Bubbling

The fourth preseason game is always a hot, steaming mess. And not just because of the late summer humidity. Starters make a cameo if they play at all and after that mere chaos reigns. Or should I say mere weirdness? Taking his last reps before October (for reasons that pass all understanding), Tom Brady played the entire first half while Jimmy Garoppolo remained on the sideline, encased in bubblewrap.

Regardless, the Patriots and every other NFL team will need to cut 22 players to get down to the final 53 by end of business on Saturday.

It’s a tough game, and not just on the field.

Mingo just moveable chess piece in game of life

Is that the city of Cleveland I hear weeping?

This has to be the last time the Browns ever make a deal with Bill Belichick, right? Jabaal Sheard, Dion Lewis and now Barkevious Mingo.

Mingo looked like an absolute beast last night. Okay, it was preseason and sure Mingo looks like a situational pass rusher (What is it Bill Belichick is always going on about? Oh yeah, situational football.) but after just one week with the Patriots, the new #51 spent most of the night in the Giants backfield. He’ll only play 3rd downs and special teams? Yeah, I’m feeling pretty good about that.

Aaron Dobson is that guy who leaves the party and nobody notices…

The 4th and 1 pass would’ve been a highlight reel catch. If he’d made it. And Aaron Dobson did have a big catch outside the numbers earlier in the game. But he also stopped running his route on the interception. And didn’t make that potential game-tying catch (assuming a 2-point conversion). Dobson needed to come up big last night and he came up medium.

Rumor has it the Pats are shopping Dobson but I doubt last night’s performance did much to improve his market value. If Danny Amendola starts the season on PUP (and with Keshawn Martin a little gimpy), Dobson could stick around but I’m far more interested in when Malcolm Mitchell can lose the red non-contact jersey at this point.

It’s not you, Tyler Gaffney, it’s DJ Foster…

I fear my bromance with Tyler Gaffney is over; I fell in love with DJ Foster last night.

Foster’s fumble (after making a sweet one-handed grab) on a screen pass catch and run was not good, except that it happened in a preseason game and gave Bill Belichick a chance to spend some quality time with Foster on the bench. It’s hard to know - given he was running behind guys we hope won’t see any snaps in the regular season - if Foster can run effectively between the tackles but he was absolutely electric catching the ball out of the backfield, including a nice wheel route connection with Brady early in the game.

Gaffney had one really good run - decisive cut, nice burst - but came up lame and took himself out of the game after that run. Not a good look for a guy who’s spent the last two seasons on IR. Gaffney will probably find a spot on another roster (I’m guessing Miami or Detroit) and I wish him well but I am totally psyched to see DJ Foster on the field in 2016.

Please, Bill, please trade for an offensive tackle!

I hope Nate Solder’s hammy is not a long-term problem. I so do. I’m totally freaked out by the starting tackle pu-pu platter of Marcus Cannon, Cameron Fleming and LaAdrian Waddle.

I can’t even think about it.

Can’t act, can’t sing, dances a little…

AJ Derby can’t block (much) but he can catch (a lot). Clay Harbor can block (some) but hasn’t been able to get on the field (much). Interestingly, the Pats Pulpit projection had both making the roster and Rich Hill was moved to ask if Derby might actually be better than Martellus Bennett (who had a terrible game against the Giants). I think the answer to that question is “no” but I wouldn’t mind being wrong about that, either.

Maybe Derby is more of a big wide receiver than a tight end. I doubt he has the speed to play consistently on the outside but his size and hands give him an advantage on 50/50 balls on the perimeter and he appears to be a smart and effective route-runner. With Gronk and Bennett both healthy and available, Derby will have limited opportunities at TE but if I’m Bill Belichick, I’m going to find a way to get those hands on the field.

It’s going to be weird, maybe it will be wonderful, too…

Uncharted waters? Check.

Brady’s first half reps in the 4th preseason game was just the start of what is sure to be a wild ride for the Patriots through September and into October. But in sifting through the pigskin pundits and bobbleheads’ final 53 projections one thing is clear.

The New England Patriots are loaded.

On defense.

If there’s one phrase that shows up time and time again it’s “tough cut,” whether it’s Ted Karras or Geneo Grissom or whoever, there are probably half a dozen cuts whose Patriots’ dream may be ending Saturday, but not their NFL dream. It will be hectic, for sure. Maybe the gridiron cognoscenti are right and New England will find an upgrade for LeGarrette Blount. (I’ll be looking for offensive linemen, not running backs.) Maybe Aaron Dobson gets traded. There’s bound to be a surprise or two we’re likely to #nobodySawThatComing.

Sure, I’m concerned with the offensive line, even with Dante Scarnecchia coaching ‘em up. I’d certainly feel better if Dion Lewis and Danny Amendola were healthy. But I’ll hold onto this: The defense looked stacked before Barkevious Mingo announced his presence with authority and should be able to carry Jimmy G and the offense through the first four weeks. Throw in a couple of big punt returns from Cyrus Jones and the Patriots should be fine.

Go Pats!