Patriots Playbook 7/27: Training Camp Storylines

John Rook. It's great to say that when we come back and do the playbook live. It's great to say when we actually have breaking news, do you have a breaking news sounder, Matt that we can play and when news breaks, we break it. Yes, I love it. Welcome into the playbook, everybody, because we are here at Gillette Stadium. It's day one of NFL training camp. Got an action

packed a couple of hours for you. Here will update you on some of the things that we observed and some of the things that happened at practice this morning, because practices has actually ended for the day. And of course, if you didn't know already, Sir Elton John is performing here tonight, first of two concerts that he's giving here at Gillette and so it's just a madhouse around everywhere

the stadium tonight. But I mentioned breaking news. The Pro Football Hall of Fame has just released its finalists for the Coaching Contributor for the Class of twenty twenty three. We know Richard Seymour is a part of the Class of twenty twenty two getting in this summer, but in the Class of twenty twenty three, our own Robert K. Kraft is made the list of twelve finalists for twenty twenty three. So congratulations to mister Kraft. I can't say

that I'm terribly surprised. I can't imagine too many people in Patriots Nation would be surprised with this, largely because of his influence overall, not only on the fortunes of this franchise, but really fortunes, innovation, wealth, growth, popularity, all of it as far as pro football in this country is considered. So you know, mister Kraft, the short of it is owner and chairman and CEO of the Patriots

since nineteen ninety four. Patriots, of course, have won six Super Bowls in that time, and he's obviously very deserving and it would be a stunner if he did not make the Class of twenty twenty three. But at the same time, we did want to let you know that the Pro Football Hall of Fame just released that like literally minutes ago, close to the top of the hours. So congratulations to mister Kraft, Congratulations to the Kraft family.

It's extraordinarily deserved. And I think we as observers, as media, as fans, as hanger honors like you know, me and Marine are, we do whatever we can to help the cause, right, I think we should. All right, So here's the way we rolled for this week, because for the uninitiated, our

program during the off season is once a month. We usually picked the last Wednesday of a month, in particular until we get to the regular season, where we run weekly shows during the course of the year, and so this is our next to last preseason or shall we say, offseason program, even though technically today was the day training camp started, not only in New England but around the National Football League. So a pretty cool thing. Football is back.

It's it's it's I just told the security guard on the way in I said, Honestly, I'm happy and I'm sad at the same time. Have you gotten a chance to go to the beach. I haven't played enough golf yet. I haven't had a chance to sun my backside yet. You know, not that the sun wants to look at my backside, but I just haven't had a chance to do that yet. The one thing that we love to do about July's show, and we'll do one at our

last off season show, if you will. We'll actually be on August thirty first, right Wednesday, August thirty first, and then we step right into the regular season for the first week of September. I think that's September eighth, Thursday, September eight. Look at the calendar match turning he's looking. I believe that's the date. At any rate, that'll be our first regular season show technically, So we'll do one in August thirty one, and then we'll start weekly throughout

the course of the season on September eighth. But our July show has always been unique in the last six seven years now, I think this is the seventh year that we've done this. Because many of you know that part of the routine that I have during the course of the calendar year is to serve as a college professor at Dean College, which is an academic partner of the Patriots and craft sports and entertainment, and the subjects that I teach have to do certainly with communications and

sports broadcasting. So this is the seventh summer that I have actually taught a pre college summer program. Or if you want to college summer camp, you can. But these guys are not you know, your typical summer camper, summer campers with you know, backpacks and lollipops and you know, you know, cut knees and things like that. No, these guys that I have in the group this year are all sixteen, seventeen, eighteen years old, getting ready to go

to college. They're looking at schools that they want to go to potentially move themselves into this realm. I know, it's hard to believe that someone would actually want to do what I do or what you want to do, Matt, for a living, but hey, we're here to edgemacate them, you know, and maybe even scare them away. It's possible, although knowing as the way we roll on this show, when we do this show, they may leave the studio today. Thank god, I can do better than that. So I

you know, hey, that's great. I hope that they do. I would very much love the day that I get sent packing to be replaced by somebody who I taught. I mean, if you're gonna we're all gonna be replaced, right, So I'd be perfectly okay, perfectly okay if it's somebody I taught, because then I can hold it over his head for the rest of his life. See that's the way it works. And if I ever need a job, yo, dude, remember whose job you stole? Okay, by the way, that

has happened already in my career. Who haven't you taught? Kind of seems like that now, doesn't it. I know. So today the setup today is is we've come up with four key questions. We call them four big questions however you want to talk about it, but four big questions for the patriots surrounding in twenty twenty two. And I've given each panel, each group of students here today my sports broadcasters a subject to research, which they've been

doing since last night. I've been working feverishly today to make sure that they overturned every stone they possibly can, and we're just going to talk football surrounding these four main topics for the next couple of hours, and we hope that you listen in, we hope that you enjoy and we want you to participate. So you know, whether you agree or disagree with anything that is said on the program by either me and I know most everybody disagrees,

but that's fine because that's how the world rolls. This is how we keep it rotating on its taxes. We disagree a lot, and that's fine. But if you want to agree or disagree with anything anybody has to say today, here's how you get in touch with the program. It's a toll free telephone number eight five five pats five hundred, eight five five pats five hundred. Pick up the phone, dial it go, You're on. You can talk to the

marine himself and he won't let yell at you. He might make you drop and do twenty, but he won't yell at you. And then if you want to try email, web radio at patriots dot com. Pretty simple. Web radio at patriots dot com. You can also hut me up on Twitter. It's at JR Broadcaster the Twitter handle, or you can go to my Facebook page at John dot rook are ok and log in there and post your question where we have the show posted for today when we preview the show, and you can participate that way.

So there's four different ways that you can actually participate in the show. Pick up the phone, email, tweet, or post on Facebook. The topics that we're going to kind of hit at today, and maybe there's a topic in particular that you're kind of thinking about yourself, Like, you know, I really think this is, like, you know, the number one issue that I'm thinking about with his team coming in the topics, we're going to talk about who will

ultimately play in the defensive backfield, especially at corner. Number two, what will the Patriots linebacking corps look like, and who's gonna start do we even really know? Number three? What young player or players And largely we're kind of holding this to first or second year players, but it could be a younger player who hasn't had a lot of playing time in his NFL career. What young player or players could rise and surprise with playing time for this

team this season? And then topic number four today, does it really matter who calls the plays? Everybody's so fixated on Oh my god, the Patriots don't have him off in a coordinator. They don't have a deepens coordinator. Mac Jones is growth is gonna be stunted. What are we gonna do. It's just chill, That's what we're gonna do. We're gonna be chill about it and let him try

to play. Now, look, if we get into a week four or five or six and this team is flopping like a fish out of water, then okay, fair game. Coaches are fair game because clearly whatever they've strategized to do is not working. But I think at the very least, look, and I know that a lot in the media certainly

learned around this area. Know Tommy Curran and Phil Perry and some of the guys that we have on this show from time to time, they're all kind of, you know, quizzically scratching their heads and wonder, well, I'll come to the Patrons are the only team that don't have this in the NFL. And look, I think we all have to understand that Bill Belichick marches to the beat of his own drummer, and he always has. Bill Belichick also largely looks after his own and Matt Patricia and Joe

Judge are his own. They come from his tree. They've been head coaches. Now, you can certainly make the argument that they haven't entirely been successful head coaches in the NFL, but they have been head coaches in the NFL. So they had to have something something going on in order to get that job in the first place. Now, let's all recall here, let's go, let's let's take the way back machine back in the nineteen nineties for a moment. Because Bill Belichick, when he started as a head coach

in the NFL, how did he do in Cleveland? Not good? Got fired. So Bill didn't become Bill BB, as we like to call him. You didn't become that until he came to New England and started winning. So he's going to do what he can to potentially I think, groom, grow, enhance, help out, encourage, all the all the above to his guys that have come from his coaching tree. Number one because he's friends with them, number two because he sees a football future in them. At number three, he knows

they want to be head coaches again. So he's gonna give him every opportunity to improve that resume, move up the ladder and get the job again. Now, you may or may not agree with that assessment. You might think that Matt Patricia is the worst thing since slice bread, that Judge, Joe Judge doesn't know his ankle from you his head. Okay, maybe that's the case. I don't know. I'm not here to judge that. What I am here to tell you is how I think and how I perceive.

Bill Belichick operates. And this is his twenty second here is head coach that he's embarking upon today with training camp opening up here today. So that's the thought process here. So it really doesn't matter. I don't think who calls the plays. But we'll have a group of aspiring sports broadcaster to talk about that very subject here in just a little bit. Just quickly, I'll hit you on a couple of the headlines from training camp today, and then

we're gonna jump into our subjects. But Patricia, speaking of coach Patricia, he did call the plays today at practice. In case anybody cares, anybody's interested, he did all the play calling during the eleven on elevens and all the seven on sevens today. I don't know that that means

anything other than he started. I feel quite certain that at some point in time there will be others that will probably call plays, but at the very least he has started with that Mac Jones during the eleven and elevens and seven on sevens and thanks to Andrew Callahan from The Herald for passing along some stats here eighteen for twenty two throwing the ball, So a pretty good

start to the day. I know that Brian Hoyer had a couple of lawn darts that he threw into Davante Parker in the end zone, so it looked like Davante was, especially in short yardage situations, Mike could develop into a red zone threat. I don't know, but it certainly looked from my manage point like, Okay, we're gonna test this, We're gonna test it early, and we're gonna see him pick on some corners and the Patriots admittedly, we're not sure what we have a corner, which is one of

our topics we're going to talk about today. But the Patriots corners aren't exactly you know, six foot seven out there either, and DeVante is a big dude, so we might see more of that. That doesn't necessarily mean it's going to happen somewhere else. But the parker did do well today in red zone drills three contested catches for touchdowns,

and he lost one to Jalen Mills, So kudos to Mills. Mills, by the way, my thinking is he probably has the inside track for one of the starting spots, probably, but we got, you know, a month of practice to go here gang before we really have to start thinking about it, and three preseason games to get through. But at the very least that's one of the names you could think about. Joe On Williams also had an interception today if you're

thinking defensive backs and backfield as well pass breakups. Mills had one, Bledsoe had one. So let's see what else offense won the day. Callahan tweeted out earlier that offense one to day except from a red zone stretch with four pass breakups in six plays. Okay, well, it's not like the I would tell you I would explain that off first of all by saying, hey, good job by the defense. Second of all, it's not like they didn't

know what was coming when you're in red zone drills. Okay, so they kind of know that they're gonna get picked on. So the fact that they were able to knock those plays off, not close passes around. I don't think it's too much to get terribly serious about, but hey, pretty good start there. And the other guy that I'm kind of looking at it, I'm really going to be anxious to watch throughout. And maybe this is where my first

group of students can kind of chime in with. Here is Taekwon Thornton, rookie wide receiver from Baylor, and he made a couple of diving end zone catches for touchdowns today in practice. So a good start for the rookie showing some early separation in these situations. All right, So my dean sports broadcasters are here. I got Alex, I got John, I got Mike at the microphones here. So guys, I'm gonna let you introduce yourself and tell us where

you're from. Hey, everybody, I am Alex kuchen Meister, and I am from Wilton, Connecticut. Wilton, Connecticut, Wilton, Connecticut. So I'm Wilton, Connecticut. Are you a Giants fan or a Patriots fan? I'm neither. Actually, what yeah, I'm actually a Detroit Lions fan. What Yeah, it's a little bit of a. It's not as fun to watch those games as Patriots games, but I still enjoy the NFL. So you probably have a definitive idea about what you think on Matt Patricia's part, right, Yes,

I definitely have my opinions about him. You want to share one, Well, my opinion is I do not think that he should be in a head coaching role anytime soon, and I just I feel like when he's not with Bill Belichick, he's not as successful as he could be. Tell me one thing though, that you liked about Matt Patricia when he was the coach of your Lions. I liked that he had multiple different defensive schemes for us

to throw at other teams. I liked how we had Sometimes we'd send three guys, sometimes we'd say and six guys. It was never predictable what we do on defense whenever he was our coach. That's what I liked about him, and that's what he brings from the defensive coordinator spot, that he has fair assessment. What do you think then, about everybody being up in arms? Here is Patriots fans thinking, how can a defensive guy, or an offensive line guy, or a guy who floundered to Detroit. How can he

be the play caller for the Patriots this year? Well, I think that his play calling, I think that he really could excel at the defensive side of that. I haven't really seen him call offensive plays because I think we had our offensive coordinator doing that whenever he was there. But I think that him play calling that could be successful. I think that the Patriots could really they could show

better than their actual linebacker and defensive backspots are. They could show a better performance than they really have there. That's the talent and I think he could really help them there. That's fair. What year are you in school, Alex, I am going into sophomore years. Sophomore year, Okay, so you're probably the youngest one in camp, right, Yes, I am. You already determined that. Yeah. So, so how's the week in college been. It's been pretty fun. It's been pretty fun.

I really enjoy hanging out with the older kids. They're pretty nice. We like to talk sports, we like to talk to the entire NFL, and I get to hear some Patriots perspectives here that I wouldn't really here normally in Connecticut. How did you get to be a Lions fan? Though, can I ask you that one too? My dad actually he grew up right outside Detroit as a kid. Yeah he was. He was one of the big Lions fans up there, gotcha? Okay, fair enough? All right? John, introduce yourself.

Where are you from? I'm John McHale and I'm from Nyack, New York. Nayak, Oh my god, a New Yorker. So let me guess Giants or Jets. If you're Nayak, you're neither there neither which team I go for? The Packers? Really, what is wrong with you? Guys? Really? How did you get to be a Packer fan? Honestly, it's just by random choice. I just just you know, just pick them, just randomly. Yeah, okay, all right, fair enough. Mike introduce yourself.

Where you're from. I'm Michael Batson and I'm off from Chicago, Illinois. Wow, Chicago. I got three out of staters here. This is unbelievable. And it's your team, the Bears. Yeah really, no kidding? All right? What do you like about the Bears? And what do you not like about the Bears? Because we

won't mention the Bears again this afternoon? Probably, well, well with NAGGI was hard to watch because a play Cang was just so you know Mas and you know, you know, you see Kansas City throwing these like thirty yard you know throws and open you know, calls and then and then and then bears are running in on third and four to you know, Dave Montgomery. So I mean, I mean, I mean the offense isn't very fun to watch. I mean, the defense is getting older. I mean, we traded away

Khalil Mack and you know Roquan Smith. You know, the the defensive guys are at their prime. Now, you know you saw off mac ro Quan Smith is not as dominant. I think with that, you know, the cod Cody Parky kick and you know, we add we had everything they're except for the QB Patrick Mahomes and and it just didn't fall. But I think if we picked Patrick Holmes or Deshaun Watson, we would have won the Super Bowl

that year. We had the offense, we had the defense. Okay, fair, fair, all right, Now we got the home crowd stuff out of the way. You guys know that, you know, your first jobs in the business are undoubtedly not going to be where your favorite teams are located, right because one of the things that we've learned this week is that you take a job whenever wherever you get in, it'll probably be in a smaller city, smaller market, some of the things we talked about. So what we wanted you

to do. One of the challenges that you had this week is to cover a team that you're not used to cover it. Hello, New England Patriots. All Right. The question that I gave your group what young player or players could rise in surprise with playing time this season. So we're talking rookie, second year young pros that haven't had the playing time in New England if they've been here before that you think are in position to actually get playing time and maybe even play a significant active

this year. Do you want to start Alex? All right? I'll start with the one of the rookies coming into this season. It's the Patriots first round pick this last draft, and that would be Cole Strange, the guard from the Tennessee the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. Okay, so some stuff that I've seen it from him, he is actually projected to be starting for the Patriots in twenty twenty two.

So even though he might have been an unpopular pick, he's actually filling a need for them, and it's just it's really just helping them win the battle in the trenches, which is really big obviously for any football team that's trying to win big games. Yeah, he's twenty three years old. He stands at six foot four. He's three hundred and seven pounds, so he's a good size for an offensive lineman and he's relatively young. Yeah. He actually I got

some stats from the combine. He had a forty yard dash time of five h three, which is actually much better than the average left guard time, which is an that's a very good time for a big dunes. Yeah, that is. That's a I have a comparison about him to another guard that I saw had a great forty time as well that I feel like he could potentially live up to be a player similar to him. But one of the downsides about Strange is he had only thirty one bench reps at the combine, which is on

the lower end for a lineman. But he's still a good weight and I feel like watching him, he's pretty light on his feet. I like I like how he always looks for his blocks, so even when he's unengaged, he's a guard, he's being pulled as the guard he could still he's still looking for blocks, he's still trying to get latterly and to block the blitzers. And I still I like to I like how whenever I'm watching him, I can see that he is able to block blitzer.

So if he's being pulled in a situation like that, he can latterly block very well, which is not very common for a guard. And I feel like he really does that well. And so I think that one of the last things that I want to say about Strange is he actually reminds me a little bit of Larry Allen, who is if anybody doesn't know, he's a really good left guard for the Cowboys and forty nine ers of

the past. And I feel like the agility of Strange, and it's above average forty time, is actually very similar to Larry Allen, and like Alan, Strange will be able to block more consistent consistently in a zone run plays where he can use his athletics athleticism to set up blocks for his running backs. I don't even know what to I don't even knew where to go from here. I mean, you know, maybe I should just bow out and let Alex host the Shyer replacement. John. Yeah, right right.

I just said that earlier, didn't I good job research, Thank you, good job of research. Real. I love the comparison to Larry Allen, though, I mean, I you know, I think that should give you know, fans a chance to sort of picture how you think Cole might end up becoming. If he could become Larry Allen, who was a Pro Bowl, All Pro caliber player, then I think

the Patriots would be in really good shape. And one of the things that we've talked about, you know, since the draft over the last couple of months, is the fact that, look, the Patriots traditionally, like when they draft a plug and play, they find guys that they know they can play right away. So it's not fancy, they don't get you know, they don't go for the hot name. They go for a guy that they know they can depend upon to be in the starting line from day one.

And so we said with Cole Stranger's pick, that is a typical Bill Belichick in New England Patriot plug and play draft pick. The guy that can come in, take the spot, hold it for ten years, you know, knock on wood right, and you know, for injuries and stuff and then keep it and develop into a you know, an all pro caliber player. Sounds to me like, you know, he's got the chance, although I will admit I'm not sure why. Maybe his lack of I don't want to

say a lack of strength. The dude could you know, bench press all of us together all at once. But all I'm saying is with the thirty one reps, maybe that's just because of his quickness. Yes, yeah, I feel like he really excels in one area and the thirty one reps. It's not like it's just it's not like it's a huge downfall for him. He really excels in one area and he's not losing much in the other. So I feel like this is definitely a typical Patriots

pick right here. Yeah, agreed with you, John, Who do you who else? Do you think you got somebody in mind that you're thinking Mike to actually show up and get some PT this year? Definitely? So I think, um, yep is your Mike even on yeah there you go. Oh you were trying to call farlier? Okay, now it's on go so uh yeah, definitely, So I think, Um, I personally think Sam Roberts a defensive end. Uh. You know, he came from Northwest Missouri State. Um, he's twenty four

years old. Uh and he had six and half sacks last year in college. Um and I know like that. Currently in the starting defensive ends the Patriot star Teacher Wise Junior and Hen Andrew Anderson, but neither of them had more than three sacks last season. Uh. Sam Roberts had like eighteen for loss at Northwest Missouri State, you know, which is like the eight best be in Beercrat history. Um. You know. I think another upside of playing Roberts as

his movement for his size is very good for a rookie. Yeah, and so that's why I can I definitely I think he would be a surprise for friends with playing time in twenty twenty two, Robert's sixth round draft pick. Uh see six five, two ninety five. Right, Yeah, okay, excellent.

Now here's a guy though, as a Division two player that probably comes in with a little bit of the spyglass on anyway, But the Patriots have had a very successful Division to play over the last couple of years, where I don't think anybody should be surprised that they took him right. So in this regard, this could be an opportunity again for a smaller school player to kind of get his name known right and get his action known right. Okay, good stuff, all right, Michael, who you got?

Who do you like? As far as a potential newbie getting a playing time. I have a QB kind of from another smaller school from He's a rookie from Western Michigan. It's Bailey's app He was selected in the fourth round. And uh, and and in Western Kentucky he played actually really good. He led the nation in yards he had. He led it in yards by one thousand, ninety five yards and touchdowns he led by fifteen. The second most

was Bryce Sound from Alabama. And uh. In twenty twenty one he had a completion presnage of sixty nine point five. That's really good. And and now you know, people will say, you know, uh, you know, Western Kentucky isn't isn't isn't great. You know, it's not like you know, you know, Western Kentucky to the NFL will be a big, big move. And it is. But like when he played an applex in state last year in a bowl game, he had four hundred twenty two yards and appleach date isn't that

bad of a program. And he broke the FS single season records that I said, right, and Bailey's apps. He has good actressy on short immedia throws. He throws a good deep ball. He's a good thrower, went on moving out of the pocket. Uh not not not a great athlete, you know, like Patrick or Lamar Jackson. But but he could run and not and I think he could very easily beat out Hoyer for the backup job behind macab I think eventually I'm going to agree with you on

that one. But here's the thing. We won't see we won't see his happy until well, we'll see him probably in the preseason, and then if we see him at all during the regular season, something is going horribly wrong. Yeah. Right, So that's why I'm saying, Okay, that's a good observation, and you're right. I thought he was outstanding at Western Kentucky. I became aware of him at Appalachian, then he transferred

in Western Kentucky. I think I saw him play last year and turn remember the game I saw on TV. I think it was Texas San Antonio was a Conference USA title game. I think and he threw for like seven hundred yards something astronomical in the game, and I'm thinking, Wow, if you're ever looking for a guy, and I didn't even think about it, but if you were looking for a guy that can get it down the field, this guy looks like he can. Yeah, and then lo and

behold they end up drafted him. So will he show, Well, he'll have to show in the preseason, I would imagine, although I can't imagine that Mac wouldn't get uh significant you know, first quarter or first half snaps at least in a couple of those games, because let's face it, he's going through his first training camp as a starter. He's only been around for a year, so Zappy is only going to be a project. Yeah, and I agree with you. I think at some point in time they

do feel like he could move into the potential backup roll. Yeah, yeah, all right, eight five five pats five hundred. Sean's in Vancouver wants to join the conversation. Hey Sean, how's it going. Hey John, good to speak with you again. Have you been you two? Man? It's all good. I'm just I'm just I'm just glad it started, you know. Yeah, Yeah, we've been waiting for this. So the four topics, I'm going to go to them quickly because I wanted to

bring up something you kind of alluded to something earlier. Yeah, on the secondary, I think we're going to see a lot of safety play and I'm gonna kind of give way to little but Deuce was saying in terms of the corners and Terrence Mitchell might actually be one of the starters with Mills. Well, we'll see a lot of rotation within that and hopefully so you're not Jonathan Jones, so you're not thinking Malcolm Butler is going to figure into this thing at all. No, he could be there.

I'm not saying he's going to get cut, but well, we'll see. You know what I like about Mitchell is he's got that that kind of fight where he's always been down and he's always seemed to come back. So even though he didn't necessarily have the innate, innate skills that some other players have, he has that drive. So I kind of like that, and probably Butler might have that as well since he's been away for a year. Maybe he wants I'll see how hungry he is, right right,

that's true, But I'm not ruling anybody out. It's kind of a mystery anyway, right, So we'll see what happened. And linebackers Bentley, I imagine we'll be there every first and second down. He's going to be a stable but I don't know if he counts the edge guys linebackers because Judon is going to play every down, so they'll be there if he's a linebacker or not. But you

need someone on the other side. So if he who emerges, if it's going to be Kirkins, who's going to be Chas, you know, someone has to come up and be able to set the edge on the other side. Maybe they'll they'll bring back someone like uh the guy went to Detroit has been mentioned as a free agent. Yeah, I can for some of the names, but just left the team. Are you are you talking about Jamie Collins? No, no, no, Um, he's with the Patriots before and showed some pass Russian flowers.

Oh yeah, okay, yeah yeah yeah yeah tree Flowers. Yeah. Young players that could be on the rise. I think he Pierre strong with if we don't see James White come back, if he if he can't recover, I think he could fight for that third down spot with Montgomery, So we'll see what happens with with Pierre strong Rum. And there's another young player I want to talk about that. I'm going to get to that in a second. Okay, I'll just get your fourth topic. Does really matter about

play calling? Yes and no. I think play calling is important, But I think the Patriots have the best head coach of all time, and he's going to be able to help things be pretty well coached. I mean they're gonna change things. I think, make things a little simpler, so it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how to call offensive plays. And I think there's been a

little bit too much made of this. I hear way more about the Patriots play calling and troubles a coaching than I do, say Miami, who has a rookie head coach. I'd rather be in our situation with the best head coach in the world than than a new question market head coaching, even if you do have someone who's may be considered I think yeah, I just I think Sean. I think Sean. Too many people are getting, you know, all high and tight on this, and I don't think

there's any I don't think there's any need for it. Look, I have to admit, like everybody else, it's strange because it's just nobody's done it before. But I mean, then again, this is the Patriots, this is Bill Belichick, and you know they've never done things by the book. When is the When have the Patriots done things by the book? So yeah, kind of they author the book. So I mean,

you know, let's let's look at it this way. If the Patriots have any kind of success at all, don't be surprised as the other teams follow that model, you know, and decide, you know, hey, well, first of all, we don't want to be known as running team, passing team, throwing team, you know what. We don't want to be known as that. We want to keep the other team's guessing. And look, the fact is is that in this day and age, anybody can get anything, you know, off of

the net. They share film, they share tape, they share it, you know, the all twenty twos. I mean, everybody knows what everybody's gonna call. So this is not rocket science that we're dealing with here. You try to look at coaches who might you know, have a tendency to call certain plays in certain situations. And that's really about it.

Nobody really knows what Matt Patricia is gonna call, or what Joe Judge you're gonna call, or who anybody's gonna call, or Belichick, right, or even Bill Belichick, So why would we tell them. That's just kind of how I've always looked at it. Yeah, for sure. And talking about books, I've talked about this last month. The book that I really think every Patriots banner or anybody who has an

interest in football should read. It's The Dynasty by Jeff Benedict Yea, and that really says a lot about crafts, you know, being in the Hall of Fame. Of course, this dynasty is all about three people. Mostly, It's Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick, and Tom Brady and yeah and then no one. Yeah, they don't exist without each other. No, that's true. Together the three of them as as as an entity, our way,

you know, the group is stronger than the individual. And I don't think any one of those three wouldn't necessarily disagree with that. And that includes Tom with all due respect. You know, we love Tom for what he did here, you know, over his time, and that will never go away. It's a part of the history books. You know, mister Craft and coach Belichick are still here and they're trying to rebuild to get back to that level. And I'm certainly not going to doubt them for doing it. We'll

we'll find out soon enough. And if they don't, then guess what, somebody else will step in and do it, because that's the nature of the business, right And you know, with Bob Kraft, you just find out how selfless he was and how much health he was not just the Patriots but to the NFL. He's just instrumental in making this a huge success in terms of seeing a giant

industry right now. The thing I want to get to, yeah, in regard to the future of this team this season is is what went right and what went wrong last year? With the passing game. Last year, the Patriots were really good. You know, facing zone, they were able to get the ball out quickly, Um read that right away, and and and receivers who ran the right routes and even at tight ends the boat hunter Henry that ran the right route and it got to the ball and that was successful.

But what teams adjusted to do, especially if they had good corners as playing man and with the type of players of Patriots had last years. They didn't have the speed to get away from man coverage, and that's when pressure got to Matt Jones and they had more sacks that way. And and when third and long they were terrible. Even though they were great when they were in short yardage was probably best in the NFL. When it was third and nine or more, they were laughed. So they

need they really emphasized that speed. And that's why Thornton, like you mentioned, had a good camp today. He needs to be the difference because they need to open up a defense is to make sure they're not playing man. They have to beat them deep and say, hey, you want to do this, We're gonna We're gonna get by you. And that will make a huge jump for Mac joneson

year two. I'm with you on Thornton. Did you guys consider Taekwon Thornton at all in your thought process about a rookie that might be able to stand out And if so, what did you think about his ability to stay or even to excel on the field. Michael, did you have him? Uh? Yeah, Tae Kwon fifty fiftieth pick he Uh. I like his run blocking right, Uh? He's a slightly built guy too. Yeah, yeah, yeah, six three eighty three so he's tall, uh, I mean four two he ran a four two. He's fast. I mean speed

and height is going for him. For the NFL, you have to be tall and fast. He has that. I mean, rhys Me have a Tyreek Hill. You know, good hands. You know, he's fast, he's tall. If he can be a half of the speed of Tyreek Hill, I think we'd all be thrilled. Yeah. Right, And like route running is good, like Keenan Allen, you know, route running is good. So everything is there for him, I think to be at least, you know, a starter somewhere down the road. Yeah,

I would agree with it. By the way, I'm kind of I've been a kind of in the Thornton corner. Even though the Patriots took him, it's kind of like, why are they taking him here? But they can say that about almost anybody the Patriots took this year in the draft, right Sean, So you know, hey, they gotta get they gotta get out there and prove it at some point. And yeah, I think he's got a shot too, got a shot another another player that I really hope and it looks like he might come in and make

an impact. Was last year's rookie Trey Nixon. And if he can actually be the next Welker or Edelman in the spot and be someone who gets open quickly, that's going to be such a huge help. So I'm really seeing what happened with him, and maybe that can make Myers and you know Born just more perimeter. Guys. Yeah, Bill's already talked about Trey so and he did that, you know, through the rookie camp and through the OTAs

as well. So yeah, I'm anxious to see what he can do and what he gets his shot you know, to uh, you know catch you know, darts from the other end during preseason. You know, what does he do with it? My guess is is he'll have to probably do significantly just in order to uh, you know, to solidify his spot on the roster. I'd like to see him have a shot at that for sure. All Right, it's great talking to you again, John Sean. Thanks man, I appreciate you. Yeah, I appreciate you as always. Eight

five five pats five hundred, eight five five pats five hundred. Guys, it's a really good start. Wait to go Okay, second time out, We're gonna roll team number two in here. What are we talking about next? Defensive backfield? Is that what you guys had? Yeah, corner? Who's going to play in the backfield? We don't. I mean, there's a lot of question marks, but that may be the single biggest

question mark for this team this season. That's coming up next year in the playbook, want to get into the game? Get coached up at Dean College, equipped with exclusive academic partnerships featuring the Patriots, Revolution, Providence Bruins, Summer Baseball, and more. Our classrooms who are set up for success by learning directly from the pros. Dean College has programs and communications, sports management, business and marketing with unprecedented hands on experiences.

Our students take what they learn in the classroom and put it right to work in the marketplace. At Dean College, our students don't just play games, We run them. Visit us at Dean dot ed. There's no season better than football season, and there's no better place to get in on all of the action than with DraftKings, the official

daily fantasy sports partner of the New England Patriots. To add to the thrill, DraftKings has millions of dollars and prizes up for grabs every week, so head to the app now and check it out if you haven't tried it yet. Fantasy football is easy to play. Just pick nine players, stay under the salary cap, and pile up points for yards, touchdowns, receptions, and so much more. There's no better way to put your football knowledge to the test than to compete for a shot at one million

dollars in total prizes. Download the DraftKings app now and use promo code pats to get a shot at millions of dollars in total prizes every week. That's promo code pats to get a shot at millions of dollars in total prizes every week only. Ad DraftKings eligibility restrictions apply. See DraftKings dot com for detail. In sports, if you think joy only happens after you win, think again. Look at the world's most successful athletes like Serena Williams, Brooks Koepka,

and Alex Morgan. They don't spend all that day's grinding away. They take time to enjoy themselves, like getting together with friends over Michelobe Ultra, because they know that happiness is the key to win. It, and that joy is the whole game, not just the end game. Michelobe Ultra ninety five calories two point six grams of cars. It's only worth it if you enjoy it and you're responsibly a B Michelob Ultra Light Bear, Saint Louis, Massouri. How did

Verizon built the fastest five G in the world. We started by building it right with five G Ultra wide band. Then we gave it massive capacity and near zero lack. And it's not just fast, it's twenty five times faster than today's four G networks. This is five G built right from the network. More people rely on only on Verizon five G Ultra wide band available only in parts

of select cities. Global claim based on open signal independent analysis twenty five times analysis by WHO Clubs B test intelligence. Date in Q two twenty twenty. This is Patriot's Playbook Elected Welcome back into the Playbook. It is the July edition. Opening day of training camp here at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. Patriots got their first days in. Didn't seem to be

any huge issues one way or the other. There was some good play out there, and I'm sure there was a lot of things that which Belichick would talk about and largely would say, yeah, well, you know, it's first day of training camp. We need to work on it,

and yeah, and then that's what they're gonna do. The breaking news that we had to open the program today if you're just joining us, mister Kraft Robert Kraft nominated as a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class at twenty twenty three, which is also pretty cool. I got an email here from Alex in Pentucket, Rhode Island, which is kind of cool. He said, like to chime in with some answers for a question or two and

then ask a question for you. The answers he said on the young Player, our last group of dean sportscasters that were studying that. He says, we need to see Josh Uch, also Ray Kwon McMillan, any cornerback the defense needs to show up. And then he says, does it matter as far as the play callers? It could have an effect on the overall ability to adjust at times, but I think the players are going to be the

same or similar and Mac needs to execute. And then his question how big of a factor does the unknown nature of the defense play into how the season goes, I think the defense is going to have some serious growing pains. Could be the reason the team loses shootouts. Interesting question. I might just kind of pose that to the guys that are jumping in right now. My second group of dean sports broadcasters here, I've got James, Nick, Jack, and Aiden. So, James, why don't you start introduce yourself

and where you're from? All right? I'm James Day. I'm from Hamilton, Massachusetts. Finally somebody from Massachusetts. Great, all right, go I'm Nick Bourne. I'm from mary Macknew Hampshire, MC, Newhampshire. Okay, well you're in New England at least. All right we're starting. Okay, go Jack, Hi, I'm Jack Pine. I'm from Warwick, Rhode Island. Warwick, Rhode Island. How did I not know that you were a roadie guy? Must have just slipped through the cracks,

I must have. Okay, what high school do you go to? High school? Pilgrim? All right, very good, very good. Aiden, I'm Aiden Mbar. I'm from New York, Long Island specifically, and yeah, that's it. Are you Giants fan or jetson? I'm a Giants fan. I grew up in the city, you went to games all the time. Okay, that's fair. No bragging over the two Super Bowls where you kicked the Patriots bucks, Okay, yeah, it's I mean it was all luck too. Oh see, say we finally have it

from an expert. It was all luck that the Giants won, Right it was, and David Tyree had velcrow on his helmet. Right, yeah, I would say something similar. At least it's you can't credit it to Eli. Let's just say that it's Oh God, Aiden, I knew I liked you already. Okay, that's a good job, all right. So hey, um, what do you guys think

of the question? Let's just start with that one before we get into the cornerback issue, all right, But the question was how big of a factor does the unknown nature of the defense, which the cornerback question March I think are playing into this, right because we don't know who's going to be out there, But how big of a nature does that play into how this entire season goes to make any sense to you guys? On that one? I mean, how big of a factor is it going

to be? Does the defense need to be able to stop somebody to get off of the field. I mean, I would tell you that then you'd be able to stop the buffal of Bills at least once they can punt like once, right, Yeah, what do you think I mean? At the end of the day, defense is well, wins championships, and if the Patriots want any shot at end of the postseason, maybe even fighting the Bills again for a division championship. That's where it starts. Defense wins championships, end

of story. Really okay, well, defense definitely wins them. But I think most fans today would probably say, you know, offense is you know, as long as you've got a team that can outscore the other team, you're in good shape, no question. So you know, it's a little it's a little different. I think football has evolved in the era of you know, throwing spread all defenses, five wides, all that kind of stuff, to the point where defense has

largely been shall we say, deemphasized. Yeah, but I think I think good offense can beat good defense on any given day, especially with the way quarterbacks have changed their game and evolved into today's game. You see Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen airing the ball out sixty plus yards down the field, and when you have receivers like Tyreek Hill or you know, for Patriots fans, you gonna have Taykewon Thornton, one of the fastest receivers in the league

just coming out of college. Yeah, DeVante Parker as well. I mean, not many defensive backs can keep up with it, no matter who it is. And if you have someone who can air the ball out sixty yards down field, two of those receivers, there's no way that you can beat that. And so that's what the saying comes where

defense wins championships. But I think defensive win championships if you could pressure the quarterback, and especially in New England where you have Mac Jones, who you see, like Tom Brady wasn't the best athlete, but he was always able to avoid pressure in mac Jones hasn't proven that to be his best strength yet, and I think that if he can improve on that, and then maybe you could say that the defense can get better and they could go through their growing pains and they could still win

games and fight the Bills for a division championship. But I think for now, you have to watch that defense grow and you have to see what happens with who calls place for that defense and you know who's coaching these units because as and we know how proven Bill Belichick is, we can't really say what the defense is going to do, especially with these unproven guys. You know, Jalen Mills who had a rough rookie year. You have

Jonathan Jones who was injured last year. You have Sean Wade who didn't really get to play much, Terrence Mitchell who also didn't get to play much last year. And you know, these are your guys that are getting first team reps today in training camp and so far it's been going well from what we heard today, but you never know what's going to happen three four weeks into preseason and you know, heading into those first couple matchups

in the regular season. Okay, really well done because you allow me to take a selfie while we're in here with you guys talking and everything. So that was really good. Aiden. I mean, we'll flip the switch on it. You can go, and then when I flip the switch down, you can stop.

That's great, Well done, all right, So any other thoughts about the question that was brought up about you know, having young players are having you know, the corners in particular, maybe having an overall effect on the Defensebody just want to try that one. Yeah, you know, I think especially with how the like there's no certain lineup set for Week one, I think that that can help the Patriots because early in the season, people won't know who their

defense will match up with. So I think the uncertainty can play to an advantage. But it all depends on how good the secondary ends up coming out of camp right right, And especially with dudes like Jalen Mills and Kyle Dugger who have both played safety and corner, right, it's kind of finding a defined role before they can

get into the season. All right, Well, let's jump into that now, because I mean, clearly, you know, the question of the day that we wanted you guys to tackle was who's ultimately going to play in the defensive backfield, especially at corner. So James, I'll lead off with you here. What do you think in terms of the personnel, who's likely to stand out maybe be there when the regular season starts. Well, I feel like one person that will

definitely start. I feel like, um, Malcolm Butler will definitely step up. You know, they brought him back after letting him go a few years ago. You know, he had that huge play in the Super Bowl a few years back that really was synonymous with him. And he's looked pretty good so far in training camp. You know, he made a few plays, but then after he did give up a fifty yard touchdown that Mac Jones threw. But overall, they've said he's done a pretty good job and I'm

looking forward to seeing what he can do. And I feel like he will definitely play a huge role, especially as a veteran, being a leader to these younger guys. Oh, I was gonna I was gonna interject, and I was gonna let you finish, but I'll go ahead and interject. Guy's been out of football for a year. How big

of a factor is that going to be? Well, it'll definitely take him a little bit to get back into it, but I feel like, especially with Bill Belichick as the code, she's definitely going to be pushing him, making sure he's, you know, watching film still in the way room, getting ready, making sure he's ready for the season. And I feel like normally with veteran players, you don't see him play

as much in the preseason. I'm hoping he actually plays a lot in the preseason so that he can get these reps and get you know, shake off the russ make sure he's ready to go for the season. Okay, all right, anybody else? What about another player besides Malcolm? All right, Jack? Go all right? Um, I'd probably say Jalen Mills is looking to BCB one going into this year.

Tough first year overall, but he was serviceable for the large majority of the season, especially starting out, and then as it kind of wounds one down, his consistency dropped off, especially against Buffalo. He had that issue before the game where he was dancing with the rest of the secondary.

And I think that he can learn from that and and probably be the leader of the group because they really need someone to grab the Mills's experiences up there, I think with butlers, and you know, that's just because where he's been around, he's been a veteran presence. I mean, what he lacks I think in maybe some overall athleticism, he's been one of those guys I think that's actually

been a smart player. Yeah, I would agree. Overall, I think his intelligence really needs to translate into some leadership to the younger guys. Needs to kind of lead the pack a bit, Okay, to prevent what happened at the end of last year. Okay, all right, So we have Butler, we have Mills. Who else is going to stand out, aid and you want to try it? Yeah, Adrian Phillips

for sure as a nickel cornerback. You know, maybe at some points he can move and cover something else that's strong safety if he if we need him there, also depends on your Bill Pepper's availability, but I think for now, Yeah, Peppers starting the year on the pup list. Yeah, as well as Jonathan Jones, but both of them hopefully we'll

come into play a big role in that defense. Because we'll talk about your Bill Peppers later on because I do want to touch on that, as you know, I've seen him play on the Giants as well, and I have something right like to talk about there. Cool, But Adrian Phillips, I mean, very very underrated cornerback. He's a great cover quarterback and in nickel defense, which Bill Belichick does like to come out in a nickel package a lot.

It will help. It will help the Patriots if he's there and he could just kind of be there and lock up whoever he can, and it's probably gonna be the second receiver. It's not gonna be a wide receiver one. I think that's where Jalen Mills is going to be, like we said, but he can honestly come in and defend passes and help out these cornerbacks who are in the slot. And we saw last year he had one of the best passer ratings on the team when it was thrown to him. You know, it was very good.

He had a couple of deflections, he had foreign receptions, and that's just not the interceptions tell the story. You see a lot of guys have a lot of interceptions but don't play well. I think Adrian Phillips is the opposite of that, where you see his numbers translate into good play as well. Okay, very good, Nick, you got one that figure in besides the guys that we've mentioned. Yeah, I think once Jonathan Jones is healthy, he'll be the

number one slot. Yeah. I agree with that, by the one, because he has the size to cover big tight ends yep, and pretty sizable receivers like I mean, Julio Jones comes to mind because he's six four, So anyone who's a bigger receiver I think he'll cover. Hey, wait, what did you guys think about Julio Jones signing with the Bucks? You saw that right? Yeah, he wants a ring ring chasing Yeah, cheap contract one year week. I mean that's

no guarantee. By the way, you know they have a forty five year old guy quarterback, right, some guys get a bit of experience. That's wait, that's like older than me. Yeah, getting there. I'm sorry, Nick, I jumped down on you. Go ahead. Uh. Yeah, So I think Jonathan Jones really struggled with consistency when he played. Yep, So I think taking time to rehab because he's still on the pup list. Ye, I think he shouldn't play until he's one hundred percent so he can kind of work on his game before

he forces himself back onto the field. Okay, fair enough. Uh. Claire sent me an email. She said, I called, but the call cut out. Now I can't get through. I'm sorry. I was hoping to talk to you guys today just to touch on what I was going to say. The linebacker corps is going to be so different to what we're used to as all youth and barely any veteran presence. Now, which we are going to touch on here shortly. With

the quarterback. I think a lot depends on how Malcolm Butler starts out as the example for the draftees of Marcus and Jack Jones, or if he doesn't even start. And then she said there's a lot of safeties on this roster that may reflect over into the season depending upon how injuries move into the regular season. That's Claire in the UK. Guys, what do you think about the two young guys and Marcus and Jack Jones. I think that Marcus and Mac Jones, Um, they are pretty good

pickups in the draft. Marcus Jones mainly for special teams reasons. He can really help in the return game. Um. Jack Jones, he did pretty well in coverage. Um, let's go. I can just get his stats up here. Okay, but keep talking while you're doing. Sorry, Well, he had a seventy nine of the trade there no problem than he had a seventy nine point four overall coverage grade in twenty twenty one against defenses at Arizona State, or rather against

offenses theirs in the state. Excuse me, um. He had three interceptions, three touchdowns allowed, played three hundred fifty one coverage snaps. That's courtesy of Pro Football Focus. UM. I mean Jack Jones, Um, he can play man defense. UM. I think getting him into the Belichick system is going to be great. UM. Development wise, get a few young guys in here, Marcus Jones, Um, we see a lot of guys who can return, who can also help out in the secondary. We see that. We've seen that before

with Devin mccordy. But I think Jack Jones mainly will be a pretty good pickup. I hope. So. I certainly did say I'm with young corners. I have a tendency to think that, you know, frankly, they either can over inflate their worth. I think that they can burn out. I think that they could be flashing the pans. I just need to see consistency. I don't need to see personally.

I don't need to see some wow me. What I want to see is just somebody be there, you know, the ability to make a play and maybe if the receiver reaches over him and makes the grab, okay, fine, but he was right there. You can't defend that play any better than that. That's what I want to see at a young guys, because so they can consistently do that, then I think they got a chance to stick in

and hopefully contribute to the team. Touching on consistency, today in training camp, we saw that it was Jalen Mills, Jalen Mills, Terrence Mitchell, and Sean Wade where reportedly they

consistently really good cornerbacks for the Patriots. Today they really showed a lot of consistency, and that's been the problem with a lot of guys with a lot of these guys in the past, Jalen Mills and Terrence Mitchell especially, and for guys that are fighting for roster spots like Mitchell and Wade, it's going to be important for them to really show their consistency because at the end of the day, that's what we need starting for us come week one. I mean, we don't have jac Jackson anymore,

we don't have Stephan Gilmore. We really need to run a defensive back by committee approach like the running backs, which which I think is going to factor in huge. I think the Patriots are gonna run mainly in nickel defense going forward, due probably to the lack of linebacker death. Mainly nickel defense. You've definitely got the safeties, the hard

hitting safeties to do the job. You've got Jabrill Peppers, you have Kyle Dugger, who in my opinion, can tackle and hit like Brandon Merriweather, but raps like Brandon Merriweather. Let's touch on Jabrill Peppers because I know Aiden wanted to talk about him, and obviously he knows him because he saw him played for his Giants. You know, if he's able to be healthy, how big of a factor does he become. If he's able to be healthy, I think he could be one of the cornerstone pieces of

that defense. You saw him in his first year with the Giants. He was a Pro bowler and a lot of people thought he should have been an All Pro. He wasn't named an All Pro. And his stats, though nothing really jumps off the page. He had a sack and a half, he had one interception. You see the amount of pass deflections he had, which he was in the top five in the league at eleven pass deflections that year. And he also just he had thirty two quarterback hits in just two full seasons with the Giants.

And the only issue that he really has is his durability. And you see that he's so versatile. He could play any role that any coach wants to put him in. And you saw that the Giants they didn't really have a set defense. Their defense one year that he was there was pretty awful and one year it was one of the better defenses in the league in twenty twenty and jeff Bill Peppers was a huge part of that defense.

Where Week eleven they were had, they had one of the top ten defenses in the league, maybe even top five. I don't I can't exactly recall the numbers. And then he went down with injury and the Giants collapsed and ultimately missed the playoffs in the year. And we saw that was led to what happened with the injury to Jebil Peppers, and you see that if he's able to be healthy, he can be a Swiss Army knife for Bill Belichick for someone who likes to play their safeties

like that. You saw Patrick Chung when he was here. He would play any role that he could. He could cover the run really well. He could also defend the pass really well, and he can help someone who gets beat over the top because of his speed and Jabill Peppers has that speed, he has that versatility, and like Jack was saying, he can hit very hard, So there's not what I think he's known for, right, Yeah, definitely

good trade to have, Yeah, definitely. Yeah. And I think if he can work hard and get himself back into shape because he didn't play much in the last two years, then Jabrill Peppers could be one of those better players on that Patriots defense. And he can earn himself a big contract and resign here or go wherever because he's only here for one year nine million dollars, which isn't a huge contract, and if he plays as well, that value could be very worth the contract. All right, let's

grab a call here. Brady is in Iowa. Hey Brady, you're in the playbook. Hey John, thanks for having me absolutely. What's going on today, Yeah, just a couple of things kind of wanted to touch on thinking about, you know, some of the need that we saw last year. Obviously obviously no real clear playmaker, that was a big thing. But the thing that stuck out to me even more was just the lack of speed we always had on offense, especially when we start looking around the lead in these

guys you know, running running the four two. So what do we do we go out draft the fastest wide receiver, which you know, some people thought was a stretch. I

really didn't think it was too much, honestly. Uh, you know, as he's going to be an immediate impact wide receiver, probably not in Taekwon Thornton, but you know, we have kind of an eat maybe not a clear number one, but a deep wide receiver room where I think we're going to see a lot of just it's gonna be interesting to see how we use those different receivers in different games, because you know, as we've seen in the past, you know, a guy might have thirty thirty snaps one

game and then you know, maybe five or six of the next just based on whatever. The strategy. Is really really excited to see kind of how Taekwon Thornton gets pushed into the offense, but then obviously Peter Strong as well, especially with uncertainty with James White. You know, we got a really get one two punch with Damien Harris and Romandr Stevenson. So I think he's gonna be a great passing back U get out of the backfield, just with

that speed he brings on. I know, I'm I'm looking forward to that and along those lines coming out of the backfield. I mean, depending upon you know what James White his eventual ability to play this year might be. I'm really kind of anxious in the preseason to see if a guy like Pierre Strong can can sort of fill that role. There may be some others, but I know that's why they sort of selected him in the draft anyway, thinking he could be potentially the third down

back type of replacement. And so that's the one. That's a name that we haven't talked a lot about at least on this show yet, and I'm sure his name will probably come up more and more as the summer progresses here. But that's a guy I think that if you want to know how the Patriot's going to go, if this guy gets in and get some playing time, then I think that versatility on offense is going to

all of a sudden pop back into place. And that's that's what I think the I think that's what this team for MC needs to have is part of that versatility, a guy like Thornton to stretch it and a guy like Strong end or White that type of player also to be available. You know, in short, a wheel route passes definitely. Yeah. I mean, I guess the thing I'll be kind of interesting to see then. I mean when we have that passing back back because we didn't have

James White whole lot. You know, he hasn't been as productive or the past couple of years through would hope, but um, but it's just kind of interesting to see them. You know what we do with this two tight end situation. I'm just really you know, this offensive strategy, you know, and I think you know, the big elephant the room

all offseason spent hey who's calling the plays? Obviously, and then you know, we bring Matt Patricia back in and you know, Will he'd be a guy who can call plays probab probably not on offense, but you know it's coming for as a defensive mastermind. I got to almost imagine, you know, he'd be able to put at least help put together pretty good offensive game plan week to week.

Just absolutely kind of almost reminds me of um, you know, back in that it was a twenty eighteen, twenty nineteen AFC title game against Kansas City when Tony Romos on the call and the next day everybody's kind of like, did they just did Tony Romo. Just get the guy fired the defensive quarter. But I know, right right, total kind of like you know, I have that expertise on

one side of the ball. It's like, oh yeah, this could be you know, this could be a run to the right, no doubt, right, absolutely, look down the sideline. He comes down, I mean, knows what's going on. So you've got to at least be able to put together a pretty good strategy. Right, Absolutely cool? Anything else, dope, go ahead, Brady, appreciate your time. Man. Guys, So we mentioned defensive backs. Who have we left out? Who's the surprise safeties? Kyle Dugger? Kyle Dugger? Yeah, I think Kyle

Duggers is gonna be a great Um. Do you mind if I say something that maybe if Brady's listening, Yeah, yeah, I think you mentioned Tykwon Thornton just he said he doesn't think it's a reach. I agree. Someone I want to compare him to. This might be some people might think this is a little outlandish, but I see Courtland Sutton in him. Um, you know, both bigger receivers, Cortland Sutton being six four, two hundred and seven pounds a little heavier than Thornton, not as built, but definitely not

as fast. And I think you saw how proven Courtland Sutton was his first year and then towards a clum this past year. And if you see now he's kind of come back with Russell Wilson. But let's let's switch over to Thornton. Here you have Mac Jones, who you know, also just learned this offense, spent the season in here, improved, had a great rookie year, and he's only getting better.

From what we've all heard, Bill Belichick has said that, and the connection so far in training camp, from what we've heard today and in OTAs in practices that Mac Jones and Tykwon Thornton are very much on the same page.

They're looking at each other a lot. And maybe he might not be that one wide receiver, but he could be that fast slot receiver that kind of resembles a Chris Hogan or a Danny Amidola, but just bigger who can go up and make a big play and catch it over a defender instead of just kill with speed like Hogan and Amidola. Very elusive. And though you might see Thornton doesn't have the same agility and he doesn't

have the same ability to juke and cut back. He has the big playability and he has the speed that he can combine it with. Kind of reminds me of Sutton. I think the numbers might look similar, the usage might look similar as well. Sutton wasn't used as much until midway through his first year, and I think you could see the same way as they ease the worden into this offense. I absolutely agree with um putting him in the slot. Absolutely agree with him being elusive, and I

think that also would work for him well on the outside. UM, I can sort of see an Odell Beckham type. He's a fast guy. UM, you can put him on the outside and he can just run go routes and lose the dvs and coverage. When you have that kind of speed, it's really great to have. And he you can even line him up in the slot and have him run a rub route to the outside. I mean there's a lot of potential there. You always have a lot of

potential when you have speed demons like these. Yeah, and you saw it last year Tyreek Hill ran just that rub route on the row route on the outside and ranted out in the AFC Championship game against the Bills and he scored a touchdown on it, and you could see similar things with Taekwon Thornton. The speed is just electric and like you said, you know, speed is one of the most valuable traits to have in the NFL, especially as a wide receiver, and so I see where

you're going with that. I like that. I just think that if he starts running on the outside, especially in these early weeks, I think it's gonna be tough for him to learn and ease into this offense. Because in Baylor you saw him often as a slot receiver and he thrived there and when he moved to the outside, it didn't go as well because his connection, his connection with this quarterback was mainly just running the same routes in the slot, where he's running post routes and corner

routes and a lot of outside rug routes. And I think that if you're seeing him going on, you know, you see him move to receiver two, maybe even receiver one, depending on how he plays. You never know how any of these receive these new guys can pan out for the Patriots. I don't get caught up in a lot of the you know, he's got to be receiver one, receiver two. He's gotta be the X, he's got to be the Y. Look. I mean, I think it's pretty clear that you want a guy who can stretch a

defense on the outside. You want a guy that's got some durability, I think on the inside if he's lining up a little bit closer to the quarterback. But I don't get too caught up in rolls. What I want to see is product. When the ball gets thrown your way, you get your hands on it, do you hold it regardless of the situation. That to me is what's most important. So I'm looking at you know, certainly speed and the

ability to get open to create separation. But I gotta I gotta have a little stick him on the hands, whether it's manufactured or not, I gotta have a little stick him on the hand because if it gets anywhere near you, the receiver should catch it. Yeah. One guy that definitely wont have a problem with that is Jacobe Myers, Right, he's got very good hands. Now, early in his career, was he started here, we didn't think that the case.

He dropped a lot of things coming his way, and you know a lot of people wanted to give up on him right away. I'm kind of glad that they didn't as Yeah, well Iglore too, That's right. I could admit. I've never been a huge fan of Nelson Aglor, but I hope that he proves me wrong. Yeah, I mean, he's always good for one good, big drop of game.

I think that's been more recent. I think after he started with the Eagles, and trust me, I hated having to play against him because I know his potential and we saw him twice a year and he would always kill the Giants. He had huge games against us, and I hated to watch. I did take that personally, you know, beat us in a couple of games to set that could have sent us to the top of the division in twenty seventeen when we were having a okay year

and then when the division was terrible. If we finished six and ten that year, we would have won. And Nelson Agiler dropped the pass against the U it was now the Washington Commanders, and then they took out their starting quarterback and that was Nelson Agiler's fault. And I hated that and I didn't like him. But I think now he started, he came to the Raiders, he got into play with Derek Carr, who obviously was a better quarterback than whoever the Eagles had at that time, which

was Nick Foles, Jalen Hurts, Carson Wentz. It was that tandem. And I think that now you're seeing him improved his play as he improved with better quarterback play, because obviously you have better quarterbacks throwing the ball. They're more accurate. And though you still can say he has one big drop of game, I think it's less consistent as it was before. And you saw him come up huge for the Raiders at times, catching big touchdowns, creating himself a

lot of separation. And you could see that here in New England already fifty yard touchdown passed with Matt from Mac Jones, and you see they're on the same page. And you see it when you're not having a quarterback who's having years like what Carson Wentz was doing in twenty nineteen or twenty twenty, you're having quarterbacks who are top top half quarterbacks in the league. You have better ride receiver play, and obviously he's one of those guys

that directly translates to it. Right, these guys great or what I mean, they're absolutely pounding it out here. Right, thing, I'm just gonna step out of the way and let him go. Let's take another time out. We're gonna talk about linebackers next, right, Yeah, we got the linebacking coure coming to nex because we're not sure. We're kind of like defensive backs. We're not really sure who's gonna be

playing in front of these defensive backs here. It could be any kind of combination in terms of linebackers for this Pagers team this year. So our next Dean College group will talk about the lineback corps. The phone lines are open eight five five, pats five hundred, pick it up, call, let's go in the playbook. Want to get into the game? Get coached up at Dean College. Equipped with exclusive academic partnerships featuring the Patriots, Revolution, Providence Bruins, Summer Baseball, and more.

Our classrooms, we are set up for success by learning directly from the pros. Dean College has programs in communications, sports management, business and marketing with unprecedented hands on experiences. Our students take what they learn in the classroom and put it right to work in the marketplace. At Dean College, our students don't just play games we run them. Visit

us at Dean dot du. There's no season better than football season, and there's no better place to get in on all of the action than with DraftKings, the official daily fantasy sports partner of the New England Patriots. To add to the thrill, DraftKings has millions of dollars and prizes up for grabs every week, so head to the app now and check it out if you haven't tried

it yet. Fantasy football is it's easy to play. Just pick nine players, stay under the salary cap, and pile up points for yards, touchdowns, receptions, and so much more. There's no better way to put your football knowledge to the test than to compete for a shot at one million dollars in total prizes. Download the DraftKings app now and use promo code pats to get a shot at millions of dollars in total prizes every week. That's promo code pats to get a shot at millions of dollars

in total prizes every week only at Draft Kings. Eligibility restrictions apply. See DraftKings dot com for details. In sports, if you think joy only happens after you win, think again. Look at the world's most successful athletes like Serena Williams, Brooks, Koepka and Alex Morgan. They don't spend all that day's grinding away. They take time to enjoy themselves, like getting together with friends over Michelobe Ultra, because they know that happiness is the key to win it, and that joy

is the whole game, not just the endgames. Michelope Ultra five calories, two point six grams of cars. It's only worth it if you enjoy it and you're responsibly ab Mikelo Ultra light Bear saying Louis, Missouri. How did Verizon build the fastest five G in the world. We started by building it right with five G Ultra wide band. Then we gave it massive capacity and near zero lag. And it's not just fast, it's twenty five times faster than today's four G networks. This is five G built

right from the network. More people rely on only on Verizon five G Ultra wide band available only in parts of select cities. Global claim based on open signal independent analysis twenty five times analysis by OO Clubs b test Intelligence date in Q two, twenty twenty. This is Patriots

Playbook The leg Welcome Back into the playbook. It is our day opening training Camp program here for the twenty twenty two summer, our monthly offseason program once again, as we're getting into our number two of the show here, we'll run until four o'clock Eastern time. Of course, if you missed any portion of the program earlier, hey, it'll be available on a podcast to give it about sixty seconds or so to rewind, and then it'll be back up again on the website and you can hit up

the podcast. So a lot of different things going on here. Just to sort of recap for a couple of moments though, but really what happened in day one of training camp today, because if you're tuning in late, that's probably the first question that's on your mind. I mean, what the heck happened today? Matt Patricia did the play calling, whether or not that means anything to you or not, but he

was in charge of the play calling. It appeared through the eleven and eleven and the seven and seven drills, and our next group of student broadcasters coming through will actually be talking a little bit about that group after this next one, of course, so doesn't really matter about who calls the plays. The next subject that we're tackling you today. Four big question for the Patriots. We've already talked about young players that could rise in surprise with

the team this year. We've talked a little about who's going to play in the defensive backfield, perhaps even at corner, who might be the starters, And now we've got to turn to the linebacking corps because the linebackers, look, they're part of stopping teams, they're a part of making plays.

They have to be a part of that. And we know last year that at times the Patriots and yeah, look we can't let the defensive line out of this as well, but we know that the Patriots defensively struggled stopping the run, especially in certain situations, and against the Bills we never got him off the field. So the issue now is linebacking corps because there are clearly some changes other than Jawan Bentley in the middle, where else does everybody play? Does Matt june On lineup at the end?

Does he lineup a as an defensive end at for three? Does he line up at the end as the three four? What does he do? How does he attack? How does he get after the quarterback? And can he consistently get after the quarterback like he did through the first eight ten weeks of last season before he tailed off at the end of last season. All right again, our next group of broadcasters here again coming from our Dean College

Sports Broadcasting camp. Whof you will our pre college summer program going on this week at Dean and nearby Franklin, Massachusetts. I've got Brody, I've got Aaron, I've got Jonah, and I've got Alex. So Brodie, why don't you start to introduce yourself and tell us where you're from. I'm Brody Going and I'm from Hopedale, Mass Hopedale, Mass All right. I'm Aaron Buckley and I'm also from Hopedale, Mass. You guys go to school together. Yeah, we've known each other

for a long time, since we were kids. I'm sorry, sorry, I'm joking. All right, Okay, go Um, what's what's up? Guys? As Jonah shockta here? Um from from Miami, Florida, Miami. Why did you come up here for this? From Miami? Oh? You know, in a source broacast, I've been doing it since my freshman year. Um didn't have the best of introductions into him, but got into pretty quickly and now currently the sports anchor at my school, in fact permanently outstanding.

So are you a Dolphins fan? That's hard at the same I mean, last year I wasn't. Um. I was sorry all my Miami guys who are out there, UM for I'm sorry for me on the bandwagon. But um, last year was pretty much tied to the Rams and the Chiefs. UM. I had quite the addiction of my homes, which I now found out is kind of didn't We didn't really like it, um after seeing how he played in the playoffs. But Uma, with the Rams, I always knew that I was gonna they We're gonna do it,

you know, Van Jefferson, Aaron Donald Stafford. You know, I knew there was a good group there that would at least make it all right. So at least you know how to pick a winner. All right. Alex, my name is Alex mc greeta and I'm from Atlanta, Georgia, Atlanta. So we get to Miami and Atlanta. Did you fly up from Atlanta for this? I did, in particular. Yeah,

So why did you want to do this? Um? I wanted to do this because I've really been interested in sports broadcasting of late and my parents reas serious and found out that Dean had a great program. So I was interested right after the bat Well, I appreciate your saying that your paychecks in the mail I was. I

was exactly that same way. I appreciate that. Guys, thank you. Okay, so you're you know topic if you will, to trying to research and and so we can kind to discussed that it happens to be, um, you know the linebacking corps. Who the hecks gonna play back there, who's gonna who's gonna figure into the BIX? Who should figure into the BIX based on the personnel that they have. Anybody want

to offer any thoughts to start off right? Brodyn think I can say this for all of the New England sports fans out there, that Matt Judon is going to be the top guy for us. He had twelve and a half sacks last season, sixty tackles, one fumble recovery. He actually in the third game this season against the Saints where we lost thirteen to twenty six, he had two and a half sacks. And he also liked the league.

Sorry he didn't lead the league, but he was seventh in the league with sacks, and I also think that he could be a leader for the team on defense. He's he's a veteran, he's been in the league for six years. When he obvious he's drafted into twenty sixteen. I think that he gets the crowd going. We've seen he uh got with the red sleeves, gets it going. He also can give the younger players tips on the

field and specialties that he has. Okay, so we think we know on it starts with him, and I think that was probably one that we can all say, Yeah, that's definitely gonna happen. Who else I got Ronnie Perkins. He was drafted in the third round two years ago, the year we got Mac and he played at Oklahoma and he was one of the better He played defensive end at Oklahoma and he was one of the better

defensive ends in the Big twelve. But when the Patriots drafted him, it was planning to turn him into a linebacker, so it looks he can play outside linebacker. He missed last season due to his shoulder injury. Right, that's where fans wouldn't know the name, right. But in college, his final full season, he had thirty eight tackles in six sacks, and he had the seventh most big tackles in the Big Ten. So and then in only six games in his final college season, he had twenty three tackles in

five and a half sacks. So that's almost a sack of game. So if they put him on the outside, he's gonna be able to rush the quarterback. Definitely an impact player at Oklahoma. Definitely remember that. I just nobody knows because he spent last year on I L, yeah, v L, what do you want to call it? So he just he didn't get a chance to to get any scratch. No, he's gonna have to have a good camp to earn one of those spots. Okay, who else, Jonah,

who else are we talking about? Is gonna crack this lineup? Well, I've got two options here. I've I've got um Juwan Bentley, who um I've who of course was injured last season. But um, I feel I feel that he can make I feel that he can make a return. You know, um obviously, um he he only played fifteen games last season. UM engine engine in the season, um and during the wilder game against against the Bills, UM, I feel I feel that he can be I feel that he can

make a good recovery. You know, that's that's the thing with all the players. UM, but UM, I feel that if he makes a good recovery, he'll he'll be able to come back and help the team out. Holling with Jude on all right, So that's affect. He's also the oldest guy on that team. He's thirty. Jude's like twenty eight. I believe. Okay, all right, was there somebody else you

had too? Um? Yes, I was gonna go for mac Wilson. Um. Of course, UM trade to New England for a chase one of it, which in my opinion is quite a blow to New England because if everyone who loved one of it, she was quite a big part of that defense. But mac Wilson, of course, young guy UM played three years with the Cleveland Browns. UM obviously his best year being his rookie year, which UM, I don't I don't really find that to be too true for a lot

of rookies. But UM for best years of rookie, UM he had UM eighty two tackles, which UM, for me, that's that's that's quite impressive for a guy like him. Um. He He also averaged his only career sack there um as well as UM seven seven pds, which I'm up. I'm sorry everyone out there, but I'm not fully UM. I don't pulaying all the initials of everything in football, but um, you know he's had seven pds and then UM often last season we're um, he had about UM

forty two sacks, forty two forty two tackles. I'm sorry, but zero sacks. UM. Obviously that's a decrease from the from the rookie years, so it shows still still good. But um, you're about a lot a lot of UM tackles down. But UM, yeah. I think one of the things about mack Wilson that it's impressed me, and I

think he's a good pick. But one of the things impressed me is that when they traded for him and Winovich was a kind of a fan favorite, as you mentioned, Jonah, but um, Wilson's got you know, he's got the building. I think he's got the speed, and I think it was one of the things that the Patriots were looking at, uh, and perhaps the ability to separate from a defender if he's going to play on the outside a linebackers spot to be able to have some effect on the quarterback.

Chase Winovich's problem, if he had one, was I don't think they felt like he was disruptive enough. And I think that's what they're kind of hoping that mac Wilson ends up becoming in that regard. So I just have to be mean that they can they mean that. It just problem was probably that he didn't disrupt the up.

You know, he didn't cause enough cast. Yes, that's one thing I can I can really end the point of being on the defense is to cause enough cast in the offense where they literally just break apart and it's and it's just fallen in. It's just fallen to chaos, you know, right, If that's you know, I, um, I haven't obviously haven't seen much of win of Itch, but um that that would obviously be one of problems I would agree on. Um. What I'm hoping in Wilson is like,

you know, Wilson's young guy. You know, he's already had some experience in the NFL. UM obviously can tackle people. He can he can at least try to sack people. Again, of course, So what I say is, I think what I'm Belichick's hoping for with Wilson is that Wilson can at least cause a lot more cast than one of much ever cut. Well, that's what we're hoping for, all right,

Alex mccam, Yeah, exactly who you got? So for me, I had Jabrill Peppers, who I know was mentioned in the last UM segment with the defensive backs, right, but um, I think that previously in Jabrill Pepper's career at Michigan he played a mix of dB and linebackers, so I think, um, he can have an impact there. He stands at five eleven two sixteen, so he's a pretty big guy. Jay's drafted by the Browns in twenty seventeen and also played for the Giants, and the Page's traded for him for

early in April. And so the reason why I think he can make such an impact at linebackers one one,

Like I mentioned previously, he's a pretty big guy. And um, back when he was in Michigan in twenty sixteen, he actually finished fifth in the Heisman Race as a defensive player, which is a very I mean, if that doesn't tell you enough, if that's great, sure, well I would tell you that his athleticism got him that kind of notoriety, right, And here's a guy that you know, obviously he has been known as a big hitter, and you said he went back and forth at Michigan, right, So if he's

got that kind of ability, and we've already seen the Patriots do a little bit of that with a guy like Kyle Dugger. So if you've got a big safety that can also line up and play linebacker and give the run game some support, you can also do I think some things strategically where you're lining up and the other team is not sure what they're facing. So anytime you get the other team to think about a little bit more, you kind of got a you know, you kind of got a little bit of an edge there, right.

I think I like his versatility or than anything else,

and I think that's what the Patriots like. You know, they've been really versatile and over the last several years as far back as I can remember, in terms of the guys who play on the offensive line, but they've also stressed versatility defensively, Guys that can play any of the positions, Guys that can play corner, corners that can play safety, Safeties that can play linebacker and Peppers could be that kind of guy that they're looking for, right,

I agree with you. Okay, all right, cool? What else? Well? Who where else are we missing in terms of potential players that could come in and get playing time or perhaps make a name of them. I mean, we mentioned Joan Bentley, and I think we all realized that he's sort of the mainstay in the middle. But if you're if you're also in nickel defense where you know it on an obvious passing down, are you gonna have your

run thumper in the middle. No, So did this team in your estimation, did it get faster, quicker with the ability to be able to cover guys coming out of the opposing offensive backfield. Not really. They were one of the biggest issues last year with the linebacking cars, how slow they were and how they weren't able to stop any anything up the middle, pass or run. And I feel like we didn't really improve that much. Like we passed on to Kobe Dean from Georgia like three different times.

That was a pick. I would have liked a scene too. And I feel like with mac Wilson he can so slow down some tight ends with the past deflection numbers. He had seven in his rookie year in Cleveland. So as he can use an outsidebe can also drop back and cover some tight ends across the middle. Excellent. Okay, all right, we'll snack a phone call here. William has been kind enough to hang on in Philly. Hey, will you're in the playbook? Is he still there? Going? Once?

Going twice? William? You're still there? No? Okay, sorry, we kept John hole man. Claire back, Claire? You with us? Hey? John? Hey Claire, what's happening? Hey girl? Hey? Oh you deane folk? What's going on? I think they've done a pretty good job. What do you think, Claire? I'm really sorry John. You know how much I love you. I actually adore you. But these guys have been really good. I like that. It's good. I like that. I like it. All right? What do you got? I meant I did read your email.

I don't know if you heard that or not, but I did read it. But I you know, if you you're gonna take the time to call me back from you know, um, West Midlands? Yeah, West Midlands, UK? Yeah. No, I'm not gonna throw us. Why would I ever do that? Why would I ever do that, right, So what do you think of today? What any any first impressions about what you've heard, what you've read about thus far with

the first day. What are big concerns that you kind of have that maybe even stuffing that we haven't even touched on. I didn't realize you read my email, so it might have been when I was trying to kind of get through that you read my email. Yeah, apologies if I repeat anything that you've already read. Yep, you're good. The one big thing that I kind of what was taking away, like I said in my email, was how different the linebacking court is gonna look, How we're missing

so much veterans, right, it's gonna look completely different. In fact, I would imagine that not only personnel wise, but strategically how they're gonna play right. All right, So, okay, you had to put around home. Oh oh hold on, hang on, Claire, now you're back again because Matt said his fat fingers accidentally put you on hold. Okay, okay, sorry, so blame

the marine. He's falling out with me today. What I know, I know, right, Hey, Well the problem is is that the security for Elton, Sir Elton John have moved into the office now and they've shoot everybody away, you know, never never, never mind the fact that we're all trying to work here, but they've you know, they're they're not nice. They're not nice. I'm kinda gonna be honest. They're not nice. So you know that can that can't be true. But at the same time, you know, the tour company is

least the building out from the Patriots. The Patriots least outs him, and once it's put in the contract, you know it's a dumb deal. You know, you can't only reverse anything unless you can like talk out in John Let's security seem like, look, let's let him keep this belt, let's him keep this room for now. Claire, When when Sir Elton gets back, you're gonna have to have a talk with him about this. Yeah, I don't really think he's taking my calls at the moment. What you pissed

him off? What you do? All right? No? No, no. So, So you were talking about the linebackers in particular before you got put on hold. Yeah, I just think kind of last year was it was so veterans eccentric, with van Ney Higower, the return of Jamie Collins. I mean, I know they did that because they had a lax there, so they were just filling the holes that they could because they couldn't utilize the rookies that they've taken because

of injury that kind of thing. So I think it's going to be we're going to see a serious difference in how they used to lize the linebacking call because they're so sort of unknown if you like. However, they've been within the system for a year, they've seen everything. Over the last year they haven't they just haven't participated. So at least they've got this year of knowledge under their bowl if they haven't got this year of physicality and about so I think that's going to help it

looks better. But we're still are kind of missing the veteran MISSI linebacker. However, it's almost as if they're making up for that in the safety Now, granted this depends upon injury that kind of thing, because you've got the Gible peppers onto up that sort of thing, and you've got the return of Devon mccordy, so you've got some quite solid veteran presents there utilizing in the safety positions. I think what we're going to see is a little bit less of the linebacker, a little bit more of

the extra safety to sort of compensate for that. Whilst these new Newish guys, if you like, Yeah, I think they're growing Internet system. Yeah, I think I think Aaron would agree with you in that, particularly less linebacker, more extra safety writer probably especially when you have you have like four solid safeties and Dugger and mccordy and Phillips and to Bill Peppers if they put them there. Yep, yep,

pretty good observation, I would I would agree. I just think if you've got guys that can hit and can cover, why wouldn't they be in the lineup, especially when you're facing some of the teams, some of the quarterbacks, some of the backs that you're going to have to face, right, M Yeah, okay, what else you got? What else have I grof? That's a very good pat Okay. I think the cornerback position I think I touched on that. I

mean you might as well. Actually, I think how it's going to really be dependent upon how, if and when they use Malcolm Butler. I think that's to me that seems like it's going to be a significant king because if they're utilizing him, then maybe the guys aren't ready or they utilizing him as an example, or if they don't use him and the new guys are ready. So that's quite good. I mean, did you want to touch up on all of the four things, Yeah, if you want too? Sure are you any one of the four

or all the four? If you liked that? Yeah? Absolutely? Yeah. The in regard to the rookies, I mean, it was only in sort of when they did some pictures from yesterday. I know it wasn't sort of camp yesterday, but when they did that, the guys have reported in I didn't realize, did you guys see the photograph of Kevin Harris? Oh my gosh, this guy is made up of tree trump.

He's so solid. Even his neck is so solid. It's like that this is why they don't need a fallback because they've got Kevin Harris, because he looks like the possible moving of a brick war. He just looks so solid. It really just took me by surprised, and it's like, maybe that's why they're not going to use a fallback this year. They're actually going to substitute this FB on the roster and they're going to be using a running back. You're going to see so much more they really do it,

but with you know, with remondering stuff. So but you're going to see this the power running back. This is a very sort of power running back heavy team now, I think. So I'm going to be really interested to see if Harris or as you mentioned sort of earlier in the show in regards to Piers Strong, who are that who out of those guys either or end up actually on the roster even just a little bit, or if they read shirt both are running back, which they

have done quite frequently in the past. From what I understand, I only go back so far. But yeah, I think that's going to be a very interesting indication of how

things are going to work. And again, as you have to mention the fact that James White isn't necessarily ready or he's on to you here at the moment, and the chances of him starting the season are looking a little bit limit the moment, just from what we're hearing, just from what's coming out in regards to sort of rumors and discussion in to his physical ability at the moment, the way that people have in him kind of literally

walking and stuff like that. So Yeah. I think that's what interesting me quite significantly about the rookies is seeing if and which of the running backs say they decide that they need to use load. Yeah, you're you're bringing up Kevin Harris is kind of interesting because I mean, to me, he's one of those two or three guys that the Patriots have, you know, that they certainly picked up of the draft. But it's kind of an enigma because he spent a lot of his last year was

a South Carolina. He spent a lot of his last year injured, right, So we don't really know what we're getting. And I think that's again that's kind of been a Patriot trademark. You know, they take chances on guys that they feel like they can do the job, even though the statistics might not necessarily back it up. And so well, I mentioned Strong simply because you know, when you look at the videotape and think, wow, this guy had a great career in South Dakota, you know, whether or not

the caliber of play matters or not. I think you know, you can usually tell, you know, through a little bit of tape whether or not a guy can play football or not, regardless of the level and certainly they felt that way against Cold Strong because Cold strange rather because Strange was what a Tennessee Chattanooga right so didn't come from a huge program. Harris is again being an SEC pedigree back, you'd have to think that he's got some game.

And so I think if he's able to do the kind of things that you were talking about doing, I mean you describe I'm almost like a bullethead. You know, he's just kind of got a pointy head, he got a big neck. He's gonna stick his head in there.

That'd be great because if you have that kind of ability, you know, they basically have scrubbed the fullback off of the roster right now, which is sort of led a lot of people to believe that the Patriots offensive setup is going to be changed somewhat this year from what it has been what we've been used to seeing in

the last few years. There was one of the takeaways I think amongst some of the media members today as I was listening to and hearing from those guys earlier today, was the fact that they kind of get the feeling that this offense is simplified, and I don't know that it doesn't mean it's simplistic. Doesn't mean it's necessarily going to be easy to detect or defend, but it's simplified in an effort to have these guys act and react rather than you know, okay, think it out and then

go through and hit their spots. In other words, they can play at a faster speed, and I think that's what the coaching staff is trying to do, at least at this stage. Maybe Harris is one of those guys can contribute to that. M M, yeah, I was gonna

I was gonna chip in with this. Um, I was gonna say, um, when it comes to offense playing at fast speed, UM, I'm not only a big fan of that because when it come when when you're playing at a fast speed, you know, a lot of the teams will tend to make like errors or like you know, it tend to like yeah, because if you work, the faster you work, you know, the more likely you are

to forget something. So I know that even though you like you have to do a like fast running up the ball and you can have your guys like running running down like just keep moving around on that, you know. I find that like you know, if if like if if you're not in clutch time or if or if like you have like a good amount of time left like at least try to take your plays like look like look try to take him low and slow, at least like like a meeting speech, so that you don't

mess anything up. I think that's one of the things that Belichick should at least try to focus on because knowing him like he's always um, I think he wants you. He wants you to play fast, but he also want you to play smart. Yeah, okay, gotta play smart if you're if you if you play too fast to the point where you've got reckless abandoned, you're not really helping the team. And I'll be honest with I think that was part of a guy like Chase. One of it's

is full. You know, he would always play fast, but then he was ever never able to celebrate. And when he would play fast, he would sometimes go past is intended target. He would go swing wide and then the quarterback would step into the pocket and then he would cause damage. So you have to play fast, but you have to be smart, stay in your lane and make sure that you cause difficulty for the quarterback, running back, receiver, whoever's in that particular hole. And that's that's the biggest

issue right there. I think we're trying to get across here is that, you know, fast is one thing, smart is another thing entirely, and the smarter guy is going to always beat out the faster guy, just the way it's been going to think that. That's what they're doing. They're taking the fast guys. They can teach them the smart, sure, they can mold them in the face its way, you

can't teach speed. It's one of those things. So they've taken this year significant speed because there was significantly slow. The lack could see it. Absolutely. It's just a case of can they mold these minds into the patriots way that you know that works it in the system. And if the majority of these guys that are quick they can't, then they're really going to hit upon some goals which the Okay, cool Claire, It's always good to hear from you.

Thanks kiddo, no drama. Nice to see you. Let's do it. You got it, Claire in the UK. All right, boys, good job, what a role. Thanks, thank you. We've got one final subject to tackle here on the program, all right, and it is one of the things that we talked about at the very beginning of the program, and it really is a simple question. Does it matter who calls the plays out on the field offense defense? Does it matter who's calling the plays? I know to many of

you it certainly does. It doesn't necessarily matter to me, But we're going to kind of discuss that next. I'd like to hear from you. Eight five five Pats five hundred. The number is open innovatable web radio at Patriots at jay our broadcaster on Twitter, John dot Rook on Facebook, Ready, set and go. Want to get into the game? Get coached up at Dean College, equipped with exclusive academic partnerships featuring the Patriots, Revolution, Providence Bruins, Summer baseball, and more.

Our classrooms who are set up for success by learning directly from the pros. Dean College has programs and communications, sports management, business and marketing with unprecedented hands on experiences. Our students take what they learn in the classroom and put it right to work in the marketplace. At Dean College, our students don't just play games, We run them. Visit

us at Dean dot Edu. There's no season better than football season, and there's no better place to get in on all of the action than with DraftKings, the official daily fantasy sports partner of the New England Patriots. To add to the thrill, DraftKings has millions of dollars and prizes up for grabs every week, so head to the app now and check it out if you haven't tried it yet. Fantasy football is easy to play. Just pick nine players, stay under the salary cap, and pile up

points for yards, touchdowns, receptions, and so much more. There's no better way to put your football knowledge to the test than to compete for a shot at one million dollars in total prizes. Download the Draft Kings app now and use promo code pats to get a shot at millions of dollars in total prizes every week. That's promo code pats to get a shot at millions of dollars in total prizes every week only at Draft Kings. Eligibility

restrictions apply. See DraftKings dot com for details. In sports, if you think joy only happens after you win, think again. Look at the world's most successful athletes like Serena Williams, Brooks Koepka, and Alex Morgan. They don't spend all that day's grinding away. They take time to enjoy themselves, like getting together with friends over Michelobe Ultra, because they know that happiness is the key to win it, and that

joy is the whole game, not just the endgame. Michelobe Ultra ninety five calories, two points six grams of cars. It's only worth it if you enjoy it and you're responsibly abmclo Ultra light Beer, saying Louism Massouri. This is Patriot's Playbook, elected, and welcome back into the playbook as we bring you your July program. Here inside the Patriot's Playbook on tape one of Patriots Training Camp open done over with Patriot Training Camp back out here again tomorrow

open to the public. I think they get started. When did they get sort of nine thirty Are you guys doing unfiltered in the morning as well? Again? Nine fifteen you be Yeah? And how long did the practice normally run? Probably about eleven eleven hours today? Yeah, about two hours. Well that will vary. But if you're gonna be out here and we know that, you know, there's a good crowd out there today. Although I've seen bigger open than

dick crowds than what we had today. Um my guess is is that those crowds will probably continue to pick up as we actually get closer to football time. And so the suggestion here is come earlier rather than late, because you never know. If they start a practice at nine thirty, Coach Belichick might call it at ten thirty.

So if you're gonna be out here, make sure you're out and ready to roll at nine thirty and they'll I'll let you own and if you ever have any questions, the information you're usually always posted right here on Patriots dot com. As practice did open today, I did want to mention that we have a newcomer to our staff here on Patriots dot Com and a guy who's actually going to join us here inside the playbook regularly throughout

the course of the season. And he's actually been one of our go to media guys throughout the course of the last couple of years. Evan Lazar, who worked at CLNS Media I think it was yeah with CLNS is where he worked. Evan Lazar is our new staff writer on Patriots dot com and he's got the update. In fact, if you want to just to go to the front page here today and he'll have the recap of what transpired at practice for you today. Of course, the bigger issue and Evan w also a part of the playbook

as well once we jump into the regular season. So we're happy to have him because he's got some good media experience, He's got a good media following, and I would tell you that, you know, honestly, look, you tune into this show hopefully for a little bit more football. I don't say that without love and appreciation and my heart for everyone on Patriots Unfiltered. Okay, Matt works extraordinarily hard on that show, making those guys sound like they

know what they're talking about. Give you the same love. Ah, yeah, well that's okay. I appreciate that though, thank you. Yeah, that's older guys. We sometimes need that. We definitely need that. But I'm glad that Evan's going to be a part of the program once we get started into the season.

All right, So the biggest issue really to me today Day one a training camp, and the biggest story that we talked about at the start of the show, other than mister Kraft being nominated as a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for twenty three, which is certainly significant is the fact that Matt Patricia was out there calling plays today. It's calling the plays during the seven on seven drills, he's calling the plays during the eleven on eleven drill. So does that mean Matt Patricia's

now the quote unquote de facto offensive coordinator? I don't know. I don't think anybody knows, and I don't think we're supposed to know. Now maybe he will be, but he didn't have the title. And so my whole point is why does it matter? And literally, because the Patriots may very well be and I think they are the only team in the NFL does not have a staff offensive coordinator or defensive garator on their coaching staff. It's not listed.

They don't have that. Why is that? So? My final group here from my Dean College sports broadcasting camp, I've got Alex, I got Jake, and i got Greg in here with us today. Guys, introduce yourselves. Tell me where you're from. I'm Alex. I'm from Western Massachusetts, Weston, Okay. I'm Jake, and I'm from East Providence. Had a boy? What did it go? Towny? Greg? I'm Greg. I'm from Leicester, mass Leicester, mass All right, so I got a couple

of Massachusetts and a towny from East Providence. Now, okay, so guys, does it matter who calls the place? Um? I think, well, there's three. There's three options. There's Bill, Bill Belichick, There's Map Putrician, and Joe Judge. I think one of them has proven to be a dependable offensive coordinator. So Bill back in twenty ten, he ran both offense and defense and they went fourteen and two. So I think he's proven that he can he's he can run an offense or at least call the plays for a

successful offense. Whereas I think Joe Judge in New York, like Daniel Jones, has struggled, and I feel like Joe Judge has made like no effort to either change the offense, make it more simple, or how do we know that? Though I would ask you, how do we really know that? Is he working behind the scenes? We're not sure about

that yet, are we really? We don't know that for sure, but from the touchdown to interception ratio we can see that well, last year his quarterbacks through fifteen touch Jones and twenty interceptions, and and the previous year they threw twelve touchdowns and eleven interceptions. Okay, So I think a big part of the Patriots just lifestyle is being to adopt and to just to adopt to the situation they

are in. And I feel like he hasn't adopted. So if he was calling the plays, I feel like mac Jones was struggling with a particular system that he's running. He's not going to adopt to it, and he's just gonna let Act Jones kind of keep struggling. Okay, Jake, any thoughts on that one? Well, And I think from that two and ten season where the check didn't name any offensive or defensive coordinator. That same year, the pitches one fourteen two and he was named coach of the Year.

So that's still a factor Pirate team. He's still here, He's got his two out of guys. Patition's back and Judges back, And like Alex is saying, Judge and Patition might have the best track records, but they know the Patriots system. They can help out a lot, and they can contribute, whether they're not under the name of defensive or offensive coordinator or not. Sound like you're kind of like me, then I'm not sure that this really matters a lot, does it. No, as long as it's a

good team, they should be able to play well under anyone. Okay, Now, is it fair, however, that if this team struggles out of the gate? You know, and we know that, you know there are some choppy sections of the schedule that these guys are going to face this year if they struggle out of the gate, Is it fair to blame these guys for the lack of leadership or the lack of definition in their roles? It could be a little fair,

and that maybe they really do need a leader. It's a thing that team's got to figure out along the way, like who's going to be the guy steps up? And if need a Patricia or a judge that the guys that step up, you have to think who else does it gonna be? So you could blame one of those two guys if they're not doing well. Yeah, well, and I think those guys probably have to be ready for that, right. I mean, they faced a lot of scrutiny as the head coach when they were head coaches in Detroit and

New York and it didn't go very well. So now I think you know, they're just largely part of the reason why we don't see names or titles. I don't know that it has so much to do with, you know, monetary issues, because obviously Accordin is probably gonna get paid more money than a regular assistant coach. I think it's just to kind of shield and protect them and let them sort of try to rebuild the rep right, don't you think, Greg? What do you think? I completely agree.

I don't think like that they need to actually name them. As long as they work together and like all work as a team and they have the team that they would be fine. Okay, So what are your thoughts then on the on a play caller in particular, a guy who you know, whether he's gonna call the police on offense or he's gonna call the signals on defense. What if it may be is that a vital role? Is it an overrated role? Is something that the players need

for guidance? Leadership? I mean, you know, if you've played sports at all, how much did you look for someone to tell you what to do? I think it's a pretty empire role, especially to have someone be able to play the cause there just be a mental for you, Like Joe Judge is named Claraback's assistant, so he could be one of those guys that guides mac Jones help

him out into transition from Josh McDaniels to him. Right, Okay, I got a question on the email here from Alan in Texas who says, hey, y'all love it the y'all in there right with the apostrophe. Nice mac Jones. Arm strength has been discussed and written about. Can he improve this arm strength with arm strength, lower body strength, mechanics or is it a combination of all of it? In your opinion, how important is it that he increases arm strength is? If it is important, then how much Canny

increase it? You got anybody want to offer a thought on that one. I don't know how much of it is pure arm strength. I think us to do all out with the lower body. I think hip strength includes strength as the most of it, because you've got to really get your hips into it. I don't think it's purely arm strength, but I think something they can improve on, probably with either mechanics or just or I think it's mostly mechanics but also just hip strength. Hip strength mostionally,

I think. So, okay, have you played quarterback before? No? But Dak Prescott has made a very popular his little pregame is Dak Dance. Yeah, is trying to get those hips activated, right, right, absolutely, So it kind of has to start from the core, right, Yeah, A strong arms. Look, if you've got fast receivers, you gotta be able to get the ball down field to them. But I think most guys now, especially when you're in rear round training sessions, they're not going to have what we would term a

weak arm. They might not have an accurate arm, but I don't think it's weak. I think you're right. I think it comes from your legs, your core, your hips mostly and then hopefully you don't do enough to strain your upper body because you have to rely on that for consistency. But honestly, I'm not sure that there's a quarterback in the NFL today who could be really considered a weak long ball thrower. You've got to have some distance,

right at least That's kind of how I look at it. So, guys, in terms of coaches, who are you know, I don't know, calling the plays on both sides of the ball now? Defensively, is there any change from the offensive side? Is the defense in your thought I don't want to say not important, but is it not as rigid just because you don't have You do have some play calls on the defensive side, but it's not like it's going to dictate the play. The defense is mostly read and react where offense is

mostly attack. Does that change at all in your estimations terms who should be calling, or who should be lining up, or who should be putting the players in their proper positions? What are your thoughts about calling on the defensive side. I don't think well. I think since twenty eighteen, I don't think Belichick has well. I don't think he's named

a specific defensive cording. I think he's had. Last year he had Drawn Mayo and Steve Belichick, I believe called at the plays, and I think he's completely comfortable with that, and because I think he trusts them most of all, I think belichicks he wants someone that he can trust and to call the place. But I think he shadows around. He's like kind of popping in because he has one of the best defensive minds as a coach has had in recent years. So I think he has a scheme.

I think he loves preparations. He loves that week that coming up to the Sunday or whenever their game is and he's like, Okay, we need to contain this guy. We got to push this guy out of a pocket. And that's like their defensive scheme. But I think they last year they were man heavy. They think they were third in Cover one. Yes, we'll see how that goes this year because they lost Jasey Jackson and obviously Stephan Gilmour, they lost free agency, so we'll see how man heavy

they are. They might run a lot more so in this year. But I think he knows his players, he knows their strengths, and he studies the opponent and does whatever he can do to make the opponent. Very good stuff, Alex. Now you can't see this where you're listening to this program, but I can see it. Alex is sitting here in a vintage throwback Chicago Bulls nineteen ninety one NBA T shirt. What is up with that? Uh? Looks very good? Where's mj oh? I don't see. I don't see. He's got

to be in there, right? Oh, there is that him over on the left there. Yeah, because they're all caricaturs, right, that's a cool yeah, I think this look fantastic. I have to ask, yeah, right, what are you wearing? I know, all right, just because you're a fan of the Bulls or what. Uh, I'm a fan of MJ. But I don't know. I just really like the shirt and bought it. Okay, that's fair. How long have you had that shirt? A few months? Where did you get a nineteen ninety one

shirt from just a few months ago? Oh, I don't know. It's definitely not authentic. I just found it online. Oh one of those Okay, okay, I got you. All right. We like to digress a lot on the show, and that just caught my eye, and I'm like, does that really say nineteen ninety one? You know, because in nineteen ninety one, that was thirty one years ago. You weren't a live dude. No, you won't even you weren't even a twinkle in your mama's eye. No, nope, nope, nope, nope,

I barely was. I also lie a lot too, So all right, so I guess I get the next thing that we really need to kind of get to here is we start to wrap up the show. Is we've talked about calling plays in some instances it could be important, but overall not really. The players still have to execute, right. Um, If it is a big deal, well then clearly after what we mentioned this Jake three or four weeks, then maybe the coaches deserved to get some of the criticism.

I don't know that a defined coaching role is going to necessarily help the team get better, and I think that's what a lot of people think. I think there are a lot of fans who are concerned that whatever progress Matt Jones head as we just talked about last year, might get slowed this year because he doesn't have that quarterback whisperer necessarily in his ear. Who's to say that, Matt Patricia isn't that. Who's to say that Joe Judge

isn't that? If these guys are all on the same page, working together toward the same goal, and they need to win. And I think these coaches, as they try to work their way back up the coaching ladder, they need to win in order to be able to get that attention. If this team has success with this particular you know backdrop, don't you think it's quite likely that they may get

another shot somewhere else. I think it will be defined as the season goes on, if they're having learning the record or if they're doing really well, they'll reveal who he's doing what like, you could think maybe they like a player, says Matt, Patricia is doing a really good job so far, especially this week, on calling place and so that will help them out a lot. It might very well be if Matt's started out calling today, maybe next week it's Joe. Maybe they shared a position. Well,

that's kind of what I'm thinking. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see coach Judge calling plays before two much longer. Man, I don't know if they'll go every other day. They might. We'll find out tomorrow, I guess, and the day after. But I could certainly see where, you know, week one one coach gets it, week two,

the next coach gets it. Because we were sort of told during the you know, mini camp, but the OTAs that this is sort of going to be a kind of an open thing and they were gonna just kind of decide what was going to happen here based on how these players practice and how they respond to the play calls that are made, and where they respond the best is kind of the direction this team is going to go. So this is an open book. Matt called it in day one. I'm sure Joe's going to get

a shot. There maybe a couple of other guys on the offensive staff that may have an opportunity here because one of the things, and I know you guys know this because you did your research on the coaches they coach, is an opportunity here to work their way up. Right, Some people kind of feel like, you know, Coach belichick sons you know on the defensive side are here. Why because their their last name is Belichick. But he entrusts

them with a lot of responsibility. And we think that at least Steve Belichick in particular has probably done his fair share of play calling already. Has he not? Yeah, mixed bag maybe, but he's learning. And you think about how players have position battles throughout training camps. He was under us, and there's also coach battles see who can get which position, who can work up the ladder fact, And I think that's part of the intriguing fun really,

if you want to put it that way. It's just sort of the the storyline that we can kind of follow and have some fun with throughout the course of training camp. Hey, not only their battles going on amongst the players, there's competition amongst the coaches here. Why not. I think it's good and it's healthy, you know, and if every other team has it, look, you know, has a defensive coordinator, offensive coordinator, a position coach, whatever it

may be. Okay, that's great because you found somebody who defined for that role. And if they screw up, well they're going to catch their fair share of heat. If the Patriots screw up and we don't know who's in that particular role, you're already deflecting pressure, you're already deflecting criticism. Well, this is kind of a team thing, right, Okay, that's fine, but somebody's ultimately got to be responsible for the call

plus or minus. And I think it's Bill's way of protecting his guys and he's helping to try to nurture them and get them back to, you know, where he feels they can be not only effective for the Patriots, but maybe for their own careers. I think that's one of the things that I like about coach Belichick, and

I've always liked about coach Belichick. I think he has an intrinsic sense of loyalty to his guys, right, he's loyal, And man, if you're playing for a coach in your own sports, right, don't you want to coach at least if you're gonna go out and bust your tail for him, don't you want him to have your back somewhere else on down the line. I don't even know that Coach Belichick started out as the most loyal guy, because you

guys know the history. When Drew Bledsoe got hurt, mo Lewis piled him over for the Jets and Tom Brady stepped in back in no one right, and Drew Bledsoe thought that Coach Belichick was being disloyal way back, you know, all those years ago, before you guys were even born. But I'm just saying, here's, you know, a situation where you'll like to think that he's loyal. Everything that he's done in the past indicates loyalty. But at the same time,

it's also a business. Okay, we're in the business of winning here, and I think the track record has proven that there are a lot of decisions, undoubtedly that have been derided, been complained about, been argued about. Oh God, he didn't know what the hell he's doing, and yet the team still stays competitive and the team wins. Last year, this team went ten and seven, they still made the playoffs with a rookie quarterback. I'm trying to kind of look at the sunny side of the picture here if

you kind of get the gist here. Did they do what we wanted him to do? No? Did they get blown out by the Bills. Yes, okay, Buffalo is clearly superior. They go into the season as the favorite in the ANFC East. They should be. They earned it. I've always been in the opinion. You know, the champ is still the champ until the champ gets beat, then the champ is not the champ anymore. And that's how I look at it. I always looked at it like that when the Patriots were the champs. I look at it now.

Buffalo they won the division. They deserve to be there until somebody can knock them off. I don't think that this division got weaker. I think this division particularly got stronger. Buffalo is still gonna Buffalo. Miami has definitely improved. I'm actious to see how that coaching staff reacts, and I'm wondering with a changeover and staff from what Brian Flores

now to you know, the new regime there. I'm wondering if that sets them back at all, and can the Jets be as bad as the Jets have been in the last few years. I don't know that they can be. At some point time, they're gonna come up and they're gonna bite you a little bit. You have someone that Greg that's just I mean, they're all the teams are getting better. It's like a more competition in the division up. Yep. All right, I'm gonna put you on the spot. Pick a winner in the AFC East. I think it has

three the Bills. Yeah, Bills, I clear a favorite, So I would pick that. You're definitely going to build, all right. What's the Patriots record going to be? Also? I think they stay the same. I think they go ten and seven, but they start off They're gonna start off slow. New coaching change, especially on the offense. I wouldn't be surprised the first five weeks they're like two and three, maybe maybe three and two. But I think they're gonna have

a slow start, but I think they're gonna pick it up. Jake, what do you think, I would say probably nine and eight on just on the outskirts of a playoff fair So you think they'll be on the outside looking in at nine to eight. The entire AFC has gotten better, especially out last what the Bronco is, the Chargers, the Raiders and the Chiefs still and all the other teams like the Colts and the teams from the North, like the Ravens. It's gonna be a tight. I think they

just be on the outside of it. So nine and eight is not good enough to get in the dance? Nope, Okay, what do you think, Greg, Yeah, I'm thinking the same thing as Jake. Nine and eight just out but like they're also gonna have like that slow start and loose like the first few games and and everybody will panic, yeah, and then they slowly pick it up, but they're right there. Okay, all right, guys, good job today, man where to go. Excellent work thanks to all of our broadcasters here at

Dean College today. I mean, I have so much fun every year when we're able and I have the ability

to host these guys. You know, our campus, our campus frank and Franklin, Mass is literally fifteen minutes from here from the Gillette Stadium complex, and you know, we're very proud of the fact that we do have an academic partnership with Craft Sports and Entertainment with the Patriots, with the Revolution, with Patriot Place, with Gillette Stadium, and what that really means is and we were the first school in the country to have a defined academic partnership with

an NFL franchise, and one of the things we've been proud of, and the mister Craft and Jonathan and everybody really with the Patriots, they saw the value on what it is that we wanted to do and try to train the next generation of people who want to work in sports. That's what we do. This happens to be the sports broadcasting, the sports media end of that, but we're also you know, into sports management, sports marketing, sports sales,

sports conditioning, sports science, all that stuff. What we do, especially at Dean and our broadcasters here this week, utilizing the auspices of these radio studios and doing some TV work and giving them a chance to cut their teeth a little bit and learn something, take it back to school, and then hopefully, like we said at the beginning of the program, hopefully they're in here in my chair somewhere. They booted me out. And guys, have anyone of you

does that? You're all dead to me? Okay, No, I'm just teasing. Super job, Super Job, appreciate it all the time. Man, thanks for helping a quarterback at all. So we got Alex, John, Mike James, Nick, Jack, Aiden Brody, Aaron, Jonah, Alex, Alex, number three, Jake and Greg as all of our teammates here today. Thank you, gentlemen, Thank you for taking the time to listen to us. If you just caught the tail end of the program live and you miss the first part of the gram, well, the podcast will be

shortly posted right here on Patriots dot com. Our next show and our final offseason program will be August thirty first, Wednesday, August thirty first, and that of course will be literally what eight days before the launch of the NFL regular season on that first Thursday night game, and then of course it's a little more than about ten days right there before the Patriots play their season open, so we'll

jump right into the regular season. But on August thirty first, we'll have an opportunity to evaluate preseason and a lot of the things that these young gentlemen from Dean College have been discussing here today with you on this opening day of training camp. So if you get a chance to come out to Foxborough, take a look at training camp, enjoy it. It's still fun to be a part of Take a look at the new guys, see what you think and let's talk about it. Hit me up on

social media. Thanks Marine, we'll talk to you next month. Thank you for downloading this podcast. Subscribe on Apple, google Play, and everywhere else you're listening. Like the show, Please rate and review us listener comments of ratings and help keep us high in the podcast rankings so new listeners can find us. Be sure to Checkpatriots dot com for more news and more podcasts.