New England Patriots Links 9/02/10 - Preseason Week 4: Patriots At Giants
by Marima on Sep 2, 2010 7:38 AM EDT
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PrintMike Reiss offers his list of what to watch when the Patriots face the Giants.
1. Young secondary without Leigh Bodden. Cornerbacks Devin McCourty and Darius Butler, the projected starters now that Bodden is out for the season with a torn rotator cuff, had tough performances last week against the Rams. One of the important aspects of playing the position is to have a short memory. This is a chance to see how McCourty and Butler grade out in that area.
2. Brian Hoyer and the quarterback position. To this point, the 2009 undrafted free agent has proved that the backup spot is in good hands. He's played approximately 67 snaps and in 11 drives and helped produce five touchdowns. He is 17-of-31 for 205 yards, with no interceptions. In addition to Hoyer, this figures to be the best chance to evaluate rookie quarterback Zac Robinson for a possible spot with the team, likely on the practice squad.
3. Tyrone McKenzie at inside linebacker. The 2009 third-round draft choice has not received an extended opportunity through three preseason games as rookie Brandon Spikes has seen the majority of work. McKenzie looks like the fourth inside linebacker on the depth chart, and this figures to be his best game-specific chance to show the coaches he might deserve consideration for a move up the ranks.
4. Running game and Laurence Maroney. The Patriots have been rotating their running backs throughout the preseason and Maroney has been used the least (on the field for just 12 snaps). He has not played the last two games. Does this mean Maroney is slipping down the depth chart? Or is it simply a case of the Patriots limiting his injury risk? The game against the Giants might help provide the answer to those questions.
5. Sorting out the second-unit offensive line. With the final roster cut to 53 scheduled for Saturday, a few of the back-end roster spots could still be up for grabs, specifically on the offensive line. Rookies Ted Larsen (center/guard) and Thomas Welch (offensive tackle) and second-year players Ryan Wendell (center/guard) and Rich Ohrnberger (center/guard) are some of the key players to watch in that area.
TEAM TALK
- Vince Wilfork Q&A Transcript after receiving the Ron Burton Community Service Award.
- Patriots Today - Analyzing the Pats' secondary. (5.09 min. video)
- PFW in Progress - 8/31/10 Edition. PFW discusses the Patriots preseason loss the Rams; Previews the Patriots final preseason game against the New York Giants; Offers our predictions on the final cuts, and discusses the Patriots defensive woes. (2:2:40 min. audio)
LOCAL LINKS
- Christopher Price analyzes the impact of losing Leigh Bodden to injured reserve.
- Albert Breer asserts that now isn't the time to bring in veteran help at corner, but to develop the younger players instead.
- Ian Rapoport notes that life just got a little tougher for the young group of cornerbacks, who have a whole lot of work to do.
- Tom E. Curran sits down with Patriots president Jonathan Kraft and offers us the Q&A transcript of their conversation.
- Albert Breer says tonight's game has the players and coaches focused on more than just the Giants, and talks about the unsettled issues facing the Patriots.
- Jim Donaldson reports this year's team is a puzzle to Belichick too.
- Karen Guregian guesses at how the final roster will shake out Saturday.
- Ian Rapoport notes ESPN MNF analyst Jon Gruden thinks losing Leigh Bodden will really hurt the Patriots.
- Tom E. Curran says things have only gotten harder for the Patriots as the preseason's gone along and lists five things we should look for in tonight's game.
- Ian Rapoport lists his five things to watch for in the final preseason game.
- Christopher Price clues us in on what to watch for tonight against the Giants.
- Mike Reiss hears it from Matt Light that the starters will go out there and 'fire it up' tonight. At least for a little while.
- Albert Breer notes there's no light at the end of Logan Mankins' tunnel of discontent, while the Patriots just keep plugging along with silent indifference.
- Mark Farinella got a chuckle out of Belichick when he asked if the Giants had figured out yet which doors to open in the new stadium to change the wind patterns. BB assumes "they're working on it."
- Jeff Howe writes Ron Brace is expected to step up and prove his worth on the Pats D-Line.
- Ian Rapoport says Matt Light doesn't share his taste in music and then rips his favorite TV show, Jersey Shore.
- Kirk MInihane's Hard Knocks Diary: Rex Ryan goes Knute Rockne.
- Shalise Manza Young notes nervous players fighting for a spot can make for an anxious locker room.
- Tony Massarotti says the Patriots were due for a true rebuilding year sooner or later and the offense should keep fans entertained even if the defense is running around in circles.
- Mike Reiss offers a quick-hit ranking of the toughest divisions in football.
- Kirk Minihane offers his ranking of today's NFL head coaches, from worst to first.
- Ian Rapoport Patriots Notebook: The starters want to play tonight if they had a choice; Belichick is still evaluating the players; Zac Robinson says he's ready; Patriots have the youngest defense they've had in years; Reebok rescinded its offer to Brandon Spikes.
- Gary Marbry previews the Patriots schedule: Green Bay Packers.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Andrew Brandt (Nat'l Football Post) Patriots and Chargers do what they do. Teams don't react to agent and player unrest.
- Kalani Simpson (Fox Sports) NFL holdouts need a better plan.
- Sean Leahy (USA Today) Patriots' Yinzcam smartphone app a glimpse into future of fans' interactivity at NFL games.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) 'NFL Live' previews AFC East.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) In AFC East, experience down at the corners.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) League won't confirm or deny existence of investigation regarding Favre allegations.
- Toni Monkovic (NY Times) The football laws, from Football Outsiders.
- Sean Leahy (USA Today) Attendance likely to fall for third straight season in 2010, to lowest level since 1998.
- Joe Concha (Fox Sports)Top 10 NFL football players and coaches in dead end jobs this season.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTallk) Source: Officials didn't ask for the umpire to be moved.
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I vote that the starters play tonight ...
through the first half with sub packages to see bubble guys, etc. in certain scenarios.
Brady should play the 1st qtr with the top OL to protect him. This whole team needs more time together playing meaningful minutes. There are too many rookies and 2nd year players to let this opportunity slip by for getting more film and experience.
All four backs should rotate throughout this game. Moss, Welker, Mayo and Wilfork should not play at all. No need.
Heck, O’Brien needs to show he is ready for game 1. He’s the biggest question mark on the PATS. He should be calling a legitimate game in the first quarter: while leaving a number of plays off his chart for the Bengals game.
i am confused
moss welker mayo and wilfork are ready for the season but brady isnt? brady should not even put a uniform on tonight he is ready he had a perfect passer rating last week 18-22 275 and 3 tds brady is as ready as he will ever be. now the defense all those guys should play at least a quarter and prob a half.
You can look at it this way...
Brady will be throwing it to Tate, Price, edelman, and aiken; rather than moss and welker. Take those guys out, and see how your younger receivers do with tom brady.
I’ll take 11 players with heart on the field over 11 guys with just talent. Talent is fleeting, it goes away over time. Heart is what drives you to be better. To push yourself beyond what you think your capabilities are. To show us that when you strive, all things are possible.- SMP
I'm also a Raider Fan dammit!!! RAIDER NATION!!!!
brady can make any reciever look good
it is no way worth it to risk brady getting hurt in a 4th preseason game a gam he hasnt appeared in since 2003. my opinion is brady doesnt even dress for this meaningless game. he doesnt need to work with tate edelman and price thta bad.
Yes he does.
Randy Moss might not be here next year. And since Tate will be the #2 WR, Brady needs to have chemistry with him as well.
It’s not about trying to have a receiver look good, but build chemistry with them. Chemistry is important. What if Tate goes down? Or edelman? We’ll see some 4 WR sets I can be sure of that, and if one of our guys goes down, price or aiken has to step up. Brady already has chemistr with moss and welker, so I’m okay with sitting them out, because if we loose one of them, then one of our younger WRs will have to step up, and Brady building chemistry with the younger WRs will be factored in.
Brady can play maybe two series, that’s it. Freak accidents can happen, but that’s what they are. Freak accidents. I don’t think it will happen to Brady today. I doubt it it will.
I’ll take 11 players with heart on the field over 11 guys with just talent. Talent is fleeting, it goes away over time. Heart is what drives you to be better. To push yourself beyond what you think your capabilities are. To show us that when you strive, all things are possible.- SMP
I'm also a Raider Fan dammit!!! RAIDER NATION!!!!
Putting out the young'uns also helps decide the bottom half of the roster
Aiken vs. Slater? Price vs. Aiken?
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
For Brady, it is about improving the timing with the rookie TE's and Tate.
That’s why Brady needs some reps in the first qtr.
i respectfully disagree
what ever is gained from a couple of series would be nowhere near the loss of lets just say someone falling into bradys knee 4 plays into the 4th preseason game. he prob will play and BB knows a boatload more then me i am just saying it isnt worth the risk. thats what training camp was for brady is in sync as he is going to be with tate and edelman.
training camp is different than playing against another team.
Brady needs as much reps as possible with these guys during game situations.
I’ll take 11 players with heart on the field over 11 guys with just talent. Talent is fleeting, it goes away over time. Heart is what drives you to be better. To push yourself beyond what you think your capabilities are. To show us that when you strive, all things are possible.- SMP
I'm also a Raider Fan dammit!!! RAIDER NATION!!!!
Best line of the morning
From Karen Guregian’s roster projection:
The 11th-hour loss of cornerback Leigh Bodden to a season-ending rotator cuff injury was a devastating blow. It likely allows Terrence Wheatley to stick around.
Replace "Wheatley" with "Wilhite"
and that statement is far more accurate.
by nbradley07 on Sep 2, 2010 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
before Bodden got injured, I said they should keep Wheatley (as 3rd in depth chart) in case one of starters got injured. now it has happened.
the idea that after his preseason play he is being seen as the odd man out has always been absurd
if it was going to happen, i’m glad it happened in preseason … better now than a little later
so there is no more debate about whether wheatley gets kept
imagine if they let him go and we were left with wilhite to step it up
Maroney is not on the bubble.
Belichick has been crystal clear about this, and he is crystal clear about VERY few things.
We know the following: Maroney WILL contribute this season, and Maroney hasn’t played much in the preseason. How do we reconcile the two? Maybe he’s a little banged up already. Maybe it’s not important to get him reps, because he’s not being evaluated. Maybe they don’t feel he’s the type of player that needs the preseason reps to be effective once real games roll around. Maybe they’re trying to minimize risk of injury to one of their two best RBs (the other being Taylor). Maybe Maroney was slated to play more in Week 3, but they really never had the chance to get him on the field.
You get my drift.
i agree or i really hope it is
OTOH if such suggestions about malroney being on **** list were correct, it would be a message to opposing teams that their talk of more balance was bull**** …
so if the suggestions were true, the opposing teams would be happier and it would be wasting malroney’ talent and time also
I like this game being in the new stadium.
The old one had weird wind patterns, and the new one might as well. It’s good practice before the Jets games when things count for real.
I’d toss Brady out there just to test the air as it were. Better to get some idea now than figure it out against the Jets.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Sep 2, 2010 11:21 AM EDT reply actions
Which bubble players with some talent may be on chopping block
The OLB seems to be where only real log jam exists that i see
Maybe only remaining question is whether they use sanders in trade.
On offense … maybe aiken … i expect him to make it.
We started camp wondering which talented players they will need to cut and …
presto lot of injuries and the problem has dwindled alot
should be OLB locks
Tully Banta-Cain, Derrick Burgess, Jermaine Cunningham, Pierre Woods, Rob Ninkovich
O-line depth is always a premium.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Performance of special teams (excluding kickers)
Patriots always put emphasis on special teams (especially punt coverage and kick off) but they like many other superbowl contenders have ranked low. Cleveland, it seems had one of the best punt coverage in league.
Saying that this or that player on patriots is good special teams contradicts the overall performance in statistics.
I doubt those kick off returns would have happened without the athletic skill of Tate and McCourty. Punt coverage has alway been abysmal … you can count on an opposing team getting 24-26 yards most of the time.
hmm
One of the important aspects of playing the position is to have a short memory
For Jonathan Wilhite…its like a fish’s memory…after 5 seconds…dont remember a thing
Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
I love my ZX-6r Kawasaki.
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
He quits remembering DURING the play.
I got this guy, I’m all over him, I … wait … who was I covering again? Can’t be that guy, he’s scoring a touchdown. “Hey, guy nice TD, just wait ‘til we play you. I’ll shut you down.” Why am I wearing my uniform, and why is Bill so pissed?
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Sep 2, 2010 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Who's Bill?
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Sep 2, 2010 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Which one's my butt and which one's a the hole in the ground?
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Sep 3, 2010 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions
matt light hates jersey shores
hell ya…stupid show…makes NJ look bad
Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
I love my ZX-6r Kawasaki.
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
one time the nfl net airs a live game (pats-giants)
thats the day i have tickets to OSU’s season opener…urghh…have to dvr the game again
Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
I love my ZX-6r Kawasaki.
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
I wish they'd punt out of bounds. Screw the coverage
issues and avoid costly injuries by punting the ball out of bounds.
Means the gunners are pointless, though
Having superb gunners and coverage guys in general – Arrington, McCourty, Aiken, Slater – means that punt coverage is a chance to get turnovers. Just think – if the Pats had punted out of bounds in the playoff game against the Ravens last year, Arrington wouldn’t have forced that fumble and recovery, and the Pats wouldn’t have scored their first points. That’d have been an even uglier game.
Injuries more often happen to the punt returner than the gunners – that’s why most teams will put out a rookie on punt returning duties, so if/when they get injured, it doesn’t derail the team.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
>Having superb gunners and coverage guys in general – Arrington, McCourty, Aiken, Slater
I’d like to see the “superb gunners” consistently give up less than 20 yards per return especially given we have top notch kickers
True
Although that’s a function of two things – they’re rotating young guys through ST units, so it’s not always the good gunners who are giving up the returns, and they’re also gelling as a unit, especially with the rookie punter who is having a little trouble with consistency.
Put it this way – would you complain if there was a 20 yard punt return if the punt returner then spilt the ball after a big hit from a gunner?
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
I think Maroney is the starter.
I suspect that he requires minimal reps. He is not being evaluated. It makes sense that he has been idle aside from a couple of red zone plunges. I do hope Taylor stays healthy and plays a lot. He is superb runner. I would rate him above Corey Dillon with the added speed and shiftiness he brings to the field.
If Taylor stays healthy
and Maroney is able to return to last season’s pre-fumblitis form, the offense is going to be SCARY good. With the ability to run and pass, they’ll be able to stay on the field, thereby keeping the far weaker defense rested while simultaneously wearing down the opponent’s defense. Their offense really could be their best defense, this year.
it isn’t said often enough but offense is really a supplement to defense
i think the defense is strong enough to defend against run but may lack enough experience to defend against the pass first half of season. i expect butler and mccourty to get torched now and then because of inexperience or confidence.
They can spread the field with 4 wideouts and run it
Last year that wasn’t so much of a threat – teams could focus on the run without worrying too much about who, Aiken? Now it’s a legit threat of both run and pass.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
i like hurricanes
just went to beach (central florida) to watch surf and maybe swim … disappointed with waves
i’ll swim tomorrow
i remember a long long time ago, a hurricane was passing about a thousands miles off nantucket beach and it really put on an awesome display there … really saw the ocean up close
around 2000, i lived right along boston harbor near jfk library
it was nice scenery and nice place to live but nothing ever happened in the ocean there
in the 3 years i live there, never saw any body ever swim at beach near me … too damn cold
but i did see the military creating those chemtrails sort of like tic tac toe grids but a little more on complex on multiple occasions
good luck w. that hurricane coming to MA
heard the winds are up to 75mph
Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
I love my ZX-6r Kawasaki.
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
Hang on sloopy, sloopy hang on.. O H I O
Looking forward to seeing what McKenzie can do tonight
He should get plenty of action given how the Giants run their offense.
Shawn Camp earned my dog several beatings back in 2007
by wtbudlight on Aug 30, 2010 5:54 PM PDT
It's almost like stealing
Phone conversations with New England’s last two Pro Bowl tight ends — Cook in 1991 and ‘92; Coates for five years straight starting in 1994 — didn’t exactly make me long for a bygone era. But I was left wondering about what Tom Brady would be able to do with someone like Cook or Coates. Do either (or both) of the Patriots rookie tight ends, Rob Gronkowski or Aaron Hernandez, have that kind of potential? I’m not sure. But if they do, they’ll make an already historically potent offense even scarier.
“It forces a defense to keep four DBs in the game, if not five,” said Cook, now a high school football coach in his native Iowa. “It creates mismatches for an offense. Who do you guard? Honestly. It’s almost like stealing.”
Anyone hear about all the rules changes?
Specifically, the one putting the referee in a different spot in the final minutes? Polian, you are out of control.
My hatred of Michigan knows no bounds. Even more so after this travesty.
September 1st, 2010. A day that shall live in infamy.
"Because one of the great minds of the 21st century is raising glow-in-the-dark fish and weaving serapes..." -Leonard Hofstadter from The Big Bang Theory
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Sep 2, 2010 4:54 PM EDT reply actions
instead of the last two minutes, the umpire will now revert to the original positioning for the last five minutes.
I guess the league is concerned about safety for 55 out of the 60 minutes.
Keep the faith!
and colts fans
whine about how the league protects brady…..maybe we should call this the peyton manning rule (since it was manning who started whining about it to the refs
Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
I love my ZX-6r Kawasaki.
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
Hang on sloopy, sloopy hang on.. O H I O
AND the most important difference of all...
BRADY NEVER WHINED about getting hit or that the league should put in a new rule or change any rules to protect QBs. Manning HASN’T STOPPED WHINING about the umpire rule.
Keep the faith!
And that is ultimately why Tom Brady is better than Peyton Manning.
My hatred of Michigan knows no bounds. Even more so after this travesty.
September 1st, 2010. A day that shall live in infamy.
"Because one of the great minds of the 21st century is raising glow-in-the-dark fish and weaving serapes..." -Leonard Hofstadter from The Big Bang Theory
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Sep 2, 2010 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions
We already have one of those
That’s the rule that says pass interference shall be called any time a defensive back so much as breathes in the direction of Manning’s intended receiver.
Too bad they aren't concerned about referee accountability in the final two minutes of both halves...
My hatred of Michigan knows no bounds. Even more so after this travesty.
September 1st, 2010. A day that shall live in infamy.
"Because one of the great minds of the 21st century is raising glow-in-the-dark fish and weaving serapes..." -Leonard Hofstadter from The Big Bang Theory
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Sep 2, 2010 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions
They will be if a bad call goes against Manning...
Until then, the NFL doesn’t care :)
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Could be worse
They could be Major League Baseball.
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