Patriots News 8-3, Training Camp 53-Man Roster Projection
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Good morning. Here is your Patriots news, 8-3, and NFL notes this week. Training camp this week has been in full swing, culminating in a scrimmage inside Gillette Stadium on Friday night. Now the team is off for the weekend until practice resumes on Monday.
We have a 53-Man Roster Projection below, and it will require some cuts that will hurt, but several of those will remain on the practice squad. And you can’t keep everybody. But there is plenty of time for significant movement to still occur. Joint practices and three preseason games carry a lot of weight.
This coming week will be an exciting one: joint practice with the Washington Commanders, followed by Friday’s unveiling of the Tom Brady statue in front of the stadium, and later that evening, the first preseason game against the Commanders, a playoff team in 2024. Stay tuned to PatsFans.com as we’ll have the coverage on all of it.
Drake Maye: “OMG! Maye threw TWO INTs in the scrimmage!” The sky isn’t falling, but after speaking about how he hadn’t thrown a pick in camp on our podcast late Friday afternoon, it seems like we jinxed him.
But it did seem like overkill after the scrimmage, but as we all know, negativity sells. A negative headline will draw more attention than a positive one. But sometimes, these social media posts make me laugh.
However, you don’t want to see your quarterback throw a pick-six, although Alex Austin did a slide at the two-yard line. Later, it was said that Maye and Williams had a miscommunication that resulted in the pick. A rookie wide receiver learning a new system, what could go wrong? That’s why they call it a practice.
The thing to remember here is that Maye looks much more comfortable and confident in Josh McDaniels’ system than I thought we’d see at this point. And that is a major positive moving into the preparation for the Commanders.
Hawk-Eye Technology: The Hall of Fame game gave us the first look at Sony’s Hawk-Eye technology as the primary method of measuring the line to gain for first downs.
We’ll see how it works out, but for now, the “chain gang” will remain on the sidelines as a backup to the new tech.
K’Lavon Chaisson: The Patriots signed the edge rusher as a free agent from the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason, and the reaction was lukewarm. Well, the reaction is warming up along with the weather this summer.
Chaisson has been a consistent thorn in the Patriots’ OL side since the first day of training camp. He seems like a great fit in Mike Vrabel’s scheme and is off to a great start thus far in training camp.
The Patriots have Harold Landry, Keion White, Bradyn Swinson, Chaisson, along with Anfernee Jennings, Elijah Ponder, and Truman Jones at the edge, and all have been playing well. The edge looks to be far ahead of where it was a year ago. And Chaisson is a big part of that.
Patriots No Huddle Podcast: Derek, Mike, and I discussed training camp in a discussion with CLNS and Pats Pulpit’s Pat Lane. 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 began last week, and after the first nine days, there have been a few surprises thus far. Next week will be a joint practice with the Commanders, followed by the first preseason game of the season.
So, here is our next stab at a Roster Projection based on how things have progressed thus far. We are just a little more than a month away from the first actual regular season game of the season.
I wonder if the team tries to swing a trade considering the number of WRs and the ongoing competition. There just aren’t enough reps for everyone.
Things will start coming fast and furious from here on out as the tempo and intensity begin to pick up.
QB (2): Drake Maye, Joshua Dobbs
No surprises here, Ben Wooldridge ends up on the practice squad and as the emergency 3rd QB.
RB (4): Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson, Antonio Gibson, Lan Larison
Out: Terrell Jennings
With Brock Lampe on IR, this is a no-brainer. Larison has ST’s ability and even got some looks with the top unit. He has upside as a runner and receiver. The running game should be much more of a factor this season with an improved offensive line, and with the addition of Henderson, the passing game will benefit as well. He has home run potential.
WR (6): Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, DeMario “Pop” Douglas, Kyle Williams, Kayshon Boutte, Javon Baker
Out: Kendrick Bourne, Ja’Lynn Polk, Efton Chism III, John Jiles, Jeremiah Webb
This is a crapshoot after #5. Bourne seems stuck with the 2’s, Polk returned and has played well, and Baker has had a couple of splash moments. But I hate losing Chism for the moment because he has ST’s value and return ability.
Baker gets in for the moment. He’s been a gunner opposite Brendan Schooler; “the more you can do…”
But this is a far cry from a lock. The preseason games will tell a tale. As Paul Perillo is fond of saying, “Don’t buy green bananas.”
TE (2): Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper,
OUT: Jack Westover, Jaheim Bell, C.J. Dippre, Gee Scott Jr, Tyler Davis, Cole Fotheringham
The tight end position is Henry, Hooper, and who? Right now, Westover has the edge through the first week plus. But Bell has been working with the ST’s, so he can’t be discounted. Scott has had a few moments. Right now, I’m sticking with just Henry and Hooper until someone steps up, and they’ll be forced to make cuts elsewhere.
What was that Paul said about bananas?
OL (9): Will Campbell, Garrett Bradbury, Mike Onwenu, Morgan Moses, Jared Wilson, Caedan Wallace, Demontrey Jacobs, Marcus Bryant, Ben Brown
Out: Cole Strange (G), Jack Conley (G), Yasir Durant (T-IR), Vederian Lowe (OT), Layden Robinson (G), Tyrese Robinson (T)
Cole Strange has lost his LG position to Wilson. When Bradbury came up limping, they brought in Brown and not Strange as the backup. Could Strange still make the roster as a backup guard/center? Sure thing. And maybe we’re reading too much of this—another position defined by the preseason.
DL (5): Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, Khyiris Tonga, Joshua Farmer, Jeremiah Pharms Jr.
Out: Isaiah Iton, Jahvaree Ritzie, Jaquelin Roy, David Olajida
The defensive line is solid, on this projection, Farmer just beats out Roy. But I wouldn’t close the door on him yet; he plays like a guy Vrabel wants on the team. Tonga has played really well so far this summer. Not a surprise, but it looks like a good signing it certainly appears. Tonga will definitely be used in short yardage/goal line situations.
Having a healthy Barmore with Williams is going to show a lot of disruption and penetration in the interior of the defensive line which will undoubtably aid the edge players in getting home with the pass rush.
EDGE (6): Harold Landry, Keion White, K’Lavon Chaisson, Anfernee Jennings, Bradyn Swinson, Elijah Ponder
Out: Truman Jones
Jennings is running with the 2’s thus far, but he should see more run in the preseason when the opponents run the ball. He’s a solid edge-setter, although he doesn’t seem to fit in Vrabel’s defense. Jones has time to unseat him. But the edge players have all played well this summer. Especially Landry, White, and Chaisson, who have been a constant disruption for the Patriot’s offense. I look forward to seeing much more of that this season against the team’s opponents.
LB (4): Robert Spillane, Jahlani Tavai, Christian Elliss, Jack Gibbens
Out: Marte Mapu, Monty Rice, Cam Riley
It would have been nice to keep Mapu, but again, he’s a victim of the numbers game. Spillane and Elliss seem like the top two here, but Gibbens and Tavai will ably back them up and play special teams.
CB (6): Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III, Marcus Jones, Alex Austin, Marcellas Dial, D.J. James
Out: Miles Battle, Isaiah Bolden, Brandon Crossley, Kobee Minor, Jordan Polk
The Patriots have pretty good depth at cornerback. James has been among the biggest positive surprises in camp. Thus far, he’s taken advantage of extra reps — with Davis and Gonzalez missing time — and he’s always around the football. The former Seahawk who spent last year on the Patriots’ practice squad, may have found himself a home.
S (5): Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers, Craig Woodson, Jaylinn Hawkins, Dell Pettus
Out: Josh Minkins, Marcus Epps
The Patriots have a deep group of safeties, arguably the deepest position of the team. Epps was brought in this spring, but right now, I have him out. Woodson has been very good since the spring workouts.
Specialists (4): Julian Ashby (LS), Bryce Baringer (P), Andy Borregales (K), Brendan School (Gunner)
Out: John Parker Romo
Romo has been very good thus far in training camp, but I’m sticking with the draft pick, Borregales. But Romo isn’t going anywhere; he’ll be on the practice squad.
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“Just real quick, out for tonight, Mack Hollins, Gonzo [Christian Gonzalez], [Carlton] Davis, [Keion] White, [Vederian] Lowe, [Garrett], [Garrett] Bradbury, [Antonio] Gibson, [Jahlani] Ta’Vai, [Joshua] Farmer, and Sidy [Sow]. Those players won’t be participating in tonight’s deal.
“Real quick, just so I probably nip this in the bud here. The blue team’s head coach is Zak Kuhr. Offensive coordinator will be Josh McDaniels. The white team’s head coach is Thomas Brown, and offensive coordinator, and Terrell Williams will be the defensive coordinator on the white team. Blue captains, Drake [Maye], Christian Ellis, and [Jaylinn] Hawkins, the white captains, Hunter Henry, Jabrill Peppers, and Brenden Schooler.
“So, try to approach it as close to a game as we can. We have special teams. We’ll keep punting the football. We’ll have punt return. We’ll have returners back there. We’ll have a couple of full field covers. We’ll have some plus 50. We’ll have some different kicking situations.
“And then just see where, put the ball, move it, and we have officials. So there’s things that I need to try to create and may extend drives with a phantom illegal contact or roughing the passer that probably, hopefully, didn’t happen in tonight’s practice.
“But I’ve already told the team those are things that may happen so that we can continue to get whatever we need to get done, get some red zone, get some end of game 2-minute, and really just have fun. We had a draft, those coaches drafted, and there was a coin flip, and we’ll let you figure out who won the coin flip and go from there.
“So the players are excited. We split the coaches up, and me and Stretch [John Streicher] are the only ones that are impartial. Everybody else is going against each other.
Vrabel on what he expects from the in-stadium practice on Friday.
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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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On Steve’s roster there is much to agree with. I like rostering just 2 TEs. It should be easy to stash another on the practice squad for an early call-up when the inevitable injury at another position happens. Javon Baker, just watching this guy it is obvious that he has big play potential. For the 5th receiver it’s not a bad idea to take a flyer.
This from Steve is key: “The thing to remember here is that Maye looks much more comfortable and confident in Josh McDaniels’ system than I thought we’d see at this point.” I’d add that it’s Maye the entire offense operating in that new offense that’s doing well so far…AND is competing day to day on par with the D. That was far from the case last year. Not sure if McD is spoon feeding them and they have a long way to go, but what the offense is doing, they seem to be handling it fine. Edge rushers look good,… Read more »
Like Steve’s list. Sound. Javon Baker – when you see him walk by at practice, he stands out in terms of physical stature. He got bigger this offseason. Parillo and the PFW crew all said, Baker looks like a guy that can play in this league talent-wise, if he can just get more consistent. He may be the proverbial green banana, but he’s a young guy that’s one year in the NFL where it often takes WR’s time. You don’t draft that position with a cap of “must play and do well rookie year”. Especially given the offense was dysfunctionally… Read more »