{"id":60868,"date":"2025-06-29T05:00:47","date_gmt":"2025-06-29T09:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=60868"},"modified":"2025-06-28T15:13:12","modified_gmt":"2025-06-28T19:13:12","slug":"patriots-news-6-29-patriots-defense-drake-maye-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2025\/06\/29\/patriots-news-6-29-patriots-defense-drake-maye-development\/","title":{"rendered":"Patriots News 6-29, Patriots Defense, Drake Maye Development"},"content":{"rendered":"

Good morning. Here is your Patriots news, 6-29, and notes this week. But first, thanks to Ian Logue for more than ably standing in for me in last Sunday\u2019s column. Often, injuries I suffered, which forced me out of the military, act up, and for the past two weeks, I have been barely able to stand and walk.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Anyway, it is what it is, and as my Italian paisan, Mike D\u2019Abate, often does, I\u2019ll plug a quote from The Godfather in here. \u201cThis is the life\u2026we chose.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And also, thanks for the many tweets this week. My family and I lost our beloved Bulldog, Georgia, on the 27th. As many of our podcast listeners can attest, she occasionally made a cameo appearance on the podcast or could be heard snoring loudly in the background. We miss her; she was a treasured member of the family\u2014requiescat in pace, mea principissa.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Georgia

Georgia was a Pats Fan and was always decked out on Gameday<\/p><\/div>\n

The Patriots released a rookie UDFA from the roster.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Wilfried Pene was a standout player from Virginia Tech who went undrafted this spring. The team felt that they didn\u2019t want snaps going to a player who doesn\u2019t fit into their plans. Hopefully, the young man finds himself a team that fits his talents.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Robert Kraft:\u00a0 <\/b>Patriots owner Robert Kraft appeared on Adam Schefter\u2019s podcast and was very forthcoming about his feelings on several topics. And he seems genuinely excited about 2025.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Any Patriots fans that are out there, I can tell you I\u2019m very excited about this upcoming season<\/span><\/i>,\u201d he said. \u201c<\/span>The last two years were the worst years of my 31 years of ownership. We have to change that.<\/span><\/i>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>We have a new coach in Mike Vrabel who is really connected with the players, who\u2019s doing great work<\/span><\/i>,\u201d Kraft said. \u201c<\/span>We have a young quarterback and a lot of great veterans, free agent veterans that came in, a great draft class.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to have fun this year, I promise<\/span><\/i>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>We\u2019ve owned the team 31 years, we\u2019ve had 27 home playoff games, and we\u2019ve been privileged to win 23,<\/span><\/i>\u201d Kraft added. <\/span>\u201cI want that record to keep going.<\/span><\/i>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Kyle Williams:<\/b> The Patriots’ rookie wide receiver was recently spotted working out alongside New York Jets\u2019 All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner under the direction of athletic trainer Akil Bordelon, per his Instagram.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Miami Dolphins safety Ashton Davis and Patriots rookie wide receiver Jeremiah Webb, among others, also joined Williams and Gardner.<\/span><\/p>\n

Williams, the 69th pick overall, seems quite the fit within the Patriots\u2019 offense. His speed and route-running ability should add a much-needed big-play element to the offense.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With the additions of Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins during free agency and Williams in the draft, it leaves one with questions about some of the other wide receivers on the roster. Notably, Kayshon Boutte and Kendrick Bourne.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If Williams shows he\u2019s ready for the NFL, that may make either Boutte or Bourne expendable. However, with both Diggs and Hollins dealing with injuries, it wouldn\u2019t be a shock to see the team carry seven wide receivers initially on the 53-man roster.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Drake Maye\/Josh McDaniels: <\/b>This duo has been mentioned many times in our columns here, and ultimately, if the Patriots want to find the success they chase, the pair will have to gel incredibly well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A couple of things I hope to see this season begin with taking advantage of Maye\u2019s physical talent. I\u2019d call some designed running plays with Maye keeping defenses honest by showcasing his dual-threat ability.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I hope that Maye will get a handle on the offense so well that he\u2019ll be able to change the calls at the line of scrimmage if he sees that the defense is set up to stop the called play. Plus, put Maye in the shotgun more, McDaniels traditionally likes to play the quarterback more under center, but Maye doesn\u2019t seem comfortable in doing that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, hopefully McDaniels will call some controlled roll-outs and bootlegs to allow Maye to move in the pocket and give him more options.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Patriots No Huddle Podcast:<\/b> Derek, Mike, and I discussed the Patriots roster and did a breakdown of it. You can find our podcasts on<\/span> YouTube<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Apple,<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>Spotify.<\/span><\/a> Please take a look and leave us a review.\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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Patriots Defense Promises To Be Fun To Watch:<\/b><\/h3>\n

With training camp right around the corner (we\u2019ll be in July on Tuesday), I, for one, am very excited to see the 2025 version of the Patriots\u2019 defense. Many of us have been clamoring for the team to be more aggressive on defense.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Under Mike Vrabel and Terrell Williams, we can expect to see a defense that aims not only to be aggressive but also violent. Violence is a word we\u2019ve heard several times this spring from the coaching staff in their philosophy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Karen Gueregian of <\/span>MassLIVE.com<\/span><\/a> spoke to safeties coach Scott Booker and others about this new vision.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are going to make sure on tape, day in and day out, that people see our violence,<\/span><\/i>\u201d Booker said. \u201c<\/span>And it\u2019s not just in tackling, it\u2019s in re-routing, it\u2019s in everything you do<\/span><\/i>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Acting defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr also spoke about what the violent approach entails on the field.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Being aggressive \u2013 being violent. Not turning down blocks. Having a good toolbox of tools to defeat the offensive player, but it\u2019s not just always finesse,<\/span><\/i>\u201c Kuhr said. \u201d<\/span>There is some physicality there and some violence. We\u2019re huge into guys that don\u2019t mind playing violent football<\/span><\/i>.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Big things are expected from the revamped edge where the Patriots added Harold Landry, K\u2019Lavon Chaisson, and Bradyn Swinson to the holdovers from last season\u2019s defense, Anfernee Jennings and Keion White.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

White started off superb last season, but tailed off down the stretch. But like everyone else, he\u2019s getting a fresh start and has the confidence of the head coach that he\u2019ll turn things around this year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With the other additions above as well as Milton Williams to play alongside a healthy Christian Barmore inside the defensive line, the opportunities for the edge players will definitely increase.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This goes for Jennings as well. He\u2019s been an outstanding edge setter, and run defender, but the team could use more pass rush from him.<\/span><\/p>\n

White, however, has been impressed with the coaches this year, something that was missing in 2024, according to his comments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI like Mike. He leads with work,<\/span><\/i>\u201d White said. \u201c<\/span>I can respect that. It\u2019s similar to Bill [Belichick], just with a younger face. I think we all know how I feel about that; I liked him.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cSo it\u2019s comforting to know that you have a hard-ass at the helm who will not be afraid to fistfight with you in a back alley.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cNow I feel like I have a coach.\u201d <\/span><\/i>And he does.<\/span><\/p>\n

White added that he\u2019s looking forward to being a little more aggressive this year.<\/span><\/p>\n

“That changes what I can do a little bit. I can be a little less conservative and be more aggressive on the edge.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>It changes a lot of things, and I have a really good coach, coach<\/span><\/i> [Mike] <\/span>Smith telling me steps, alignment things like that I haven\u2019t traditionally heard. Just that next step of having that coach behind me has been really good for me.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

With an improved front seven, including new linebackers Robert Spillane and Jack Gibbens to add to the resigned Christian Ellis and Marte Mapu, things should really improve for the secondary. Opposing quarterbacks won\u2019t have as long to throw.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And with Christian Gonzalez paired with Carlton Davis, the Patriots have an outstanding pair of outside corners. But they have plenty of depth behind them with Alex Austin, Isaiah Bolden, Marcellas Dial, Kobe Minor, Jordan Polk, and Miles Battle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The safety group is deep as well, Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers, Dell Pettus, Craig Woodson, Marcus Epps, Jaylinn Hawkins and Josh Minkins, the team will have a difficult decision cutting any of them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With the changes they\u2019ve made with the players on the roster, and the coaching staff with Mike Vrabel and Terrell Williams, the Patriots are attempting to transform their defensive identity by embracing a more aggressive, physical, and intimidating style of play, aiming to re-establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the NFL.<\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019ve been preaching for this for years, now they have the players in place to make it happen. To say that many fans and media are excited for the team\u2019s 2025 training camp to begin may perhaps be the biggest understatement of 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cWell, if you look at the majority of the red zone plays in this league that are passes, it’s usually, ‘One, two, see you later,’ right? Or it’s a sack. Maybe there were a few three-man rushes where, again, if we feel like those are instances where you can sit and progress, then you can.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cI know that there were maybe a couple of those. Again, I’m with you. I’m coaching them up to say, ‘Hey, we’ve got to go somewhere, we’ve got one, two,’ and that’s what these turn into in the red zone. If you watch every red zone snap in the league, that’s about what the majority of them do if you get past your first hitch.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cI think that will continue to progress when we get down there and just making sure that the timing is there. Sometimes it’s not, and then we’re going to have to be really good on both sides of the ball with the play extension, being where we need to be and then the defense executing what they have to do as well on those play extensions in the red zone..\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel, when asked, \u201cHow did you feel that the offense did with the red zone execution, and where would you like to see them improve today?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe’ll add a couple other people there. I think that just having somebody that’s dedicated, that’s been in that role, that can manage the people that we have here.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cHe did a fantastic job in his interview process and meeting with all the different groups that we feel like he’s going to be able to work with. He played football. Not that that’s a prerequisite, but you have to have the ability to not only take these numbers and pull them out of wherever they pull them out of.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cI’m not going to pretend that I know, but also have some application to it and be able to explain it to the coaches and say, ‘How much is too much, probably need more.’\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, we can make our jobs more efficient and better is something that I’m excited about. We’re all excited about him.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Head coach Mike Vrabel, when asked, \u201cI just wanted to ask about one specific part of it, which was the hiring of Ekene Olekanma from the 49ers. What do you envision in his role, and how do you hope he can help you?\u201d<\/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":"

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