NEW ORLEANS – Jim Garoppolo is cobbling his best performance to date against the Saints on Saturday night.
After going 11 for 13 for 113 with a touchdown pass (niftily created) in the first half, Garoppolo went 7 for 8 for 76 yards in the third quarter. Going against the Saints reserves, Garoppolo showed the accuracy and decisiveness you’d hope to see from a player who could well be the opening-night starter against the Steelers.
Along with Garoppolo, it was a big quarter for third-down back Dion Lewis who continued to have a very solid night in his first action of the preseason.
Lewis burst in for an 11-yard touchdown to make it 21-14, capping an 11-play, 55-yard drive. He had four catches for 34 yards in the quarter and has been very capable in pass protection. The Patriots are deep at the third-down back spot with James White coming on late in the third and early in the fourth to chip in some solid production and a touchdown carry as well.
A few other notes from the third quarter:
*Bradley Fletcher, Logan Ryan and Dax Swanson were sharing the work at the corner spots in the third. Ryan let up another big completion, a 28-yarder to Joseph Morgan when he simply got beat off the line of scrimmage.
*It has not been a good night for Ryan or Rutgers products in general.
New England Patriots
*Jabaal Sheard is really showing great get-off at the line of scrimmage. His suddenness at the snap gets him into the backfield so quickly and with such momentum there have been plays he arrived moving almost too quickly and overran.
*Two big penalties in the quarter. Both were tidied up on the next play. First, wide receiver Jonathan Krause got called for a hold on a first-and-goal sweep from the 1 by LeGarrette Blount. Lewis scored on the next play after the penalty. Next, Sealver Siliga jumped when the Saints were at the line on fourth down. His encroachment gave New Orleans the first down.
*On the ensuing play, Dax Swanson got tuned up by Josh Morgan but during his run after the catch, Morgan had the ball popped loose by Pats linebacker James Morris. It landed in the hands of Pats rookie safety Jordan Richards.