What We Saw: Preseason Week 2

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Patriots @ Packers

Final Score: Patriots 21, Packers 17 (Suspended)

Writer: Ben Brown (@BenBrownPL on Twitter)

The starters played the majority of the first quarter for both teams, so we got to see a good glimpse of actual football for a good chunk of time. The Patriots got the first points on the board with a nice drive and score by Rhamondre Stevenson after the Packers fumbled away their opening drive. The Patriots welcomed back LT Trent Brown and he made a big difference on the left side. For the Packers, Jordan Love drove the Packers down the field for a nice scoring drive, with multiple pretty throws that looked like he’s been playing for years.

This game ended with 10:29 to play after New England Patriots CB Isaiah Bolden took a serious hit to the head and was carted off the field. Both teams agreed to suspend play for the night, ending the game. Word from New England is that Bolden was released from the hospital Sunday morning and traveled back with the team, a positive sign after a scary ending to the action.

Six Up

Trent Brown – Arguably the most important player on this team, the starting LT made a huge difference for Mac and Rhamondre. Without him, this OL is in trouble
Jordan Love – Love was slinging it and looked really good once again
Demario Douglas – He is guaranteed to make the roster at this point, and it’s becoming pretty obvious that the Patriots are hiding him from opponents this preseason. He’s a guy you need to know
Romeo Doubs – Had a phenomenal catch down the sideline and another across the middle. He’s really impressed this preseason
Luke Musgrave – Involved early and often with the starters. Three targets. It’s clear Love trusts him – that may translate into fantasy results if it continues into the regular season
Kendrick Bourne – Was heavily involved with the starters, it looks like he’ll finally be involved in the offense this year

Two Down

Devante Parker – Overthrown by Mac on his only target, and I don’t think it was Mac’s fault
Tyquan Thornton – Was injured this week and didn’t play tonight. The young 6th round WRs (Douglas and Kayshon Boutte) performed admirably, pushing Thornton to the brink of the roster bubble

New England Patriots

| Preseason Week 1 |

Quarterback

Mac Jones: 6/9, 52 yards, 2 sacks | 1 carry, 4 yards

Mac came out slinging but didn’t exactly blow anyone away. He benefited from having Trent Brown back, but the rest of the patchwork line didn’t do him any favors as he was constantly avoiding pressure any time he dropped back to pass. As soon as Brown left the game, Mac was strip-sacked and it looked painful. He was fine, but he still got smoked and did not come back the rest of the game. Not what you want to see in the preseason.

The offense relied on a lot of short slants, likely a sign of things to come as O’Brien may realize that Mac will need to get the ball out of his hands ASAP with the struggles up front. This should benefit Kendrick Bourne, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Demario Douglas as that type of offense will strongly benefit their skillset. When Mac had to throw downfield it was inaccurate, and he overthrew Hunter Henry on a wide open seam that was honestly disappointing. All things considered though it was a good night for Mac, and I think a lot of people are discounting him a bit too heavily. He’s a QB2 for sure but I’d put him in the QB15-20 range rather than the QB 25-30 range where a lot of people are putting him.

Notes

Overthrew Hunter Henry on a seam by like five yards, wide open
Sack on 3rd down, rookie Sidy Sow got beat bad at RT. Will be an issue for them this season
Trent Brown came out of the game, Steuber got beat and strip-sacked Mac. Fumbled. All on the LT

Bailey Zappe: 10/22, 117 yards, TD | 2 carries, 5 yards, TD

Despite another poor performance by the second-string OL, Zappe looked much better in this one. He scrambled for an easy TD run that ended up being the game-winner, and his throw on the TD catch and run by Kayshon Boutte was an absolute bullet. There is still no fantasy value to be had here, even if Zappe ends up as the starter for an extended amount of time.

Notes

Second string OL struggled once again. Scrambling for his life in the 1st half
Overthrew an open receiver
Threw a dart to Boutte who took it to the house for the score

Malik Cunningham: 5 targets

Cunningham did not get a chance to take any snaps at QB, but he was targeted five times and also received a kickoff return. I wouldn’t say he lacked physicality downfield trying to reel in his targets, but he did get pushed around. It is clear that this team is trying to find ways to get him involved, a good sign for his chances to make the team.

Notes

Targeted by Bailey Zappe, ball was a bit out of his reach
2nd half kickoff return
Hit from behind on an attempt, couldn’t come down with it
Drew DPI

Running Back

Rhamondre Stevenson: 4 carries, 27 yards, TD

Rhamondre looked awesome running to Trent Brown’s side of the line, the only side with any semblance of starting OL play. His 23-yard carry was freaking awesome, hitting the hole hard and making multiple defenders miss. His TD only came after a DPI in the end zone on third and goal. Stevenson has the chance to be a top 5 RB this season, but a patchwork O-Line may be the thing that keeps him from reaching that peak.

Notes

1st short yardage goal-line carry went to Stevenson, pounded it in for a TD. Came after DPI in the end zone on 3rd down
Put M&Ms in freezer before eating them
O-Line playing much better, Trent Brown making big difference. Huge run to the left side opened by Brown

Kevin Harris: 10 carries, 31 yards

Harris was the second RB to hit the field and led the team in carries. I still think he’s the better of the two between him and Pierre Strong Jr., as Harris has a high motor and pounds his way through the line. He always seems to fall forward, but he does tend to go down as soon as he’s hit. With Ezekiel Elliot in the mix, Harris is not a fantasy consideration except in the deepest of dynasty leagues.

J.J. Taylor: 4 carries, 29 yards | 4 targets, 3 receptions 27 yards

Taylor has shined in each of the last two preseasons for the Patriots but has not been given much of a shot in the regular season. He looked great in this game, and he lined up in the slot multiple times as well so he showed his versatility. He’s still a long shot to make this roster given the depth at WR.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Tyquan Thornton: DNP

Thornton was banged up in joint practices on Thursday, injuring his shoulder on a diving catch that he corralled from Mac Jones according to Alex Barth of 98.5 The Sports Hub. Thornton broke his collarbone last season which caused him to miss most of his rookie year, so the fact that he has suffered an injury in a similar area is quite concerning. It’s no surprise that the Patriots held him out of the action tonight, but Thornton has fallen by the wayside this preseason with the emergence of Demario Douglas. Thornton is, at this moment, not worth targeting in standard 12tm redraft leagues, and his dynasty value continues to plummet as well.

Kendrick Bourne: 4 targets, 3 receptions, 34 yards

Bourne looked great in this game, easily the best looking WR on the first unit. Given New England’s need for a WR to step up and deliver this season, Bourne seems like the guy who has the best opportunity to do so given his obvious chemistry with the QB.

Notes

Starting WRs Bourne, Juju, Parker
Went up for a nice grab on 3rd down, high through by Mac

JuJu Smith-Schuster: 1 target, 1 reception, 1 yard

JuJu’s only “target” was a direct snap jet sweep that he caught and took upfield for one yard. It’s a good sign that the offense will try to get the ball to him in unique ways for him to use his speed as a weapon.

Hunter Henry: 1 target

Overthrown on his only target, but he had beaten his coverage and was wide open.

Devante Parker: 1 target

Overthrown on a deep ball by Mac but the throw was really good. I’m not going to say that Parker wasn’t giving 100% effort on the play, but it was a ball he probably should have been closer to catching.

Demario Douglas: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 17 yards

Demario Douglas once again only played a handful of snaps, but he made the most of them. The most impressive of his two catches was his second, where he was caught dead to rights behind the LOS and made two defenders miss to somehow gain three yards on the play. There is nobody else on this roster capable of doing what Douglas did, and the fact that he didn’t play again after makes me think they’re trying to keep him off film for opponents. He’s a roster lock at this point with a pretty clear grip on the #4 WR spot. Given the well known injury history of Parker and JuJu, Douglas will be getting significant snaps in this offense sooner than later. Book it.

Here's the play from last night that has me so excited about Demario Douglas. He was dead to rights in the backfield and somehow gained three yards on the play. Unreal pic.twitter.com/4oqxYJJf7W

— Ben Brown 🌻 (@BenBrownPL) August 20, 2023

Kayshon Boutte: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 49 yards, TD

The mainstream NFL media will look at Boutte’s TD and rave about his potential based on his early career at LSU. And sure, he once looked like the next Justin Jefferson. They love to go on and on about how Belichick’s done it again by getting a 1st round caliber WR in the 6th round, and how Boutte will make the roster and make an impact and yatta yatta ya. I’m here to tell you – I don’t see it. Well, I do see it. You can see it for a brief second in his TD highlight as he turns on the jets to get through the opening for the score.

Bailey Zappe ➡️Kayshon Boutte➡️Touchdown. Look at that speed though.

(🎥 via @BenBrownPL) pic.twitter.com/gTuarwwWPs

— Pats Buzz (@PatsBuzz) August 20, 2023

The talent is very clearly still there. It’s just, does he want it? I’m not trying to question his effort or anything, but every rep I’ve seen just seems kind of meh. Take this one for example.

Not a great rep for Boutte pic.twitter.com/xhP1JTLxOe

— Ben Brown 🌻 (@BenBrownPL) August 20, 2023

This is a 1st round caliber WR? I’ll be the first to tell you that I look more for a slot WR skillset, the Josh Downs, the Amon-Ra St. Browns, the Demario Douglas‘ of the world who have ultra quick, shifty feet who can shake a defender and get open at any time. To me, that skillset is much more valuable (and easier to find) than the once-in-a-generation talents that are Justin Jefferson and Ja’Mar Chase. Two guys in the upper echelon of elite, generational WRs who Boutte is consistently compared to. Do you see either of those guys in these two clips?

I am here to tell you about players who may make a fantasy impact this year or beyond. The general consensus from casual, non-Patriots fans (and some Patriots fans too) seems to be that Boutte is so good that he’ll come in and be impactful for this team in 2023 and therefore warrants your attention. That it’s a given he’ll make the roster based off his pedigree and start getting targets out of the gate. The reality is he’s been completely outplayed by Demario Douglas from the beginning of OTAs while he’s fighting for a roster spot that may even go to a QB turned WR (Malik Cunningham). If he’s the odd man out he will certainly find another home, but I have my doubts that he’s worth your attention as a New England Patriot in 2023.

Green Bay Packers

| Preseason Week 1 |

Quarterback

Jordan Love: 5/8, 84 yards, TD | 2 carries, 11 yards

For the second week in a row I came away impressed by Jordan Love. He wasn’t perfect but he made some throws, man. He can sling it. Feels like a guy who will wow you one series and then throw a pick the next. If Hard Knocks is any indication, Love has been treated to a great mentor for the last three years and it’s now time for him to go out there and earn some experience on the field. I think there will be some growing pains but he is clearly very talented. I have to say, I was not expecting to feel this way about him. Even in limited action he has proven me wrong.

Notes

Threw a bullet to Doubs to convert 3rd down. Nice throw
Threw another ball into tight coverage, out route to sideline. Myles Bryant very nearly jumped the route
Great throw down the sideline that Doubs made a fantastic catch on
Another fantastic throw to Reed for the score

Sean Clifford: 13/19, 137 yards | 1 carry, 2 yards

Clifford also looked good once again. The rookie made some nice throws and worked through his first, second, and third progressions on multiple occasions. I’m no expert but I haven’t see C.J. Stroud do that once this preseason. The Packers may have something here in the rookie.

Running Back

Aaron Jones: 1 carry, 6 yards

AJ Dillon: 6 carries 25 yards

Only played the first handful of drives. Safely entrenched as the #2 RB in this offense (for now).

Emanuel Wilson: 15 carries, 63 yards | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 15 yards

Wilson reminds me a lot of Legarrette Blount. He’s deceivingly fast but is huge (though not quite as thicc) and just gets yards. He’ll be third on the depth chart but he’s an injury away from being an interesting speculative add.

Notes

2nd RB on the field

Patrick Taylor: 4 carries, 12 yards | 3 targets, 1 reception, 5 yards

I kind of like Patrick Taylor too, though I like Wilson a lot more. Not sure what the roster bubble situation looks like for the Pack but if he gets cut I wouldn’t be surprised if someone else scoops him up. Had some good tape last week as well.

Notes

Nice jump cut at the line, bounced it outside for the score
Barrelled over his own blocker to convert 4th and short

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Luke Musgrave: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 13 yards

The Packers really like this kid and it shows. He is out there with the first team and Love targeted him on two occasions when he was under pressure and needed to just get the ball off. Musgrave was there to bail him out and earn some positive yards. Musgrave feels like a 5 catch, 57 yards a game kind of guy that will play just fine in PPR leagues this year.

Romeo Doubs: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 52 yards

We haven’t gotten to see much of Christian Watson in these first two games, but it’s pretty obvious that Jordan Loves himself some Romeo Doubs. Doubs’ 42 yard reception down the sideline was special.

Romeo Doubs is better than your spreadsheets think he ispic.twitter.com/qIPB9DOJE8

— Adam Koffler (@AdamKoffler) August 20, 2023

Notes

Caught a bullet from Love in tight coverage against Jack Jones
Another really nice catch in tight coverage down the sideline. Isaiah Bolden with great coverage but he might have interfered. Called incomplete on the field because he didn’t get his left foot down in bounds. Challenged, reversed.

Jayden Reed: 2 targets, 1 reception, 19 yards, TD

The rookie impressed with his lone catch of the night, a TD catch and run on a bullet from Love.

Notes