Danny Amendola and the secondary highlight players to watch tonight

The third preseason game is the biggest test our Patriots will face ahead of their week 1 battle with the Miami Dolphins. While many positions are already settled, there are several questions left to be answered. These questions are highlighted in our three players to watch on each side of the ball:

Offense

Danny Amendola

I'm not sure if the radio silence surrounding Danny Amendola's training camp is a positive or a negative. On the one hand, the silence could mean that Amendola has simply become a cog in the offense and there is no cause for concern. The other side of the coin could be that he has fallen so out of favor with either the coaches or Tom Brady that he no longer comes to mind when discussing the offense. Tonight will be his biggest test as a Patriot, which is saying a lot about how lackluster his first year was.

Ryan Wendell

Wendell has been locked into roster projections across the board, but he has to hold that position tonight. If he loses out to Dan Connolly, then it could be Wendell who hits the free agent market. They have some youth and depth at the center position, so it'd be highly unlikely for them to carry both Connolly and Wendell. While the veterans have a solid track record behind them, their salary cap number and tight competition could lead to a bad performance tonight leading to a cut within the day or two following similar to Tyler Ott after the second preseason game.

Ryan Mallett

Anybody who puts up with enough of my writing to know my views is sure to understand how low I am on Mallett entering tonight, but this may be his final opportunity. My expectation is that Tom Brady will play his fair share, and then he'll hand the reigns to Mallett, possibly even giving Jimmy Garoppolo the night off. If Jimmy G is the next signal caller in, or if Mallett underperforms, I'll be more sure than ever that Mallett is not long for the team.

Defense

Darrelle Revis

My big curiosity is if somebody will throw his way, as the Eagles seemed to avoid his side of the field entirely during the second preseason contest. During that game he was in fantastic position throughout, but it'll be interesting to see what happens when he is finally tested. I also want to see Revis in the red area, as I wouldn't be surprised if he slid inside to cover tight ends of a high caliber. Greg Olsen isn't elite, but he's a tough matchup overall. This would give Revis a great test if deployed in this way.

Brandon Browner

Clearly seeing the secondary gel is a key in my book, as we haven't seen Browner and Revis together yet. Browner was the topic of a roundtable earlier this week found here, and the opinions on his performance varied greatly. It will be an easier start for the secondary, as the Panthers youth at wide receiver will likely allow the secondary to dominate early and often. I'm hopeful Browner will be utilized in some corner blitzes, as he would be a nightmare for a running back to block.

Kyle Arrington

This is an interesting case, as Arrington could be in the safety mix during the season, or could be showcased for a deal if the team feels comfortable with Logan Ryan in the slot and another option at safety. So I think tonight will be more about where we see Arrington as opposed to how he performs. If we see him continuing to take reps at the safety spot, then I would feel his roster spot is secured. There is more trade value in a corner, so there would be no need to test him in other spots. If we see Arrington playing only corner, and especially if he plays a snap outside the slot, they may look to deal him around the time they finalize the rosters.


Who are you keeping your eye on tonight? Let's chat in the comments below or on Twitter @TheFib0624

--Bill Stiles