Patriots-Lions: What to Watch For



It's almost here!

No, not the start of the regular season, although that is rapidly approaching. Tomorrow night, the Patriots will take on the Detroit Lions in the all-important third preseason game. Widely considered to be a "dress rehearsal" for the regular season, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the starters play into the third quarter of this one, making it the best glimpse we'll get of the 2013 Patriots before the real bullets start flying. With that in mind, here are some storylines to keep an eye on during the game tomorrow night.

Next Guy Up: Edelman and Boyce in the Slot

Danny Amendola hasn't practiced all week, making it highly unlikely that he'll see the field against Detroit. This likely means old fan favorite Julian Edelman will get a chance to be the guy in the slot. Edelman has been overshadowed a bit by the emergence of the team's rookie receivers this preseason, but he still figures to be the top backup in the slot. This game will be a nice litmus test to see how the offense will look if Amendola (who has battled injuries throughout his career) misses any significant time. Look for Brady to try to get Edelman involved early; the two seem to have a solid chemistry together.

It wouldn't be surprising to see rookie Josh Boyce get some reps with Brady from the slot as well. At 5'11", Boyce is less of a prototypical "outside receiver" than Kenbrell Thompkins or Aaron Dobson, but he has the route running, quickness and good hands to be effective from the slot. Getting some reps there will also build up some more versatility, giving the team some important insurance considering the injury histories of Amendola and Edelman.

Offensive Line Gets a Solid Test

We may be a full week removed from Tom Brady's scary fall in practice, but protecting the Hall-of-Fame Quarterback is always a top priority during preseason games. The team's offensive line depth has been tested by injuries, as starting guard Dan Connolly and top backup Marcus Canon remain sidelined. The starting line, including backup tackle Will Svitek likely playing out of position at right guard, will get a steep test this week from the Lions, who boast one of the leagues most physical defensive lines. Defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley are both absolute monsters capable of blowing up any play, and the team also boast three talented defensive ends in ex-Seahawk Jason Jones, ex-Bear Israel Idonije, and 2013 fifth overall pick Ziggy Ansah.

Some Pats fans might recall the 2011 preseason matchup with Detroit, a 34-10 beatdown in which Detroit dominated the line of scrimmage. While that performance didn't wind up hurting the Pats (who went on to make it to the Super Bowl that year), they'd surely like to avoid a repeat performance. A strong showing by the line will help matters greatly.

Keep the Pressure Coming

The Patriots front seven wreaked havok last week against Tampa Bay, as consistent pressure got to Josh Freeman and kept star receivers Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams from doing any damage against the questionable Pats secondary. There's little doubt that this looks like a much better defense when the pass rush steps up and does it's part to help the secondary.

A repeat performance should be expected Thursday night, as Detroit has a shaky offensive line. Second year man Riley Reiff has taken over the left tackle spot despite an uninspiring rookie year, and the right side of the line consists of journeyman Dylan Gandy and unproven Jason Fox. The Patriots have the talent to have a solid pass rush and this is the kind of matchup they need to be able to consistently exploit. Look for Chandler Jones to particularly exert his will on the game; he should be able to dominate his matchup with Reiff.

Position Battles

As always, one of the main things to watch during the preseason is the competition to make the team at crowded positions. Here are a few of those battles to keep an eye on: 

Running Back: LeGarrette Blount vs. Brandon Bolden

Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen are obvious locks, and Leon Washington appears safe due to his impact on special teams. Therefore, unless the team decides to keep five running backs, the competition is on between Blount and Bolden for the fourth spot. Blount was impressive barreling through, around and over the undersized Eagles defense, but came back to earth a little bit against his own team with an unspectacular showing. Bolden got a few more carries (including some work with the first team) in Week 2 against Tampa and looked rock solid with his opportunities.

With a 1,000 yard season under his belt, the powerful Blount is the more accomplished of the two runners. However, Bolden is younger and more versatile. Bolden is much better in the passing game (where Blount's shortcomings led to him being replaced in Tampa) and also brings nice value as a special teams guy. My gut feeling is that the team will wind up keeping five backs and sacrifice numbers somewhere else on the roster. I just can't see them giving up on a promising young player who also plays special teams (Bolden) after just one season, but I likewise can't see them letting a guy with Blount's talent go for nothing.

Tight End: Michael Hoomanawanui, Daniel Fells, Jake Ballard

This, of course, depends on the team's course of action on Rob Gronkowski. If the Gronk starts the season on the PUP list (and thus becomes ineligible to return to the active roster until Week 7), all three guys could make the squad. If not, things could get very interesting, as each of these three guys brings a unique and valuable skill set to the position.

Going by the eyeball test during camp, the odd man out would be Ballard. The former Giant looks like he's still not 100% comfortable on his surgically repaired knee. However, Ballard is the best blocker of the three and seems to have the support of Belichick. My gut feeling is that Ballard makes it on the strength of his blocking alone.

This leaves Hooman and Fells. Hooman has drawn favorable reviews for his versatility and work ethic since his arrival last fall in New England. The former Ram can catch the ball a little bit, but his real value comes from his blocking, which has allowed him to be used at times as a fullback/h-back type. This positional versatility could win him a job over Fells who, despite being the best receiver of the three, becomes expendable with the emergence of Zach Sudfeld as a receiving threat (I didn't include Sudfeld here because I believe he is a lock to make the roster). Whether the team decides to keep a fullback (James Develin) will also play a factor in the fate of both Hoomanawanui and the team's running backs.

Defensive End: Michael Buchanan, Jake Bequette, Jermaine Cunningham

Interesting competition here, as two higher draft picks in Bequette and Cunningham find themselves in danger of being cut. Cunningham has mostly been a underachiever since his arrival as a second round pick, and Bequette has done very little of note both in games and practice. Buchanan, a seventh round pick this year from Rutgers, could have an opportunity to steal a rotational spot from one of his more heralded teammates, although the practice squad could be a more realistic destination for him.