Slow start for Hoyer
Offense sputters without Brady, Gronk
PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK
FOXBORO — As expected, Tom Brady took in the Patriots’ preseason opener from a nice, comfy seat on the bench.
It wasn’t a pretty sight. Without Brady and Rob Gronkowski in the lineup last night, the Patriots’ starting offense sputtered against the Redskins, failing to cross midfield until four seconds remained in the first half.
Fortunately, the backups picked up the slack, erasing a 17-0 deficit to pull out a 26-17 win at Gillette Stadium.
Overall, Brian Hoyer looked out of sorts. He completed 3-of-9 pass attempts for 9 yards through five possessions. On the first series, Hoyer had Julian Edelman open on a crossing route for what would have been an easy third-down conversion, but he opted to heave the ball deep down the right sideline to a well-covered Phillip Dorsett. It fell incomplete.
Later, Hoyer was nearly intercepted when targeting Devin Lucien on a post route.
By night’s end, Hoyer’s numbers looked fine. He finished 16-for-23 for 144 yards, but many of those came in the second half when Washington played its backups. He played into the fourth quarter.
The only time the Patriots starters resembled a competent offense was when Hoyer handed the ball to running back Jeremy Hill. The former Cincinnati Bengal accounted for 30 of the team’s 44 yards from scrimmage through four possessions and finished with 51 yards and a TD on 11 carries.
The offense appeared to establish a rhythm with four straight running plays early in the second quarter. Eventually, though, Hoyer needed to throw the ball. He couldn’t connect with Chris Hogan on a slant route on third-and-5, and the Pats were forced to punt for a fourth straight possession.
Hoyer, who has plenty of experience as a starting quarterback in the NFL, did not look anything close to the part until the final minute of the half. He found Lucien (four catches, team-high 71 yards) on consecutive throws for gains of 22 and 25 yards, setting up a 52-yard Stephen Gostkowski field goal and somewhat salvaging an ugly first half.
Perhaps Bill Belichick summed it up best during his halftime interview with WBZ: “Yeah, about 38 seconds of good football.”
Secondary issues
The Pats pulled their starters in the secondary after two series.
It wasn’t a particularly strong start for the group, which allowed backup quarterback Colt McCoy and the Redskins to march down the field for a six-play, 50-yard drive that resulted in the game’s first score, a 25-yard touchdown pass to running back Byron Marshall.
Earlier in the drive, Washington receiver Robert Davis lost Stephon Gilmore on a short drag route and turned upfield for a 20-yard gain.
The Redskins scored on three of their first five drives.
The Pats’ backup cornerbacks didn’t fare well, either. Rookie Keion Crossen mistimed his jump on a deep ball in the second quarter. Cam Sims hauled it in for a 57-yard gain, and Washington notched its second touchdown two plays later.
Back in the mix
Two of the Patriots’ most important players, Edelman and Dont’a Hightower, are returning from season-ending injuries.
Both saw work last night. This was Edelman’s first action in the preseason opener since 2013. He played on the team’s first four drives.
Operating out of the slot, Edelman crashed into Redskins cornerback Fabian Moreau on his first snap, a 3-yard plunge up the middle by Mike Gillislee.
Edelman is attempting to return from a torn ACL suffered last preseason. He recently indicated that he doesn’t quite have his “football legs.”
Hightower is coming back from a shoulder injury that ended his 2017 campaign before the midway point. Like Edelman, he played on four possessions. He had a shot to bring down McCoy on Marshall’s touchdown catch, but he appeared to lose track of McCoy when he bull-rushed Washington’s right tackle.
McCourty skips
In addition to Brady and Gronkowski, safety Devin McCourty did not log any snaps.
The Patriots used secondyear pro Jomal Wiltz as the nickel cornerback with the starting unit, which was a bit of a surprise. Rookie Duke Dawson had manned that spot in practice.
Rookie offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn, the team’s top pick at No. 21 overall, did not play. Trent Brown and LaAdrian Waddle were the starting tackles. They were replaced by Ulrick John and Matt Tobin.
Veteran receiver Eric Decker played, but was not targeted.
Taking roll
Running backs Sony Michel and Rex Burkhead headlined a group of players not in uniform. Michel is dealing with a knee injury and has missed the past five practices. Burkhead exited practice on Wednesday and finished on the lower field, which is generally designated for players rehabbing from injury.
Also not in uniform: wide receiver Kenny Britt, offensive tackle Marcus Cannon,
defensive end Trey Flowers,
cornerback Jonathan Jones, linebacker Harvey Langi, offensive lineman Jason King,
and offensive lineman Brian Schwenke.
Britt recently came off the physically unable to perform list. He’s working his way back from a hamstring injury suffered during minicamp, and the Pats appear to be taking it slow with him.
Cannon has missed five straight practices.