Opening night reviewPage 2 of 19 -- Still a long way to go
Good questions again this week. Most deal with the running game. And really we didn't have many answers after the first exhibition game. It does appear the offensive line performed pretty well. The quarterbacks were sacked twice, but there weren't any disasters out there. Adrian Klemm got beat once on a Giant sack of Damon Huard.
It was a very positive game, but let's keep it in perspective because I know Bill Belichick is. As I wrote earlier there will be ups and downs before the pre-season is over. The key thing is to stay healthy, to get some of the injured players like Ty Law, Willie McGinest, Joe Andruzzi, and Kenyatta Jones playing.
Celebrity restaurant review
Mike Andelman, Phantom Gourmet (Ch. 4/UPN 38): Abe and Louis in Boston. Mike likes the bone 'n' ribeye medium rare; with chocolate souffle for desert.
David Andelman, Phantom Gourmet (Ch. 4/UPN 38): The Oak Room, Copley Plaza. The chateaubriand for two is the best meal he's had.
Sean McDonough, UPN 38, Red Sox announcer: Cantina Italiana, North End, Boston. Sean enjoys just about everything, but is especially partial to the Chicken Fiore.
Here's the mailbag. Hi Nick, Loved the column last year; I thought you did a great job trying to project an unbiased opinion about our team. That being said, have you had any input or information that might lend the die-hard fans of a more confident attitude about the chances of this team making it beyond post-season? Last year I thought they relied too heavily on the short route passing- handcuffing them offensively, as adjustments were obviously made by teams that were fooled during their Super Bowl run from the year before. So what do you think so far of this years' Patriot Nation? --Murtagh Hunt, Newton A: I think they will attempt to stretch the field with longer passes, but part of the success of that will be defenses respecting their running game. They have to give defenses reason to respect their run game and then they should be able to open it up down the field. It's a tough order. Nick, Welcome back!!! Love your column. What are your feelings on the Pats trading their second pick in the first round to Baltimore, who in turn took Kyle Bowler? (I hear that he isn't even the set starter yet.) I felt that this could have been a HUGE year for the Pats, in terms of building a solid, young team w/ young guys. Was there any player left at the time that you would have taken, or do the Pats do the right thing in trading for a number one for next season? --Brian Callahan, Boston Continued... |
