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I'm not sure how Buchanan and particular Moore have an edge on Will Smith for the role he is expected to play.Couple thoughts:
DT
Injuries to Siliga and Jones would hurt a lot more if they were needed to start. So the other crew of back-ups will get more practice and preseason game time. I'd still expect both to make the team. Gives the team an opportunity to watch Forston, Vellano, and others.
DE rotation
Buchanan and Moore got a lot of play. Will Smith seems behind them.
I don't think Bequette played. I don't group him with Brady, Revis, and Mayo, so that's a bad thing.
After one preseason game, Buchanan and Moore have an early advantage on Smith and Bequette for spots.
LB
We all assume Anderson is the fourth. Beauharnais and Fleming seem the top two over White, Skinner, Hull, etc.
S
Interesting that Harmon received the least playing time among Wilson, Chung, Ebner, and Hawkins. Just makes this thing appear wide open. Note that Hawkins is one of the kick returners, which is equally open.
CB
Butler continues his unlikely challenge for a roster spot. Can they keep six corners? He played with great technique Thursday. While he lacks size and speed, he had a couple of the best plays for the "Patriots."
On sitting all the starters and losing the game: smart. Many have commented that the biggest risk to the Patriots season is injury.
White has a strong chance to stick because of special teams ability, IMO.
I don't think Harmon's playing time was anything to give insight to his status. He was the starter. Oftentimes, especially in game 1 the guys getting the most reps are the guys that there is the most doubt about.
I have a different take on Butler than everything I am reading. I don't see getting thrown at often and making plays on the ball some of those times as outstanding corner play. I see not getting the ball thrown your way because you have tight coverage as outstanding corner play.
The Skins QB often felt Butler's man was open. He played the ball well some of those times, and closed on the coverage, but the ball wouldn't have come to him if he had tight coverage, the QB throws to who is open.
On the plays that Butler recovered and knocked the ball away, it is likely the other corner covered better, because he didn't get thrown at.
Again, what call the 'best plays' are recovering from letting his man get open, and I would suggest the best plays Butler made were the ones you never saw, because the QB felt he had coverage and went elsewhere. Lets face it, he wasn't facing a top WR either which is why the tools he lacks may be a case of mediocre WRs getting open and he can compete for coverage, while better ones would torch him.