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Studs and duds from Patriots Week 2 preseason win over Eagles
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- Studs and duds from Patriots Week 2 preseason win over Eagles
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The New England Patriots closed the curtains on a full week of competition against the Philadelphia Eagles in Saturday's 24-21 preseason win.
Both teams met for two scheduled joint training camp practices this week, and they finished the slate off with a Week 2 preseason meeting at Gillette Stadium. It wasn't all sugar and rainbows from the Patriots , who committed too many penalties and struggled generating a consistent pass rush.
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However, they made the plays they needed to make late in the game to pull away with the victory. Rookie quarterback Behren Morton completed a 37-yard touchdown pass on a game-winning drive, and rookie edge rusher Quintayvious Hutchins sealed the deal with a strip sack.
Here are the studs and duds from the game:
STUD: CB Kindle Vildor
Kindle Vildor has been one of the most productive cornerbacks in training camp practices and the preseason. In Saturday's game, he had a potential interception called back on a penalty away from the ball. He then followed that play up with a sequence where he forced two pass breakups to help get the Patriots' defense off the field.
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STUD: WR Efton Chism III
Patriots wideout Efton Chism III tied for a team-high four receptions, while also tacking on 45 yards during his time on the field. Chism is a highly intelligent wideout who consistently creates separation for the quarterback. His smooth route-running and YAC abilities make him a burgeoning monster in the slot.
Everybody in New England thinks the same thing every time he catches a pass: Julian Edelman , Danny Amendola —is that you?
DUD: Edge rush
The Patriots couldn't generate a consistent pass rush in Saturday's game against the Eagles. That's discouraging considering the edge rush continues to be one of the team's biggest weaknesses. Philly had an answer every time with the quarterback rolling out and dumping off a short pass to the running back in the flats.
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STUD: RB Lan Larison
Lan Larison made sure to remind the world that he has a legitimate shot of making the Patriots' 53-man roster as the all-purpose Swiss army knife running back. The second-year rusher had some powerful runs that moved the chains throughout the game. He finished on the ground with nine carries for 33 yards, while also racking up three catches for 41 yards.
DUD: OL James Hudson
Despite coming away with the victory, the Patriots led the game with seven penalties, including two holding calls on veteran offensive lineman James Hudson. Those are the kinds of back-breaking mental blunders that won't sit well with Mike Vrabel and the rest of the coaching staff.
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STUD: QB Behren Morton
Patriots rookie quarterback Behren Morton had himself a game.
The former Texas Tech standout contributed as a punter on special teams along with serving as the second-half quarterback, who engineered a 73-yard game-winning drive against the Eagles. He completed a 37-yard pass to wideout Nick DeGennaro to put the Patriots ahead late in the fourth quarter. There is a calming presence about Morton in the pocket that you typically don't see from rookie quarterbacks.
DUD: LB Chad Muma
The fact that Chad Muma was playing in the fourth quarter wasn't a great sign for the veteran linebacker. It initially looked as if he had moved up the depth chart as high as No. 3 at linebacker, behind Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss . However, he clearly struggled in Saturday's game against the Eagles, and to make matters worse, he went down with an injury late in the contest.
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STUD: WR Kyle Williams
Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams showed off his speed for a second straight week. This time, he burned an Eagles defender and hauled in a perfect deep pass from backup quarterback Tommy DeVito for a 69-yard touchdown. Williams might not be ready for action as an every-down receiver, but he is a big play waiting to happen every time he's on the field.
STUD: WR Nick DeGennaro
Rookie wideout Nick DeGennaro had an impressive showing, tying Efton Chism III for a team-high four receptions for 61 yards and one touchdown. His biggest play came late in the fourth quarter when he hauled in a 37-yard touchdown pass from rookie quarterback Behren Morton to put the Patriots ahead.
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STUD: EDGE Quintayvious Hutchins
It would be a huge help for the Patriots' defense if rookie edge defender Quintayvious Hutchins could emerge as an early contributor. He helped ice Saturday's game against the Eagles by strip-sacking quarterback Cole Payton. For what he lacks in size and raw power, he makes up for with speed and athleticism. His ability to bend on the edge and run past the blocker is something the Patriots hope to see more of in the coming weeks.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Studs and duds from Patriots Week 2 preseason win over Eagles
