I hadn't taken time to watch the youngsters in the second half, so I took time tonight to catch up with the second and third string guys.
Impressions:
-- Chung got to work with one series each with the starting Safeties in the second quarter before he and McGowan teamed up in the second half.
-- Players who had poor games: Ryan O'Callaghan, Billy Yates - I've seen better from both and they need to step it up.
-- Crable and Wheatly looked like guys who missed most of their rookie seasons. They have a better technical understanding, but there's no recognition/polish, it will come.
-- Second half KR blocking started off very shaky. Slater's second return was stopped short because Dave Thomas in the wedge missed a block. Nunn's third return was much better behind improved blocking, but I want to see more of him to get a better read on his field vision. The KR in the 4th quarter that those moronic Eagles announcers called a fumble was a dribbler off a short kick by Akers, Slater picked it up, but neither he nor Nunn touched it before that.
-- Nunn as a WR was positive, he definitely looks like a kid who should make the Practice Squad and be battling for a chance to be part of the future. Walter was looking for Nunn as his hot read, that says a lot.
-- The secondary got a good workout defending against A.J. Feeley, this guy has twice carried his team as the #2 QB as they went to the playoffs. Wheatley, Butler, Richardson, Chung, and McGowan did well overall, especially when you consider the Eagles used WRs they had running with the ones.
-- I didn't see much negative about Eric Alexander. Yes, he missed the tackle at the goal line, that one was bad, though bringing down a 5'9" 207 RB when you are running inside out isn't the easiest job, ask the starters who've tried to tackle Kevin Faulk down near the goal line. Alexander may have failed to get a deep enough drop in his zone as an OLB on another play, though it looked like Pat Chung failed to come down in his zone enough and there was some confusion between Wheatley, Chung, and Alexander. But overall he played well, especially helping to line-up Burgess, Crable, and Ninkovich. He certainly looked stouter against the OL than I've seen him in the past.
-- Titus Adams played well, as did Stephen Williams - the numbers are working against them, but they could develop nicely in KC. I hope to see Adams playing 3-4 NT before he's cut to get a better read on his jump from last season.
-- Sam Aiken is a beast as a blocker.
-- Walter didn't look too bad, and Coach O'Brien called a good game.
-- Alex Smith played okay, leaving him alone on a DE in pass protection while O'Callaghan danced wasn't good, but he made that DE fight for every step.
-- Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk got most of their big runs against the Nickel. If NE ever starts using Maroney in the passing game the opposition is gonna be wondering what hit them.
-- Wendell looked like he sticks, definitely one to watch.
-- Vollmer looked raw, he needs to get quicker on his pulls and WR screens.
-- I was going to gig Dave Thomas on his blitz pick-up as a RB, but his LB was called for hands to the face so he gets a do-over for holding after getting his head jacked back. Thomas had a pretty good overall game, once he got his head in the wedge.
-- I had Tank Williams and Rob Ninkovich's numbers confused, so I'll need to watch for that if I get time to rewatch this game. My impression on these two was flawed, so they're off the hook until I do it right.
-- Eric Alexander is ahead of Ciurciu on my roster, I just saw more from Alexander on the teams. A battle to watch.
-- The first team wedge of Hochstein and Alex Smith got Slater and Edelman 25+ yd returns, the second team wedge of Connelly and Dave Thomas started poorly when Thomas missed a block, but got better, Connelly wasn't bad, though on both OL and STs I think he's behind Hochstein...who's behind Wendell.
-- WOW! It's O'Connell's first drive and the Pats are pinned deep off the dribbler kickoff. Orhnberger is in at LG, Connelly has moved to Center and Wendell slid over to RG, Britt has come in at RT, DeVree is lined up at RTE. I looked first for Orhnberger, he was slow off the snap, but picked the MLB's run blitz and turned him out of the hole. Connelly turned and pancaked the NT, nice. Here comes the WOW! Wendell and Britt combo-ed the 3-tech, Wendell stood him up and Britt slid in and took inside position on the block while Wendell released and turned the WLB out leaving B-Jeepers a 4-lane highway up the middle. Execution, execution, and teamwork - :woohoo: DeVree handled the DE, and there's Ventrone blocking upfield. What a nice play with a terrific combo!
-- Vollmer just let his man through to kill a 3rd and 1 run. Could have been a miscommunication between him and Orhnberger, because they both blocked the LB.
-- Oh Tank! :ugh: Tank Williams at MLB just let that rookie RB spin off him and get open underneath for a reception and big YAC in the two-minute drill.
-- NE is using a "LB" corps of Crable, Tank Williams, and Pat Chung in the two-minute. They brought Alexander back out for the 3rd and 1 run stuff unit. A Darryl Richard sighting on that play, nice penetration to stuff the run and force the FG.