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Felger & Mazz On: Pats' Final Preseason Game

Felger & Mazz are extremely concerned about the Patriots defense entering the 2010 season. Injuries, lack of experience, and poor pre-season performance leave them with more questions than answers. The guys put the current state of the defense in perspective, discuss what kind of message Bill Belichick plans to send to his team, and preview tonight's final preseason game.

Felger: "We gotta keep reminding ourselves that this is not the 03-04 Patriots, with Bruschi, Vrabel, Harrison...Go down the line, it's a bunch of young kids on defense who are learning what it means to be pros. If it's 03-04, tonight means absolutely nothing because you know come the real game, Bruschi, Vrabel and Harrison will dial it up and flip a switch...Week 17 [of the 2009 season] was an indication of the trend line this team is on. Its the same thing tonight: 'We embarrassed ourselves in game 3, Belichick made us play into the 4th- a lot of us starters, which is an embarrassment in and of itself- and how do we respond? Do we respond?'"

Mazz: "Do you think we will get some read as to just how pissed Belichick was after last week's game? The longer the starters are out there, doesn't that give you an indication that he's really trying to send a message to the team? If they're out there for more than a series or two, doesn't that tell you 'Boy he was really pissed, he's not gonna let up on this team, he's really gonna ride 'em hard.' I want to see, particularly as it pertains to the defense, how he approaches that. Brady should not be on the field too long tonight."

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