Patriots Playbook 7/24: Training Camp Day 1 Review

This is Patriots Playbook. Is my turn to talk now. He's your host of Patriots Playbook, John Rook bad as select.

Yeah, baby, we welcome you into the playbook. It's my microphone on Matt. Okay, good. I just want to make sure having a hard time hearing we're in the new studio here. Oh there it goes. Hey look at this. This is pretty in here. Huh wow. I'm really impressed by this. You did a good job, built it all myself. I was about to say, did you build this all by yourself?

This is mystic engineers, the.

Mystic engineer or should we give them credit? That mystic engineer?

I think they did a great job.

Okay, all right, good, Yeah. So if you're watching the stream on Patriots dot com, then you can see that we've actually got some new digs in here. Uh and uh, it's interesting. We're kind of squeezed into one corner around the studio and the lights are pretty damn bright. That's all I can tell you right now. But it's all good. We have to work out all the bugs in here, right and I'm sure we will. But who complained first? Was it Fred or was it Paul? It was Paul?

Right, didn't want the chairs, wanted the desk.

Wanted the desk.

Okay, he's got used to the chairs by now, Okay.

All right, okay. I kind of liked the desk a little lower than the old desk though, you know, because I always felt like I was getting up in my high chair.

Well that was you know, for old listeners. The old desk was so high for Andy to feel tall.

That's why they built it like that, right, because Andy's high chair. Yeah, high chair, got it. Okay, I got it. So anyway, pretty cool stuff in here. We welcome into the playbook. It's our training Camp edition. Today is the first day of NFL training Camp, which is really cool. So we're glad that the schedule worked out that we could be able to do the show today on the day one of training camp. We're gonna get to a

I think it is beautiful. Everything here is just amazing. You know that, the desks, the seats, Yeah, everything is here.

Yeah. And you don't have to feel like you're getting up a high chair. So that's really good. I think we can all appreciate that.

Uh.

Daniel Piaseki Daniel is uh? Are you also coming into Are you a senior or you're going to be a freshman?

So I'm going to my junior year.

Junior year, yes, okay, and where you and where do you live?

Uh?

So I live in Randolph, Vermont, which is near the capital, Montpelier, about thirty five minutes south.

And yeah, I didn't realize we're getting good geography. Listen. Okay, So, Daniel, thanks buddy, appreciate you.

Uh.

To my immediate right is Jack grossek that I pronounce it right, It's Grassic? Okay, I already screwed it up. Okay, Well that's okay, it's one today.

Close are the mics everybody?

Yeah? So Jack Grassic? Thank you? What year are you in school? Going into my senior year, going into your senior year? And you are from Rye, New York? Okay, right, New York? Are you a Jets fan? Giants fans fan Giants fan? Okay, I can almost accept that. I mean, it's it's I mean, there are a lot of Patriots fans that will hate the Giants forever because they ruined

Right, Well, something happened in twenty ten.

What happened in twenty ten? I don't know.

It might have been Giants Patriots.

Oh okay, well that's just one. That's just one. Although the Giants are undefeated against the Patriots in the Super Bowl. I guess we should mention that Adelina Auben is the young lady on our first panel here today, and she is a senior and goes to Mount Saint Charles Academy in one socket, Rhode Island. Right, yes, okay. And I mentioned Aaron Andrews because I think you said when we got started a couple of days ago, that that's the kind of job that you'd like to have. Is that still right?

Yes, that's right.

But tell tell me.

Why I like being in front of a camera.

I like sports. I think it's interesting you get to tell athlete story through recording and stuff like that.

Yeah, I think that'll work. That would definitely work. She's good enough, good looking enough to be on camera, don't you think, guys? Yeah, absolutely, that helps. Okay, you can't be an ogre with big warts on your nose. That's not gonna work. No one wants to look at that. They don't want to look at me. I think this is the worst decision this program ever made by putting it, you know, the television stream on Patriot dot Com. But I didn't have any says so because Fred made me

Here.

They're the first of four groups that will actually be with us here on the program today. We have four major topics of discussion that we're gonna get to today. And I mentioned this when I put the show out on social media earlier today, because right now, I mean, let me start this way. What were your overall impressions of day one at practice today? What you saw out there. We didn't see a whole lot of exact stuff. We saw a lot of drill work, right, We saw a

First, I want to say all the guys when we met him, they were very nice, too awesome. And then I felt like that there's lots of a competitive energy there also at the camp too. I could tell that many people are like gunning for some spots. And I think that there were good vibes all around, and I think that it will be I think it was a good start for the first AID training game.

Good vibes all the way around. I guess we need to play a little beach boys in here. Good good vibe. Okay, Chase, what did you think day one?

I think it proved a lot. I think Jalen Rieger is really a great wars for the Patriots. I saw him catch so much crazy passes by Drake May and Dreck Oversa. I feel like the whole receiver corps could really be great for this new Patriots team, new offense. I feel like the defense is really good. We saw some breakups in the passes, some d line rushing the pass or too. It looked really good. The old line looked really good too. I think it's gonna be a great season for the Patriots.

Okay, Well, that's a pretty thorough recap, I would agree with you as far as the receivers are concerned. I honestly, I'm excited to see some of those young guys, you know, I want to see you know, Polk especially uh since he torched Mialma Mater in the national semifinal last January. But that I'm hoping whoever ends up being the quarterback by mid season and beyond, if they end up, you know, going that route, I'm hoping that they find the go to answer out of the guys that they have on

Uh, it's just similar to what Chase said about their receiving corps. I mean, Drake May had a few really nice connections, especially Osbourne and Javon Baker, throwing really deep sometimes he was just contest in the pocket, got out and made his pass and ran.

Okay, Adelena, you want to add anything to that.

Yeah, I kind of agree with.

Whomever.

Yeah, Daniel said, sorry everybody's name for a second. Daniel said, everyone was very nice when we were talking to them after when they were giving out signatures. They were all really extremely nice and they all seem to be in really good spirits after camp and stuff like that. So I think going into that having that attitude is really good for a starting point for them.

It's probably not a surprise that, you know, they would have good attitudes going in. It's just day one. They haven't had to sweat. Basically, nobody's popped them in the mouth, no coaches really yelled at them yet. So, I mean, day one a camp, it is like day one a kindergarten as far as i'm p you know, it's, hey, let's everybody make nice and play. You know, blocks are over there, crayons are over there. I mean that's kind

So.

We'll assume sometimes it's difficult when he assumes you gotta watch that, but will assume that the job is open for competition, right, and that you know, the rookie can work his way in. Or maybe I don't know. Am I leaving out? You know? You know Bailey's appy? Am I leaving out? You know? Joe Milton? I mean, I'm leaving these guys out of the competition here, although clearly one of them is going to stick simply because of the way the roster breaks down, and you can never

I would say that Prissette, I think he already knows that when they drafted May that he would probably be a leader to him, so he would kind of just follow in like the veteran. He's a veteran, so he's gonna guide him in the background of it and stuff like that. And I think them have Patriots having a very young receiver as their like receiver, that I think that starting a new quarterback can help them like grow, and that Brissette will help him as well.

Okay with that, Okay, all right, but once you jump in on this, all right, Chase, go.

Yeah, what's called when when you put a young quarterback out there without any help you need Like look at Zach Wilson at the Jets. Yep, he didn't not have any help the first year. He just got thrown into there. That's why he didn't do that good. Second year when he tried, they got Aaron Rodgers, right, he got injured the first game, so he couldn't really really developed.

We still don't know where Rodgers is going to go, right until we actually see him out there in the field.

Right, Yeah, So we could have really developed Zach Wilson as good as he could have been That's that's why I feel like they should really just put in Jacob Bersett. Jacob said, for like the first half of the year. Let Drake May put in the next half of the year. See how good he could do with the Patriots in their new offense.

Okay, all right, Daniel, you want to jump in on this too and let me know what you think about. You know, the advantages of taking a guy like Drake May and throwing him in the fire early. Is there such a thing? Yeah?

I mean, like, I mean, I kind of also wanted to add on to what Jay said about then giving May maybe some experience.

To see what it's like, just.

Uh maybe on the bench for a couple of games, just to see, I mean, because obviously NFL experience is

Yeah see. I to me, that's the key here because you know, and you guys know this. I've preached this over the last few days since you know, we started your camp experience, so to speak. But I just think, I mean, I learned to swim, guys, when I was five years old and the teacher threw me into the deep end of the pool. Yeah right, I mean I learned just you know, and he basically said swim, and so I had to learn to claw my way back up. I think there's something to be said for that. Now.

Well, I feel like kind of exactly what you said about it's problematic. We don't want to have a mac Jones situation.

I feel like this team shouldn't be rushing anybody like they rushed Mac Jones.

And he can develop on the bench. I mean, this team isn't.

Trying to win the Super Bowl this year, and they're probably not going to try and do that for next two three years maybe, So now is the time where you have a few years. Let's be patient, Let's let him develop on the bench. Then throw him out there, right and then have perseet for when something happens.

What if we throw him out there, guys, and he fails miserably? I mean, what happens then? Because then you have no backtrack? Okay, now what do we do? Do you go back to Jacoby? You have to go back to the draft. Do you let your third quarterback, whoever wins that job, do you let them come in and take a shot at it? And we're really kind of right back to where we were a year ago and more, you know, two years ago even, And I'm just wondering if that really serves a purpose at all. What do you think?

I feel like, if he fails, you got to give him more time to develop. That's the point of developed players, because like if they fail, you have that veteran leadership to get him better and better. You know, with Jacoby Brissett there, if he starts feeling, you can put Jacoby back in because he has that veteran experience, so he knows what it's like to like fail to be.

In the back.

So like he could teach him all about like what to do in the offense, what to do when it's pressure on you, how to throw it deep all that.

Yeah.

Ok, And just to add on to what Chase is saying, I think I think sometimes people try to just like focus on perfection. And then for an example, last year, you saw a rookie quarterback for the Text and c J.

Stroud.

He comes in as a rookie and he has an outstanding year in my opinion, But I think that like, not everyone's gonna have that as a rookie. You know, you kind of have to, like we've been saying, give time for them to ease into the situation because everyone's situation is different. So I think that when May also gets used to I mean like his receivers, his running backs, his linemen, uh, And I mean then also the defenses in college are a lot different than in the NFL.

How does this and then you know, anybody cance this, But how does this scenario as just playing out help or hurt the team? The guys that have to rally around whoever is under center, whoever is the quarterback, and whoever wins this battle? You know, are we you know? Is is Jacoby just babysitting the job until Drake you know, can get rid of the training pants and move up into it. How does that affect the team?

I think it really it's really good for the team because Jacoby Satt is a really good quarterback.

He saw by the coach a few years ago.

Even at the Commanders last year he got him two times and he was really good. So I feel like, whoever route they want to go, I think it's a really good route. Drake May put him at a start. Jacob Brissett, you can start him. They're both good. Does it doesn't matter which.

So it shouldn't matter all to the team. Anybody what anybody different that.

With that, I feel like Brissette has more experience with game experience, but like the NFL, he just got mega out of college, so he's not really used to the game speed, or the defensive schemes or anything that goes on in the game. So I feel like you would have to sit the bench for a couple of games and have Brissette start before he jumps in and sees how the game is played and what he needs to do and learn those schemes and.

Stuff like that. But let me ask you this. Let's say Drake comes in and just rips it apart for

I'm not sure.

I don't think at least that's an honest answer. That's an honest answer.

Well, I mean he hasn't played an NFL game yet.

Yeah, so having the critique of oh, this these are reps, but these it's like he could also get injured. It's like, no, he needs the reps. You could say any game you would get injured.

You know that's true. Okay, yeah, what are we missing here about this whole quarterback derby? This is whatever everybody wants to talk about. We know that. You know, hey, when we talked about this in our class yesterday, when I brought this topic up, you know, you guys are happy. The rest of the classes are like, oh, they got the quarterback because that's what everybody wants to talk about. I understand that. From a fans perspective, Yeah, sure, this

I mean, I think that kind of what you were saying about what would make like capitalize like the playmakers on the roster, and I think that I mean, again, like we've said a lot, having like the veteran leadership for not just the quarterback situation, but with kJ Osborne who's been in the league for some time, and then with Polk and Baker, I think then he'll Polk and Baker will definitely learn from Osbourne.

And then I think just.

Having your playmakers like the new, like the new, the new guys on the team, having like a support system that will increase not just their skill but just like their mental approach of playing NFL football.

Okay, anybody want to add to what Daniel said there? Good with that? I almost forgot Okay, I'm supposed to do this at the top of the show for good. Hey Patriots fans. If you want to see Toyota's best offers, including those not seen on TV, go to buy a Toyota dot com. It's Toyota's official website for deals from the official vehicle of the New England patriots, Toyota. Let's go places. You guys want to take a phone call? Yeah, okay, we want to do that. Eldred all right, Eldred's up first.

Hey, mister legend, what's up?

Baby?

Yeah?

I see why we yeah, I see why we get along with both Campus July second.

Okay, well then, happy belated to you too, bro.

Yes sir, yes sir.

Are we traveling today? Uh?

No, I'm off today. I took a day off. Good for you, the batteries for a little bit.

I got you, I got you. And plus it's day one of training camp, right right, okay, right.

I wish I could have saw more, but I heard something from from the p U crew and this and that, and I'm just you know, I got my palm, palm ready, popcorn ready, crying towel.

Ready to cry.

Because crying tile too.

Yeah, so you think it could? You think you could still be ugly? Then?

Huh uh yeah, yeah.

Uh.

It's because it's new new players, new coaches, the first time the regimes done changed over. So you know, expectations ain't that high, but it's a little high, you know. So I just hope, just I just hope, you know, uh, just they got to suck a toughest schedule, so it's gonna be a little rough, you know. I just hope I can have my mom if I can laugh a little bit instead of being the better of the joke like I was last year.

But other than that, okay, all right, I take that.

What do you think of the question that that you know, our first team has to kind of discuss your today in the whole reset versus may derby a quarterback? I think I know which corner you fall in, but maybe you can sort of enlighten everybody here. If Drake is ready to play, should he?

Yes, sir, uh he should. If he's ready to play, you should? You picked him three overall, and I'm like you and like, well, some of those guys I used to coach to not not professionally. So I went with the guy who was better, and I took my lump, and I also took my win, you know, so that's what you have to do. You're gonna take it either way it goes. Was it either rookie or the second

All right, let's say again, just for argument's sake here, let's say that Jacoby Brissett is clearly the better of the two guys in training camp, and Drake is a little behind the eight ball. Maybe he's not picking it up as quickly, and I have seen nothing in day one that would indicate that would happen. But we didn't see a heck of a lot today. We saw little eleven and eleven, We saw little seven on seven right, guys seemed to be a bit okay. But he didn't

I said him for a whole year. Okay, I'll go I ride with Jacoby, you know, and then May he's learning, you know, because I'm gonna be honest, I'm not into May Camp. I wasn't doing the draft procedure.

Yeah, I remember that, you know, I remember that.

And like I tell everybody, I ain't from Missouri, but you got to show I see them two years in North Carolina and here he'll do some plays that well while the heck got again, and you you think, okay, this guy got it, he got it. Then you see some players like what the heck? You know, what was you thinking? You know? And it's just that he proved me prove otherwise. And this game is a little bit faster than college. And like I said, everybody keeps saying, well,

Yeah, oh really that's standing. Okay, all right, all right, now you mentioned all right, so if if Jacoby struggles, I mean, excuse me, and May struggles, then you sit him for the whole year. What if all of a sudden he picks it up at mid season by week eight or week nine, or maybe even week eleven or twelve, and I guess you probably have to consider, all right, where the team is at the edge, right, where the team.

At right okay, but they with Jakoby. If they were Jacoby and they like they say five and three or four and four, I'm gonna ride Chacoby for a couple more weeks, you know. But if they drop below that, they two and five or three and six, you know, I'm still I probably let him play the last two games, but I'm not gonna put him in the mixing between because that ain't gonna be a fair of evaluation. I'm sorry, I'm not because there's a reason why Jacoby is doing it.

Anybody have anyth ded with, anybody, have any agreement disagreement with that.

I disagree about him and Sam are gonna be the last two standing. I think Bailey Zappi really has a good, good chance of being getting away.

No way. Tell me why you yeah.

Tell me why you think Bailey Zabbit could stick?

Like we saw him in training camp, he looked really good at training camp. All the throws he did were really accurate. Everything he did he was he was really smart with his decisions. And even last year he was pretty good when he summed him in for Mac Jones for like half of the season, he looked pretty good out there. I think he really has a shot at still being that number one quarterback for the New England Patriots.

I would say probably not one. I would say probably not number one. I'm gonna side with Elderd on that one. However, there is there is a shot that he could stick with this team. My best guess though, is that he's going to have some value and that somebody who needs a veteran now veteran because he's a couple of years into the league now a backup quarterback, that's he could be cannon fodder for a trade bait somewhere.

Connect that guy question.

Yeah, okay, okay, you're you're, you're.

What you've seen is Zapi And there was a couple of games in games that he played last year, he's another version of mac Jones, you know, and then he fold Like I said, he's here, he'll do some wild plays. He do the other play. His arm is not that strong, he's not that accurate, and he sure ain't that mode. So what what do you What do you see that makes you think that was sick?

All right, Chase, I don't see it yet. It go see.

He was definitely not like mac Jones. First of all, Mac mac Jones. Some of the those I saw him throw were horrible, like.

That did something too, Yeah.

He did like the things the things that Max Jones said was disgusting. Right, But Bailey's appy, right, He's still he still could definitely definitely be the number one quarterback.

Because like we saw you one quarterback, Yeah.

Number one quarterback. Definitely definitely number one. All right, Hey, Eldrick Elder, Chase is a Giants fan, so that I'll give you a clue.

Oh okay, so yeah, I got but he's doing it.

Yeah, yeah, exactly. But I gotta give the Giant. I gotta give Giant fan a lot of credit today because he you know, he put his neutral hat on today and he went out, he studied football and watched these guys today, so I gotta give him some credit where credit is due. All right, guys, we're gonna get onto the next subject. Eldred, thank you, appreciate your time. As always, Pal, we're gonna talk more. We're gonna stand on the offensive

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When someone accidentally this.

Is Patriots Playbook, the legend.

Welcome back into the program. Here the Patriots Playbuckets, our Day one training camp edition. Here our July show. As we do Patriots Playbook monthly during the offseason for anybody that is uninitiated with the program. During the regular season, we are back to a weekly mode and we anticipate that happening right toward the end of August. Actually, I think that's what we decided, right matt Our next, our August show actually is going to come up. What day?

Eight?

Yeah, we may try to squeeze in one more on the twenty first of August, So we'll put that out over social media if the scheduling works out, because we thought about trying to do a show before the preseason had ended, and that would be right before the Washington

I'm going into my senior year. I'm from Hopkinson, Massachusetts, Hopkinson.

All right, so we have a local. Good. So is there any shot that you're a Patriots fan?

Big Tom?

Okay, all right, we'll say that's a step in the right direction. Dawson, Debari, it's over here to my right now. So, Dawson, I know you're actually going to be an incoming freshman at Dean this fall. Right, yep, what's your hometown.

I'm from Swanscott, Massachusetts, Swampscott.

Are you also a Patriot.

Fans only since birth?

I guess that means something? Then, Nick julinis or is it Jelinas? Would I say it right?

No?

Yeah?

That it right?

Johnny?

Right?

Okay, and you are what a junior in high school?

Yes, I'm gonna be a you're in high school?

Okay? And where are you from?

I am from a lot of New Hampshire. So if you know New Hampshire Motor Speedway, same town.

Right, okay? Yeah, we do know New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Noah, Laspina, Did I get it right?

No?

We did, okay.

And your hometown is Wendham, New Hampshire.

Okay, so I got two New Hampshire's and two Massachusetts New England rules on this one. Right. We picked this team, right, I think? Didn't we on Rhode Island? So let's go Yeah? Right, okay, I guess I count a little bit right.

You've earned it with the Friars earned it.

Well maybe, but I'm also mass see, I'm also a masshole, so that's right. In fact, I live in the same town that we have somebody on the line here that I wanted to bring onto the show. Let me hold, can I get it here? Yeah? Oh, I got it. There it is Josh is in Westport. Hey, Josh, how are you? Josh isn't there? Maybe Josh hung up because I think I think Adelina said she knew a Josh in Westport. Okay, well, Josh, you want to call back, you can. We'll leave it at that, all right, So

Sure?

I think on the ninety minter roster right now, you really only have four guys that are completely locked in to a roster spot. Obviously Kendrick Bourne dealing with the ACL injury, but once he's ready, he's going to play. Obviously, the two rookies that you spent high draft picks on you want them to play, so I'm sure that they'll be locked on the roster. And the other one is to Mario Douglas, who was the leading receiver last year,

Okay, Well, remind you phone lines are still open eight five to five Pats five hundred, toll free eight five to five Pats web Radio at Patriots dot com if you want to hit us up on email. You can find me on Twitter slash x at JR Broadcaster. We monitor that feed. If you want to ask a question on Twitter, you can do that, or you can post on my Facebook page. All right, let's see Nick. I know you're jumping at the bit to go, so take that one as well. What do you think?

Yeah, so what Dawson said, I love that, you know, Jalen Polk, Javon Baker, those two rookies I think are gonna be big, and we saw them today in training camp Day one. I really liked what I was seeing from them, and also Tomorrio Douglas. Now, my hope with these three is that they're going to develop with Drake May and I think that these three could be kind of this is a big statement, but I think they could be the big three for the Patriots.

Really, okay, And the fact that they have a chance to kind of grow together from a young age, that's.

Helpful, I believe.

So I think that getting those reps with Drake May, especially we saw it today, I think that's gonna help them.

What did you see maybe that you didn't expect to see from any of those guys today? Did you see anything, notice anything.

I noticed.

Jalen Polk actually at the beginning was taking punt returns. I saw that. I was not expecting that. So that was kind of a shock to me.

Okay, all right, Noah, what do you think?

What overall?

You know, how does this group sort of rate who's likely to stay, who's likely to go?

Going into this, I was skeptical of two players. That was Jalen Rager and uh sorry uh Jalen Raeger and Juju smith Schuster. Two of these guys really struggled. Now, I think that Juju smith Shuster has a big chance of getting cut, mainly because of that big contract that three years, twenty five million they gave him. Now he hasn't lived, he hasn't played up to that contract yet. Yeah, two years left, and I wouldn't be surprised if he's

The other receiver that.

But Kendrick Bourne is also recovering from mayr knee surgery. Yeah, so if you need a veteran presence in that lineup. Is that the only is that the way Juju hangs around? Yeah, especially if if uh, you know, Kendrick can't play at least right away.

Yeah.

And the other person I was skeptical on was Jalen Rager. See, I think he will make the roster as a kick returner. He had some very good kick returning plays, but I was skeptical, skeptical of him because of his playing style. He wasn't very good. However, today in training camp, he may be impressed. Big throw by Drake May and it was caught by him one hand. He reached out like that and he grabbed it next throat.

It was. It was like a fire route.

He beat, he beat the corner. Another big catch by him, caught it in right this and.

He got the touchdown.

Yeah, yeah, it was. It was probably maybe the single best play of the entire absolutely practice today. Right, all right, Patrick, what are your thoughts?

Well, just a piggyback off what Noah said. I think that a reason Juju could stick around is really two reasons for me, right, So one of them is if they do cut Juju, there is a lot of dead money that comes with him, and the Pats have to pay that off, so it wouldn't really help them in that regard. Right Also, I think it was mentioned before that Juju is a veteran guy and he does have some leadership in the locker room. The Pats wide receivers right now, it's a pretty young group.

You know.

You got Javon Baker, you got Polk, you got even like Pop Doug. They're all pretty young guys. And Juju is someone who is coming off a tough year, definitely a down year for him, but he has had success in the past and maybe you give him another shot to do that. So I say, if the roster was to be cut down today, he'd make it for those reasons. But at the end of the day, I think it comes down to production and how these guys will produce

You say that real quick?

Ye?

Of course?

So we talked a bit about Juju. So Juju four hundred and sixty one offensive snaps last season on forty seven targets just twenty nine receptions. But my question for you guys is was the QB situation part of that number?

Yeah, I do have Yeah, I think I think that's actually a fair question to ask. You're not getting production with me quarterback, You're not getting production receivers and vice versa.

Right, Yeah, I agree with that. I think it will be helpful to have. It seems like a veteran guide at Kobe Brissett's starting to start the year, at least because Bailey Zappi and Mac Jones were completely lost last year. The receivers were twenty ninth overall in PFF grade in creating separation, but the throwers weren't there for.

Them to catch at the same time.

So I think the new quarterback, the new offensive coordinator, we'll just have to wait and see how training camp goes. I think it's a huge training camp for some of these guys like Taekwon Thoron and Kashan Boody who haven't

The one guy that is a real enigma to me is Taekwon Thornton. All right, here's a guy that I watched him play at Baylor and I thought, Wow, he's got a lot of speed. But man, as he's skinny, you know, he's he's kind of slight. He reminded me a little bit of me when I was at age. If I turned sideways, I disappeared, you know, that kind of thing. But I didn't have the near kind of speed he's. He's, like I said, he's a big question mark.

I mean, he just hasn't stayed on the field. He's shown flashes. He had that two touchdown game against the Browns with Zappi in twenty twenty two, But I mean, the best quality is availability, and he just hasn't been available for them, and when he's there, he's been a complete non factor. So it's a big camp for Taegwon Thorton.

Yeah, so you guys thought that Pop Douglas was gonna be on the roster at the start of season.

What do you guys think?

I'm pretty sure he did not play a snap in that eleven b Lemmer seventy seven.

Today we guys think of that.

Yeah, that was that was definitely interesting. I'm not really sure why that was. Maybe he's just resting for whatever reason that may be. But I just think that maybe the team wants to see more some of those bubble guys and what they can do. Because to Mario Douglass

Yeah, they really put Jawen Polk to the test today. They put him against Christian Gonzales.

Yeah, yeah, I saw that. It was a good matchup.

Wasn't it very good?

He won his route, but I think it was a Joe Milton at the time missed him.

Uh he beat it.

I think it was a curl route on Gonzalez and the throw is a little bit too high. But yeah, I'm excited for these two rookies. They have great upside, but you never know if Patriots recent draft history with receivers, you just want to see them on the field and show that they are an NFL level talent because like guys like Nikhil Harry, I guess you can put Taekwon

Now, I know you guys talked a bit about Taekwon Thornton and how he's just not been able to get on the field, and just kind of approve that the last two NFL seasons he started the season on the ir list. Yep, so injuries during camp, so really he needs to stay healthy this camp.

You got to be able to have a chance. Yeah, you got to play right, You gotta play all right. To other guys, I want to ask you about, first of all, Kayshaun Boody. All right, here's a guy that you know, a lot of fans thought this team stole in the draft a year ago, and he you know, for you know, he had a hard time getting on the field his first year. Now that he's overcome, we at least hope that he's overcome all of his off field issues and available to play. How much rope do

I'm not sure sure about that.

I saw two different sections there was it looked like there was first team on the right side and there was second team on the left I spotted I spotted Booty jack Wade Jackson, and Javon Baker there. And on the right side, I saw thor In, I saw Pop Douglass there and yeah, just like the starters. So I'm not sure if Boody has a chance at the top six.

So you think he's already been relegated, Yeah, I.

Think he has a small leash.

I think they really have to see this training camp what he can do and he has to show up also.

To add to that, I do agree with you. I think he does have a small leash, and he has kind of had some off the field issues, But honestly, in terms of talent and potential, I think he has as much of any of these guys. I mean, like he just has to go out there and perform and put that stuff behind him. I mean, if you're really looking at it, Ragers a good return guy, but in the NFL, he hasn't really been a polished wide receiver, right Taekwon Thornton too. The production just hasn't been there,

He's coming off a tough year.

So realistically, if if Kaishan Budi goes out there in the preseason and puts together some great performances. I think he does have a really good shot of making it.

But the borderline guys on this roster at receiver, all these guys that we've been talking about that are if he making them the roster, the ones that can display versatility and maybe do more than one thing. Those are the guys that are gonna stick with, whether it's kick return or you know whatever it may be, played the slot as opposed to the ex or they they're gonna or the z they're they're they're gonna, they're gonna want you over someone who's just single minded in his duties

Yeah, agree with Raeger for sure. He was a kick return, punt returned, he was on field goal kickoff. He showed his special teams versatility and that's why he stuck around last year when a lot of people were just questioning why anyone would want to pick him up after his first few years.

In the league.

But return game wise, I wonder with Marcus Jones healthy, who they're going to go to for punt kick return, which is probably one of the reasons that Rager could be on that bubble, even though he showed his versatility last year.

Anybody else want to tackle that? All right? So if that's Key Shambudi? How about now his name has escaped me. We were just talking about him. Juju helped me out. Do you known?

No?

Not Osborne Baker Baker?

Uh So the one thing that kind of worries me about Javon Now, he's really really good. We saw today he was making catches, but he did drop one, and that's kind of thing with him. We've seen he likes to body catch and he kind of loses focus and when even when it's a routine catch. As a result, he had fifteen drops over four seasons in college, including a ten point three percent drop rate last season. He had six drops total last season, So could that play a factor?

I think it definitely was absolutely absolutely drop.

Rate last year.

Yeah, Yeah, there's some improvement to do there, I will add, though, I'm pretty sure with Baker he had some big drop problems, but he definitely improved as the season went on for UCF so I think he's.

Definitely somebody that could overcome some of those problems, because end of the day, I mean, Javon Baker is really something this offense could use, and that's a big time deep threat which they've been missing for years.

Honestly, I think one downside I saw today is doing some homework on Alex van Peut, the new offensive coordinator. He's a very run heavy and and play action pass guy. And from everything that I've read on Javon Baker, his outside blocking, he's not interested in it. So that could play a factor into him losing some snaps because he hasn't shown his willingness to block in college. But I think he has upside as a very good deep threat

Let me ask you guys, some what in your mind is the definition of a number one receiver. You know, we opened up today talking about you know, I don't really have a designation between one or a six, or a five or an X or a Y. You know, to me catch the damn ball. But is there should there be a definite one, and what kind of trait should a one have?

See a number there's there are like clear teams with the number one. You see the Dolphins, Tyreek, Hial Vikings, justin Jefferson. But when you're in a situation like you know, the Bills, I'm not sure who there are one's gonna be. He could be Keyan Coleman, I'm not sure, but the Patriots I'm not sure either. What if Kendrick's not ready, Kendrick's not ready for number one, I'm not sure who's gonna be that No more, but add on to you.

I'm not even sure he'd be the one.

I who was healthy really, but even if he's, even if he's if he's not ready, just catch the ball.

That's how they're going to decide.

I really think the Patriots don't have like one standout wide receiver. I think we have a lot of versatility in our players, but we just don't have that one player that just stands out him on the rest. I mean, of course, Tomorrow Douglass very good on like short routes, or he's super quick so he can run the ball to But I just don't think we have that one player that stands out.

There's no there's no guy that's just a dude, Like they just have that alpha mentality, Like Justin Jefferson came into the league, broke every rookie record, was talking his stuff in postgame, and there's nobody on the Patriots that can really go out and be that guy like Johan Baker. I know post draft is like I make people in wheelchair stand up, which I like. I like that kind of stuff, having confidence and like, but just his building.

Should should we go get Brandon Ayuk?

That would that would be a big for sure, And that's I'm of the opinion room.

I'm of the opinion. Yeah, sure it'd be great. But I don't think they need to give up a one for the guy. I'm not. I'm holding on to the one. I don't care what you say, because this team is

See that's the problem twenty eight million.

Well, it's it's big money, but the man, the man is definitely gonna step up and be what you want him to be.

Absolutely.

Can I add something though, Ye? Yeah, I think that a couple of things right. I think they've definitely tried to go out and get receivers, even like a guy like Calvin Ridley, who they really they tried to pursue in free agency. They couldn't get them. They tried to get Ayuk near the draft, couldn't get them. I think at this point the Patriots like, you're looking at this year, you're probably not gonna be a contending team. This is

I mean, I think worth is it worth the money to spend?

I think they missed their window to get him because the price was at its lowest probably during the draft. But now the forty nine ers they're in camp, and he actually reported he's not holding out. So at this point the price is gonna be at its highest because the forty nine ers are trying to go and win a Super Bowl. So unless they're he's gonna hold out and not play games, why would they even look to trade him if he's willing to play in the games

You just want to take a call. Yeah, Jason and Lynn, Hi, Jason, how are you hey?

I'm good?

Oh hey Jason? Yeah, Yeah, how's it going? What do you got?

Oh?

And good? Coming back from my job and Quincy nine five minutes of twelve from hearing that we don't got a number one wide receiver. But I'm thinking it's uh flop from Washington. That's I've been ryding with those guys. I'm in a little bit of disagreement with the guy. I think it's a passive. I think we're gonna have some rookie time here.

I agree.

I was.

I was about to ask that question too. Do we think Jalen Polk will become the number one wide receiver for the Patriots?

And I think so.

And I think, like I stated earlier, Javon Baker, Jalen Polk, and Debara Douglass, I think you're there.

They are the Patriots Big three.

I think yeah.

I mean, he has the tools to become a wide number one wide receiver, but he's got things to fix up.

Obviously.

He can't really fix that.

He's slightly below average speed for a wide receiver. He needs to refine his route running. He's got the NFL body where he can go up and get a ball. We saw it you Washington. Whenever they wanted to go deep, it was usually him in traffic. He's that is his one elite skills. He can go up and get you a ball, which is a great skill to have as a wide receiver one. But there's just other things at his game that are just not ready yet to become a wide receiver one.

Totally agree with you. That's a great way I look at it. Love that.

Thanks boys, Okay, gold Path all right.

Thanks Jason, appreciate you. Eight five five PATS five hundred, toll free number eight five five p A t S five hundred. Web radio at Patriots dot Com, at JR Broadcaster On Twitter or X what do you guys call.

It Twitter or Twitter?

I still call it twitter.

We'll call it twitter good because I'm not trying to be politically correct, and I hate it. It's Twitter, okay. And then on Facebook, anybody here have a Facebook page? Patrick's looking at but like god, how old are you?

I cannot.

It's okay, it's honest. I like that. That's just that's what old. That's old people's social media, right, old people's social media. All right? How many games does this team win this year? Ahead, take a prediction, take a shot five.

Seven.

I got them winning six games.

I don't know what the over under is at, but I think if I was a betting man, I'd go with the under, just with all the moving pieces. If it's four and a half, I think I'd go with four.

I'm pretty sure ESPN bet has that they are not favored in a single game this season.

But you know, I think any Patriots fan would be happy if we could somehow make it to the wild card.

That more than seven I think. I mean, the defense, you're optimistic, Okay, you.

Need the Bills and the Dolphins to not win a single game.

And talking to some of the players at autographs, they were seeming pretty optimistic. But like you said, I mean, it is the first day of training camp. They haven't got yelled at.

Yet, haven't gotten yelled at, haven't got hit in them out? All right, guys, good job. Where do you go? All right? All right, so we're halfway through this thing. We've got two more subjects that we're going to tackle coming up. In fact, speaking of tackle, on the offensive side of the ball, these are the people that have to protect Drake may These are the people that have to hold the line and block so the receivers can catch the ball and yeah, open up holes for the running backs

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This is Patriots Playbook.

Is it my turn to talk?

Now?

He's your host of Patriots Playbook, John Rook bad As select.

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I got a lot of new knobs in here.

John, I know, I know, but I like things went dark all of a sudden, I said, Oh, is this it end of life? Is it here already? Damn? I just turned I just had a birthday this week, you know, jeez, cut my feet up from underneath me.

All right?

Okay, at least I got the I got the sponsor in.

Miss Robin, take you out?

She did? She did? You know what we did? We rented a boat and we went out uh and and basically cruised Cape cog Canal.

Okay, it was that.

It was awesome, great weather for it. It was awesome weather. And then of course we're out in the middle of the Cape Cock. We're actually over there by mass Maritime, you know where the Bourn Bridge is out there, and the engine conked, so I had to call boat trip La and get towed in. How do you like that?

You like?

Dave Portnoy, I just did the same thing, did he really?

He lit a flare off in the harbor.

Damn?

I wish I had thought of that. I would have done the same thing. I'd have staid out on the Battle of the Vote and just launched it, you know, like I'm shooting like Roman Candles or something. Oh, I wish I had thought of that.

Shoot.

Now I'm gonna have to get another voat and I have to break down all over again. And you okay, I digress already. It's subject number three, hour, number two year in the playbook. We have our Dean College Sports broadcasting student is a part of our mix here this afternoon, and we are going to talk a little bit about the offensive line coming up. Eric Darcy is here. Eric, tell us where you're from and what year in school.

I'm going into my junior year high school, okay, and I'm from like Oakland, New Jersey.

It's very like near NYC.

And I want to give a shout out to all my guys at home watching Brandon, Dan, Derek, Matt, Mike. I also want to go to give a shout out to my mom the.

Entire free world. Okay, that's good, that's fine, You're allowed to do that. In addition to Eric, Noah higher I know him. Hell, what year in school? Where are you from?

I'm going into my junior year and I'm from Norton, Massachusetts.

Norton. Oh, so you're you're a neighbor. Yeah, you're a neighbor. Are you a Patriots fan?

Oh?

Yeah, please, thank you, good lord. You can't be from Norton, Mass And not be a Patriots fan. Seriously, all right, Mark manfreda, Mark, how's it going?

Good? Good you?

Yeah, you know, we're hanging. We're just hanging. What year are you in school? And where are you from?

So I'm gonna go to my freshman year of college at Dean.

Yes, yes, fresh meat.

Yes, I'm from I'm from Milbury, Mass. So it's like twenty to fifteen minutes outside of West.

Yeah, I know where Berry is. Absolutely. And are you a Patriots fan?

Absolutely?

Okay, I'm just look, I gotta ask the question. I've had Giants fan here. I had, you know, Noel Lespina in the last segment of the program he's a Dolphins fan. Did you guys know that.

About Norman what he's from?

It is unacceptable to Hampshire totally. Are you from the area and not a fan of.

I'm just saying right, and Ava Powell is with us. You're the You're I think you win the award for furthest distance.

Oh well, Charlie's from Arizona.

Oh, that's right, Charlie. Now, no, yeah, it would be Charlie probably. But you're from Virginia, right, okay, Northern Virginia. Right. What year are you in school?

Going into my senior year?

Senior year? Right? Okay? Is this somebody you really you think you want to do?

I mean, I wanted to come here and experience it, just to see if I liked it, if I wanted to learn more about it.

Yeah, yeah, okay, good. What did you think of camp today?

I think it was pretty fun. I liked watching the guys play on the field. We got to see the cheerleaders too. It's just pretty cool.

You're you're in competitive cheer right, yeah, okay, so I'm sure you probably were paying attention. Actually, we have a pretty good track record of Dean College dance majors making the Patriots cheerleading school. Yeah you didn't know that, Marine, I did not know that. Listen. I'm actually I'm very proud of this. The very first male NFL cheerleader, okay, is a former student of mine. I don't even know what to say to that. I know, right, that's probably not much I did.

I did not know that.

Yeah, yeah, the very first male in NFL history. He made the Patriots Cheerleague squad I think four years ago. Yeah, yeah, yeah, So he's uh yeah, he's a good kid. And he actually was in my speech class and he aised it. He got an A. So he did pretty good job of communicating. So anyway, so there's a track record there, there's a good track rerd. All right, guys, the subject

Absolutely, yeah, I can agree on that.

Okay, So how offensive his this offensive line? Is there hope for you know, Jacoby? Is their hope for Drake? And how will the play of the offensive line affect that competition? What are your thoughts? Who wants to start?

I'll go first, Okay, go on Ava. What are the stats for last years for the offensive line? It was I know, I know they were bottom of the league for for something.

Yeah they are.

I think they were ranked last when what and what?

The Patriots offensive line ranked dead last? Second with the past blocking win rate.

Not blocking win rate was dead last.

Yes, that's not that's not good. That's not mean. I mean, how are you supposed to win games when you're when you're O line came in to block for you, understood? I think I think there's definitely mean. Definitely from today, watching today, it was definitely like the line looks solid. There were plenty of runs rushed for ten plus yards, Jacoby and Drake May had plenty of time in the pocket when they passed, making some great passes as well. I think I think there's definitely hope. I know that

Oh okay Leverett, Yes, Sorrycuvert, Yeah, okay, I was thinking, do we have a new night it's pre season? What do I know?

Right?

Okay, that's okay, that's fine, all right. What do you think Eric?

Uh?

Yeah, I really think that last.

Year the one of the main reasons with the offensive line struggle was injuries and health issues. I know that Cole Strange was out a lot during this was his sophomore season. I know Trent Brown was out a lot, and we had other guys having to fill in, like City, So when I believe he was a rookie, he had to fill in. I know Jake Andrews was in for the last two or so games. But I feel like

YEP.

I'm not exactly completely set on him. I'm not really bought on the idea because mainly he hasn't played left tackle.

Or aren't they trying to switch him to the left tack right, they.

Were trying to switch him to the left tackle, and he hasn't played left tackle since college, so that could be a bit.

I have.

I have no idea. I have no idea what what years?

And I know he's been playing for a decent amount he's been He's been ok with the he we signed him from the Steelers, and I mean we still have we have David Andrews coming back, which is gonna help.

Like I said on WHENU.

My main concern would be with Cole Strange, as he's not going to be able.

The report says that.

He will be out at least for the first four games of the season, which is where I think that Loverett can come in since he was he was holding down his position well at Tampa and he only allowed just four quarterback hits and no sacks against Brady when he played there in twenty twenty two. It was around like it was four. He took like four eighty two snaps.

I mean, I mean, health is a huge reason why the line wasn't that good. Yeah, sure, I mean a lot of people were injured, you know, we didn't have a lot I mean, I would say we wouldn't have. We didn't have a lot of depth.

Half the team was like in the Hostege exactly.

So I mean for free to say, you know, it's it's all to health, I mean it really is. I mean that's that's important.

Who's the left tackle on this team right now?

It's it's going to be a core for But like I said, he hasn't he usually a right tackle, and he hasn't played left tackle since college, which could be very concerning. But I feel like with the Patriots with they also have on Whenu at right tackle, who as

Okay, any other thoughts on that, guys?

Noah, I mean, I think you covered most of the main concerns health, but I'm not I'm not too concerned about a core for moving to a left tackle.

I mean, well, I mean so I looked it up. It's just so the season. Yeah, I mean he hasn't played. He hasn't played since college, so I mean that's a long time. He can be rusty, sure.

But and like the the gap between like if you if you're a right tackle switching into a left tackle, it's just like a huge significant change.

Yeah, I don't know, it'd be interesting to see how it goes.

Yeah.

Yeah, to me, I think they're gonna end up having to plug and play quite a bit. Absolutely, Yeah, guys around it's the expansive experimenting. Uh, there may even be some matchup lineup changes depending upon who's lining up on the other team and whether or not you know, one of the defenders you know, plays to a particular weakness of you know, one of the Patriots players and the

Yeah right.

I mean I mean I'm staying up late for the Super Bowl.

I mean who doesn't. Who doesn't somebody who has.

To get up at three am for morning drive radio like I used to have to that. That just stunk. That was awye.

I do know the Pats have Scott Scott Peters the new coach. I mean that's big. I mean, you know Drawd Mayo now and then he reh I mean he hired Scott Peters, who then Van Pelt hired Peters, I believe. Yeah, yeah, that's big. It's all new systems now and for people that were for alignment that we're in the Belichick era, it's I feel like I think it's gonna be a really big switch.

Yeah.

I also just realized that I just saw that Kate Wallace is also He also plays left tackle. So if the Pats don't decide to move on when to left, then then Kate Wallace the rookie who I mean, I don't really know if he should jump in considering he is a rookie and I feel like he may need time to develop. If a core four really does start to struggle, then I then, honestly, I feel like that the Pats could try Kana Wallace because his draft report was really good.

He had a lot of positives.

Plays long and can keep defenders at his fingertips, loose balance, moving with good lank and big hands. It just continues on in the amount of positives that this guy has.

Where does Calvin Anderson fit into this, Because here's a guy that you know, came in, we thought he had had some versatility. He obviously had the illness issue a year ago. Uh and and so now he's trying to play his way back into the mix. He can also play tackle, and I think that's his preferred position. Is this a guy that's going to get a look?

I think so?

Yeah.

I mean I don't see why he wouldn't. I mean, just like you said, I mean he has he has, he has all the I mean he sixth season. I mean he's he's ah, not veteran, but he knows he knows how to play the position. Yeah, I mean six ' five, three h five, he's he's got any and you know, we saw we saw him today. He he he did really well during during practice, I mean I I, yeah, I don't see I don't see why it would be an issue.

Yeah.

Yeah. And speaking of that, so who stood out to you a practice today in terms of some of these big guys out there, and was there a lot of mixing and matching. What did you notice about rotations or anything about the the guys when they were in their eleven and elevens and seven and well especially eleven and elevens.

Mainly, Like, I don't really know if like anyone specifically stood out to me, but I know that during like some of their like seven on seven eleven eleven chills, they were able to like create some of the gaps in the holes for yes Madre or Kevin Harris to run through that actually got them very far down the field.

Okay, ay, but did you what did you see out there practice today that maybe you didn't know where you didn't expect by some of these guys, Because when you knew that, you're going to talk about the offensive lineman, I'm sure it's probably not a position you're terribly familiar with overall. But what what did they teach you? What? What did they what did they what did they introduce you to in that regard?

I mean, they're all really tall, and I don't know they're they're fast. I mean, from what I saw it looked pretty solid.

There seemed to be at least from what I saw out there, there seemed to be uh, some switching of positions going on at least a little bit. I think they were trying. They were kind of plugging and playing. Does that versatility help or hurt at this developmental stage? Want to tackle that one.

I think it can be both. I think it hurt and hurt and help. I mean it can definitely hurt because some players aren't familiar, they're not accustomed to it. They they might not they might not necessarily know what to do in certain situations. But I think it can also help with versatility. I mean, they once they figure out how to play the position, they can play both. You know, let's just say it's a tackle they can do right and left.

Yeah, it comes different. I completely agree with you.

Like, like I said earlier, uh, like last season they swapped on why do I believe over the left tackle for a few games and that ended up going really well. So I think that it can help them with with if like some players discover that they have that they are versatile at position switching. But if they're not, then it's gonna end up costing the team.

Costing the team what it wins, losses talent.

What wins, what would cost he could be could be costing them, like pressure on the QB sacks could be costing them.

We do have to keep you know, a guy named Drake may healthy at.

All kinds exactly.

I don't I don't want another mac Jones situation where we draft this highly talented quarterback and early in the first round and it just all goes to waste and we trade them away a few seasons later.

Got you all, right, let's let's you know, I mean, look, I think we all realize that this position is going to be a WIP, a work in progress all season long. Right, you have to hope that you can stay relatively healthy. One of the keys to healthiness is versatility. Because one of the things that the Patriots have done under the previous regime, and I think seems to be really the way to roll it in most NFL camps in teams is through versatility because you create depth when guys can

Well, I mean we also didn't see that during during Jain camp today. I mean there were all short passes or at least midfield passes, curl.

And out routes, and so I want to kind of go on a bit of the obsession about this, but one of the one of my main concerns, like I said earlier, was City Sou who was thrown into the starting lineup as a rookie due to injuries to other O linemen.

Mm hm.

And I mean his performance was like I mean, in my opinion, exceptional, like average is. He got he got what needed to be done, but he wasn't like he didn't wow me or catch my attention or I feel like that.

Wasn't that all you need? Though it's just an average. I mean, you don't need someone to absolutely over the top impress you, like just give you a but I feel like I feels for impressions, but like someone that can fill in.

I feel like with the Patriots with their the situation, their on line is they're gonna need like guys who sort of kind of veteran guys who I feel like who can play at that right guard position, can who citysau can develop and learn under for the future. Mainly guys who have played under the Earhard Perkins system, which

I mean, I think I think he could. I think games stay right where he is personally, I mean I think, hey, I mean he's a new coach. I mean again, he was coached by Belichick last year. New coach, new system. Give it a shot. I mean, toss him in there. I mean he can get experience with playing time. I mean, he had thirteen starts as a rookie Eastern Michigan. He had thirty one career starts. I mean, I don't.

See experienced there of the position.

Yeah, exactly. And I don't see what he can't. I don't see why he can't get experience as a sophomore in the NFL, just by just Osmosis.

Okay, So what we need is we have to hope for health, relative health, and perhaps extra versatility on the line and depth.

Yeah, definitely depth, definitely death, Definitely depth. And I think that someone like I mentioned before, Cayenen Wallace, helps with that that we just drafted him. We drafted him and the other O line. I'm blanking on his name, but we There's definitely those two young yeah, Robinson, Yeah, Robinson,

I have a question actually, so I'm wondering how big is this season for Scott Peters. I mean, is it how important is it?

I think anybody that's going to be in their first year is going to be given the benefit of the doubt. That's my thought. Now, after year two, if there isn't significant forward progress being made, then you can start thinking about, you know, shuffling the card deck, so to speak. But I think you know, there's there's got to be a minimum a full season and then you have to take a into consideration. What happened during the year was the offensive line decimated by injury? Or was their growth? Was

You know, I saw it. I saw somewhere that he's not guaranteed a spot back on the team once he's fully healed, right, And I think, I think, Oh, I mean, you know, in the NFL, your job's not guarantee to me. If someone's going to get.

Back, you gotta you gotta figure out a way to get healthy. You can't play if you're hurt. You gotta get healthy.

All right.

Before we wrap up this portion of the program, how many wins this year?

I think, I honestly think more than five. I don't know. I don't know what coach.

You're gonna say five?

I say over five.

I don't know.

I don't know coach. I think coach over here said some about six earlier before, and I don't know what he's talking about. I'll be honest, I think we're gonna get over five. I mean, new system, new knew everything. I mean, I'm talking, I'm talking about Nick coach coach, Yeah, alright, if you know.

You know, all right, I'm just wondering, all right, what do you think?

I think that definitely with the new like the new revamped offense, you have the full defense coming back, Gonzalez coming back of injury, Jude on many others. I feel like we're gonna be in that this could be a bit of a stretch. I feel like we're being that eight to ten win range. Really yeah, I'm very I'm very confident, extraordinarily optimistic. I'm very optimistic.

If you know, his nose is cold. Okay, good, all right, very good. What do you think wins losses? What do you think?

From what I was told, the defensive line is still coming back, all of them and the same from us, so they should be strong and the chemistry should be good between all of them. With the new offensive line, I don't know. I mean, I'm probably gonna guess in the middle around neutral.

So like so like eight, maybe maybe.

Maybe eight something like that.

I think a lot of people would settle for seven or eight.

Yeah, yeah, especially last season too.

Yeah, I mean eight to nine is going to actually have If you won eight games, you would be in the playoff. Mixed through December.

Actually, I saw, uh there was like an NFL report or something and they projected the Patriots win three games this whole season.

Yeah, the Patriots.

Where the Patriots were the the odds on favor for the number.

One the Patriots.

I saw where they are the underdogs in every single game this season, no matter the team. They were not favored to win a single game, correct, which I think is a bit outrageous in my opinion.

No, what do you think wins losses? What do you think?

I think.

You're keeping the defense, which will help a lot with Lake chemistry, like Davias said, So, I mean it really comes down to the offense, you know, the whole new quarterback situation, which I think will go way better than last year, the on line, how they start the season without cold strange. I'm thinking a solid nine to eight record.

Really well, nine and eight, there'd be a lot of people that will be, you know, you know, praising you, fellow. So I'm not sure I can go that route, but I think that would be an interesting season, and nine and eight would certainly. In my honest opinion, I think it's a success if you do better than you did last year. So you know, this team managed four wins a year ago.

I just.

I'm gonna say six. And I haven't really even I haven't really taken a good hard look at the schedule yet. I know it's gonna be extraordinarily difficult. You know, it's strange when you have, you know, one of the worst records in the league to come back the next year with the second or third toughest schedule in the league. But the problem is is that you don't You're not able to kind of patch your schedule full of Patsy's because you have a divisional rotation in terms of the

So we're also in a really tough division as well.

Well. This is I think all three of the teams in the division. I think Buffalo probably drops back to the pack a little bit. I think Miami right now, to me, I think that the Dolphins are the favorites in the AFC East. Now I don't like the Jets. And the reason that I don't like the Jets is, you know, Aaron Rodgers is going to show me he can stay healthy.

Yeah, especially with playing force naps last year.

It's what I mean. You know, when I see it, I may believe it. I just don't know if that's even gonna be possible. So right now, I've got Miami, Buffalo, Jets, Patriots in the APES East. But I think the Patriots can win two or three games. Yeah, I was within the division.

I also want to mention, like one quick thing before we have to head out. It was it was a stat last year that the Patriots held more teams to under ten points than any other team in the league.

Correct on defense.

Correct, And the reason they had like such that bad of a record is mainly the offense with the horrible O line.

Or where we last in the league for points per game?

Yeah, that was that was for the That was for the offense, but the defense was first in the league for like allowing under tenth like keeping teams under ten points. Yes, I feel like now with their revamped offense is why I said like that eight to ten win range.

All right? Good enough, guys? Where do you go? Ridge Stone is the official tire of the New England Patriots and proud to partner. It was sort of entire New England's head quarters for quality Bridge don't Tires. Visit subtodtire dot com to find a location near you.

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This is Patriots Playbook, the Legend.

Welcome back inside the Playbook. We're rounding third heading for home here. We've got four major subjects that we've been talking about here on day one of Patriots training camp here at Jillette Stadium in Foxboro, and these seem to be the overwhelming areas of concern for this team as we head into the twenty four to twenty five season. We've talked about the quarterback battle, We've talked wide receiver.

I am.

I'm gonna be a senior next year at need Him High School.

Need them all right, So we've we got a local here Patriots fan? Yes, okay, I kind of thought so, Charlie Hazen. Yes, Charlie, Charlie. But Charlie, you'rean out of town or aren't you?

Yes, I'm from Tucson, Arizona.

That's what I thought. So you won the award for the longest distance coming in New England.

I definitely did.

Yeah. What's your overall impression? Is this your first time in New England?

Uh?

Yeah, yeah, it actually is my first time here.

What do you think you haven't seen much?

Though not much, but it's interesting.

Do you even know what an ocean looks like?

I did go to the ocean on Saturday?

You did here? Yes?

Good for you.

What'd you think it was? There was no waves?

No waves? Really? Why do I have to pay for beaches?

Exactly?

Wow?

Big? Okay, great Charlie. We're glad to have you, buddy. All right, Chris Rosner, should I say Chris or Christopher? Christopher? You prefer the longer version. It's fine the show. Yeah, okay, all right, Christopher Christopher? Where are? Where is your hometown? Of what you are you?

I'm going to my senior year. I attend the Western High School, and I'm sadly not a Patriots fan, So I am a New York Giants fan.

Big blue.

That's two right now, there's two Giants fans. Okay, so I have to make a note. I got one two guys that get f's this week. Okay, I'm all set. And uh Connor vital Connor's wearing the West Virginia swag, so yeah, all right, I appreciate that, though, uh and uh Connor, you are from where and what year?

I'm from Dartmouth, Mass. And I'm a senior at Bishop's Staying High School. Got Spartans?

Okay, there you go. And you're from Dartmouth, yep, and you're a Patriots.

Fan nope, I'm a Buffalo Bills fan.

Baby, Oh my god, holy cow. Yeah, wow, say you no, Matt's he's agreeing with you. What are you a Buffalo?

Just move move that micro around?

Okay, all right, right, yeah, I get the micro un to your face and we're gonna have to look at it. Okay, good, Why Buffalo? How did you become a Buffalo fan? Living in here? Living around here?

I have the same birthday as Josh Allen, and I like how the fans are crazy.

Okay, so you're you're sort of a super member of the Bill's mafia.

Yeah, and a little bit of a bandwagon.

But okay, well that's all right, that's okay. That's how people, you know, Patriots fans got into the Patriot you know, you know, uh fandom because of the bandwagon, because of the success over the number of years. So I understand how that works. Guys. We're gonna start it though, talking about some defense to begin with, because I can we agree that this is the strong suit for this edition of the Patriot football team. That defense is really what

They have some young pass rushers that just like to get get it done. And I feel like Matt Judon being older, he definitely like provides good leadership to the younger guys. They're gonna run this league in the next like five ten years.

Okay, what else you know?

To kind of switch the point here, I feel like they shouldn't sign him just for the reason is he's getting old and he I feel like he can easily hurt the team with that new contract that it's using cap space on a player that's going to be thirty two, thirty three, thirty four, so on, and the Patriots can use that money on a different player that is younger

We should update everybody because one of the things that we wanted to talk about today is, you know, do the Patriots need and does the defense and particular need Matt Judah not be only because a lot of people feel like he's the best athlete on that side of

What do you think I do want to add to that is I noticed that last year he did get a boost in his contract, like an extra pay, and now coming to this season, he's wanting more. So I'm just curious on your point here, is he really looking for the money or is he just here?

I don't know that he's looking for the money. He doesn't. I mean, look, he's a flamboyant guy, you know, he's he's outspoken, but he has looked up to in that locker room. I don't think he's one of those guys that basically says, hey, show me the money first. I don't think he is, yeah, agree with you. I mean, you know, I think at first I thought he might be. I know, he brought that kind of a street rep,

Yeah, and I do agree with you. I think that New England is a it's a very special place for sports. New England has extremely loyal fans. And just today actually after the first training day, this reporter by the name of Dakota Randall, he got a chance to interview Matt and Matt says that if it were me and if everything goes well, he'd love to stay in Boston forever. He really wants to be a part of that second

Good. So see, that's that's positive. Yeah, Dacota Randalls with nesson dot Com. So yes, yeah, okay, I.

Feel like he's an absolute team guy, like as he's saying like we're at training camp and we see him run out and he's just playing catch with the kids. He wants to be here, like he loves New England. He's an all around Patriots guy. I feel like he represents the Patriots team absolutely in a beautiful way.

Okay, I mean to add on to that. I mean back to what Charlie was saying.

For the age wise, I mean there's a negative and positivity about that desit with the new ventensive coronator like this came in DeMarcus comings In, who just you know, was the coronator down in Washington State. So for me, it's like for that young experience for him because he's been a you know what linebacker for.

The Patriots before.

But for me, it's like.

Having that veteran guy who's been there, done that, especially with all these young guys. I mean, you definitely want to keep this team as defensive possibly possible as you can, because I mean, to be honest, last year when I watched games, you know, their defense kept him in the games. The offense wasn't provided. I mean I remember one game the Chargers and they got zero points and the defense

He is a fan favorite. The fans seem to want him to still be here. I just you know the question that I asked you guys originally. I think when we started all this though, is does this defense need let's put a capital in on that word need. Does it need matt Judon? Why or why not?

So?

What?

I so? What Matt Judon does?

He changes the game, He can shake up the other team's game plans, and if he's still a Patriot, which is what the Patriots, Patriots need after that blue blow average season last year. So I think there's definitely some key things that the Patriots need Matthew Judon. But in my idea, I feel like there's gonna be better younger

So you don't think they need him with a capitol in I don't exactly think they need him.

He's definitely a good aspect to the Patriots defense. Just saying on how good he did with his twenty twenty two season with fifteen and a half sacks and a lot of quarterback rushes. I think he adds a lot to the team. But very close here, it's gonna be his retirement. He's not going to be at his prime anymore.

Okay, that's what I think, Ben, What do you think?

Yeah?

On the talking about in twenty twenty two, for example, during Week five, the Patriots were playing the Detroit Lions and the Detroit Lions got zero points, Patriots got twenty nine points and Matt had two sacks himself. That he was the leader of the defense that game, and he

So you think they need him? I do think though, Okay, all right, so we have one nay, one yeah, and I'm really kind of in the nay category, although I would like him to be here. But if I'm really gonna answer my own question, need I I know, sure, Okay, what do you think, Connor? You want to go?

So I feel like I'm just gonna be honest. The Patriots have not been as good as they were in the past years, even though their defense is pretty solid. I feel like Matt Judon is a key contributor on that team. He gets the sacks, he gets the boys going, he gives them what they want, and I just feel like without him, it's just gonna be a bunch of young guys that don't have enough mentor, and I feel like he just gives them that energy, he gets them going. He's just that guy.

Okay means Christopher Sorry interrupt, So speaking of your second wave of the dynasty. So with him being gone, if, for example, because I'm on the neath side for sure. With him, I mean, he has still a lot of talent.

So for me, yeah, yeah, And let me quantifyed need, because yeah, there are more things than just football talent that are needed on a roster, and it's those intangibles that the Patriots have taken pride in over a number of years when they've had leaders like Willie McGinnis to Teddy Bruski and Vince Wilfork and so many that have

So to add to you on that with the cap space, I was seeing that the Patriots do have the second most cap space in the NFL yep with I think around fifty three million right now. So if the Patriots really wanted to sign Matt Judon again, I feel like they would have already done it. They're they're trying to see probably during this training camp, is he really gonna do we really still need him?

That he said the right things today, then didn't he.

Yes, yes he did, Okay, And I think that the Patriots are also in this this rebuild state.

A whole other topic.

You know, we we have all these young people and we're building them up to be as good as Matt one day.

You have to you have to have to. And that's part of the reason. I mean that does add to some of the need because if you're signing these other veteran players in the off season, well why not Judon. Well, but Judon's in a little bit of a category. Number one, he's older. Number two, he's got to he had a heavier contre. Number three, he's coming off you know, an injury that knocked him out for much of the year.

I feel like he could have gotten a lot more in on defense.

I was.

I did like what I saw, but I just feel like he didn't play as much as I expected him to play.

Okay, Christopher, And for me sending as you know mcconnor said, I mean, the reps were lacking. I mean I saw a lot of times on the side. I mean for me, he definitely I think he did see some good things. I mean definitely over by you know, the second field I was at, I saw the linebacker group and just trying to teach him stuff.

And look, he definitely looked really helpful.

So you did see some you know, sort of coach speak out there front.

Yeah, and for sure, and I saw some friend friendly ship. And obviously when he walked up, you know and came out of the field hang out with the fans and you know, obviously waited a couple of fans are screaming his name. And he's a good guy, you know, because you know, he's been you know, for his life. You know, he grew up with nine brothers and sisters and he's known how the team team works. So for him, it's

So you would be for the sign in terms of the need overall. Yes, Connory, what about you?

Yeah, I would want to sign him again. I just feel like now, especially after all we saw a training camp, he's becoming more of a mentor than a star player, which is absolutely what the Patriots need. Is they have a very young defense.

Yeah, yeah, Ben, you know, first This was my very first time actually at a NFL training camp, and it was such an exciting place to be and it was an amazing opportunity. When I first there, I saw Matt playing with the fans. I saw him connecting. He has this chemistry with his teammates and with all of his fans. People were smiling, and on the field he was he was great. We were actually we were all watching together

Charlie, what were your observations today?

Oh, so what I saw today? I saw him on the left field.

He was getting after the quarterback, definitely, But I mean I barely got to see him play.

He I didn't see much out of him.

Others say he did, but I mean, I'm not really sure, I could have a wrong, but I definitely think right now the Patriots are looking at him as kind of in the back space because he he wants to get paid.

That's obvious.

But I just think I just think the Patriots are kind of looking past him. I feel like the Patriots are trying to find that new guy and stuff like that.

Yeah, all right, can't disagree with that. Guys. Good job, thank you, all right, you got it. Hey, bud Light's a proud sponsor of Patriots playbook Easy to Drink, Easy to Enjoy. Bud Light the official beer sponsor of the New England Patriots. All Right, our thanks to my Dean College Sports broadcasting class. I'm gonna name them all one

Thank you, thank you, Thank you for the opportunity Godills.

I'm not letting you step on that way, got his mic.

Hello to my whole family watching out there too, my mom.

Yeah, any shout outs, Yeah.

I'd like to shout out my friends. George Kittle, I love you, Oh, Josh Allen.

Also everybody at the need Him channel, Mike Kristen, Ashley, Alex.

Project.

Yeah.

Now we pissed off everybody else in the class because they didn't get to do shoutouts. Okay, see Nick is back there waving on the other side of the glass. Coach coach k thanks to Thanks to the Marine Matt Morrell for getting this all done as well. Our August edition August twenty eighth, officially August twenty eighth, So you want to tune in, then we may do a special one before the Washington game on the twenty first, but

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