A Sip of Kool-Aid

Time for a tall, icy cold glass of Belichick Kool-Aid.

Starting next Monday, the Patriots run a preseason gauntlet of 3 games in 10 days. Meanwhile, the regular season seems farther away than it did a week ago. For now the citizens of Patriots Nation are left to devour reports from training camp as we wait and wonder…

Will Bobby Carpenter be that next journeyman veteran who flourishes under the cool tutelage of Coach Belichick? Ideally, Carpenter will sub in on passing downs for Brandon Spikes with Dont’a Hightower shifting into the middle. He represents some insurance for Jerod Mayo on the weak side as well. We hear the comparisons to Mike Vrabel as both struggled to break out as starters early in their careers and both are from Ohio State but I’d be more than happy with Roman Phifer circa 2001-04. Phifer was a solid starter throughout his 14-year career, logged over 100 tackles in just his third season with the Rams, and followed Belichick to New England when he resigned as HC of the NYJ, picking up three Super Bowl rings along the way. Also, Phifer did not attend Ohio State (UCLA), so maybe that’s why we don’t hear about him.

Can Spikes stay healthy and on the field in 2012? It’s clear that the Pats D is better when Spikes is on the field. He’s a beast in the middle and with Hightower on the strong side it puts Mayo in space where he can be a playmaker. Missing a start or two is an occupational hazard for a player like Spikes so I’ll temper my expectations and hope we see 14 games started in the regular season and a healthy playoff run.

Are there enough snaps to go around at DE? With first-year phenom Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich looking like Game 1 starters, Trevor Scott, Jermaine Cunningham (yes, I’m counting on Jermaine Cunningham) and rookie Jake Bequette all receiving positive notices in training camp and the outside chance that Andre Carter might still walk through those doors, the Patriots are loaded at defensive end. They have the personnel to follow the Giants’ blueprint of putting four DE on the field on passing downs but I wouldn’t expect to see that during the preseason. In related news, Matt Hasselbeck is hoping Jake Locker wins the Game 1 starting QB job for the Tennessee Titans.

Are there enough footballs to go around on offense? The consensus among Pigskin Pundits and Bobbleheads is that Gronk’s numbers will regress in 2012 in part because his 2011 numbers were Money in the Caymans and in part because Brandon Lloyd will get a significant number of targets outside the numbers or because Aaron Hernandez is ready for his close up plus Jabar Gaffney is back and Deion Branch never left and maybe Donte Stallworth still has some tread left on his tires and did I forget Wes Welker? Yeah, Wes Welker is looking Top 5 and then there’s the running/screen game which might get a little more action with Josh McDaniels calling the plays. Yeah. The Patriots really should’ve signed Plaxico Burress.

Can Jeremy Ebert make it through to the practice squad? I hope so but I wouldn’t bet on it. I know I’m making this judgment based on Ebert’s college highlight reel but I could see Ebert taking over from Welker a year or two down the road. I could also see him in a Dolphins jersey to start the season.

Will Nate Ebner secure a roster spot? It seemed early on the converted rugby player would find a spot on the practice squad but I’ve been hearing the special teams specialist mentioned at the safety position in recent practice reports. It would seem to be less than ideal to have two rookies – Tavon Wilson and Ebner – backing up Patrick Chung and Steve Gregory given Chung’s recent injury history (14 games played in 2010, 8 in 2011). Veteran James Ihedigbo would seem a much better insurance policy Chung’s inevitable personal disability claims but I’ll be looking for #43 in the upcoming preseason games.

Will the Patriots carry a true fullback on the final 53? Eric Kettani (listed as a running back on the team site’s roster) has seen more time in pads than Spencer Larsen. This was a big storyline early in training camp but I’d be surprised if Kettani or Larsen makes the final 53.

Who will be the third tight end? We’ve yet to see Daniel Fells or Visanthe Shiancoe in full pads. In their absence – and some downtime for Gronk and Hernandez – I’ve noted converted LB Alex Silvestro showing up in blog posts from training camp. Can he run block?

I suppose this is a good point to mention that when you’re worried about your third tight, you ain’t got 99 problems. But we do have one…

Has Nate Solder looked bad in camp because he’s playing opposite Chandler Jones or should we worry about Tom Brady’s health? Rather than singling Solder out, I suppose we’re all worried about the offensive line in general. Logan Mankins is back but he’s coming off ACL surgery. Sebastian Vollmer has yet to leave the sidelines and starter-if-the-season-began-today Marcus Cannon (#turnstile) has everyone remembering he was projected to play guard at the pro level. How bad is Vollmer’s back? Bad enough the Patriots were linked to free agent Chad Clifton, a former pro bowl tackle for the Packers who – wait for it – has a history of back injuries! Okay, so those rumors have been put to rest but it certainly makes you wonder about Vollmer’s prospects for 2012. Dan Koppen has looked better of late but if – a bigger if by the day – Brian Waters returns Dan Connolly would project to the starting center spot and Koppen would project to the Atlanta Falcons. Dante Scarnecchia has done more with less; however, if there has been one constant in Patriots losses, it has been their inability to control the line of scrimmage on offense and protect Tom Terrific.

Looks like those screen passes Josh McDaniels is so fond of could come in handy after all.