The Patriots wanted this win more than the Vikings did. Head Coach Kevin O’Connell was satisfied with the two day Joint Practices, and rested all his starters. Mike Vrabel had a conversation with O’Connell before the game and told him he didn’t like the way his team performed on Thursday and that he would be playing his starters. They played only two series and dominated on Defense and had one TD on two drives (16 plays total) on Offense. From that point on it was backups. I think it is important for Vrabel to establish winning, even though they are only Pre-Season games.
Did Not Play – Morgan Moses, Christian Barmore, Stefon Diggs, Hunter Henry, and Jabrill Peppers
Out Injured – Rhamondre Stevenson, Terrell Jennings, Christian Gonzalez, Marte Mapu, Jahlani Tavai, Kendrick Bourne, Ja’Lynn Polk, and DJ James,
The Good
Efton Chism – If you didn’t know who Efton Chism was before this game you sure do know his name now. He had 6 receptions on 6 targets and a TD. He fought his way into the endzone, breaking 5 tackles to paydirt. If the Patriots were to waive him on the cutdown day, there is no way he would make it through waivers to get him on the Practice Squad. Chism is the real deal. Mike Giradi of Boston Sports Journal on Chism: “I mean, from day one, it’s just been consistency,” Patriots Executive VP of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf said at halftime (On the Kraft Productions broadcast). “He’s really been a hard worker. He’s put in the time. He’s in there every day with wide receiver coach Todd Downing at like five o’clock in the morning. And, you know, the fruits of his labor are paying off here.” I will also add that Chism has been driving Mack Hollins home when their day at the stadium is finished. The two sit down and watch film of practice together.
Mack Hollins – had 3 catches on 3 targets. His 1st was on the opening play a play action pass from Maye which was thrown high, but the 6’4” wideout went up and snatched it. Another came on a Maye scramble where Hollins found a soft spot on the sideline, and he was wide open. He did a great job of keeping both feet (toes) inbounds.
Kyle Williams – was also 3 for 3 for just 24 yards. He made a good catch over the middle in which Dobbs left him to hang outside and dry! The throw was high, and Williams went up to get it leaving him exposed. There was a helmet-to-helmet hit that wasn’t called that knocked Williams out of the game. I expect he will be in concussion protocol this week.
Offensive Line – Going up against 2nd and 3rd team Vikings, the Patriots Line did not give a up a sack and very few pressures.
Special Teams – Marcus Jones had a 37-yard Punt Return. Jeremiah Webb had a 59-yard Kickoff Return on the last play of the 1st half. That would have gone to the house if Craig Woodson hadn’t tripped on his shoelaces and missed the final block. Bryce Barringer had two punts that averaged 52-yards. One of his punts was so long that he outkicked his coverage.
Alex Austin was targeted 4 times and allowed just one completion to a Vikings Receiver and had an interception.
Milt Williams flushed Sam Howell out of the pocket, nearly into the arms of K’Lavon Chaisson. Howell did the worst thing you could do and that was to throw a wounded duck pass that Austin gladly accepted.
Red Zone Defense – didn’t give up a TD in 5 Red Zone appearances by the Vikings. They held them to 4 FGs and had an interception in the end zone (Dugger) on the last play of the game.
The Run Defense – held the Vikes to 54 yards rushing as they were sitting out their top two backs. The longest run was 6-yards.
Will Campbell – had his best day as a Pro at Left Tackle. He didn’t give up a sack or pressure in just 16 snaps. According to Evan Lazar of Patriots.com Campbell had two good blocks on Front Side Zone blocks, one of which sprung Henderson for a TD.
Tre’Veyon Henderson – Ran only 4 times for 20 yards but averaged 5.0 per carry. This included an 8-yard run on 3rd and goal for a TD, and another 11-yard run. He also dropped a beautifully thrown ball on a wheel route. It was clearly holding on the play, but no call.
Dell Pettus ended up with 4 Tackles. He is in a battle with Kyle Dugger and Marcus Epps for the final Safety spot
Turnovers – NE zero – MIN 2 INTs (Austin and Dugger). Maye did have a turnover worthy play which should have been an Interception.
Drake Maye
(PHOTO: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images)
The Bad
Offensive Line
Per Evan Lazar of Patriots.com these were the Offensive Line combinations.
Starting OL: LT Campbell, LG Brown, C Bradbury, RG Onwenu, RT Bryant
Second-String OL: LT Bryant, LG Wilson, C Brown, RG Strange, RT Lowe
Third-String OL: LT Lowe, LG Wilson/Strange, C Strange/Wilson, RG Sow, RT Jacobs
Ben Brown started at Left Guard, and he was replaced by Jared Wilson with the second unit. Coach Vrabel cited Jared Wilson for working hard to come back from a Thursday injury to play today. Wilson eve got some work at Center.
Vederian Lowe – gave up 3 pressures but no sacks.
Kyle Dugger – Its not good when you are running with the 3rd team and playing until the game ends. Dugger got lost on a 4th and forever completion by Max Brosmer. Dugger made the final stop of the game on a 2nd and goal from the 13 with an Interception in the end zone. However, he made the boneheaded move of not going to the ground immediately. The Vikes receiver punched the ball out, but the officials ruled him down. I don’t think that Dugger is long for this team. He likely will have to be cut because he has no trade value because of his bloated contract.
Anfernee Jennings – Despite getting 3 sacks and another pressure, Jennings is running with the 3rd team. He doesn’t seem to fit the style of Defense Mike Vrabel wants to play. According to Evan Lazar of Patriots.com, “Vrabel likes edge defenders that have first-step explosiveness and bend, which is why a sturdy edge-setter like Jennings isn’t as involved with the top unit”. Getting those 3 sacks will help improve his trade value.
Kicking Competition – Andy Borregales went 1 for 2 on FGs. His 1st attempt was 57-yards that went horribly wide left. On replay, it looked like it may not have been his fault because rookie Longsnapper Julian Ashby’s snap was high, and Bryce Barringer had a difficult time getting it down and turning the laces out. Borregales 2nd FG was good from 51-yards out. Ashby was high on that snap too! John Parker – Romo made his Field Goal from 28 yards out.
Kobee “Mr. Irrelevant” Minor – Led the team with 6 solo tackles, however, this indicated that he was being targeted often, and they were successful completions.
Isaiah Iton – made a couple of good plays including a run stuff TFL. However, he was hurt and left the field, not to return.
Drake Maye completed just 4 for 7 passes for 46 yards against backups. Greg Bedard says that Maye comes out over amped and always starts out by throwing passes high. Hollins made a nice catch on the 1st one but on the second he overthrew a wide-open Pop Douglas that should have been picked off.
And The Ugly
Offensive Line
Coach Vrabel made a statement in his Post Game Press Conference that the Left Guard position is wide open. This far into camp it’s quite unnerving that the LG position is still unsettled. We have a rookie Left Tackle that is struggling in pass protection and the position next to him is unsettled. How can he develop any cohesiveness with the man playing next to him if they keep on changing? Ideally you would have a Veteran next to him. I think it’s possible that Marcus Bryant is the starter at Left Tackle and Campbell is moved to Left Guard.
Garrett Bradbury had a very bad game. I wouldn’t be surprised if Jared Wilson gets more reps at Center. If he doesn’t replace Bradbury to start the season, I expect that it won’t be very long into the season that he is the starting Center.
Kickoff Team – gave up a 81-yard Kickoff return to NE 8-yard line. The Defense stiffened and held the Vikings to just a Field Goal.
Javon Baker had a bad game with just a single reception on 7 targets. Two of those balls were uncatchable throws by Dobbs. One of the incompletions was a drop by Baker. To make it worse, Baker was also called for a false start.
The Defense gave up 252 yards through the air, allowing 23 completions on 43 passes. However, they didn’t allow any TDs.
Screen Defense – They had a problem with it during the Joint Practices, and it was very damaging today. With this new style play on Defense, by rushing up field, this leaves them susceptible to Screen Passes.
Josh Dobbs – I am beginning to wonder if we need a new backup QB. He ended up 11 for 16 for 106 yards and a TD (Chism’s great run after the catch). I am not impressed.
John Jiles – chipped in with 4 catches on 5 targets. The 6’3” receiver has great size but there is room for him on the roster. He spent all year last season on the Practice Squad and is likely a candidate for it again this year if he accepts an offer from the Patriots. It is likely he will look for greener pastures.
Next Week the practice are closed and the reporters are only allowed a limited amount of time (enough time to identify who is missing or any new players). The final Pre-season game is Thursday at the Meadowlands versus the New York Giants at 8:00. The game will be broadcast on Amazon Prime Video live.
Cut down day is Tuesday August 26th by 4:00. Any player waived after a team’s final Pre-season game is eligible for a waiver claim unless they are vested veterans. Vested Veterans become Unrestricted Free Agents when they are released by their clubs and are free to sign with whatever team they choose. Teams can claim players up until 12:00 noon on the 27th, at which time the league will notify the teams of players they have been awarded. The teams then need to make corresponding moves to allow the waiver player to be under the 53-man limit. After all teams are notified of their awarded claims, the teams may start to fill the 17- man Practice Squad. The 17th spot is reserved for an International Pathways Program player. The Patriots IPP player is DT David Olajiga.
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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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