Patriots
Even with restricted preseason reps, Mac Jones has had a powerful summer season in Invoice O’Brien’s new offense.
After 18 practices and three preseason video games, the Patriots are able to set their sights on the 2023 common season.
And despite the fact that New England will proceed to follow this week because it braces for its season opener in opposition to the Eagles on Sept. 10, many of the roster battles and different evaluations have come to a detailed amid a flurry of roster cuts.
At instances, it may be powerful to gauge gamers over this month-long stretch, particularly given the restricted variety of aggressive reps and coaches’ hesitancy to provide starters prolonged snaps throughout preseason motion.
Nonetheless, there are a number of gamers on the Patriots roster who helped their case this summer season, in addition to those that at the moment are taking a look at an uphill climb with the common season lower than two weeks away.
Right here’s a take a look at some winners and losers from the Patriots training-camp schedule and preseason slate.
WINNERS
QB Mac Jones
Is “Alabama Mac” again?
For the entire discourse concerning Jones harkening again to his collegiate days, “Alabama Mac” shouldn’t be a typical of play, however moderately a mindset that the Patriots QB is trying to get again to — one by which he’s each assured in his personal skills, and particularly the system round him.
After dicing up defenses at Tuscaloosa due to a flexible offensive scheme that includes a lot RPOs, screens and quick passes, Jones is being put in the most effective place to succeed this season with a Invoice O’Brien-led playbook that includes loads of these hallmarks.
O’Brien’s affect has opened the door for Jones to play to his strengths as an correct, poised passer. Nonetheless, the onus falls on Jones himself to execute out on the sphere.
Though he solely logged three sequence this whole preseason slate, Jones made just a few robust throws in opposition to stress throughout his lone look in opposition to Inexperienced Bay.
Jones’s confidence was additionally evident throughout coaching camp practices. As famous by MassLive.com’s Mark Daniels, Jones accomplished 77 % (204-of-264) of his passes in aggressive full-team drills whereas tossing 4 interceptions.
Final 12 months, he solely accomplished 66 % (146-of-220) of his passes and was knocked for eight picks.
A bounce-back season from Jones doesn’t imply that the third-year QB is instantly going to be throwing 50-yard bombs down the sideline with regularity. However when he’s assured and on his sport, Jones can conduct an environment friendly and efficient offense.
After final 12 months’s debacle, he appears to have one to work with as soon as once more now that O’Brien is steering the ship.
WR Kendrick Bourne
What a distinction just a few weeks could make.
After a disappointing 2022 marketing campaign the place he reeled in simply 35 receptions for 434 yards and one landing, Bourne struggled to earn first-team reps with Jones for the primary week-plus of camp.
However the 28-year-old wideout has gotten stronger with every follow and rep, entrenching himself as one among New England’s top-three wideouts on the roster.
Bourne, who added 15 kilos of muscle over the offseason, has impressed throughout preseason reps with regards to his potential to combat by means of contact, haul in athletic catches, and in addition throw out some well timed blocks.
However his slicing potential and velocity additionally make him a flexible weapon for Jones, particularly with DeVante Parker working extra on the surface and JuJu Smith-Schuster tabbed for reps out of the slot.
If Bourne can revert again to the participant who was one among Jones’s most reliable targets throughout his rookie marketing campaign (800 receiving yards), he might change Jakobi Meyers because the QB’s most trusted security blanket in passing conditions.
2023 rookie class
Invoice Belichick and his employees must be happy with how New England’s subsequent wave of expertise has fared thus far throughout the grind of coaching camp and preseason motion.
Sure, it’s all the time good to maintain expectations in test with regards to rookies trying to discover their footing up on the professional stage, particularly as soon as regular-season reps start.
However thus far, New England’s 2023 draft class appears to be affected by younger gamers poised to make an affect proper out of the gate.
Listed here are just a few standouts:
CB Christian Gonzalez (1st spherical, seventeenth total) — New England’s first-round decide was thrown into the hearth proper from the beginning of minicamp, incomes reps as one of many group’s exterior corners. Enjoying on the boundary in opposition to NFL competitors usually results in loads of rising pains for younger defensive backs, however Gonzalez has held his personal in a featured position due to his athleticism, fluidity and a (stunning) quantity of physicality.
DE Keion White (2nd spherical, forty sixth total) — An harm suffered throughout joint practices in opposition to Inexperienced Bay lower into White’s anticipated preseason snaps, however the high-motor defensive finish was a one-man wrecking crew in opposition to the Texans in New England’s preseason opener on Aug. 10 (three tackles, three QB pressures). He’ll be a part of a stout defensive unit up entrance that should not have any situation getting after the quarterback with Matt Judon and Josh Uche main the best way.
LB/S Marte Mapu (third spherical, 76th total) — Regardless of spending most of coaching camp in a crimson, non-contact jersey whereas recovering from offseason surgical procedure for a torn pectoral muscle, Mapu nonetheless logged loads of first-team reps with New England’s protection. That’s a credit score to the versatile rookie’s athleticism and talent to digest and skim performs in split-second style. The Sacramento State product holds loads of promise as a protection linebacker or hard-hitting security in New England’s protection.
WR Kayshon Boutte (sixth spherical, 187th total) — The previous five-star recruit out of LSU shook off a sluggish begin to minicamp and coaching camp and will pressure New England to hold six receivers on the roster after a powerful finish to preseason play. Alongside along with his 42-yard landing in opposition to the Packers on Aug. 19, Boutte closed out preseason practices with 9 catches off of 9 targets final Tuesday and Wednesday. New England may need one thing right here.
P Bryce Baringer (sixth spherical, 192nd total) — Baringer earned New England’s beginning spot because the group’s punter on Monday due to his knack for completely booting the soccer. Throughout his 11 preseason punts, Baringer averaged 51.1 yards, together with a 69-yard bomb in opposition to the Titans on Friday.
WR Demario Douglas (sixth spherical, 210th total) — The highest shock of coaching camp, Douglas shortly went from a possible roster-bubble candidate out of Liberty College to a possible roster lock by early August. The 5-foot-8 wideout’s stop-and-start velocity and shiftiness allowed him to repeatedly cube up defensive backs in aggressive drills all summer season, and he was additionally more than pleased to throw out some heavy blocks regardless of his smaller body. He may very well be a gradual contributor out of the gate for New England, no less than once his reported nagging shoulder ailment kinds itself out.
TE Hunter Henry
Henry, very like Bourne, had a season to neglect throughout a dysfunctional 2022 marketing campaign. It ought to come as no shock that New England’s woeful red-zone offense (42.2 landing share, thirty second in NFL) got here in the identical 12 months that Henry’s manufacturing nose-dived (two touchdowns, 29.9 receiving yards per sport over 17 video games) in Matt Patricia’s offense.
That has modified this summer season, with a noticeably lighter Henry (additionally one other 12 months faraway from an offseason shoulder process that hindered his spring work in 2022) repeatedly linking up with Jones throughout aggressive red-zone drills throughout camp.
As long as Henry isn’t tasked with dealing with extra blocking assignments to assist a beleaguered offensive line, he must be in line for a powerful third season in New England.
Patriots safeties
How the Patriots have been going to exchange Devin McCourty within the defensive backfield was one of many prime query marks getting into coaching camp. However despite the fact that New England is choosing a rotation of gamers to imagine the management (and playmaking) void created by McCourty’s retirement, there’s been a lot to love from this group.
Kyle Dugger (4 interceptions throughout aggressive drills), must be in line for a breakout season — and a major pay increase.
Second-year Patriot Jabrill Peppers has earned loads of reward from each Invoice Belichick and his teammates for his vocal presence and luxury inside New England’s defensive schemes, whereas Jalen Mills has thrived as a nickel security since getting slotted over from cornerback.
Add in Adrian Phillips and Marte Mapu, and the Patriots ought to have loads of choices out there as they increase their final line of protection.
LOSERS
The Patriots’ offensive line
Mac Jones and the Patriots’ offense have put collectively very promising returns all summer season lengthy.
But it surely gained’t matter all that a lot if New England’s porous offensive line continues to kill drives with pricey sacks and penalties.
In three preseason video games in opposition to Houston, Inexperienced Bay, and Tennessee, New England coughed up 11 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, 16 quarterback hits and fumbled the ball 4 instances.
In fact, accidents have performed a significant half within the Patriots’ woes in opposition to the go rush this summer season, with seven of the group’s 17 offensive linemen presently both banged up or the mend in Mike Onwenu, Cole Unusual, Calvin Anderson, Conor McDermott, Kody Russey, Atonio Mafi and Riley Reiff.
The lackluster returns so removed from New England’s depth gamers like rookie Sidy Sow and second-year professional Andrew Sueber haven’t impressed a lot confidence both, forcing New England to commerce for 2 tackles on Sunday.
The return of Onwenu and Unusual ought to assist stabilize issues up entrance for New England’s O-line. However the deal with place stays a significant concern, particularly on the fitting aspect.
And if extra accidents sprout up? Look out.
QB Bailey Zappe
It certain seems like a very long time in the past that some believed a QB competitors was brewing on the outset of coaching camp.
“Zappe Fever” has significantly chilled this summer season, with Jones incomes virtually all of New England’s first-team reps and executing throughout these featured snaps.
However past Jones’s personal robust play, Zappe has struggled to place stack robust follow days collectively all through the summer season.
Zappe’s lackluster displaying in opposition to the Titans (8-for-15, 57 yards, three fumbles) certain didn’t assist his case. However the backup QB has additionally lagged behind Jones throughout aggressive follow reps.
In line with MassLive.com’s Mark Daniels, Zappe accomplished 64 % (160-of-252) of his passes to go together with seven interceptions in 11-on-11 drills this summer season.
The hole has arguably by no means been wider between Jones and Zappe getting into their second 12 months collectively as New England’s QB tandem.
WR Tyquan Thornton
Few gamers on New England’s roster can replicate Thornton’s straight-line velocity — a skillset that turned the previous TCU wideout right into a second-round decide in 2022.
However after a so-so displaying as a rookie, a second-year leap doesn’t seem to be it’s within the playing cards for Thornton, no less than based mostly off of the 23-year-old’s performances thus far throughout preseason motion.
After enjoying catch-up final season after struggling a damaged collarbone, Thornton has but to alleviate issues that his 6-foot-2, 185-pound body can’t face up to the punishment doled out on the NFL stage.
After lacking stretches this spring on account of a soft-tissue harm, Thornton is now tabbed as “week to week” after touchdown laborious on his shoulder whereas reeling in a deep throw throughout joint practices with the Packers.
Whereas Thornton’s sturdiness points have hampered his possibilities of capitalizing off of his evident skills, rookies like Douglas and Boutte have made the many of the further reps up for grabs whereas he’s been on the mend.
As a second-year professional and second-round decide, Thornton possible doesn’t run the danger of getting lower this summer season. However given his accidents and the play from different wideouts on the roster, he does run the danger of being positioned in no man’s land on New England’s depth chart until he takes a significant step ahead.
New England’s preliminary running-back depth
The Patriots’ 1-2 punch of Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott ought to do loads of injury this fall.
Elliott’s signing stands as a significant elevate for New England, who not solely wanted a succesful backup to alleviate Stevenson’s workload, however will even profit from the previous All-Professional again’s short-yardage capabilities, pass-catching skills and proficiency in go blocking.
Elliott’s late addition this preseason additionally helped salvage what was wanting like a lackluster running-back grouping behind Stevenson for many of camp.
Though New England initially featured veteran Ty Montgomery closely in minicamp as a pass-catching, third-down choice, an harm stored him off the sphere for over three weeks — slicing off some much-needed reps for the versatile again.
And for as a lot as second-year gamers in Pierre Sturdy and Kevin Harris had loads of alternative to earn bigger roles this summer season, neither participant asserted themselves earlier than Elliott entered into the combination.
Sturdy was ultimately traded on Sunday in a 1-for-1 swap for former Browns deal with Tyrone Wheatley Jr., whereas Harris runs the danger of being a roster-cut candidate earlier than Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline.
CB Jack Jones
It’s been an up-and-down summer season for Jones, even wanting past his apparent authorized challenges.
For prolonged stretches of camp, Jones showcased his ball-hawk tendencies and on-field consciousness that helped him pop quite a few instances as a rookie nook in 2022.
When Jones is enjoying at his finest, New England has three robust boundary corners between him, Jonathan Jones and Christian Gonzalez.
But it surely hasn’t all the time been simple sledding for Jones this summer season.
Regardless of main all Patriots gamers in go breakups throughout aggressive drills, his tantrum and early exit from one follow again in early August raised some eyebrows.
The 25-year-old defensive again additionally didn’t finish his preseason on a excessive notice Friday in opposition to the Titans.
Jones was burned just a few instances in protection at Nissan Stadium, giving up a 30-yard reception whereas additionally getting flagged for a 32-yard defensive go interference on what was an under-thrown ball by Tennessee QB Malik Willis.
Jones was additionally trucked apart by a stout stiff arm from Titans RB Tyjae Spears that ultimately resulted in a 19-yard achieve.
Jones has the entire expertise to be an efficient beginning nook within the NFL. However now the ready sport begins because the Patriots await phrase of any potential self-discipline by the NFL and the subsequent steps following Jones’s subsequent court docket look on Friday, Sept. 15.
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