PATRIOTS NEWS 2026 Patriots OTAs - First Open Media Day (5/27)

[Vindicate]

Williams looked pretty sweet on that double move.

Loving to see him develop his ability to hit receivers in stride. Especially for the kinda plays he likes, if he can more consistently hit people in stride, it'll be devastating.

 

[captain stone]

Ann Maye looks a bit more muscular, too.

Not her "pectorals" unfortunately

 

[captain stone]

Although there's speculation about where Lomu will play I think its a given he'll get reps at a few spots, including LT as we do indeed need a backup to Campbell - and as I've said before if someone beats him out and he gets moved to LG, so be it, as AVT's durability is in question and they can cut him after one season.

I'm somewhat more intrigued by what they do with Crownover who might get some time at backing up on the right side - but I can imagine them using him in schemes where they need a blocking TE.

He actually was recruited to play at TE but I'd guess his growing size had them rightly plug him in on the line. But a massive guy like that might be good in those blocking situations and one presumes he still knows how to catch if they want to catch a team by surprise.

But I'm not going to spend too much time worrying about where they use a 6th round pick - with his size I'd love to see how they use him though.

Until they aren't, Campbell (if his knee's ready) & Moses are the starters at LT & RT respectively. Lomu & Crownover are competing for OT3 vs OT4 reps; but if everyone else is healthy &/or not sucking then neither would be forced to play many meaningful snaps. Every other Tackle in camp is competing for Practice Squad space. Regarding any 6-Lineman packages, I suppose I can see that happening, with either of them, as both in-line blockers or as Jumbo FBs; though when considering the effort the team made to sign both a Blocking TE And a Blocking FB, I'm not sure how I would feel seeing them use non-position players in those roles, again... Isn't that how Tonga got injured last year?

 

[captain stone]

Wallace>rupcich

I don't think either of them can play an acceptable NFL-caliber Left Guard.

 

[captain stone]

Some podcast I was listening to (maybe Evan?) suggested that Pop has all the physical attributes you need in the slot while Chism has all the mental attributes - always in the right spot. Also noted that Pop does brilliantly until the pads come on.

Pop also falls down a lot, so I question his sturdiness, a trait all of the great Pats Slot WRs & 3rd-Down Backs had... I too thought he was gonna have an impact year from the slot under Josh McD's offense; then the season started...

 

[n1997y]

Until they aren't, Campbell (if his knee's ready) & Moses are the starters at LT & RT respectively. Lomu & Crownover are competing for OT3 vs OT4 reps; but if everyone else is healthy &/or not sucking then neither would be forced to play many meaningful snaps. Every other Tackle in camp is competing for Practice Squad space. Regarding any 6-Lineman packages, I suppose I can see that happening, with either of them, as both in-line blockers or as Jumbo FBs; though when considering the effort the team made to sign both a Blocking TE And a Blocking FB, I'm not sure how I would feel seeing them use non-position players in those roles, again... Isn't that how Tonga got injured last year?

Let’s see if Bryant can compete before writing him off entirely. Last year was his rookie year so with the OL in transition the experienced vets in front of him had the advantage. With Lowe and Munford gone he’s got more experience than Lomu or Crownover, maybe he can do something with it.

 

[DaBruinz]

They ran a ****load of zone in the regular season, close to 70%. The man was a switch-up in the post season.

Where do you get they ran 70% Zone? You saying it without support doesn't make it true.

 

[DaBruinz]

Gonzalez was the hardest CB to throw in football last season, the completion % was under 50%, and he has allowed 1 touchdown in 3 years. He had a shoulder injury his rookie year but played 30-34 regular season and 34-38 including playoffs, he's hardly an injury laden player.

Sorry, Huck. But Gonzalez does have injury concerns.

Gonzalez ended his first two seasons on the IR.
He missed 13 games as a rookie, 1 game his 2nd year and another 3 in his third season. So, he's missed an entire season's worth of games.

He dislocated his shoulder with a torn labrum as a rookie. Then he was IRed with a concussion in 2024. Then he hurt his hamstring in camp in 2025 missing 3 games. Any other play who missed an entire season's worth of games with multiple injuries would be considered "injury-laden".

 

[Huckleberry1]

Sorry, Huck. But Gonzalez does have injury concerns.

Gonzalez ended his first two seasons on the IR.
He missed 13 games as a rookie, 1 game his 2nd year and another 3 in his third season. So, he's missed an entire season's worth of games.

He dislocated his shoulder with a torn labrum as a rookie. Then he was IRed with a concussion in 2024. Then he hurt his hamstring in camp in 2025 missing 3 games. Any other play who missed an entire season's worth of games with multiple injuries would be considered "injury-laden".

Fair enough. I'm not saying he's never been injured, but he's played 30-34 the past 2 seasons, which is more than solid.

 

[Vindicate]

Where do you get they ran 70% Zone? You saying it without support doesn't make it true.

NFL Secondary Statistics: Coverage Scheme Stats & Rates

Explore 2025 NFL coverage scheme data. See which defenses rely on man or zone coverage with our team-by-team percentage breakdown.

www.sharpfootballanalysis.com

The Patriots' Quarters Solution

Why the Patriots Leaned on Quarters Coverage to Stop the Buccaneers

www.matchquarters.com

 

[jdlboot14]

RB - is going to be fun to watch. It might be hard to cut Miller or Monty (and still sneak them onto the PS). But I am excited to see Larison be our RB3. Gilliam also might be a quietly huge piece to this offense.

WR - I think Pop could take a massive step up in JMD's slot role in year 2, and KW should expand his usage x3 - he looks so quick in his routes, they better be able to use him like JSN. Add that to AJ's stability at X, Doubs chain-moving versatility like Meyers was, and Hollins rotational big-play knack, we should be extremely dangerous. All assuming Boutte isn't even on this team. (Chism or Dixon as understudies)

 

[Mike the Brit]

Pop also falls down a lot, so I question his sturdiness, a trait all of the great Pats Slot WRs & 3rd-Down Backs had... I too thought he was gonna have an impact year from the slot under Josh McD's offense; then the season started...

Pop is an unusual player.

That is, he doesn't fit the New England model of a slot receiver. He's not a shifty, high playing strength, good ball carrier, need-six-yards-catch-the-ball-at-four-and-bull-your way-for-the-other-two type. Edelman was the model for that and others have tried to imitate him.

Pop is a slot receiver, but he does his best work further downfield. He doesn't have the flat-out speed or playing strength to burst through tackles -- his sweeps and reverses are disappointing -- and he falls over. What are his strengths, then? He has amazing hands and ball-tracking abilities. The thing that makes him fall over (positioning himself to take the ball off-balance) is just what enables him to make great catches.

Unfortunately for him, the slot role was taken by Diggs soon after the start of the season (I think they initially wanted Diggs to play outside). So except for a few great plays (I'm remembering New Orleans and Cincinnati) he didn't have that many opportunities.

Don't give up on Pop, cap'n!

 

[Huckleberry1]

RB - is going to be fun to watch. It might be hard to cut Miller or Monty (and still sneak them onto the PS). But I am excited to see Larison be our RB3. Gilliam also might be a quietly huge piece to this offense.

WR - I think Pop could take a massive step up in JMD's slot role in year 2, and KW should expand his usage x3 - he looks so quick in his routes, they better be able to use him like JSN. Add that to AJ's stability at X, Doubs chain-moving versatility like Meyers was, and Hollins rotational big-play knack, we should be extremely dangerous. All assuming Boutte isn't even on this team. (Chism or Dixon as understudies)

Same here. I think Larison is the next Rex Burkhead, and Gilliam is a big man, I was shocked by how big he is. Good luck tackling with him coming at you.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Same here. I think Larison is the next Rex Burkhead, and Gilliam is a big man, I was shocked by how big he is. Good luck tackling with him coming at you.

Watching Larison, he looks the part. When I watch Chism III, I am not nearly as excited.

 

[mgteich]

Pop also falls down a lot, so I question his sturdiness, a trait all of the great Pats Slot WRs & 3rd-Down Backs had... I too thought he was gonna have an impact year from the slot under Josh McD's offense; then the season started...

Pop is an inexpensive backup slot receiver in his contract year as our #5 WR.

That seems to be a good use of resources.

 

[mgteich]

Pop also falls down a lot, so I question his sturdiness, a trait all of the great Pats Slot WRs & 3rd-Down Backs had... I too thought he was gonna have an impact year from the slot under Josh McD's offense; then the season started...

Douglas had YAC's of 6.9 yards per reception. better than Diggs (4.2) and Boutte (1.2)

It is NOYAC Boutte that falls down when an opponent touches him.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Until they aren't, Campbell (if his knee's ready) & Moses are the starters at LT & RT respectively. Lomu & Crownover are competing for OT3 vs OT4 reps; but if everyone else is healthy &/or not sucking then neither would be forced to play many meaningful snaps. Every other Tackle in camp is competing for Practice Squad space. Regarding any 6-Lineman packages, I suppose I can see that happening, with either of them, as both in-line blockers or as Jumbo FBs; though when considering the effort the team made to sign both a Blocking TE And a Blocking FB, I'm not sure how I would feel seeing them use non-position players in those roles, again... Isn't that how Tonga got injured last year?

Good point on risking injury there of a backup linemen- I'm just thinking that McDaniels does like to surprise Defenses by throwing to a guy Ds aren't expecting to see thrown to - such as a blocking TE

Our new blocking TE Hill actually had 15 receptions last year - nearly 1 a game (20 targets) - and I could absolutely see him getting that here, which is enough to keep Ds off guard a bit

 

[JoeSixPat]

Douglas had YAC's of 6.9 yards per reception. better than Diggs (4.2) and Boutte (1.2)

It is NOYAC Boutte that falls down when an opponent touches him.

I guess I'm not surprised by Douglas but that's pretty darn good

And Boutte is pretty darn low although it IS the nature of the X WR not to be all that high

For what it's worth, AJ Brown's YAC is @ 3.5

Not sure how huge an upgrade that is there in particular - though I don't disagree, Boutte always seems to have a defender right on him (though he still made the catches)

 

[mayoclinic]

 

[mgteich]

I guess I'm not surprised by Douglas but that's pretty darn good

And Boutte is pretty darn low although it IS the nature of the X WR not to be all that high

For what it's worth, AJ Brown's YAC is @ 3.5

Not sure how huge an upgrade that is there in particular - though I don't disagree, Boutte always seems to have a defender right on him (though he still made the catches)

Boutte has been compared to Lloyd who had a fine year and then was cut, partly because of his 2.3 YAC average.

Yup, they didn't get open, had the Defense all over them, and then made circus catches to the wild cheers of the fans.

To be clear, I was one who wanted us to re-sign Lloyd.