CHARLOTTE – Tom Brady was in for the entire first quarter Friday night against the Panthers but the results were not great.
A pair of three-and-outs to begin followed by a pair of picks and chased by a final three-and-out as the first quarter closed had Brady on the bench hanging his head after the first 15 minutes.
The first Brady pick came on a seam throw to Aaron Dobson – back for his first action of the preseason. The throw downfield wasn’t perfect but Dobson didn’t reel it in immediately and when he tried to double-catch it, Panthers safety Charles Tillman was able to get shared possession and wrest the ball away.
The next pick was all on Brady as he went play-action then fired into a big crowd down the middle and had the route jumped.
The only third-down conversion for Brady this preseason was achieved in the quarter. It was a 9-yard scramble by Brady. Brady finished the quarter 2-for-6 for 13 yards. He had two 9-yard scurries.
The first-down plays for the Patriots on drives Brady has been in went for 7 yards, a loss of 8 (sack), no gain, 2 yards and 9 yards.
A few other first-quarter observations (listed chronologically):
New England Patriots
* Dion Lewis was the lone deep man for both Panther kickoffs.
* Jonas Gray got the start in the backfield. Brandon Bolden was the third-down back.
* Dobson got the start and Reggie Wayne saw extensive action. Wayne saw no targets his way. He is not appearing to be very explosive off the line at this point.
* The starting interior line was Tre Jackson at right guard, David Andrews at center, Shaq Mason at left guard.
* The punt return team allowed a 32-yard runback by Ted Ginn Jr.
* The Patriots opened with five defensive backs. Devin McCourty was back at safety with Patrick Chung. Tarell Brown was the nickel. Malcolm Butler and Bradley Fletcher were the outside corners.
* Jerod Mayo got his first game-action since last year’s patella tendon injury against the Bills and had a pair of nice stops on running plays.
* Brown had a nice pass breakup on a throw intended for receiver Corey Brown.
* Dont'a Hightower was in for his first reps of the preseason on the Patriots fourth defensive series
* Newly-acquired Mike Williams was in on the Patriots fifth offensive possession.
* Jabaal Sheard continues to show great explosion off the edge. Rob Ninkovich played on the right side of the defensive line, an unusual spot for him.