Players not expected to play tonight vs Eagles

[patsinthesnow]

Players not expected to play tonight - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

Offense
RB Stevan Ridley
RB Jeff Demps
FB Spencer Larsen
WR Jabar Gaffney
TE Daniel Fells
TE Visanthe Shiancoe
TE Jake Ballard (Active/PUP)
T Sebastian Vollmer
T Matt Kopa
T Kyle Hix
T Markus Zusevics (Active/NFI)
G Brian Waters (did not report)

Defense
DT Jonathan Fanene
DT Gerard Warren
DT Myron Pryor (Active/PUP)
LB Tracy White
CB Alfonzo Dennard
S Tavon Wilson
S James Ihedigbo

We could finally see Vereen roll with the 1s and some good amount of Bolden. Ebner could also have extensive time on defense as the #3 safety, that'd be fun to see.

 

[Sicilian]

Do we know what Tavon Wilson's issue is? Is it an injury or just likely a rest with the upcoming schedule?

 

[ClevTrev]

I'm hoping that one Tom Brady is very scarce tonight with only a full sideline role. Hoyer and Mallett need reps, and this is the game to give them the opportunity.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I'd have thought tonight would be a better time to play the starters, let the backups have Tampa and bring the starters back on 9 days rest for PS week 4 and 11 days before week 1.

Curran seems to think the starters (other than Mankins who he thinks will go a series or two) will play well into the second quarter. But Mike Tirico was on WEEI this AM and he said he expects to see little IF ANY of the NE offensive stars tonight. And since they get they benefit of the broadcast meetings he probably knows. Not sure we can run the two TE set... If that's the case it could be a rough night for Hoyer and Mallett. Primarily twos against ones. Which could also lead to a rough night on defense.

 

[Rob0729]

I'd have thought tonight would be a better time to play the starters, let the backups have Tampa and bring the starters back on 9 days rest for PS week 4 and 11 days before week 1.

Curran seems to think the starters (other than Mankins who he thinks will go a series or two) will play well into the second quarter. But Mike Tirico was on WEEI this AM and he said he expects to see little IF ANY of the NE offensive stars tonight. And since they get they benefit of the broadcast meetings he probably knows. Not sure we can run the two TE set... If that's the case it could be a rough night for Hoyer and Mallett. Primarily twos against ones. Which could also lead to a rough night on defense.

Andy Hart also said on 98.5 this morning that he didn't expect Brady to play tonight.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I'm hoping that one Tom Brady is very scarce tonight with only a full sideline role. Hoyer and Mallett need reps, and this is the game to give them the opportunity.

If they use Mankins sparingly and don't play Lloyd, Gronk or Ahern it's not going to be a very enlightening opportunity.

 

[ClevTrev]

I'd have thought tonight would be a better time to play the starters, let the backups have Tampa and bring the starters back on 9 days rest for PS week 4 and 11 days before week 1.

Curran seems to think the starters (other than Mankins who he thinks will go a series or two) will play well into the second quarter. But Mike Tirico was on WEEI this AM and he said he expects to see little IF ANY of the NE offensive stars tonight. And since they get they benefit of the broadcast meetings he probably knows. Not sure we can run the two TE set... If that's the case it could be a rough night for Hoyer and Mallett. Primarily twos against ones. Which could also lead to a rough night on defense.

Under normal (healthy OL) circumstances, you'd be right. With Mankins just getting his conditioning back and Vollmer not available until they practice in Tampa, it's probably best to keep the starters on a light load while using this game to evaluate those who can provide depth, not only on the OL, but in other positions (DB, RB, WR) as well.

 

[Salva135]

With 3 games in 10 days some difficult decisions have to be made. I'd rather see the majority of the offensive 1s gets snaps against the Eagles than the Bucs, but assuming no one plays the Giants game, I don't want to see the offense sit out the last couple of weeks and go into the opener a bit cold.

 

[thenepatsrule]

One more name needs to be added to this list

TIM TEBOW

 

[jefmblrd]

This is going to be a great opportunity to see what the top rookies like Jones and Hightower can do against the Eagles starters--see if they can build on their first game against the Saints. The same goes for players like Bequette and Ebner-who I'm especially interested to see what he can do in the defensive backfield. I'm looking forward to seeing if Vereen can build on his performance and to see what Bolden can do as well. The list goes on, so I won't be upset if Brady and others don't play tonight as I'm really interested in seeing what some of the other guys can do against top competition.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Under normal (healthy OL) circumstances, you'd be right. With Mankins just getting his conditioning back and Vollmer not available until they practice in Tampa, it's probably best to keep the starters on a light load while using this game to evaluate those who can provide depth, not only on the OL, but in other positions (DB, RB, WR) as well.

The only problem is Andy is going balls to the wall playing his starters for 3 quarters tonight. When you field largely backups against that level of opposition you don't often learn much worthwhile about the backups ability to play as individual substitutes for starters.

The RB's are going to see the field with the exception of Ridley due to injury. If Tirico is right the WR's will all be bubble or ST players and the TE's will be a converted DLineman and an UDFA... And that is what Hoyer and/or Mallett will be facing the Eagles first string D with.

No indications the D is sitting out starters wholesale, although they could be.

 

[The Gr8est]

The only problem is Andy is going balls to the wall playing his starters for 3 quarters tonight. When you field largely backups against that level of opposition you don't often learn much worthwhile about the backups ability to play as individual substitutes for starters.

The RB's are going to see the field with the exception of Ridley due to injury. If Tirico is right the WR's will all be bubble or ST players and the TE's will be a converted DLineman and an UDFA... And that is what Hoyer and/or Mallett will be facing the Eagles first string D with.

No indications the D is sitting out starters wholesale, although they could be.

You would think that BB and Reid would have discussed this already, particularly as they get along very well.

What are the Eagles going to learn by playing starters three quarters against reserves?

 

[ClevTrev]

The only problem is Andy is going balls to the wall playing his starters for 3 quarters tonight. When you field largely backups against that level of opposition you don't often learn much worthwhile about the backups ability to play as individual substitutes for starters.

Good point. The compressed schedule for the Pats' last 3 preseason games is not friendly. Figure they need to pick one game to use for their starters. With key OL players just coming back from injuries and the long period of time between tonight and the first game of the regular season, it's really fouled up any semblance of a normal approach.

 

[BPF]

Do we know what Tavon Wilson's issue is? Is it an injury or just likely a rest with the upcoming schedule?

Tavon "Money" Wilson has a left ankle injury that is not believed to be serious.

 

[Funktopus]

Poor planning that the NFL gives the Pats the MNF game but then sticks it in the middle of the 3 games in 10 days schedule almost ensuring that there's limited viewing of marquee players. I know it's just preseason and all, but you'd think they'd manage the schedule around a nationally broadcast game during prime time a bit better.

 

[JJDChE]

I guess the schedule could be the issue, but it would be pretty far out of character for Belichick to sit the starters. He usually pushes them into the first drive of the 3rd quarter in the second game. He's been pretty consistent on the workload he gives the starters over the years, particularly i the first 3 games. Game 1: 1qtr + 1-2 drives, Game 2: 1 half + 1 drive, Game 3: 3 full qtrs. It will be interesting to see if he deviates.