The 5 players you will be keeping a close eye on Thursday Night
 

Which of the teams 5 players will you be keeping a particular closer keen eye on for as long as they remain on the field against the Eagles in the preseason opener?

My 5 are...

1) Tom Brady - Everyone including non-patriots fans will be looking at our leader returning and hopefully looking super as usual - Brady WILL play at least a series or two

2) Gary Guyton - This guy intrigues me as to wonder if he just had a few good looking games and goes back to the unknown or whether he is the real deal,Gary is very important to the inside of this defense,we cannot rely on #54 to hold down the fort anymore

3) Leigh Bodden - This is the Corner we should all be looking closely at as he looks to be the general of the outside perimeter of this defense and his play will be crucial to the success of this team against powerful passing QBs like Brees,Manning and Ryan this season

4) Pierre Woods - I would put Derrick Burgess here but I don't think he plays yet and for that reason I think Woods is a very important piece to the pass rush and a sack or two of the Philly QBs would be a confidence builder for all of us

5) Nathan Hodel - A long snapper you say as an important guy to watch? - Yes and for the simple reason that this will be a new guy in the Patriots system as a LS since 1999 (the year before Paxton got here) and as small as his role is,it is a big one..just ask Adam Vinatieri - I want to see how it flows between him,the holder and Stephen

Re: The 5 players you will be keeping a close eye on Thursday Night
 

I'll be keeping an eye on the Patsfan dot com threads as the "we sauck!!!" threads start popping up posted by the inevitable Scary Mary pats fan brigade....good practice for the game day threads during the season

Re: The 5 players you will be keeping a close eye on Thursday Night
 

Chung, Vollmer, Brace, Butler, Maroney

Re: The 5 players you will be keeping a close eye on Thursday Night
 

I think everyone's #1 is Tom Brady.

Besides that, Chung, Bodden, galloway, and Taylor.

Re: The 5 players you will be keeping a close eye on Thursday Night
 

Nope, he's pretty low on my list. My #1 is Wendell. :snob:

Re: The 5 players you will be keeping a close eye on Thursday Night
 

Brace, Guyton, Lenon, Walter, All CBs....thats sorta 5 :D

I will not be watching Chung. I saw enough of him at TC to think he's gonna be reeeeally good, someday. I also wont be staring at Brady. He'll be fine, rusty maybe, but fine.

Re: The 5 players you will be keeping a close eye on Thursday Night
 

Weren't the Sauck an aboriginal tribe of Michigan wild rice eaters who were always fighting with the Canadian aboriginals?

Re: The 5 players you will be keeping a close eye on Thursday Night
 

If we're talking individuals, here's 5 things I think worth looking at....

Brady for body language when getting rushed

Brace for first step off the ball

Butler for biting on fakes

Maroney for hands confidence if he gets a pass thrown his way, and for blocking

Guyton for size/strength increase

Re: The 5 players you will be keeping a close eye on Thursday Night
 

I'll be hoping for ZERO injuries and moving forward toward the start of what looks like a dogfight of a season

Re: The 5 players you will be keeping a close eye on Thursday Night
 

Brady

Edelmam

Chung

Butler

Galloway