The final score indicated the Pats dominated, but that wasn’t exactly the truth. The Patriots were much better and scored whenever they had the opportunity, but Washington really screwed themselves with penalties and turnovers.
Good
TreVeyon Henderson’s 100-yard kick off return for a touchdown opened up the game. I don’t know who the player was that threw the great block that sprung him. He showed that speed we were all told about.
Running game was terrific. Terrll Jennings, Henderson, Antonio Gibson and Lan Larison all had good games. Overall, they ran for 153 yards and a 4.9 average. The toss crack run around the edge was very good with Demontrey Jacobs getting out front and devastating the cornerback outside.
Although he gave up a sack, Will Campbell was a road grader in the run game with 3 pancake blocks.
Rhamondre Stevenson looks quicker with his weight loss. He had 7 runs for 36 yards. Larison had 7 runs for 35 yards.
The Patriots had very few penalties. Two were nullified by an offsetting penalty by Washington. They had two penalties for 15 yards.
QB scrambles for TDs. Both Drake Maye and Josh Dobbs had scrambles up the middle for TDs in the Red Zone. Maye had a smart decision to run earlier for a 1st down. He made a good slide to give himself up.
Efton Chism had two smart decisions in punt return to let the ball bounce inside the 5 and into the endzone for touch backs and added an 11-yard return. He also led the team with 6 catches for 50 yards and a TD. You can’t hide him any longer and they are going to keep him, especially if Ja’Lynn Polk is gone. Chism had 6 Top 30 visits before the draft, so you know there is other interest in him, and he won’t make it through waivers.
DJ James and Jordan Polk both had interceptions. On James’ INT, the receiver slipped, and James jumped in front of him. Polk’s receiver muffed the catch and Polk was in the right spot.
On Polk’s injury, I wouldn’t be surprised if it is a re-injury to his shoulder – he just might be done for his career.
Elijah Ponder playing ahead of Anfernee Jennings and Bradyn Swinson is significant.
Ponder Kyiris Tonga, Cole Strange, Jabril Peppers and Pop Douglas were the Captains tonight. A reward for being named off-season practice Award Winners?
Truman Jones played well leading the team in tackles and its interesting that two different writers had good things to say about Jones. One of those tackles was on STs.
Javon Baker had 2 tackles on STs. I said in my 53-man roster projection, that is the difference of him making the team and not.
Ben Woolridge was 9 -of-12, 132 yards and a pass TD. He did have one pass knocked down at the line of scrimmage.
Craig Woodson also had two special teams tackles and he has replaced Dell Pettus as the Personal Protector on the Punt Team.
Josh Dobbs
(PHOTO: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images)
Bad
Dobbs was flat out awful. He was 5-12 for 45 yards and 3.8 yards per completion. Do we need to be looking for a veteran QB to back up Maye? Dobbs had an excellent joint practice, and I expected to see the same tonight. Dobbs badly underthrew a pass to Kyle Williams who had beaten his man on a go pattern. Later, Williams beat his man on a goal line slant, and Dobbs threw the ball late and behind Williams.
Washington had 13 accepted penalties for 98-yards, two others were not called because they were offsetting with a Patriots penalty.
The Patriots pass rush didn’t have a sack although they did have some pressure.
On the flip side, because the edge rushers are encouraged to blow up field, they were very undisciplined when Washington ran to the outside. I think this is going to be a big problem.
Drake Maye
(PHOTO: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images)
Ugly
Drake Maye’s fumble when he should have just taken the sack and play on. Let’s put this win in perspective.
Will Campbell and Jared Wison got beat on a simple twist move by the D-linemen. There was no communication between the two players telling the other to switch.
Washington didn’t play any of their regular players, sitting over 30 players.
About Mark Morse
Merrimack Valley native and lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. My earliest memories of the Patriots were attending as a child with my dad, the off-season practice at Phillips Academy. I was at the Patriots game at Harvard Stadium in 1970 where Bob “Harpo” Gladieux was called out of the stands by the stadium announcer over the PA to play in the game. Analyzing the draft since ESPN first started to televise it in 1980 and former writer for the Lowell Sun Newspaper.
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