new england patriots

Good observations as always. Hard not to be excited about Ron Brace and Jermaine Cunningham finally stepping up. Just for fun let’s imagine a defense of:

Cunningham-Brace-Wilfork-Jones

Hightower-Spikes-Mayo

McCourty-Chung-Gregory-Dowling

That’s 5 1st-rounders and 5 2nd-rounders (and poor free agent Steve Gregory) all hand picked by Belichick, you know, the guy who can’t draft. Might be a stretch to see both Cunningham and Brace in there as starters but still, any kind of help from them this year changes the conversation a bit more about the Pats make up. Not so much free agents and castoffs anymore, eh?

THUMBS UP The Patriots seemed to be rewarding three players for their play so far in camp as Donald Thomas received most of the snaps at left guard, Sterling Moore took some of the nickel cornerback reps from Ras-I Dowling and Ron Brace was elevated from the third team. Good to see strong play rewarded. All of the players – especially Thomas and Brace – have earned a longer look to this point.

THUMBS DOWN In our subjective opinion, center Dan Koppen has lost his last five one-on-one matchups, some very lopsided. His struggles are becoming predictable and alarming. Koppen hasn’t been able to match the strength of the Patriots’ defensive tackles, and his trademark feet don’t seem to be as quick. Brandon Deaderick easily went through Koppen in one-on-ones. Would be nice to see Dan Connolly get more reps in the starting spot he earned last season.

Not entirely surprised about Koppen, and in reality he has to make this team as the starting center or not at all, because that’s the only thing he can do. 

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He still looks very much on top of his game. It’s hard not to appreciate how every receiver is hit in stride, with a chance to get upfield. Or how every teammate is having his feet held to fire constantly, with Brady just a drop or a bad route away from lighting into someone. Or why it works for him because of the massive credibility he has with teammates.

Good stuff throughout, my favorite nugget:

On the defensive end, the Patriots projected starting cornerback trio (based off of last year, the team looks to play enough sub package defense that we ought to designate three cornerbacks as starters) all stood out, for different reasons. Kyle Arrington worked exclusively from the slot, including a number of reps versus Wes Welker. He was physical on one rep, perhaps too much so, but showed good strength through his core to generate his initial punch. Devin McCourty made a nifty pass breakup on a ball thrown to the corner of the end zone, dislodging the football on an upward swat through the receiver’s arms. Textbook technique. And Ras-I Dowling, who worked on the right side of the field, held his own versus Brandon Lloyd. His ability to keep his receiver within reach, a testament to his big frame, stood out.