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2nd year QB Brian Hoyer is starting to look like he might be a solid long term backup for Tom Brady. Hoyer has completed 17 of 31 passes (54.8%) for 205 yards with 2 TD passes and 0 INTs (96.8 QB Rating) so far this pre-season. It appears that Bill Belichick has found another QB that no one else knew much about as Hoyer signed on as a undrafted free agent last year. Could he be another Matt Cassel? Only time will tell.
The Patriots only had the ball for 16:14 last night and they still almost beat the Rams. Tom Brady was outstanding as usual completing 18 of 22 passes for 273 yards with 3 TD passes and 0 INTs. Brian Hoyer finished up the game by completing 1 of 3 passes for 5 yards with 1 TD pass. Benjarvus Green-Ellis led the Patriots in rushing last night with 13 yards on 5 carries (2.6 ypc). Kevin Faulk only had 1 carry for 3 yards last night but he also caught 4 passes for 34 yards (8.5 avg). Randy Moss (3 rec, 74 yards, TD) and rookie TE Rob Gronkowski (3 rec, 66 yards, 2 TDs) led the way in the passing game for the Patriots last night. WRs Sam Aiken (4 rec, 22 yards) and Wes Welker (2 rec, 41 yards) also pitched in last night for the Patriots. The Patriots finished up with 28 yards (2.5 ypc) and 260 yards passing last night.
LB Jared Mayo (10 tackles) and safety Patrick Chung (10 tackles) led the way for the Patriots’ D last night. The Rams finished up with 136 yards rushing (3.3 ypc) and 326 yards passing in this game.
The game did start off with a bang for the Patriots due to WR/KR Brandon Tate who returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a TD. He caught 2 passes for 17 yards last night in addition to returning 3 kickoffs for 164 yards (54.7 avg) and 1 punt return for 0 yards. If Tate can stay healthy for the Patriots this year look out!
The Patriots have acquired 26-year old G/T Quinn Ojinnaka from the Atlanta Falcons for a undisclosed future draft pick. He played in 9 games (5 starts) last season for the Falcons. He has now played in 39 games (12 starts) in his four years in the NFL. Ojinnaka has been suspended for the first game of the year by the NFL due to domestic battery. This was likely a good deal for the Patriots due to the status of the offensive line right now.
31-year old G/T Nick Kaczur of the Patriots has underwent back surgery to repair a bulging disk putting his 2010 season in jeopardy. He played in 14 games (13 starts) for the Patriots last season and they had him penciled in to start at LG in the place of Logan Mankins who is holding out. This is a big blow to the Patriots who are seeing their O-Line starting to crumble for 2010.
The Patriots got physical on Thursday Night as they pushed the Falcons around. Tom Brady was razor sharp completing 10 of 12 passes for 85 yards with 1 TD pass. Brian Hoyer was efficient in completing 8 of 15 passes for 94 yards with 1 TD pass. Rookie Zac Robinson finished up the game at QB for the Patriots by completing both of his pass attempts for 17 yards. Fred Taylor looked like a back 10 years younger than he is in this game as he carried the ball 11 times for 54 yards (4.9 ypc) with 1 TD run. Sammy Morris was also tough with 6 carries for 52 yards (8.7 ypc) with a TD run. BenJarvus Green-Ellis pitched in with 12 yards rushing on 7 carries (1.7 ypc) in this game. Rookie TEs Aaron Hernandez (4th round) and Rob Gronkowski (2nd round) led the way for the Patriots in the passing game Thursday Night. Hernandez caught 4 passes for 46 yards (11.5 avg) with a TD and Gronkowski caught 4 passes for 38 yards (9.5 avg) with a TD grab. The Patriots finished up with 120 yards rushing (4.0 ypc) and 179 yards passing in this game.
The DBs were the standouts on D in this game for the Patriots. Rookie CB Devin McCourty (5 tackles, 1 pass defensed), safety Patrick Chung (5 tackles) and safety Brandon Meriweather (5 tackles, 1 pass defensed) led the way for the Pats’ D on Thursday Night. The Falcons finished up with 98 yards rushing (3.9 ypc) and 168 yards passing in this contest.
The Patriots have placed WR Torry Holt on the Injured Reserve List with a knee injury ending his 2010 season before it even began. He didn’t catch any passes in the pre-season opener for the Patriots. The Patriots will likely depend on Julian Edelman as the #3 WR with his main competition out of action.
UPDATE: (8/20/2010) – The Patriots have bought out Holt with a injury settlement making him a free agent.
The Patriots have placed 29-year old starting left DE Ty Warren on the Injured Reserve List with a labral tear in his hip. He will have surgery on Monday. Ty Warren played in 13 games for the Patriots last season and he had 46 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for a loss and 1 pass defensed. Warren’s job was actually to tie up blockers against the running game and let the linebackers make the plays and he was very good at that. 32-year old Gerard Warren will get the first shot to replace him in the starting lineup. I view this as a odd choice as G.Warren is 6’4″, 325 pounds. G.Warren played in 16 games for the Raiders last season and he had 35 tackles, 2 sacks and he defensed 1 pass. This will be a loss to monitor for the Patriots as Ty Warren was one of their keys to the defense.
The Patriots are probably smiling today as they usually don’t take the pre-season too serious. That being said they did beat the Super Bowl Champs last night. Tom Brady wasn’t in the game too long as he completed 5 of 8 passes for 67 yards. Brian Hoyer replaced Brady and he looked solid in completing 8 of 13 passes for 106 yards. Rookie 7th round pick Zac Robinson struggled in his first taste of the NFL completing 3 of 8 passes for 48 yards. Chris Taylor led the way in the running game for the Patriots last night with 8 carries for 39 yards (4.9 ypc). BenJarvus Green-Ellis was also busy last night with 11 carries for 34 yards (3.1 ypc) with 1 TD run. Laurence Maroney was tough around the goal line as he carried the ball 8 times for 30 yards (3.8 ypc) with 2 TD runs last night. Julian Edelman was busy for the Patriots last night with 6 catches for 90 yards (15.0 avg) and he also returned 2 punts for 43 yards (21.5 avg). The Patriots finished up with 125 yards rushing (3.6 ypc) and 204 yards passing last night.
Defensively the kids looked good for the Patriots last night. Rookie linebacker Brandon Spikes led the way for the Patriots last night with 8 tackles. 2nd year safety Patrick Chung pitched in with 7 tackles. Rookie cornerback Devin McCourty had 3 tackles and he also returned 3 kickoffs for 111 yards (37.0 avg) last night. The Saints finished up with 100 yards rushing (3.4 ypc) and 205 yards passing last night.
The Patriots did have a problem on kickoff coverage on one play as Saints’ WR Larry Beavers returned one 97 yards for a TD.
22-year old WR Brandon Tate will battle 24-year old WR Julian Edelman for the kickoff return job in 2010. The Patriots would like to see Tate win the job because Edelman will likely have a big role on offense. Tate played in only 2 games for the Patriots last season and he returned 4 kickoffs for 106 yards (26.5 avg). He has big play ability due to his speed when he’s healthy. Edelman played in 11 games for the Patriots last year and he returned 11 kickoffs for 241 yards (21.9 avg).
PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE PATRIOTS KICKOFF RETURNERS in 2010: C+
With left guard Logan Mankins holding out and right tackle Nick Kaczur likely done for the year due to a back injury the Patriots are going to need some guys to step up in 2010. The LT will be Matt Light who is still a solid performer but he has had issues with speed rushers so Tom Brady won’t be safe at all times in 2010. Dan Connolly and Rich Ohrnberger will battle for the RG guard job while Mankins holds out. I think Connolly will win out. Center Dan Koppen is a decent technician but he can be beaten as either a run or pass blocker. RG Stepen Neal is a nasty dude who plays until the whistle blows and he excels at run blocking. The RT will be 2nd year man Sebastian Vollmer. Vollmer was outstanding as a rookie for the Patriots last year as he’s a solid run and pass blocker.
PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE PATRIOTS O-LINE in 2010: B