FOXBORO — The Patriots’ preseason opener at Gillette Stadium on Friday is the sort of sport that requires a radical rationalization of the context surrounding the sport previous to any sort of after-the-fact dissection.
Their opponents, the Commanders, sat a whopping 30 regulars. Their high two quarterbacks did not take a snap. The Patriots, in the meantime, needed to play their wholesome starters. Not for lengthy. However lengthy sufficient to assist them bounce out to a multi-score lead.
Subsequently, Friday night’s 48-18 bludgeoning will not be all that it appears.
However that is to not counsel there weren’t significant takeaways because the seats emptied and the clock wound down within the fourth quarter.
Mike Vrabel’s staff was extra ready. They dominated within the kicking sport. Their operation was clear. They usually have been formally penalized simply twice for 15 yards — although that they had a number of offsetting penalties — in comparison with Washington’s 13 penalties for 98 yards.
Vrabel’s staff was extra bodily, too. New England’s operating backs broke tackles with violence and aggression. Its ball-carriers, when operating alongside the sideline, appeared to universally refuse to expire of bounds — as an alternative opting to decrease their shoulders by contact.
And out of doors of a lackadaisical Drake Maye fumble on the staff’s first offensive drive, they typically made good selections to guard the soccer.
It definitely wasn’t good. However when it comes to which staff appeared to do a greater job of additional establishing their chosen id of their first preseason sport, it was the Patriots.
Which gamers on Vrabel’s roster stood out? Which have work to do on the subject of making their case for the energetic roster?
Let’s get into it with a postgame Inventory Watch…
Inventory Up
TreVeyon Henderson, RB
Explosiveness personified. That is what Henderson was on Friday night time, offering followers in Foxboro with a jolt when he returned the opening kick 100 yards for a touchdown.
He added a forceful 18-yard run and 12 yards on three catches as a pass-catcher. For a staff missing game-breaking offensive expertise, the rookie second-rounder already seems to be like one in every of their high choices.
Efton Chism III, WR
Main the staff with six catches for 50 yards and a landing, Chism confirmed good fingers and a hard-nosed strategy with the ball in his fingers. He additionally returned a punt for 11 yards and made a few good selections to let punts sure into the tip zone for touchbacks as a return man.
If the Patriots preserve six receivers on their roster, Chism could have a shot if he continues to place collectively performances like Friday’s.
Javon Baker, WR
No catches for the second-year wideout, however two special-teams tackles. Vrabel sang Baker’s praises after the very fact for his contributions within the kicking sport.
“I feel that is incredible,” Vrabel mentioned. “When you’ve gamers, particularly receivers, that may create a job, that may allow you to, be massive, bodily, every little thing that we see out of Javon as a receiver, once they can embrace that as particular groups gamers, guys which can be massive and bodily and quick and prepared, that interprets to particular groups.
“Excited. Simply comfortable for Javon simply having the ability to go on the market and contribute. If you do these issues, your teammates get excited. Hopefully his confidence continues to develop.”
DJ James, CB
There is a motive James has been across the soccer constantly in coaching camp. He has playmaking instincts.
Within the first quarter, sensing receiver Michael Gallup was slicing off his route, James jumped between Gallup and quarterback Sam Hartman for an interception that solely additional solidified him as one in every of New England’s high performers this summer time.
With Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis out, he is made essentially the most of his alternatives on the surface.
Lan Larison, RB
The undrafted rookie out of UC Davis had 9 touches for 44 yards (seven carries, 35 yards; two catches, 9 yards) and a landing. He additionally recorded a special-teams sort out, and returned a kick 25 yards as a returner. It was the sort of all-around efficiency that may assist an under-the-radar rookie make headway towards a roster spot.
Larison was noticed carrying a strolling boot within the locker room after the sport, so his well being bears watching. But when he can stay accessible, he could possibly be of use to Vrabel, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and particular groups coordinator Jeremy Springer.
Parker Romo, Okay
Romo blasted a 57-yard kick that may’ve been good from 60 yards away. He is doing his greatest to go kick-for-kick with rookie Andy Borregales, who additionally made his lone field-goal attempt (22 yards). Each made all three of their extra-point makes an attempt.
Inventory Down
Drake Maye, QB
His job is not in jeopardy, after all. He is not going anyplace. However Maye started coaching camp doing a wonderful job taking good care of the soccer, and that has modified over the past week.
He threw two picks in a scrimmage last Friday. He was intercepted on the finish of Wednesday’s joint observe with the Commanders. And in his first preseason sport as a second-year participant, he dedicated a mind-numbing turnover, fumbling deep in Patriots territory when he had time to both throw the ball away or just take a sack.
“That is a foul determination,” Vrabel mentioned. “I feel we’ll want higher from him. I feel he is aware of that. That is apparent.”
Maye did lead a scoring drive on New England’s subsequent possession, scrambling into the tip zone from 5 yards out. However he’ll need that turnover again.
Joshua Dobbs, QB
Maye’s backup went simply 5-for-12 for 45 yards (3.8 per try) whereas going through backups throughout the Washington protection. He undershot an open Kyle Williams deep down the sector, and he misfired excessive and behind to Williams alongside the purpose line — a turnover-worthy sort of throw deep within the pink zone.
Dobbs did scramble into the tip zone for a rating, however he did not do a lot to solidify his standing as a pleasant complementary possibility for Vrabel on the staff’s most necessary place ought to Maye ever need to miss time. In truth, undrafted rookie Ben Wooldridge (9-for-12, 132 yards, one landing) had the more practical night time as a passer.
Ja’Lynn Polk, WR
By means of no fault of his personal, Polk’s possibilities at making the roster appeared to take a success on Friday. He left the sport early after taking an end-around hand-off with what regarded like an arm or shoulder damage.
Polk had offseason shoulder surgical procedure that restricted him within the spring, and we’ll see if he must miss vital time shifting ahead. He seemed to be in a battle for a gig with players like Javon Baker and Chism, each of whom had good nights.
Anfernee Jennings, LB
The veteran edge defender began 30 video games over the past two years for the Patriots, along with his forte being his work within the operating sport. However in Vrabel’s protection, which appears to place extra worth on explosive pass-rushers off the sting, Jennings seems to be like he could possibly be on the surface trying in when it comes time to make selections on the roster.
He performed late within the fourth quarter, ending with three tackles.
Trending Merchandise
