These are the primary items that I will be watching for at the Training camp.\u00a0 Most of these are pretty obvious but some are in-depth battles to make the team.<\/p>\n
The Quarterback competition<\/strong> – \u201cCam is our quarterback\u201d, is what Belichick said when Mac Jones was drafted.\u00a0 On Tuesday, the day before training camp, Belichick has changed his tune.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery one of us has to go out and establish our level of performance in whatever our role or capacity is,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a new season. \u201cUntil we go out there, it\u2019s pretty much a clean slate,\u201d Belichick said in a videoconference call Tuesday.<\/p>\n During the OTAs and Mini Camp, the Patriots coaching staff through a lot of twists and turns at rookie QB Mac Jones.\u00a0 They really put the pressure on with stunts, blitzes, and exotic coverages to see how Jones would react. \u00a0Jones checked down and passed underneath which didn\u2019t impress those looking for his downfield throws but thrilled the coaches for his maturity in recognizing what the defense was giving him and taking it.\u00a0 \u00a0It appears he is much further advanced as a rookie in his knowledge of the playbook and how to handle these pressure plays.\u00a0 I know these practices were in shorts and the hitting won\u2019t start for 6 days.\u00a0 However, from Belichick\u2019s statement, one can assume that Jones has at least come even with Cam Newton and will be given a chance to win the starting job.\u00a0 As far as Newton goes, I want to see what his completion percentage looks like.\u00a0 Newton claims his shoulder hasn\u2019t felt this good since the 2016 season.\u00a0 This remains to be seen.\u00a0 If Newton is throwing the ball as he did at the end of last season, Jones will win the job by default.\u00a0 The big question is, has Newton corrected the numerous faults in his throwing motion.\u00a0 Let the battle begin.<\/p>\n Defensive Line<\/strong> – \u00a0Last season\u2019s DL unit was one of the worst in the NFL.\u00a0 Belichick went out and grabbed three Free Agents to help improve that dubious distinction. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Davin Godchaux was the starting Nose Tackle for the Miami Dolphins.\u00a0 He immediately should be part of the 1st<\/sup> pair of DTs.\u00a0 Henry Anderson, a tall DT who played for NY Jets is an underrated player that bears watching to see if he can occupy two blockers, or if left one on one can wreak havoc on the opposition.\u00a0 Montavius Adams saw limited time on the field from Green Bay.\u00a0 He has yet to reach the promise he had coming into the league.\u00a0 He is another wide body that should occupy space.\u00a0 Should the competition be as good as I anticipate, Adams may have a hard time making this team. \u00a0What about rookie Christian Barmore?\u00a0\u00a0 I saw a lazy player when I watched Alabama on TV last season.\u00a0 He also played only half of that snaps.\u00a0 Reports have him moving at a high level.\u00a0 I hope to see a player that is worthy of being drafted so high.<\/p>\n Linebacker \/ Edge <\/strong>\u2013 This position is loaded.\u00a0 The Patriots will probably have a completely new set of starters from the 1st<\/sup> game last season.\u00a0 The Patriots started John Simon (no longer on the team), J\u2019Whaun Bentley, and Terez Hall (both fighting to make the team).\u00a0 This is how much the team has improved.\u00a0 Donta Hightower\u2019s return is a godsend.\u00a0 The addition of Free Agents Kyle Van Noy (MIA) currently on the Physically Unable to Play list (PUP) and Matt Judon (BAL) \u00a0potentially make this one of the best starting LB trios in the league.\u00a0 Add the three youngsters, Josh Uche, Afernee Jennings, and Chase Winowich, who all received significant minutes last season.\u00a0 I expect the three young LBs to make a significant jump this year.\u00a0 Again, competition will bring out the best.<\/p>\n Wide Receiver<\/strong> – \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We know what we have in Jakobi Meyers, a steady, reliable pass-catchers who led the team in receptions last season.\u00a0 They added two Free Agents in Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne.\u00a0 Gunner Olszewski has established himself as one of the best Punt Returners in the league.\u00a0 Can he improve as a wide receiver and capture the slot role void left by the retirement of Julian Edelman?\u00a0 What about the enigma of N\u2019Keal Harry?\u00a0 Can he improve enough to make a difference?\u00a0 Harry has requested a trade and the Patriots might just oblige if they could find a taker.\u00a0 There are always several other camp bodies at WR.\u00a0 Will any emerge to claim a spot on the roster or practice squad?<\/p>\n Running Back<\/strong> –\u00a0 This will be a really interesting competition.\u00a0 Rookie Rhamondre Stevenson, 4t round pick from Oklahoma is the key to the backfield.\u00a0 His reputation is that of a pounding big back.\u00a0 Nothing wrong with that!\u00a0 We have won two Super Bowls with big pounding backs Corey Dillon and Antowain Smith.\u00a0 It\u2019s Stevenson\u2019s surprising pass-catching ability and his special team’s play that could determine if other players make the team or not.\u00a0 To start the first practice, Stevenson is on Non-Football Injury List.\u00a0 Harris and Michel will share the load.\u00a0 If Stevenson emerges as a running back threat, Michel may become expendable in a trade.\u00a0 Michel is a Free Agent next year.\u00a0 The hero of Super Bowl LI, James White appears to be safe.\u00a0 He is the 3rd<\/sup> down specialist and can be used as a wide receiver.\u00a0 JJ Taylor impressed the Patriots coaches last season enough to make the opening day 53 man roster.\u00a0 Taylor was actually cut for the final 53 man roster on Sept 5th<\/sup>, signed to the Practice Squad, and activated for the 1st<\/sup> game.\u00a0 We know he can catch the ball and has great moves and abilities to get away from tacklers.\u00a0 His special teams’ abilities as the KO returner may give him an edge in making the team.\u00a0 We can\u2019t forget old veteran Special Teams ace Brandon Bolden, who opted out of last season.\u00a0 Bolden is 31 and primarily Special Teams player, performing on all 4 Special Team units.\u00a0 However, the Patriots didn\u2019t miss him last year as their Special Teams finished as the number-ranked unit.\u00a0 \u00a0Lots of variables here.<\/p>\n Injuries <\/strong>\u2013 Injuries can make or break a team coming out of training camp.\u00a0 The Patriots start the Pre-season Training Camp with ten players on PUP and three on NFI.<\/p>\n PUP<\/p>\n Stephon Gilmore<\/p>\n Chase Winowich<\/p>\n Dalton Keene<\/p>\n Jarret Stidham<\/p>\n Terez Hall<\/p>\n Byron Cowart<\/p>\n Brandon King<\/p>\n Devin Smith<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Kyle Van Noy<\/p>\n Trent Brown<\/p>\n <\/p>\n NFI<\/p>\n Rhamondre Stevenson<\/p>\n Joshuah Bledsoe<\/p>\n Cameron McGrone<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It appears that Van Noy and Brown didn\u2019t pass their conditioning runs and therefore are not allowed to practice until they do.<\/p>\n Jarret Stidham\u2019s name on this list is a surprise.\u00a0 I have no idea why he is on the list.<\/p>\n Rhamondre Stevenson on the NFI list was also a surprise. \u00a0According to position coach Ivan Fears, it\u2019s a series of nagging injuries.\u00a0 Stevenson was a full participant in the off-season practices.\u00a0 Bledsoe and McGrone were drafted injured.\u00a0 Bledsoe had a broken wrist and McGrone was an ACL.\u00a0 McGrone will probably have a red-shirt year and be out for the season.<\/p>\n Offensive Line Coach<\/strong> – Can Carmen Bricillo handle the load as the only Offensive Line coach.\u00a0 The late dismissal of OL coach Cole Popovich, for an unknown reason, has elevated Bricillo from assistant to the only line coach.\u00a0 \u00a0Luckily the Patriots have an outstanding veteran line that will not require a lot of coaching.\u00a0 The proof will be if Bricillo can bring along the young backups and groom them to become future starters.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" These are the primary items that I will be watching for at the Training camp.\u00a0 Most of these are pretty obvious but some are in-depth battles to make the team.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":37163,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[44],"class_list":["post-37435","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-patriots-news","tag-new-england-patriots"],"yoast_head":"\n