Packers vs. Patriots: Postgame Grades, Notes and Quotes for New England
By the end of last season, the New England Patriots were a cohesive bunch that had peaked at the right time. But head coach Bill Belichick likes to emphasize the need to start over at the beginning of every season, and after a languid 22-11 loss to the Green Bay Packers in the team's preseason opener, the Patriots are very clearly still finding the starting line.
Tom Brady was the only 2014 offensive starter to play Thursday night, and he saw his night end after just seven snaps with the JV squad. Fellow former MVP Aaron Rodgers was much more active on the night, going 11-for-19 with 117 yards passing. However, on each of the Packers' first two drives, the Pats defense stymied Green Bay on fourth down, including once at the 2-yard line.
Trailing just 3-0 despite a lackluster first quarter, the Patriots offense received a much-needed jump-start from Jonas Gray, who scampered 55 yards for a go-ahead touchdown and subsequently added the two-point conversion on a jet sweep. Following a 26-yard Jeff Janis touchdown, the Pats stopped the Packers on downs for the third time and trickled the ball into plus territory, allowing Stephen Gostkowski to put New England ahead, 11-9, with a 56-yard-field goal headed into halftime.
Gostkowski's boot would be the Pats' final points of the night, however.
Backup signal-caller Jimmy Garoppolo, who finished out the rest of the game, struggled to string together consistent drives without adequate pass protection or weapons. In a 50-second span to open the third quarter, Garoppolo threw an interception on a fade route intended for Josh Boyce, which led to a 25-yard touchdown run by Alonzo Harris as a trio of New England defenders clunked heads trying to make the tackle.
The Three Stooges moment probably overstates the Patriots' woes after their first preseason game. Twenty-three players in all, including the vast majority of New England's A-listers, sat this one out. For better or worse, Belichick took the opportunity to evaluate the depth he'll invariably need during the season.
Examining the good, bad and ugly from New England's first game since Super Bowl XLIX, read on for your full Patriots preseason opener recap.
Position Grades for Patriots
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| Position | Grade |
| QB | C- |
| RB | B+ |
| WR | B |
| TE | C |
| OL | D |
| DL | A- |
| LB | B+ |
| DB | B- |
| Special Teams | A |
| Coaching | B+ |
It's hard to really evaluate the offense when the line was missing all five starters from 2014. Four projected returnees (Nate Solder, Sebastian Vollmer, Bryan Stork, Ryan Wendell) all sat out, while rookies Tre' Jackson and Shaq Mason were arguably the unit's only competent performers.
The fourth-rounders have received the first-team guard reps throughout camp, and after Thursday's contest, it's getting harder to envision anyone else overtaking them in the competition for the final starting guard spot.
Poor Jimmy Garoppolo was battered en route to seven sacks, making Brady's decision to play at all seem imprudent. The result was an offense that sputtered apart from a few high-percentage drive-starters (screens, play-action digs, etc.). The Pats averaged a woeful 3.6 yards per play, a figure that drops to 2.7 when excluding Gray's long touchdown run.
However, the defense did hold Green Bay to 5.0 yards per play, even while Rodgers and Co. looked fairly effective moving the ball on two drives. Still, that's hardly a sin against the Packers offense, and holding Green Bay's first string on consecutive fourth downs was solid situational execution that gave the Patriots' starting defense a positive tangible result.
The defensive front was generally more impressive than the secondary. Pats fans will hope to see Dominique Easley and Malcom Brown anchoring the interior gaps for years to come, and the defensive tackle duo played heavy snaps in the first preseason game. Easley in particular appeared to flash promising explosiveness, an important early sign after knee soreness robbed him of that quick get-off during his rookie season.
Rufus Johnson and Jonathan Freeny also played well in extended roles at edge defender and linebacker, respectively.
The secondary went most of the game with the trio of Bradley Fletcher at right corner, Logan Ryan at left corner and Robert McClain in the slot. Ryan had his feet caught in quicksand on Janis' second-quarter touchdown (though, to be fair, he did have a fourth-down pass breakup on the next drive). Fletcher's mistimed dive also appeared to create the bowling-pin sequence on Harris' third-quarter touchdown.
Preseason grading needs to happen on a curve (actually, it probably shouldn't happen at all, given that coaches have agendas other than winning the game). Regardless, New England's practices leading up to the game were a bit lethargic, and their first preseason game reflected a team still shaping its roster amid a spate of camp injuries and significant personnel turnover at a few positions.
Jimmy Garoppolo's Up-and-Down Night
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Most analysts will have you believe that a Garoppolo-led Patriots passing game will look schematically different from the Brady-led group we've come to know. And while the two quarterbacks certainly have stylistic differences, Garoppolo's best moments came when he ran the timing-based concepts that Brady has used to build his Hall of Fame career.
Granted, preseason doesn't ask quarterbacks to make the same reads and adjustments they'll need when the games count. However, Garoppolo was much more efficient on screens and crossing routes, particularly when offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels strung together several of those play calls in the second half. He ended up 20-for-30 for 159 yards as the Pats generally had issues stretching the field.
Indeed, contrary to the expectations of some (including this writer), Garoppolo's deep ball did not appear to represent a significant upgrade over Brady's. Fades and posts to Josh Boyce were the worst part of the offense; WEEI's Ryan Hannable passed along this alarming stat near the end of the third quarter:
"Jimmy Garoppolo to Josh Boyce: 2-for-8, 19 yards. Jimmy Garoppolo to anyone else: 11-for-14, 92 yards.
— Ryan Hannable (@RyanHannable) August 14, 2015"
Under siege the entire night, Garoppolo didn't look particularly comfortable apart from a solid third-down stretch that should have ended with points. He's never really been given a chance to play behind New England's starting line, in exhibition or regular-season contests, so if the Patriots really want an earnest look at his progress, it might behoove them to give Garoppolo some reps with the starting offensive line over the next two preseason games.
Backs and Receivers Get Their Shot
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With Julian Edelman, Rob Gronkowski, Brandon LaFell, Scott Chandler and LeGarrette Blount getting the night off, New England's offensive skill position reserves had the entire game to shine. With the projected second-string handling the majority of the game, the Patriots got a long look at some players who could potentially elevate to key roles during the regular season, as well as others who might play their way off the roster entirely.
James White and Jonas Gray were the big winners, as the two callow running backs benefited from the absences of Blount and Travaris Cadet. Gray's 55-yard score was the Patriots' longest play of the night, and though he averaged just 3.1 yards per attempt on his other six carries, he demonstrated a consistent forward lean behind a shaky offensive line. Like Blount, Gray doesn't have the speed or elusiveness to consistently make defenders miss, but he'll always maximize the yards after contact.
White, meanwhile, led the team with 52 receiving yards on four catches. The second-year back showed impressive hands and wiggle in his runs after the catch, potentially giving him a leg up on Cadet whenever the veteran back returns.
The fact that Dion Lewis or Brandon Bolden didn't receive passing-back reps illustrates where the depth chart stands in that competition. White did miss a block on a fourth-down pass, however, so there's no guarantee he wins the role without progressing in pass protection the rest of the preseason.
As you can tell from the last slide, Boyce didn't seize his opportunity as the top receiving option. The third-year receiver caught just two of his team-high 11 targets, accounting for over two-thirds of the Patriots' incomplete targets by himself.
In fairness, Boyce largely ran low-percentage deep routes, and appeared to gain a step on his defender multiple times only to receive an errant pass. Still, veteran Brandon Gibson (four catches on four targets for 29 yards) appeared steadier, and probably moved the former fourth-rounder to the edge of the bubble.
Long-shot receivers Chris Harper and Jonathan Krause also combined for 68 yards on 10 catches, though it's exceedingly difficult to envision either cracking the final 53. Still, Krause was on the practice squad throughout 2014, while the undrafted rookie Harper could find his way there this fall with more preseason flashes.
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Butler a Notch Above
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Most of the defenders who got the night off early were the usual suspects. No one blinked twice after the likes of Chandler Jones, Devin McCourty and Jamie Collins exited the game after a single series. However, when Malcolm Butler got the same preferential starters' treatment, it reaffirmed a storyline that has developed throughout training camp, as noted by the Boston Herald's Jeff Howe:
"Malcolm Butler has gotten the veteran treatment. Off the field after one series with Chandler Jones, Ninkovich, Collins, McCourty, Chung.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) August 14, 2015"
Indeed, Pats reporters have praised the Super Bowl hero's development into the team's top choice at left cornerback. It's too early to label Butler as a breakthrough star until we see at least a full regular season's worth of a sample size, and he certainly won't shadow receivers like his predecessor Darrelle Revis did. Still, Butler's emergence as a possible cornerstone might illuminate New England's schematic plans.
ESPN.com's Mike Reiss suggested that the Pats haven't drastically altered their man-based coverage scheme from last year, and building around the long-armed Butler would give the Patriots a corner capable of fitting into those principles. New England won't adhere to a single scheme, of course, and they'll likely play a mix of man and zone regardless of who emerges at corner.
If Butler's momentum carries through to the regular season, though, the Pats might strongly consider sticking to the scheme that most accentuates their best corner.
Jonas Gray on Brady's Cameo
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With Blount's suspension, Gray will almost certainly be the early-down back when the Patriots open their championship defense against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 10. It's unclear which quarterback will hand the ball off to him that night, though the fourth-year back was pleasantly surprised to see Brady in the huddle against Green Bay, per the Providence Journal's Mark Daniels:
"Gray: I actually didn’t know until we stepped out on the field... It was nice to have Tom out there and get his mind off everything else.
— Mark Daniels (@MarkDanielsPJ) August 14, 2015"
With 10 of New England's 11 offensive starters from 2014 returning, Brady didn't necessarily need reps with the second-stringers to keep himself fresh. Whether his first start comes in Week 6, Week 1 or somewhere in between, Brady will have the benefit of working with a familiar supporting cast, one that finished fourth in points per game last season.
Moreover, Brady's availability on Thursday suggests he should be able to play in New England's subsequent preseason games. Per ESPN's Sal Paolantonio (via Reiss), Brady isn't required to attend his Aug. 19 court hearing, which should allow him to participate in joint practices with the New Orleans Saints and play in the team's second preseason game on Aug. 22.
Of course, it might behoove Brady to attend that hearing, but this (thankfully) isn't the forum for discussions about PSI or high deference. Nevertheless, the Patriots can expect their top signal-caller to be available at least through the end of the month.
James White on His Opportunity
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While most reserves failed to grasp their moments in the spotlight, running back James White was a notable exception. As previously mentioned, he led the Pats in receiving yards and exhibited his best qualities, his hands and open-field elusiveness. After the game, White stressed the importance of playing well without Cadet eating into his reps, according to Daniels:
"White: You never know how many reps you’re going to get so you’ve got to make the most of the opportunity. That’s what I want to try and do.
— Mark Daniels (@MarkDanielsPJ) August 14, 2015"
Earlier this offseason, I opined that White's after-the-catch ability could make him an adequate receiving replacement for Shane Vereen, especially given the eerily similar measurables between the two players. Even last season, the former Wisconsin Badger was likely a receiving threat, especially within the confines of New England's well-established screen game.
However, pass protection remains the issue that will keep White tethered to the sideline. I already mentioned the blown fourth-down block, which led to one of many Garoppolo sacks. White's potential will continue to tantalize, but until he puts together a reel of film where he performs capably as a pass-blocker, it's too presumptuous to claim that he's moved ahead of Cadet in the passing-back competition.
Rufus Johnson on Leg Injury
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One of the lesser known players on the roster, linebacker Rufus Johnson, was among the more impressive players in Thursday night's contest. Johnson had a sack, quarterback hit and tackle for loss before departing with a leg injury in the fourth quarter. However, the third-year player told NESN's Doug Kyed after the game that the issue was minor:
"Just talked to Rufus Johnson. Says he's good. Injury nothing serious.
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyedNESN) August 14, 2015"
The Patriots were relatively fortunate with injuries—apart from Johnson, rookies Darryl Roberts and Trey Flowers were the only players to leave the game and not return. White was shaken up following a scary-looking hard hit to his knee in the second quarter, but he returned in the second half and finished the game.
Flowers and Roberts were getting first-team reps, so their departures are no small potatoes. The seventh-rounder Roberts got the first crack at right corner alongside Butler before leaving the game with a hand injury, while Flowers was the clear No. 4 edge defender behind Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich and Jabaal Sheard. The fourth-rounder left following a sack, which came on an impressive chop move around the corner.
With so many nicks and bruises headed into the game, the Patriots could ill-afford a major injury to further deplete their depth. Staying healthy is the top goal of any preseason game, and the Patriots have made it through the first quarter of the exhibition schedule largely unscathed.
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