Two weeks of apply down, three exhibitions to go.
The strain of the Patriots’ summer time will ratchet up Thursday with their preseason opener in opposition to the Texans. Several starters are anticipated to sit down, however that doesn’t imply there gained’t be a lot to study from this sport and the 2 that can comply with. Like most groups, the Patriots are searching for solutions to main questions on their roster, whereas having fun with just a few nice surprises so far in coaching camp (howdy, Demario Douglas).
As they pivot towards the preseason, listed below are 4 of the Pats’ most vital questions with the common season lower than one month away.
1. Will the offense add assist at RB and OT?
The wants listed below are as clear as the brand new scoreboard dominating Gillette Stadium’s north finish zone.
After Rhamondre Stevenson, the Pats have three operating backs — Kevin Harris, Pierre Strong and J.J. Tayor — who may very well be casualties on cutdown day. Ty Montgomery’s left leg damage has sophisticated issues, and perhaps he returns quickly, however Montgomery hasn’t topped 200 scrimmage yards since 2018. Is a 30-year-old with minimal explosion left in his legs the best backup for Stevenson?
Meanwhile, Stevenson’s workload is being managed this summer time, which has allowed Harris and Strong to separate first-team reps throughout practices. Neither participant has pulled away from the opposite, although, so the Patriots just lately hosted Ezekiel Elliott on a free-agent go to. Will he signal?
Up entrance, Riley Reiff and Conor McDermott have bookended a disappointing offensive line that allowed 20 sacks in workforce intervals during the last three practices. Of course, the road is down three projected starters, together with Trent Brown who solely just lately rejoined workforce drills. If the Patriots decide they should commerce for an additional offensive deal with, will one be obtainable?
Considering each NFL entrance workplace is all the time on the hunt for high quality tackles, the earlier the Pats soar into the market, the higher off they may be.
2. Can the cornerbacks survive with out Jack Jones?
Despite drafting a cornerback within the first spherical, the Patriots protection continues to be depending on Jack Jones to appreciate its full potential. It explains why Jones, who completed final season on the suspended checklist, acquired arrested this offseason and walked out of a apply final week, continues to obtain reps with the highest unit in apply.
The Pats want him to be obtainable to area their three finest corners in opposition to a litany of elite passing offenses on their schedule. If Jones is finally suspended for going through 10 counts of felony gun fees referring to his June arrest, it may power the Patriots into unhealthy matchups. After him, incumbent starter Jonathan Jones and first-round rookie Christian Gonzalez, their depth is shaky.
Gonzalez, it appears, is the important thing. By advantage of his draft standing, Gonzalez ought to be a Week 1 starter. He’s constantly run with the first-team protection in apply, however slowed down just lately in coaching camp.
“Like all the rookies, he has a long way to go, making progress, learning every day,” Bill Belichick mentioned this week. “You know, new calls, new conditions. As our offense evolves and does extra issues, it presents extra issues for the protection. As the protection expands their scheme, it creates extra issues for the offense. So, there may be loads of new studying and educating, new conditions that come up every single day.
“Christian is a smart kid, working hard, getting a lot of reps out here. He’s getting better.”
Behind him, the workforce has rolled out 5-foot-8 Marcus Jones, whose finest residence may be within the slot, and late-round rookies Ameer Speed and Isaiah Bolden. Speed and Bolden have seen an rising variety of reps with the second-team protection in latest practices. But sport motion, even within the preseason, is a very completely different story.
Will Marcus Jones, Speed and Bolden maintain up in opposition to stiffer competitors?
3. Can Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte contribute?
Most of the highest highlights at Patriots coaching camp have been authored by the identical two gamers: sixth-round rookie receivers Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte.
Douglas is unbeaten in 1-on-1 receiving drills in opposition to the cornerbacks, usually racing away from them along with his mixture of above-average quickness and lengthy pace. Boutte, in the meantime, is making twirling landing catches behind the top zone throughout 11-on-11 intervals. If both carry out constantly sufficient through the preseason, the entrance workplace might view No. 3 receiver Kendrick Bourne as a possible commerce chip to assist tackle their different positions of want.
Bourne, who’s been in commerce rumors for the higher a part of the final 12 months, is in a contract 12 months. But his exit would solely be precipitated by the arrivals of Douglas and/or Boutte, whose hardest exams are nonetheless forward.
“I always had that mentality of I need to get better,” Douglas mentioned this week. “I need to do something. I believed my weight was a problem (in college). I’d say my height, but I can’t change that. As I was going through my years, I kept gaining and gaining. My coaches at Liberty helped me.”
Patriots further factors: Rookie WR Demario Douglas explains his spectacular weight good points
4. What components of Bill O’Brien’s playbook will keep and go?
In separate press conferences Tuesday, quarterbacks Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe revealed O’Brien has put in most of his offense already. Roughly 80%, in accordance with Zappe.
According to Jones, not all of these performs and ideas will keep within the playbook. The Patriots are actively tinkering with their new offense, as they study what works and what will not in apply. The preseason ought to go an extended technique to informing these choices, beginning with Thursday evening.
“I think we have a lot of stuff in. I think we’re trying to just expand and try things, and keep the things that we like in and take the things out that we don’t like. That’s what practice is all about, and I’ve been very happy with Coach [Bill] O’Brien and all of us have,” Jones mentioned. “We’re just trying to raise the standard here and just do it right every day.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com