The last preseason game is upon us and once again another training camp is behind us. The most important pieces of the Patriots roster should see limited, if any, time in this one, softening our injury concerns.
But there will still be plenty to watch on Thursday night, with Jimmy Garoppolo getting the start for the first time in his young career. Garoppolo is a lock to make the team, but there are plenty others still on the bubble who will want to pop against the Giants.
Here’s our list of who needs the biggest games to avoid the next cut when 22 players currently on the roster must go.
First, the long shots who are likely just on the roster for depth because somebody has to play in the game.
Long Shots (ala likely cuts): Chris Martin (PUP), Braxton Cave, L.T. Tuipulotu, Eathyn Manumaleuna, Shamiel Gary.
Middle of the pack (uphill battle for roster spot, but needs could allow them to slip on): Chris Barker, Steve Maneri, Taylor McCuller, Kanorris Davis.
The Bubble Battles:
Running Back
Brandon Bolden-Roy Finch-Jonas Grey: One of these guys will probably make the team, but who is the best compliment to Ridley-Vereen-White? We’ve likely seen Bolden’s ceiling, but he is fairly solid. Finch could be useful as a kick returner, but is he too much like White/Vereen? Grey is the wild card, a powerful back who we can’t quite put our finger on yet. He will be one to focus on.
Linebacker
Darius Fleming looks like a lock, but that doesn’t always mean he is. After him things are unclear – Steve Beauharnais has been solid this summer and Chris White did a good job last season. James Morris and Ja’Gared Davis got long looks last week and will likely play a lot once again. Two of these guys will probably go, but all could be practice squad candidates, especially Morris and Davis. It would be fascinating if one of them snuck on the team.
Safety
Patrick Chung has played a ton this preseason and conventional wisdom tells us he and Duron Harmon will rotate for run and pass downs during the regular season. I also think Chung might not see the field against the better passing teams. But perhaps this was just a long look to see if Chung is better than Tavon Wilson. I’m just not convinced they’re ready to give up on Wilson just yet, and a scenario where Wilson makes the team and Chung does not still seems plausible, or maybe both do. Perhaps Kanorris Davis is a bit of a wild card. Hopefully Wilson plays after sitting last week.
Defensive End
Jake Bequette vs. rookie Zach Moore. Michael Buchanan seems to be a lock, though bringing in an outside DE after cutdowns seems like a very real possibility. Moore could use a year to develop while Bequette has already had two of them. There might be a roster spot for one of them, though both getting cut could also be a very real possibility. Moore has shown promise and would likely make it to the practice squad. The key to making it? Special teams and pass rush.
The offense is pretty close to set, outside of knowing who will be the starting five offensive lineman – my pick Solder-Kline-Wendell-Connolly-Vollmer, but we won’t get any insight into that on Thursday night.
Aaron Dobson could see his first action of the preseason and he’ll want to show something. Regardless, he’s a roster lock.
At this point I’ve seen enough of Garoppolo and Mallett to believe Garoppolo is ready to be the sole back up. Even if Mallett lights it up in limited duty, it won’t change my view. If Garoppolo moves the offense against the Giants top defense it will only cement my thinking even more.
Defensively, there are still some roles to be won in the back end rotation at safety, linebacker and defensive end.
Though the big names likely won’t see much, if any, time, there will still be plenty to watch for.
