Bye good week to get to work
FOXBORO — Patriots backup quarterback Brian Hoyer can appreciate what Philadelphia signal caller Nick Foles has accomplished on the NFC side of the Super Bowl LII divide.
Foles was elevated to the top job in the Eagles offense when starter Carson Wentz, who was enjoying an MVP-caliber season, suffered a torn ACL against the Rams on Dec. 10.
His backup then won two of the last three regularseason games and beat the Falcons and Vikings in the playoffs.
Hoyer has spent the past few days as the scout team quarterback duplicating Foles’ run-option style for the Patriots defense.
“I’ve been in that spot and I have a lot of respect for a guy that steps in and fills those shoes because Carson was having a great year,” Hoyer said after yesterday’s practice.
“After our game last week we go back and watch their game and so we can see what he’s doing and he played a tremendous game.”
The Patriots offense, defense and special teams are intent on doing the real game prep work in Foxboro, away from the distractions and demands on their time that waits in Minnesota.
“The main thing for us is don’t take this week for granted, prepare like we are going to play this Sunday and get a full week of practice,” said Hoyer. “When you get out to Minneapolis there is not going to be any time to play catch up.
“There is not going to be a lot of time, there’s a lot of stuff that you have to do and obligations and things like that. You prepare this week like you are going to play Sunday and when you get out to Minneapolis you have a bonus three days of practice.”
One of the beneficiaries of Hoyer’s work is safety Patrick Chung, who will have his hands full containing Foles’ run option schemes while also covering standout tight end Zach Ertz.
“There are to be a lot of distractions so it is good we are getting our practices in before we head out there,” said Chung.
Left tackle Nate Solder has the crucial task of protecting quarterback Tom Brady’s blind side against the Eagles’ marauding right defensive end Vinny Curry.
The offensive line absorbs the most detailed information of any unit on the team and the linemen want to be on the same page before they get on the plane Monday.
“I say we’ve got to work hard this week because there is a lot of work to be done,” said Solder. “We want to be as prepared and ready to go as possible.
“I wish I could say it was a regular week but it’s not so we are taking every day to get better. We’ve pushed it as hard as we can and done as much as we can each day and there’s more to be done.”
Tailback James White expressed the same sentiments.
“We want to get in as much work as possible (here) and you want to study up on your opponent and learn their defense,” said White. “When we get there next week we’ll sharpen up on things and when Sunday comes around fly around and play fast.”