Preview: (8/19) CAR @ NE
Carolina Panthers at New England Patriots (8/19, 7pm)
The preseason game coverage will be handled by the Patriots Preseason Television Network. Expect some wonky moments and much less shine on the head coach’s son, Steve Belichick. The regular NFL TV crews love holding long glamor shots on the mulleted offspring, but the in-house production team buries the young buck.
What We Learned
In last week’s (8/11) NYG v. NE contest, the Patriots mostly held back their offensive starters while the Giants gave some big names, like Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones, a surprising amount of play.
Barkley rushed four times for 13 yards, averaging 3.2 per attempt. Jones threw ten times for 69 yards on six completions and no score. The Giants TE competition we spotlighted last week is still pending – TE Austin Allen caught one pass for 15 yards.
On the Patriots side, Mac Jones didn’t hit the field at all. The passcatch RB competition we spotlighted last week did not fully materialize. RB Ty Montgomery didn’t make the stat sheet. Pierre Strong Jr. and JJ Taylor split a roughly even number of carries. Strong was the more effective runner, averaging 4.2 yards per attempt versus Taylor’s 3.2. As for catching passes, there was not much beyond one completion for 11 yards to Taylor.
Something To Prove
The Carolina Panthers have plenty to prove after a 5-12 season in 2021. The Sam Darnold Experiment didn’t work out and the team finished last in its division. Their preseason is not just about sifting through the back end of the roster. The Panthers need to get better, top to bottom.
With no official offensive coordinator, the Patriots need to prove that their tag team-style play-calling on offense isn’t a mistake. Matt Patricia and Joe Judge took turns calling the offense in the first preseason game. Maybe Bill Belichick likes the results. Or maybe he’s just waiting for one of the two to be “the guy.” A reporter should ask the head coach about it.
Position Battles
New England Patriots
Who’s the #1 WR? Belichick’s Patriots have gotten along fine without a clear #1 in the past, but that was with the Don of Pass-Distribution Tom Brady. It’d be nice to brand a reliable target for Mac Jones. Neither Nelson Agholor nor Kendrick Bourne nor Jakobi Meyers were really that guy last year. DeVante Parker is the new kid on the block and he flashed at times in Miami – too much to hope that Parker hits his mega-stride in New England?
Carolina Panthers
The biggest one of all: quarterback. The Sam Darnold Experiment didn’t work out. Enter the Baker Mayfield Experiment. The two will duel it out in the preseason, but NFL observers have already started calling it in Mayfield’s favor.
For Boston Fans
WATCH: Boston, Mass. WBZ-TV Ch. 4
LISTEN: 98.5 The Sports Hub
#humpFL #foreverNE #keeppounding
