Originally Posted by PatsFanInVa

Okay, folks, preseason reality is a week away!

I have a question for the preseason elite tracking corps hereabouts.... what do you think we get to actually see in these games?

1) I know everybody's going vanilla with their offensive and defensive packages, that's a given. That still leaves room for two TEs and an H-back in the mix... think we'll get to see Mills and Thomas in that set, along with either a lesser prospect, or maybe Graham (assuming Watson gets kept out most of the game?)

No Mills, he hasn't practiced enough. No Graham either for that matter. It will be interesting to see if Watson's blocking has improved. I'm less concerned with watching O'Callaghan steamrolling victims then with seeing how he coordinates with the other OL and handles NFL pass rushers. Same for Britt and co.

2) O'Callaghan should be pretty easy to evaluate, compared to some others. We should get a good look at him in both run and pass situations... but even if he does level a buncha second and third stringers, what is the ceiling on what that can be taken to "mean"?

3) The shiniest new toys, Maroney and Jackson, may or may not both make it into this first game... but when they're both ready, do you keep them in for the experience, or hold them out for the injury risk? Again, we know we won't see the first team in for that long... but we're thin at receiver and Corey might not be a guy you want to count on staying un-injured (jury's still out... but that leaves us with ONE guy who could carry the load.) So do we get to see these guys much, or do the Pats drop it down one notch on the depth chart?

I'm expecting a lot of Evans and Cobbs. They rode Pass hard last pre-season and those two are on the same bubble ride this year.

4) Any other ideas of what we do and don't get to see?

I expect we'll see Mike Vic make our bubbas look a little silly as he hobbles around the field against our vanilla defense. Schaub should have a lot of fun tossing the rock. I do expect Maroney to give us some highlight moves, Jackson won't play, Andrews should break at least one sweet return. Mike Wright is going to look very good.

Inquiring minds and all that,

PFnV

Originally Posted by PatsFanInVa

Okay, folks, preseason reality is a week away!

I have a question for the preseason elite tracking corps hereabouts.... what do you think we get to actually see in these games?

1) I know everybody's going vanilla with their offensive and defensive packages, that's a given. That still leaves room for two TEs and an H-back in the mix... think we'll get to see Mills and Thomas in that set, along with either a lesser prospect, or maybe Graham (assuming Watson gets kept out most of the game?)

2) O'Callaghan should be pretty easy to evaluate, compared to some others. We should get a good look at him in both run and pass situations... but even if he does level a buncha second and third stringers, what is the ceiling on what that can be taken to "mean"?



3) The shiniest new toys, Maroney and Jackson, may or may not both make it into this first game... but when they're both ready, do you keep them in for the experience, or hold them out for the injury risk? Again, we know we won't see the first team in for that long... but we're thin at receiver and Corey might not be a guy you want to count on staying un-injured (jury's still out... but that leaves us with ONE guy who could carry the load.) So do we get to see these guys much, or do the Pats drop it down one notch on the depth chart?

4) Any other ideas of what we do and don't get to see?

Inquiring minds and all that,

PFnV