Let the games begin

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Not that I haven't been enjoying the Summer Olympics from London. I have. The US-Canada women's soccer semifinal game was one of the 10 greatest non-Boston sporting events I've ever seen. (Do you believe in miracles is still at the top.) I like turning on the TV at 10:30 after I get home from work and having a wide variety of sporting events played at their highest level. What's not to like about that?

That said, I've been ready for this season for a while now. Brady and the Pats got back on the field for (almost) real against Brees and the Saints at Gillette last night. I had to work so Shep and his Dad took in the game on a perfect summer night for football. One of those nights that make you know why Texans love their football so much. The 2012 season has begun. The Pats are 1-0. It's all good.

And that's what Pats fans should focus on after the preseason opener... the good. There are always problems in the preseason. They are not really problems till Week 1. Or more like Week 5. The offense only scored seven points. Brady got whacked from behind. Nate Solder looked a little uncertain in stepping in for Matt Light. Brandon Lloyd is wearing 85 and at times playing like it. Brady got whacked from behind. Problems. But when you are coming off yet another run to the Super Bowl the odds are those problems will mostly get solved by September 10.

It's more relevant to look at the question marks coming into training camp and see how they are starting to be answered.

Q. Are the Pats two stud first-round picks Chandler Jones and D'onta Hightower good enough to make an impact right away?

A. Sure looks like it. Jones was everywhere. He only recorded one tackle but he disrupted many more plays. His size and speed looked NFL caliber. Hightower had one tackle (a crusher) and assisted on three others. He may not start, but he will see lots of playing time at key moments.

Q. Can Ridley and Vereen build on the promise from last year?

A. Once again... sure looks like it. Ridley averaged five yards a carry and looked very quick. His longest run was only five yards. That will have to get better. Shane Vereen, who was hurt most of last year, picked up 64 yards on 11 carries. His longest run was also only about five yards, but he made a few Saints miss on several rushes. And both backs held on to the ball. That is key.

Q. Is the team's depth -- a key to surviving the long season and finishing near the top -- improved from last year? A year that had pretty good depth.

A. Yes. Backup QB Brian Hoyer is clearly ready to play the role of Matt Cassel if he should be called upon. But more importantly the depth in the secondary is greatly improved. Free agent Steve Gregory -- a seven-year vet from San Diego -- looked solid in the middle of the field with Chung. Each had a nice pick in the red zone. McCourty and Arrington started at corner and didn't give up many big plays. The depth came with second-year corner Ras-I Dowling and rookie safety Tavon Wilson. Both played well and seem to have moved ahead of returning players Ihedigbo, Moore, Brown, Barrett, and Ventrone. 12-year vet Will Allen also looked good and could provide some veteran leadership to a young group. Then again I thought that about Joe Addai too.

Q. Can Belichick -- after all these years -- do what most coaches can't do and keep control of his team and stop them from tuning him out?

A. Do you have to ask? No one does it better. I saw the Pats on Day 2 of training camp. There was a lot of rust as you would expect. Less than two weeks later the coaching staff has the team well on its way to being ready for another season and another run at Lombardi #4.

Next up a game against Mad Dog Vick and the Eagles on the 20th. The second preseason game is always a big one in deciding position battles. It's a Monday night summer game at Gillette. And I don't work Mondays. Let the games begin.