Welcome to Training Camp
Back from a long vacation just in time for the start of the 2024 New England Patriots training camp.
Camp Battles
Training camp opened today to a significantly less than full capacity and less than enthusiastic crowd. The first three days of practice are conditioning practices in shirt, helmets and shells with no contact according to the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Let’s take a look at the battles that should highlight the camp.
Offensive Line Atonio Mafi, Jake Andrews and Tyrone Wheatley are battling for their jobs. I am curious to see what Liam Fornadel can do. The UFL star will be in competition for a backup spot at OG. He will battle Michael Jordan, Nick Leverett, Mafi, Andrews and rookie draft pick Layden Robinson. The Pats need a backup Center, and it looks like Charles Turner is the only other lineman that is listed as a C. Jake Andrews has been listed as an OL on Patriots.com and starts the Pre-season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. Zuri Henry will have to battle Vederian Lowe and Calvin Anderson for a backup OT spot. Realistically, the only 5 lineman that are locks are David Andrews, Michael Onwenu, Sidy Sow Chukwu Chuk Okorafor and Caeden Wallace. Contact starts for the first time in Practice #4 on Monday. I want to see if Okorafor can make the transition to Left Tackle. I am also curious if Michael Onwenu stays at Right Guard. Cole Strange has started Training Camp on the PUP list.
Will the run blockers master the new blocking schemes implemented in the Van Pelt offense? If they can’t run block we could be in for a very long season. Run blocking is the key to the Van Pelt offense.
Wide Receiver Will they keep Five or six wideouts is the question? Can Kayshon Boutte continue his improved play? Boutte’s gambling court case could have an impact on his availability, since the League will undoubtably suspend him in addition. Does Juju Smith Schuster have anything left in the tank? He played last season at 60%. How will the rookies look? Can Reagor and Osborn hold onto the ball? Can Tyquan Thornton run the proper routes and do anything more than a go route? Several pre-season reports have the Patriots receiver group as the worst in the league. Kendrick Bourne starts camp on the PUP list, recovering from an ACL injury that cost him half the season last year. Rookie Javon Baker had a thumb injury from minicamp but is ready to go.
Running Backs Stevenson and Gibson are locks. The battle will be for the 3rd and 4th running back spots. Kevin Harris has the inside track. Don’t forget that Harris led the SEC in rushing in 2020. JaMychal Hasty will battle Deshaun Fenwick for the 4th spot. Terrell Jennings will need to impress just to make the Practice Squad. Don’t be surprised if the team signs a veteran RB before the end of camp. In a surprise move, Gibson starts camp on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list. Coach Mayo indicated that he wouldn’t miss much time and is not concerned. This could simply mean that he did not pass his conditioning test. Gibson was on the sideline for the practice today in street clothes.
Quarterback Will they keep two or three QBs. It appears that rookie Joe Milton and the two-year Vet Bailey Zappe will compete for that last spot whether it is on the 53 or Practice Squad roster. It’s possible both could end up on the Practice Squad. Zappe started 10 games last year and did have a 59.9% completion average in that miserable offense. However, the Patriots did cut him at the end of Training Camp last year and re-signed him to the Practice Squad, then elevated him to play in 10 games. No one questions Milton’s arm. It will be on full display in camp. The question is whether he can master the drop back footwork, short, and intermediate passing game. Does he have the touch on the ball required in the NFL or is every pass just a cannon ball shot.
Mayo has stated that Drake Maye could compete for the starting role. That’s all fine and good, but O don’t want to see him play in a regular season game until the offensive line is solidified. Don’t do to him what Belichick did to Mac Jones.
Tight Ends Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper are locks to make the team. That leaves one spot available for rookies Jaheim Bell and Jacob Warren as well as vets Mitch Wilcox and La’Michael Pettaway. Wilcox, a three-year veteran played for the Cincinnati Bengals. Pettaway played in the USFL for Michigan and Birmingham before he signed with the Patriots late last season. It was interesting to note that the Patriots looked into signing Pettaway as an UDFA in 2020. Warren is known for his blocking and Bell as a receiver rather than blocker. Is there a chance they will keep 4 TEs? Van Pelt’s Offense relies on the TE and motion, often using three TEs.
Defensive Line Davon Godchaux answered some questions by showing up to camp and took all the reps as an active participant. Godchaux is in the final year of his contract and wants a new deal. He complained that he doesn’t have any guaranteed money. Could the team appease him by offering to guarantee a portion of his salary? Godchaux is a key component to the Defense, and they really don’t have another player capable of handling the Nose Tackle position. He is also very dependable, playing in all 17 games last season.
Christian Barmore should blow up and be a full-time terror to opposing offensive lines. He signed a big extension in the off-season indicating the faith the team has in him. Can Aaron Watts fill the shoes of Lawrence Guy at DT? The D-linemen seem a little light weight to me. I think they keep six. Watts, Godchaux, Wise, Barmore are the locks. Daniel Ekuale, Jeremiah Pharms, Sam Roberts, and Trysten Hill are fighting for the two backup spots.
Linebackers /Edge Matt Judon is another vet in the last year of his contract. He spoke to the media after practice and I know the Patriots have made him an offer. Judon, who will be 32 during the season wants a new contract as his old one expires after this season. When asked if he wanted to be traded Judon emphatically said he wants to be here. He is the only legitimate pass rusher the team has. I also think that Judon is a leader and stand-up guy who came out and faced the media no matter the final score of the game. How much will Keon White improve and where will he play. He is a bit of an enigma because he really isn’t big enough to play the down DE for the Pats, and not a good enough pass rusher to come off the edge. Expect to see him drop back in pass coverage more this season.
Can Anfernee Jennings continue to improve as he did in Judon’s absence last season? Jahlani Tavai was awarded a three-year contract extension. His contract has been called one of the biggest team friendly values in the league. This from a player that played better than 70% of the plays on defense and 70% of the plays on Special Teams.
Will Josh Uche’s gamble on himself pay off and have him improve to the point that he contributes whether or not Judon is on the opposite side?
I have Sione Takitaki as a lock that leaves one spot open an Edge and/or Linebacker that has to be capable of playing on Special Teams. However, Takitaki showed up on the PUP list. That would leave Raekwon McMillan or Oshane Ximines as the linebackers. Rookie UDFA Jontrey Hunter was released prior to the start of camp, opening up a spot on the 90-man roster. Hunter was listed on the NFI list before the rookies reported last weekend.
I am interested to see if the Australian, Joham Russell can play? He is on the roster as an International Pathway Program player. His roster spot does not count against the 90-man limit. Will he be good enough to sign as a Practice Squad player to continue his development.
Secondary There are three spots I am looking at in the secondary. Who will be the Free Safety. Kyle Dugger is being paid as a top safety in the league with his second contract with the Patriots. However, he is not very good Free Safety and it’s a disservice to play him there. Marte Mapu is actually going to play Linebacker in a Big Nickel or Dime package. Can someone like Jaylin Hawkins or Marco Wilson play the Free Safety position, someone with speed. Hawkins was highly praised by fellow safety Jabrill Peppers as having the most points from springs practices.
Christian Gonzalez gave a us a tease of his ability before getting hurt and lost for ¾ of the season. Is he fully recovered from shoulder surgery?
Jonathan Jones and Marcus Jones are also returning from injuries.
Who will win the backup cornerback job, Marco Wilson or Shaun Wade? They are both veterans and big corners.
The surprise of the tail end of the season was Alex Austin. Can he ascend to the starting CB opposite Gonzalez and thus freeing up Jonathan Jones to play Free Safety or Slot Corner?
Other Patriots News
Lawrence Guy, cut by the Patriots is still a Free Agent and hasn’t signed with another team yet.
Bryce Baringer’s fairy tale quest to win the Massachusetts Amateur Golf title has come to a crashing end. Baringer shot a two round +7 and didn’t make the cut. Baringer played golf in High School and played on a lark and qualified for the tournament. A nice diversion prior to the start of Training Camp.
Camp Day 1
Drake Maye and Jalen Reagor hooked up for the play of the day on a deep pass that Reagor made a one-handed catch on. Reagor was the star of practice overall with another good catch. I also saw a report that he couldn’t be covered.
Pop Douglas didn’t finish practice and appeared to be working with the trainers on the sideline.
Drake Maye fumbled a snap in the rain and then threw a pass into the ground 5 yards short of Kayshon Boutte. Boutte was wide open over the middle. Maye does not have a lot of experience taking snaps under center. That should be watched over the course of pre-season.
Calvin Anderson took 1st team reps at Right Tackle. Can’t wait till the hitting starts Monday and we get to find out about the O-line.
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Merrimack Valley native and lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. My earliest memories of the Patriots were attending as a child with my dad, the off-season practice at Phillips Academy. I was at the Patriots game at Harvard Stadium in 1970 where Bob “Harpo” Gladieux was called out of the stands by the stadium announcer over the PA to play in the game. Analyzing the draft since ESPN first started to televise it in 1980 and former writer for the Lowell Sun Newspaper.
Boutte’s court case was dismissed and the gambling event happened some years ago and not during Boutte’s NFL time. The league is not penalizing people for things they do as a kid or in college prior to their entry to the league. Uche – I keep hearing he “gambled on himself”. This originated from NBC Boston as Uche is an edge with pass rushing skills that command big money as an impact position. Problem is, Uche is not an edge. He’s a situational pass-rush specialist for long yardage passing downs only. Why? He’s to small framed to hold up the… Read more »
Anfernee Jennings is a strong/solid edge. He has a lot of physical talent. I was surprised he did not show a great array of pass-rush moves last season. He was very good holding the edge, stopping the run and getting in the backfield, just not sacking the QB on passing downs. All he needs now is a few pass-rushing moves. If he can realize being a 10 sack guy, he could become a pro-bowler.
Dugger: well said, he’s playing FS per a team need/gap since McCourty left, but it’s not his best position which is SS/in the box. Mayo did say that Dugger fully proved last year he can play free safety, but is that the long term plan for a 220lb hitter? And they have Peppers and Mapu at SS as well. If Hawkins takes FS (some suggested he may), the pats can keep Dugger and Peppers on the field as the pats D has been playing 3 safetys almost as their base D. But then Mapu (2nd rounder) has trouble getting snaps… Read more »