Ready For Some Football

After six months of trying to get my football fix from NFL Films and the occasional AFL game, I just had to make it over to Gillette Stadium to soak in the start of the 2011 preseason.  Here are my thoughts, observations, and photos from the night the Patriots crushed the confidence of every Jaguars backup.

We didn’t make it to the parking lot until shortly before the national anthem.  However, that gave us the benefit of seeing this develop from afar:

A military fly-by for a preseason game.  Never doubt the popularity of the NFL.

I’d only been to one preseason game before, but I felt that the crowd was relatively big for an exhibition game.  This morning, I read reports that there was a similarly strong turnout at other games around the country.  Even though we technically didn’t miss much, I think the mere threat of losing the NFL has fans more excited for this preseason than any I can remember.   As Joni Mitchell once said, you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.

This was my first time visiting Gillette Stadium, and I have to say that the Patriots did a great job of designing it.  From the arch that serves as a window into the stadium from the parking lot, to the concourses, to the adjacent movie theater and sports bars, the stadium simply has a lot of character and appeal.  As my friend Todd said, “It’s like Bob Kraft built a playground for grown men.”

The playground for grown men (Bass Pro Shops not pictured).

David Garrard was out with a back injury, so Jacksonville got a glimpse of its future as Blaine Gabbert got the startat quarterback.  He had his share of overthrows, and he passed for only 85 yards on 16 attempts.  But the Jaguar receivers were not getting open for him, and Mike Thomas had a crucial drop on third down in the red zone that may have cost Gabbert a touchdown drive.

My friend Jimmy commented that he feels weird when he looks at the the “16-0” banner hanging in the corner of the stadium.  I wonder, if they took a poll, how many New Englanders would vote to take it down.  My guess is 35 percent.

Look very closely, and you'll see the most bittersweet banner ever.

It was just one night, but it looks like the new rule that moves the kickoff up 5 yards will have a significant effect on the return game, as I expect it to.  Returners were not only fielding kicks deep in their own end zone, but then were encountering would-be tacklers as early as the 15 yard line.  Expect offenses to start their drives further back than they’ve been accustomed to.

I like the rule change that lets the referee booth call for a replay review of any touchdown without the coaches having to expend a challenge.  However, the stoppage is not appealing to a crowd at an exhibition game.  After Ed Hochuli headed to the booth for the second time in the opening half, one guy in our section yelled "Who cares?!  It doesn't count!"

Not so fast, guys.  They haven't reviewed the play yet.

The biggest cheers of the night may have not been for the action on the field, but for the images on the jumbotron.  The crowd-pleasers, from quietest to loudest ovation:

• A member of the National Guard who was honored after the first quarter.  No sport embraces the military more than the NFL.
• Tom Brady, who suited up for the game but did not play.  Multiple grown men behind me screamed “He’s so beautiful!”  I think only half of them were joking.
• Chad Ochocinco, also standing on the sidelines.  Rather than acknowledge the crowd, he stood there without so much as cracking a smile.  That’s classic Ocho, all business.  Speaking of Ocho, there were multiple people who carried in signs lobbying for him to be their new roommate. 
• A group of fans holding an “MHK” banner, in honor of Myra Kraft.  The Patriots will wear a patch this season in memory of the beloved wife of their owner.
• A father and son in Bruins jerseys.  It’s crazy to think that the Pats now have the longest championship drought of all the Boston teams.  Did I say “crazy?”  I meant “sickening.”

Patriots backup quarterback Brian Hoyer finished with 171 yards on 15 of 21 passes, but his touchdown was a poor throw that Taylor Price made an acrobatic play on, and he lofted a couple more passes over the middle that almost got Julian Edelman killed.  I'm going to wait before I call him the next Kevin Kolb

I visited Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis last year, and Peyton Manning must be first in the league in “percentage of the crowd that wears one player’s jersey.”  But judging by the fans yesterday, I’d say Brady is second.

The middle jersey was purchased during Tom Brady's short stint with the Buffalo Bills.

I came away very impressed with Ryan Mallett.  He led four straight touchdown drives and looked commandingly intense in the huddle.  Some teams may regret letting him drop to the third round of this year's draft.

The minutemen continue their never-ending war against McDonald's and giant TV screens.

Running back Deji Karim had some inspiring play in a losing effort for the Jaguars.  He had an 84 yard kickoff return, and then stayed in the game to take a handoff for seven yards on the very next play.  When your roster spot isn't guaranteed, you can't afford to take a breather.

I'd only seen one Jaguar fan all night, until we were driving down Route 1 on our way home and passed four of them on the side of the road.  Two of them had their shirts off, which prompted us to guess how many tattoos they had in their group.  Todd set the over/under at 14.

Can you spot the Jaguar fan?

The MVP of the game was Patriots running back Stevan Ridley.  He may have jumped ahead of fellow rookie Shane Vereen in the depth chart after a 111 total yards and three touchdowns.  On one long run, he used his speed to get around the corner, and when defenders converged on him near the sideline, rather than run out of bounds, he lowered his shoulder to pick up a few extra yards.  Somewhere, Walter Payton smiled.

Not only do the Patriots have a skinny, white, Ivy Leaguer from Andover, Mass. named “Buddy” on their roster, but he plays both sides of the ball.  Buddy Farnham had three catches for 34 yards, and then intercepted a pass in the 4^th quarter.  Someone has to fill Troy Brown's shoes.

Like Buddy Farnham, this young fan is repping Andover.

Despite his murky history when it comes to these situations, you can’t accuse Bill Belichick of running up the score in this game.  The last 13 play calls for New England (not counting kneel downs): 13 straight handoffs to rookie Richard Medlin.  Believe it or not, the 47-12 final score could have been even worse.

All in all, my first trip to Gillette Stadium was a very enjoyable one.  The Patriots look great, and the Jaguars look not so great, but it's only preseason.  Still, it's good to see football again.  I missed it.

Football's back, baby!