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Greetings and many blessings to you Skins fans we usually do this during regular season, but figured why not, this is an exciting time and I looked forward to this training camp and game not just because it was the first. I live in VA, and most of my friends are Skins or Ravens fans, I like the SKins as my #2 team, while detesting the Ravens for the most part. I try to be objective anyway, but am more inclined to be positive towards the Skins. So go ahead, ask any question you wish, I will do my best to be diplomatic and if you hate the Pats or its players thats fine too I might disagree on certain things but will try not to be defensive and am grateful that most of the fans here have been welcoming. I hadn't been over here since the Seattle/Washington game a couple years ago, and wanted to tell everyone not to be distressed too much and that it was very impressive what RG3 was able to do before getting hurt in that game and was sure he would be back and that turned out to be true. Now he is finally at full power again hopefully.

I saw highlights of last 2 days of joint practices, and a friend of mine and his wife have been at both and they filled me in much better then reporters. I will give my take below in a post, but I thought it was fairly even in most matchups with both sides making plays, with exception of Brady doing well vs Skins D, otherwise it was back and fourth.

Jackson is great to practice against, I am still envious of you guys landing him I always liked him as a player.

My Pats abbreviated preview is this. One of most exciting buildups to a season and personel wise since years ago in 2007. Very much glad Vollmer who is a top 3 RT when healthy is back, Cannon did well there last year, and could be our answer at RG, making Conny the answer at C or Stork since Wendell was very bad last year. Solder is considered by many to be a top 6 LT but he has some concussion history which is scary. Our OTs are top notch, but it remains to be seen what we do at interior OL. Mankins is older.

Our WRs are better then some think, Dobson really showed the potential to be a deep threat and playmaker last year before injury, so hopefully he stays healthy and makes second year leap since he was one of most promising rookie WRs last year. Lafell is a question mark to me but is at least serviceable. Edelman is actually learning to be competitive vs Revis at least with Brady throwing, Amendola is a health concern of course. KT and Boyce have potential, KT was most ready early last year, but then faded. Dobson has 4.37-4.42 40 times, 6-3, good vertical, I really believe he will be a star. KT surprised me, but his fade concerned me last year, Dobson banged up in limited snaps made a nice play or two in AFCCG. Too bad he probably won't be back for a week or so so we can't see him in this game. Boyce has potential, ran 4.34 with broken foot, but that hasn't translated yet as much as we hoped but again he was a rookie. Gladly trade you Boyce for Jackson? : )

At TE its a well known situation. Gronk is by far the best TE around when healthy, a slightly better receiver then Graham, and a better blocker then any other TE. The health rap is both legit and overblown in some regards. The last two years and once in college serious injury concerns. His first two years in league played every game despite taking a pounding. He is also one of the best deep threats in the NFL, as Bleacher Report pointed out in their list of top Deep threats, that is not necessarily something all TEs are good at, let alone great at. His YPC, YPA, as well as YAC are all good. After him we have question marks, and one or two guys that are serviceable to good blockers and ok to not so good receivers. So at TE we live and die by the Gronk.

LB, stacked, even some great depth guys for coverage, etc. Collins might be the most athletic LB in the league, he is over 255 lbs, yet runs 4.60ish in the 40, while most WRs have a vertical of 32 or so at 200 lbs, Collins is 41.5 which is insane. He exploded the last 4-5 games last year, making Luck miserable, sacks, INT, etc in same game. Mayo decent coverage guy, can do it all, also good size. Hightower, mamoth, not great at coverage, better then Spikes though, 270+ lbs, powerful, seems like doing well as pass rusher in practice. Depth now.

S, McCourty is at least a top 5 FS, not much at SS except unless Harmom, etc step up.

CB is stacked, our #3 CB was ranked in the top 10 in his rookie season in limited snaps. Browner is a good CB in most defenses, but he is an excellent CB when he is across from Revis and can literally maul guys the first 5 yards and have a guy like DMC at FS to clean up if guys break free from his coverage which completely changes the dynamic vs almost all other CBs then Revis where you need safety help constantly when covering a top guy.

Our DL is really good at both DE positions, Jones had 11.5 sacks last year, chased down Cam Newton while he was making most of the other DL look slow, and 11.5 sacks was only his second year. He is from an athletic family, the UFC LHW champ is one of his brothers Jon Bones Jones, and the other is an NFL player. Wilfork has looked good, but him and Kelly are older and coming off ACL. Easley had two torn ACLs, but when healthy would have likely been a top 5 of the first round draft pick, you wont face him either, but he could really help us. Some depth. We'll see.

QB: I really still believe Tom is the best QB in the league, and still has a very good arm. I do believe his closest competition is Aaron Rodgers because he has the running ability to compliment his passing skills, great arm, fast release, etc but I still think Tom's combination of talents is the best, but its an honest debate. Peyton has formidable skills too, yet the arm strength degradation and drop off in big games is an issue he is still top 3 for sure, if someone wants to say he is tops because of last year, fine, agree to disagree. So Tom is really amazing to watch and I consider that a privilege and without him our 31st ranked d in 2011 never makes it to and almost wins SB 46. RG3 is a very interesting talent and I could see him becoming something like Aaron Rodgers if he can clean up a few things and keep growing. Of course Tom is 37, and while I believe he can play into his early 40s, its unusual and any player is one bad blow away from bad things.

So those are some opening thoughts. Will field questions, and thank you guys for being very welcoming to us Pats fans and blessings on your team and families health, and ours, and hopefully its a great game any everyone stays healthy.