Pats Preseason game two recap wrap!

Firstly, at the time that I write this we have heard good things following Isaiah Bolden’s on-field injury. He was taken to the hospital, had feeling in all of his extremities and was conscious. He returned to Foxborough with the team. This week’s joint practice has been cancelled, and the team will travel to Tennessee on Thursday. The last report I saw on social media was that Isaiah was in good spirits, pretty much the best we can hope for. 

So here we are on Monday with a Patriots preseason win* of 21 -17 over those pesky Green Bay Packers! (*possibly more accurately an incomplete game that was 21-17 Patriots when called). 

I don’t know about you, but I left this game with more questions than answers, but right now that’s okay, it is preseason after all. 

With the roster cut down looming just over a week away, there are many names that we are noting down in the game book with statistics that may be on the practice squad or even an opposing team come the regular season, so we really shouldn’t get too attached, but easier said than done, right?

For the third year running I know that I for one am not the only Patriots fan to succumb to the delights of JJ Taylor and his preseason performance. He was the second name on the stat chart for both passing and rushing, with 4 attempts for 29 yards and 4 targets for 3 receptions for 27 yards. Perhaps third time’s the charm for the jitter bug?

It feels like all we talk about is the offense, and whilst I have a huge soft spot for tight ends, and a bit of one for offensive linemen too, my respect for the defense runs deep. It’s just at the moment it seems like we know what the defense can be, the first round draft pick Christian Gonzales is growing momentum, Jalen Mills is stepping well in to the shoes of the veteran leader, but the offense, still a bit offensive. 

For me the woes are the o-line. The trouble is it doesn’t appear at this stage to be scheme, but talent. And you lot know me, I hate to say stuff like that, but right now I’m as grumpy as heck because I just want some good o-line-age!

Trent Brown took to the field, yay, and then just over two minutes into the game, false started. Now, you can’t slate a guy for one penalty, these things happen. But in that case of this particular left tackle, they need not to. 

The carousel of offensive linemen continued, and to highlight that the Patriots utilised the talents of one Matt Sokol, tight end blocker. 

I am all for them having plenty of tight ends out there. You know this. Give me four, but it’s not a good thing when they do because the line is weak. 

On the topic of receivers, in what feels like it might be a more positive topic is the depth. With Kayshon Boutte and Demario “Pop” Douglas out proving they are worth consideration, the musical chairs of wide receivers may see a guy you weren’t expecting to be chairless come the regular season. 

Kendrick Bourne is back doing Kendrick Bourne stuff, showing us why he shouldn’t have been in the Rocket Scientist dog house (if he was, of course) and whilst neither of the veterans DeVante Parker and JuJu Smith-Schuster have put up much in the way of statistics, second year Tyquan Thornton really, really hasn’t either!

So, as I mentioned still many questions but now isn’t the time for answers, yet, the Titans are the next mountain to climb, and then the real football begins!

Go Pats!