Inactive analysis
Posted by Mike Reiss, Globe Staff
February 3, 2008 05:00 PM
Analysis from the Patriots’ inactive players:
-With both Troy Brown and Chad Jackson inactive, the Patriots enter with the standard five receivers. The first question is whether this means Brown’s career is over. He is a free agent after the year and this ends his 15th, and perhaps final, season with the Patriots. With Jackson inactive, that takes a kickoff returner out of the mix and makes it more likely that Ellis Hobbs and/or Laurence Maroney will see the bulk of duties in that area.
-With offensive linemen Wesley Britt and Billy Yates inactive, the Patriots have their standard seven linemen active. Stephen Neal (starting right guard) and Nick Kaczur (starting right tackle) did not play against the Giants in the season finale, but they’re back tonight. That leaves Russ Hochstein as the top interior backup and Ryan O’Callaghan the top tackle backup.
-With defensive lineman Santonio Thomas inactive, the Patriots enter with six linemen, which is one more than the norm. This could be specific to the red-zone, which was a key area in the season finale, and the Patriots looking to bolster their goal-line package. One natural question is why the Patriots decided to promote Thomas to the active roster if they planned to deactivate him. It was likely they were rewarding him for a season’s worth of behind-the-scenes contributions. Thomas was making a full salary on the practice squad anyway.
-With tight end Stephen Spach inactive, the Patriots enter with just two pure tight ends in Benjamin Watson and Kyle Brady. Against the Chargers in the AFC Championship, the Patriots had success with a pure three-TE package, but that won’t be an option tonight.
-With cornerback Antwain Spann inactive, the Patriots go without a player whose primary contributions came on special teams.
