The line: Oddsmakers have the Patriots set as 3-point favorites for Friday?s game versus the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. The Packers were similar 3-point dogs in their preseason opener, a 10-7 win over San Diego at home.
The total:The total is set at 42 ?-points. The under has cashed in three of four games these teams have played this preseason.
Belichek to players: ?Be ready to play 60.?
New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick isn`t happy with some aspects of his team?s play through the first two preseason games.
?I think obviously third down is an area that we need to emphasize,? Belichick said. ?(We haven`t done) very well in that. In the red area, both offensively and defensively, we haven?t been particularly good either. I think we can incorporate a little more time there. We can continue to work on situation football.?
With that in mind, Belichick told all of his players to prepare as if they are going to play the full 60 minutes against Green Bay.
?I?ve told them to be ready to go for 60 minutes just like it?s a regular season game,? he said at a press conference Wednesday. ?As a coaching staff we?ll try to manage the game as we think is best given all of the things that we?re trying to get done in this game.?
Davis adds to competition
The Patriots brass thought the risk and reward of receiver Andre Davis, acquired from the Cleveland Browns earlier in the week, was just too good to pass up.
?It was just a situation where the value and what we thought the player could potentially add and how he could help our team was worth what we would have to give up in exchange for it,? Bill Belichick told Patriots Insider. ?How quickly he can pick up our system and what exactly he can do in it and all of that, we`ll have to try to evaluate that in the next couple of weeks.?
The Patriots plan to show Davis some action Friday night as the acquisition of the speedster adds more competition to some already contentious positions for the defending champs. The Pats have as many as 12 wide receivers in camp vying for six spots. The kick return position is still clouded as Bethel Johnson and newcomer Chad Morton have not been able to showcase their talents because of injury.
?I think any time you can improve your team and improve the competition on your team at a position you try to do it,? said Belichick.
Another battle of interest in New England`s camp is between Matt Cassel and Doug Flutie for the backup quarterback spot. The 42-year-old Flutie is said to have the edge after throwing for 52 yards and one touchdown in New England`s 37-27 loss as a 3 1/2-point favorite to New Orleans last Thursday.
Packers mum on starters
Green Bay Packers head coach Mike Sherman said his No. 1 units will play the entire first half versus Friday, but offensive line coach Larry Beightol won?t say exactly who his starters will be.
?I just don`t want to do it just yet,? Beightol said ?I want to be able to see some more things. Maybe you`ll learn about those things tomorrow night. You`re going to have to come to the game and find out.?
Beightol faces a tough decision after guards Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle left through free agency in the offseason. Former Patriot Adrian Klemm looks like the frontrunner for one spot while rookie Will Whitticker has shown the Packers he could start this season.
However, 11-year veteran Matt O?Dwyer replaced Whitticker on the first-unit during drills this week. Converted center Scott Wells has impressed as well and the coaching staff says they want to see more of him before any decisions are made.
No matter who starts, the Packers feel much better about the guard spot then they did earlier in training camp.
?Two or three weeks ago, I was a little more worried,? offensive coordinator Tom Rossley told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. ?But we`re getting better and better at that position. They`re still battling.?
Defense not getting along
Looks like new defensive coordinator Jim Bates still has some work to do in winning the respect of his new charges.
At the start of practice Wednesday Bates instructed injured linemen Grady Jackson, Cletidus Hunt and Corey Williams to take part in stretches with the rest of the lineman. Jackson complied, Williams pretended to participate while Hunt stared at Bates and when the coach turned the seven-year veteran waved him away with the back of his hand.
However, there was positive news from Wednesday`s camp after Green Bay?s medical staff cleared Robert Ferguson to play Friday.
The receiver missed two days of practice after undergoing tests because of a heart murmur.
?Everything?s fine. Everything came back positive,? coach Sherman said.
The total:The total is set at 42 ?-points. The under has cashed in three of four games these teams have played this preseason.
Belichek to players: ?Be ready to play 60.?
New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick isn`t happy with some aspects of his team?s play through the first two preseason games.
?I think obviously third down is an area that we need to emphasize,? Belichick said. ?(We haven`t done) very well in that. In the red area, both offensively and defensively, we haven?t been particularly good either. I think we can incorporate a little more time there. We can continue to work on situation football.?
With that in mind, Belichick told all of his players to prepare as if they are going to play the full 60 minutes against Green Bay.
?I?ve told them to be ready to go for 60 minutes just like it?s a regular season game,? he said at a press conference Wednesday. ?As a coaching staff we?ll try to manage the game as we think is best given all of the things that we?re trying to get done in this game.?
Davis adds to competition
The Patriots brass thought the risk and reward of receiver Andre Davis, acquired from the Cleveland Browns earlier in the week, was just too good to pass up.
?It was just a situation where the value and what we thought the player could potentially add and how he could help our team was worth what we would have to give up in exchange for it,? Bill Belichick told Patriots Insider. ?How quickly he can pick up our system and what exactly he can do in it and all of that, we`ll have to try to evaluate that in the next couple of weeks.?
The Patriots plan to show Davis some action Friday night as the acquisition of the speedster adds more competition to some already contentious positions for the defending champs. The Pats have as many as 12 wide receivers in camp vying for six spots. The kick return position is still clouded as Bethel Johnson and newcomer Chad Morton have not been able to showcase their talents because of injury.
?I think any time you can improve your team and improve the competition on your team at a position you try to do it,? said Belichick.
Another battle of interest in New England`s camp is between Matt Cassel and Doug Flutie for the backup quarterback spot. The 42-year-old Flutie is said to have the edge after throwing for 52 yards and one touchdown in New England`s 37-27 loss as a 3 1/2-point favorite to New Orleans last Thursday.
Packers mum on starters
Green Bay Packers head coach Mike Sherman said his No. 1 units will play the entire first half versus Friday, but offensive line coach Larry Beightol won?t say exactly who his starters will be.
?I just don`t want to do it just yet,? Beightol said ?I want to be able to see some more things. Maybe you`ll learn about those things tomorrow night. You`re going to have to come to the game and find out.?
Beightol faces a tough decision after guards Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle left through free agency in the offseason. Former Patriot Adrian Klemm looks like the frontrunner for one spot while rookie Will Whitticker has shown the Packers he could start this season.
However, 11-year veteran Matt O?Dwyer replaced Whitticker on the first-unit during drills this week. Converted center Scott Wells has impressed as well and the coaching staff says they want to see more of him before any decisions are made.
No matter who starts, the Packers feel much better about the guard spot then they did earlier in training camp.
?Two or three weeks ago, I was a little more worried,? offensive coordinator Tom Rossley told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. ?But we`re getting better and better at that position. They`re still battling.?
Defense not getting along
Looks like new defensive coordinator Jim Bates still has some work to do in winning the respect of his new charges.
At the start of practice Wednesday Bates instructed injured linemen Grady Jackson, Cletidus Hunt and Corey Williams to take part in stretches with the rest of the lineman. Jackson complied, Williams pretended to participate while Hunt stared at Bates and when the coach turned the seven-year veteran waved him away with the back of his hand.
However, there was positive news from Wednesday`s camp after Green Bay?s medical staff cleared Robert Ferguson to play Friday.
The receiver missed two days of practice after undergoing tests because of a heart murmur.
?Everything?s fine. Everything came back positive,? coach Sherman said.
