Last week, in preseason game number one against the Washington Football Team, you saw a whole lot of new faces in a Patriots uniform.
You had rookies making an impact on the offensive side of the ball right out of the gate in 1st round pick QB Mac Jones (13-for-19, 87 yds) & 4th round pick RB Rhamondre Stevenson (10 car, 127 yds, TD).
And then you had a great showing by the defense, including players making their team debuts and bringing the heat including LB Harvy Langi (7 tackles), 3rd round pick DE Ronnie Perkins (4 tackles) & DE Matt Judon.
We’re about three weeks into training camp & one preseason game in. With starting positions and roster spots on the line, Thursday nights preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles will be a big one for Bill Belichick and his staff to evaluate players.
Here’s five things to watch in preseason game #2 in Philadelphia.
- Cam vs. Mac
With the quarterback position being the most important position on the field, expect this QB battle to be a daily column.
Last week, we saw Cam Newton (4-for-7, 49 yards) play what we expect of him, while also taking a shot from Washington DE Chase Young (sack). At this point, we know what we’re going to get from Newton. An athlete, who will time and time again try to extend plays with his feet and has not shown that his arm isn’t anything more than mediocre at this point.
On the other hand.
Jones has shown in training camp that he can deal with the noise, play mistake-free football and continues to show off attributes including proficient footwork and spot-on arm accuracy.
Going into training camp, the “eye test” spoke to a degree that Newton was going to run away with the job to at least begin the season as the starter and the team would adjust accordingly throughout the season.
Now that we’ve seen at least up to this point that Jones is adjusting much faster than expected, will he be able to pull it off and win the starting job for Week 1?
I expect Newton and Jones to both get more reps Thursday night, because since there’s only three preseason games, expect next week to be a dress rehearsal.
2. Moment of Opportunity
With a true double tight end set back in New England with the new acquisitions of Jonnu Smith & Hunter Henry, there might only be room for three tight ends on the roster.
With the two out with an injury, TE Matt LaCosse leaving practice on Monday and TE Troy Fumagalli leaving on Tuesday, that only leaves one tight end active and possibly for Thursday nights preseason game.
Devin Asiasi.
Heading into camp Asiasi’s spot seemed to be secured, but now with the opportunity on Thursday night to be one of the lone tight ends on the field, he now has a chance to separate himself from the rest of the competition.
3. WR1? WR Nelson Agholor is set to make his preseason debut with the Patriots Thursday night.
Agholor, 28, is coming off his best season in the NFL (48 rec, 898 yards, 8 TD’s) with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020. At times, Agholor has been marked as “the best player on the field” on the offensive side of the ball during training camp this summer.
He signed a 2-year/$22 million dollar deal with the Pats this offseason (highest paid WR on team). Agholor definitely has the potential to be the Patriots top receiver this season.
I’m sure Pats fans won’t feel comfortable with the offense until Agholor, Kendrick Bourne, Jakobi Meyers, Henry and Smith are all on the field at the same time.
It will be interesting to see Agholor take the field in a Patriots uniform for this first time and how fitting it will be as he returns to Philadelphia, where he played for the first five seasons of his NFL career.
4. Sony Michel
While the Patriots running back core is one of the deepest positions on their roster, it’ll be certainly a tough position to survive the final roster cuts.
After a fantastic Week 1 preseason performance from Stevenson, Damien Harris seems to be the favorite as RB1, James White’s services as a pass catcher and the success J.J. Taylor has had running the ball and on special teams, a lot people have circled around the idea that Sony Michel could be the odd man out.
In his first two seasons, Michel ran for over 900 yards each year. He took a step back in 2020, running for 449 yards and all of the sudden it remains in question if he is going to contribute to the Pats this season.
I expect Michel to compete & get back to where he belongs on the depth chart this season. Regardless if Stevenson and Taylor are having success against a third-string defense, Michel will show up Thursday night ready to go.
I think we’ll be looking at Harris and Michel being a great breakout running back tandem this season.
5. Williams battling for more
The Patriots 2019 second round pick, defensive back Joejuan Williams has been battling for a spot on this roster and getting on the field since the first day he arrived in Foxborough.
With the team likely to keep seven cornerbacks on the roster, Williams’ versatility on special teams should help him make the team.
But what about getting on the field?
Williams sits fifth on the cornerbacks depth chart behind Stephon Gilmore, J.C. Jackson, Jalen Mills & Myles Bryant, but also holds a key piece on special teams.
Williams made a game-winning pass knockdown in the Patriots 22-13 win over Washington in Preseason Game #1.
In year 3, it’ll be a similar situation battling for playing time on defense for Williams.
These preseason games and joint practices will be big reps for the 23-year old and will be a big test if he would like to break through and find himself climb the depth chart this season.
Prediction
Philadelphia 24, New England 17
Preseason games are won and lost on your backups.
For the Eagles, they have valuable experience in their backup QBs, including Super Bowl champion Joe Flacco and former San Francisco 49ers starting QB Nick Mullens.
Of course its a team game and the Patriots are very deep on defense, but i’ll have to side with the city of brotherly love. The Eagles will take care of business at home.
Will be interesting how the offense will alter from last week with only one tight end healthy and Agholor making his team preseason debut with this Patriots offense.