Additional Thoughts From New England Patriots Loss To Redskins
By Cyrus Geller
Aug 7, 2014; Landover, MD, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Ryan Mallett (15) prepares to throw the ball against the Washington Redskins in the first quarter at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-USA TODAY Sports
1. Ryan Mallett’s up and down day
Contrary to Jimmy Garoppolo, backup quarterback Ryan Mallett did not have a terrific 2014 debut. At best, he was inconsistent, as he completed less than half of his passes, did not score a touchdown, and amassed a total of 50 passing yards. A lot of the blame can be passed down to the offensive line, who had a rough outing, but Mallett definitely struggled. He was indecisive, his accuracy came and went, and never felt comfortable in the pocket.
Mike Loyko of NEPD.com made an interesting point during the game, saying Mallett doesn’t seem to fit the Pats offensive system. Tom Brady lives off of the quick throw, but Mallett’s arm talent is definitely geared towards chucking it down the field. I think this observation is spot on, and is part of why Mallett struggled so much last night. With that said, you can’t deny how great of an arm Mallett has. When he has time, he can really sling it.