Patriots/Redskins: What are you looking for in the game?

[BobDigital]

So we are a little over 48 hours away at this point. I thought we should talk about the things we are looking for in this preseason game. What would you like to see? What do you think is fair to expect to see? What new players will you give a break to if they play badly?

My take. Though it will be fun to see Revis/Browner and Mayo return those are not the things I am going to focus on this game as I expect the former to be good and the later to be 100%.

The guys I want to see the most are Ryan, Collins, Harmon and the DTs and the backup DEs. I want to see Ryan/Collins/Harmon all make the jump. Collins I am particularly excited to see how good he is. DTs come down to the backups playing well but mostly the health and effectiveness of Wilfork (and Kelly if he plays). The backup DEs is to see who if anyone will emerge. Someone needs to as 95% of the snaps for Jones/Nink is not an option.

On offense I will watch less. However I'd like to see Vollmer, Thompkins/Lafell, White & C/G spots. I want to see Vollmer healthy and dominate. Thompkins/Lafell will see significant snaps in this offense it looks like so I want to see how both are progressing. White at this point I am pretty confident in but to see it in near game action be nice. Obviously we are still mixing & matching C & G. Also Stork won't play I think so it makes it even more murky. However it will be interesting to see who is ahead currently even though I think both spots are still wide open no matter who gets the nod.

And of course no injuries : P. What players/other things will you be watching?

 

[TriplecHamp]

1) How much do the refs let Browner play? Twitter folk are saying he's basically mauling receivers and he won't be getting away with it outside of practice,
2) Chandler Jones vs Trent Williams
3) Lets see if Mallett has really taken a big step foreward

 

[TruthSeeker]

I am really looking forward to seeing some of the rookies. On offense, regardless of how Garappolo does, I'm excited to see him play. Wanna see how James White looks, as well as Finch, Houston & Justin Jones, DJ Williams and Asa Watson. Keeping an eye on the rookie linemen as well. Also wanna see if Thompkins and Boyce have made that 2nd year jump.

On defense, I think the big guys only play one series, but I'm hoping Collins plays a little more. Wanna see how Buchanon and Bequette play, as well as Zach Moore.

 

[Deus Irae]

And of course no injuries

That's it. Nothing else really matters for the first exhibition game. I'll watch players and evaluate, but it's week one. Unless someone plays completely outside of their expected range, it's all about the health.

 

[Nunchucks]

I love football and I used to get very excited for preseason to roll around. Then I would watch preseason and realize it sucks, a lot!

Just no injuries. I will watch the whole game, but it is about getting out of the game without any injuries.

 

[Sicilian]

Aside from health, which is the obvious one, I want to see how Mallett "feels". I don't care about his stats, or any individual throw. I want to see how he looks running the offense, does he seem in command, does he look confident, and do his teammates seem to respond to him.

As far as battles are concerns, very little will be won or lost in this game. But I'd like to see who comes out with the ones at C, RG, and S2. There's a long way to go, but that will at least give us an idea who is on the inside track currently, especially if they leave with the rest of the starters and don't return.

 

[BelichickFan]

You mentioned a lot of starters, they'll get a series or two at most.

It's all about the young guys, a few I'd love to see flash :

White
Jones
Boyce
Moore
Garoppolo

 

[shmessy]

Justin Jones.

James White.

DJ Williams.

Will Smith (does he still have it after ACL?)

Tommy Kelley (ditto above)

James Anderson (to me, this was the Phifer/glue pickup that could be the quiet/crucial move of the offseason).

Garropolo from reports has looked like a deer in the headlights, so my expectations of him at this point are extremely low. Expect him to be 2-3 years away. Will be interesting to see the fan/media reaction to what goes down Thursday. Expect some epic overreactions.

Other than that, will be in the 400's level with my nephew looking for hot dogs under $9.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Curious to see how much time KT vs Lafell gets with the starting unit.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

I am just excited to see them all back on the field. Been wayyyy too long. Cant wait.

 

[PatsFan2]

I am really looking forward to seeing some of the rookies. On offense, regardless of how Garappolo does, I'm excited to see him play. Wanna see how James White looks, as well as Finch, Houston & Justin Jones, DJ Williams and Asa Watson. Keeping an eye on the rookie linemen as well. Also wanna see if Thompkins and Boyce have made that 2nd year jump.

On defense, I think the big guys only play one series, but I'm hoping Collins plays a little more. Wanna see how Buchanon and Bequette play, as well as Zach Moore.

My sentiments exactly scott!

 

[Kontradiction]

For the starters, I'm watching line play. For the OL, how well the interior is holding up in pass protection. For the tackles, how well Vollmer is moving and whether or not Solder is handling the bull rush better. On the DL, are the DT's pushing the pocket? How is Wilfork holding up against double teams? Is Chandler consistently beating his man? Is he being double teamed? Is his brother going to beat Cormier's ass after what happened at their media day?

Other than that, just watch the new guys and see if any of the second year guys developed noticeably.

 

[goheels22002]

In order of importance:

1) Can the Patriots compete, and can I make it to 4th quarter, while I am drinking Cascadian Scwarzbier from Jack's Abby, my new favorite.

2) Will the football gods watch out for the Patriots and leave them physically intact and free from injuries?

3) How do Vince Wilfork, Sebastian Vollmer, Tommy Kelly and Jerod Mayo look coming off their injuries?

4) Do the sophomore receivers - Boyce and Thompkins - look crisp and in synch with the quarterbacks? I wish Dobson was playing in this one.

5) Who gets most of the reps as "the other safety" opposite McCourty?

6) Does the secondary look like they are working well together? The talent is there. Is the communication and handoffs in zone coverages seamless, or are guys running free?

7) Is Justin Jones a pro-caliber TE?

8) What combinations on the offensive line do the Patriots use with Logan Mankins and Nate Solder? That group is in a state of transition with a new position coach. This is very early, but we'll get a sense of how this might shake out.

9) How does Garoppolo look among 2nd and 3rd stringers? Is he right there with his peers, or is he a bigger project that we'd anticipated?

10) Last, does Darrelle Revis look like the real deal in a Patriots uniform?

 

[dales804]

The TEs and WRs. And hopefully no injuries.

 

[Silver Blue&Red]

I'm very curious on how the offense is going to look. In particular, Brady's protection and how the recievers "drops" are progressing. But most of all I'm very excited to see a "real" kick *** defense. Especially our new corners. The secondary has given me nightmares the last few season's

 

[shmessy]

For the starters, I'm watching line play. For the OL, how well the interior is holding up in pass protection. For the tackles, how well Vollmer is moving and whether or not Solder is handling the bull rush better. On the DL, are the DT's pushing the pocket? How is Wilfork holding up against double teams? Is Chandler consistently beating his man? Is he being double teamed? Is his brother going to beat Cormier's ass after what happened at their media day?

Other than that, just watch the new guys and see if any of the second year guys developed noticeably.

If you're counting on seeing much of the starters, you're going to be sorely disappointed Thursday night. One, maybe two quarters. Less for some.

 

[SalemPats]

Game 1 is all about the battles and the 2nd/3rd team. I want to see how KT, Lafell, White look as they should get a lot of action.

 

[Kontradiction]

If you're counting on seeing much of the starters, you're going to be sorely disappointed Thursday night. One, maybe two quarters. Less for some.

I'm well aware of that.

 

[jmt57]

In the first preseason game, the regular season starters are done for the night by the time you've settled in your seat. So for me, I want to try to watch guys that are competing for a position. In no particular order (and way too much to see live on the first viewing):

OL - Unfortunately no Bryan Stork due to injury, so we should get an extended look at Braxston Cave at center. Right now both starting and backup center is undetermined. Wendell? Connolly? Cave or Stork? RG is similar to center, and linked since at least one player will be expected to be able to play both positions. Let's see how returning players that we've rarely seen like Josh Kline, Chris Barker and Jordan Devey look, as well as rookies Jon Halapio and Cameron Fleming. Though it is really difficult to assess offensive linemen individually, especially without all-22 film, sometimes you get one guy that really stands out in either a positive or negative way.

TE - Get to assess D.J. William, Asa Watson and Justin Jones as they will all have extended playing time since Gronk and Hoomanawanui won't go. Curious to see if James Develin gets reps here, or playing time over a second TE.

WR - The progression of Thompkins and Boyce, as well as how Lafell's first game with the Pats. Who will be the odd man out when roster cuts are made?

Safety - Let's see how the backups behind McCourty and Harmon perform. Tavon Wilson, Nate Ebner, Patrick Chung and Kanorris Davis are all good ST players. There's not enough room for all of them on the roster; who performs best as a position player?

DT - Chris Jones, Marcus Forston, Sealver Siliga and Joe Vellano are competing for probably one or two roster spots. Also get to see if L.T. Tuipulotu or Eathyn Manumaleuna can show enough to possibly surprise and claim a roster spot, or at least make it to the practice squad.

DE - Similar to DT, the starting positions are set. Who will be the third rotational guy to give Ninkovich and Jones an occasional breather? Jake Bequette, Michael Buchanan, rookie Zach Moore and veteran Will Smith are competing for probably two roster spots.

LB - A lot of guys playing for probably three backup spots, to replace Brandon Spikes and Dane Fletcher. Deontae Skinner won't play, but we still get to assess rookies James Morris, Taylor McCuller, Cameron Gordon, new guys Ja'Gared Davis and Darius Fleming, veteran James Anderson, and returning LBs Steve Beauharnais and Chris White.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

DT - Chris Jones, Marcus Forston, Sealver Siliga and Joe Vellano are competing for probably one or two roster spots. Also get to see if L.T. Tuipulotu or Eathyn Manumaleuna can show enough to possibly surprise and claim a roster spot, or at least make it to the practice squad.

While strictly speaking this is true (and I think it's two spots, not one), I'd say that Jones and Siliga are the clubhouse leaders by a fairly large margin.