Patriots News 6-08, The Biggest Question Heading Into Camp
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Good morning. Here are your Patriots news 6-08, and notes for this week. The mandatory minicamp begins tomorrow and will run from June 9 to 11.
There is a lot to watch for in the coming days. Of course, we all want to see progress from the young rookies and second-year players, as well as the new free-agent players. And you must remember that OTAs and minicamp are passing camps. We won’t see the running game, pass rush, offensive and defensive line play, or separation (or lack thereof) by the WRs until training camp.
However, the next three days can begin to answer the biggest question for the team heading into the 2025 season. Many fans and NFL writers believe the Patriots could jump from back-to-back 4-13 seasons to make the playoffs in 2025. While that seems a bit too far for Year 1 of the Vrabel era, it isn’t out of the realm of possibility.
And whether they do make a run for the postseason or not may depend on the biggest question for the team.
This may well determine how the 2025 season ends up. There is an entirely new coaching staff led by Mike Vrabel, who is revamping everything, including new defensive and offensive philosophies, as well as the roster of new players.
By the end of training camp, we could be looking at a roster turnover of more than 50 percent from last year, with 11 different starters, half of the starting lineup. These aren’t piecemeal changes. This is a massive, teardown-to-the-studs rebuild that frankly was due a few years ago.
Yes, the wide receiver room will bear close watching. As with the offensive line, the pass rush, and so on. However, they are all part of a bigger question: how will the team come together, and how quickly?
And with so many moving parts, getting the team’s act together isn’t an easy task. But generally being a glass-half-full guy, and a believer in this coach. I think they could get it done.
We’ll have to see, but getting off to a quick start is imperative this year. The belief here is that Josh McDaniels and Drake Maye will really elevate the second-year QB’s game. That part of the team will take care of itself.
But how the rest of the roster gels will ultimately bear watching.
Terry McLaurin: Trade scenarios abound this time of year, and McLaurin’s name is a hot one right now. The 30-year-old has been an outstanding wide receiver for the Commanders, but is reportedly very unhappy with the team’s contract negotiations and could be moved.
So, of course, the Patriots jump to the front of the conversation. Some believe that Washington will want a first-round pick for him. That should be entirely off the table. As much as I like Terry McLaurin as a player (5-straight 1,000-yard seasons), I would not make a trade for him, not even for a 2nd round pick.
He’s seeking $30 million per year and a long-term contract. That is a lot of cash for a guy on the wrong side of 30 with Drake Maye hopefully making that big Year 2 jump. They already paid for veteran Stefon Diggs to take up the mantle. They need to develop the younger guys on the roster.
The Patriots also drafted Kyle Williams this spring. I’m very intrigued to see what Williams can do this year. Additionally, if the team has any other receivers in a 12-man wide receiver room, who will step up?
Plus…I don’t believe McLaurin will leave Washington.
As for the fantasy that Miami would trade Tyreek Hill inside the division to New England? Child PULL-Lease!
Ekene Olekanma: The Patriots have hired Ekene Olekanma to be their new director of coaching and analytics. Olekanma has spent four years in the NFL with the Ravens and 49ers.
In 2021, the Ravens hired him as a coaching research and development analyst. In 2022, he joined the 49ers as a football research and development analyst and advanced his career in San Francisco.
With analytics being an essential part of the game today, the Patriots hired Olekanma to assist Mike Vrabel in that regard. The Patriots also promoted Tony Kinkela to Director of College Scouting on Wednesday.
Efton Chism: The undrafted rookie wide receiver has been excellent this spring. Every day, he seems to be making plays. During a practice session last week, he caught four passes during a six-play sequence.
What does this mean for his making the roster? Maybe nothing, maybe everything. We really won’t know how well he truly is until the pads come on in training camp. Then, when facing contact, how will his quickness play out? Can he get open and catch the ball?
He’s built in the Amendola/Edelman mold, but he’s 5’10’’ and ran a 4.71 in the 40 at the Combine.
But, he’s done nothing to hurt his chances of making the roster thus far, and he’ll definitely be someone to watch during minicamp and training camp.
Patriots No Huddle Podcast: Derek and Mike discussed the Patriots’ OTAs with Tanya Ray Fox. You can find our podcasts on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify. Our latest episode will be appearing later this morning, so please take a look and leave us a review.
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 is an absolute travesty. Francis and the Raiders’ Dave Casper changed how teams used the tight end position. This will be displayed 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.
Former NFL offensive lineman turned sportscaster Andrew Whitworth has said that he has given some advice for Patriots rookie left tackle Will Campbell.
The two have developed a strong bond with both being born and raised in Monroe, Louisiana. Both also attended and played for LSU before being drafted to the NFL.
Whitworth was an outstanding left tackle with a lasting legacy as a four-time Pro Bowler, two-time First-Team All-Pro and Super Bowl champion.
Over the years, the two have developed a strong bond, as Whitworth saw Campbell continue on an upward trajectory that strongly mirrored his own, and Campbell looked up to Whitworth as both a mentor and friend.
“I’ve been in those shoes. So, I think it’s important, when you’ve been there, to give a little love back,” Whitworth said to NESN.com’s Sean McGuire. “That’s really the dynamic of our relationship. We’re from the same place. We’ve got a lot of respect for each other.“
Whitworth’s advice to Campbell? “I think one of the biggest things for all young athletes is to continue to be yourself,” Whitworth said. “What makes you special? Don’t lose sight of that.”
“When you look at Gillette [Stadium], and you look at that setup in Foxborough, that is Monroe and West Monroe, Louisiana, on a much bigger scale,” Whitworth said.
“The colors, the environment, the setting in the middle of the community… I mean, that is really what the Patriots are in that environment. So, that sense of pride and that element that he’s going to be in is going to remind him a lot of playing in North Louisiana.”
“I’ve told him, ‘Man, I can’t wait to watch him do what he does and build this team with an identity that I know he’ll have,’” Whitworth added to McGuire.
“He gets to carry on the 318 legacy now. He talks about being a fan of mine, but now I get to just be a fan of his.”
Campbell has held his own thus far in OTAs, we’ll continue to watch his progress through the minicamp Monday – Wednesday, but the real tests begin at the end of next month when the team begins training camp, joint practices, and preseason games.
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“I think it’s important. I think, one, I enjoy it. I like it. I love it. I try to be as knowledgeable at every position as I possibly can. Some more than others – we referenced the quarterback. But having something at each position group that can maybe translate from my perspective to help the player.
“But then I also think that where the head coach is, is probably what the players think are important. So, I try to be a little bit everywhere.”
Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel when asked, “there have been a lot of questions and observations about your involvement in practice. Watching the other day, it was interesting to see that you’re coaching one-on-one with players from different backgrounds, different paths here, different positions. How important is it for you – I know this might sound obvious – to coach all 90 guys on your roster here and then into the summer?”
Good. Good. I think that when we split the squads up, I hear both fields talking and communicating. There’s going to be times – hopefully, a lot of times at our home games – where the defense is going to have to signal, hand signal, eye contact, nonverbal communication because it’s loud, we’ve created a great environment by the way that we’re playing, and our fans are embracing that.
“So, I think that that’s always important, and obviously, offensively, when we go on the road, we’re going to have to have different silent counts and be on the same page in a loud environment.”
Head coach Mike Vrabel when asked, as you implement a new defensive scheme that’s still with a lot of veterans, how do you feel the communication has been with these units early on?
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“Somebody asked me what success looks like, and I said, ‘Yeah, you can judge it by wins and losses during the season, but success for me in the offseason is going to be that the players believe in what we’re doing, and they believe in the message, they believe in the teaching, and they believe in the connections that we’re making.’” — Mike Vrabel
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