1. Sucks about Develin. The only thing I truly care about is staying healthy in the preseason and this was the first significant blow. This locks down the Hooman’s roster spot because he can play some fullback as well. Depending on how bad the break is Devlin could be a candidate for the IR with designation to return, though we still have one game to go and they can wait to see if anyone else gets dinged.
2. The Pats offense pretty much always looks flat well into September. Even when it was the trusted Light-Mankins-Koppen-Neal core they still had clunkers early in the season. Clearly having an all-rookie interior offensive line in and mostly unfamiliar weapons around Brady did him no favors.
3. I do have my concerns about the running game, just a tiny bit, but mostly in short yardage situations where they struggled last year. Losing Develin sure doesn’t help that either. But again, we’ll see how it looks with Stork and Wendell back in there.
4. Bit disappointed in Dobson. Good touchdown, but I still think LaFell is such a better fit for the offense they want to run. Not that I thought Dobson was beating out LaFell, but I at least thought he might’ve learned to use his body a little better. I really wanted to see him fight more for the ball. He just doesn’t look to me like he plays the kind of football the Patriots want to play.
5. I think this will be the most mix-and-match defense you’ve seen in Belichick’s history, and it’s definitely his most diverse. There used to be a formula for base defenses – stopping the run, matching nickel or dime when three or four receivers came on – but now athleticism and specificity are the only requirements. Only one or two defenders on the field will technically be defensive linemen. The rest a versatile cast who can beat you with toughness (50/54), speed (51, 99), athleticism (95) or a combination of all three of those (91).
6. This will also be true in the secondary where I’m starting to believe they will play more man than anyone expected this year, when they think they can match up well. I’m not sure about anyone but Butler and Tarrell Brown at this point.
7. Tavon Wilson was reduced to playing dime linebacker on the second team. I think he’s probably done now.
8. Was bummed not to see Cadet last night, but now with Develin out I think it makes it a little easier to keep him. Again, he has more career receptions than any other RB and as much as Lewis and White have flashed, Cadet is unique.
9. Easley is finally starting to look as incredibly explosive as he did in college. I am very, very excited by this and there will be a few GIFs coming of him just blowing plays up in the backfield. It’s impressive to watch and he’s going to be a beast.
10. Once again it “felt” like the Patriots. Bend-don’t-break defense, offense starts slow but comes through at the end. No matter how things shake out over the next week-and-a-half, this will be a good team that contends right down to the end once again.
Re-watched the first half defensive snaps, will take a closer look at the rest of the game over the next day as I missed plenty having to use the NFL Game Pass feed.
