Tampa Bay Buccaneers Preseason 2011: Patriots Will Give a Better Picture

One more time, just to rub it in.

The Kansas City Chiefs stunk up Arrowhead Stadium last week. They simply weren't prepared to play and got their butts handed to them by a team that is simply farther along in its preparations and evaluations for the upcoming season.

Now on to one of the NFL's elite teams.

The New England Patriots, to channel wild-man Dennis Green, well, the P-Men are who we think they are.

New England is damn good.

A great organization that drafts well and finds players who fit the system. Should be headed for yet another playoff appearance in 2012.

Sounds like another team we know. Although it will take a mighty effort for these "youngry" Buccaneers to make the playoffs this year.

Thursday night at Raymond James, the Buccaneers will get a helmet-full of P-Men. Heck, Tom Brady might even get his feet wet this time. He sat out last week, much to his chagrin, but it's not as though Bill Belichick doesn't know what he has there.

Belichick is smart enough and goes with the Raheem Morris mantra that the most important thing in the preseason is to get your starters to Game 1 healthy. Heck, the Hoodie knew he didn't need Brady in order for his team to beat the beejeebers out of the Jacksonville Jaguars last week.

What the Buccaneers will have in front of them is a team that will test the run defense, a team that will test the pass defense, a team that will come out and hustle. Fact is, this will be the best film evaluation opportunity for Tampa Bay.

It will be a great evaluation because teams like New England typically have decent depth—it's why they get to the playoffs year in and year out.

There are some intriguing storylines with the Patriots. Rumors started last week that big-name free agents like Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco could actually end up being released at the final cut-down.

The Bucs will get to eyeball the blob that is Haynesworth, but he may be stranded on the New England sideline. They'll also get to see if New England is serious about playing more 4-3 defense as an option to its long-standing 3-4.

Going into Thursday night, here are some things to watch:

Keep and eye on defensive lineman Frank Okam. The big guy could be the key to the re-tooled D-line. He's huge (6'5'', 350) and can be that guy who plugs holes. His role becomes very important as it becomes more and more evident that Brian Price will not be ready at season's start.

Mason Foster made his debut with a splash play early in the KC contest. Will he continue to make his presence felt?

Quincy Black is off to a great start and has had a good camp.

Josh Freeman will have a bigger challenge this week.

Will the special teams continue to look special?

How will the offensive line handle the Patriots front?

Can the offensive line open holes for the running game?

Dez Briscoe stepped up his game last week. Who's next?

Remember, the preseason is all about finding those players who step it up.

Everyone will need to step it up. There are hungry players on that New England sideline as well.

Hungry, yes. "Youngry?" No.