PATRIOTS NEWS Minicamp

[Rob0729]

Boutte is young with plenty of upside; Hollings is an old Goat who should be lead to the pastures.

Hollins is dependable even if he is not a standout player. Not sure Boutte is. Inconsistency has always been the knock on Boutte. Also not sure he will be happy being the #4 or #5 WR on the team. I think they were trying to trade him at the draft because they worry about his character and attitude.

 

[Patsfan1645]

Here are a couple useful tools in determining who will make the team (your mileage may vary).

 

[Rob0729]

It's good to remember that while you have a 53 man roster only 47 of them dress... usually (injuries aside) you have the same 45 or so dress every game then sub out the last 2 based on minor injuries/match ups. Usually that pool you look to sub out isn't the entire final 8 spots... it likely to be only 5-6 of them. So when it comes to the 53 man roster the last 2 spots are either for rotational guys you promote/demote form the PS to get a closer look at or guys you don't want to risk losing on the FA market even if they don't have a place on your team at this very moment,

Cutting a 6th WR to carry an extra OL who would just pass through waivers to the PS anyway seems unneeded.

People are convinced that guys like Boutte and or Chism won't pass through waivers. I am not sure that is true. At least not yet.

The reason why they would keep an extra lineman on the roster is because they could be tweaking the line up the first month of the season trying to find the best line up and rotation players. That is why they would keep more linemen than WRs.

 

[BTTA]

Anyone else notice, in that end zone misdirection drill we've seen so much of, the difference in speed of getting in and out of the cut in order to reverse direction? Huge difference in the required time to do that between those guys, mostly about dropping the hips and keeping the footwork efficient, it seems.

I would have thought that by now, all those guys would have learned how to do that. Seems like college level competency. But what do I know.

 

[PatsFan2]

Hollins is dependable even if he is not a standout player. Not sure Boutte is. Inconsistency has always been the knock on Boutte. Also not sure he will be happy being the #4 or #5 WR on the team. I think they were trying to trade him at the draft because they worry about his character and attitude.

Seems like Boutte is having a nice Offseason workout wise.

 

[PatsFan2]

People are convinced that guys like Boutte and or Chism won't pass through waivers. I am not sure that is true. At least not yet.

The reason why they would keep an extra lineman on the roster is because they could be tweaking the line up the first month of the season trying to find the best line up and rotation players. That is why they would keep more linemen than WRs.

E Chism plays a lot faster than this 40 time; he's going to overcome it like some very good players in the past.

 

[mike_usagisan]

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Seems like Boutte is having a nice Offseason workout wise.

Boutte is very average. Let's hope we can now draft a lot better and replace him.

 

[PatsFan2]

Boutte is very average. Let's hope we can now draft a lot better and replace him.

I think he's going to surprise you. Remember the old saying?? "even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while."

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I think he's going to surprise you. Remember the old saying?? "even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while."

I remember. That nut is Douglas, not Boutte. Now watch Williams. After that we need a R2 WR next draft. Boutte is Meh.

 

[Rob0729]

E Chism plays a lot faster than this 40 time; he's going to overcome it like some very good players in the past.

The guy didn't get drafted for a reason. He could change people's minds in the preseason, but as of right now there is no guarantee anyone would pick him up off of waivers if he was released.

 

[Ross12]

People are convinced that guys like Boutte and or Chism won't pass through waivers. I am not sure that is true. At least not yet.

The reason why they would keep an extra lineman on the roster is because they could be tweaking the line up the first month of the season trying to find the best line up and rotation players. That is why they would keep more linemen than WRs.

I am guessing Chism makes the 53 as a returner first, and sixth WR second, and works his way into the offensive lineup, like Edelman before him.

 

[Rob0729]

Seems like Boutte is having a nice Offseason workout wise.

That means pretty much nothing. We have seen plenty of players look like superstars in OTAs and minicamp only to be cut by the team before the season starts. I just recently saw a Tik Tok video of Zach Sudfeld that everyone called Baby Gronk in the preseason of 2013 because he looked like he could become a poor man's Gronk he was that good. He was cut by the Pats after week 4 because he actually sucked. It reminded me that most of what you see before the season starts can be a complete mirage.

 

[signbabybrady]

I am guessing Chism makes the 53 as a returner first, and sixth WR second, and works his way into the offensive lineup, like Edelman before him.

Might be easier to crack the top 5 WRs than to beat Marcus out as the punt returner.

This still leaves KRer but I don't think it's a critical enough position given the rules changes and a vast number of players can fill it.

 

[Rob0729]

I am guessing Chism makes the 53 as a returner first, and sixth WR second, and works his way into the offensive lineup, like Edelman before him.

If he can carve a niche as a returner, he definitely could make the 53 man roster. As you said, that is how Edelman made the team. Without being able to be a return guy (and a pretty damn good one), Edelman probably would have washed out of the NFL pretty quickly.

 

[scott99]

I think that Boutte, unless he has a horrendous camp, will be on the final 53. I think Diggs, Douglas and Williams will be the top 3 and Boutte is #4. He had a good jump from year 1 to year 2, is a good route runner, and had good chemistry with Maye. He’s a good receiver who hopefully keeps improving.

 

[mgteich]

It's 48, as long as 8 are OL, plus a 3rd QB on the 53 can be dressed as #49.

8 active OL's plus two inactive backups is NOT too many.

It seems unlikely that we are carrying a 3rd QB.

 

[mgteich]

If he can carve a niche as a returner, he definitely could make the 53 man roster. As you said, that is how Edelman made the team. Without being able to be a return guy (and a pretty damn good one), Edelman probably would have washed out of the NFL pretty quickly.

So Chism's way to make the 53 is to beat out one of the best punt returners in the NFL for his starting position as a returner?

 

[mgteich]

You could be right about them playing special teams, but I am not sure.

I think Boutte could probably make it to the practice squad. He had some nice plays last year, but I think people overrate his production a bit. Like 1/5 of his yards and one of his three TDs came against the Bills' third stringers. And his attitude issues will scare off a lot of teams. I just don't know if he is good enough for Vrabel and McDaniels to put up with his attitude issues. But with a new coaching staff, he could have a change of attitude. Although he had attitude issues at times in college.

If Bourne can return to his 2021 form, he is a better receiver than Boutte. He can be a far more productive receiver than he was in 2021 with Maye over Mac.

Bourne is expensive injury insurance against Diggs or Williams being injured. I have no doubt that he is one of our five best receivers. The open question is whether we carry that insurance past the end of camp, or whether we trade Bourne near the end of camp if there are no injuries.

 

[Rob0729]

So Chism's way to make the 53 is to beat out one of the best punt returners in the NFL for his starting position as a returner?

He can do kick returns or another another position. But yes, his best chance to make the roster is making himself useful outside of just being an offensive player just like every other WR fighting for the 5th or 6th slot on the roster.