FOXBORO -- Every Friday Tom E. Curran, Mike Giardi and Phil Perry will take your Patriots questions on Twitter and answer them as a joint mailbag -- or a Friday Bag, as they call it.
Got questions? Tweet the guys using the hashtag #FridayBag. But for now, have at the latest edition of the Bag.
TC: Good question, James. I would presume so, although like I said to Q up there, this could be a game in which it’s three-steps and gone, three-steps and gone for a majority of the offensive possessions. It’s always interesting to try and project what they’ll do with their offensive game plan then see if it matches up when the game begins and what they adjust to.
https://twitter.com/BruceNV/status/776605713032282113
TC: I imagine they’re trying, Bruce. You maybe saw where I spoke to him on Thursday. Struck me as a guy who just wants to get on the field and do something to help as opposed to a player who’s nursing something until it’s 100 percent as I initially suggested.
MG: Elliot, when I’m on my game, I usually bring peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to the actual game. Not a massive fan of press box food, although the Pats do have some solid clam chowder that I will get when the weather begins to turn. If my skinny ass is sitting on the couch at home, I’m probably eschewing food for a cold beverage.
MG: T.J….no (kidding. Man are you so damn sensitive). Sure I’d be concerned. Heck, I still am because young, unproven QBs do have a tendency to be a bit of a roller coaster. Matt Cassel was. Tom Brady was (see his start in Miam in 2001) Will Jimmy avoid that? I doubt it. This is a fierce defensive line he faces this week. Thursday, it could be Watt and Clowney coming off the edges. The following week it’s a Jets defensive front 7 that may have had some issues last night but tortured Andy Dalton for the better part of the season opener. Plus, the more tape teams have on Garoppolo, the more wrinkles he’ll see and obviously, he doesn’t have the same experience as Brady has to see and immediately diagnose said wrinkles.
MG: Pete, there’s nothing deplorable about you, and thank you for your service. You’re a hell of an American. As for the tackles, they were fine in Arizona, although I’m not sure I’m allowed to say that when you consider gave up a pair of sacks. But whatever. I saw what I saw and I continue to think he’s going to be much better this year. That theory will get put to the test Sunday though. Cameron Wake is back and he looked explosive in the opener. On the plus side, Olivier Vernon isn’t there on the opposite side to cause havoc, and Mario Williams - who I can’t stand - suffered a concussion in week 1 and may not be able to go this week.
MG: Sharks and Grant, thanks for checking in. I combine your two questions because I still look at tackle as a place the Pats could try and upgrade, or at least find another body. That said, right now, unless there’s someone available that I don’t know about, it appears the biggest name that could be on the block is former BC lineman Gosder Cherilus, now in Tampa. That shouldn’t excite you. Plenty of weeks ahead for maybe another body or two to find his way onto the market, but for now, hold on tight.
PP: If Hightower misses time -- and it appears as though he will -- expect to see a good amount of Jonathan Freeny. The team trusts him as one of their off-the-ball linebackers and just signed him to an extension. He saw a lot of action last season when Hightower and Collins were out with their respective health issues. Shea McClellin, rookie Elandon Roberts, and perhaps Barkevious Mingo could all be in line to see more time on the defensive side of things as well. Mingo was used primarily as a special-teamer in Week 1 and Roberts was inactive.
PP: Always hard to say, and Hightower's injury could throw a bit of a wrench into things on his end. The team did recently clear some cap space, however, and there are plenty of deals to be worked out. Collins, Jabaal Sheard and Malcolm Butler all could be in play for extensions. It wouldn't shock me if Sheard was the next domino to fall. He's the team's top player at a vital position, and they may want to get him locked up long-term before he has a career year. Collins may be willing to play out his rookie deal because he could end up with a top-of-the-market contract, and Butler is a restricted free agent after this season so there's nothing forcing the Patriots to come up with a new deal for him in the short-term.