With the season opener in Arizona quickly coming upon us, we took a moment with a few of the PatsPropaganda contributors to reflect upon training camp and get some generally feelings about the Patriots heading into the 2016 campaign.
Here’s what everyone had to say.
What was your biggest surprise of training camp?
Niko Davos: Cruel surprise? The extent of Sebastian Vollmer’s hip injury, which is expected to end his 2016-2017 campaign before it started. On a related note, however, the most pleasant surprise was the play of his replacement, Marcus Cannon. Cannon looked good throughout camp and preseason, and it would be a major factor if he could continue to play at this level into the regular season and beyond.
Adam Magnacca: I’m thrilled that all of the surprises this camp were good ones but I definitely wasn’t expecting Joe Thuney come in from Day 1 and lock down the LG position. I thought he was gonna come in and be a good to great backup on the interior of the line but boy did he prove me wrong. The more I learn about him the more I wanna grab a beer with him. But more importantly, I want him to play out of his mind this year and I have a good feeling about that position for the next 10 years. *Honorable Mention: I loved watching Jacoby Brissett playing. I think if he keeps improving he could turn into a great Roethlisberger type player. I’m excited about his development.
Rick Starke: I had Bryan Stork as a starter at guard in my preseason offensive line projection, so to go from “penciled in starter” to “total free agent, picked up by nobody” is kind of a big surprise, especially considering the calming influence he had on the line in 2014, and that he started at center, guard, and tackle last year.
Biggest disappointment of training camp?
Niko: The wide receiver position. One, Malcolm Mitchell looked great until he suffered that unfortunate elbow injury. Two, the fact that Belichick decided to keep just four speaks loudly about the drop off after Edelman, Amendola, Hogan, and Mitchell. Expect an even larger percentage of 2 and 3 tight end sets this season.
Adam: The biggest disappointment of training camp for me was that we can’t keep all those CBs on the roster. They were some of the most talented back end DBs I’ve ever seen in a training camp. I loved watching them gut it out for a spot on the teamand would say that was arguably the most intense battle of camp. Not to mention Cre’von LeBlanc and V’Angelo Bentley won the NFL Name Olympics by a landslide (Packers S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix not withstanding).
Rick: I thought Terrance Knighton was going to come in like Ted Washington in 2003. Instead, he came in like Albert Haynesworth in 2011.
What are you most excited about with this year’s Patriots team?
Niko: The defensive front 7. You’d think after a team traded its pro bowl defensive end, and lost the other to a suspension for the first month of the season, it’d be a major area of concern. You’d be wrong. Chris Long looks rejuvenated in a Pats uniform, Collins and Hightower are healthy, Malcom Brown appears ready to take that next step, and newly acquired Barkevious Mingo already seems like another Browns’ castoff that could contribute in a big way this season. Plus, Anthony Johnson looks suited to seamlessly fill the Dom Easley interior pass-rushing role from last season, and Trey Flowers should be able to step right in behind Long/Sheard as the 3 rd D-end. On paper, this group could carry the team over the first four games.
Adam: I’m most excited this year to watch Tom Brady play with an extraordinary Defense. Seasons like this get me so excited I want to jump right out of Reebok TB12 jersey.
Rick: Hopefully one or more of the three added pieces to the receiving corp (Martellus Bennett, Chris Hogan, Malcolm Mitchell) will break through and bring back the “Everyone’s Open!!” offense of 2007 and 2011, but with a defense as powerful as 2004’s. I’m excited for the potential of complete dominance over the league.
What are you most worried about with this year’s Patriots team? Is there a fatal flaw?
Niko: Last year’s fatal flaw ended up being the offensive line so you have to start there. Does Solder just need to shake off the rust? Is Thuney the answer at left guard? How about Andrews at center? Has this preseason been a sign of improvement, or just a mirage for Marcus Cannon? Will either Jon Cooper or Shaq Mason be healthy enough to lock up the right guard spot? These are all fair questions to ask, and until a chunk of them are answered, we don’t know how the front 5 is going to shape up or look when they are needed most.
Adam: The achilles heel of this team is the OT depth. If Solder goes down it could spell bad news for the offense, especially if it happens while Jimmy is still out there. The blueprint for beating Brady is to get pressure with 4 and with a shaky O-Line, that will become more common than not. Eat your Wheaties Nate!
Rick: If this team can’t run the ball and win in the trenches on offense, they’ll be too one dimensional to take it all the way.
Name a breakout player this season.
Niko: I’ll go with Chris Hogan. With Amendola just returning from the PUP, Edelman’s style of play, and Mitchell’s aforementioned elbow, Hogan will likely be called on early and often this season. Hopefully that 33-yard dime vs. Carolina was a sign of things to come for the Hogan-TB connection
Adam: Trey Flowers and Chris Long will look like studs the first few weeks of the season. The depth at DE is ridiculous and it will allow the team to spare Nink and Sheard so the team is at full strength for the back 9 of the season. *Honorable Mention: Logan Ryan
Rick: Malcolm Brown. We all saw it last year, with him being an excellent rookie defensive lineman. I want a year two leap that makes us go “oh crap, how are the Patriots going to sign this guy again after three more ye…OH WOW WE GET TO CHEER FOR HIM FOR AT LEAST THREE MORE YEARS!!!”
How do you feel about Jimmy Garoppolo in the first four games? Record prediction?
Niko: Jimmy will be fine. The crowd who thinks he’s going to come in and light the world on fire is probably wrong. The crowd who would rather see Brissett start over the first month based on one preseason game is also probably wrong. I expect the running game to be serviceable, and the defense to be imposing, so I’m rolling with 3-1.
Adam: I’m not quite convinced about Jimmy either way…call me cautiously optimistic for a 3-1 record. I think the D carries it and Garoppolo plays well enough to not lose it.
Rick: Everything is in play. We haven’t seen him play with the whole offense yet. The only time we’ve ever really seen Jimmy throw to Gronk was in 2014, against the Chiefs. That game was terrible, and it wasn’t either of their faults. I’m terrified of an 0-4 start, but I don’t think that’s likely. 4-0 isn’t likely either, but it could happen. He’s got the talent around him and on defense (and special teams!) to make that a reality. All I want is a 2-2 start, where Jimmy has 2 fairly human performances (60%, 240 yards, 1-2 TDs, 1 pick), one “Is this the Next Guy?!” game (68+%, 350+ yards, 4 TDs, no picks), and one abysmal game (<200 yards, 2-3 turnovers, no TDs, close final score). That’d be enough to keep the Patriots in a good position for the rest of the year, enough to keep the people that REALLY want a quarterback controversy at bay, and enough to bait some team into a first round pick or more in a trade (does it even need to be that much success? I see you, Sam Bradford).
Which AFC team scares you the most? NFC team you’d least like to see in Super Bowl?
Niko: Denver’s offense just seems like it’s going to be so anemic, so I have to go with Pittsburgh. Once Bell comes back, their offense has ample weapons to go score for score with the Pats. As far as an NFC team that worries me, I’d lean towards the Packers, just because of their dynamic signal caller. Cam Newton, Russell Wilson, and Carson Palmer worry me far less than Aaron Rodgers does.
Rick: In the AFC, it’s the same team I said in the preseason: The Patriots Injured Reserve list. That will define the season. If they stay reasonably healthy at all the right spots, they’re in great position to control and win the AFC. No NFC team bothers me or intimidates me, because the Super Bowl is special. It often comes down to one or two defining plays, and handling the experience of just being there. The Patriots know how to be there, both as a franchise and as a roster.
