Despite a 24-21 victory over the Eagles in their second preseason game, head coach Mike Vrabel was candid about the state of the Patriots roster following Saturday night's win at Gillette Stadium.

The money quote from Vrabel's post-game press conference that'll be a media talking point this week was the Pats head coach sharing his feelings about his team's current roster depth. When asked by ESPN's Mike Reiss about his thought process behind resting his starters in the preseason games so far, Vrabel was direct in his response to reporters late Saturday night.

"I do not think we have a very deep team. We have to make sure that we are preparing our football team and that we are doing everything that we can to keep our best players available," Vrabel said. "If that means playing Thursday as part of preparation, then that is what we will do. I have not made that decision yet."

As we discussed in Game Observations, the Patriots head coach may have been trying to motivate the backups participating in these preseason games to step it up. Vrabel seemed frustrated all week that the Eagles controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball when it was backups vs. backups, both in the two joint practices and Saturday night's game. Philly's loaded depth in the trenches also caught the eye of EVP of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf.

"Philadelphia has had a lot of good drafts in a row here. Their backup defensive line and backup offensive line are somewhere we'd like to get to," Wolf told the McCourty twins on the game broadcast.

Clearly, bolstering roster depth is on the mind of both the head coach and top personnel executive in New England. With roster cuts approaching (Aug. 30), there are a few different avenues to improve that depth before the start of the regular season. Street free agents are still available (Shaq Thompson, DaQuan Jones), and the Pats can look for talent on the waiver wire and in trades. Player-for-player swaps involving NFL-caliber talent who might not have a role on their current teams can materialize when camps break.

From this perspective, three positions stand out where depth additions could help the Patriots, with the understanding that major roster additions or total overhauls of the roster at this stage of the offseason are unlikely. Yes, it would be nice if the Patriots could pluck a double-digit sack artist to put on the edge of their defense but that seems far-fetched. Instead, three thinner positions stand out:​

• Offensive line: The Patriots have lost three backups to injuries in OT Marcus Bryant, top interior backup Ben Brown, and G Andrew Rupcich. Although they already brought in veteran C/G Greg Van Roten, the interior offensive line backups have struggled in joint practices and preseason games.
• Off-Ball Linebacker: You could make the case that this is the Pats top need in terms of depth behind starters Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss. Although they've had some good moments, the Patriots haven't gotten consistent play from their backup linebackers, especially vet Chad Muma, who was pushing to be the third linebacker earlier in camp. K.J. Britt? Rookies Namdi Obiazor or Khalil Jacobs? They could look to add.
• Defensive tackle: This one is surprising given where we thought the defensive line was heading into camp. Although they're still anchored by studs Christian Barmore and Milton Williams, and DT Cory Durden is solid, the Colts and Eagles ran the ball well in the opening halves of the first two preseason games. I was hoping to see more from Joshua Farmer, Leonard Taylor III, Eric Gregory, and Jeremiah Pharms as run defenders than we have this summer (Farmer has looked better in practice).

The Patriots have one more tune-up game Thursday night vs. the Browns before they must trim the roster to 53 players on Aug. 30. As is commonplace in the NFL, the 53 players New England takes to their season-opener in Seattle might not all be in camp with the team. Plus, we'll see if QB Drake Maye and the starters play at all in the preseason with only two more practices before the Patriots head to Cleveland.

Here are quick-hit film notes and advanced stats from the Patriots preseason win over the Eagles on Saturday night after further review.

Quick-Hit Film Notes From Pats-Eagles After Further Review

Offense

- Rookie QB Behren Morton had a good showing in his second preseason game after receiving very few reps in the joint practices, which is impressive. Morton had six 'plus' plays to only three minus throws/decisions, including plus plays on third down (three), fourth down, and the game-winning touchdown to WR Nick DeGennaro. Morton mostly threw accurately, on time, and saw the field well. It was against backups in the second half but the rookie's quick release and processing/decision-making are a solid foundation to stick on an NFL roster.

- Backup QB Tommy DeVito had some ups and downs again this week with a turnover-worthy play (dropped INT), assignment issues in protections (one resulting in a sack), and he passed up open receivers up the seams twice. DeVito showed off his athleticism on scrambles of 36 and seven yards while he threw a dime on a 69-yard TD to WR Kyle Williams. DeVito's big-play ability has been a pleasant surprise.

- First-rounder Caleb Lomu looked more comfortable at left tackle, his college position, while watching live. However, a closer look at the film showed more inconsistencies. Lomu allowed a sack and three hurries with back-to-back pressures on the same T/E stunt, with the second rep ending in a sack before halftime. The rookie did a better job passing off a stunt in the third quarter (3rd QTR 7:35) but his tendency to lunge into blocks and commit to a two-hand punch leaves him overextended, sapping his ability to recover. Lomu had plus blocks on a frontside kick-out (10-yard run) and backside reach but it's been an inconsistent start overall for the rookie.

- Sixth-rounder Dametrius Crownover essentially went wire-to-wire after an early injury to OT Marcus Bryant, playing both right (55 snaps) and left (13) tackle. Crownover's ability to generate movement stood out on combination blocks and he did enough on a backside cutoff on a 20-yard run. The rookie plays a bit upright, which can let defenders get underneath his pads and sap his power, but Crownover showed promise as a run blocker. That said, he also allowed a sack and was called for a false start, with the pass pro still a bit raw at this stage. I wonder if Crownover, a former tight end, could push for tackle-eligible snaps.

- WR Kyle Williams continued to look a cut above the defenders he was going up against with a 69-yard TD (go route) and a drawn illegal contact where he separated deep on a double move. Williams also was wide-open downfield on a deep post route on DeVito's long scramble but the pocket was too muddy for the Pats QB to let it fly. There's still some seasoning needed in Williams's game but the deep speed and separation ability are clearly there.

- WR Efton Chism III continues to remind me of Patriots slot receivers of old on his 24-yard crosser (third down) and while ducking underneath a tackle attempt to turn a short gain into a first down (8 yards). The tackle avoidance was eerily reminiscent of moves Julian Edelman used to put on defenders. I think that Chism has been watching the Patriots Hall of Famer on film.

- RB Lan Larison had a "gritty" performance as described by Vrabel. He took a screen pass for 28 yards, turned a covered check-down into a third-down conversion by breaking a tackle, and plowed ahead on three successful short-yardage runs. Larison's blemishes came in blitz pickup, where he allowed two hurries, but he proved to be a handful to bring down as a ball carrier and once again flashed in the gun-run/pass game.

- Rookie RB Jam Miller gained 20.9 yards after contact on a 20-yard run where he was able to cut back in outside zone and run through an arm tackle to get through the line. Miller shows good vision in zone schemes and contact balance to run through contact. RB Hassan Haskins also ground out a third-down conversion and a 4-yard run that wasn't well blocked.

- TE Jack Westover caught a 13-yard dig, threw a nice base block on a 6-yard run, and was open up the seam for a big play that DeVito turned down. TE Tanner Arkin continued to struggle as a lead blocker at fullback, getting over his skis a few times. I'd like to see more in-line blocking from Arkin at some point.

- The interior line play from LG Mekhi Butler, C Jacob Rizy, and RG James Hudson III is what it was. Rizy threw a nice block on Larison's 28-yard screen and Hudson worked up to the second level well on two positive runs (20 yards, 10 yards). But it ultimately fell below NFL standards. The Pats need to get new addition Greg Van Roten up to speed and hope that top backup Ben Brown doesn't have a long-term injury.

- QB Pressures: Lomu (4 - sack, three hurries), Butler (3 - QB hit, two hurries), Rizy (2 - sack, hurry), Crownover (2 - sack, hurry), Hudson (sack),  Larison (two hurries), Michalski (QB hit), Hasty (hurry), Dalcourt (hurry).

Defense

- The Patriots allowed gains of 28, 20 (TD), 16, and 14 yards on passes to running backs in the flats on Saturday night and each one was a little bit different. Although it wasn't the starters, covering the flats will likely be an area of emphasis for the coaching staff in the preseason finale. Here's how I saw them:

• 28-yard completion on mesh-rail concept: Obiazor picked off in man coverage
• 20-yard TD on mesh-rail: coverage bust, nobody had the RB in man coverage
• 16-yard completion on slant-flat: my guess is CB Kobee Minor thought he was matching the backside routes while S Dell Pettus zone-dropped in cover two (bust)
• 14-yard completion on curl/flat: good blitz-beater by Philly into a Pats fire zone

- CB Kindle Vildor might've locked himself into a roster spot as a backup boundary corner with three pass breakups in one drive (one negated by penalty). Vildor showed excellent route anticipation to break up passes on a slant, dig, and curl (third down). He also had a coverage stop when he tackled a speed-out short of the sticks on third down. Vildor got picked on a little bit in the situational period in Thursday's joint practice but has come on strong lately.

- S John Saunders Jr. continues to be a camp favorite of mine with four 'plus' plays in coverage by jumping a boot-crosser, sifting through threats in robber coverage (third down), breaking up an out covering TE Eli Stowers, and buzzing the flat to limit Philly to a short gain (4 yards). Saunders has some work to do against the run and screen game (three minus plays) but he could be a useful third safety in passing situations.

- CB Karon Prunty played a team-high 50 snaps on defense and didn't allow a completion into his coverage. Prunty squeezed out routes well on the outside, erasing one completely that led to a sack (Gainer). He also played to his help well and Philly's backup receivers never tested him deep. There was one shallow crosser that Prunty probably should've gotten his eyes to the frontside to cut off but that's nitpicking a second straight solid performance by the rookie. He continues to make his case to stick around.

- Second-rounder Gabe Jacas had some struggles (37 snaps). He was slow to diagnose play-action, allowing Dalton to extend, got kicked out/widened by RT Markel Bell on an 18-yard run to his side, and was called for a roughing the passer penalty. Jacas's lone pressure was an unblocked rush out of a simulated pressure (QB hit). He's got a ways to go as a play processor.

- DT Leonard Taylor III was the Patriots most effective defensive tackle. Taylor logged a key fourth-down pressure that saved a conversion with a swipe-rip rush over the right guard and had two run stuffs. He also got early penetration to force the back to bounce to the next gap on another run stuff.

- DTs Joshua Farmer and Eric Gregory were both up-and-down. Gregory had a nice run stuff on a third-and-short run but also got reached by the center on a gain of 18 yards and had some trouble anchoring against duo/combos. Farmer had similar issues against dou/combo blocks but logged a run stuff and flashed good power to bull rush C Willie Lampkin. DT Isaiah Iton struggled with four 'minus' plays in the run game and DT Jeremiah Pharms logged an unblocked pressure but was mostly quiet – they need someone from this group to emerge or to look for outside reinforcements.

- LB Chad Muma might be playing through an injury that caused him to leave the game late but it's been back-to-back shaky preseason games for him. Muma missed two tackles for combined gains of 30 yards and got walled off at the second level on runs of 18, seven, and six yards. He did make a nice third-down stop by sniffing out a screen late in the contest. LB K.J. Britt was also inconsistent, especially in the screen game, where he misplayed two 14-yard gains, including one screen that ended up being a touchdown.

- Rookie LB Namdi Obiazor got picked off in man coverage on a 28-yard gain and couldn't rally to the flat fast enough on a 14-yard gain but his pass breakup in the end zone was nice. Obiazor was badly out-leveraged playing the tight end in man-to-man out of a condensed formation and played his trail technique perfectly, getting himself in position to punch the ball out of E.J. Jenkins's hands once the pass arrived – good stuff.

- EDGE Amari Gainer had some good moments with three 'plus' plays on a stunt sack, run stuff (edge set), and he pressured McKee on a bootleg. Although he's a little stiff in his movements, Gainer looks the part walking off the bus and could be an interesting player to develop.

- Rookie EDGE Quintayvious Hutchins flashed twice in the pass rush, ending the game with a strip-sack by using a "ghost" rush to dip underneath Eagles RT Cameron Williams and beating LT Fred Johnson's block early in the game on a nice swipe+rip rush. Hutchins has some juice in the pass rush and can contribute on special teams.

- QB Pressures: Gainer (3 - sack, QB hit, hurry), Hutchins (strip sack), Taylor (2 - QB hit, hurry), Jacas (QB hit), Wilson (QB hit), Pharms (hurry). Run stuffs: two each (Taylor, Gregory, Brown), one each (Swinson, Iton, Rogers, Luketa, Gainer, Muma).

- Coverage: Obiazor (6/4/55 yards/PBU), Muma (3/3/50 yards), Minor (2/2/30 yards/TD), Dial (2/2/20 yards), Britt (1/1/14 yards), Butler (1/1/10 yards), Saunders (4/2/9 yards/PBU), Crossley (1/1/6 yards), Vildor (3/1/6 yards/2 PBUs), Pettus (1/1/4 yards), Jacobs (1/1/3 yards), Prunty (2/0/0), team (20-yard TD, coverage bust).

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