We are approximately 60 hours from the opening of Patriots training camp, and by now you should know all the camp battles to watch. But no matter who wins the starting jobs, or who is lost to injury, the Patriots will have to take the field against four tough opponents to start the 2010 season and stopping the run will be critical in each of those games.
Three of the first four opponents were top 10 rushing teams in 2009 (Jets 1st, Dolphins 4th, Bengals 9th), and the fourth team (Buffalo 16th) just added the best running back in the 2010 draft, CJ Spiller.
Everyone saw what happened against the Ravens when Ray Rice and pals gashed the Patriots for 234 yards rushing through whatever hole Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren weren’t in, so it’s pretty much assured that the early opponents in 2010 will attack the same places.
Whoever wins the battle at right defensive end will be thrown into the fire early, expect Cedric Benson, Shonn Greene, Ronnie Brown/Ricky Williams, and CJ Spiller/Fred Jackson to come right at him.
So our number one Training Camp Point of Emphasis: STOP THE RUN!