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PatsProp Preview – Here Come The Saints

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(Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

The Patriots are back in Foxboro for the first of two straight home games, starting tomorrow against the New Orleans Saints. Here’s your Week 3 PatsProp preview!

One’s To Watch

J.C. Jackson

Jackson snagged two picks last week against Zach Wilson, so he should be licking his chops coming up against Jameis Winston tomorrow, who we all know has the tendency to provide turnovers. Jackson is a pending FA at the end of the season and he’s playing like he has something to prove, he should be a fun watch once again.

James White

Jimmy White looked as if he was back to his best last week against the Jets, something which he was unable to do last season as his connection with Cam Newton never materialized. Mac Jones likes to use the check down a bunch, and I expect it to be no different tomorrow as he continues his partnership with White.

Matt Judon

Judon had a quiet game last week and didn’t really stand out like I thought he would. He also appeared on the injury report this week but has managed to work through his ailment and will be raring to go. With Winston’s ability to catch fire in the passing game, Judon getting pressure on him will be vital for the Patriots. Look out for him on the edge tomorrow.

Isaiah Wynn

Wynn has been really lackluster in the opening few weeks, mistakes, penalties, and generally, his poor play has me a little worried. The Saints can bring pressure and the Patriots need him to be better. Whilst the right tackle spot is a concern also, keep an eye on the left side.

Christian Barmore

I’ve been really impressed with how Barmore has started for the team, and I think he will only continue to get better. More of a pass-rushing threat than against the run, I’m interested to see the rookie work more tomorrow against a good Saints offensive front.

When The Saints Go Marching In

Who for New Orleans could potentially cause problems for the Patriots?

Cam Jordan

The former six-time Pro Bowler will be key for the Saints as they head into Foxboro tomorrow. Jordan, who’s just 5.5 sacks away from reaching 100 for his career, is a big area of concern given how leaky the Pats offensive front has looked through the first couple of weeks. If the Patriots can stop Jordan, it will make their day passing the ball a lot easier.

Alvin Kamara

This is obvious, but they have to stop Kamara tomorrow. The Pats have been disappointing in preventing the run so far this season, despite bolstering their defensive front in free agency. Kamara’s ability is undisputed, but he’s had a slow start this season by his own standards.

If the Patriots can limit Kamara’s production tomorrow, their chances of winning skyrocket.

Jameis Winston

Winston is such an interesting player to watch because you don’t know what QB you’re going to get from week to week. He’ll either turn up as a top-10 player, throw for 400 yards and/or 4 TD’s, or, he’ll throw you multiple interceptions, there usually isn’t much in-between. If he turns up, it could be an interesting game for sure.

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Top 5 Patriots to watch vs. Saints

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Excited that football is back tonight. Though I won’t get a chance to really take a look at the “film” until early next week (VACATION!) here’s what I’ll be looking most closely at when I do.

1. Rookies (drafted) – okay maybe this is cheating a bit but as always the players I’m most excited to see are the rookies, especially this year since I’m a defense guy. So far in camp Chandler Jones, Dont’a Hightower and Tavon Wilson all seem to be in line to contribute on defense. We won’t be able to deduce anything schematically tonight, but we will be able to see how the rookies react to the stage and speed.

2. Rookies (undrafted) – every year it seems like an undrafted rookie makes the Pats team and contributes and this year it looks like Justin Francis and Brandon Bolden are the two best candidates. I’m especially excited to see Francis who has had a lot of chatter about him ever since rookie OTAs. Bolden is another one who has flashed at camp.

3. Ryan Mallett – while I think it’s a stretch to imagine Mallet passing Brian Hoyer on the depth chart this year I’d really like to see something out of the tall pocket passer this preseason. He flashed a bit against the Jaguars last year, and that was with minimal off-season/training camp. Mallet has been up and down in camp but ultimately it’s the games that matter.

4. Ras-I Dowling – Ras-I has had a progressively better off-season and IF HE CAN STAY HEALTHY looks primed to show us why he was starting the first two games of 2011. I am curious to get a better sense of his length and physicality in the game, two things that the Pats desperately need in their backfield.

5. Steve Gregory – Gregory is somewhat of an x-factor this year. He was brought in and paid like a starter despite never having overwhelming numbers in San Diego. Some said that was because he was better suited at FS but ended up at SS due to Eric Weddle. Is he the back end answer the Pats lacked for just about all of 2011? We should get a little better sense of that tonight.

Tweets of note from Tuesday’s Patriots-Saints joint practice

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The NFL’s official announcement regarding bounty discipline | ProFootballTalk

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The NFL’s official announcement regarding bounty discipline | ProFootballTalk

Must read for any NFL fan. Of course there will be countless discussions of how the punishment for Bountygate makes Spaygate look minor, though I’m sure there will be plenty of Pats-haters saying the NFL went easy on us for whatever reason.

But maybe, just maybe, this will give us a little more perspective that while Spygate was undoubtedly bad, the Patriots never went to the level of deception that the Saints did, and that the effect on the field and to the NFL brand was viewed as far worse for Bountygate.