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BigKen
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Patriots officially open training camp today and the public is invited. Temps will be in the 80s and the humidity in New England will be brutal, about 80%. Training in this weather will probably benefit the Pats because it will tell right away who's in shape and who isn't.
You can argue all day as what's critically important, but from the BigKen cheap seats, I see five things..............
1. Left Tackle. Solder wasn't the best ever, but he could play the position pretty well. His long arms were his best weapons, allowing him to push opposing players out and around Tom Brady. His lack of immediate foot speed was the reason, most often, that he couldn't deal with a speed rusher. Trent Brown is a massive human being. At 6'8" and 345 lbs, he won't have trouble with a bull rush, he does have adequate foot speed, but not exceptional. Rookie Isiah Wynn has incredible foot speed. a good sized body but short arms.
Don't know who will come out best, just as long as they can keep Brady clean.
2. Cornerback. With Malcolm Butler gone,the #2 CB position is up for grabs. Johnathan Jones, Cyrus Jones, Eric Rowe, Ryan Lewis, JC Jackson, Keion Crossen, Jomal Wiltz and Duke Dawson. Jackson and Dawson are big, fast hitters. Both are 6'1" and around 200 lbs. BB has historically kept 6 CB on the roster because he often plays a pass defense that requires four CB on the field.
3. Running Back. Dion Lewis is a memory and the Patriots drafted Sony Michel. Can he step in and be that first and second down RB who can get 2-8 yards per carry when needed? James White is coming into his first contract year and you know he'll get huge offers elsewhere. Rex Burkhead was really good when healthy but got dinged a couple of times and missed more than a few games. Mike Gillislee never really impressed and disappeared in the middle of 2017. Bolden has never been considered RB, more a ST guy.
4. Wide Receiver. Back in January, WR looked to be a position that was flush with talent and solid players. Here we are on 7/25 and it's a position of Swiss Cheese. Brandin Cooks got traded and got a 6 year $89.5M contract that he signed yesterday. Malcolm Mitchell reportedly another procedure on his right knee this past Monday and BB has dangled him. That pretty much tells us that his tenure in NE is pretty much over. Julian Edelman will be out until Week 5. That leaves the Patriots with Chris Hogan, Riley McCarron, Cody Hollister, Braxton Berrios, Cordarelle Patterson, Devin Lucien, Jordan Matthews, Kenny Britt and Philip Dorsett. Almost wonder if maybe BB shouldn't bring in Dez Bryaqnt or Eric Decker.
5. Ghosts of Super Bowl LII. There are lingering questions about the end of SB LII. Brady was marching the Patriots but the problem was he only 30 seconds, no time outs, instead of 1 minute and 30 seconds and one time out. Still the final Hail Mary almost got hauled in by Gronkowski. If Malcolm Butler had played, would the eagles QB have been the MVP?
There are lot of questions that I'm sure will start to get answered by this time next week.
The heat and humidity are supposed to break Thursday night, If the weather is at least bearable, I'll take a ride down Friday and watch practice live. If you happen to be in the area, I'm the wearing the dark gray Patriots Super Bowl Championship t-shirt and a bright red, white and blue Patriots cap. I'm 6'2" and about 260 lbs. and walk with a cane. I'm not hard to miss. Hope to see at least one you guys there.
You can argue all day as what's critically important, but from the BigKen cheap seats, I see five things..............
1. Left Tackle. Solder wasn't the best ever, but he could play the position pretty well. His long arms were his best weapons, allowing him to push opposing players out and around Tom Brady. His lack of immediate foot speed was the reason, most often, that he couldn't deal with a speed rusher. Trent Brown is a massive human being. At 6'8" and 345 lbs, he won't have trouble with a bull rush, he does have adequate foot speed, but not exceptional. Rookie Isiah Wynn has incredible foot speed. a good sized body but short arms.
Don't know who will come out best, just as long as they can keep Brady clean.
2. Cornerback. With Malcolm Butler gone,the #2 CB position is up for grabs. Johnathan Jones, Cyrus Jones, Eric Rowe, Ryan Lewis, JC Jackson, Keion Crossen, Jomal Wiltz and Duke Dawson. Jackson and Dawson are big, fast hitters. Both are 6'1" and around 200 lbs. BB has historically kept 6 CB on the roster because he often plays a pass defense that requires four CB on the field.
3. Running Back. Dion Lewis is a memory and the Patriots drafted Sony Michel. Can he step in and be that first and second down RB who can get 2-8 yards per carry when needed? James White is coming into his first contract year and you know he'll get huge offers elsewhere. Rex Burkhead was really good when healthy but got dinged a couple of times and missed more than a few games. Mike Gillislee never really impressed and disappeared in the middle of 2017. Bolden has never been considered RB, more a ST guy.
4. Wide Receiver. Back in January, WR looked to be a position that was flush with talent and solid players. Here we are on 7/25 and it's a position of Swiss Cheese. Brandin Cooks got traded and got a 6 year $89.5M contract that he signed yesterday. Malcolm Mitchell reportedly another procedure on his right knee this past Monday and BB has dangled him. That pretty much tells us that his tenure in NE is pretty much over. Julian Edelman will be out until Week 5. That leaves the Patriots with Chris Hogan, Riley McCarron, Cody Hollister, Braxton Berrios, Cordarelle Patterson, Devin Lucien, Jordan Matthews, Kenny Britt and Philip Dorsett. Almost wonder if maybe BB shouldn't bring in Dez Bryaqnt or Eric Decker.
5. Ghosts of Super Bowl LII. There are lingering questions about the end of SB LII. Brady was marching the Patriots but the problem was he only 30 seconds, no time outs, instead of 1 minute and 30 seconds and one time out. Still the final Hail Mary almost got hauled in by Gronkowski. If Malcolm Butler had played, would the eagles QB have been the MVP?
There are lot of questions that I'm sure will start to get answered by this time next week.
The heat and humidity are supposed to break Thursday night, If the weather is at least bearable, I'll take a ride down Friday and watch practice live. If you happen to be in the area, I'm the wearing the dark gray Patriots Super Bowl Championship t-shirt and a bright red, white and blue Patriots cap. I'm 6'2" and about 260 lbs. and walk with a cane. I'm not hard to miss. Hope to see at least one you guys there.
