It's just preseason blah, blah, blah.
Whatever. This is me not slowing my roll.
What about Swing Tackle?
That's right; the Patriots biggest concern is who fills a backup position on the Final 53. Granted, swing tackle may be the second-most important non-starter on offense but Isaiah Wynn's preseason work has me feeling pretty good about the starting five, at least. Does Dan Skipper or Cole Croston at OT3 fill my heart with song? Yes, but that song is the Eagles' "Desperado."
What about Tight End?
Is my man-crush on Ryan Izzo justified?
To be fair, I've been on the Izzo bandwagon more by default than because I saw something in his college tape that made me think he could be an above replacement level NFL tight end. I've been on Izzo's jock (along with Andrew Beck) because I want the run-blocking. Any contributions in the passing game would be jimmies on the sundae.
What is the deal with Matt LaCosse? Does he wind up on IRR? Do tight ends catch any passes before Ben Watson returns from his 4-game suspension?
Would it matter?
Generally speaking, I'm not too worried about tight end; I think the offense will be all about running backs and wide receivers in 2019. So, I'm tempted to keep the tight ends who can block and have some value on special teams - Izzo and Beck or Eric Saubert.
Am I good with Jarrett Stidham as QB2?
Yes. The answer is yes.
Look, if a quarterback not named Tom Brady starts a regular season game before Week 17 it would not be a good thing. Would it make it significantly better if that QB was Brian Hoyer?
No. It would not.
As for Stidham not being as good as his stats would indicate - a favorite trope of local pigskin pundits and bobbleheads, who would like you to remember the poor throws and near interceptions - is being lucky really such a bad thing?
Bottom Line: I'd rather keep an extra wide receiver, or offensive lineman, or defensive back, or, well, an extra just about any other position group than keep a third quarterback.
Who returns punts?
I still think the ideal situation is to find a way to keep Braxton Berrios on the Final 53 with Gunner Olszewski on the practice squad but the former DII defensive back looked pretty good returning punts last Thursday night. Is that enough to make the Final 53? Let's see how many reps Gunner gets at wide receiver in the preseason finale.
And whether or not Brian Hoyer gets traded to the Colts.
Can the rookie wide receivers pass their Chem 401 final with Professor Brady?
The week 1 starters might well be Edelman, Dorsett, and Josh Gordon, which makes this something of a moot point but if the Pats are going 4-wide then maybe Meyers (who flunked the mid-term with Brady Thursday night) or Harry (who needs to get over to the TB12 clinic and work on his pliability if he's ever going to improve his availability) could be counted on to get open and catch a pass.
Does Brady play against the Giants in the preseason finale? Probably not. I wouldn't expect Harry (who hasn't been seen since Detroit) to play in any case, as the Patriots are clearly taking the time necessary to make sure he's 100% before he returns to action. It's a close call but I'd rather not see Brady at all against the Giants than risk a cameo just to get that first connection for Meyers.
Meyers and Harry both look like they have NFL starter potential (and I still like the Troy Brown/Anquan Bolden comps), just not in 2019.
Is the Defense really that good?
OMG, Becky!
I came across Tom Brady's first start on YouTube (aka, the "Brian Cox Kills and Eats a Wide Receiver Game"); the 0-2-0 Pats vs. Peyton Manning's 2-0-0 Colts in an OG AFC East divisional game. There's a sequence where you get a glimpse of future Tom Brady but it's the defense that was truly compelling in this game rewind. A 78-yard pick-6 by Otis Smith. A 20-0 halftime lead. Forcing and recovering an Edgerrin James fumble to start the second half. A tipped interception by Roman Phifer. Peyton Manning Face. (Remembering how good Kevin Faulk was; nothing to do with the defense but it needed to be said.) More Brian Cox. Another tipped INT with Ty Law this time taking it to the house. More Peyton Manning Face. More Brian Cox - this time playing fullback (leading the way to an Antowain Smith TD). 44-13.
The architect of that defense and the game plan that shut down an offense featuring Manning, James, and Marvin Harrison is still working the sidelines for the New England Patriots.
The same man who put together the defense that held the Rams millennial offense to just 3 points in the Super Bowl.
And this year's unit may be even better.
Go Pats!
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