The lifeblood of each NFL coaching camp is at all times the identical: competitors.
Offense towards protection, getting older veterans versus keen rookies, coaches pushing gamers and teammates stepping over each other as they climb the depth chart.
While Mac Jones’ wars towards Bill Belichick’s protection would be the highlights of summer season in Foxboro, a number of smaller battles will function the constructing blocks for the Patriots’ upcoming season. Those battles, performed out inside a number of key positions, will decide whether or not the Pats have sufficient to finally compete when the video games depend. Will sufficient high quality starters emerge for a playoff marketing campaign or will the group’s weaknesses be laid naked underneath an unforgiving solar?
Here are the 5 place battles to observe over Patriots coaching camp and the preseason.
Wide receiver
JuJu Smith-Schuster and DeVante Parker can safely be projected because the Patriots prime two wideouts. After that? Place your bets.
Kendrick Bourne and Tyquan Thornton will vie for the No. 3 job to start out camp, with the potential to supplant Parker. They’ll additionally cope with tight finish Mike Gesicki, who is predicted to operate like a giant slot receiver in Bill O’Brien’s offense.
Last season, the Patriots had excessive hopes for Thornton, a second-round rookie, earlier than he broke his collarbone within the preseason. Once Thornton returned to the sphere, he noticed extra snaps than Bourne, however proved far much less productive. Thornton common virtually half as many yards per goal and completed with fewer whole yards, catches and targets.
But, if Thornton — whose 4.2 velocity is unmatched throughout the roster — could make the proverbial Year 2 leap, the complexion of the Patriots offense will change. Opposing cornerbacks should backpedal a couple of yards deeper pre-snap, safeties will tilt in his route, and that gravity may draw consideration away from different receivers. If not, it’s Bourne’s job.
Provided he beats out Gesicki for snaps on most Sundays, Bourne would introduce a a lot totally different dynamic because the No. 3 possibility. He’s listed at 205 kilos on the group’s web site, a sign he intends to be a significantly better yards-after-catch participant this season. A stronger Bourne is a extra versatile and harmful Bourne, but when — and provided that — he beats out the speedy Thornton first.
Other names to know embrace rookies Kayshon Boutte, Demario Douglas and Malik Cunningham, a transformed school quarterback.
Offensive deal with
Trent Brown can safely be penciled in to start out at left deal with. He’s probably the most proficient offensive lineman on the roster, a 6-foot-8, 380-pounder who at his greatest acts as an unstoppable power within the run sport and immovable object in move safety. In truth, the one power sturdy sufficient to cease Brown appears to be himself.
Assuming Brown maximizes his alternative in a contract yr, the correct deal with job will probably be thrust into the highlight. Riley Reiff must be the presumed favourite, except at 34 — after being proven the door by the Bears and Bengals in consecutive seasons — there’s too little left within the tank. If so, former Broncos swing deal with Calvin Anderson is the following man up.
Ideally, two clear-cut starters will emerge from this trio, although in the event that they fail or are sidelined, Conor McDermott ought to once more be referred to as into responsibility. Signed off the Jets’ observe squad midseason, McDermott exceeded expectations down the stretch final yr, however his ceiling seems to be as a swing deal with. After him, it’s fourth-round rookie Sidy Sow, a university guard, and 2022 seventh-rounder Andrew Stueber, who missed final yr.
Cornerback
Setting apart Jack Jones’ authorized state of affairs, Jonathan Jones and first-round rookie Christian Gonzalez challenge as succesful outdoors cornerbacks, But if there’s an damage? Or Gonzalez hits a rookie wall?
What then?
How Patriots plan to deploy new playmakers on offense
It’s a query greatest answered if Jack Jones is out there this season and/or Marcus Jones can take over the nickelback place this yr. But even when Marcus Jones assumes full-time nickelback duties — a job he is higher suited to than taking part in outdoors at 5-foot-8 — the Patriots are skinny outdoors the numbers. Jalen Mills’ transfer to security has seen to that, abandoning solely Myles Bryant, skilled wholesome scratch Shaun Wade and seventh-round rookies Ameer Speed and Isaiah Bolden.
Speed and Bolden can run with most each receiver within the league, however each include questions on their relative inexperience on protection. Whether they issue into this competitors or not, place coach Mike Pellegrino have to be at his greatest to attract the perfect from this group.
Safety
Kyle Dugger? Check. Adrian Phillips? Check.
Two of the Patriots’ steadiest defenders will probably be locks in nearly any defensive bundle Belichick chooses to deploy, and must be joined by considered one of Mills or Jabrill Peppers on most snaps. Together, they will be charged with filling the free security snaps Devin McCouty’s left behind in retirement. Last month, Belichick raved in regards to the enchancment he is seen from Peppers, who performed free security from his first two NFL seasons in Cleveland.
“Oh my god, yeah. He’s a much different player now than he was last year at this time or even in training camp. A full year after the injury, a lot of confidence in the communication, the system, his assignments. He’s playing fast, aggressive, helping out his teammates. Last year he was trying to learn things, now he’s helping out his teammates, anticipating, making calls or adjustments that maybe help him or possibly help his teammate be in a better position to defend a certain play or type of play. Yeah, he’s been great.”
And remember about third-round rookie Marte Mapu, one of many darlings of OTAs and minicamp practices.
Kicker
The Patriots drafted Maryland’s Chad Ryland within the fourth spherical final April, as sturdy an indication as any they imagine he is their kicker of the long run. Ryland boasts a robust leg and expertise kicking in chilly climate. Ryland was drafted greater than former kicker Stephen Gostkowski, one other Patriots fourth-round decide, who lived as much as expectations over 14 years in New England because the franchise’s all-time chief in factors scored.
So, Ryland’s the man, proper? Well, Nick Folk stays on the roster.
Since becoming a member of the Patriots in 2019, Folk has turn out to be probably the most correct kicker in franchise historical past. His leg power has waned, as seen when a 46-yard try clanged off the crossbar late final yr. He was cash inside 40 yards, however the lack of energy in his proper leg additionally price the group on kickoffs, the place they allowed three returns for touchdowns, most within the NFL.
Honorable point out: Backup working again, inside linebacker, kick returner, punter
Source: www.bostonherald.com