“We learned a lot about ourselves just in the two days we had a chance to work with New Orleans and their fine ball club,’’ tight end Alge Crumpler said. “We’re just trying to establish an identity for this team and not worry about anything else.’’
Wes Welker did not play. Though the shifty receiver is recovered from his torn left ACL and rotator cuff injuries and was on the field for 11-on-11 work during practices this week, clearly the coaching and medical staffs are waiting before putting Welker in a game.
The plan is to get him some preseason work, but last night was not the time.
One of the high points for New England was its effectiveness in the red zone, a problem area last season. There has been near-daily work on plays inside the 20-yard line since camp began, and it may be paying off: Last night the Patriots were 3 for 5 in red zone trips, a perfect 3 for 3 in goal-line chances.
They did miss an opportunity right out of the gate, however. The defense forced Drew Brees and the Saints into a three-and-out situation after a third-down sack by Marques Murrell, and Julian Edelman returned Thomas Morstead’s punt 40 yards.
The lightning-quick, second-year receiver’s effort gave Tom Brady the ball at New Orleans’s 19-yard line to start the first drive.
But incomplete passes on second and third downs meant Gostkowski was on for a 35-yard field goal try, which he made.
“I would have liked to do a little more with that opening drive,’’ coach Bill Belichick said. “We had good field position and a good opportunity there, but in the end we were able to get it in [the end zone] at times. That was good, but hopefully we can build on that.’’
Brady played just the first two series, the second of which was a vintage 14-play, 93-yard touchdown drive.
Brady completed three passes of 20 or more yards on the way to the end zone, first a 23-yard sideline pass to Randy Moss, followed three plays later by a 20-yarder to Brandon Tate, who did well to get both feet down for the catch. On second and 10 a couple of snaps later, Edelman took a bubble screen for a 20-yard gain, slipping past Jabari Greer near the line of scrimmage.
