[Kray007]

Start out with AR. 11 of 14 for 145 yards, 53 yards rushing with a 22 yarder tossed in, only one bad throw in the game, looked on target, great mobility and the ability to task defenses with his legs, kept the sticks moving… In his time with the team, this is the best he’s ever looked. If he keeps it up, he probably locks down QB2.

Seth McGowan…showed the kind of slashing style that the team is looking for in JT’s backup. Had 5 catches for only 17 yards, but that included a 9 yarder, a 6 yarder, two short yardage, grind it out carries, and only one stop for no gain.

Will Mallory was a man amongst boys. Consistently open, caught 6 of 7 targets for 80 yards and a 13.3 yard average per. I know he doesn’t excel blocking, but for a team beating the bushes for receiving threats…

Jalen Farmer was a stud at RG. Excelled in both pass and run blocking. On one play, he drove his man 5 yards off the line. While none of the guys I’ve mentioned up to now, stand much of a chance to elevate into the starting lineup, Farmer might.

George, Forrest Gumps. This is a guy who brings elite skills to the table, the kind of guy that Chris Ballard loves to stock up on. For once, maybe, he rolled the dice and they didn’t come up snake eyes. I know it’s just one preseason game, against backups, but…. He had a sack, a couple of tackles for loss and another pressure. When they drafted him, conventional wisdom had it that he might need a year of seasoning. That’s probably right, but so did Robert Mathis.

Caden Curry. Before the draft, if there was anything that scouts agreed on, it was the lament that, if Curry’s arms were a couple of inches longer, he’d be a fringe 1st rounder. Yesterday, he put those tools on display. 5 tackles, 2 for a loss, a sack, 3 QB hits, 2 passes defensed. Interestingly enough,he looked unstoppable when attacking up the middle, dominating the middle of New England’s O Line. Ultimately, he might add 10 or 15 pounds and make the move to 3 technique. With Deforest Buckner on the wrong side of 30, that might be the best case scenario.

Bryce, the Butcher, Boettcher showed pretty well. Nice range, and attacked the ball, looking instinctive along the way. He’s probably stuck behind Davis-Gaither on the depth chart, and that’s a testament to the work the Chris Ballard put into bulking up the position,

Jaylon Carlies didn’t stick out for a lot, but he did the one thing for which this team has a crying need…he did a nice job in coverage, breaking up a pass along the way.