2017 Minicamp Thread

[long distance]

from Reiss:

Even in a minicamp practice that Bill Belichick described as "not real football" because players aren't in full pads and there is no contact, a lot can be learned about the culture and across-the-board accountability Belichick works to create annually with his team. On Thursday, the third-unit defense (which includes mostly rookies and inexperienced players) made two substitution mistakes; on the first, the D only had 10 players on the field and on the second the unit had one extra player (12).
So Belichick sent every defender on the 90-man roster -- as well as all defensive coaches -- for two laps around the field. The message was obvious: We're all in this together and those types of mental mistakes are unacceptable.

 

[jah]

Spoiler alert: if it comes down to Foster vs. Bolden, it's Bolden unless Foster is drastically better than he was.

 

[Bombdog]

Foster has a good chance to make the team as Bolden made some major mistakes last year. The one that comes to mind is dropping the wide open pass against Pittsburgh. He also made a couple bad plays on ST one time he knocked a punt into the end zone that would of pinned the other team deep. Plus I think that Foster has more upside then Bolden

 

[Dragda]

I just don't have enough information on Foster. Is he coachable? Can he make special teams tackles? How tough is he?

He cleared waivers last year. Why not this year with the "deep draft?"

Bolden is a kid you know. That said they only signed him for a year at minimum salary.

 

[ashley]

Foster definitely brings more upside and potential, but I'm not sure if it's enough to beat out Bolden. I for one will be routing hard for him though!!!

 

[1960Pats]

I hear what you're saying about roster battles and logjams at certain positions. I would be pretty surprised to see Brissett released prior to a second season. He'd really have to be sucking pretty badly, and it would leave the team in an awkward situation since there's no resolution with the Garoppolo dilemma.

I think there's a pretty good chance that it will be 3 QBs on the roster for the season.

I think the versatility of the Pats other players makes three QBs an easier choice.

 

[NG Pats Fan]

Foster definitely brings more upside and potential, but I'm not sure if it's enough to beat out Bolden. I for one will be routing hard for him though!!!

Neither will see much playing time except on ST

 

[captain stone]

If all RBs are healthy, then neither Foster nor Bolden should make the 53.

 

[long distance]

This is from last offseason but feels appropriate to put it here.

BBs rationale (not rule) on players media talk. Hilarious of course reading about it from this side; scrupulous . but like most times - simple and true.

“You get coached up every day on how to talk to the media,” the former Patriots defensive tackle Terrance Knighton said on “PFT Live.” “One time, I did an interview and I gave a guy credit. I thought I was doing the right thing by digging up my teammate and saying he was going to have a great year. We got in a team meeting and (head coach Bill Belichick) called me out, basically said to me, ‘You’re not an expert, you’re not a D-line expert, we don’t need you evaluating guys.’


Read more at: Ex-Patriot Gives Inside Look At How Players Are Coached To Address Media

 

[JPPT1974]

Yeah as really Terrance meant well but not in the eyes of BB!

 

[Ross12]

Man, it really blows when your binky is killing it but plays an extremely loaded position... If he did clear waivers I hope he would be willing to stick around on the practice squad again, but he may also have just done that last year to show his dedication on earning a spot this year. If he still doesn't make it performing as well as he is, who knows? One other thought, though, is that I think Dion is a free agent next year. The Pats may try to get one more good year out of him and then move on to Foster... but yet, Dion's still somehow only 26 years old and can probably play a few more years if they manage his snaps and he doesn't hurt himself again. Tough to call, but ultimately if they lose Foster because Dion returns to 2015 form, gotta say I'd take that 10 times out of 10.

 

[Love The Drake]

Bolden has to be the odd man out and Foster may be in competition with not just Lewis but Danny A?

 

[long distance]

Man, it really blows when your binky is killing it but plays an extremely loaded position... If he did clear waivers I hope he would be willing to stick around on the practice squad again, but he may also have just done that last year to show his dedication on earning a spot this year. If he still doesn't make it performing as well as he is, who knows? One other thought, though, is that I think Dion is a free agent next year. The Pats may try to get one more good year out of him and then move on to Foster... but yet, Dion's still somehow only 26 years old and can probably play a few more years if they manage his snaps and he doesn't hurt himself again. Tough to call, but ultimately if they lose Foster because Dion returns to 2015 form, gotta say I'd take that 10 times out of 10.

yep. and its not just Foster.
love for team in June means heartbreak in September..

 

[Ross12]

Bolden has to be the odd man out and Foster may be in competition with not just Lewis but Danny A?

I think it's kinda likely that Bolden is let go if the team believes Burkhead can mostly cover his loss on Special Teams and also provides more on the actual offense... and yeah, I think Foster knows that his versatility as both RB and WR (having experience in both positions in college) is his key to sticking. He may not necessarily take a roster spot from Lewis but instead from Amendola.

 

[mgteich]

I think it's kinda likely that Bolden is let go if the team believes Burkhead can mostly cover his loss on Special Teams and also provides more on the actual offense... and yeah, I think Foster knows that his versatility as both RB and WR (having experience in both positions in college) is his key to sticking. He may not necessarily take a roster spot from Lewis but instead from Amendola.

Perhaps we should take a poll on who we'd rather spend on
in the SB, Amendola or Foster. Who do we want catching a couple of keys passes, returning punts?

Is Bulkhead really a top punt returner?

 

[AtomicDawg]

 

[jmt57]

I don't look at Bolden as competing for a RB spot; he is almost exclusively a special teamer, just like Ebner, Slater and King.

Last year Bolden was on the field for all of 13 offensive snaps, but he did have 264 special team snaps. As a point of reference that's 38 more ST snaps than Slater.

Something to consider when constructing a 53-man roster: who will replace these potential cuts on special teams? There is already a 323 snap void with Mingo's departure.


2016 Special Teams Stats
Snaps -- % -- Player
359 -- 80% -- Nate Ebner
323 -- 72% -- Barkevious Mingo
307 -- 69% -- Jonathan Jones
299 -- 67% -- Brandon King
264 -- 59% -- Brandon Bolden
250 -- 56% -- Geneo Grissom
226 -- 50% -- Matt Slater
218 -- 49% -- Shea McClellin
201 -- 45% -- Patrick Chung

 

[Mike the Brit]

Heat in the 80s and 90s -- must have been tough.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I don't look at Bolden as competing for a RB spot; he is almost exclusively a special teamer, just like Ebner, Slater and King.

Last year Bolden was on the field for all of 13 offensive snaps, but he did have 264 special team snaps. As a point of reference that's 38 more ST snaps than Slater.

Something to consider when constructing a 53-man roster: who will replace these potential cuts on special teams? There is already a 323 snap void with Mingo's departure.


2016 Special Teams Stats
Snaps -- % -- Player
359 -- 80% -- Nate Ebner
323 -- 72% -- Barkevious Mingo
307 -- 69% -- Jonathan Jones
299 -- 67% -- Brandon King
264 -- 59% -- Brandon Bolden
250 -- 56% -- Geneo Grissom
226 -- 50% -- Matt Slater
218 -- 49% -- Shea McClellin
201 -- 45% -- Patrick Chung

Chung needs a break.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I think it's kinda likely that Bolden is let go if the team believes Burkhead can mostly cover his loss on Special Teams and also provides more on the actual offense... and yeah, I think Foster knows that his versatility as both RB and WR (having experience in both positions in college) is his key to sticking. He may not necessarily take a roster spot from Lewis but instead from Amendola.

For some reason, just because hes making $3m a year people think Burkhead is not playing STs. He is a core STer

Bolden has an uphill climb to make this roster the size of Mt. Everest.