Patriots News 9-1, Thoughts On The Initial Roster, Practice Squad
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Good morning. Here are your Patriots news and notes for September 1. The regular season starts next week, and there are still many questions around this current roster, mainly the offensive line.
Expectations, both nationally and locally, are very low for the Patriots in 2024. Many doubt they’ll even match the four wins they scratched out last season. It is a bit early for that talk, especially the ones saying they’ll have the #1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
So many variables need to be factored in for the upcoming season. We’ll discuss those in more detail below. So, before we declare (take your pick), Mayo is one-and-done, Wolf is a failure as a GM, and Maye is a bust… believe it or not, I’ve seen tweets stating such. Let’s give them all a chance.
We’ve been saying all spring and summer that the offense is going to go through some growing pains, and it may take a month or so before they begin to gel with chemistry. But it IS a rebuild. It’s about ready to start, and I, for one, am excited to see the new offense trying to get it together.
Brenden Schooler: The Patriots announced that Schooler, their special team’s ace, was the 2024 Ron Burton Community Service Award winner. It came as a bit of a shock to Schooler.
“I almost got a little emotional for a second just because I never thought I’d ever win this award,” Schooler said.
“I do community service because I love it, and I love being out in the community and just spending time with people, hearing their stories, and being able to affect people in a positive way. So to get this award… I mean, I don’t really even feel deserving of it, just because this is something I love to do. But to get this award is awesome.
“This is something that has always been super important to me, no matter how insignificant an interaction may seem, it could be monumental for the other person. So, taking that seriously and taking to heart what was taught to me by my parents, my family, and older guys on the football team, those are the guys that showed me how things are done in this organization. After that, it was just falling in love with making people’s day and seeing the smile you could put on someone’s face. That’s what matters most.”
His comments made it clear that they most definitely picked the right guy for the award this year. Congratulations, well deserved.
Brian Hoyer: The former Patriot backup quarterback sounded off about the Patriots quarterback situation this week. Many fans want to see Drake Maye start right away over Jacoby Brissett, despite the narrative all year up to this point that patience in allowing him to develop was the correct way.
“One-hundred percent, I agree with it,” Hoyer stated on NBC Sports Boston’s Patriots Talk Podcast. “I saw what Tom E. Curran said the other day — nothing bad can happen with Drake Maye starting as the backup this year. Nothing bad in his development can really happen.
“He can sit there and watch Jacoby, who’s played a lot of football. He can learn from (Brissett) about in-game operation. I know there have been a few preseason games, but those aren’t real. You know guys are only playing for a few series and then you’re rotating out. That first game is always long because no one has played four quarters. I think there’s a lot to be learned by sitting back there and watching.”
Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston spoke with several veterans on the team if they had a preference on either Brissett or Maye being the starting quarterback, an they told him that they don’t have a preference, but whoever that is, he just can’t turn the ball over, something that was a killer in 2023.
Drake Maye: Maye was put in the uncomfortable position of having to answer questions if he was disappointed that he wasn’t named the starting QB after Jerod Mayo had stated that it was a competition last week.
“I wouldn’t say disappointed,” Maye said. “Obviously, there’s two ways to look at it: Obviously, I want to play, you know, the competitive edge in me. But at the same time, understanding the situation just coming in here, Jacoby’s been in the offense and gotten the reps with the ones (starters) all camp. So, I can’t really say I’m disappointed, but at the same time, I want to be playing.
“I think just do everything I can to prove I can be the starter,” Maye added. “I feel like I had a good camp. I feel like I’m throwing it well. I played well throughout the preseason. So, other than that, just keep my head down and keep working.
” I’m still one play away, so I’ve just got to be ready for all circumstances. I’m here to help Jacoby and keep advising the quarterback room. Nothing’s going to change; I’m still rooting for him and cheering for him.”
Dell Pettus: The UDFA was the only undrafted player who made the initial 53-man roster this season.
“I don’t know how to put it into words,” said Pettus, who spent a cutdown day playing video games, hoping the phone didn’t ring. “I’m not really a talkative person in that way. But just having that moment for me and knowing that my dreams are starting to come to reality, I didn’t know what to do other than to thank God.
“Honestly, I was pissed off because I felt like I should have been selected higher, or just selected in general,” he said. “But God has a plan for everybody, and I just kept that chip on my shoulder that I felt like I was slighted. And honestly, that chip isn’t gone, because I’m here, I’ve got my foot in the door, but I’m not finished. I feel that wholeheartedly. I’ve got a lot of goals for myself. I’ve got a lot of ambition and drive, and I’m going to take it day by day and continue to show everybody why I’m supposed to be here.”
Jabrill Peppers, one of the Patriots’ team leaders and a starter at safety chimed in on Pettus’ rise this summer to make the team.
“He’s just constant improvement every day,” Peppers told the Boston Herald. “Ability to apply the classroom to the field, ask the right questions, aggressive, shows he’s instinctive, tough. He’s just really coachable, man. He doesn’t really make the same mistakes twice. He asks a lot of questions, and he just did a real good job of buying into the standard in that safety room. … Then you add in the ability to play special teams — I think he had a couple special teams tackles (in the preseason) — and that’s value. I was definitely happy for him.”
It was great to see the Patriots restart the UDFA streak of making the roster after their 19-year string was broken last season. Brendan Schooler was one of the first players to congratulate Pettus. Coincidentally, or perhaps not so, Schooler was the last UDFA to make the roster before Pettus in 2022.
Also, all eight draft picks made the initial 53-man roster, something that hasn’t happened since Pete Carroll’s days.
Patriots 4th & 2 Podcast: Unfortunately, we couldn’t do a mid-week podcast due to a death in my immediate family. Last week, Derek Havens and I discussed and broke down the Eagles game. Please check it out. We looked at the latest breaking news, especially the trade of Matthew Judon.
Russ Francis/Chuck Fairbanks: The former Patriot tight end and head coach should be in the Patriots team Hall of Fame, and the fact that Francis isn’t in is an absolute travesty. Francis and the Raiders’ Dave Casper changed how teams used the tight end position. This will be discussed in our Sunday posts until it happens. Casper is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Francis’ numbers stand up well against Casper’s, yet he isn’t even in the team’s HOF.
The Patriots and Bengals have a week to finalize their respective game plans before kicking off Week 1 of the 2024 regular season. I seriously doubt that the team is done tweaking the roster before the opener, but for the most part, they have who they’ll roll with, at least for the first few games.
Right now, the 53-man roster stands as follows:
Quarterback (3): Jacoby Brissett (7), Drake Maye (10), Joe Milton III (19)
Running back (3): Rhamondre Stevenson (38), Antonio Gibson (21), JaMycal Hasty (39)
Wide receiver (6): DeMario Douglas (3), Ja’Lynn Polk (1), K.J. Osborn (2), Tyquan Thornton (11), Javon Baker (6), Kayshon Boutte (80)
Tight end (3): Hunter Henry (85), Austin Hooper (81), Jaheim Bell (88)
Offensive tackle (5): Chukwuma Okorafor (77), Michael Onwenu (71), Vederian Lowe (59), Caedan Wallace (70), Demontrey Jacobs (75)
Interior offensive line (5): David Andrews (60), Sidy Sow (62), Layden Robinson (63), Nick Leverett (51), Zachary Thomas (68)
Interior defensive line (5): Davon Godchaux (92), Deatrich Wise Jr. (91), Daniel Ekuale (95), Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (98), Eric Johnson (96)
Defensive edge (4): Anfernee Jennings (33), Keion White (99), Joshua Uche (55), Oshane Ximines (93)
Linebacker (5): Ja’Whaun Bentley (8), Jahlani Tavai (48), Raekwon McMillan (50), Christian Elliss (53), Curtis Jacobs (52)
Cornerback (6): Christian Gonzalez (0), Jonathan Jones (31), Marcus Jones (25), Marco Wilson (22), Alex Austin (28), Marcellas Dial Jr. (27)
Safety (5): Kyle Dugger (23), Jabrill Peppers (5), Jaylinn Hawkins (32), Brenden Schooler (41), Dell Pettus (34)
Specialists (3): Joey Slye (13, K), Bryce Baringer (17, P), Joe Cardona (49, LS)
The Practice Squad currently consists of 15 players; WR Jalen Reagor. RB Kevin Harris, CB Isaiah Bolden, DT Trysten Hill, G Michael Jordan, WR Matt Landers, OL Liam Fornadel, TE Mitchell Wilcox, RB Terrell Jennings, S AJ Thomas, DL Jotham Russell, LB Ochaun Mathis, DE Brevin Allen, G Jerome Carvin, OL Bryan Hudson
Christian Barmore (NFI), Marte Mapu (IR), Kendrick Bourne (PUP), Cole Strange (PUP), and Sione Takitaki (PUP) can all return at some point this season.
So, what is the outlook moving forward?
The team’s defense looks as solid, if not better, than last year’s team. Although Matthew Judon was traded, they’re banking on replacing his production with an aggregate of different players. Keion White, in particular, appears ready to make that big Year 2 leap.
However, losing Christian Barmore to blood clots is a massive blow. He’ll hopefully return at some point this season. Davon Godchaux is the big, run stuffer in the middle. Daniel Ekuale, Jeremiah Pharms, and veteran Deatrich Wise are all solid. Eric Johnson, picked up via the waiver wire, is a wildcard.
The linebacking core returns with Ja’Whaun Bentley and Jahlani Tavai as the starters, with Raekwon McMillan, Christian Ellis, and Curis Jacobs as the off-the-ball linebackers. Jacobs is intriguing because of his speed, running a 4.58 in the 40 at the NFL Combine. At 6’1, 241, that is impressive. He’s more of a coverage linebacker than a run stuffer and had an impressive summer with the Chiefs. He has ST’s experience.
The edge has Anfernee Jennings, Oshane Ximines, Josh Uche, and White, who can also play there. The top three cornerbacks (Christian Gonzalez, Jon Jones, and Marcus Jones) return. Alex Austin and Marco Wilson are the top backups, while Marcellas Dial is a developmental corner who’ll play special teams.
The team made a clean sweep of the quarterback room, and two rookies, Drake Maye and Joe Milton, as well as a veteran, Jacoby Brissett, to man the position. Brissett is the starter for now, but the way Maye has speeded up his development, it won’t be long before he should be ready to take over. Milton is a developmental guy with tons of potential upside.
This is the exact scenario that the coaches envisioned in the spring. Brissett will hold down the fort until Maye is ready (and not rushed) to take over the offense. So, this move is hardly surprising.
The preseason passing game was vanilla. How they plan to use it this season remains unknown. Under AVP’s system, the team will run the ball, use play action and bootlegs to throw the ball down the field and attack the seams.
For now, Tyquan Thornton is the starting “X” WR. While many will cringe at that thought, they plan to make that work come to fruition. But DeMario Douglas will probably still be their go-to guy in the slot. K.J. Osborn, Kayshon Boutte, and rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker give them depth.
Tight end could be the “X” Factor for the passing game. With Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper absent in the preseason, this area should factor in hugely once the games begin. Van Pelt relies heavily on the tight ends in the passing game.
This added dimension should improve the overall production in the passing game. Jaheim Bell is a developmental guy, with a ton of potential upside with his speed in the open field. He should eventually see some time as a “Move” or “Flex” TE who can play H-Back.
Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson are an excellent 1-2 punch out of the backfield. They complement each other well in the running game and should provide plenty of pop to keep the chains moving if the blocking holds up. More to that below.
Both backs can catch the ball out of the backfield, where I’d love to see the return of an effective wheel route again. JaMycal Hasty is another intriguing player with the speed to be very effective as a change-of-pace guy. Practice squad backs Kevin Harris, and Terell Jennings will undoubtedly see some time activated for game-day action.
Now for the elephant in the room.
Jerod Mayo said the offensive line woes were a bit overblown last Sunday. That part is true, with only one sack and two QB hits allowed. However, the procedural penalties, four times for a tackle lining up in the backfield, one of which erased a 48-yard touchdown, and other infractions are not a good sign.
Left tackle is still an issue. Will Vederian Lowe be healthy enough to start next week? Chuks Okorafor hasn’t stepped up. Caedan Wallace is still a rookie, and while newcomer Demontrey Jacobs has some nice upside, expecting him to be a savior in Week 1 is not fair to him. He had a very good preseason in Denver and the Broncos had hoped to bring him back to the practice squad.
For now, they’ll have to roll with who they have and keep a running back in to chip on the left side. Sidy Sow injured an ankle last week. His status for Cincy isn’t known yet, but the extra week should help. David Andrews at center, Layden Robinson at right guard, and Mike Onwenu at right tackle should round things out.
The unit is a huge question mark, and having 40 percent of the starters injured doesn’t bode well for a quick start in 2024. Needless to say, this will be a big week of preparation for the team overall, especially the offensive line.
This isn’t a knock on Jerod Mayo but simply a fact. No one, yes, no one was better than Bill Belichick at game-planning his teams week in and week out for a quarter century. The Patriots could morph their identity weekly to match up with an opponent.
Belichick is gone now, but can Mayo replicate that kind of success? It is far too early to be heaping that on his plate. But he and his staff are starting with a clean slate, so we’ll have to wait and see how things work out in that regard.
Keep an eye peeled for Dolphins’ cornerback Ethan Bonner this season. A UDFA in 2023 who spent most of the year on the practice squad, he elevated his play this summer and is now poised to see meaningful reps behind Jalen Ramsey and Kendall Fuller this year.
Dolphins GM Chris Grier even said that Miami turned down multiple trade offers for Bonner this summer. “He’s a smart player, very competitive, and we’ve had a number of teams try to trade for him in the offseason and even last year. Very excited for his opportunity, and he’s taken advantage of it every time he’s had one,” Grier said.
Miami also signed head coach Mike McDaniel to a contract extension that will keep him around through the 2028 season. McDaniel has really retooled the Miami offense since becoming the head coach. Last year, the Dolphins were 1st in yards gained and 2nd in points scored in the NFL.
However, the defense remains an issue. Anthony Weaver is the third new defensive coordinator in the past three years.
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“I think some of that stuff is being overblown. I would say we averaged 5 yards a carry; it was one sack and two quarterback hits. I mean, if you were to say that was the stat line, you would be okay with that. Now, in saying that, we’re still just trying to get better. We’re trying to get better at not only that starting five that we’re talking about but also just on the practice squad.
“That’s how we look at the practice squad as well. These guys aren’t here on our practice squad just to take reps during practice. No, we look at it from a developmental standpoint where all of these guys need to be ready to play. I think it would be naive for us to say going to that first game – where really no one has played four quarters of football – to think that guys won’t have to rotate in there at times, no matter what the position, would be just not right, in my opinion.”
Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo after he was asked if the performance of the offensive line in the final preseason game in Washington had any bearing on the decision to go with QB Jacoby Brissett over Drake Maye.
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“Talent sets the floor; Character sets the ceiling.” Bill Belichick
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The people that say things like “Mayo and Wolf are one and done”, will never have a reality based argument. Maye is a bust? No basis. It’s the world we live in NOW. To me, if your going to open your mouth, have a basis. Emotional rants is a bad look even if your 12 and under.
I don’t get the 4.5 win total, but that’s what most of the online betting sites have set. Last year, the o-line and subsequently the QB imploded. Even with that, the team lost a bunch of close games. Some of that is BB being gone. Going forward, I don’t see the D being as good as 2023 given they have one DT anchor in the middle and had arguably 3 last year. Stopping the run was key last year in putting teams in 3rd and passing only situations. I don’t see a QB meltdown happening this year with a solid… Read more »