Patriots-Colts Game Observations
A collection of thoughts from the TV copy:
- Good defensive line shift by the Patriots on 3rd and goal at the one yard line, drawing a false start penalty by the Colts. It looked like a hard count shift by the defensive line, and the movement in unison drew a useful penalty, setting the Colts back to the six (and the Patriots got a sack on the next play). They tried this shift again three times more in the game.
- First impressions of DB Nate Jones - strong open field tackler, not great hands, and an average special-teamer. The overall package gives you more than you got with Phillip Adams.
- KR Julian Edelman showed some good lateral quickness on his kick returns in the game, looking much more dangerous than any other returners the Patriots have used this season. Edelman seems to have earnt more reps at the position than the primary returner, Danny Woodhead.
- Although C Nick McDonald played a good game, one issue with having the fourth center may have impeded the Patriots in calling a QB sneak. One time, with over 9 minutes to go in the fourth quarter on a 4th and 1, the Patriots declined to call a QB sneak (with which the Patriots have been very successful with during the year).
- The Patriots had no dropped passes in this game, noting that the incompletion to WR Chad Ochocinco was a good defensive hit, rather than a drop from Ochocinco.
