Questions going into Preseason, game 1

We have finally made it, to my favorite time of the year where soon you will get all your chores done before noon so you can watch the NFL for 7 straight hours on Sunday’s with your fantasy football team on one tab and checking the scores on the other tab to see if that parlay hit. There is nothing like the National Football League, and with that said, we will see our team take the field Thursday against the New York Giants. When Brady was here we never really had to invest to much time watching preseason, we pretty much had the AFC East locked up and January was when the season started, but now we don’t have that luxury and tuning into the preseason is a must. With reports of a new offensive scheme and the offense not looking that great, its just one of the many things to watch for on Thursday.

We have bitched about the coordinator positions enough, so I will leave that one to the side but we have a lot of questions heading into Thursday, and the big one for me is

HOW WILL MAC LOOK WITH THE NEW OFFENSIVE SHCEME:

Josh McDaniels is running his own team in Las Vegas and after 20 plus years of the same offense, Bill Belichick ripped it up and is starting from scratch and trying to adapt with the times. This offense was one of the hardest to learn with hall of fame caliber players coming here to win a ring and couldn’t figure it out. Now it is dumbed down for everyone involved but it sounds like even if it’s dumbed down it’s not working with everyone. Reports are saying Mac looks frustrated and not in sync, the O-line is not built for this Mike Shanahan style of zone run blocking, and do we have a number 1 receiver? Although its the preseason I want to see how they look even if it’s a series or a quarter, the beat guys that have been down at camp are the ones saying this offense doesn’t look good, so lets see it with our own eyes.

THE RUNNING BACK GROUP:

Last year we had a heavy dose of Damien Harris and Rhamandre Stevenson, but the thing that was missing was a James White/Kevin Faulk type runner where they could be that pass catching back that we have been grown accustomed to through out the Belichick dynasty. With James White trying to make a Dustin Pedroia type return, the type that we know he won’t play ever again but is going to give it a go, we are still missing that guy. Pierre Strong may be that guy, an average height player at 5’11 he is that quick back that if he has open field kiss him goodbye. Could he be involved on the 3rd and long plays, Mac needs a safety blanket, someone who if everyone is covered he can dump it off to get positive yards. Damien Harris is also on the last year of his rookie deal, could we see Bill go heavy with Rhamandre and the passing of the torch or will this be a year where it’s a prove it type year to earn that next contract.

LINEBACKERS:

If you have listened to our show then you know that this position has needed an upgrade for a while, last year was suppose to be that year but injuries had to make us wait till this year. We have had some of the slowest linebackers in the league for quite some time, I love Donte Hightower but with his age and style it was time for a change. The game requires these linebackers to be big, strong, and most importantly fast to keep up with the running backs and the tight ends that have evolved through the years. Matthew Judon was a beast last year, but can’t do it by himself. Judon, Bentley, Mack Wilson, and Uche are slated as the starters, more speed to get to the back field and help the secondary out with coverage down the field. Also, Ronnie Perkins and Raekwon McMillan will be the two names you hear a lot of later in the season, Perkins a rookie last year who was injured and McMillan also injured last preseason are two names that are the bright spots coming out of camp. This group will be the strength of the defense.

SECONDARY:

This is the position I worry about the most, you lost Gilmore via trade and JC Jackson in the offseason, you have no clear number 1 corner in a pass happy league. Some names you’ll be seeing this year that I have zero clue who can match up with but Tyreek Hill (twice), Stefon Diggs (twice), Justin Jefferson, Deandre Hopkins, Devonte Adams, and Ja’Marr Chase. Do we think Terrance Mitchell is up for the job or how bout Jalen Mills who’s natural position is safety. We brought back Malcom Butler WHO WAS RETIRED LAST YEAR to come in and fight for a job but as we saw in Tennessee he isn’t what he used to be. The two Jones’ that the Patriots drafted this year, Marcus and Jack have been making big plays in camp, could they be potentially the next duo, maybe, but not now. Hopefully with quicker linebackers it will help deflect the fact we have zero talent at corner this year.

So it begins Thursday, here is to another Patriots season and hopefully another playoff birth.