Patriots/Falcons Notes & Observations
Friday, August 20, 2010
Preseason football games aren’t worth the price of admission. Even though ticket holders pay the same price they do for a regular season game, we can all agree that it’s not right.
The same goes for writing about preseason football games. I could give you a tidy chronological breakdown of what happened for four quarters last night in Atlanta, but who cares? Does anyone really want to know how the Patriots third string offense performed against the Falcons third string defense? I don’t think so.
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So here’s a Cliff Notes version of the important stuff that happened last night at the Georgia Dome:
-The most important part of these games is what happens when the “1’s” face the “1’s.” Last night, the Patriots “1’s” won the battle.
On Atlanta’s first offensive series, they moved the ball down the field on the New England defense. But, much like the 2001 Patriots, it was a bend but don’t break series for the “D” which held Atlanta to a 46-yard Matt Bryant field goal which put the Falcons up 3-0.
Tom Brady and the Patriots offense then took over and quickly got Wes Welker involved in his first game action since injuring his knee in Houston last year. Six straight pass plays were followed by six straight physical running plays. Fred Taylor’s 28-yard touchdown run featured some nice blocking up front by Logan Mankins’ replacement Dan Connolly and Alge Crumpler and a great lowering of the shoulder by Taylor to put the Pats up 7-3.
The final few minutes of the first quarter featured good defensive stands by both sides with a pair of three and outs. Rookie first round pick Devin McCourty made a nice defensive play for the Patriots continuing his solid play from the Saints game.
-Former Boston College standout Matt Ryan heated up in the Falcons opening drive of the second quarter hitting Roddy White, Michael Turner and Justin Peele to march Atlanta into New England territory. But, again, the Pats defense bent but didn’t break coming up with a stop on 3rdand 4. And this time Matt Bryant missed a 47-yard field goal attempt. Matt Ryan’s night was done. He went 8-13 for 76 yards 0 TD and 0 INT.
-On the Pats next drive, Tom Brady connected with Randy Moss on a nice first down play taking it to the Atlanta 49 which was followed by another tough Fred Taylor run of 4 yards. Five more hard fought yards for Taylor made it 3rdand 1 for the Pats at the Falcons 40. And Taylor picked up the needed yardage for the first.
A nice open field move by rookie TE Aaron Hernandez showed us why he could be a wild card, of sorts, in this New England offense this year. That was followed by the Pats first run for a loss. Brady hit Moss to bring up 3rdand 4 for the Pats. That’s where Brady pumped once, was hit and fumbled the ball. New England recovered setting up a 41-yard field goal which Gostkowski pushed wide right.
However, a great acting job by the Pats placekicker earned a 15-yard personal foul call for roughing the kicker on the Falcons giving the Pats 1stand 10 on the 11. On 2ndand 13, Taylor put his shoulders down and bulled his way to the 4 yard line. Brady hit the rookie Hernandez on 3rdand 4 in the end zone for a 14-3 Patriots lead.
Tom Brady’s night was over after that drive. The Patriots quarterback went 10-12 for 85 yards with 1 TD and 0 INT. Keep in mind that Atlanta was missing some guys in the secondary.
Fred Taylor’s running was physical and outstanding. When he faced the Falcons starting defense, he racked up 54 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.
The bottom line is, for the second straight week, the Patriots starters outplayed their counterparts.
Other observations:
-Patrick Chung had his second straight solid game. The second year safety looks ready to be a playmaker for the Patriots defense this year.
-There’s definitely more good than bad from the rookies thus far with McCourty and Hernandez playing well with the starters.
-While we were all watching the football game, Josh Beckett was toiling away in relative anonymity on NESN. Five solid innings of work against the Angels for the struggling Beckett who collapsed in the 6thand 7th. The Sox loss paired with a win by New York has pretty much sealed Boston’s fate.
-How great was it to see Wes Welker back out there?
-Ditto for Sammy Morris who’s not a bad runner and a likeable guy. How about that 20-yard TD scamper in the 3rd?
-Gerard Warren looks like the odds on favorite to replace Ty Warren in the starting line-up. Along side Vince Wilfork, that’s a lot of beef up front for that Patriots defense.
-Laurence Maroney would have to be real dumb to not get the message being sent to him. Against New Orleans, BenJarvus Green-Ellis got the start a tailback. Last night, Fred Taylor was the starter with Green-Ellis second off the bench. Sammy Morris was used in short yardage situations and Kevin Faulk on passing downs. Maroney had best pick up his play or his days in New England will be numbered.
-A nice addition by FOX adding former NFL head of officiating Mike Pereira to its team. Pereira’s weekly hits on the NFL Network were must-watch TV for football junkies and now he’ll help to break things down and clarify rulings during game broadcasts for FOX.
Related Articles
- Preseason analysis? Here goes nothing
- 2010 Patriots Preview (Part 2)
- NFL News & Notes
- Pats Cut Farnham / NFL News & Notes
