EARLY IMPRESSION FROM DIAMOND JIMMY
The returns from the Patriots last full practice of the week were not good. Our guy Mike Giardi said it was the worst offensive he’s witnessed at a training camp practice. Anyone that dresses like Giardi is obviously the type given to overstatement. But there is no escaping that a practice without Tom Brady like the other day and a game without Tom Brady like Thursday’s is the best way to gather a sense of what the operation may look like if Brady’s suspension isn’t overturned. The issue with Garoppollo is his hesitancy to deliver the ball. I’ll add one caveat to consider on this topic: better that he’s actually going through progressions and attacking where the defense and play call leads him rather than pre-determining where the ball is going and hoping he’s right. But with live defense across from him, the ball has to come out quicker than it has been. Whether that means he’s just Checkdown Jimmy against the Packers doesn’t matter. Avoid. Negative. Plays. And it’s good that, with Brady down, he will run with the starters and against the Packers starters.
DEFENSIVE FRONT IN FOCUS
We can anticipate a number of regular-season starters will get this night off. Next week in West Virginia and the following week against the Panthers will be the most important juncture of the preseason for preparing for the opener against the Steelers. This is a chance for the newcomers – especially the young ones – to indicate whether they can take what they’ve learned from the practice field into a game. A players such as Dominique Easley, who hasn’t really registered much yet, should be able to win consistently when he’s in against the Packers 2s. A player such as third-year DE/OLB project Zach Moore is no longer in the project stage. He should be able to show competence. Malcom Brown has been really impressive in camp. Will that keep up in this game and where does he fit relative to Sealver Siliga, who figured to be Vince Wilfork’s replacement until Brown was drafted.
WIDE RECEIVER ISSUES
Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell, Brian Tyms and Aaron Dobson are probably out of this one. That means the offense is running with guys who need to make an impact. Danny Amendola and Brandon Gibson – both veterans – are going to be crutches for Garoppolo and Josh Boyce has a great chance to make an impact after almost washing off the roster entirely in 2014. All that said, in these early preseason games, the defense is always way ahead of the offense and the Patriots are severely undermanned (somewhat by choice) in this one. Don’t be surprised if they don’t get past 13 points.