Pick Six: Preseason Game Two

Thankfully the NFL Network aired a replay of Thursday’s preseason game on Friday afternoon. I might not get to the game on my DVR now:

1. It brings me no comfort knowing the two best running backs are also injury-prone. On just 17 carries, Fred Taylor and Sammy Morris combined for 106 of the Patriots’ 120 rushing yards. They also missed 14 games combined last year. Owner Robert Kraft’s decision to build Brigham and Women’s/Mass General Health Care Center as part of Patriot Place looks smarter by the day. Hopefully there’s an express lane just in case for Taylor and Morris.

2. On the other side of the ball, I don’t like the run defense, particularly the first unit. Two weeks in a row they gave up at least 50 yards on the ground by halftime. This could be the first sign of how much the defense will miss DE Ty Warren.

3. I’m also not high on the defense’s inability to apply pressure. After two games the Pats have two sacks. The only way they’re making quarterbacks nervous is by blitzing. Most defenses can’t survive by living by the blitz. Thankfully the secondary has been solid so far.

4. I’m sold on TEs Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. They have different abilities that will compliment each other very well. Hernandez appears to have great run after the catch ability. Gronk doesn’t go down after first contact and will power his way for extra yards. Both showed soft hands on their touchdown receptions. Hernandez gets extra points for great body control and dragging his toes inbounds on his score.

5. Brace yourself. DE Ron Brace played in his first game and had a decent game. He will be remembered for the forced fumble, but Brace flashed some ability to beat his blocker and get in the backfield. It was against the second unit, so Brace still has to prove he can produce against tougher competition.

6. At the other end of the forced fumble by Brace was ILB Tyrone McKenzie recovering the loose ball. He’s shown a nose for the ball defending the run just a year after knee surgery. McKenzie is another player worth rooting for.

Extra Point: T-Mac is understandably overshadowed by WR Wes Welker. Just six months after surgery to repair a torn ACL, he was back on the field for the first time. Wes only played in one drive, but he caught two passes for two first downs. It won’t be official until he plays in the season opener, but it sure looks like Welker is back.