Patriots Heading Into Training Camp

By: Steve Atkinson

The Patriots head into training camp this week. The first practice is Wednesday with players reporting on Tuesday. There are many storylines heading into camp. Such as how will Bill O’Brien develop the offense to be better than it was a year ago? Bill Belichick is once again on the hot seat. The fake quarterback competition doesn’t exist. Lastly, the offensive line questions how ready will Trent Brown be? The defense is pretty solid more of the questions are on offense.

Patriots offense under Bill O’Brien

The first one how will Bill O’Brien do with the offense? Well, anything will be better than last year with an offensive coordinator. I think he will use Mike Gesicki and Hunter Henry a lot in the two tight-end set. You will and are seeing personal drives and motivation this off-season from Mac Jones and Kendrick Bourne. I think both will make a leap and be much better than last year. They are already more comfortable and miles ahead of where they were as an offense a year ago.

Mac Jones talked about the normalcy of the offense during minicamp.

It’s been really good. It’s been normal,” Jones told reporters, “I think everything he’s done so far has been really good.”“I think the communication is the most important part – and trust. I think it all starts with that when you’re with a new coach,” he continued. “He’s done a great job in controlling the room [I] feel like everyone’s on the same page

Kendrick Bourne also made comments about Bill O’Brien.

Bill’s familiar with what he’s doing, so it feels good,” Bourne said Friday after organized team activities practices. “You can tell he knows what he’s doing in all areas of the offense — receiver, linemen, running back. He knows offense a lot, so it feels good.” He’s doing well. He knows how to engage with all of us, I feel like,” Bourne said in a follow-up question. “He knows our traits right now and he knows where to put us, so it’s been good. We’re still learning each other as a group, but he’s doing well. You can tell he knows what he’s doing.”

Patriots wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster will be back

The addition of JuJu Smith-Schuster who says will be ready for training is replacing Jakobi Meyers who spoke up last about the offense. Smith-Schuster missed most of the off-season program because he went on vacation, recovering from a knee injury, and celebrating the Chiefs Super Bowl win. Tyquan Thornton should have a bounce-back year as well and DeVante Parker should have a good year as the third receiver. Heading into camp this is how I see the pass-catching group based on chemistry with Jones.

1. Kendrick Bourne

2. DeVante Parker

3. JuJu Smith-Schuster

4. Tyquan Thornton.

5. Mike Gesicki

6. Hunter Henry

Bill Belichick on the hot seat again

Bill Belichick on the hot seat again is true. Every year Kraft has taken power away from him since 2020. With the more collaborative draft, to making sure O’Brien was hired this year to fix Mac Jones.  Even sure to keep Jerod Mayo who was in the interview process for offensive coordinator. Even though the Patriots put out that Joe Judge was assistant head coach that’s just to save face because he’s friends will Belichick. Patricia when he was here while getting paid by the Lions was the assistant head coach in 2021. Now with Joe Judge still getting paid by the Giants he is the assistant head coach. Once his contract with the Giants is up his ass will be out the door also like Patricia was.

Belichick not extending for Hopkins but signing Parker because he played ball with him and didn’t talk shit about the offense last year might come back to bite him. I think if the Patriots miss the playoffs he might be gone. Kraft wants to make and win a playoff game. It’s a very important year for Belichick.

Quarterback competition doesn’t exist Mac is the clear starter

There is NO quarterback competition in this training camp. Robert Kraft brought O’Brien here to fix Jones. Mac has been the centerpiece around the offense this off-season. He has led practices at local fields to get ready for this week. He looked like the clear number-one quarterback during the off-season program.

This week should be fun and I’m looking forward to seeing the offense function normally that will put away the narratives from a year ago.

Offensive line is the biggest question mark and Trent Brown but isn’t the hottest topic like Bill O’Brien coming in to fix the offense. The question remains Can Adrian Klemm fix the offensive line? We shall see.

Get training camp ready by supporting me and Team NBS by visiting our partners at https://www.nflshop.com/new-england-patriots/collectibles/