Biggest Hit (might take a second to load)


Who doesn't love a big hit to open up a post?  You know you need a cover sheet on your TPS reports, Richard!!!  WOOOOOOO!!!  (Reebok really needs to bring back Terry Tate).

But that was Sergio Brown, rookie defensive back out of Notre Dame.  He was getting mop up duty in this game, but that didn't stop him from most likely fracturing Montez Billings' ribs and self esteem.

Seriously though, that was a big hit that forced a turnover and ended the game so he will get big Bill points for that.


I know it's only preseason, but who cares?  I love it.  The Pats eked out a 27-24 win against the defending Super Bowl champs in their opener.  In case you missed it, or really value my amateur opinion, here are some thoughts BSB and I had throughout Patriots preseason game 1.

-Overall, a great showing tonight on both sides of the football.  The first unit (offense and defense) hung with, and sometimes handled, the Saints the entire time they were in there.

-Julian Edelman was the best player on the field.  Hands down.  He had 6 catches for 90 yards and 2 punt returns for 43 yards.  He also just made guys miss, which is exactly what the Pats need him to do.

-Devin McCourty looked solid defensively and had 2 kick returns over 50 yards (3 total KR for 111 yards).

-Brian Hoyer looked better than I've ever seen him.  He checked off of his progressions very well and definitely played like a starting NFL QB.

-Aside from having the best name in the NFL, Zoltan Mesko punted 5 times, pinning the Saints inside the 20 on 3 of them.

-Patrick Chung played very well, tackling Marques Colston on 3rd down right before the marker (he basically German suplexed him backwards to stop him from getting a 1st down).  Chung also had 7 tackles, good for 2nd on the team behind the guy that I had an extension program going on in my pants for: Brandon Spikes.

Best Defensive Showing
Brandon Spikes

He led the way with 8 tackles and just looked like a beast the entire time he was in there.  On a few occasions, he blitzed up the middle and manhandled a lineman back a few yards.  He never looked out of place or crossed up and was always around the football.  Spikes looked a lot like Jerod Mayo tonight, which is phenomenal.

Worst Defensive Showing
Terrence Wheatley

I wanted to go Ron Brace here badly because he hasn't even shown that he knows how to play football, but he didn't play.  So I'll go with Terrence Wheatley.  He wasn't trusted with much more than mop up special teams duty, and even then got into it with an opposing player.  As a former 2nd round pick, his time in New England might be running out.

Best Offensive Showing
Julian Edelman

He looked great on punt returns, in the slot, everywhere.  As I said before, he was the best player on the field out of both teams.  On passing plays, his defender was never the first to tackle him and on punt returns, he juked the shit out of people.  End of story.  Look for big things from him this year.

Law Firm (BenJarvus Green-Ellis) and Laurence Maroney looked pretty good too (BJGE - 11 carries, 34 yards, 1 TD...LM - 8 carries, 30 yards, 2 TDs).

Worst Offensive Showing
Rob Gronkowski AND Taylor Price

I was going to go Zac Robinson here because he was terrible, but no one cares about him except his mother and I don't even think she reads this blog.

But I thought Gronk and Taylor Price were equally unimpressive.  Gronkowski was used as little more than a blocking tight end and Taylor Price didn't have one catch (although he was only targeted twice).  Price did return 2 punts, but for only 14 yards, and he was dancing around a lot, which led to very little forward progress.

Being as though it is the first preseason game and I clearly have too much time on my hands, I wouldn't be worried just yet as they are both rooks.  But let's hope this trend doesn't continue.

Guy That Might Be Overlooked, But Shouldn't
Dan Connolly

He did a great job all night filling in for Logan Mankins and now Nick Kaczur.  He also put a huge block on a linebacker in the red zone to let BenJarvus Green-Ellis coast into the end zone.

That's all I got.  Paps sucks.  I'm out.