It was exactly what Bill Belichick wanted.
Rookie QB Ryan Mallett was leading the Patriots offense to start the second half. On first and 10 from the New England 46, Mallett floated a ball deep with no Patriot receiver around. The pass was picked off and returned 69 yards for a touchdown.
The Patriots head coach preaches situational football. Belichick puts players to the test repeatedly to see if they are prepared for the unexpected and see how they respond.
Twice during the Tampa Bay game Belichick pulled the quarterback and inserted Brian Hoyer for a couple of snaps to simulate coming off the bench cold.
According to one scouting report, Mallett doesn’t read defenses well and sometimes makes poor decisions. With Tampa Bay’s pass rush closing in, Mallett failed to throw the ball out of bounds and made a costly mistake.
Interceptions happen to every quarterback. How Mallett responded to his first pick is what Belichick wanted to see.
Mallett answered with 7-for-11 for 65 yards. He led the team to one field goal and the Patriots were driving to a second score until RB Stevan Ridley fumbled the ball at the Tampa Bay 26.
Most of the completions were short, underneath throws. But Mallett did regain some confidence when he laced a bullet over the middle for a 19-yard completion. Mallett didn’t ace the test, but he gets a passing grade.
Mallett looked ready to challenge Hoyer for second string after his impressive preseason debut. The former Razorback has a rocket-arm with the accuracy to put the ball anywhere. Physically Mallett is better than Hoyer. But the rookie is behind Hoyer mentally. As talented Mallett is, he will remain behind Hoyer for at least a year as he develops his football IQ.
While Mallett might not want to wait, he’s in an ideal situation as he learns how to play quarterback by watching one of the best in the game, Tom Brady. Learning the X’s and O’s is not as important as developing the work ethic and the intangibles required to excel in the NFL: toughness, guile, fearlessness.
Mallett will be NFL-ready sooner than we think. The body and arm are there. He played confidently in two games and there are signs he can forget mistakes and bounce back.
As long as Mallett continues to make strides, it won’t be long until he gets the playing time he wants.
A few things I’m looking for:
Have You Seen Vereen: RB Shane Vereen returned to practice this week. Hopefully he’s physically ready to play.
Haynes(worth) His Way: With one lawsuit behind him, Albert Haynesworth was back in action at practice. Hopefully he gets a chance to unleash his destructive force in a game.
Whole-line: LT Matt Light is expected to start, completing the expected starting O-line. They have to stand up to a loaded Detroit front four. Let’s see how good the Pats can be.
Question? Comments? Send to talktome@randolphc.com.
