FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Quick-hit ideas/notes across the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. QBs to date: The Patriots have had 9 practices in coaching camp, and a image has developed on the quarterback place. Here are my greatest takeaways:
Mac overcoming adversity: After a robust apply Tuesday, Jones responded with two days wherein he practically doubled Cam Newton in repetitions, and the passing offense had its most constant success. That appeared important. It wasn’t simply that Jones appeared to hit his groove whereas discovering a extra assertive voice. It’s that it got here after arguably his lowest level in camp.
Jones stated he sensed a shift final week between himself and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
“I’m trying and starting to get to where we’re kind of thinking on the same page,” Jones stated. “And that’s how it has to be every day.”
Cam the fashionable teammate: It couldn’t have been straightforward to be in Newton’s sneakers on Wednesday and Thursday, watching Jones get extra work and seeing a clearer image of how the passing offense is designed to function — from safety identification to learn progressions, timing/rhythm and accuracy.
But by all accounts, Newton continues to be the model teammate, celebrating Jones’ on-discipline successes whereas increase others comparable to large receiver N’Keal Harry, who has been one of the surprise stories of camp. Newton’s egoless method is worthy of a tip of the Meshika hat.
“He puts it all out on the line for the team,” Patriots security Devin McCourty stated.
Two totally different offenses: There have been two full-pads practices, and in these periods, it typically appears just like the workforce is working separate assaults. The menace of Newton as a ball provider with the learn-choice is prevalent — and efficient at instances — whereas Jones usually appears like he is working the extra conventional Patriots passing offense.
“[Jones] is not operating like a rookie, that’s clear to me,” former NFL scout and New York Jets director of soccer administration Pat Kirwan stated throughout his cease at camp as a part of Sirius XM NFL Radio’s tour. “He has poise, good arm strength. He’s more what Josh wants to do, and how he’s done it in the past. … I wouldn’t be surprised if by October we see [him] under center.”
Belichick provides himself an out: Coach Bill Belichick has made it clear that Newton is the starter, however as is the case with every little thing, context issues. Belichick additionally stated there could possibly be a “hard decision,” and beforehand acknowledged that each participant wants to determine their place, with the chance that Jones may problem Newton if he reveals he is prepared.
So if Jones continues to ascend, and Newton dips, Belichick may level to the totality of his remarks on quarterbacks if he decides Jones provides the workforce the most effective probability to win.
2. A shock workforce: Kirwan, who co-hosts the “Movin’ The Chains” present on Sirius XM NFL Radio with former quarterback Jim Miller, appreciated what he noticed at Patriots camp. “This is a surprise team on the horizon. People that haven’t been thinking of them, like me, but after you watch them and study them, there’s a reason to be excited this could be a playoff team.”
Kirwan’s place-by-place evaluation:
3. Winovich on mend: Outside linebacker Chase Winovich, who opened coaching camp on the bodily unable to carry out listing with an undisclosed ailment, has began working once more, which places him one step nearer to being activated. Winovich wasn’t on the sphere in June’s necessary minicamp however had participated in voluntary practices earlier than that. The Patriots venture to start out Matt Judon and Kyle Van Noy at outdoors linebacker, with 2020 second-spherical choose Josh Uche a think about particular packages and 2021 third-spherical choose Ronnie Perkins additionally within the combine for attainable reps. Winovich, who led the workforce with 5.5 sacks final season, would add one other layer of stable depth.
4. Game 17s into future: An sudden bonus for West Coast-based Patriots followers got here final week when it was realized that no matter place the Patriots end within the AFC East this season, they’ll go to the NFC West workforce that finishes in that very same slot in 2022 for his or her seventeenth recreation. Here is a snapshot of the seventeenth-recreation rotation the NFL plans to make use of over the following 4 years:
Home 2021: NFC East (Cowboys)
Road 2022: NFC West (Seahawks, Cardinals, Rams, 49ers)
Home 2023: NFC South (Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers, Saints)
Road 2024: NFC North (Bears, Lions, Packers, Vikings)
One exhausting-to-miss observe as a results of the rotation is that if Tom Brady performs a twenty fourth season at age 46, and the Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers end in the identical spot within the 2022 standings, Brady would probably return to Gillette Stadium a second time [in 2023].
5. Wilkerson a sleeper: Mark down the identify Kristian Wilkerson as a participant who in all probability wasn’t on many preliminary Patriots roster projections however who has put himself in good place to stay after spending final season on the apply squad. The 6-foot-1, 201-pound large receiver initially entered the NFL in 2020 with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent out of Southeast Missouri State. Receivers coach Mick Lombardi talked about him final week, unsolicited, and Wilkerson has been doing one-on-one work with particular groups captain Matthew Slater at apply.
6. All within the household: Tedy Bruschi … Scott Pioli … Patrick Chung … Willie McGinest. Belichick’s longevity and endurance — he is now in his twenty first yr as Patriots coach — has created a dynamic the place gamers/staffers from the sooner a part of his tenure are coming again as welcome on-field guests at camp. Bruschi even frolicked tutoring Perkins after one apply.
7. Ziegler fills Caseri’s seat: Belichick highlighted the collaboration of the workforce’s personnel division through the pre-draft course of, and he acknowledged some issues have been being accomplished in a different way with former director of participant personnel Nick Caserio departing to turn into the Houston Texans‘ normal supervisor. Here is a snapshot of these on the high of the masthead with new titles:
-
Dave Ziegler — director of participant personnel (from assistant)
-
Matt Groh — faculty scouting director (from nationwide scout)
-
Steve Cargile — professional scouting director (from assistant)
-
Brian Smith — personnel coordinator (from faculty scouting coordinator)
Eliot Wolf retains the identical title as 2020 — scouting guide. And congratulations are additionally to ensure that Camren Williams — the son of former Patriots defensive lineman Brent Williams — who has elevated from space scout to nationwide scout.
8. Cozens’ exercise: The thoroughness of Ziegler and the personnel employees was mirrored final week, partly, when the workforce flew in former Major League Baseball outfielder Dylan Cozens from Arizona for a exercise. Cozens had tweeted June 22 that he was making a profession change from baseball to soccer, and his exercise with the Patriots — he went by drills as a tight finish — was his first with an NFL workforce. Another reminder the Patriots flip over each rock in scouring the nation for expertise. Cozens, 27, spent eight years within the Philadelphia Phillies group, reaching the majors in 2018 and enjoying in 26 video games.
9. Mayo’s targets: Former Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo enters his third season as a coach on Belichick’s employees, and he has already interviewed for one head-teaching job — in Philadelphia final offseason. In that sense, he appears to be on the quick observe.
Mayo, 35, initially went into a profession in finance after his eight-yr enjoying profession with the workforce, however he now’s all-in on teaching.
“I definitely have aspirations to be a head coach,” he stated this week, whereas including his focus is 100% on the 2021 Patriots. “That is the goal. I know I can do it. I’m just waiting for my chance to really come to fruition.”
10. Did You Know: Cornerback J.C. Jackson‘s 11 takeaways final season (9 interceptions, two fumble recoveries) have been essentially the most by a participant in Belichick’s tenure, topping Asante Samuel’s 10 in 2006 and Kyle Arrington’s eight in 2011. As for interceptions alone, Ron Hall holds the one-season franchise report with 11 in 1964.
