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The biggest personnel notes on defense were with starting defensive tackle Vince Wilfork being held out of the game, which gave the coaching staff an extended look at rookie free-agent Joe Vellano. Also, starting linebacker Jerod Mayo only played in the dime package, so rookie Jamie Collins started alongside Brandon Spikes and Dont’a Hightower and Dane Fletcher also came on for two series in the base defense.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/the-biggest-personnel-notes-on-defense-were-with/
Well at least this nice pic of TFB came out of last night…
https://www.patspropaganda.com/well-at-least-this-nice-pic-of-tfb-came-out-of/
Patriots vs. Lions: Thoughts and Observations | NEPatriotsDraft.com – 2013 NFL Draft
Been saying this all along, but I’ll let Mike Loyko hammer it home:
There is no doubt the Patriots rookie class and the receivers especially are an impressive group. But, for everyone expecting them to have a seamless transition to NFL stardom, they have to slow their roll. With so many rookies Patriot fans have to be patient and allow time to develop. I think it will be a case of the rookies getting better each week and hopefully by November-December the offense will be clicking on all cylinders. The Patriots and fans will just have to take the good with the bad because mistakes are going to happen.
I’ve been picking the nuggets that ring truest to me so far today, now it’s time to weigh in with a big picture follow-up.
Let’s start on the offensive side of the ball.
I’ve been saying it all summer, this offense shows promise, but there are going to moments of inconsistency. Granted, last night was an ENTIRE GAME of inconsistency, but I still expect things like Sudfeld’s fumble, Thompkins 3rd-and-2 drop, and Dobson having trouble fighting through traffic to happen at various times throughout September and October.
The key for the offense will be to build on these moments and not let them continue into the winter months. For that reason, it is a positive to get a bunch of them out of the way now in the preseason.
This was an excellent lesson for this young offense on the road against a team that clearly came to play (as the Patriots should’ve expected). This will be a positive learning experience, but only if they can clean it up.
On defense, I like the resiliency they showed last night as a unit. They were definitely exposed yet again in the middle of the field and that is a little troubling.
Tommy Kelly is clearly going to make an impact this year and I am more excited about him that any other new player. Plug Wilfork back in, draw up an actual game plan, and this defense should be better, but they still had some of the same problems as last year.
Still, plenty to build on here.
It was, in many ways, reminiscent of the third preseason game in 2011 when the Patriots traveled to Detroit and were pummeled 34-10. They went on to win 13 regular-season games that year and play in the Super Bowl, which reminds us not to overreact to preseason results.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/it-was-in-many-ways-reminiscent-of-the-third/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3CQ5PC2s00
In case you like torturing yourself…
New England Patriots vs. Detroit Lions Week 3 Pre- Season Game Highlights (by itouchhack997)
https://www.patspropaganda.com/in-case-you-like-torturing-yourself-new-england/
The Patriots didn’t let the Lions into the end zone after Bush’s long run. They held the Lions to a three-and-out after Brandon Bolden fumbled at his 19, and David Akers missed the chip-shot field goal. They did allow the easy touchdown to Scheffler — backup linebacker Dane Fletcher badly bit on the play-fake — but they again held the Lions to a three-and-out after a Shane Vereen fumble gave Detroit the ball on New England’s 7-yard line.