Did Alfonzo Dennard do enough to make the team last night? (USPresswire)
NEPD Editor: Mike Loyko
The Patriots wrapped up their preseason play vs. the Giants last night. The game was a 6-3 thriller that featured the Patriots resting 21 of 22 starters and basically playing a bunch of 3rd teamers throughout the game. The game was not a total waste, as it was the last chance for players on the bubble to impress coaches and win a roster spot. In this film room post, I focus solely on the handful of players who are on the bubble and how they fared in the game.
First Quarter
- Eric Kettani gets lots of work on the first drive, Kettani isn’t overly physical or athletic, but has some versatility in the offense
- Malcolm Williams gets down field quick on the first punt and makes a nice tackle
- Mike Rivera and Niko Koutivides do a very good job of flowing to the ball and filling the running lane, both showed good instincts
- On Bolden’s first carry he is indecisive, stops his feet and doesn’t show enough burst
- Koutivides gets physical with TE Bear Pascoe and forces Eli Manning to check down the throw
- On the very next play Koutivides flows to the edge again and stops Wilson for no gain
- Sterling Moore gets beat out of the slot by Cruz and then misses tackle allowing extra yards
- Mike Rivera reads the run well and fills the gap, but misses the initial tackle, turning a no gain into a 3 yard run
– Jermaine Cunningham lines up inside next to Trevor Scott, he beats Mitch Petrus to the gap and then overpowers him for a sack. Cunningham showed a very good first step and kept working his way to the QB
- Bolden is much better when he can get outside, nice cutback to open field and picks up yardage
- On Bolden’s big 15 yard run, the play was designed to be run between the OT and TE, but with defender in backfield, Bolden cut outside, made a defender missed and picked up a first down
- On the same play, Daniel Fells was able to sustain his block and keep the DE from contain, which allowed Bolden to get outside
- Dan Koppen misses chipping the DT at the first level and allows him to make the tackle
- Sergio Brown with a great special teams tackle on the punt, first one down and timed up his tackle
- Alfonzo Dennard gets a very good jam on Ramses Barden, disrupts timing on the play
- Bolden tries to bounce it outside again, but Giants keep contain this time and bring him down for a loss
2nd Quarter
- First play of the quarter Eric Kettani doesn’t take the hand-off and the play breaks down. Big mistake by Kettani
- Cunningham sets the edge very well, lets the linebackers fill and stop Wilson for no gain
- Justin Francis finally shows some pass rush burst, keeps his feet churning and powers his way to Eli. Forces a quick throw which Nate Ebner almost intercepts
- Eric Kettani doesn’t have the bulk or power I would like to see from a lead blocker, he also struggles to break the first tackle
- 1st and Goal on the 10 yard line. The OL gets a very good surge, instead of Bolden running full steam ahead, he gets to the hole and cuts to his left and gets drilled. Only a 3 yard gain, but should have been 5-6 if he followed blockers
- Dan Connolly (not on bubble) playing center is driving the DT 4-5 yards off the ball in the goal to go situation. Both OG, fail to get much movement
- Trevor Scott beats the OT inside and forces a quick throw, good first step by Scott
- Francis takes plays off, fresh off a play where he shows very good burst, he is slow off the ball and not sudden
- Bolden is not a punt returner. He can’t judge the ball in the air and looks uncoordinated when trying to field it, puts it on the ground again
- Donald Thomas now in at center, isn’t getting the movement that Connolly was
- Holley HAS to catch the back shoulder throw by Mallett. Good read and good throw by Mallett.
- Dustin Waldron with one of the worst cut block attempts I have ever seen
- Darrion Weems and Derek Dennis spend way to much time on their butts or backs
- Dennard aggressive tackler, not afraid to step up and hit
- Trevor Scott finally gets to the QB, slow plays the OT, then explodes outside of him and takes down the QB by the leg.
