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STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

BATTLE OF THE WEEK:
The running back battle is shaping up as an interesting one. With Corey Dillon and Kevin Faulk secure in their roster spots, Mike Cloud, Patrick Pass and Fred McCrary are battling for what could be two spots, especially when Klecko is factored in as a fullback. The team also has used Richard Seymour as a short-yardage fullback and when tight end Benjamin Watson arrived in camp as the third tight end, it creates a numbers crunch among those two positions. It's likely that the Patriots will keep three tight ends, but only one fullback. That could leave McCrary on the outside of the roster crunch along with Cloud. Pass, who is not a true fullback, but offers more versatility, could take the lone fullback roster spot. The Patriots would then use the combination of Klecko, Seymour and the tight ends as true lead blockers when needed.

OTHER BATTLE FRONTS:
Jarvis Green and Dana Stubblefield vs. Ty Warren at defensive end. Warren did not impress in the preseason opener vs. Philly, which could open the door for Green to make a move. Stubblefield is behind both while he learns the defense, but could emerge as August progresses. None of the three registered a tackle against the Eagles.

The wide receiver battle continues to be hotly contested. Players like Chas Gessner and Michael Jennings have impressed, but won't likely have enough to crack the roster. Troy Brown's work on defense as a corner could be Belichick's effort to create depth at corner while keeping one less player at that position and making up the spot at receiver. It seems J.J. Stokes has virtually no shot to make the club.

Je'Rod Cherry has been a regular among the Patriots' special teams since 2001 and one of the team's better players in the kicking game, but with rookie safeties Dexter Reid and Guss Scott ahead of him defensively and also contributing on teams, Cherry's job could be in jeopardy. Shawn Mayer also is in the mix as a special teams player. With the possibility of Belichick keeping six receivers, one of these players could be the odd man out.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
WR David Patten. He has been consistent throughout camp, showing excellent stretch-the-field speed along with the ability to make the tough catch. He grabbed a 19-yard reception and a 9-yard touchdown pass in the team's preseason 24-6 win over Philly and also covered kickoffs and returned a kickoff 34 yards in his only attempt.

from New England Patriots insider page  ¶ 12:03 PM