Patriots Starters To Get A Lot Of Playing Time?
Firstly, if it helps us beat the Giants and get Eli Manning a bit roughed up, then it's a positive right there. If it was against any other team, I would still see this as a really good move by Belichick, despite the risks involved. This is a Patriots team that needs to click to be a success, on every level. We all know that the offensive line isn't superb at the moment, and they need more time working as a unit, especially with Tom Brady under center. They need to get used to the adjustments Brady likes to make at the line, and mainly they just need more time together.
It won't do any harm to give Rob Gronkowski more game time on that ankle (he's safe enough, Bernard Pollard isn't playing), and it also won't do any harm so see the connection between Brandon Lloyd and Brady get more experience.
Defensively, this team needs all the game time it can get. It's a young, fledgling defense that needs experience. And it's another chance to see first round picks Chandler Jones and Dont'a Hightower show off what they can do. I'm still just as excited about these guys as I was when we drafted them way back in April. Call me an optimist, but I believe they give us one of the best linebacker groups in the NFL, and with Vince Wilfork one of the best front sevens in football.
Just need to sort out the secondary, as everyone knows, and with a fit Ras-I Dowling and Devin McCourty, we have the potential for a good CB tandem, and it'll be good to see them get extended time tonight, against Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz and whoever else the Giants throw at us.
It'll be good to get a look at the Patriots one last time before September 9th, but boy, the regular season can't come quickly enough.
Drop me a line on twitter, @brendan_annely.
