Patriots Training Camp Preview
What to watch for starting this week
The New England Patriots start their training camp this week. With new faces and some returning ones it is time to know what to watch for leading up to the 2023-24 season.
Possible additions - The Patriots have been linked to various offensive free agents. They failed to sign wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins despite bringing him for a visit. New England also has been linked to running back Dalvin Cook.
Last week running backs Leonard Fournette and Darrell Henderson worked out for the team, both running backs left without a deal. The Patriots signed but then released running back James Robinson earlier this offseason which has left the backfield a little thin behind Rhamondre Stevenson. The fact that the Patriots have shown interest in both the receiver and running back position is an admission they know the offense needs more help.
Health of JuJu - With the miss of Hopkins, JuJu Smith-Schuster is projected as the number one receiver under this years offense. Smith-Schuster signed a three-year, $33 million contract earlier this offseason. He will provide a veteran presence and should be a reliable target, he put up just shy of 1,000 yards in a stacked Chiefs offense last season.
The problem is he missed all of minicamp in June due to a knee injury he suffered in the AFC Championship game. The health of the 26-year -old will be something to monitor in training camp.
Zappe vs Mac - The quarterback battle of Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe shouldn’t be that much of a duel. Jones is the clear favorite but that doesn’t mean Zappe won’t take first team reps away. Head Coach Bill Belichick says every year everyone has to earn their spot.
Jones is no exception to that. He has had back-to-back years finishing with double digit interceptions. He has not thrown for more than 14 touchdown in each of his first two season. Zappe went 2-0 as a starter completing over 70% of his passes with only one interception while Jones was out with an ankle injury.
Last year Jones was not helped by having Matt Patricia as the offensive play caller, but his former OC is gone now. This is a new season with a very competent offensive coordinator in Bill O’Brien. Jones knows O’Brien from his college days at Alabama and he needs to take that step forward. The former first round pick will be out to prove this season why he should be believed in long term.
Lawrence Guy contract - Defensive lineman Lawrence Guy missed all of mandatory minicamp due to what is believed to be a contract holdout. Guy is entering his seventh season in New England and is now a team captain. The 33-year-old was the Patriots representative for the Walter Payton man of the year award last season. Guy has been a dependable cog to the defense and a bump in pay would avoid a holdout from one of their veteran leaders in camp.
Jack Jones status - Jack Jones is due in court on Aug. 18th. This will be for a probable cause hearing after Jones allegedly brought in two loaded guns into Boston Logan Airport and tried to get them past security. The hearing will be to determine if there is enough evidence to bring this to trial.
If he is ultimately found guilty he could face multiple years in jail. On the football side, Jones was supposed to be the number two outside corner across from rookie Christian Gonzalez. This young duo could have been cornerstone pieces to a defense for the next four plus years. Instead, the former Arizona Sun Devil has left the Patriots likely having to use Jonathan Jones on the outside instead of the slot where he is a better fit.
Rookie Corner - Gonzalez was drafted 17th overall out of Oregon in the 2023 NFL Draft. Gonzalez is 21-years-old and his athleticism has him projected as number one corner. He stands at 6’1” and around 200 pounds. It is a lot to ask of a rookie to be the top corner of a complex defense, but that is what Gonzalez is in line for. With that said, to protect themselves it will be interesting to watch if Belichick signs another corner from the remaining free agents.
Kicker Battle - The Patriots depth chart currently has Chad Ryland as the starting kicker over Nick Folk. Ryland was drafted in the fourth round of this years draft. In 2022 he was 19-23 with Maryland on field goals and perfect inside the 40 yard line on 9 attempts. The 38-year-old Folk only missed five field goals in 37 attempts last season. However his five misses tied what he previously missed in his last two full seasons in New England combined. Folk will likely end up being released as long as Ryland performs well in preseason.
Follow Matt on Twitter @BSTRONG415
For additional Red Sox, Bruins, Patriots, MLB and NFL content follow Beyond the Monster on Twitter @BeyondtheMnstr.
