PatsPropaganda

 1. After watching the rest of the defensive snaps I have to say I was impressed with Rufus Johnson. Didn’t put him on the 53-man yesterday, but I think he’s in the conversation for the 53rd man. Tough year to be a breakout DE on this team with two drafts picks, one coveted free agent and two entrenched starters. I’d love to be able to keep him but it might have to (hopefully) be on the practice squad. Johnson is good with his hands as a pass rusher, but he had his struggles against the run.

2. Dax Swanson showed up a couple times, but it’s Bradley Fletcher who I think is sneaking on now. He’s been pretty quiet for most of camp and preseason, but against the Panthers he showed up as a starter. The Pats gave him a pretty big contract, and while Tarrell Brown has outplayed him, there still could be plenty of use for him. 

3. I’d love Logan Ryan to find some consistency this year and hopefully on the “good” side. He swings so hot and cold at times – forcing a fumble or breaking up pass, then immediately whiffing on a jam at the line and getting beat for six. 

4. I mentioned it in the last Posits but hooddamn he’s disruptive. It’s going to be very interesting to watch how he affects this defense on the whole. Let’s remember that even with Revis and Browner last year, the pass defense only went from 14th overall to 12th overall in Football Outsiders’ DVOA ratings. The minor uptick is because there still hasn’t been a consistent pass rush from the Patriots the last two years while they were running Ninkovich, Chandler and Wilfork into the ground. Now it will be pass rush by committee and it looks very exciting.

5. Jordan Richards really impressed me after a closer look. It’s scary how much he reminds me of Chung. Very physical and fearless taking on a tackle. I think he’s a promising addition and the defensive player who really won me over in this one.

6. I’m all in on Dion Lewis. He’s bounced around the league a bit but he has the savvy of an experienced veteran, making tough yards and something out of nothing a number of times. He was inspiring confidence with his play and with so much uncertainty in the backfield you have to keep a guy who looks that solid.

7. Dobson redeemed himself with a better second half. Still, the negative plays are killers and I feel like the only way we ever see him catching a ball is into his stomach. He certainly doesn’t attack the ball and that’s a problem. 

8. I think Garoppolo would be fine if he has to start the regular season for us. They’d manage what he’s good at and with Gronk and Edelman out there he’ll look pretty good. The question for him will just be avoiding the killer mistakes. If he can do that the Pats would win at least two of the first four, if Brady’s suspension stands. Which it won’t.

9. Scott Chandler is a little quicker than I anticipated and he had a real good first showing. I am curious how they balance him and Gronk, but as everyone is well aware, they’ll make a tough duo to cover.

10. Not much out of Brandon Bolden, but I still think he’s probably the Week 1 starter on early downs, with a combo of Lewis and White on third down. A sprinkling of Jonas Gray to see if he can loosen up the defense at all with his hard-running style.