Mike Dussault

Hard to say definitely right now because it always seems to be a position where at least minor injuries are a factor. But I’ve seen quite a few roster projections with Chris Jones getting cut. I’d prefer to keep him because I think he’s a pretty solid rotational guy.

Easley and Brown are obviously locks, then I’d pencil in Siliga and Branch as near-locks (though you can never be sure a vet like Branch will stick out of camp since it would guarantee his salary). Still, I think he’s the only true veteran and a needed presence.

Chris Jones might actually be in competition with Zach Moore, who’s been working as an interior rusher.

Overall it’s a good mix of size and quickness and I am so curious to see how the rotation breaks down without Wilfork this season. We could be in for a bit of a schematic tweak without him.

As for the ends Chandler Jones, Ninkovich and Jabaal Sheard are locks and you’d think Grissom and Flowers should be as well. With Moore’s flexibility that should help pad the defensive end spot as well.

I think it’s always the preference to be able to run a healthy dose of multiple tight end sets. We’ve already heard plenty about the extra red zone work that Brady, Gronk and Chandler are putting in.

The simple truth is with teams playing more and more subpackages with smaller defensive backs, playing more 12 and 13 personnel enables the offense to dictate the terms. Gronk and Chandler are so ideal for this because they’re both huge and can also can also catch.

If the defense plays four DBs and stacks the box they’ll send Gronk and Chandler out and make linebackers/safeties cover them. If the defense plays with a light box, they’ll run. That’s the essence of the Patriots philosophy – attack the weakness and that’s what multiple tight ends allows them to do on offense.

I agree, Gray has good quickness while Blount seems to take a couple strides to really get going. There’s no question they’re going to have to rely on Gray or Gaffney as a primary early down back against the Steelers, although the offensive gameplan vs. Pittsburgh is often a pass-heavy one so we might get a better sense of Cadet/White in that first game. Though I’m not sure any of the backs are ready to just step in and carry the bulk of the load in week one. 

I think we’ll get a little more insight into the positional battles in mini-camp since they’ll move a bit away from teaching, but it’s still hard to make any hard determinations as to where things will be in September.

The three key spots are running back, left guard and cornerback, so let’s run through those spots because everywhere else should be a healthy rotation as it will be in camp.

Running back – Travaris Cadet has good size and moves like a wide receiver, I am very curious to see how he looks with live tackling, but that will have to wait. Hard to really get much here in mini-camp, but it will be interesting to see how the reps are being divvied up.

Left Guard – I’ve been hearing rumblings that Caylin Hauptmann is one to watch at left guard. Assuming they don’t bring in Evan Mathis. Still haven’t closed the book on Connolly but that LG spot as a lot of questions marks.

Cornerback – Seems like Logan Ryan is atop the depth chart, but after that it will be interesting to see who is where. Is it Fletcher or Butler starting on the outside? Is McClain the top slot guy? So many new faces, I wouldn’t rule anything out, especially rookies Jimmy Jean and Daryl Roberts.

Also curious how the safeties split reps amongst Harmon/Chung/Wilson/Richards.

One guy I’ll be keeping an eye on this summer is Ninkovich. Maybe it was just a smokescreen but when Mayo/Collins/Hightower were all healthy in the first game, Nink was coming off the field in passing situations. Now with Sheard in the mix as well, I think this is an area to monitor.