PATRIOTS TRAINING CAMP 2026 Patriots Training Camp - Day 14

[Zuma]

Sorry if this has been mentioned….it seems one of the reporters that was there today….tweeted out more then once how about Dippre was making making plays when actually it was Raridon. He acknowledged the error after.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

I’m happy to see Raridon is an improving… just wish he was 10-15 lbs heavier for blocking purposes.

6'6 245.
Kittle was 6'4 247 at the combine.
Kittle has been the best blocking TE of anyone who can actually be a receiving threat since Gronk.
Raridon can most certainly develop into a good blocker.
Interesting note from Kittle's draft profile:
"lacks desired size for in-line blocking, but has the technique and willingness to do it".
Raridon:
"He blocks with solid technique and good tenacity but still needs to add muscle"

I'm gonna say he develops into a serviceable blocker.

Time will tell.

 

[Zuma]

6'6 245.
Kittle was 6'4 247 at the combine.
Kittle has been the best blocking TE of anyone who can actually be a receiving threat since Gronk.
Raridon can most certainly develop into a good blocker.
Interesting note from Kittle's draft profile:
"lacks desired size for in-line blocking, but has the technique and willingness to do it".
Raridon:
"He blocks with solid technique and good tenacity but still needs to add muscle"

I'm gonna say he develops into a serviceable blocker.

Time will tell.

There are far more TE’s of that size that are not good blockers than good blockers…so the odds are against him. But point taken.

 

[Uptown]

I know you’re not a horn tooter. You can throw yourself in there also.

Thank you, kind Sir.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

There are far more TE’s of that size that are not good blockers than good blockers…so the odds are against him. But point taken.

This is true.
I think a big part of it is "want to"
Kittle wants to block, takes pride in it whereas many TEs don't care to try.
All the reports I read about Raridon coming out said he was a very willing blocker.
I think that is at least half the battle, actually wanting to block, developing it and caring about it.

 

[Zuma]

This is true.
I think a big part of it is "want to"
Kittle wants to block, takes pride in it whereas many TEs don't care to try.
All the reports I read about Raridon coming out said he was a very willing blocker.
I think that is at least half the battle, actually wanting to block, developing it and caring about it.

Size matters…it’s not always about effort and skill. That being said…LB’s are smaller in general now…so perhaps size doesn’t matter in all instances.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Size matters…it’s not always about effort and skill. That being said…LB’s are smaller in general now…so perhaps size doesn’t matter in all instances.

He's a 22 yr old rookie, it's not unreasonable to think he will put on 10+ lbs in the next couple of years.
6'6 255 with good technique and willingness (which reports says he has), should be more than adequate to be an effective blocker.
I'm hopeful anyway.

 

[Mack Herron]

Awful lot of bright spots on this team to date and few disappointments (Landry, Hill). But in their places are Raridan and Jacas. I am still looking to see someone emerge as a reliable threat behind Stevenson and I am not seeing Henderson’s name enough. But those are nits. In a nutshell: a Super Bowl team with an improved starting lineup and improved depth. Excited to see how they fare against solid competition right off the bat.

 

[ViperGTS]

Eh I'm tiring of this stuff. Last time I checked, he still has 2 years on his contract. Deal with it. You didn't put your Hancock on the contract that said 3 year. It said 5.

 

[BUSTAMOVE]

Not getting a warm fuzzy feeling from our kicker today.

Not making excuses because I’m concerned also. Ashby is sidelined and they just signed a replacement LS.
Hopefully he’ll correct it once the bullets fly

 

[TheRainMaker]

Eh I'm tiring of this stuff. Last time I checked, he still has 2 years on his contract. Deal with it. You didn't put your Hancock on the contract that said 3 year. It said 5.

True, but teams have outs in place to that punish the player when the team is done with them. The Pats don't have to pick up the 5th year option with 1st round picks. Diggs just got that treatment of the team not wanting to pick up the tab signing as a FA last season.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Eh I'm tiring of this stuff. Last time I checked, he still has 2 years on his contract. Deal with it. You didn't put your Hancock on the contract that said 3 year. It said 5.

This is always a tough one.
Understand what you are saying, but the the New England Patriots have put their Hancocks on many contracts that were terminated early.
Teams have no problems terminating contracts they signed if they feel a guy is underperforming, so hard to fault a player when the shoe is on the other foot.
Hopefully it works out and he is here for a long time.

 

[Water Boy]

Not making excuses because I’m concerned also. Ashby is sidelined and they just signed a replacement LS.
Hopefully he’ll correct it once the bullets fly

Curran and Perry said the LS had some low snaps today. It's not always just the kicker.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Our buddy Chism looks much better running routes than returning kicks.

This was a sweet route!

 

[BUSTAMOVE]

Curran and Perry said the LS had some low snaps today. It's not always just the kicker.

It’s a timing thing with the snapper and holder. If one of those is off it effects the kicker

 

[Mack Herron]

Our buddy Chism looks much better running routes than returning kicks.

This was a sweet route!

I understand the desirability or the need for depth players to play STs but running with ball is not one of his strengths. Looks like his WR skills may be sufficient to make the roster, but after losing Gibson KR is a rare hole on the roster.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

I understand the desirability or the need for depth players to play STs but running with ball is not one of his strengths. Looks like his WR skills may be sufficient to make the roster, but KR is a rare hole on the roster.

Unless something magic happened in the off-season, he is woeful returning kicks.
Looked like he was running in mud.
Weird because he looks quick running routes with lots of juke, you would think that would show up in returns, but it certainly didn't last year.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

I understand the desirability or the need for depth players to play STs but running with ball is not one of his strengths. Looks like his WR skills may be sufficient to make the roster, but after losing Gibson KR is a rare hole on the roster.

Why did they stop using Henderson in that role? He had the TD in the preseason and looked the part. Just too valuable a piece on offense to worry about losing him to injury?

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Why did they stop using Henderson in that role? He had the TD in the preseason and looked the part. Just too valuable a piece on offense to worry about losing him to injury?

He returned 9 kicks during the season and wasn't nearly as effective.
Chism returned 16 kicks and actually had a better return avg!

 

[Mack Herron]

Why did they stop using Henderson in that role? He had the TD in the preseason and looked the part. Just too valuable a piece on offense to worry about losing him to injury?

Perhaps they wanted him to focus all his time improving his vision and receiving skills to fill the RB2 role. He was a better RB than KR though.