The (meaningless) game balls go to…

By Os Davis  |   Monday, August 20, 2007  |  Comments( 0 )

New England Patriots
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Preseason or no, one of the best things about covering the New England Patriots for RealFootball365 is the surprise of finding out who steps it up for the team in any given week. Sure, the Belichick system has produced its share of stars who produce Sunday after Sunday -- Ty Law, Willie McGinest, Mike Vrabel and, of course, Tom Brady -- but it's the little-knowns guys -- Dave Thomas, etc. -- coming from nowhere who make this team so interesting.

Friday night's preseason loss to the Tennessee Titans was no different. Though we can't put too much stock in these games because the starters only see a little playing time, a few insights could be gained into the 2007 Patriots, and a handful of guys stood out to get their time in the limelight.

The game balls go to...

Offense. It's tough not to go with Wes Welker here just for the one reception, a TD. After all, the New England fans clamored to see a big-money acquisition show something and with Welker's leaping grab, he did. But despite the quartet of new guys added and a couple of holdovers, none other than Kevin Faulk led the Patriots in carries and receptions.

Faulk is one of the eight remaining on the Pats' roster from their upset Super Bowl win over the St. Louis Rams back in February 2002, so Faulk's lethality is no news for those who have watched the B-and-B boys. However, it's nice to see that the New England playbook still contains calls for Faulk. Lots of 'em.

Defense. Though he didn't account for any of the well-publicized four sacks of Vince Young, safety James Sanders tied for the most tackles in the game with seven, including five solo. Sanders played the second half, while the Patriots were getting outscored 20-7. Though the Titans had little trouble completing passes in the half - quarterbacks No. 2 and 3 for Tennessee went 12-of-19 with one TD and zero interceptions -- Sanders showed New England fans there may yet be a little life in the secondary, even without Asante Samuel. Maybe they won't be too too bad against the long pass after all...

Special teams. Not long ago, the Patriots, a bit surprisingly, released Josh Miller, having already loosed fellow veterans Matt Sauerbrun and Ken Walter. Instead, the New England brain trust is going with Danny Baugher, who spent his rookie year of 2006 on the Patriot practice squad.

Against the Titans, Baugher again showed the confidence in him not to be misplaced. A 70-yarder in the first quarter that put Tennessee on its own 9-yard line should have iced him the starting job. Six punts into the preseason, he's averaging a solid 46.8.

Finding meaning everywhere (even in the preseason) at RealFootball365.com

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About Os Davis

Os Davis has taken a twisted route to get to RealFootball365.com in his nearly 17 years in professional writing, working in any number of capacities in the sportswriting, news reporting and film criticism worlds. In print media, Os has served as editor at a few publications, including Albuquerque's...
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