Patriots-Buccaneers Pre-Season Review: Stevan Ridley With Another Solid Performance

Aside from a fumble on a fourth and short play, rookie running back Stevan Ridley shined once again for the New England Patriots. He showed he has big play ability on the ground, through the air, and he picked up a number of first downs for the Patriots on Thursday night in Foxboro.

In the Patriots’ 31-14 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Ridley rushed the ball 14 times for 84 yards with a couple of big bursts, as well as three receptions for 27 yards. This is a guy who has proven over the last two games that he can ball, as he ran for 67 yards and two touchdowns in the Patriots’ first pre-season game, as well as catching seven passes for 47 yards and another score.

Ridley didn’t hit paydirt in this game, but he is showing the Patriots that he deserves a spot high up in this rotation. They have a lot of backs competing for playing time with BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Shane Vereen, and Danny Woodhead in addition to Ridley.

Ryan Mallett, the Patriots’ third round pick at quarterback out of Arkansas threw his first NFL interception on what appeared to be a serious mis-communication. The pass was picked off by Elbert Mack, a fourth year player out of Troy for the Bucs who had three interceptions two years ago for the Bucs.

Mack showed some nice return skills and Mallett took a huge hit on the return from a Tampa Bay defender as Mack sprinted to the end zone for the first score of the game for the Bucs.

I give Mack an A+ for his interception and return, but an incomplete on the dance that followed. He might need to work on that part of his game.

Other Notes

• Rookie linebacker Mason Foster, the first draft pick to sign this year, put a huge lick on Chad Ochocinco, who caught his first touchdown as a Patriot
• Tom Brady is still elite. He picked apart the Tampa Bay defense with ease.
• Kyle Arrington had a crazy interception off of Josh Johnson, where he literally plucked the ball off of Michael Spurlock’s leg while both were on the ground.
• Jerod Mayo had two sacks on the night.
• Adrian Clayborn, the first first round pick to sign his contract, only had half a tackle but he applied nice pressure on Tom Brady at times.
• Ben Jarvus Green-Ellis had two touchdown runs from one yard out, as well as 51 yards on the ground. The Patriots have been able to get out to healthy leads and establish deadly running games so far in their two pre-season victories.
• I love what Danny Woodhead brings to the table for the Patriots.
• The Patriots have the best pair of young tight ends in the league, and they are going to be key parts of what I believe to be the NFL’s best offensive unit.
• The Pats’ pass rush looked very good in the first unit, led by Mayo and veteran Andre Carter who is fitting in very well thus far.
• New England has to be considered the favorites to come out of the AFC in almost a consensus fashion at this point. Just two pre-season games, sure, but these guys are amazing.