Pats - Saints preseason game: 5 areas to watch for

[PatsFans.com Article]

Pats - Saints preseason game: 5 areas to watch for
By: John Morgan

Preseason games are completely different from regular season games. Rather than keys to win it's more like key players to look at regardless of what the final score ends up being....

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[midwestpatsfan]

Top 5 things you are looking forward to seeing in tonights game.

What/Who are you most excited about seeing in tonight's game?
1. NO INJURIES
2. Chandler Jones/Donta Hightower
3. Tavon Wilson
4. Ryan Mallett
5. The RB's

What about the rest of you?

 

[PatsSox363804]

Re: Top 5 things you are looking forward to seeing in tonights game.

That's basically my list but I want to see what the RB's do more than Mallett. Very interested to see Bolden after hearing his camp reviews.

 

[BradyManny]

Re: Top 5 things you are looking forward to seeing in tonights game.

I'd agree with the top 3, definitely looking at the rookies.

If Brady plays, then I'm looking to see how the offense performs with this patchwork OL.

Otherwise, I agree the RBs will be something to keep an eye on.

 

[Sicilian]

Re: Top 5 things you are looking forward to seeing in tonights game.

1) All the rookies

2) Depth charts and roles in the secondary

3) The new WRs

4) Who gets the snaps at RB

5) Hoyer vs. Mallett

I'd put the OL on there, but I'm fairly certain we're going to have at least one of Mankins, Vollmer, and/or Waters by opening day, so I'm not going to read too much into this group's performance tonight.

 

[Gumby]

Re: Top 5 things you are looking forward to seeing in tonights game.

What/Who are you most excited about seeing in tonight's game?
1. NO INJURIES
2. Chandler Jones/Donta Hightower
3. Tavon Wilson
4. Ryan Mallett
5. The RB's

What about the rest of you?

Also agree with top 3 (albeit Wilson is maybe just as easy 4/5.)

Mallett -meh he is 3QB. cheap thrills to validate that next year's #2 has progressed.

RBs - they all seem good. It will be interesting to know who will be top dog; but not in my top 5.

4. Lloyd - I want to see him in real game situations and how his coordination w/ TB is working out.

5. KR - who this will be seems a pretty open question (PR less so but I would prefer to lump it in here too).

other near misses along w/ the RBs -
- OL workaround yeah not going to be what we will see in game 1; but still interesting to see what philosophy as to who is backup for what position.

- CBs - I think it is settled until injuries come calling as to who is L/R/slot (Ras/McC/Arr); but still will be nice to see who is pushing them for a spot.

 

[Nunchucks]

Re: Top 5 things you are looking forward to seeing in tonights game.

Pass rush from the DEs
Man to man coverage from the DBs
Running backs

 

[randomk1]

Re: Top 5 things you are looking forward to seeing in tonights game.

1. Tavon Wilson - i've been slowly leaning towards this pick more and more
2. Jones
3. Hightower
4. Ridley/Vereen/Bolden
5. Rest of the secondary

 

[PatsGirl2011]

Re: Top 5 things you are looking forward to seeing in tonights game.

All I care about is NO INJURIES!

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

Re: Top 5 things you are looking forward to seeing in tonights game.

If I were to watch the game (not local and it's not being picked up nationally).

1. No Injuries to key startes/backups
2. Brandon Lloyd
3. Seeing how Gronk looks with his Ankle
4. Can the OLine compete
5. Defense. I expect them to look bad (as Saints O is as elite as ours), but hoping to see signs of life

On a side note, this begins Brian Hoyer's interview process for a starting job...do well and get us a 2nd round pick

 

[The_Riddler]

Re: Top 5 things you are looking forward to seeing in tonights game.

1. Jones/Hightower
2. Ras-I
3. Mallett
4. Tavon Wilson
5. The RBs

 

[neuronet]

Re: Top 5 things you are looking forward to seeing in tonights game.

1. No new injuries
2. Our secondary (Ras I, McCourtey)
3. RBs (imagine if we had a true downhill powerful back?)
4. Hightower
5. Gronk!!!

 

[neuronet]

Re: Top 5 things you are looking forward to seeing in tonights game.

Is there anywhere this is streaming that I can watch it live, stuck down in Durham NC?

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Re: Top 5 things you are looking forward to seeing in tonights game.

In meaningless games it's one thing and one thing only.......

NO INJURIES x5

 

[neuronet]

Re: Top 5 things you are looking forward to seeing in tonights game.

Patsfan in Pa, that picture...OMG....it is hilarious...the awkwardness, the love, the tattoos....amazing pic.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Re: Top 5 things you are looking forward to seeing in tonights game.

Mostly interested in seeing first team defense, which due to age and new faces should largely be out there at least in rotation relatively in tact (except for the missing) for a quarter or more. Hopefully Brees is out there for a quarter too. Not sure what to expect on offense with the OL situation making it hard to assess everything around it. Don't expect Tom to be in there for more than a series or two. But the new/old WR's and the TE's should be in for at least a couple of more series with Hoyer.

After that it's just watching the rotations and usage on D to see how some of the young depth roster battle guys are performing individually. Will be hard to even critically assess the RB's due to our OL situation and the fact that NO will be into backups and depth. And watching ST units and hoping someone opens eyes.

I imagine the second half will be something we will not see past pre season from either team on both sides of the ball. Hammer time.

 

[Mix]

Re: Top 5 things you are looking forward to seeing in tonights game.

1) RBs - I'm expecting a big year from Ridley so I want to see him run well and how Bolden does in a game situation.

2) WRs - How comfortable Lloyd and Brady look together and what Gaffney/Stallworth have left.

3) Secondary - Can McCourty bounce back and can Dowling continue to build on a strong camp. Also how comfortable Wilson/Gregory look in this defense.

4) O-Line - The health of the o-line is my biggest worry with this team right now so hopefully the guys that are out there playing can show something.

5) Hightower/Jones - They sound like they are having good camps so I want to see that continue into the games.

 

[mgteich]

Re: Top 5 things you are looking forward to seeing in tonights game.

I want to see Bolden and Vereen.

We know what we have in Ridley and Woodhead.

 

[Kontradiction]

Re: Top 5 things you are looking forward to seeing in tonights game.

1. How Vince looks at his new weight.

2. How the patchwork OL performs.

3. Jones and Hightower.

4. Lloyd and Gaffney.

5. How the secondary looks.

 

[Big-T]

Re: Top 5 things you are looking forward to seeing in tonights game.

Brandon Bolden - haven't seen him play before so it will be good to watch if he lives up to the hype.

Tavon Wilson/Steve Gregory - Can they strengthen the secondary?

Chandler Jones - Just how JPP like is he? I'm not expecting him to be elite, but Bushrod's comment intrigued me.

Ras-I Dowling - will he strengthen the secondary and help the pass rush with his coverage ability.

Shane Vereen - I liked him in college so seeing him play well for the Patriots would be fantastic.