The undefeated Patriots look to complete their perfect (pre)season against the Giants Thursday night, the final tune up before roster cuts this weekend. We heard something similar last decade, but this one matters a little less than 2007 did. No, this is the preseason and records don't matter, but there's still plenty of intrigue to be played out at the bottom of the roster.
The team has had a good summer, avoiding any devastating injuries, though the loss of starting center David Andrews will sting. Most impressive is how their young rookies and second-year players have continually made positive strides over the last month.
Projected starting left tackle Isaiah Wynn has assimilated into the lineup, while all the rookies have shown improvement nearly every time they take the field. That bodes well for the long-term health of the franchise, as the additions of players like Jake Bailey, Jarrett Stidham and Byron Cowart have re-energized their respective position groups.
Question do still remain, even at the top of the roster on the offensive side of the ball. While Wynn is an intriguing new blindside protector, most of the wide receivers and tight ends who will be playing in the season opener against the Steelers have yet to take the field. They'll figure it all out like they always do, but how exactly it will come together is still anyone's guess.
Defensively, the only question is how good they can be. They have all the pieces and depth across the board. At the very least the defense will be able to keep games close if the offense goes through an adjustment period like they often do in September.
What are the keys to the fourth preseason game that will feature mostly backups and those unlikely to make the team? Let's dive in.
Quarterback Questions
Jarrett Stidham played two-thirds of the third preseason game, giving rise to talk that he could be in line to be the only backup QB the team keeps. Stidham has played well but is he ready to hold the fort should Tom Brady get hurt? How the Patriots play the final game with Stidham and Brian Hoyer will be hotly debated. Does Stidham just need the experience and play the whole game like Danny Etling did last year? Will they want to put Hoyer on display for other teams to consider? Or will they just balance it out and let each get a little work? How many quarterbacks they'll keep will be a hot topic for discussion on Friday and Saturday until the cuts are finally announced.
Hold On for One More Game
Rookie Jake Bailey won the punting job and had some boomers in the third preseason game against the Panthers. But he also had a bad hold on Stephen Gostkowski's missed field goal that left Gostkowski with Ace Ventura flashbacks saying "laces out." Simply put, the pressure will never be off Bailey this season, but in this final game it would be reassuring to see a couple good placekick holds by the rookie.
Swingers
The swing tackle spot, usually a decent role in the offense and one that has been vital due to injuries over the years, is still very much in question. The on-roster contenders are Dan Skipper and Cole Croston, who both got looks at left and right tackle against the Panthers. The ultimate swing tackle might even be on another roster right now, but for now it will be another primetime audition for Skipper and Croston to secure a roster spot.
Patriots.com's Mike Dussault shares his players to watch during the Patriots preseason Week 4 matchup against the New York Giants at Gillette Stadium on Thursday, August 29, 2019.
Jarrett Stidham, QB – Stidham has completed 69.4 percent of his passes this preseason with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Will the team give him the chance to show he can be trusted alone with the backup job? The six sacks he's taken would be a number to improve on, as would the handful of balls that were almost picked off. Continued progression for the rookie quarterback would be a great sign, even if they do decide to keep all three.
Dan Skipper, OT – Skipper has good length but has been exposed at times with a high center of gravity and limited athleticism. After spending the first two weeks running with the first team, Skipper is now fighting for a job and will need to prove he can play both sides of the line to win the swing back-up spot.
Cole Croston, OT – Croston is now in his third year of learning the ropes from Dante Scarnecchia. Will that work pay off and develop him into an offensive lineman who can contribute this season? He's been recovering from an injury and should be hitting his stride against the Giants. His versatility to play guard should help his chances now with David Andrews' situation unknown.
Braxton Berrios, WR – Hopes were high for Berrios coming into the summer and despite a few nice catches and punt returns, he's been quiet of late, missing the Panthers game. Few players could use a bounce-back effort like Berrios. If he's healthy enough to play he should see a lot of action and might need to outperform Olszewski to stick around Foxboro one way or another.
Jakobi Meyers, WR – Meyers is probably close to a roster lock, but his spot on the depth chart is far from assured. He's torn up the backups in game action, but looked like an undrafted rookie when playing with Tom Brady and against starters. Can we learn anything new from Meyers in this game? Probably not, but if he plays he should be good for another five-plus catches.
Gunner Olszewski, WR – The most direct beneficiary of Berrios' absence and the injuries atop the depth chart at receiver has been Olszewski, who showed good vision and shiftiness returning punts against the Panthers. The former Division 2 cornerback would be a surprise to make the roster, but given his progression this summer he has a chance to cement his place as a practice squad priority and maybe more.
Duke Dawson, CB – This might be Dawson's last chance to earn a roster spot as he figures to play close to a full game. The 2018 second-round pick is primarily a slot cornerback who can play special teams but that might not be enough this year with a log jam in the secondary. With Jonathan Jones due to hit free agency in 2020 there's an argument to be made about keeping Dawson around with next year in mind.
Jake Bailey, P – A blown field goal hold hurt an otherwise excellent punting performance by Bailey in his first game as the only punter on the roster. With missed field goals in all three preseason games, the Patriots will be looking to get back on track and Bailey's holds will be under scrutiny.
Ryan Izzo, TE – The second-year player was a surprise starter with the first team offense in Week 3 and figures to get more action against the Giants in an attempt to lock up a roster spot. His performance against the Panthers was the best we've seen him play this summer and another solid performance could secure his spot, at least as a September placeholder for Ben Watson.
Hjalte Froholdt, G – Froholdt is mostly guaranteed a roster spot due to his draft status but from his play alone he's not exactly a slam dunk. The entire second string offensive line had their struggles against the Panthers and they'll all need to bounce back against the Giants, especially with Ted Karras expected to move to the starting center spot. Froholdt could find himself the top interior backup now if he can defeat James Ferentz.
Slot Receiver Death Match
Julian Edelman, Josh Gordon and N'Keal Harry would appear to be the roster locks at the wide receiver position. Phillip Dorsett and Demaryius Thomas are right behind them, leaving a dogfight for one, maybe two, more roster spots between Jakobi Meyers, Braxton Berrios and Gunner Olszewski. Meyers is the favorite of the trio, leaving Berrios and Olszewksi going head to head. They're similar players, slot receivers with punt return abilities. Berrios will be looking to make up ground after missing Week 3, and watching Olszewski pop as a returner. Both would be practice squad possibilities as well. How much the team wants to retain either will be in large part a result of their performances against the Giants.
Will the Week 1 Tight End Please Stand Up?
Will we see Matt Lacosse for the first time since Week 1 when he got hurt? He's been at practice this week, a sign that he should be ready to go. Lance Kendricks and Ben Watson, both suspended anyway for Week 1, haven't been at practice, meaning there isn't much depth to work with. Ryan Izzo got a long look against the Panthers and could get further action this week. Stephen Anderson and Eric Saubert must also know this is their last chance to make an impression. Hopefully the Patriots can come out of this game feeling good about at least one tight end for the opener against Pittsburgh.
Prediction
The Patriots wrap up their impossible dream undefeated (pre)season by defeating the Giants 38-35. Haven't we seen this movie before? Hopefully none of the few players that will have an impact on the regular season get hurt. And hopefully those players who could use a redshirt year sustain just a minor enough injury to land them on Injured Reserve for the year, keeping them in football and giving them another crack at it next summer.
Then it will finally be time to turn the page to the regular season, the most exciting time of the summer.
