NFL GameDay Official Preseason Week 2 GDT.
- Thread starter Dingleberry
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GameDay Discussion
Like so much of this season for the New England Patriots, what ultimately matters from Thursday night’s exhibition game isn’t so much the result or how various position groups looked. What matters for the Patriots in the preseason and beyond is how Drake Maye looks.
After letting the No. 3 pick play only six snaps in the preseason opener, coach Jerod Mayo gave fans their first extended look at the strong-armed rookie in the team’s 14-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
So as we look at who stood out Thursday (in good ways and bad), let’s kick things off with Maye.
In what was probably his best performance since being drafted, Maye ran the offense efficiently, showed off his athleticism and threw some great deep balls that probably should’ve been caught (more on the culprit in the “fallers” section).
To be sure, it wasn’t perfect. A couple of passes were too high, which is where Maye tends to miss. But he navigated the pocket well, and his ability to scramble is a major plus behind a bad offensive line. His touchdown came on a nice zone-read keeper, and he moved well to extend plays while keeping his eyes downfield.
View: https://twitter.com/i/status/1824237461645492637
Was it enough to become the starter in Week 1? Probably not. But this was a meaningful step forward for Maye.
Thursday night, Reagor reminded viewers why he’s the favorite to land that job with the Patriots. He didn’t get many chances, but Reagor did well on the two returns he had. He brought a punt back 15 yards and showed explosiveness with a 32-yard return on a kickoff.
If he makes the team, his role as a receiver likely will be limited, but Reagor did have a nifty catch in the red zone on the offense’s second drive, showing some capability there too.
That’s because when he’s been on the field this summer, he’s made plays. He showed that late in the first quarter when he charged from his linebacker spot to tackle running back Kenneth Gainwell behind the line of scrimmage.
“He’s done a great job shooting through holes on defense and special teams,” Mayo said on the team’s broadcast. “He just has to stay healthy. We’re expecting a lot from him.”
Even if Reagor hasn’t done anything to lose the job as the team’s kick returner, Wallis keeps adding pressure with standout performances. One week after returning a punt 24 yards in the preseason opener, Wallis returned his first kickoff attempt 53 yards.
View: https://x.com/i/status/1824254313935376636
Wallis had a miscommunication with Joe Milton on a third down in the fourth quarter that led to an incompletion, and he has work to do to climb the wide receiver depth chart. He also muffed a punt in the fourth quarter, which didn’t help his cause.
But, at worst, he’s a great candidate for the practice squad as a backup returner.
But he had some decision-making lapses Thursday night.
On the second drive, Brissett’s pass to Austin Hooper was easily intercepted in the end zone, ruining the first-team offense’s best drive. Brissett also slipped on one dropback and had his pass to Demario Douglas deflect off his hands, nearly leading to another pick. His three drives ended in two three-and-outs and the interception.
Brissett finished 3-of-7 passing for 17 yards.
Maye’s first deep ball was well thrown, but it never had a chance of being completed because Baker lost track of where he was and was easily pushed out of bounds early in his route. That’s a problem that’s been evident with him throughout camp.
In the second half, Maye’s best throw of the night fell just out of the outstretched arms of Baker, taking away what could’ve been a big gain for the offense.
Baker did draw a pass interference penalty, but the rookie needs to be more consistent on those deep balls.
View: https://x.com/zm_cox/status/1824245563274953118
The false starts are becoming an issue. Like some other offensive tackles, Lowe tends to break off the line a split second before the ball is snapped, late enough that he isn’t typically called for a penalty. (Chiefs tackle Jawaan Taylor did this all the time last season.)
But Lowe doesn’t seem to have the technique mastered; he’s been called for moving early in practices and now in a game.
His performance Thursday didn’t help his case. Dial was beaten cleanly on multiple plays, including on the Eagles’ go-ahead two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter.
Dial is behind Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones, Marco Wilson and Alex Austin on the depth chart. He needs a better performance in the preseason finale next weekend or he’ll have to hope the Pats keep more than five cornerbacks on their 53-man roster.
After letting the No. 3 pick play only six snaps in the preseason opener, coach Jerod Mayo gave fans their first extended look at the strong-armed rookie in the team’s 14-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
So as we look at who stood out Thursday (in good ways and bad), let’s kick things off with Maye.
Risers
QB Drake Maye
The stat line wasn’t super impressive: 6-of-11 passing for 47 yards with one rushing touchdown. But Maye passed the eye test and did everything you’d hope for from a first-round rookie quarterback.In what was probably his best performance since being drafted, Maye ran the offense efficiently, showed off his athleticism and threw some great deep balls that probably should’ve been caught (more on the culprit in the “fallers” section).
To be sure, it wasn’t perfect. A couple of passes were too high, which is where Maye tends to miss. But he navigated the pocket well, and his ability to scramble is a major plus behind a bad offensive line. His touchdown came on a nice zone-read keeper, and he moved well to extend plays while keeping his eyes downfield.
View: https://twitter.com/i/status/1824237461645492637
Was it enough to become the starter in Week 1? Probably not. But this was a meaningful step forward for Maye.
WR Jalen Reagor
The NFL changed the kickoff rules this season for player safety and to yield more exciting plays. That means there’s a bigger opportunity for someone to make the roster simply as a returner.Thursday night, Reagor reminded viewers why he’s the favorite to land that job with the Patriots. He didn’t get many chances, but Reagor did well on the two returns he had. He brought a punt back 15 yards and showed explosiveness with a 32-yard return on a kickoff.
If he makes the team, his role as a receiver likely will be limited, but Reagor did have a nifty catch in the red zone on the offense’s second drive, showing some capability there too.
LB Raekwon McMillan
The Patriots haven’t given up on McMillan, a 2017 second-round pick, despite two season-ending injuries in the last three years.That’s because when he’s been on the field this summer, he’s made plays. He showed that late in the first quarter when he charged from his linebacker spot to tackle running back Kenneth Gainwell behind the line of scrimmage.
“He’s done a great job shooting through holes on defense and special teams,” Mayo said on the team’s broadcast. “He just has to stay healthy. We’re expecting a lot from him.”
WR David Wallis
The roster crunch isn’t looking friendly to Wallis, an undrafted rookie out of Division III Randolph-Macon (Va.) College. But the 23-year-old keeps showing up and making plays.Even if Reagor hasn’t done anything to lose the job as the team’s kick returner, Wallis keeps adding pressure with standout performances. One week after returning a punt 24 yards in the preseason opener, Wallis returned his first kickoff attempt 53 yards.
View: https://x.com/i/status/1824254313935376636
Wallis had a miscommunication with Joe Milton on a third down in the fourth quarter that led to an incompletion, and he has work to do to climb the wide receiver depth chart. He also muffed a punt in the fourth quarter, which didn’t help his cause.
But, at worst, he’s a great candidate for the practice squad as a backup returner.
Fallers
QB Jacoby Brissett
The Patriots like the idea of Brissett as their starter for a few reasons, but perhaps the top one is ball security. Since his arrival, Brissett has been one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks at avoiding interceptions.But he had some decision-making lapses Thursday night.
On the second drive, Brissett’s pass to Austin Hooper was easily intercepted in the end zone, ruining the first-team offense’s best drive. Brissett also slipped on one dropback and had his pass to Demario Douglas deflect off his hands, nearly leading to another pick. His three drives ended in two three-and-outs and the interception.
Brissett finished 3-of-7 passing for 17 yards.
WR Javon Baker
We’ve quickly learned that Baker is almost completely boom or bust. Thursday, it was mostly the latter.Maye’s first deep ball was well thrown, but it never had a chance of being completed because Baker lost track of where he was and was easily pushed out of bounds early in his route. That’s a problem that’s been evident with him throughout camp.
In the second half, Maye’s best throw of the night fell just out of the outstretched arms of Baker, taking away what could’ve been a big gain for the offense.
Baker did draw a pass interference penalty, but the rookie needs to be more consistent on those deep balls.
View: https://x.com/zm_cox/status/1824245563274953118
LT Vederian Lowe
Expectations aren’t particularly high for the team’s starting left tackle, but it still wasn’t a strong showing for Lowe. He was beaten more than any other offensive lineman, committed the lone penalty from the starting group (a false start) and allowed a third-quarter sack that led to Maye getting crushed from his blind side.The false starts are becoming an issue. Like some other offensive tackles, Lowe tends to break off the line a split second before the ball is snapped, late enough that he isn’t typically called for a penalty. (Chiefs tackle Jawaan Taylor did this all the time last season.)
But Lowe doesn’t seem to have the technique mastered; he’s been called for moving early in practices and now in a game.
CB Marcellas Dial
Sixth-round picks aren’t guaranteed a roster spot, and Dial is competing for one in a crowded group of cornerbacks.His performance Thursday didn’t help his case. Dial was beaten cleanly on multiple plays, including on the Eagles’ go-ahead two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter.
Dial is behind Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones, Marco Wilson and Alex Austin on the depth chart. He needs a better performance in the preseason finale next weekend or he’ll have to hope the Pats keep more than five cornerbacks on their 53-man roster.
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