‘D’ does its job this time
Pass rush gets to Foles in preseason win
PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK
FOXBORO — The Patriots defense figured out Nick Foles six months too late.
Foles, who sliced up the Patriots porous defense in Super Bowl LII, was often overwhelmed by their reinvigorated pass rush last night at Gillette Stadium.
The front seven set the tone, disrupting Philadelphia’s rhythm in a 3720 blowout victory. The first-team defense held the Eagles to minus-2 yards on their opening 12 plays. By the time the Eagles put together any semblance of offensive momentum, the Pats had already built a 17-0 lead.
For the most part, the Tom Brady-led offense was sharp. Brady relied on the usual suspects — James White, Chris Hogan and Julian Edelman — to march down the field. He connected with Hogan for a 4-yard touchdown at the 10:19 mark of the first quarter, and capped a solid first half with a 20-yard touchdown toss to White on a screen.
After a lackluster showing against the Redskins last week, the Pats defense looked fast and aggressive against the defending Super Bowl champs, particularly on third down.
On third-and-7 at the 9:19 mark of the first quarter, strong safety Patrick Chung came on a delayed rush, blasted through running back Jay Ajayi, and dragged down Foles for an 8-yard loss.
The Pats ended Philadelphia’s next drive with a sack, too. Foles scanned the field on third-and-10, found nothing, and was forced to step up in the pocket due to pressure from Adrian Clayborn and Derek Rivers. As Foles stepped up, he was swallowed up by defensive tackle Adam Butler.
Foles and the Eagles started picking up yardage on the next drive, but Clayborn roasted Philadelphia tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai around the right edge for an easy strip-sack of Foles. The ball was plucked out of the air by rookie linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley, who sprinted 54 yards down the middle of the field for a touchdown that put the Patriots ahead, 17-0.
Foles finished 3-for-9 for 44 yards.
The front seven of the Patriots defense should be much improved this year. The return of Dont’a Hightower is always key. He’s the team’s best run-stopping linebacker and one of its top pass-rushers. Clayborn clearly will make an impact, and Rivers adds athleticism on the edge.
Additionally, defensive end Deatrich Wise has been one of the most impressive players in training camp. He’s poised to make a second-year leap.
Bentley looks like a player who will stick in New England, as well. He starred in each of the team’s two preseason games.
Even Keionta Davis, who spent his rookie season on the non-football injury list with a bulging disc in his back, seems like a player who could make an impact. Davis added 6-7 pounds of muscle in the offseason and is now up to 280. He got the start at left defensive end and saw some snaps on the interior when the Pats transitioned to their thirddown defense.
The Pats experienced intermittent issues in the secondary, particularly in the second half when the Eagles targeted young defensive backs like Keion Crossen, J.C. Jackson and Jordan Richards. The defensive line, however, remained stout.
Clayborn, Rivers, Butler, Chung, Davis, Kyle Van Noy, Vincent Valentine and Trent Harris each recorded sacks. Reserve defensive end Geneo Grissom kept the pressure coming late in the game, as he totaled three quarterback hits.
Wynn goes down
Rookie offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn debuted, but his first NFL action was short-lived.
Wynn, who subbed in for LaAdrian Waddle at right tackle for the second series, limped off the field early in the third possession. He was immediately taken into the blue medical tent and was eventually carted into the locker room with a left ankle injury.
The Patriots selected Wynn with the No. 21 pick in April’s draft, a selection they acquired in the Brandin Cooks trade.
Wynn had split time with Waddle at right tackle throughout the week of practice. Veteran Trent Brown seems to have sealed up the left tackle job.
Wynn’s college teammate and fellow first-round pick, running back Sony Michel, is also dealing with an injury.
Pair of debuts
Tom Brady made his first appearance of the preseason.
And cornerback Jason McCourty saw extended action after sitting out the preseason opener. McCourty took Eric Rowe’s spot as the No. 2 cornerback to begin the second drive. He remained on the field for the third series, as Rowe subbed in for Stephon Gilmore.
McCourty also played special teams. He took a poor angle on 45-yard kickoff return that was finally stopped by Stephen Gostkowski, who appeared shaken up on the play.
Missing in action
Nine Patriots were not in uniform, highlighted by running backs Michel and Rex Burkhead. Michel suffered a knee injury early in camp. He’s missed eight straight practices.
Also absent: Flowers, cornerbacks Ryan Lewis and Duke Dawson, linebacker Harvey Langi, offensive tackle Marcus Cannon and wide receivers Braxton Berrios and Kenny Britt.
The lone surprise in the group was Berrios, who didn’t miss any practice time this week. A sixthround pick out of Miami, Berrios is vying for a spot on a perpetually thinning wide receiver depth chart.