....rather, what I'M looking for in the first preseason game. That was a little presumptuous.
Even though I've been to several practices, there really hasn't been any FULL contact football to see. This will be our first chance to see the Pats go full out. And don't be mistaken, BB went through EIGHT days of double sessions for a reason. He was never happy going 0-4 in last year's preseason, and I get the impression he wasn't happy with where the team was at for the first month either. So I expect to see the starters out there for AT LEAST the first quarter, and most likely one series into the second.
IMHO the most important element for success in pro football is the ability to accelerate. Call it explosion if you want, but when most of the athletes you are playing against have about the same amount of talent, how explosive you are can be the great separator, and that's what I'll be looking for from several players.
Laurence Moroney has been under the radar most of this camp, but has very quietly had his best one. He has been the best runner, best blocker, and best receiver (after Faulk) in camp. I don't think he's missed a practice. Finally he seems like he's ready to take on an NFL season. BTW, I was kind of shocked to read somewhere, where he is STILL only 24 years old. That seems odd in an age when most guys come into the league at 22 and 23. I could also explain his inconsistency, and immaturity at times. He's been better than most people give him credit for, and not nearly as good as his potential. He'll be the starter tomorrow, and like most of you. I'll be looking for him to make decisive cuts and hit the hole hard.
In the same vein, I'll be interested to see how much Fred Taylor looks to have in the tank. Like Moroney, I'll be looking to see if he still can accelerate like he did at his best.
I know its obvious, but the most important thing in my mind when it comes to Brady, will be to see how comfortable he looks in the pocket. Can he still make the first guy miss on a consistent basis? Are there "happy feet"? Will he hang in there till the last second? Quite frankly I don't care if he completes a single pass, but if at the end of his play you can answer those questions, Yes, No, Yes, I'll be a happy man.
I'll be looking at the TEs closely. I want to see who get the reps. I want to see who blocks well. Who lines up at FB/HB? There was a time where I thought they might keep all 4 TEs, but roster spots are just so tight, that I don't think they have the luxury to do that. Dave Thomas' work in camp is going to make it a VERY hard decision. IMHO the Jets will/should grab the loser in this roster fight. Hell Tyson Devryss is better than what they have backing up Dustin Keller.
Given that the Pats will throw to run, they are most likely to keep at LEAST 5 WRs, and probably 6. I think Galloway, Moss, Welker, and Lewis are locks. I think Aikens makes it because of his size, experience and special teams skills. That leaves one slot open for either Edelman or Nunn. These preseason games will go a long way in determining who gets the last slot, and who is on the PS.
On the defensive side, once again the obvious focus will be on the OLBs/outside rushers to see who has that "explosiveness" off the edge. I wonder if Crable will even play, since he just came off the PUP this week. But we should get a good look at Woods, TBC, and Burgess.
I'd love to find out how the secondary is doing, but frankly its very hard to get a good look at the secondary from the TV. Its impossible to get any idea of the presnap coverage. So I guess I'll have to settle for the occasional replay that might give us more than the usual info. As I mentioned in my last practice report on Tuesday, not seeing Springs and Bruschi much has been among my biggest disappointments this preseason...so far. And I very much doubt that I'll see them tomorrow either.
The Eagles have a couple of OLmen out for this game, so I'm hoping that see some good pressure on the QBs. However I doubt you will see much blitzing over 4 guys. Reid and BB are friends and neither wants to see anyone get hurt this early. Also its a better method of evaluating their younger players, when they play straight up. I doubt the Pats blitz more than 5 times, and the Eagles 10 (which is very little since they blitz more on a regular basis.)
I'd like to say that it will be interesting to see who gets most of the LS, since that is a very close competition. But I really don't care.
. More interesting, on PFW in Progress Tuesday, they talked about how BB told them back in 2000, Lonny Paxton's first year, he was locked in a close competition with another guy, whose name they no longer could recall, just that he was from Iowa. At any rate, at the end of camp, there was nothing to distinguish the 2, and it was really a coin flip. It came out on Paxton's side. But I can't help but wonder if some poor guy in Iowa, is thinking late at night, that for a flip of the coin, that for the last 9 years, it could have been him rolling with the Pats.
Finally, I'll look for the question all Patriots nation will be asking, 4-3, or 3-4????
Well those are the things I'll be focusing on, what's yours?
Enjoy the game, I know I will....Its been a LOOOOOONNNNNNGGGGGG time coming.
Eyes on the Prize - what to look for...
Linear Mode
