New England Patriots: 5 Things to Watch in Matchup Against Jacksonville Jaguars

#1 Kony Ealy vs. Deatrich Wise, Jr.

One of the most intriguing battles to watch throughout the preseason is one that appeared to be set in stone prior to training camp. The left defensive end job is one that Rob Ninkovich has had locked down for years. He was expected to play on passing downs while Kony Ealy took the field on early downs and short-yardage situations.

Instead, Ninkovich retired and Ealy has struggled in one-on-ones. All of a sudden Deatrich Wise, Jr., a rookie fourth-round pick, is in contention to take the bulk of snaps opposite former Arkansas teammate Trey Flowers. Wise is currently a more well-balanced defensive end than fellow rookie Derek Rivers, who is more of a pass-rush specialist at this point.

Wise is listed as a third-string DE behind both Ealy and Geneo Grissom, but depth charts mean nothing when Bill Belichick is calling the shots. Every week is a new game of chess for the coach, who exploits individual matchups better than any coach in the NFL.

If Wise does end up winning the role, there’s no guarantee Ealy even makes the team. Despite being one of New England’s top acquisitions this offseason, the Patriots may determine a combination of Wise, Rivers and Lawrence Guy fulfills everything the team needs in a defensive end. There isn’t any dead cap involved, so cutting Ealy wouldn’t hurt the team from a salary cap standpoint. Ealy is the most proven defensive end on the roster and could be in line for a big season, but a poor start could leave him on the outside looking in.