ll at least be excited to see Ja’whaun Bentley get thrown into the fire. The real question now is whether he can beat out Elandon Roberts. I’m still waiting for Roberts to produce more of the “woah” hits he had as a rookie when he seemed to just be singularly worried about the run. Once he developed his game to be better against the pass he lost some of the pop he had in his first year. Bentley already looks like he’ll be a better all-around linebacker down the line.
— The five young cornerbacks have all gotten looks at some point or another this summer and all have had their moments. I still think JC Jackson is my favorite but that might just be because I so badly was a 34 Jackson on the team after playing so much Tecmo Bowl in the 90s.
— Will Corey Bojorquez ever get a chane to punt in a preseason game? Based on camp I thought him vs. Ryan Allen was an actual competition but so far he’s been stuck watching. Maybe they’re trying to hide him for a year of development?
— With the loss of Wynn, Marcus Cannon really needs to get healthy and get back on the field. The Pats need him to solidify that side of the line, although LaAdrian Waddle has proven to be a really solid swing backup.
