5 "Under the Radar" Guys to Watch Friday
Actual football! It's back! Get excited!
Well, kind of. Tom Brady will spent the vast majority of tomorrow night's preseason opener on the sidelines in a baseball hat. However, while the starters rest after their quarter of work, the lesser-known guys on the roster will be competing- not just with Eagles, but also with each other for roster spots. These are the guys who, be it by injury or other circumstances, could find themselves forced into contributing roles this season. With that in mind, here's five under the radar guys to keep an eye on during the game tomorrow
Marcus Forston, DT
With Kyle Love and Brandon Deaderick gone, the Pats lack any proven depth at defensive tackle behind starters Vince Wilfork and Tommy Kelly. There is an opportunity for someone to step up and seize a role as the third man in that rotation. So far in camp, Forston has looked like that guy. After spending last season on the practice squad, the second year Forston has opened eyes this summer with his athleticism and power. It is admittedly harder to judge line play in camp, so it will be interesting to see if Forston's progress translates to live game action. Forston emerging as a reliable rotational player could really help the Patriots manage the snaps of it's two over-30 starters.
Duron Harmon, S
A rookie third round pick, Harmon could see significant action Friday. Starting free safety Devin McCourty will not play, as he is still donning the red "don't hit me" jersey in practice and veterans Steve Gregory and Adrian Wilson seem likely to split the snaps at strong safety. The disappointing play of last year's second round pick Tavon Wilson has given Harmon an opportunity to climb up the depth chart. Harmon will likely contribute this season on special teams, but he also could become valuable insurance should McCourty (knocks furiously on nearby wooden desk) miss any time.
Josh Boyce, WR
Okay, Boyce isn't exactly under the radar, but the fourth round pick has been overshadowed a bit in camp by fellow rookies Aaron Dobson and Kenbrell Thompkins. Boyce isn't as big or flashy as the two aforementioned wideouts, but he has looked pretty solid in camp. He is fast, runs good routes and has decent hands. He will get plenty of playing time on Friday; it will be interesting to see what he does with it. Boyce could also get some reps returning kicks, which would significantly increase his value on the roster.
Logan Ryan, CB
Another Rutgers rookie who will likely see extensive playing time on Friday. Like Harmon, Ryan has an opportunity to climb the depth chart and get valuable reps due to injuries. Aqib Talib, Kyle Arrington and Alfonzo Dennard probably won't play beyond the first quarter and Ras-I Dowling is hurt for the upteenth time. This should mean lots of live reps for the rookie, who could get bumped all the way up to a nickle role early in the season if Dennard is suspended. Ryan has had a bit of an up-and-down camp, but will get a chance to gain valuable experience against the Eagles receivers tomorrow.
LaGarrette Blount/Brandon Bolden, RB
Fine, I cheated a little bit here. If Bill Belichick opts to only keep four running backs on the final roster, that would likely leave these two fighting for the last roster spot. Both are powerful backs who can wear down a defense. Bolden is younger and has some extra special teams value, but the enormous Blount (6'0", 250) has had more NFL success. For what its worth, Blount also has an awesome habit of leapfrogging defenders. The running game is even harder to evaluate than line play in camp, so it will be very fun to see what these two talented backs can do with their carries.
I'm particularly interested in seeing what Blount does. If the Blount who bowled over defenders on his way to 1,000 yards back in 2010 shows up, he'll make the team and likely contribute. If the unfocused version who got completely phased out of the offense in Tampa Bay shows, he'll likely be sent packing.
