Patriots News 7-27, First Padded Practices, What To Watch For
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Posted Under: 2025 Patriots Training Camp
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Good morning. Here is your Patriots news, 7-27, and NFL notes this week. Training camp began last week, and the team got off to a good start. It is nice to hear about training camps going on at Gillette and at all 32 team’s facilities.
The good news was that Stefon Diggs was cleared for practice and was out on the field building some chemistry with Drake Maye. Diggs is moving well, he hardly looks like a guy who tore an ACL last October.
Maye looks good, full of confidence, and is working on assuming a more leadership role within the team. Josh McDaniels’ offense is built on getting the ball out fast, and that was on display.
Better news is that on Saturday, the stands were packed to overflowing and the Patriots opened the stadium walking ramps to allow the crowd in. The excitement is back in Foxborough, and the fans are coming out.
On Saturday, the Patriots ramped up the intensity, albeit without pads. However, the offense, having worked on the screen game and checkdowns on Thursday (Friday was a walkthrough), was intent on pushing the ball down the field.
While overall the consistency was up and down, there were a couple of really nice plays to mention.
Maye hit Javon Baker with about a 70-yard bomb as Baker got behind a safety and left him in the dust, where Maye hit him in stride. That’s been Baker’s best play this offseason, and long overdue.
Maye also hit Pop Douglas with a 50-yard touchdown on a play where Maye rolled to his right and “remained a passer” (a point Vrable and McDaniels have made) and hit Douglas perfectly in stride—arguably the best play of camp thus far.
The defense looks fast, and the edge players are off to a good start.
The bad news? Ja’Lynn Polk missed the first few days of camp due to a soft tissue injury, although he passed his physical. Polk had shoulder surgery this offseason and wasn’t a participant this spring.
For a guy who is locked into a battle for a roster spot in a crowded wide receiver room, he needs a strong training camp. And he’s starting behind the pack right now. There is still plenty of time to earn a spot, but he needs to get on the field as soon as possible.
Christian Wilkins: The Raiders released Wilkins and voided $35.2 million in guarantees on his contract. Wilkins filed a grievance with the NFLPA, ending his Raiders’ short stay on a very sour note.
Wilkins’ only season in Las Vegas was cut short by a foot injury after just five games. He played his first five seasons in Miami and had a monster 2023 season, recording nine sacks and 23 QB hits.
However, when asked about Wilkins, who the Patriots were interested in at one time, head coach Mike Vrabel said that, “I mean I think we’ll have a conversation …I’ve known Christian, recruited him (to Ohio State) when he was up here in the area in Connecticut going to high school, so I’m sure we’ll have a conversation about it,” Vrabel said.
He’s a very intriguing possibility for the Patriots, who are still flush with cap space this season, despite spending a ton of cash during free agency. Assuming that he’d be cleared from his injury, adding a player of his caliber to the rotation on the interior defensive line would be a massive get for the Patriots.
The Patriots revamped their defensive line during the offseason, with the return of healthy Christian Barmore. They signed Milton Williams, Khyris Tonga, and drafted Joshua Farmer to play alongside Jeremiah Pharms, who returns.
While it may not happen, having a rotation of Barmore, Williams, and Wilkins would be fun to watch.
Robert Spillane: The Patriots’ new linebacker is guaranteed to be turning heads once the pads come on tomorrow. He’s one of those under-the-radar signings who is guaranteed to be a fan favorite.
He’s been relatively quiet thus far because his value will show itself when the hitting starts. However, after the first day of training camp, Spillane said words that will bring a smile to every Patriot fan’s face.
“I’ve never been more excited going into a year with a group of guys,” said Spillane.
“We had a great offseason, but that doesn’t promise you anything. We’ve got to come in here and work every day, and that’s what we started today.”
“We’ve got a lot of leaders on this defense, a lot of experience, a lot of people that understand scheme,” Spillane added. “It might not be this particular scheme, but they understand an NFL scheme. Christian Elliss and Jahlani Tavai, next to me, have played lots of games in this league and are also experienced communicators, and then our guys up front are just dogs. We just want them to go eat.”
He played under Vrabel as a rookie and is a perfect fit for the Patriots’ defense that Vrabel and Terrell Williams will run.
Terrell Williams: Speaking of Williams, after an early spring health scare, he has returned to the team after missing all of the spring workouts. He stayed in contact with the team via remote Zoom video.
The defensive players were a happy lot to see their DC back with them when training camp began.
“It means everything,” said Robert Spillane. “A great defensive mind. A guy who has been in this league a long time. Has a lot of wisdom. Has a lot of understanding. His message is effort and finishing every play, so we’re just going to continue to keep working on that.”
“It’s good to see him,” Milton Williams said. “That was a hard thing he had to deal with. You never know if you’re going to be able to make it back from something like that. It’s good to see him out here. Definitely good to see him out here, calling plays, and just getting back with the groove of things.”
Keion White: The Patriot third-year edge player seems another perfect fit for the Patriots’ new look defense. And he says, the message from coach Vrabel that he wants a violent defense suits him well.
“Leading with violence is always my type of style,” White said on Friday. “So, whenever I can do that and not read as much, that’s definitely beneficial for me.”
And that is just fine with his head coach. “I love Keion’s attitude. He’s a worker, he’s here early, he’s got a routine that I think has worked for him, practices hard, he’s conditioned,” Vrabel said prior to practice.
“So, again, as we work through this and progress — and we’re just a couple days into this — but I think Keion’s got a great attitude. I love kind of just being able to coach him. He’s very receptive. He’s a very coachable player.”
Patriots No Huddle Podcast: Derek, Mike, and I discussed the first few days of training camp in a discussion. You can find our podcasts on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify. 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.
Training camp truly begins tomorrow when the pads come on and the hitting can commence. For most positional groups, it is the best way to evaluate how well — or how poorly—they are doing.
The first padded practices for the Patriots will offer a crucial look at how the team is shaping up, with a particular focus on the offensive line, the running game, and the passing attack featuring Drake Maye.
Additionally, the defense’s ability to bring “violence,” get after the quarterback, and the performance of the special teams unit with new specialists will be key areas to watch.
Here’s a look at what areas deserve “keeping a sharp eye on”…tip of the cap to Mike D’Abate for that one.
The revamped offensive line will be under scrutiny, with Will Campbell at left tackle and Morgan Moses at right tackle. The performance of rookie Jared Wilson, who is getting significant reps at center and left guard, will be a major area to watch.
Will the team use him at left guard this season and switch him over to center in 2026? Or will Cole Strange or another interior OL emerge? The pass protection is an area that was generally awful in 2024. Can the OL improve on that this year? Moses and Campbell especially will be under a microscope this season.
The Patriots’ running game and the running backs have a talented group this season, featuring Rhamondre Stevenson, Antonio Gibson, rookie TreVeyon Henderson, intriguing undrafted free agents Len Larrison and Brock Lampe.
However, last year the running game wasn’t a significant factor because teams didn’t fear the passing attack and loaded the box. And the OL wasn’t opening up holes for the backs, who were frequently hit in the backfield.
That has to improve to get the running game going, something Vrabel’s teams have always stressed. One area that will bear close watching is the passing game using the running backs. The screen game with Stevenson, Gibson, and Henderson should be much better in Josh McDaniels’ offense.
Henderson, in particular, is a home run threat with his hands on the ball with his speed. A return to the old staple, the wheel route would be nice to see.
It all starts with protecting the QB. Can the OL do a much better job of protection and give him time to go through his progressions? McDaniels’ offense is predicated on making the correct reads and getting the ball out quickly and accurately.
Quarterback Drake Maye, along with veteran receivers Stefon Diggs, Demario Douglas, and tight end Hunter Henry, will be a key focus. The chemistry between Maye and his receivers, especially in competitive drills, will be closely watched. Henry and fellow TE Austin Hooper were Maye’s dependable safety blankets in 2024. Now, they need others to step up consistently.
We know that Diggs knows how to get open, but separation was an issue in 2024 for the returning WRs. Rookie burner Kyle Williams is known for his ability to get open at the line of scrimmage in the college game. Can he do it in the pros?
Keep a sharp eye (there we go again) on UDFA Efton Chism, who had an impressive spring. If he can replicate the ability to get open and catch the ball as he did this spring, he may earn himself a roster spot.
Watch for McDaniels to tinker with all different kinds of players and groupings to find what works best. It will be curious to see how they approach this.
The defense’s aggression and ability to bring “violence,” especially with the players they’ve added this spring. With Mike Vrabel and Terrell Williams, the Patriots are adopting a more aggressive approach, and they’ve brought in the players who fit it. Harold Landry had his best years under Vrabel in Tennessee. Now he is reunited with Vrabel. He had nine sacks last year with the Titans.
Keion White is the “X” Factor for the pass rush this season. Last season, he notched five sacks, but he is capable of much more. Now, under a system that plays to his strengths, he is allowed to tee off on the quarterback, as he discussed above.
The interior defensive line, with a healthy and trimmed-down Christian Barmore and Milton Williams, will be a tough matchup for any offense this season. They have depth as well with Khyris Tonga, Joshua Farmer, and Jeremiah Pharms.
Robert Spillane is the new man in the middle, he’s much different than the middle linebackers we’ve seen in the past for the Patriots. He is smaller, but very physical and is athletic enough to be everywhere on the field. On Saturday, he knocked down two passes, one in man coverage on Hunter Henry, and the other in zone on Pop Douglas.
But he’s already a leader out there, assuring everyone is in the correct position, something Kyle Dugger has mentioned. Christian Ellis, Jack Gibbens, Marte Mapu, and Jahlani Tavai will all get plenty of play this summer.
The performance of the specialists, including potential rookie long snapper Julian Ashby, who is replacing Joe Cardona, who was the model of consistency for years as well as an outstanding representative for the team will have big shoes to fill.
I expect kicker Andy Borregales to win the job this summer, but don’t be shocked to see fellow kicker John Parker Romo to remain with the team on the practice squad.
The consistency of the field goal operation, as well as the return game, will be a key area to watch.
Watch For C.J. Dippre Now:
Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper return in 2025, and the pair were arguably the most consistent and reliable receivers on the team in 2024. They are a very good combination of 1A and 1B tight ends. Drake Maye relied on the duo more and more, and they consistently delivered.
Now that the physical part of the camp is just starting, now is the time for Patriots fans to get introduced to C.J. Dippre
Dippre is a big (6’5, 256) blocking tight end, which he was at Alabama. When the pads come on, it will be his chance to shine. He has decent speed (4.69) to be used as a pass catcher. He was used sparingly as an option for Alabama, but proved reliable when utilized.
Keep an eye peeled for Brock Lampe as a FB/TE, as he’s already got some run with the starting group in camp. McDaniels loves to have a FB for his running game.
What are you watching for? Send me an email or respond here and we’ll read them on the podcast tomorrow.
It is so nice to see football back on the field…Are you excited yet?
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Well, if we can remember what the objectives of training camp were, which were, do you remember? No? Build a team, remember Mike [Reiss]? Earn a role. Remember the last one? Prepare to win. You guys are on fire today. We’re off to a great start.
So, if we can do those things, there’s a reason I try to do this, I don’t claim to be the smartest person, so if I can just try to find some things that I think are important for the team, and the individual, and then kind of coming back to the team.
So, if it looks like we build a team, and there’s some cohesion, and guys are enjoying being around each other. Are they competing? Are they taking care of each other? And then are guys starting to figure out, hey, this is going to be my role, I’m going to go try to dominate that, whatever that may be.
And then ultimately, are we understanding these situations, and can we try to win a football game? So, that’s what would be successful.
Mike Vrabel on what would constitute a successful training camp.
I hope the player and the coach can be an extension of the message that I have created, and try to get that across in their own words, and stay consistent with it. That’s why we don’t have a ton of stuff that we try to talk about. We try to stay very consistent, and allow that to kind of branch off, and don’t tell them what to say, but allow them to have some parameters and things that we’re working for. So, we just hope that everybody carries that message over here, as they work to lead their unit or another position.
Vrabel on what he expects from his leaders.
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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
Follow me on Twitter @SteveB7SFG or email me at [email protected]
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HERE WE GO!!!
Saw comments from the PFW crew/Parillo denoted the focus, speed and intensity of the play. That is a great sign for Vrabel. Interesting to see how the line looks by mid-Aug. Tomorrow will be interesting but not definitive. Only issues worth sweating now would be key injuries. So far the team is almost perfect attendance. Few guys out is great. All is good!