With a few hours of sleep, and copious notes to go over, I thought I’d take you inside my brain (scary, I know) and give you my thoughts on who played well and who didn’t in last night’s preseason game in Green Bay. I’m also lamenting the fact that we didn’t get to see Malik Cunningham run around at quarterback again, but we obviously have no quarrel with the game being ended early last night and are happy to know that Isaiah Bolden flew home with the team.
THREE UP
Kendrick Bourne: I know. I know. You’re going to remind me of what I said about the receivers after the first five days of camp. But I’m not some lunkhead who’s going to hunker down in his take bunker and pretend this isn’t happening. Bourne looks like a different player, especially since the 7th practice of camp. I wondered if his added strength and weight had actually taken away the thing that I thought made him unique on this roster, the size combined with that twitch. Well, it turns out that maybe he just had some dead legs because right now, he looks quick, athletic and that strength is coming into play, with a couple of really nice, aggressive blocks in last night’s game, including one on that 23-yard jaunt by Rhamondre Stevenson. Bourne crunched the safety. But more than that, he’s playing with confidence. A couple weeks back when I wrote on Bourne, he mentioned that Bill O’Brien had a plan for him. You can see it. He’s moved around a bit, and the way things are trending with JuJu Smith-Schuster, maybe Bourne should get more snaps out of the slot. The 17-yard catch he had on 3rd and 8, where he went up, high pointed the ball while also using his body to shield the defender was … chef’s kiss… very nice. That chemistry with Mac Jones remains. More Bourne, please.
Rhamondre Stevenson: It’s easy to forget how good Stevenson was a year ago when he’s being managed this summer. But given a few opportunities last night, the 3rd year pro reminded anyone who forgot. He showed terrific power down by the goal line on the opening drive, bulling his way in from a yard out. The next drive. more tough yards on first down from out of the shadows of his own goalpost, then that nifty 23-yard run that showed wiggle, burst and power. He’s got that all in his bag. I know it makes sense to give him breaks during the season so he’s fresher in December and January, but I also understand why that might be hard. Stevenson’s the best back the Pats have had since Corey Dillon in 2004. I want the ball in his hands.
Myles Bryant/Christian Gonzalez/Jack Jones: Am I cheating by naming three players for one spot? Maybe, but this is my column so you’re just going to have to live with it. I highlight these three because of the number of times I wrote in my notes “sticky coverage.” Whether it was Bryant jumping an out route and recording a big 3rd down PBU, or Jones correctly diagnosing a dig/in route to Romeo Doubs, or Gonzalez’s work on that crap pass interference call, I thought all three showed their importance and value to this secondary. Without Jon Jones (injury) and Marcus Jones, the three got some decent run against what I believe is an above-average offense, and while the defense had its issues, I’m not including these three in that mess.
(John Fisher/Getty Images)
Mac Jones #10 of the New England Patriots lays on the ground after being sacked in the first half against the Green Bay Packers during a preseason game at Lambeau Field on August 19, 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
THREE DOWN
Sidy Sow: The conversion from collegiate guard to professional tackle has not gone smoothly. Sow was bull rushed into oblivion on one play, a sack by Kingsley Enagbare. He got beat quick on the long incompletion to DeVante Parker (I think Parker should have caught it). There was another blown block down by the goal line, but the Pats lived to play on because of the defensive holding call in the end zone. Sow badly whiffed on a backside block on Stevenson’s long run. It wasn’t all bad, but the learning curve remains steep here. For better or worse, it feels like Sow might just be your opening-day right tackle. He’s certainly being given every opportunity to earn that spot.
Andrew Steuber: I feel bad putting Steuber here. He pretty much sat out all of last year and, to this point, doesn’t look the part of an NFL player. His feet are so slow. That showed on the sack fumble he surrendered to Enagbare in a little over two seconds. It was quick and it was over, ending a nice-looking drive. The former Michigan standout was beaten earlier in the drive as well, but Demario Douglas was so wide-open, Mac lived to tell about it. With his size and pedigree, Steuber was an intriguing pick a year ago. Now? I’d be surprised if he ends up on the practice squad.
Josh Uche/Davon Godchaux - These two need to be big-time contributors to the defense. They were a year ago, no doubt. But last night was ROUGH. Uche hasn’t gotten much better against the run, at least not in game action (he’s been markedly better in practice in my opinion). He got erased several times on the edge, leading to big gains for the Green Bay rushing attack. If Uche wants the bag, he’ll have to be at least competent in that aspect of the game. As for Godchaux, he got moved rather easily on the opening drive, including one play where he got spun like a top. If the Pats are forced to play more two high-coverage looks, that means the box will be lighter. If the box is lighter, Godchaux will need to be a force. He was not that at Lambeau.