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Video: Patriots Training Camp Practice #2 Report

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Great to finally see some football today at a muggy second practice! As we try to get Patshow Season #2 going I’m going to try and use my video producer skills to bring some more video content. Let me know what you guys think!

A few other things I forgot to mention in the video:

— Marcus Cannon did leave practice early, walking off under his own power. LaAdrian Waddle slipped into his reps. Hopefully Cannon is back sooner than later, though his injury history is starting to add up.

— Stephon Gilmore had an AFC Championship-sealer-esque diving pass break up over Julian Edelman. Gilmore is on the left side this year and is the a clear-cut number one cornerback.

— As much as I wanted to notice him nothing about Sony Michel really stood out to me. Again, IT’S NO PADS, DAY TWO. All the backs had their share of work, including Burkhead, Gillislee and Hill, and I can’t say any of them really stood out, though Burkhead always looks shot out of a rocket.

— As I mention, Edelman looks like Edelman, and it’s such great news.

— On and by the way, Brady is still Brady. Yikes.

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Tweets of Note: 2018 Patriots Training Camp Practice #1

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The Patriots kicked things off with a shorts and shells practice on Thursday and will have a similar affair on Friday before busting out the pads this weekend. Despite the lack of full contact there was still plenty that could be gleaned based on the post-practice tweets from the best beat writers who were there live, as I plan to be tomorrow and Sunday.

Here are the tweets that stood out, especially ones that answered some of my questions:

With Kenny Britt out, Dorsett is going to be one to watch this summer. Working inside is interesting, but there’s an obvious need there and if he’s versatile enough to play any receiver spot he’s going to play a big part in the offense this year. We’ll see how Kenny Britt looks as he’s expected back soon per Jeff Howe.

As expected Brown stepped into the left tackle spot and Thuney returned. I’m not sure I quite understand where all the Thuney dislike comes from. Many seem to want to replace him but I still think he’s an ascending player. Wynn working at backup left tackle is VERY interesting and a sign that after the spring where he played some guard they’re going to give him a look at left tackle now. Brown vs. Wynn is very real.

Say hello to the base defense, a three-safety nickel with a mix of Hightower and run-stopper Roberts. Malcom Brown is still recovering, swap him in for Guy when he’s back. Makes sense to have Gilmore-Rowe out there to start, experienced group to get the initial communication and calls down. Then start taking a look at the three and four cornerback packages with new faces like Jason McCourty and the rookies.

Van Noy should swap in for Roberts (and Rivers/Butler/Wise for one of the DTs) in the “sub” passing down packages. But Roberts is clearly atop the depth chart and slated to play a significant role as a top-three linebacker. I was excited about him in 2016 as a rookie when he’d come on, blow up a running play, then get off the field when they were throwing it. The defense had to rely on him more in 2017 and he lost some of the early pop he had as a rookie, often caught by play action. His inadequacies led the team to experiment more with Marquis Flowers in an effort to get more athletic in the middle of the field.

Gonna be a group effort for a season or two with Flores but I’m excited just to see a new twist on the Belichick Patriot Defense. What characteristics from Matt Patricia left? Which remain? How do they get the defense more ready to go this year than they were last year when they were shredded?

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Patriots Open Training Camp!

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Was planning on being there at the first day of camp today, unfortunately, a sick kiddo is keeping me home, but I’ll be there on Friday and can’t wait to get a first look at the 2018 Patriots.

Yesterday’s kickoff Belichick press conference was predictable as Dan Shaughnessy, claiming to speak for the fans, grilled the head coach about 2017. Of course, I saw this coming down the pike a mile away and Belichick’s parries were just as predictable. It gives rise to that group of Patriots fans out there who are eager to flush 18 years down the toilet because the coach didn’t play Butler in the Super Bowl, and won’t ever be true fans again until Belichick explains why or the Pats win another Super Bowl.

Yes, that’s how deep loyalty lies after five Super Bowl wins in eight appearances.

I stopped taking the bait from guys like Shaughnessy a while back so that’s enough about him trying to steal spotlight from what is usually the most exciting time of year — the opening of camp, when hope springs eternal and for the last time, most of the team is healthy.

Here’s a quick rundown of my training camp preview articles and some quick hits of specific positions and players I’ll be watching in the early days of camp.

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Patriots Off-Season Football Review

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The 2018 offseason was workmanlike for the Patriots, sticking the same philosophy they’ve mostly gone with over the last 18 seasons. There wasn’t a seismic free agent pickup like Randy Moss or Darrelle Revis,, nor did they roll the dice on a former star veteran in search of a title like Chad Johnson, Albert Haynesworth, Fred Taylor and others.

They watched some steady and beloved players walk to lucrative contracts and traded their way out of having to watch the same thing happen next offseason with Brandin Cooks.

The subtractions, including Nate Solder, Dion Lewis, Malcolm Butler and Danny Amendola stung on multiple levels and will leave the 2018 Patriots with significant questions about who will replace them, but there is good overall depth that should make for good competition for those spots. There is a lot of potential in this 2018 Patriots roster that has not been tapped.

The additions and draft picks were surgically targeted at places of weakness but now those new players must take advantage of the opportunity and that all starts Thursday. There are still questionable areas, but with the best coaching in the league and high standards there will certainly be some new faces that excite us.

For those of you who checked out during the offseason, or just want a clean and easy football-only review of the comings and goings, here’s a quick run-thru of the Patriots’ offseason.

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Pats Posits: Camp Starts Thursday!

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After a long spring of unparalleled toxicity in Patriots Nation, real football is finally back this Thursday! Yes, the Patriots were a play away from winning another Super Bowl, but because they couldn’t get that fourth-down stop we’ve had to listen to the Eagles’ incessant chest pounding, our defense ridiculed and a near-constant barrage of stories about behind-the-scenes drama.

The common thread now for any interviews of former Patriots players? Did you have fun while you played there? Was Bill Belichick nice enough?

We’ve come full circle.  The Patriots dynasty is only setting the bars of NFL history higher and higher at this point. Almost every meaningful record belongs to the team, Belichick and Tom Brady.

All that’s left to wonder is if this is the greatest sports dynasty in sports history?

That’s why I’m excited for 2018. It’s Brady Ride or Die time. Every new championship and award is just gravy at this point, so what do we really have to worry about? Enjoy the end and marvel at how hard this coach-quarterback tandem continues to work despite already being legendary.

Here are some Posits on this Monday morning about the 2018 Patriots and my plans for training camp and the upcoming season.

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Bill Belichick Hoodie 2018 Preview

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The last time we saw a Bill Belichick hoodie, he was wearing the 2013 Blue Nike cut off to extreme proportions as the Patriots lost Super Bowl 52 to the Eagles. Belichick had won Super Bowl 49 wearing the 2013 Blue, but that was with sleeves intact.

Want a common thread for the Patriots’ Super Bowl losses? Belichick cut off the sleeves of his sweatshirts all three times.

So yeah, it took us 17 seasons but we can finally say we need Linda Holliday to keep the scissors from BB before the big ones.

What can we expect in Hoodie lore this season?

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Will Who Return Punts for Pats?

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Since 2013 Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola have combined to return 190 punts for the Patriots. Last season, when Edelman went down, Amendola shouldered nearly the entire load with 27 punt returns. Bernard Reedy (who?) was second on the team with four. Now, with Amendola in Miami and Edelman looking at a four-game suspension, the Pats need a punt returner.

Patriots Punt Returns since 2013
Punt Punt Punt Punt Punt
Player Ret
▼		 PRYds TD Lng Y/R
Julian Edelman 96 1174 1 84 12.23
Danny Amendola 94 978 0 82 10.40
Cyrus Jones 11 73 0 21 6.64
Keshawn Martin 8 92 0 21 11.50
Bernard Reedy 4 55 0 23 13.75
Patrick Chung 4 10 0 7 2.50
Chris Harper 3 17 0 10 5.67
Damaris Johnson 2 3 0 3 1.50
Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/17/2018.

Cyrus Jones, coming off an ACL tear and limited all offseason, was an electric punt returner at Alabama, with four touchdowns in his last season. Before the injury, Jones would’ve been the most explosive candidate on the roster. He could be a PUP candidate.

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