The best thing about preseason games? They don’t count. The worst thing about preseason games? Players can still suffer a season-ending injury.
New England will miss Dane Fletcher. Good speed, could sub in at any of the linebacker positions and he was a key contributor on special teams. I wonder if anyone on the team called him “Hamlet.” Probably not that many Shakespearian scholars on the roster. Anyway, despite the loss of Fletcher and the site of Tom Brady on the bench getting field turf washed out of his eyes, I’d have to call my glass of Patriots’ Kool-Aid half full the morning after the NWE’s 7-6 win over the Saints.
I’d been hearing that Chandler Jones would need a year to develop but he looks like the real deal right now. Jones got pressure on the QB, made plays against the run and drew two holding penalties against Jermon Bushrod, a Pro Bowl left tackle. The defense as a whole – still a work in progress and without Brandon Spikes or Jonathan Fanene available – looks much improved but Jones was a revelation. This guy needs a nickname, stat. Let’s agree that “CJ” and “Jonesy” are non-starters…
· The Emperor – Deacon is taken. Then again, probably not a lot of Eugene O’Neill aficionados in the NFL. Really not a good thematic fit, either.
· The Change-Maker – Because he gets the quarterback. No? You’re probably right. Real money is so 20th Century.
· The Jones Boson – Because he gives the Patriots’ defense mass. Okay, okay; not that many nuclear physicists in the NFL. Got it.
· Troublemaker – I’ll sack the quarterback and jack the brother of the ball… Shortens up nicely to TMJ.
It didn’t look like Nate Solder was ready for his close-up last night but I think Solder and the offensive line will be fine. Solder’s got the physical tools and athleticism to play the blind side and he has Dante Scarnecchia as his coach. He’ll also play better when Logan Mankins is lined up next to him. As noted above, Jermon Bushrod was called twice for holding last night as well.
While the O-Line struggled at times in pass protection, they had to be doing something right in the running game as Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen and Brandon Bolden all had impressive moments. Vereen had reportedly struggled early on in camp but he looked quick and fast carrying and catching the ball on the Patriots lone TD drive opening the second half. Thanks for the memories, Kevin Faulk.
Would it have been nice to see the Patriots march smartly down the field for a TD to start the game? Of course. Having said that, are any of us really worried about Tom Terrific and the offense? I didn’t think so.
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