Bill Belichick says the team is "ready to go" for the 2010 season despite losing to the Giants 20-17 on Thursday.
After the Patriots’ 20-17 loss to the Giants in their final preseason test, coach Bill Belichick sounded optimistic about his team’s position heading into the regular season.
“Overall, we had our ups and downs,” Belichick told the Associated Press. “The team has worked hard. I think they’re ready to go. They competed well for the most part on a day-in, day-out basis.”
The first-team offense has clicked from the very outset of the year, and continued looking sharp last night. QB Tom Brady went 4 of 8 for 51 yards, a TD and an INT. The interception, his only one of the preseason, came late in the first quarter when he underthrew WR Randy Moss on a deep route. Belichick was less concerned with the rare mistake, rather heralding Brady for the way he managed the team’s strong opening drive that ended in a 5-yard pass to rookie TE Rob Gronkowski.
“We converted a third down, got a big play,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said of the drive. “It was nice to see us move the ball, not like it was last week.”
The TD grab marked Gronkowski’s team-high 4th score of the preseason. The team’s 2nd round pick out of Arizona has been a pleasant surprise for Pats fans so far and spoke about his blossoming connection with Brady after the game.
“You need a good relationship and chemistry with your quarterback,’’ Gronkowski told the Boston Globe. “I feel like I need to feel out the quarterback throwing the ball and of course the quarterback needs to feel out how I run my routes with my speed and everything.’’
After allowing the lowly Rams and their rookie QB Sam Bradford 462 total yards last week, the Patriots defense had some fits again, surrendering 414 yards to the Giants. S Brandon Meriweather insisted he saw some improvement in the squad, who now will have to face the 2010 season without top CB Leigh Bodden, set to miss the entire year with a torn rotator cuff.
“Shoot, we didn’t give up 21 points in the first half, so I think that’s a positive,’’ Meriweather said. “We wanted to clean up everything. We wanted to see who could play and who couldn’t play. We pretty much wanted to fix everything, not just one thing. That’s what preseason is for.’’
RB Laurence Maroney got his first real action of the preseason Thursday as well, finishing with an impressive 9 carry, 32-yard appearance.
“I am just one of the guys right now,’’ he said. “Just basically being patient and sitting back and seeing how things play out. It is just one of those situations where I am just going to always be prepared for anything, for the best or for the worst.’’
Maroney’s notable absence from the team’s preseason games has been a media focus point this offseason, as many speculated the former Minnesota star was falling out of favor in New England. However, a new report from the Boston Globe has a league source telling the paper that the RB has been hampered by an abdominal, groin, and ankle injuries all through camp.
The Patriots will face WR duo Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens in their Week 1 clash with Cincinnati at Gillette Stadium on Sept. 12.