After further review

It's usually referred to as the "big nickel", I believe. I seem to remember them experimenting a lot with it in '02, with Tebucky, Lawyer, and Victor Green I think. I think Leonard Myers (a CB) would also get involved from the safety spot on some downs, allowing one of the other safeties to step up to the LOS. That was before O-T-I-S went down, and Myers and Buckley took turns getting burned from that other CB position.

I think everyone is getting way too excited about this preseason. After last year's long run and SB dissapointment BB decided to take a different route and ease off on the injured and starters. Personally I would rather this team improve as the season goes along and peak in Dec/Jan/Feb rather than now. Both on D and O we have younger guys filling in and learning on the job, that will pay off down the road. In terms of yesterday's game we need to compare players vs the competition, some of the young guys that were 1's yesterday have some work to do and will get better but when they were playing more with guys on their level at the end of the game they played a lot better as evidenced by the fact that the Patriots outgained the Eagles 220-38 in the game's final 19 minutes, while also outscoring them 14-0.

I know things need to be written about and things need to covered but this isn't a typical preseason and we need to understand the circumstances and challenges coming into season are different than any other faced by this group of Patriots players and coaches. I have full faith that once the real season is here, a more cohessive and enthusiastic team along with Patriots football will be back.

Ellis Hobbs, once again, proved that as a starting CB he is a disaster.

from my seat at the game: no pass rush which has faded year over year since '04, the running game is poor, Maroney's first reacation after hand off is stop and look for a crease versus hitting the hole hard like Dillon did. John Lynch is slow to the ball carrier - see punt return. #77 is not a good tackle.

Solid against the run? Sure the YPC were low but when the Patriots went into their nickle Philly called 6 straight running plays, got two first downs. The Pats finally slowed them to a 1 yard run and then gave up a 23 yard pass, likely because they were thinking run.

The drive lasted 67 yards and resulted in a TD, is that solid?

If they try that alignment in the regular season expect 150 plus yards rushing and a huge Time of Possession disadvantage.

...and what about Welker? Any update?

I know these games don't count but what an embarrassment....two special team touchdowns, terrible tackling and out hit in the trenches....

People can boo Cassell all they want but I would like to see him play behind Matt Light not third string Wesley Britt....Britt and Kazcur are going to get someone killed out there.

I hope Ty Warren, Adalius Thomas and Matt Light will be ready for the Chiefs..

Welker gets hurt on special teams--not sure why he had to be out there yet...

Belichek said it --not competitive--not good!

Mike,
I don't think Wheatly did that bad on the 42 yd completion. He was running stride for stride with the receiver and had good position to break up the pass. Now he did look away just before the ball arrived. But I think that was a rookie mistake that can be corrected. He needs to learn to read the receivers eyes. I liked the fact that he was in tight coverage - something we seldom see from our cornerbacks. And he did come back to make a strong effort to knock the ball out of the receivers hands and almost did.

Nikos - Your comparison is flawed, in a major way. First you say that people are all excited about the preseason and then you use statistics from the 4th quarter when everyone's 4 stringers are in there, can't have it both ways.

Second, the defensive unit that was on the field in the first half was mostly the starting D, they didn't look good IMO at all.

Third, the third preseason game is generally when you get a good look at the starting team in the first half and into the second. There is good reason for concern on a number of levels if the starting teams (minus brady) that were on the field last night are not playing well. There is only one game left and usually starters are left out or don't play more than a couple series. So where do they go from here? Just win on reputation?

I completely agree with Nikos. These are just meaningless pre-season games where the worst that can happen is losing players to injuries. What you hope to gain from the pre-season games is testing plays and focusing on the execution and timing of the plays. Not sure what's up with the defense, though.

What they've really gained here is that, regardless of the pre-season offensive line, Matt Cassel is completely useless as a starter and needs to go. He certainly has had his chances. My guess is that Belichick probably had higher expectations for him and with 3 backup quarterbacks, hoped Cassel would perform so he could trade him away and get something for him.

Mike Allen's obsession with Hobbs has grown over the off-season. Ever seen "The Fan?" The De Niro character appears to be close.

Look, when the Patriots actually lose a game Brady starts, THEN I will get concerned. Belichick has obviously decided to play at half-speed through the preseason, and to reveal as little of the playbook as possible. There is some risk that these bad habits will carry over into the regular season, but somehow I doubt it.

Remember, this team could be playing a lot harder during the season, and has made a conscious decision to take it easy.

Take a deep breath and relax, everyone.

By the way, Lynch was slow on that punt for a touchdown, but he sure looked good on that open-field tackle, where he was knocked to the ground and still brought down his man. Give the guy a chance...

Look, when the Patriots actually lose a game Brady starts, THEN I will get concerned. Belichick has obviously decided to play at half-speed through the preseason, and to reveal as little of the playbook as possible. There is some risk that these bad habits will carry over into the regular season, but somehow I doubt it.

Remember, this team could be playing a lot harder during the preseason, and instead has made a conscious decision to take it easy.

Take a deep breath and relax, everyone.

By the way, Lynch was slow on that punt for a touchdown, but he sure looked good on that open-field tackle, where he was knocked to the ground and still brought down his man. Give the guy a chance...

Hope the pats dont lose brady and go 0-16

This offensive line couldn't run-block last year and did a poor job of pass protecting at the end of the season. Nothing seems to have changed and if it doesn't Brady is going to get killed out there. On the defensive side of the ball when the Pats rush 3 or 4 they can't seem to generate much pressure. Sure, we started to blitz more but our corners, especially Hobbs. are awful and the linbackers and safeties are slow and have a hard time covering downfield. The special teams breakdowns probably won't happen once the season starts. They were certainly an embarrassment last night.

"The offensive line, and the health issues there, remains one of the team's more pressing issues."

Man, why do all the writers go soft on the O-line. This is THE major concern for the team because with a bad line, nothing on the team will work. And anything the Pats have put out there is a bad line, one which I think would have trouble conpeting with a good college d-line.
How can everyone (writers) come down so hard on Cassell with that line that doesn't permit time to pass, makes a running game impossible, dropped passes on good throws, and drive-stopping penalties. Those are his fault? C'mon. I'm not blowing Cassells horn, I thinkd Guttierrez is the better QB but you can't rate any part of the offense with that line.

Why is Ellis Hobbs the de facto voice of the Patriots? I read more quotes from him than from the rest of Pats combined outside of Brady.

I can think of 15 Pats, ok, virtually the entire team, that I'd rather hear from than Ellis 'Toasty' Hobbs.

I'll refrain from any meaningful commentary until we actually play a game that counts.

The back up quarterback position with Matt Castle is definitely looking untenable. It almost seems as if he looks like he has not played a lot in college and the pros. Look for a vet to be signed when the rosters are reduced.

The experience gained by Mayo will be helpful in the 4th quarter of future games. I see him making a major impact by the end of this year. Those two positions were our weakest links from last year. With Brady the iron man, we just have been lucky at quarterback and we know where we stood at inside linebacker. So lets wait for the first three real games before making judgements.

Is anyone under the impression, that the [MATT CASSEL], experiment is woefully coming to an unfulfilling ending. Based on the numerous opportunities afforded to Matt, to secure the back role, behind Golden boy, [Tom Brady], is doesn’t appear that Matt will remain as the incumbent backup to Tom, with Gutierrez, displaying superior “affinity” to quarterback the team should Tom prove not able. With Tom not being a hundred-percent, for the last four games, (SB and three nondescript exhibition games), the Patriots can-ill afford a less then comparable signal caller, if the organization has any aspirations to return to Tampa. Based on my keen observations, its quite apparent, that Matt doesn’t have the “it” quality you search for in a back-up quarterback, qualities which are of profound importance , especially, when you are a back-up. Gutierrez has displayed superior strength on throws, better feel for the game, and a general overall “aptitude” to play the position at the NFL level. I think it would be only logical, that he would only ascend to back-up, based on performance over Cassel. Remember, “you scout talent with your eyes.”

Gutierrez, is simply a little more “seasoned,” because of playing on Saturday afternoons, honing his skills, whereas Cassel, was a perennial back up to Matt Leinart at USC. Gutierrez’ throws come out with zip. Judging from the tape, Cassel’s throws always seem to be flimsy. Gutierrez processed a canny ability to evade the rush and get ball out to an open back down field. Cassel simply wasn’t mobile enough in the pocket, which resulted in Cassel scrambling or being sacked. Based on last night’s game, against the EAGLES, the team seemed to “respond” once Gutierrez became implanted under center, moving the team, with the confidence a team needs to “feel” in a back-up, should the Patriots lose Tom Brady, for any extended period of time. If Gutierrez every wanted a chance to score a coup, and when at 4.09 during the fourth quarter, Gutierrez entered the game, in a mop of role of Cassel. Gutierrez was precisely in the “situation,” Belichick is looking to properly assess his back-up, which is, late in the game, with team in need of a spark. With Gutierrez displaying the ability to lead the team at any given moment, and have the regulars bestow confidence in the “back up,” that it can win with the “back-up.”

I think, if history is of any indication of past behavior, when it comes to maximizing value for players: it’s an organizational philosophy that always tries to recoup draft picks, (like Cassel), with trades. This in turn allows the Patriots, the convenience, to maneuver between slots, on draft day. I believe the audition, Belichick has “displayed” the last three weeks, is a showcase of Cassell, to the rest of league, with the purpose of making a trade. I don’t think my idea, is cockamamie, or far-fetched has it might seem. I’d not put it past Belichick and company.( Remember, the little running back, that was the darling of the preseason, I think, in 2006, was subsequently traded to the Steelers). I’ve always said: that if the Patriots call you proposing a deal, hang up the phone, because you’re about to be bamboozled, because the Patriots know something that you don’t know. (i.e, Randy Moss, for a fourth round draft choice). Might, Cassel, be enticing enough, for someone to bite, for, say, a, seventh round draft choice. (I know Cassel was a seventh-round draft choice. If the Patriot go my route, and complete my suggestion, essentially that Patriots would have broken even, swapping a seventh round draft choice, for a seventh round draft choice, plus, regaining the benefit of using the draft choice, for the opportunity to find another “diamond in the ruff,” like Tom Brady, in the later rounds.) Anyways. Matt should thank, the Patriots for giving him the opportunity to remain the back-up, but the time as come, for the Patriots to make another hard choice, and try and get something for the seventh round draft choice. If team could give Matt a little more time to develop, he could be a real steal, but unfortunately, the Patriots don’t have the luxury of affording time, with the season looming. Matt would be ideal in the Arena Football League or the Canadian Football League, where he can play-catch up, where he can be afforded time to develop, and hopefully, time to progress , because he’s some tangibles.

This is perfect. I WANT the Pats to stumble out the gate. Juggernauts never finish strong or win, for that matter. They need to peak late, much like 2003 and 2004.

No way the Pats will lose all season. These are essentially the same Pats as last year. I know we have some new guys doing some great things. I'm sorry Tank got hurt right away, I was looking forward to seeing him in a regular game. As Steve points out, this is just preseason, and when the dust settles, the New England Patriots will be triumphant this year. I just hope the only game they lose is earlier in the season, and not the last game of the year.

I thought that with a college draft that was deep on the offensive line that the Pats should have grabbed an offensive lineman with a future. Right now, things look as if what we saw in the SB was a peek at things to come for the OL. This is the worst I've seen of OL play here in YEARS. It really is that bad. So, I am very concerned.
I'm not saying I would not have taken Mayo. That guy will be an impact player and I would have drafted him when he was available with our pick. But in the second or third rounds I most certainly have tried to get an offensive lineman who could, in a year or two, start for this team. As it is, right now it looks pretty bad. They can't run block. They can't pass protect. Plus, I think the Giants showed the rest of the league the template for how to stop the Patriots' offense.

A veteran QB is needed. Nothing against him but Cassel just aint got it.

Hi Chris. They didn't stay in the nickel throughout that drive. I had the base defense on the field on the final handful of plays on that scoring drive. I thought the nickel held up quite well against the run, considering the Eagles weren't even in a spread formation. So it was a power offensive set against a pass defense -- and the Patriots were able to hold their ground against the run. L.A., I don't have an update on Welker, unfortunately. Patrick, I agree on Wheatley. He was in position to make the play, but his technique at the end didn't give him a chance to do so.
--Mike

I think it should a major concern of how slow they are playing. All the logic of football (and you hear the veterans say it every summer), if you play slow, you get hurt. Pull back on a run and you blow out a knee. I saw (mostly) no push from the O or D line all night. BB is like every other coach in the league - wins every game! These guys are professionals and they want to win - simply sliding by doesn't work for them, or they'll wind up in AZ!

And to play devils advocate, if there were three wins instead of three losses, every Pats fan would be buying SB tickets already!

The SKY IS FALLING THE SKY IS FALLING
I have never seen a group of people get so worked up over pre-season.....Brady hasnt played a down yet.....relax......geesh....I would rather see then win 12 games this season, and hit their peak late in the season, much like the Giants last year. Think about it who is really going to challenge them in the AFC east?
Also, with Merriman likely out for the season, do the Chargers really scare you? They havent scared me before, and they are weaker now. The Colts didnt improve in the off-season, and Harrison isn't getting any younger. Who else is a real challenge? The Steelers? Please.....you people need to relax.