Patriots Training Camp - Saturday July 30th

[One-If-By-Sea]

It’s probably not as bad as mentioned below but he needs to step up…if he can at this age and a year off.

Agreed. I have never been a fan of the "reduced wear and tear" argument when a player takes a year off. After being away from football for a year, it seems to me that the player's desire decreases and they are not the same when they return.

I don’t think Nixon is down…but he’s not up either. In-between.

I agree - Nixon will be fine. Meyers is still ahead of him. Injuries are coming and we will need depth. I like Nixon.

McGrone - He shouldn’t be here either. He’s basically a rook. Give him a couple more weeks. He seems to be clearly behind Ja’Whaun Bentley, Raekwon McMillan and Mack Wilson at this stage.

McGrone is fast - Bentley will not be playing on 3rd down. Let's see the if McGrone emerges as a 3rd down LB. Maybe it will be McMillan and Wilson, but I think McGrone will emerge on 3rd down.

Strong has a Montgomery issue…he’s kicking butt.

Agreed that the reporters all think Montgomery is doing well. BB also redshirts first year RBs, so Strong might sit for a year, but it is early days so far. Worth watching.

 

[Zuma]

Agreed that the reporters all think Montgomery is doing well. BB also redshirts first year RBs, so Strong might sit for a year, but it is early days so far. Worth watching.

Yes. I did not think journeyman Montgomery would play this well so far. I was sure Strong would be considered the 3rd down back at this point. Injuries and Monty playing so well has changed that.

 

[rochrist]

It’s probably not as bad as mentioned below but he needs to step up…if he can at this age and a year off.

DOWN
CB Malcolm Butler
Like Mitchell, Butler entered camp with a wide range of potential outcomes. He could earn a starting spot, stick around as a depth player or, with little guaranteed money in his contract, be cut before the season. It’s way too early to draw any roster conclusions, but the Super Bowl XLIX hero looks closer to Option 3 than Option 1 at the moment. He’s mostly run with the second unit opposite rookie Jack Jones and has had a tough time keeping up with Nelson Agholor, who’s beaten him on a handful of occasions. On Saturday, Butler had an aggressive pass breakup against Parker but also surrendered a long touchdown to Josh Hammond, a newly signed wideout with zero career NFL receptions. Butler returning to Foxboro and making an impact five years after his infamous Super Bowl benching — and one year after announcing his retirement — would be a fantastic story. But his performance thus far has not measured up.

I don’t think Nixon is down…but he’s not up either. In-between.

WR Tre Nixon
The breakout star of minicamp, Nixon’s bid for a surprise roster spot has lost steam this summer. The shifty slot receiver has mostly run with the offensive reserves, seeing just two total targets from Mac Jones in team drills. One of those did result in a nice contested touchdown catch during Friday’s practice, but Jones seemed to indicate it likely would have been broken up had cornerback Shaun Wade not been wearing pads on his hands

He shouldn’t be here either. He’s basically a rook. Give him a couple more weeks.

LB Cameron McGrone
McGrone’s offseason hype train was well-fueled and fast-moving, but the 2021 fifth-rounder hasn’t seen much work with the defensive regulars in spring practice or the first four days of camp. There’s plenty of time left for him to climb the inside linebacker depth chart — and he did get a few more looks on Friday and Saturday — but he seems to be clearly behind Ja’Whaun Bentley, Raekwon McMillan and Mack Wilson at this stage.

Strong has a Montgomery issue…he’s kicking butt.

RB Pierre Strong
Strong should be capitalizing on White’s PUP stint and logging valuable reps as a pass-catching back. But he’s been injured, as well, with an undisclosed ailment keeping him out of all team drills. Strong has dressed for each practice, suggesting his injury is not serious, but he’s in danger of falling behind in this hotly contested roster battle.

Zack Cox is not very good at this.

 

[PScottman]

CB Malcolm Butler
Like Mitchell, Butler entered camp with a wide range of potential outcomes. He could earn a starting spot, stick around as a depth player or, with little guaranteed money in his contract, be cut before the season. It’s way too early to draw any roster conclusions, but the Super Bowl XLIX hero looks closer to Option 3 than Option 1 at the moment. He’s mostly run with the second unit opposite rookie Jack Jones and has had a tough time keeping up with Nelson Agholor, who’s beaten him on a handful of occasions. On Saturday, Butler had an aggressive pass breakup against Parker but also surrendered a long touchdown to Josh Hammond, a newly signed wideout with zero career NFL receptions. Butler returning to Foxboro and making an impact five years after his infamous Super Bowl benching — and one year after announcing his retirement — would be a fantastic story. But his performance thus far has not measured up.

I don’t think Nixon is down…but he’s not up either. In-between.

The question at hand - would you rather the sub CB this year be Myles Bryant or Malcolm Butler?

 

[Zuma]

The question at hand - would you rather the sub CB this year be Myles Bryant or Malcolm Butler?

I’m not a Bryant fan. But if we are pushing youth…then Jack Jones on the outside, Marcus inside.

 

[Zuma]

Zack Cox is not very good at this.

He’s not in the same tier as Lazar IMO

 

[PScottman]

I’m not a Bryant fan. But if we are pushing youth…then Jack Jones on the outside.

Yeah, I don't know if that's how Patriots teams are typically built.

Sure they keep youth, but youth doesn't simply play for youth's sake most years - the Patriots tend to be more clear cut in the best players play more and if its a tie, experiences absolutely factors in - with development of youth being through practice and some game reps vs "just throw the kid out there" (unless the kid is clearly the best option).

I think the Newton year was the aberration vice the norm.

Now if the talent/capability/consistency is close - sure, Jones likely fills that role in the event of another spate of injuries that forced Bryant into a more prominent role last year.

 

[Zuma]

Yeah, I don't know if that's how Patriots teams are typically built.

Sure they keep youth, but youth doesn't simply play for youth's sake most years - the Patriots tend to be more clear cut in the best players play more and if its a tie, experiences absolutely factors in - with development of youth being through practice and some game reps vs "just throw the kid out there" (unless the kid is clearly the best option).

I think the Newton year was the aberration vice the norm.

Now if the talent/capability/consistency is close - sure, Jones likely fills that role in the event of another spate of injuries that forced Bryant into a more prominent role last year.

I think they are making a stronger push to youth and speed more so then in previous years ie linebacker. It wouldn’t be terrible if the Jones’ backed up vets.

 

[sb1]

You really don't think having Uncle Dugg out there would've made a dime's bit of difference to what happened in January, do you?

Bills are probably 5 or 6/7 instead of 7/7 so that’s something. Still get thumped that night but Pats are a better defense with a healthy Dugger.

 

[n1997y]

Yes. I did not think journeyman Montgomery would play this well so far. I was sure Strong would be considered the 3rd down back at this point. Injuries and Monty playing so well has changed that.

Rham might end up being the preferred third down back, especially if he adds the passing game to his repertoire.

 

[PScottman]

Rham might end up being the preferred third down back, especially if he adds the passing game to his repertoire.

Preferred back may be the final answer frankly. One aspect of the previous OC was the tendency to pigeonhole RBs to either run or pass allowing the defense to be prepared and aligned toward one or the other (obviously when down and distance didn't already dictate). A true dual threat eliminates that. The hope is Rham is absolutely that more than any other back on the roster.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Preferred back may be the final answer frankly. One aspect of the previous OC was the tendency to pigeonhole RBs to either run or pass allowing the defense to be prepared and aligned toward one or the other (obviously when down and distance didn't already dictate). A true dual threat eliminates that. The hope is Rham is absolutely that more than any other back on the roster.

It will be interesting to see if both Harris and Stevenson are used a lot more in the passing game this year now that Josh has left. Was the lack of a dual threat RB a function of the guys we drafted or more McDaniel's preference? Josh left and the Pats went away from the FB who is now signed with the LVRs (Jakob Johnson). So the lack of a dual TE offense in preference to the TE and FB offense was more of a McDaniel's preference. Is the singular, not dual threat RB, also a function of McDaniel's offense?

 

[NormZauchin]

So it was his mom who requested the interview... Makes sense...




Carl Spackler himself stands a better chance of contributing to the 2022 NEP than The Comedian ever will.

For sure, if he's allowed to play with a pitchfork.

 

[Zuma]

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