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Mike Reiss, ESPN Employees Author
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Fast-hit ideas and notes across the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. Rhamondre and RBs: When former Patriots working again James White (2014-21) assesses the workforce’s personnel at his previous place, he attracts a hyperlink to the previous.
“It virtually jogs my memory of earlier than I obtained to the Patriots after they had Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen [in the early 2010s], and Danny Woodhead, Kevin Faulk and others have been gone,” he stated. “Again then it was like, ‘That is your backfield now.’ I really feel like that’s the transition there now.”
The transition is a results of Damien Harris signing with the Payments in free company, and one potential alternative for him, James Robinson, being launched three months after signing this spring.
White believes Rhamondre Stevenson is primed for an additional heavy workload in his third NFL season.
“It’s not so typically as a Patriots working again that you just’re on the market that many snaps,” White stated after Stevenson logged 66% taking part in time final season and totaled 1,040 yards and 5 touchdowns on 210 carries. “[Coach] Invoice [Belichick] loves that man, so he simply has to capitalize on the chance.”
Whereas the 6-foot, 225-pound Stevenson is the clear-cut No. 1 choice, there’s a stage of uncertainty with unproven personnel behind him.
That has sparked hypothesis in some circles that Belichick would possibly think about including to the ranks, with Dalvin Cook the highest-profile free agent choice accessible. White stated he could be stunned if that occurs, leaving a gap for the likelihood solely within the occasion of an damage to Stevenson.
Thus, White views coaching camp as a important time for nine-year veteran Ty Montgomery (restricted to at least one recreation final season by a shoulder damage), third-year runner J.J. Taylor (5-6, 185) and second-year gamers Pierre Strong Jr. (5-11, 205) and Kevin Harris (5-10, 225) to show they’re worthy complementary choices to Stevenson, who wore down a bit on the finish of final season.
“I see a bunch of proficient younger guys after which a savvy veteran in Ty [6-0, 216], if he can keep wholesome, to sort of lead these guys alongside,” White stated. “Being round him just a little bit final 12 months, in OTAs and coaching camp, [Ty is] a man who looks like he’s nonetheless making an attempt to show himself and feels he has rather a lot left within the tank … he simply hasn’t fairly had a real alternative.
“With Invoice O’Brien coming again [as offensive coordinator], they’ll in all probability get again to having a ‘sub again,’ and I really feel like he’ll be the man to take that on in the event that they don’t have Rhamondre tackle the total load.”
White can be watching intently in coaching camp to see how Sturdy — the South Dakota State alum who performed simply 51 snaps as a rookie after being drafted within the fourth spherical — responds to a full 12 months within the workforce’s system. Whereas the workforce’s offseason program formally ended June 16, Sturdy caught round final week to proceed his exercises at Gillette Stadium.
“Clearly, he has the velocity. It’s in all probability simply the psychological a part of it. Coming in as a rookie, there’s a lot to be taught and, sort of like myself [in 2014], he virtually had a redshirt 12 months,” White stated.
“He’s going to have rather a lot thrown at him in coaching camp. They’re going to check him. Go away him in a few of these preseason video games to see what kind of load he can settle for, if he can choose up the blitz, run between the tackles. If he’s capable of present what they count on, he’ll be proper there.”
White added that Taylor additionally has a long-awaited likelihood to carve out a extra steady position, and cautioned anybody in opposition to overlooking Harris, final 12 months’s sixth-round select of South Carolina.
“Kevin is a bodily runner,” he stated. “If you take a look at him, you may not assume a lot of him. However he’s participant, he will get downhill and is rather a lot sooner than you assume.”
2. White’s view: White, who was a customer at Patriots follow throughout obligatory minicamp, was requested for a big-picture takeaway. His reply: “It seemed aggressive. The offense seemed extra fluid this 12 months at this level. It appeared like guys have been energetic on the offensive aspect. The ball wasn’t hitting the bottom too many occasions. The operation seemed prefer it was in place — guys have been getting as much as the road of scrimmage and going — and that’s what you’re used to seeing from a Patriots-type offense.”
3. OT considerations?: One level quarterback Mac Jones and others made all through the spring is that it’s arduous to get a real analysis with out pads. So an early key in coaching camp, as soon as the pads come on after the preliminary ramp-up interval, can be how the offensive line holds up.
For all of the speak about the potential for including receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who would clearly assist — a case might be made that offensive sort out is the Patriots’ greatest query. With Trent Brown seemingly trending within the mistaken path after lacking the primary day of obligatory minicamp following an prolonged absence all through voluntary OTAs, Calvin Anderson, Riley Reiff and Conor McDermott have been the highest three OTs in spring practices.
4. Jack Jones’ standing: The Patriots’ first follow of coaching camp is scheduled for July 26, and one widespread query on social media is whether or not cornerback Jack Jones is anticipated to be there after he was arraigned last Tuesday on gun charges. Jones is not due again in courtroom till Aug. 18, so at this level with the workforce sticking by him, why wouldn’t he be there for the beginning of coaching camp?
5. BB & thirty third Staff: Belichick went one-on-one with the thirty third Staff web site in a characteristic referred to as “Get to Know Bill Belichick.” Themes included his respect for Paul Brown; coaches he loved competing in opposition to; how soccer has advanced over his tenure; particular groups and the way kicking has been an instrumental a part of the historical past of the sport; and his philosophy of hiring younger coaches, creating them and selling from inside. Belichick stated within the interview that if he wasn’t teaching, he would have pursued a enterprise profession.
6. They stated it: “I’m telling you proper now, Mac Jones goes to be Professional Bowl-caliber quarterback within the very close to future, whether or not it’s this 12 months or within the subsequent couple years. He’s that good.” — ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit on “The Pat McAfee Show.“
7. RB market: White sympathizes with franchise-tagged working backs Josh Jacobs (Raiders), Saquon Barkley (Giants) and Tony Pollard (Cowboys) of their hopes to land profitable longer-term offers. “It’s positively powerful to see as a working again, the market appears to be declining,” he stated. “I nonetheless really feel we’re nonetheless important items of the offense. You block, run, catch the ball — serving to in all facets and touching the ball 20 occasions a recreation, typically extra.”
8. Gino for Corridor: Why isn’t late Patriots nice Gino Cappelletti within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame? It’s query, with John Turney of the Talk of Fame website making the case that it’s lengthy overdue. No argument right here.
9. Russ’ take: Former Patriots tight finish Russ Francis (1975-1980, 1987-88), as soon as known as the “all-world tight finish” by Howard Cosell on “Monday Evening Soccer,” instructed the “Pats from the Past” podcast what he believes separates the most effective tight ends in historical past: these with “full” abilities — blocking, the velocity to get downfield and the fingers to catch the soccer. He stated that’s the reason he marveled at former Patriot Rob Gronkowski.
10. Do you know? Since 2010, there have been 27 particular person 1,000-yard seasons by tight ends, based on ESPN Stats & Info. From 1970 to 2009, there have been 24.
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