What to watch for
Five things for Patriots’ fans to look out for Sunday
Things have started to change for the Patriots, who are breaking camp this weekend and starting to delve into real regular season preparation.
There are a few positional battles that still have to shake out, but for the most part, Sunday night’s game at Tampa Bay against the Bucs will be all about getting some playing time for the starters, many of whom sat out last Thursday’s preseason opener against Baltimore.
1. Linebacker. With Tank Williams gone for the season, look for Jerod Mayo to get more snaps with the first team defense. The rookie acquitted himself well in the opener, but could still likely be pushed at the inside spot by Victor Hobson. At outside linebacker, veteran Mike Vrabel, who didn’t play last week, should also see a few series’ with the No. 1 defense.
2. Running back. Other than reveal the fact that Laurence Maroney will be the de facto starter, the preseason opener did little to sort out who’s who in the backfield. LaMont Jordan made a solid case for playing time with a standout second-half effort against Baltimore, but many of his yards came against second- and third-teamers. If he can replicate that effort against better competition on Sunday, the Patriots might be forced to consider carrying five running backs (Maroney, Jordan, Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk and Heath Evans).
3. Cornerback. Perhaps the most intriguing and wide open of the positional battles remaining. Veteran Lewis Sanders and rookie Terrence Wheatley played almost the entire game at cornerback in the preseason opener against the Ravens, and coach Bill Belichick acknowledged the oddity afterword. This week will likely be different — if he’s healthy, expect No. 1 corner Ellis Hobbs III to get the start, and for the Patriots to mix and match at the other spot with Fernando Bryant (who struggled against Baltimore), Jason Webster, Jonathan Wilhite and Mike Richardson.
4. Offensive line. With injuries to left tackle Matt Light (who has missed more than half of the practices) and left guard Stephen Neal (who remains on the physically unable to perform list with shoulder and knee woes), the offensive line has been shuffling bodies in and out in the two-plus weeks of camp. Billy Yates, Wesley Britt and Nick Kaczur have seen plenty of time in their absence and will likely see an awful lot of time Sunday night.
5. Tom Brady. As ridiculous as it sounds, No. 12 will bear watching Sunday night. It’ll be his first preseason action of the year for the quarterback, and it will be interesting to see him in game action — even for only two to three series’ — for the first time since Super Bowl XLII.
