Pre-Season Game #2 vs The Eagles
I was not impressed with much in this game, but I will chalk that up to the 26 players (healthy starters) who did not dress for the game. In the early going, Ryan Mallet looked really good. He was making accurate throws, and converted a Brady-esque 3rd down pass to Deion Branch. Branch had very little separation from the defender, but Mallet led him perfectly to get away for 20+ yards.
The Pats were up 11-0 after good defense bottled up the Eagle first few drives. Mike Vick took a nice shot from the oft-forgotten Jermaine Cunningham, who got by the Eagles starting O-line to knock Vick out of the game and onto the X-ray table (ribs, negative).
It was looking like it was going to be all Patriots until a couple miscues turned the tide for good. Brandon Bolden, the undrafted rookie RB, did not put his best foot forward. He muffed a punt and did not look good catching the ball out of the backfield. Also, he needs work in pass protection. I would be surprised to see him on the 53 man roster, but a practice squad season may be in the cards as he deals with his rookie growing pains.
Nate Solder and Marcus Cannon continue to struggle at the tackles, and Sebass Vollmer is a welcome sight at practice this week. Solder and Cannon were slow out of the stance in protecting against the Eagles' wide-9 defense, and it made life difficult for Hoyer and Mallet. Dante Scarneccia is hopeful, comparing the Light-Solder transition to the Bruce Armstrong-Matt Light transition in 2001. I do believe we won the Superbowl that year...but I could be wrong.
On the positive side, Deion Branch looked very solid, playing almost every Offensive series. Its nice to know that he hasn't lost a step. Likewise, its nice to Nate Ebner play more than 20 plays on Defense. He has already exceeded his workload at Ohio State (3 Defensive Snaps). Also, it paid off as Ebner snagged an INT just before halftime. I am liking this rugby kid more and more.
Overall, it was an ugly 2nd half, but our 2nd team competed well against the Eagles starters in the first half and into the 3rd. Its nice to know that the JV team is pretty good.
The Pats were up 11-0 after good defense bottled up the Eagle first few drives. Mike Vick took a nice shot from the oft-forgotten Jermaine Cunningham, who got by the Eagles starting O-line to knock Vick out of the game and onto the X-ray table (ribs, negative).
It was looking like it was going to be all Patriots until a couple miscues turned the tide for good. Brandon Bolden, the undrafted rookie RB, did not put his best foot forward. He muffed a punt and did not look good catching the ball out of the backfield. Also, he needs work in pass protection. I would be surprised to see him on the 53 man roster, but a practice squad season may be in the cards as he deals with his rookie growing pains.
Nate Solder and Marcus Cannon continue to struggle at the tackles, and Sebass Vollmer is a welcome sight at practice this week. Solder and Cannon were slow out of the stance in protecting against the Eagles' wide-9 defense, and it made life difficult for Hoyer and Mallet. Dante Scarneccia is hopeful, comparing the Light-Solder transition to the Bruce Armstrong-Matt Light transition in 2001. I do believe we won the Superbowl that year...but I could be wrong.
On the positive side, Deion Branch looked very solid, playing almost every Offensive series. Its nice to know that he hasn't lost a step. Likewise, its nice to Nate Ebner play more than 20 plays on Defense. He has already exceeded his workload at Ohio State (3 Defensive Snaps). Also, it paid off as Ebner snagged an INT just before halftime. I am liking this rugby kid more and more.
Overall, it was an ugly 2nd half, but our 2nd team competed well against the Eagles starters in the first half and into the 3rd. Its nice to know that the JV team is pretty good.
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