Last we saw the New England Patriots, they were watching the Baltimore Ravens accepting the AFC Championship trophy on the Patriots' home turf, leaving a really bad taste in everyone's mouth - and while the first preseason game isn't exactly Aqua Fresh, it ain't exactly a lawn sausage either.
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| Zach Sudfeld's big shot comes on Friday night |
Even though the Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles have been practicing against each other all week, it should still be a spirited effort, and not just among the players fighting for spots on the depth chart as more than just a few Eagles players chided the Patriots' for coming into these practices trying to "Bully" them...
Well...yeah, isn't that what they're supposed to do?
Just the fact that second year corner Brandon Boykin felt compelled to bring it up is telling enough, but when he said that he could speak for entire Eagles' team, well, that's another story altogether.
"I can speak for the whole team," Boykin said. "I felt like, honestly they came out with this attitude to try to bully us, and even though it's practice it's always still a game tempo. I think as a team, and obviously I can speak for myself, I wanted to try to set the tone on myself as an aggressive person and just make plays."
Bullies, eh? Belichick's probably kicking back in his hotel suite tonight smoking a big ol' stogie over that one - and if there's any justice in the world the Patriots quarterbacks will throw at Boykin every single time he's on the field on Friday night, showing him what being bullied actually feels like...
...madness, but you know it's going to happen - it's just a matter of how many times and by whom.
But that's just going to be a small sample of what Patriots' fans will be looking for on Friday night at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, along with:
1. Ryan Mallett's playing time:
With 3rd quarterback Tim Tebow impressing more and more each time he takes a snap, it will be interesting to monitor how much playing time he and Ryan Mallett split - for entirely different reasons. For Mallett, a majority of playing time could be serving as an audition for teams that have identified a need to bring in a starting quality quarterback.
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| Mallett and running back Brandon Bolden |
There was much rumor an innuendo this past offseason about teams like Cleveland and Tampa Bay being interested in the 3rd year cannon-armed gigantor out of Arkansas, and both teams are still unsettled at the position - and who knows how things will play out in places like Arizona where they recycle quarterbacks like plastic bottles...
...and as for Tebow, it will be interesting to see how confused the Eagles' defense becomes when he runs the Patriots normal offense, then mixes in the read option - and all in an up-tempo pace.
According to reports, Tebow isn't sure if he will play in the game, but Belichick doesn't leave things ambiguous with his players - he tells them exactly how things are, so Tebow has acclimated himself to the Patriot Way and has learned how much fun it is giving the business to the media members...
2. The Running Game:
Friday night marks the first time that the running backs for the Patriots will have a chance to hit the hole, so look for the Patriots running backs to run like they've been shot out of a cannon.
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| Blount |
Particularly LeGarrette Blount, whose entire game is brutalizing would-be tacklers with his physicality between the tackles. He does it right, punishing the defender by initiating the contact, and it will interesting to see how the Eagles handle his aggressive nature.
We'll also get to see Shane Vereen showing his versatility out of the backfield, in the slot and lined up wide, while Stevan Ridley has some work to do to gain some measure of trust with the football in his hands after letting a couple hit the ground in camp. If he plays, look for the Eagles' defenders to be chopping wood and trying to force him to fumble.
3. Revolving door at right guard:
Speaking of the running game, the Patriots love rushing off right guard, pulling the tight end to lead the way through the gap created by the tackle and guard, but the revolving door at guard diminishes the effectiveness of the "wham" block.
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| Nate Solder, Sebastian Vollmer and Will Svitek |
Things are so thin at the position right now that the team has been using swing tackle Will Svitek in a pinch - and though last year's starter Dan Connolly and massive, versatile guard/tackle Marcus Cannon should be back after recovering from various nicks in time for the regular season, it doesn't help the continuity and calibration between the running backs and the blocking assignments.
4. Climbing the ladder:
The Patriots went big and athletic when rebuilding their receiving corps, and now have the makings of a pretty decent basketball team.
No? Well, at least a good pick up squad: 6' 7" Zach Sudfeld at Center, 6' 6" Rob Gronkowski at power forward, 6' 3" Aaron Dobson at small forward, and a back court consisting of Danny Amendola and Josh Boyce, with Kenbrell Thompkins and Kamar Aiken backing them up...
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| Amendola |
...not to mention decent backups with names like Hoomanawanui, Fells and Ballard - and though Gronk won't be on the field, the rest of them will, and with all having either elite speed or mad hops - or both - the Patriots' passing attack has the potential to be the best they've ever fielded.
It's easy to become enamored with the pass catchers, but it's also important to remember that most of them are rookies and have played in - let's see, give me a minute - oh, right, ZERO games, so the expectation is that they perform in all facets of the game, and not just being a jack-in-the-box. Beating press coverages, running fluid routes, separating from the defender and maintaining blocking assignments will all be on display and can not be overlooked...
...because Belichick evaluates the whole package. That said, with the revolving door at right guard, we're going to see the tight ends pulling into the middle of the offensive line on running plays to open some holes, and perhaps seeing a lead back into the hole - and all eyes are going to be on massive rookie Zach Sudfeld as an inline blocker. If he blocks as well as he catches the football, the kid will be a star.
They've all dominated in the joint practices, so we're looking to see if the curve applies to live action as well.
5. Depth in the middle:
Is the lack of depth in the middle of the Patriots defensive line enough to cause a shift to the 3-4, or will we see the likes of Justin Francis and Marcus Benard lining up opposite the guard?
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| Vellano |
Either way, we won't see much of Vince Wilfork or Tommy Kelly - and that should mean plenty of Marcus Forston, Joe Vellano and Cory Grissom. All reports indicate that all three are having a significant impact on the interior of the line, and we'll be looking to see what kind of penetration, if any, Francis and Benard generate while the others hold the fort against the run.
6. Linebackers everywhere:
The deepest corps on the field is on the second level of the defense, where the starters are set in stone with Brandon Spikes flanked by Jerod Mayo and Dont'a Hightower...so much so that rookie big play sensation Jamie Collins couldn't crack the lineup short of an injury, but he leads a gaggle of depth backers that is truly impressive.
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| Beauharnais |
Patriots' fans can't wait to see Collins' speed and power on display, but it has to be understood that he is just one of several excellent linebackers that will see action on Friday night, and it will be fun to see if a Collins, Steve Beauharnais and A.J. Edds trio emerges at any time. Those three have the best cover skills of the group and all have pass rushing skill as well.
Besides them, there are a bevy of reserves that have been on the Patriots' roster at points in the past year, and so the backup spots will be tightly contested.
7. Secondary Protocol:
Despite handling their business well in the off season, the Patriots secondary is still a work in progress, mostly due to the impending legal battles that cornerback Alfonzo Dennard is facing. That aside, Dennard and Aqib Talib are solid bookends on the corners, but depth needs to emerge.
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| Harmon |
That said, it's worth monitoring both rookie Logan Ryan and reserve Marquis Cole in this contest. Cole has been beastly in the joint practices and looks to be making a push to secure a roster spot - while Ryan is poised to step up in the stead of fragile Ras-I Dowling, who didn't even make the trip to Philadelphia and may find himself out of football soon.
Same with safety Tavon Wilson, who has been lifted in practice in favor of rookie swingman Duron Harmon. Wilson performed well late last season after being benched earlier for repeated errors in deep coverage, so his performance in camp thus far has been disappointing - and he needs to step up in this contest or his time in New England may be in jeopardy.
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