Joe Mays is quickly becoming a fan favorite with his tough play.


Bryan Smith - Rotation of Defensive Ends Tonight

A third-round pick a year ago, Smith was a major disappointment in his rookie season, not even suiting up for a single game in 2008. This year, he hopes to change that by showing that he has the edge speed to warrant some playing time on passing downs.

He didn't have a great camp, but I wouldn't say it was bad, either. However, for a guy picked in the third round who didn't produce at all in his rookie year, not having a great camp is a let-down. He will have a chance to show what he can do tonight with Trent Cole and Victor Abiamiri out agains the Pats.

If he doesn't show something in the preseason, he may find himself on the outside looking in.



Joe Mays - Starting Middle Linebacker Tonight

With the season-ending injury to Stewart Bradley, most people (including myself) assumed that Omar Gaither would step into the starting middle linebacker position without getting much of a fight. It made sense considering Gaither had started there before, and Mays is only a second-year player.

However, Mays received about 75 percent of the starting reps at middle linebacker, and took full advantage of every snap.

Mays made a mark last preseason as a rookie, and looks to carry over a good camp into preseason again this year. We know that he can play around the line of scrimmage and stop the run, but seeing him in pass coverage will be the real key. If he can show that he can cover in the middle of the field, Gaither won't be seeing much time.



Omar Gaither - Backup WILL/MIKE Tonight

As mentioned before, it was assumed that Gaither would step into the starting role at middle linebacker after losing his job at the WILL position to Akeem Jordan last season. That has not been the case, and now Gaither is fighting for two starting jobs. If he can't beat out Jordan, he'd like to surpass Mays, or vice versa.

Gaither is a competitor and a guy who the defense really likes as a player and a person. They say that a quarterback must win over the lockerroom, but a middle linebacker must do the same, and he has done that. Guys respect him and will listen to him.

The other thing working in Gaither's favor is the fact that he knows the defense, while Mays is still trying to learn everything that the playbook has to offer. Gaither is in the middle of two very interesting battles, and the preseason will have a lot to do with the outcome of both.



Quintin Demps - Starting Free Safety Tonight

If you'll notice, every positional listing has the qualifier of "tonight" added to it, and that's for good reason. Simply put, just because they are the starter tonight does not mean they'll be the starter next week, or come September 13th.

Demps is getting pushed for a guy in Sean Jones who is attempting to make the switch from strong to free safety. He's a ballhawk and has experience as a starter. Demps, on the other hand, is going into only his second year in the league and his first as a starter since the departure of Brian Dawkins to Denver.

Demps needs to show that he can make reads on the fly and really cover a guy going deep. He'll get a great test tonight going against a group of guys who created the most prolific offense the NFL has ever seen in Tom Brady, Randy Moss, and Wes Welker. Tonight will be a great way to see if Demps is really ready or not.



Dimitri Patterson - Fifth Cornerback Tonight

Patterson is quickly overtaking the favorite, Jack Ikegwuonu, for the spot of fifth corner on this team, and rightfully so. Patterson is an incredibly physical guy who is not afraid to get into a receiver's face and really make him work not only to run his route, but to get the ball. Patterson will frustrate a lot of receivers into silly mistakes.

He was working hard all throughout training camp and is now looking to make an impression on the coaching staff tonight. I'd say he has a few steps on Ikegwuonu, but he can really separate himself with a good game tonight, and will certainly be worth watching.

Other Players to Watch: CB Jack Ikegwuonu, OLB Chris Gocong, CB Ellis Hobbs, OLB Moise Fokou