The Boston Globe's Jerome Solomon reports that quarterback Matt Cassel feels he needs to improve. "There were some [positive] plays, but too much inconsistency on my part," said Cassel, who completed 13 of 26 passes for 229 yards and one touchdown in last night's game at Atlanta. "That's on me. I want to play better. I need to play better."
*The Boston Globe's* Ron Borges offers a piece foregrounding concerns raised in last night's game, while celebrating the performance of rookie running back Laurence Maroney. All in all, it was a game like many exhibition openers, one that made clear problems remain unsolved but strengths exist as well.
Jerome Solomon offers The Globe's Patriots notebook, including analysis of the kicking competition between rookie Stephen Gostkowski and veteran Martin Gramatica.
*Globe* writer Mike Reiss* *sees good things coming from the tag-team running game combining rookie Laurence Maroney and Corey Dillon. The 1-2 punch offered a distinct contrast in styles, with Maroney darting through small creases with sudden surges and Dillon running downhill, powering into defenders with force.
Reiss also offers his daily blog, Reiss' Pieces.
The *Boston Herald's* Jon Tomase offers a piece on the Patriots running game. The defense had a tougher time with the Falcons, however.
Tomase also offers the *Herald's* notebook, with short stories on Cassel, the kickers, and the truth about whether Dillon hurt his arm in the game.
