1. Offensive tackles: LT Nate Solder (three hurries) and RT Marcus Cannon (sack, three hurries, two knockdowns) combined to allow nine of the 13 total QB pressures the Patriots allowed. Solder, who is taking over for Matt Light, just showed some technique flaws. Cannon was more of a worry because he often just got overpowered. Expect a lot of teaching this week.
2. Ryan Mallett: There was some national buzz –- generated from where, we don’t know –- that Mallett was looking like the potential first-round pick he was supposed to be without off-field issues. He did. For one practice. Other than that, what he showed against the Saints was what he’s shown since joining the Patriots: a player who is thinking too much, is mechanical and has accuracy issues. After a full offseason, Mallett should be more advanced.
3. General offensive sloppiness: As opposed to the Patriots’ defense, which played very assignment and fundamentally sound, the offense was a mess for most of the game with blown assignments and just failed execution. The combinations used on the line for the first half had a lot to do with that, and the starting line has only Nate Solder playing his projected starting spot. They’ll be much better, but it was ugly to watch.
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