Cam Newton was impressive in his New England Patriots debut this past Sunday. Newton ran in for two touchdowns and passed for 155 yards. The combination of read option and bootleg play action plays will give defensive coordinators fits when facing Cam. Julian Edelman had five receptions for 57 yards. James White ran for 22 yards along with three big receptions for 30 yards. All three of these players are crucial to the Patriots’ success and if they continue to be productive, the Patriots will be a tough team to beat.
The Patriots defense held the Miami Dolphins to just 11 points on Sunday. Stephon Gilmore, Adrian Phillips, and J.C. Jackson all had interceptions in the game. The defense turning the football over was the key to the Patriots winning a lot of their games last year and coming into this year, it was nice to see them pick up where they left off. Phillips not only had an interception in the game, but he also had a team-leading nine tackles. Chase Winovich has a much bigger role in this defense and he showed his worth with six tackles. Bill Belichick and his defensive coaching staff held the Miami offense to just 87 yards rushing.
Know Your Enemy
Let’s get to know the Seattle Seahawks and what to expect come Sunday night:
There is no question that Russell Wilson is a top-five NFL QB. Very similar to Newton, the combination of passing the football and running out of the pocket creates a lot of confusion for NFL defenses. Chris Carson also creates problems as he can not only run the ball, he can catch it too and create space downfield. DK Metcalf has become quite the diamond in the rough for Seattle. Many teams passed on him during the draft. Metcalf had four receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown in Seattle last week’s win in Atlanta. Stephon Gilmore and J.C. Jackson will have a big challenge covering Metcalf, and number two receiver Tyler Lockett.
Just five years ago, the Seattle Seahawks had the best defense in the NFL. Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas led that defense. However, both left the team in the past three years. While the identity of this defense has changed, the one constant has been linebacker, Bobby Wagner. Wagner is the leader on this defensive and in this career in Seattle, he has a total of 647 solo tackles. The Patriots offensive line will need to make blocking Wagner the main priority if they want to run the ball effectively.
–Robert Marcello is a Staff Writer for Full Press Coverage and covers the New England Patriots. Follow him on Twitter @RobertMarcello5
