New England Patriots
. "I felt like I relaxed a little after the first play," Mallett said. "I was just excited to be playing football," Gabbert said. Gabbert completed 9 of 16 passes for 85 yards and the Jaguars managed just three field goals on his six series. Mallett was 12 for 19 for 164 yards and threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to another third-rounder,
Stevan Ridley, who also ran for two 1-yard scores.
Two other rookies, both running backs, had productive games for the Patriots. Ridley from LSU ran 16 times for 64 yards and caught seven passes for 47 yards.
Richard Medlin, a rookie free agent from Fayetteville, had two 2-yard touchdown runs.
Many top players played sparingly — or not at all.
On Mallett's first series, he completed 6 of 8 passes for 79 yards, setting up Ridley's 1-yard scoring run.
Gabbert led a decent opening drive, moving the team 57 yards in 12 plays. Notes: Richard Murphy led Jacksonville's rushers with 43 yards in 7 carries. The significance of the moment wasn't lost on Dane Fletcher. On Thursday night, Fletcher sported the green dot on his helmet and handled the bulk of the defensive play-calling duties during New England's exhibition opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Dane Fletcher pressures Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert during the first quarter Thursday night at Gillette Stadium. Now, with Spikes sidelined by injuries to start the 2011 season, Fletcher continues to take advantage. New England scored on the ensuing drive and ultimately scored 47 of the game's final 53 points.
Right place, right time, Fletcher suggested when asked about the play. In the second quarter, Fletcher practically sprinted past Jacksonville center
Jason Spitz while invading the backfield and dropped running back
Deji Karim for a 2-yard loss.
”
-- Patriots linebacker Dane Fletcher
"I like to hit," said Fletcher. Fortunately, Fletcher didn't appear to make many bad decisions. Fellow linebacker
Tracy White requested a shoutout as he departed the room (and Fletcher obliged).
The Patriots kinda like Fletcher there, too.