Preseason loss no need to worry about New England Patriots

by MaPatsFan on Aug 21, 2009 3:33 PM EDT in New England Patriots News

Yeah, there were 4 sacks against the Patriots, Tom Brady taking a good hit on one of them. Yeah, Terrence Wheatley looks like he'll be job shopping if he doesn't make some pretty drastic changes. Yeah, the offensive line looked like swiss cheese. Yeah, redzone efficiency was 0/2. Chill. Relax. That's what preseason is for.

If preseason is a good indication of how a team will do, the Detroit Lions should've won it all. We all know how THAT story ended. Preseason games are used for many things: to shake the rust off (Tom Brady), to put on-the-bubble players in NFL game situations (Terrence Wheatley), and to see if that star on the practice field is really a star against an opponent (Terrence Nunn or Julian Edelman anyone?). It's a scrimmage. Remember when you were a kid playing a scrimmage? It meant nothing. Why else would Patrick Chung be in as a kick returner (a position which he seems to have failed at)?

Chill. Belichick and the coaching staff are learning. They're learning who their likely starters and backups will be. They're learning who the multi-talented players are. Rookies are getting invaluable reps in NFL game situations. And they're not showing their hand; Belichick will be ridiculously generic throughout preseason, showing a very small percentage of the playbook.

Just for a little context, we went 2-2 in the 2007 preseason. Still worried?

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The guy who I think is nervous is Wheatley

He is massively overplaying every guy he’s given. It would be nice to keep him because of his speed, but the guy really needs to chill and play.

The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.

by SlotMachinePlayer on Aug 21, 2009 4:06 PM EDT reply actions

I Feel Sad

Wheatley lived 2 rooms down from me in Arnett Hall at CU and I used to get him into the club I worked for in Boulder. Nice guy and I was always rooting for him.

Tis better not to throw it to the deep receiver but the open receiver.

by Kfustud on Aug 21, 2009 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I was rooting for him too

he was playing well last season until his injury

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Aug 21, 2009 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions

I Will Keep my Fingers Crossed

Didn’t get to see the game, I only got to watch Manning humiliate Asante

Tis better not to throw it to the deep receiver but the open receiver.

by Kfustud on Aug 21, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Still hoping he turns it around

After injuring himself last year, he is essentially just a second-year rookie (much like Crable). At least it wasn’t all bad, as he had that heads-up fumble recovery that McGowan knocked out.

by NESilver on Aug 21, 2009 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions

It's just preseason, really...

… but four sacks an all that pressure over our QBs scare me a little.

by kleitonsc on Aug 21, 2009 4:08 PM EDT reply actions

*AND all that pressure...

by kleitonsc on Aug 21, 2009 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions

the stiff-arm to Bruschi

didn’t sit too well with me either

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Aug 21, 2009 4:25 PM EDT reply actions

Wheatley is just another Ellis Hobbs ...

without the return skills. He is definitely on the bubble, giving up way too many long yard receptions, 10, 13, 15 yard receptions right in front of him. C’mon. Cover the guy already.

This is how I see the depth chart at this point:1 Bodden, 2 Springs, 3 Butler, 4 Wilhite, 5 Wheatley. If we keep 4 CBs he’s out, 5 he’s in. I hope it’s 4. I really don’t think 5’9 CBs have a place in pro football. Too small to cover the average WR.

by ba-shiznit on Aug 21, 2009 4:52 PM EDT reply actions

5 CBs

Every few years it seems injuries take a chainsaw to the Pats secondary, so I’d imagine they’d more likely than not keep 5 CBs. Unless Edelman can play corner, a la Troy Brown? Hah.

by Comedic.Sans on Aug 22, 2009 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions

who are the 54 55 spots- the bubblers

it looks like we wont be able to keep BJGE and Nunn on the roster- it sucks being so good!

by sirpinochle on Aug 21, 2009 6:39 PM EDT reply actions

Hobbs

It was great watching them run circles around Hobbs last night at the Eagles expense.
I can enjoy a whole year of football with out him in the picture. I always rooted for Wheatly but at 5’9 @ 180 and getting burnt doesnt help his case. I rather see Butler make mistakes and get playing time.

by DirtyDog on Aug 21, 2009 7:12 PM EDT reply actions

preseason games mean little so what if a teams 2nd and 3rd stringers lose a game? ?The Behgals didn’t look so good either.It was a boring game with mostly backups and rookies getting playing time. Law firm had a good effort if he gets cut he will land with another team and do well, better to have him on our side, Nunn can go topractice squad BJGE can’t. I think hes too good to give to Denver who would likely snap him up since they need RBs badly. Can’t wait for regular season,thank goodness for direct tv since I’m a 38 yearlong Pats fan stuck in Nevada.

by quimby999 on Aug 21, 2009 7:49 PM EDT reply actions

Nevada?

Man, that’s tough. Ok, I won’t tell you that Marima could throw a rock from her house and hit Gillette Stadium…oops, sorry. :-)

Blogger at SBNation's Patriots blog, Pats Pulpit

by MaPatsFan on Aug 21, 2009 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Nunn

Yahoo doesnt have Nunn on the roster, whats up with that ,,,BJGE not going anywhere, they need him when Maroney goes down again. BJGE ave. over 5yds a carry in Pre
He has a solid year under the system and was 5th RB who stepped up and the kid scored 5 touchdowns.

by DirtyDog on Aug 21, 2009 10:14 PM EDT reply actions

BJGE

… right up until he coughed up a fumble inside the ten against a third-string D. I like him, but I’m not sold on him as being better than anyone else in the backfield. If he’s kept, he’s kept as a fifth RB, he isn’t replacing anyone, as far as I can see.

by Comedic.Sans on Aug 22, 2009 12:26 AM EDT up reply actions

I don’t think anyone is worried about losing in the preseason. At the same time, when your starters don’t play well – that can be cause for concern. One game isn’t enough to start pulling your hair out over; if the trend continues then it’s a different story.

"We want to win immediately. To say you're building is an incomplete sentence. ... You're building for a future coach and general manager."
-Marv Levy

by TEMSON on Aug 22, 2009 8:40 AM EDT reply actions