Unconventional Preview: Jacoby Brissett gets a start, but will Julian Edelman take a few snaps?
With Jimmy Garoppolo doubtful, the rookie quarterback gets his chance -- but what else do the Patriots have in store against the Texans?
COMMENTARY
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 3 of the Unconventional Preview, a serious-but-lighthearted, occasionally nostalgia-tinted look at the Patriots’ weekly matchup that runs right here every weekend – or the occasional Thursday.
Well, that was fun while it lasted, and fun in different kind of way when it was over. Jimmy Garoppolo, making his second career start Sunday against the Dolphins, was nothing short of sensational in staking the Patriots to a 21-0 lead less than 17 minutes into the game. He didn’t just look like a capable placeholder for Brady. He looked like an indisputably worthy successor, throwing for 247 yards and three touchdowns before the first half even ended.
Of course, you know what happened. Garoppolo’s day was over before the half arrived, his right shoulder driven into the hard turf on a hit by the Dolphins’ Kiko Alonso. Jacoby Brissett, the raw rookie third-round pick from North Carolina State, relieved him, and with much assistance from bruising running back LeGarrette Blount, helped the Patriots hang on to a 31-24 victory.
It was fun pondering all of the possibilities for Garoppolo – and really, that conversation is merely on hiatus while he gets healthy (he’s listed as doubtful Thursday) and Brady preps to return in two weeks. The fun now is figuring out what comes next, and how the Patriots will navigate a tricky matchup with Bill O’Brien’s 2-0 Texans. Can’t wait to see how it plays out — and have no idea how it will, if we’re being honest.
Kick it off, Gostkowski, and let’s get to it …
THREE PLAYERS I’LL BE WATCHING NOT NAMED TOM BRADY, BECAUSE TOM BRADY GOT RAILROADED BY A SNIVELING TOADY OF A COMMISSIONER AND WILL MISS 25 PERCENT OF THE SEASON FOR SOME INEXPLICABLE AND UNJUST REASON. (AS YOU MAY HAVE HEARD.)
Julian Edelman: Edelman is always worth watching as a receiver, of course. He’s currently tied for third in the NFL in receptions with 14, and he’s fought for every last one of his 142 yards. In other words, it’s Edelman as usual. Everyone agrees he’s better than Wes Welker ever was, right?
I used to deny even the possibility of this, but I’ll now hear the argument that it is Edelman and not Rob Gronkowski who is the most important player in the Patriots’ offensive machine, excluding the quarterback.
Which brings us to this week’s particular intrigue. With Garoppolo apparently relegated, at least during this short week, to clipboard-holder status due to his injury, Brissett will make his first career start, and about five years before anyone could have expected it. But the greater suspense comes with trying to figure out who his backup might be.
Garoppolo can’t possibly be ready to throw the ball unless he goes southpaw, and the Patriots did not sign T.J. Yates, Ryan Lindley, Michael Bishop, Brett Favre or another veteran backup. That leaves Edelman – a star quarterback at Kent State who as a senior surpassed 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 passing yards – as the possible break-glass-in-case-of-emergency replacement. The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport noted this on Twitter Wednesday morning:
The #Patriots have done extensive preparation over the past few days to get WR Julian Edelman ready as the backup QB. It may actually happen
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 21, 2016
Just because it would be so amazing to watch, I’m going to choose to believe they’ve got something in store, whether it means reviving The Wildcat or the Wing-T for a series or something else. Plus, I really want to see how much Edelman lining up at QB befuddles Phil Simms.
Brock Osweiler: The Patriots are near the top of the list of reasons he’s Superstar Quarterback rich rather than just Regular Quarterback rich.
Osweiler made just seven starts in four seasons with the Broncos, but perhaps his most impressive start came last November 29, when he played effectively (23 of 42, 270 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) and with surprising poise in the Broncos’ 30-24 overtime victory over the Patriots.
Osweiler, through little fault of his own, eventually ceded the job back to the hovering Peyton Manning, and it worked out fine for the Broncos. In the end, it paid off big-time for Osweiler, too – he signed a four-year, $72 million contract with the Texans in the offseason after turning down a chance to be Manning’s successor in Denver.
The Osweiler deal, which should make Garoppolo giddy about his own future bank statements, boggled some minds around (and on the fringes of) the league …
Wow I know I’m going to get killed for this and I don’t have a lot of room to talk, but this latest QB contract is unbelievable…….. 😮
— Matt Flynn (@mflynn3) March 9, 2016
… but Osweiler has been fine so far, throwing for 499 yards and 3 TDs in the Texans’ first two games, all wins. To some degree, he made his name – and a whole hell of a lot of money — against the Patriots. He’d win over a lot of Texans fans if he can prevail again.
Malcolm Butler: Texans coach Bill O’Brien had nice things to say about the third-year cornerback this week, calling him one of the best in the league at his position. “He’s physical, he’s got really good ball skills, he plays the ball well, instinctive player, he’s a strong football player and he’s very well-coached,’’ said O’Brien.
Those things are all true, and he could have also noted that he’s a bargain given that Darrelle Revis makes 28 times what Butler does this season alone. Also, he saved a Super Bowl once. Maybe you heard about that.
For all of the admiration and praise Patriots fans (and opponents) have for Butler, it is fair to note that he needs to be a little bit better than he has been through the first two games. He struggled against Larry Fitzgerald and the Cardinals receivers in the opener, and the Dolphins hit 8 of 10 targets aimed his way last week.
With D’Andre Hopkins and long-ball rookie Will Fuller giving the Texans the most potent passing game they’ve had in perhaps their entire existence, the Patriots cornerbacks will be challenged Thursday. Thus far this season, the Patriots are 27th in passing defense in the entire league. If they’re not much better than that Thursday, they’re probably not winning the game. Butler needs to have his best day of the new season.
GRIEVANCE OF THE WEEK: This week, we’ve got the rare grievance double-feature.
1. The neener-neener suggestion that Exponent defending its science regarding the Wells Report in The New York Times is some kind of noble surprise and a further indictment of the Patriots: Wait, you mean Exponent didn’t renounce its own bought-and-paid-for, results-for-rent findings that commenced with the predetermined outcome and worked from there? I’m shocked! Next thing you’re going to try to tell me is that secondhand smoke actually does cause cancer.
2. J.J. Watt: Just in general, J.J. Watt. He clumsily manipulates his image like he thinks those Terry Crews Old Spice commercials are a real and an attainable lifestyle. He angles for every endorsement Peyton Manning turned down, and even a few he accepted. He carries himself like he should be introduced with a smoke machine at all times. He’s really, really good and will probably terrorize the Patriots’ line Thursday night. Yeah. J.J. Watt. He’s a grievance in jacked-up human form with a head like a cereal box. Also: Brian Cushing is pretty annoying, too, in an ‘80s movie-bully kind of way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCjd4nAGd_I
PREDICTION, OR IS JADEVEON CLOWNEY ACTUALLY GOOD NOW? Are we sure the Texans are not in the AFC East? It seems like they’re on the schedule more than the Jets. But make no mistake, this is different Houston team than the soft-serve pushover we’re used to seeing.
O’Brien, the former take-no-expletive offensive coordinator for the Patriots, is competent and in charge; the old letterman jackets have been put away. (I know, predecessor Gary Kubiak won the Super Bowl last season in Denver. Still seems unfathomable.)
Osweiler, while still unproven, is a certain upgrade on Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett, among other lousy past Texans QBs. Watt is as dominant as he is annoying. Clowney, the former No. 1 overall pick, wreaked havoc against the Chiefs Sunday. DeAndre Hopkins is a top-five receiver in the league.
Even though the Texans may not be perceived as a tough team around here, this is a tough game. A year ago at this time, Brissett was preparing for a road game against South Alabama. Now he’s guiding the Patriots in their quest to go 4-0 in Brady’s absence. I have no idea what to expect.
But I know this much: This is often when Bill Belichick is at his best. This week, he will have to be. This week, he will be. Patriots 17, Texans 14.
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