The New England Patriots’ preseason is full as they now should trim their roster to 53 gamers by Sunday 6 p.m. ET. The work has s, who will then work on filling out their apply squad earlier than turning their consideration totally to Seattle.
Earlier than the roster motion and Week 1 prep begins, nonetheless, let’s take one remaining look again on the week that was. Welcome to the newest installment of our Sunday Patriots Notes.
Depth considerations
The buzzword round 1 Patriots Place continues to be depth.
That stems from head coach s after the Patriots’ second preseason sport.
“I don’t suppose we have now a really deep workforce,” Vrabel stated.
Because the Patriots concluded their preseason Thursday evening in Cleveland, the shortage of depth — particularly on protection — was on show once more. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel and the Browns’ backups marched up and down the sector towards New England’s reserves in a 37-13 win, leaving Vrabel on the lookout for extra.
“Not ok,” the coach stated. “We obtained a pair sudden change stops, compelled them to kick some subject objectives which I feel is all the time constructive. However not ok. We couldn’t match the velocity of the quarterback within the zone learn and a few of these issues. However we’ll get again to work and work out who we get again to work with.”
The Patriots will now kind by way of the gamers on the roster bubble as they lower the group down from 91 to 53 gamers by Sunday night. They may even be on the hunt for upgrades on the e to enhance their depth.
As for the highest spots they may look to improve, right here’s the place we’ll be watching:
Defensive position: Getting into the summer season as one of many deeper teams on the roster, the Patriots’ reserve defensive lineman struggled towards the run all through the summer season. New England may very well be on the hunt for extra dimension at nostril deal with behind Cory Durden.
Edge: Mike Vrabel left the door open for Harold Landry to be activated off the PUP checklist earlier than Week 1. What the veteran has left within the tank is TBD. Gabe Jacas, in the meantime, is just not prepared for a major position out of the gate, whereas no different depth choice has pushed for a constant position. Even with free-agent addition Dre’Mont Jones and enchancment from Elijah Ponder in 12 months 2, the sting group stays the weakest general on the roster.
Linebacker: The Patriots do have a powerful duo in Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss atop the depth chart, however the depth behind them stays a priority. Rookie Khalil Jacobs was trending upward earlier than struggling an harm, whereas fellow rookie Namdi Obiazor is probably going on the workforce primarily for his particular groups worth. Veteran Chad Muma then had important points in preseason motion whereas Okay.J. Britt was inconsistent as properly.
Cornerback: The Browns picked on Patriots corners Kindle Vildor, Charles Woods, Karon Prunty and Marcellas Dial Jr. Thursday evening. The depth behind Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis and Marcus Jones stays worrisome, significantly given the harm historical past surrounding the highest of the group.
Waiver wire
Talking of the waiver wire, it’s a software the Patriots used final 12 months claiming each quarterback Tommy DeVito and cornerback Charles Woods, and one Vrabel stated they may proceed to make use of transferring ahead.
Nonetheless, the Patriots will probably be thirty first within the waiver order this go round after holding the 4th spot final 12 months.
“While you’re on the again finish of the waiver declare, that’s a terrific factor,” vice chairman of participant personnel Ryan Cowden stated. “However it’s additionally, , some good gamers that turn out to be out there are going to be gone earlier than you get that chance.”
Resting starters
With the emphasis on well being, Mike Vrabel determined to not play the Patriots starters in any respect all through the preseason.
“I simply suppose that it’s greatest for us proper now to attempt to begin subsequent week with the fellows that we have now. I do know that’s a troublesome determination. I don’t suppose there’s a proper or unsuitable reply,” Vrabel stated. “We now have to only proceed to attempt to put together the soccer workforce the most effective that we are able to. We simply wished to attempt to get to the common season with the fellows that we had.”
That may imply Drake Maye and Co.’s first stay snaps of the season will come Sept. 9 towards the Seahawks within the opener. Seattle’s starters may even take their first stay snaps of the 12 months in that matchup, as head coach Mike Macdonald adopted the same preseason method to Vrabel.
Gonzo’s frustration
For the primary time this offseason, Christian Gonzalez d that he stays with out a contract extension with the Patriots. Requested about his cornerback Thursday evening, Vrabel preached endurance.
“I don’t have a response,” Vrabel stated. “I’ve conversations with Christian, and I perceive that that is in all probability one thing that’s troublesome. I’ve by no means been in that place to this extent. I attempt to deal with it with class, but additionally, him and I talk. He’s all the time free – our gamers are all the time free to really feel how they need to really feel, and also you simply have to remain affected person, and hope that we are able to proceed to work to some type of diploma.”
Earlier on Thursday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the 2 sides n. Gonzalez’s workforce and the Patriots will work to return to an settlement once more this week, however Schefter speculated if no deal is reached earlier than Week 1, the edges might wait till subsequent offseason or then probably take heed to commerce presents.
Vp of participant personnel was requested if buying and selling Gonzalez is a chance.
“I feel we’re persevering with to work on the negotiation aspect of Christian and, , I feel that’s the place that stays,” he stated on Tuesday.
Van Roten’s reminiscence
Earlier than signing with the Patriots, veteran offensive lineman Greg Van Roten visited the workforce. For veterans, these visits are sometimes a possibility to get a really feel for the workforce’s surroundings and decide whether or not it’s a very good match.
It seems, Van Roten was already impressed by the Patriots from a Week 12 sport final season when he was a member of the New York Giants.
“I really instructed this to Coach Vrabes. After we have been on the brink of play [Dec. 1 last season], we have been fairly fired as much as come right here, Monday evening, play the Patriots, and everybody was chirping about their schedule and this and that,” Van Roten shared. “There have been a couple of video games in my [12-year] NFL profession the place you play towards a protection and it feels a bit bit totally different. And that was a kind of video games.
“They have been flying round. Hitting laborious. It was a really bodily sport very early on. I’ve been part of numerous NFL video games however that one stood out. In order that was one more reason why I wished to return right here as a result of they appear to have guys taking part in soccer the best method.”
Moist mule
It’s been an up-and-down summer season for rookie Gabe Jacas, which included one other poor edge set on a read-option play within the preseason finale.
After lacking all the spring and begin of coaching camp, Jacas appears to be like like he’s ingesting by way of a firehose on the sector. Nonetheless, the teaching workers has excessive hopes for the rookie’s long-term future.
“I’m not a gambler, however I form of have a look at possibly something in life as playing. You bought a child that’s large like him, that’s athletic like him, that’s meaner than a moist mule, and he loves soccer. I’m not gonna say he’s gonna be Jason Taylor or LT or any of that stuff, nevertheless it’s gonna be very laborious for him to fail,” exterior linebackers coach Mike Smith stated.
Eternally brother
DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte have been each drafted by the Patriots within the sixth-round of the 2023 NFL Draft. That’s why Monday’s commerce, which despatched Boutte to the Houston Texans, was further laborious on Douglas
“It was powerful. That’s my man,” Douglas stated following Tuesday’s apply. “That’s who I got here in [the league] with. That’s my brother, my without end brother.”
Whereas Douglas was extra of a contributor from the leap, he had a entrance row seat to Boutte’s growth over the previous few years.
“It was good, simply to see his progress. That was superb,” Douglas stated. “That’s an actual life story of trusting the method. Simply watching his story is superb.”
Corridor of Fame
After touchdown in Cleveland on Wednesday, the Patriots took a visit to the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame. Gamers left with loads of new pictures of their digicam rolls and Adam Vinatieri merchandise after listening to from Patriots Corridor of Famer Andre Tippett.
“I feel for lots of men, particularly me, I haven’t been again to the Corridor of Fame since 1998. I performed one sport with the Steelers, and this was as shut as we have been going to get,” Vrabel stated. :The gamers actually appreciated seeing the stuff that they needed to supply. We appreciated the Corridor of Fame for permitting us to return and treating us so properly.
“Having Tip be there and be capable to communicate concerning the fraternity and his profession, and every part that he did. He’s a terrific Patriot, and we have been glad to have the ability to honor him in entrance of our soccer workforce, but additionally have him present us round and be happy with the Corridor of Fame.”
Week forward
As they may proceed to tweak their 53-man roster and apply squad over the subsequent week, the Patriots may even totally start their preparation for Seattle. With over a week-and-a-half to take action, they may hit the apply fields twice in the course of the week earlier than their standard schedule begins Saturday.
The schedule for the approaching week appears to be like like this:
- Monday, August 31: No apply
- Tuesday, September 1: Mike Vrabel availability, Open locker room, Apply (2:10 p.m. ET)
- Wednesday, September 2: No apply
- Thursday, September 3: Mike Vrabel availability, Open locker room, Apply (2:10 p.m. ET)
- Friday, September 4: No apply
- Saturday, September 5: Mike Vrabel availability, Open locker room, Apply (2:10 p.m. ET)
- Sunday, September 6: Open locker room, Apply (2:10 p.m. ET)