On to Green Bay.
Hours after their 20-9 loss to the Texans, Patriots players and coaches convened for meetings and film review Friday at Gillette Stadium. Their preseason opener offered a bounty of correctable tape to study before they travel to practice and play against the Packers next week. But for the purposes of learning how they can or should play come the regular season, much of that film was useless.
Most starters sat Thursday night. The play-calls were a special kind of white-bread bland. And the coaching staff didn’t intend to win, as it called several run plays while training 20-3 in the final minutes.
Though select player performances were, of course, notable, and might foreshadow a few regular-season surprises to come.
Start with Malik Cunningham. The undrafted rookie out of Louisville took a break from his ongoing transition to wide receiver to resuscitate the Patriots offense and lead a touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter. Cunningham proved wily, creative and ripped the throw of the night, even if it fell incomplete.
Another rookie, defensive lineman Keion White, powered through older, more experienced linemen with ease and showed a knack for hunting quarterbacks. White’s strength came as advertised, but his potential to play across the defensive line and even in space may ultimately separate him as a 6-foot-5, 290-pound unicorn.
And what about first-rounder Christian Gonzalez? He received his “Welcome to the NFL” moment on the game’s first snap, getting bowled over on the sideline. Gonzalez insists it was good for him, but the play highlighted pre-draft concerns about his physicality. Gonzalez will have a career to assuage those, but for now, it’s time to prove it all over again.
There’s more to learn. For Gonzalez, his teammates, the coaching staff. More football to be practiced and played, and tape to digest.
Until then, here are the Herald’s complete film observations from Thursday night’s preseason opener.
An interception, one run stuff and a night of patrolling the secondary like he’s been running it for years.
Mills may have been the only one of the Patriots’ top four safeties to see any action Thursday, but he made a strong case to receive more preseason rest. He looked perfectly comfortable at the position the Pats originally signed him to play back in 2021. If Mills continues to perform at that level, safety will once again be the deepest position on the team.
Jalen Mills’ reconversion to safety appears to be going well for Patriots
Despite leading just one drive, Cunningham led the Patriots in rushing with 34 yards. He accounted for their only touchdown. When all of his receivers were blanketed, or his protection broke down, the undrafted rookie created offense on his own to keep the chains moving. Impressive debut.
A forgotten man in the Patriots' defensive front, Jennings tallied a QB hit, one hurry and drew a holding penalty. He's been a steady edge-setter throughout his career, and again lived up to that reputation Thursday. Jennings is tracking to make the 53-man roster again as a rotational player, but might he have more in store?
White moved like a man 50 pounds lighter than he is, but packed all the power he was expected to bring as one of the strongest prospects at the NFL Combine. His hands are heavy, allowing him to jolt offensive lineman upon impact and shed blocks when ball carriers buzz by. White notched a QB hit, one hurry and contributed to a run stuff over 27 defensive snaps. He was a monster, all over the field and at multiple positions across the defensive line.
Hines, a 2022 sixth-rounder, was far from the only O-lineman to let the Patriots down Thursday, but his run-blocking was particularly atrocious. He outright whiffed on one of the two run stuffs he allowed. Hines failed to generate consistent running room and was also in the vicinity of one pressure.
The veteran journeyman got beat on Houston's only touchdown pass and allowed seven catches, more than any other Patriots defender. Randle did make a nice tackle in space in the second half, earning praise from linebackers coach Jerod Mayo, among others from the sideline, but his climb to a roster spot - or even a place on the practice squad - just got steeper.
A career college guard who last played right tackle in 2018, Sow continues to struggle playing out of position in Foxboro. He yielded two hurries, got crossed up on certain run plays and looked out of place. He deserves patience and time, but Sow will need to eventually show growth for the Patriots to know they haven't wasted their own time.