PATRIOTS TRAINING CAMP 2026 Patriots Training Camp Day 7

[mgteich]

Love to hear this. Was talking to a friend who was asking about what I think about the Pats going in to this season and my first remark was: Josh McD finally has all the pieces he likes to have for an offense. We see them keeping the TE spots full with Hill gone. We have Gilliam. We have what should be an improved OL. AJ Brown, Doubs. I told him that I think we'll get to see McD really make this offense multi-dimensional and hard to read, while everyone who is getting their 2nd year under him (Maye included) should be more familiar with the concepts and be able to go up-tempo more. We have the tools to eat the clock AND run hurry-up, so it's awesome to hear that McD wants to work on tempo with Maye.

So who does Josh have as blocking TE, since you say that he has all the pieces he likes to have?

 

[Ring 6]

So who does Josh have as blocking TE, since you say that he has all the pieces he likes to have?

Lomu

 

[Vindicate]

So who does Josh have as blocking TE, since you say that he has all the pieces he likes to have?

Is the verdict in on Raridon? I thought he could still be a capable blocker and did it well in college.

 

[PatsFan2]

Is the verdict in on Raridon? I thought he could still be a capable blocker and did it well in college.

IF Raridon can Block he'll be our #1 TE by week Eight. H Henry is what he is above average.

 

[Borg140]

Bills are, IMO, marginally worse than last year. Pats are better than last year. Health is the main thing that would keep the Pats from winning the division. I could see a step back for the Bills, I think the new HC is terrible. My bold prediction, if I was to make one, would be Pats basically wrapping up the division Dec 6 in the second Bills game. I personally see the Pats as the class of the division,

I think so, too. Bills made a mistake completely catering to Allen who chose the same OC as his HC. Pats are playing a difficult schedule which could affect the race, but I see the Pats as the better team right now.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

I think so, too. Bills made a mistake completely catering to Allen who chose the same OC as his HC. Pats are playing a difficult schedule which could affect the race, but I see the Pats as the better team right now.

Bills schedule is actually probably tougher.
The 3 different games:
We get Pitt; Jax; Seattle.
Buff gets: Houston; Rams; Balt

Can't blame the schedule, that 3 game difference is easier for the Pats.

 

[BobDigital]

Was coming in to say the same thing. Seems like we might have found a hidden gem here?

No clue why he was totally off draft radars. His measurements were very good.

The main reason I think is he was in a high D1 program early in college. Something happened (not sure what) and he left that program. He then went to some like a very low D1 or even D2 program and people kind of forgot about him in those 2 or do years. Then he past year before the draft went to another high D1 program again. Except now he is an older guy with only 1 year of film vs not the best of the competition, cause he didn't go to one of the elite 30 schools (cause he needed guaranteed reps on film.)

That whole situation was not good.

 

[borisman]

RE: Hudson

Yesterday was the first time I saw him listed in the top 3 units in warmups.

 

[mgteich]

Is the verdict in on Raridon? I thought he could still be a capable blocker and did it well in college.

The verdict isn't in on whether Raridon is an adequate replacement for Hill as a blocker. As of now, Josh doesn't have all he needs. In the scheme of things, this is indeed nitpicking. Management did all they could to get Josh all that he needs for the season. Even now, I believe that Vrabel has said that he is focusing on whether he needs to add a blocking TE. He hopes that one of the kids can be the man for that role.

 

[BobDigital]

Is the verdict in on Raridon? I thought he could still be a capable blocker and did it well in college.

He was a good college blocker. Which makes him currently below average in the NFL. He does have the frame to fill out and he can work on his technique more. I think he can be a plus blocker with time. But considering he is not really built to be thick and he is 6'7 i think he will always be a better pass blocker than mauler, cause he is maxing out at 265 max... and to be 6'7 and a really good run blocker you almost always need to be bigger than that. Gronk i think was 6'5 and played at 270, but he was an absolute freak. Raridon can't get that low or that powerful.

As far as him better better than Henry? Possible. But he will be very different. The reason i like Raridon isn't because of his all around game. He is not one of those do it all guys or one of those athletic freaks. He does 3-4 things really well. In particular his split the safeties down the middle route (which is the bread and butter TE route IMO) is absolutely fantastic. The height, the arm length, enough get off and straight line speed. It is very hard to stop that route, and he is too strong to be easily knocked off it. To me that is the route you draft him for.

You can also guy the route of a guy like Harold Fannin, who was my binkie the year before. He is smaller, lighter, not much of a blocker, but more of a do it all type guy in the passing game. Honestly i kind of prefer those players and frankly i was saying he should have gone as a borderline first or high second (was proven right btw haha!) But he can't do that split the safeties route like Raridon, and he certainly will never have the size or frame to ever be as good a blocker as him. Though if i could trade him for Raridon right now i would TBH.

Then you have a guy like Warren who is more of an instantly good blocker and has a bit more to his game. Raridon is not that guy. He will probably not see many probowls cause he can't do all the things a guy like Warren can do i think. Warren was said to be the closest thing to Gronk since he retired, and i think that may be true. Not that he will be that, but he has the versatility of tools.

Raridon is a guy who should eventually be a plus blocker, split the safeties, catch it out of the backfield or breaking off his block and taking it 10-15 yards if they don't respect it, and in between run a few slot routes. He will do other things too, but that is where he will make his bones. But that is all he has to do for us. If he does those things and does them well.... i am happy. Doing that can get you 700 yards a year. That is easily TE1 kind of production. And we got at the end of round 3. And i do think he can be a 600-700 yard a year guy.

That being said a guy like him works best when your team also has a blocking TE (not hard to find) and a joker WR TE (harder to find... but one of those undersized speed guys... they do fall to round 3 on occasion). I am cool doing that compared to using a 1st round pick to grab a guy like Warren.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

The verdict isn't in on whether Riordons is an adequate replacement for Hill as a blocker. As of now, Josh doesn't have all he needs. In the scheme of things, this is indeed nitpicking. Management did all they could to get Josh all that he needs for the season. Even now, I believe that Vrabel has said that he is focusing on whether he needs to add a blocking TE. He hopes that one of the kids can be the man for that role.

Arkin and Lomu will be the blockers to replace Hill and Munford respectively. Raridon replaces Hooper who was not a great blocker so Hill was added.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

The verdict isn't in on whether Riordons is an adequate replacement for Hill as a blocker. As of now, Josh doesn't have all he needs. In the scheme of things, this is indeed nitpicking. Management did all they could to get Josh all that he needs for the season. Even now, I believe that Vrabel has said that he is focusing on whether he needs to add a blocking TE. He hopes that one of the kids can be the man for that role.

Arkin and Lomu will be the blockers to replace Hill and Munford respectively. Raridon replaces Hooper who was not a great blocker so Hill was added.

 

[mgteich]

Arkin and Lomu will be the blockers to replace Hill and Munford respectively. Raridon replaces Hooper who was not a great blocker so Hill was added.

I certainly agree on Lomu.

Are we all ready to give Arkin a roster spot to replace Dippre? I suspect that Westover isn't in the picture.

 

[mgteich]

Arkin and Lomu will be the blockers to replace Hill and Munford respectively. Raridon replaces Hooper who was not a great blocker so Hill was added.

I guess that Arkins 40 time is OK for an inline OL. It is slower than any of the TE's in the combine. I think that the slowest was 4.74, while Arkin has been measured at 4.89 and 4.90.