{"id":60471,"date":"2025-06-01T05:05:12","date_gmt":"2025-06-01T09:05:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=60471"},"modified":"2025-06-01T12:21:38","modified_gmt":"2025-06-01T16:21:38","slug":"patriots-news-6-01-the-mcdaniels-connection-may-pay-off-nicely","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2025\/06\/01\/patriots-news-6-01-the-mcdaniels-connection-may-pay-off-nicely\/","title":{"rendered":"Patriots News 6-01, The McDaniels Connection May Pay Off Nicely"},"content":{"rendered":"

Good morning. Here are your Patriots news 6-01, and notes for this week. It is hard to believe that we\u2019re already in June. The year is flying by. Mandatory minicamp is right around the corner, and training camp after that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Patriots will honor David Andrews tomorrow. And it is well-deserved, I can\u2019t wait to see how they choose to do it.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, we\u2019re still monitoring the progress at OTAs, as the team transitions to new playbooks on offense and defense with an entirely new coaching staff and numerous new faces on the roster.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It takes time to learn the new systems, and the defense is often ahead of the offense at this early juncture. Therefore, the main thing to look for is gradual improvement every day at practice as the players become more comfortable with the playbook and each other.<\/span><\/p>\n

We know that<\/span> Josh McDaniels’<\/b> offense is not the easiest to learn, but I do not doubt that he and Drake Maye will work together quite well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With a dozen wide receivers on the roster, there are a couple of players who should have a leg up on the competition, one of whom is <\/span>Kendrick Bourne<\/b>. His first year with the Patriots also coincided with McDaniels, and in the second half of that season, Bourne emerged as the Patriots’ best playmaker.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The 2021 season saw Bourne set career highs in catches (55), yards (800), touchdowns (5), and longest reception (75 yards). I think he has a great shot this summer, as he\u2019s now completely healthy following his ACL injury.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The other is <\/span>Mack Hollins<\/b>. In Hollins\u2019 only season in Las Vegas, where McDaniels was the head coach, he also had his best NFL season with 57 catches, 690 yards, and four TDs, with a long reception of 60 yards.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He\u2019s a big (6\u20194, 221) red zone target and an excellent blocker as a wide receiver. Hollins is a lunch pail kind of guy who comes to work every day and puts in the work. He\u2019s a Vrabel kind of guy. I\u2019m excited to see what he can do in a McDaniels offense again.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In our podcast this week, I spoke with <\/span>Karen Guregian about Hollins, and she said if Hollins is a #3 or even a #4 receiver, he\u2019d be a good target for Drake Maye, who will be reliable and catch the ball when his number is called.<\/p>\n

To put that note into context, last year, when Hollins was targeted by Josh Allen, Allen\u2019s passer rating was 118.6. His <\/span>34-yard TD<\/span><\/a> in the AFC Championship Game in KC is a great example of what he can do.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Quick Hitters For the Patriots and NFL News:\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

Drake Maye:\u00a0 <\/b>Oh my (Dick Enberg voice), it only took one OTA practice to get fans back into reading the body language of the QB thing again. <\/span>Phil Perry <\/b>of NBC Sports Boston was asked what Maye\u2019s body language was looking like and if he\u2019s putting in time with the young WRs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Perry answered what is already well-known. Maye is a very even-keeled young man who doesn\u2019t get too high or too low.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0“<\/span>His body language and his demeanor have been fine<\/span><\/i>,” Perry said.<\/span><\/p>\n

“… <\/span>In terms of his work ethic, that, to me, is not a question. You do see him staying after practice and throwing to guys after practice. A lot of the young receivers are out there late, (Efton) Chism and Kyle Williams, the two OTAs we’ve been to. I think this is something worth noting. Doesn’t mean either of them are going to be All-Pros this coming year, but I think it’s good<\/span><\/i>. \u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Kyle Williams: <\/b>The Patriots’ 3rd-Round draft pick has popped in early OTAs which is a very good sign. He\u2019s displayed the ability to get separation at the line of scrimmage, and has good speed after the catch. Now, we have to wait, to see if he can do the same things once the pads come on.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On our podcast this week, Karen Guregian of <\/span>MassLive.com<\/span><\/a> mentioned that she wants to see if the Patriots can <\/span>finally draft a WR<\/span><\/a> that they draft that they can get it right on .\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He had the play of the day this week when he reeled in a deep pass from Josh Dobbs down the sideline and beat CB Miles Battle. He and Efton Chism have been staying late after practice with Drake Maye. Another good sign.<\/span><\/p>\n

Patriots No Huddle Podcast:<\/b> Derek, Mike D\u2019Abate, and I discussed the Patriots’ OTAs with Mass Live\u2019s<\/span> Karen Guregian<\/b> on<\/span> YouTube<\/span>, <\/span><\/a>Apple,<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>Spotify.<\/span><\/a> And please leave us a review. This week, we\u2019ll welcome the awesome <\/span>Tanya Ray Fox<\/b><\/a> to the podcast. This should be a lot of fun.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Russ Francis\/Chuck Fairbanks:<\/b> The former Patriot tight end and head coach should be in the Patriots team Hall of Fame, and the fact that Francis isn\u2019t is an absolute travesty. Francis and the Raiders\u2019 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\u2019 numbers stand up well against Casper\u2019s, yet he isn\u2019t even in the team\u2019s HOF.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Stefon Diggs Situation:<\/b><\/h3>\n

I honestly hate this type of crap that we\u2019re obligated to discuss at times. Our policy here is talk about football stuff and not anything else. We\u2019re not TMZ or anyone like that, nor do we ever aspire to be. However, sometimes s**t happens and you can\u2019t ignore it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Patriots signed Diggs for a reason, and that was to surround Drake Maye with better weapons this season. And once he\u2019s ready to hit the field for real this season, he should really help in that aspect. I\u2019m thinking 60-70 catches, 700-850 yards and 5-6 TDs would be fantastic and attainable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But the last thing Mike Vrabel wants or needs just getting into OTAs, is having to answer questions about some off-field crap that is absolutely avoidable. And when will players learn to keep cameras and videos off limits?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Diggs is free to spend a holiday weekend on a boat with a bunch of women, there is nothing remotely wrong with that, but as anyone who saw the video there was more to it than that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But he\u2019s not in trouble with the league or the law. That\u2019s the good news. So, there shouldn\u2019t be any suspensions or further distractions (hopefully) from this.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And I\u2019m not discounting anyone\u2019s sources, but I doubt that the Patriots are going to cut Diggs over this. If so, I think Vrabel would have already acted. Vrabel isn\u2019t the type to let this lie around for several days and then act.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But he\u2019s got to be mighty pissed right now. He\u2019s stressed since January that he wants to build a culture built on respect for the team and each other. This sends the exact opposite message.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Vrabel said he and the team were \u201caware\u201d of the video.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Obviously, we want to make great decisions on and off the field. We’re hoping that, with our time here on the field today, that when we don’t have a script and we’re on the call periods, that we’re making great decisions<\/span><\/i>,\u201d he added.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>The message will be the same for all our players, that we’re trying to make great decisions. Any conversations that I’ve had with Stefon will remain between him, I and the club,<\/span><\/i>\u201d Vrabel said.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was not a good look, but we\u2019ll move on until otherwise advised differently.<\/span><\/p>\n

______________<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think that it already has. I hope that it already has. Life’s a competition. Everything we do every day, we’re trying to improve and we’re trying to do better than the next person. But whether that’s a competitiveness to know what to do, to be able to play more than one position, to go extra reps when somebody’s down and take advantage of opportunities, young guys popping in there.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Third group, they do a nice job, then they get elevated and get some reps with the twos, and you see how they do with those opportunities. So, I think that there’s always a level of competition to what we do. It just may not be as physical as what it would be in training camp.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, there’s certain things you have to change the way that you evaluate. Do they know their assignment? Can they adjust? Do they make the same mistake over and over? Then there’s a level of physical ability that we have to be able to evaluate. So, I would say that there’s still an evaluation even though we don’t have pads on.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel when asked when does the competition truly start from a positional standpoint and for guys trying to earn spots, and a follow up question on how much evaluation is going on for the coaching staff right now versus the installation and the teaching that obviously you’re doing this spring?<\/span><\/p>\n

_______________<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Somebody asked me what success looks like, and I said, \u2018Yeah, 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\u2019re doing, and they believe in the message, they believe in the teaching, and they believe in the connections that we\u2019re making<\/span><\/i>.\u2019\u201d \u2014 Mike Vrabel<\/span><\/p>\n

Follow me on Twitter @SteveB7SFG or email me at<\/span><\/i> stevebpatsfans@gmail.com<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

Listen to our<\/span><\/i>\u00a0 <\/span>PatsFans.com<\/span><\/a> Patriots No Huddle <\/span><\/i><\/a>podcasts on Apple and YouTube as Derek Havens, Mike D\u2019Abate, and I discuss the latest Patriots news and game analysis<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I spoke with Karen Guregian about Hollins, and she said he\u2019d be a good target for Drake Maye, who will be reliable and catch the ball 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