Tag Archives: New England

2018 College Football Season Preview and Predictions

Leave a reply

The college football season is getting closer by the minute. With the first games coming on August 25th, a lot of things have changed. Teams like Alabama, Notre Dame, and Clemson will have to decide who will play QB while teams like Wisconsin and others return many of their key players from last year. We will also get to see how Oklahoma, Penn ST, and USC will fare without their best players from last season.

In this article I preview every single conference in the FBS. I will also make my final top 25 predictions and new year’s six bowl game predictions while predicting every single conference winner.

American Athletic Conference:

The American Athletic Conference is most likely the best group-of-five conference in the FBS. They were home to the only undefeated team in the FBS last year with UCF going 13-0 overall. However, UCF will look a lot different without head coach Scott Frost, and defensive leader Shaquem Griffin. Houston will look to improve this year to what they were in 2015 when they beat Florida ST in the Peach Bowl. They will be bringing back defensive tackle, Ed Oliver, who is likely the best player in college football. Navy is always a team to look out for with their option run game being the best in college football. Teams like Memphis, USF, and Temple have slim chances to win the conference this upcoming year. UConn, Cincinnati, East Carolina, Tulsa, SMU, and Tulane will fight for a bowl game.

Standings:

East

  1. UCF*
  2. Temple
  3. USF
  4. UConn
  5. Cincinnati
  6. East Carolina

West

  1. Houston*
  2. Navy
  3. Memphis
  4. Tulsa
  5. SMU
  6. Tulane

Conference Title Game: UCF VS Houston

I believe that the American Athletic Conference title game will feature defending champs, UCF, and 2015 champs, Houston. UCF brings a high-powered offense into the game led by quarterback, Mckenzie Milton. Milton had over 4,000 passing yards for the knights last year while throwing 37 touchdowns and 9 INT. Houston enters with the best player in college football, Ed Oliver. It is unlikely that defensive tackle leads a team to the title game, but Oliver is just that good. I believe Houston will win this game 23-20 mostly because of Houston’s defense and the loss of Scott Frost for UCF.

ACC:

The ACC has claimed that it is the best conference in college football. They are home to powerhouse, Clemson, who will look to avenge their loss to Alabama last year, and win the National championship. Clemson has the second best odds to win the National championship, trailing only Alabama. Quarterback, Kelly Bryant, looks to improve from last year, while the entire front seven, excluding Dorian O’Daniel returns next season. Even though Virginia Tech has lost a lot of starters, they have a favorable schedule. They do not play Clemson, and play Miami very late in the season in Blacksburn. They are a sneaky team to make the ACC title game.

Other teams like Florida ST and Miami are expected to have big years with expectations being ACC title or bust. Boston College is probably the biggest dark horse in the entire FBS. They went on a surge late in the season beating Louisville 45-42, beating Florida ST 35-3, and Virginia 41-10. BC will bring back Heisman hopeful, A.J. Dillon, and most of their team from a year ago.

Standings:

Atlantic

  1. Clemson*
  2. Boston College
  3. Florida ST
  4. Louisville
  5. Wake Forest
  6. North Carolina ST
  7. Syracuse

Coastal

  1. Virginia Tech*
  2. Miami
  3. Georgia Tech
  4. Duke
  5. Virginia
  6. Pittsburgh
  7. North Carolina

Conference Title Game: Clemson VS Virginia Tech

This conference title game will be a rematch of the ACC championship from 2016. Clemson won that game 42-35 en route to a national championship. This Virginia Tech team is a lot worse than the one from 2016 though. With the high-powered offense and stacked front seven for Clemson, this game could get ugly. I believe Clemson will win by a score of 49-13 to advance to the college football playoff.

Big 12:

The Big 12 is a very interesting conference this year. Players like Baker Mayfield and Mason Rudolph were drafted into the NFL, so it will be fun to see how those teams fare without them. Texas will be looking to live up to high expectations under head coach Tom Herman, and win the conference for the first time since 2009. They were dissapointing last year under Herman, but they have a very solid recruiting class and have a chance of winning this conference. There are other recognizable teams in the Big 12 like West Virginia, Oklahoma, and TCU who will all also battle for a shot in the Big 12 title game. West Virginia has arguably the best QB in the whole country in Will Grier, while Oklahoma has to fill the void of Baker Mayfield.

Standings:

  1. Texas*
  2. West Virginia*
  3. Oklahoma
  4. TCU
  5. Iowa ST
  6. Kansas ST
  7. Oklahoma ST
  8. Texas Tech
  9. Baylor
  10. Kansas

Conference Title Game: West Virginia VS Texas

My prediction for the Big 12 conference title game is Tom Herman’s Longhorns versus Will Grier’s Mountaineers. Texas has a few things to work out on the offensive side of the ball, specifically at QB. However, their defense can compete with anyone in the Big 12, and Tom Herman is a mastermind at head coach. On the other hand, West Virginia will look to have the best offense in the country. I see this game leaning towards West Virginia, as Will Grier puts on a note-worthy performance. West Virginia beats Texas 31-28.

Big Ten:

The Big Ten seems to have the highest amount of quality teams this upcoming college football season. Michigan has disappointed under Jim Harbaugh, but they have always had a top defense, and now bring in Ole Miss transfer, Shea Patterson, at QB. Ohio ST is in a little bit of trouble with head coach Urban Meyer under investigation from the NCAA. They have probably the best team in the Big Ten talent-wise, but they have a dark-cloud hanging above them which could be a distraction. Penn ST loses Saquon Barkley, but brings back most of their team including Heisman candidate, Trace McSorley. Michigan ST brings a top defense to the table, and Rutgers look to finally show that they belong with a strong showing this season.

On the other side of the conference there is Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Purdue. Wisconsin got some love from the AP as they are ranked #4 to start the year which is their highest since 2000. They are bringing back almost their entire team including running back Jonathan Taylor and QB Alex Hornibrook. They also make the case for the best offensive line in the country. Purdue and Nebraska will look to fight it out for the second spot in the division. They both have some of the best head coaches in the nation in Scott Frost and Jeff Brohm.

Standings:

East

  1. Michigan*
  2. Ohio ST
  3. Penn ST
  4. Michigan ST
  5. Rutgers
  6. Indiana
  7. Maryland

West

  1. Wisconsin*
  2. Purdue
  3. Nebraska
  4. Northwestern
  5. Iowa
  6. Minnesota
  7. Illinois

Conference Title Game: Michigan VS Wisconsin

This title game will be the first for Michigan under the Jim Harbaugh era. They will look to finally overcome Ohio ST in the last game of the season since they have a legit QB in Shea Patterson. Michigan also brings in one of the best defenses with Rashan Gray holding down the d-line while Devin Bush continues to add to his defensive highlight reel. Wisconsin has all the makings of going undefeated in the regular season with most of their starters returning. I see this game being a defensive battle with Wisconsin running back being the deciding factor in a 24-17 win for the Badgers.

C-USA:

The C-USA has one of the most fun teams to watch in college football in FAU. Lane Kiffin has turned FAU into a group-of-five powerhouse, and they only look to get better. Running back Devin Singletary will look to lead the offense while the ball-hawking defense does what they do best. Marshall has a QB problem with the loss of Chase Litton. However, they still have many ways to win on both sides of the ball. The other side of the conference is razor thin with Louisiana Tech, UTSA, North Texas, UAB, and Southern Mississippi. Louisiana Tech brings in the best defense in the West division, but the running game will be a problem they will have to resolve.

Standings:

East

  1. FAU*
  2. Marshall
  3. Middle Tennessee
  4. Western Kentucky
  5. FIU
  6. Charlotte
  7. Old Dominion

West

  1. Louisiana Tech*
  2. UTSA
  3. North Texas
  4. UAB
  5. Southern Mississippi
  6. UTEP
  7. Rice

Conference Title Game: FAU VS Louisiana Tech

The C-USA conference title game will be a matchup between Louisiana Tech and defending champs, FAU. FAU is just so good under Lane Kiffin that it is hard to pick against them. They won last years C-USA championship by a score of 41-17 against North Texas, and will look to do the same here. I believe FAU beats Louisiana Tech 52-16.

Mid-American Conference:

The MAC has been one of the funnest conferences to watch in college football. They have most of their games early in the week which is a fun gimmick to have to get a wider audience than playing on Saturday with no coverage. This year will be very competitive in the MAC. Starting off with Northern Illinois they have the best offensive and defensive lines in the entire conference. However, they do lack in skill positions on offense. Toledo has seemed to be the powerhouse of this conference, but this year they will be without QB Logan Woodside, but they have a great wide receiver group.

Miami (OH), Ohio, Akron, and Buffalo will all battle for a spot in the title game. Ohio brings one of if not the best offenses in the MAC, but their defense is shaky. Miami is coming in with two QBs that can play right away, and James Gardner at wide receiver.

Standings:

East

  1. Miami (OH)*
  2. Ohio
  3. Akron
  4. Buffalo
  5. Kent ST
  6. Bowling Green

West

  1. Northern Illinois*
  2. Toledo
  3. Eastern Michigan
  4. Western Michigan
  5. Central Michigan
  6. Ball ST

Conference Title Game: Miami (OH) VS Northern Illinois

My prediction for the MAC title game is Northern Illinois versus Miami of Ohio. Northern Illinois have a glaring hole on offense, but defense is the reason they are in the title game. Miami is an offensive powerhouse which will be a nice contrast of styles in this game. I see Northern Illinois beating Miami 23-20 to claim their fourth conference title.

Mountain West Conference:

The Mountain West Conference is home to the best group-of-five team since the 2000s. Boise ST is the front-runner for a New Year’s Six Bowl with QB Brett Rypien and RB Alexander Mattison. They also have a great secondary, and a defensive line that is not far behind. Wyoming will have to deal with the loss of Josh Allen, but still bring back a great defense led by safety Andrew Wingard. San Diego ST is Boise ST’s biggest threat in the conference this year. They always produce great running backs, and it will be no different this year with Juwan Washington. The Aztecs also have the best o-line in the conference, and a great defense.

Standings:

Mountain

  1. Boise ST*
  2. Utah ST
  3. Colorado ST
  4. Wyoming
  5. New Mexico
  6. Air Force

West

  1. San Diego ST*
  2. Fresno ST
  3. Nevada
  4. Hawaii
  5. San Jose ST
  6. UNLV

Conference Title Game: Boise ST VS San Diego ST

This conference title game will be one of the best in Mountain West history. Both Boise ST and San Diego ST are group of five powerhouses, and have a legit shot in a New Year’s Six Bowl game. In the end, Boise ST’s defense will be able to stop San Diego ST’s running attack as the Broncos win 27-20.

Pac-12:

The Pac-12 is wide open this year. Washington is the favorites to win it all with no major holes for the Huskies. Their backfield is the best in the conference, and both offensive tackles are NFL-caliber. They also have one of the best defenses in the league even with the loss of Vita Vea, but there is not a lot to complain about. Oregon brings in what could be the first overall pick come 2019 in Justin Herbert, while Stanford brings back Heisman runner-up, Bryce Love. USC will bring a great defense, but will have to fill the Sam Darnold void with an 18 year-old QB. Utah is a team to look for as they have a high-powered offense led by QB Tyler Huntley, and a solid defense.

Standings:

North

  1. Washington*
  2. Oregon
  3. Stanford
  4. Washington ST
  5. California
  6. Oregon ST

South

  1. Utah*
  2. USC
  3. Arizona
  4. UCLA
  5. Arizona ST
  6. Colorado

Conference Title Game: Utah VS Washington

The Pac-12 conference title game looks to feature a great defense versus a great offense. A story as old as time as Washington will take on Utah. Washington at this time will be looking to get into the CFB playoffs with an emphatic win against the Utes. Utah’s up tempo offense is no match for the Huskies top defense as Washington wins 26-7.

SEC:

The SEC has long been the powerhouse conference in football. They even had two teams in the National Championship last year as Alabama beat Georgia in overtime. Georgia will look to repeat as SEC champions as Jake Fromm will enter his second year, and they have a loaded offense. Missouri really came into their own last year under potential top pick, QB Drew Lock. South Carolina has one of the best offenses in the conference, but defense could come back to bite them. The Gators look to rebound after an abysmal season as they bring in head coach Dan Mullen to reinvigorate their offense.

On the other side of the conference their is Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi ST, and LSU. Alabama has run the college football world for years, but they will have a tough decision to make at QB between Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa. Their defense will also be great as always. Their secondary is a cause of concern with the losses of Ronnie Harrison and Minkah Fitzpatrick. Auburn looks to beat Alabama again with returning QB, Jarrett Stidham. Their defensive line competes with the best in the country led by Derrick Brown.

Standings:

East

  1. Georgia*
  2. Missouri
  3. South Carolina
  4. Florida
  5. Kentucky
  6. Tennessee
  7. Vanderbilt

West

  1. Alabama*
  2. Auburn
  3. Mississippi ST
  4. LSU
  5. Texas A&M
  6. Arkansas
  7. Ole Miss (Ineligible for Postseason Play)

Conference Title Game: Alabama VS Georgia

The SEC title game looks to be a rematch of the 2017 National Championship between Georgia and Alabama. Alabama will enter this game without missing the playoffs so far since its induction. Meanwhile, Georgia will look to get revenge from the National Championship. In the end, I believe Georgia’s high-powered offense is enough to beat Alabama’s hard-nosed, gritty defense.

Sun Belt Conference:

The Sun Belt conference is probably the worst conference in the FBS in terms of depth. However, Appalachian ST, Arkansas ST, and Troy are no joke in the college football world. Appalachian ST has the best cornerback group in the entire group of five, and an offense led by running back, Jalin Moore. Troy will look to repeat as conference champs as they bring back their great defense from a year ago. Arkansas ST is hands down the best team in the Western division. The offense is one of the most fun in the nation led by QB Caleb Evans, but their defense won’t stop anyone.

Standings:

East

  1. Troy*
  2. Appalachian ST
  3. Georgia Southern
  4. Coastal Carolina
  5. Georgia ST

West

  1. Arkansas ST*
  2. South Alabama
  3. Louisiana
  4. Texas ST
  5. Louisiana-Monroe

Conference Title Game: Troy VS Arkansas ST

The Sun Belt title game will feature defensive-minded, Troy versus offensive minded Arkansas ST. I believe Troy’s defense will be too much for Arkansas ST to handle as they bring home their second consecutive Sun Belt title.

FBS Independents:

The FBS Independents feature nation-wide powerhouse, Notre Dame, and other bowl-worthy teams. Notre Dame will look to finally make the CFB playoff after many years. Their offense is led by Brandon Wimbush, with a great backup QB option in Ian Book. Their defense is some of the best in college football. They are strong at all three levels with Jerry Tillery on the d-line, Te’Von Coney at linebacker, and All-American Julian Love at corner. Another team to look for in the Independents is UMass Amherst. UMass played in 8 games that were decided by 8 points or less last year including almost upsetting Tennessee and Mississippi ST. Their offense is dangerously good led by QB Andrew Young, but they have a bad defense.

Standings:

  1. Notre Dame
  2. UMass Amherst
  3. New Mexico ST
  4. Army
  5. BYU
  6. Liberty

Top 25

At the end of the year I believe the Top 25 in college football will look like this:

  1. Georgia*
  2. Clemson*
  3. Wisconsin*
  4. Notre Dame*
  5. Alabama
  6. Washington
  7. Michigan
  8. West Virginia
  9. Auburn
  10. Texas
  11. Michigan ST
  12. USC
  13. Oklahoma
  14. Ohio ST
  15. Boston College
  16. Boise ST
  17. Florida ST
  18. Penn ST
  19. TCU
  20. Stanford
  21. Utah
  22. Miami
  23. Houston
  24. Virginia Tech
  25. Oregon

The four playoff teams for the upcoming season are SEC champions Georgia Bulldogs, ACC champions Clemson Tigers, Big Ten champions Wisconsin Badgers, and the Notre Dame Fightin’ Irish from the Independents. This would mean that Alabama would not make the playoff for the first time ever. It also means that even though Washington and West Virginia won their conferences, they still do not make the playoffs.

Non-Playoff New Year’s Six Bowls:

Rose Bowl: #6, Washington VS #7, Michigan

The Rose Bowl will look to feature Pac-12 Champion Washington Huskies against Big Ten runner-ups, the Michigan Wolverines. Both of these teams are very balanced on both sides of the ball, but Washington’s defense will be too much to handle for Michigan’s offense as the Huskies win 30-17.

Sugar Bowl: #5, Alabama VS #8, West Virginia

Alabama will be playing in their first non-playoff New Year’s Six Bowl game since the playoffs were introduced. They will take on one of the best offenses in the country led by QB Will Grier. Overall, I believe Alabama will look to make a statement in this game by beating Big 12 champions by a score of 42-20.

Peach Bowl: #9, Auburn VS #10, Texas

The Peach Bowl will feature SEC powerhouse, Auburn versus Big 12 runner-up Texas. Auburn’s Jarrett Stidham is one of the best in the country as he takes on the best defense in the Big 12. I believe Auburn vs Texas will be one of the best bowl games as Auburn wins 43-42.

Fiesta Bowl: #11, Michigan ST VS #16, Boise ST

The Fiesta Bowl will feature Michigan ST vs Boise ST. These teams met once before where Michigan ST won 17-13 in 2012. Now they meet with a lot more on the line. Boise ST will look to place themselves at the top of the group-of-five college football world with a win while Michigan ST’s top defense tries to shut them down. I see this game going a lot like the last time these teams played as Michigan ST wins 21-17.

College Football Playoffs:

Cotton Bowl (CFP Semi-Final): #1, Georgia VS #4, Notre Dame

In the first playoff semi-final game, SEC champ, Georgia takes on FBS Independent Notre Dame. These teams met in a thriller in 2017 with Georgia edging out the win. This year is different as Notre Dame has improved a lot on defense, and Georgia has developed more on offense. I see this game going in Notre Dame’s favor with them winning 34-31, and advancing to the National Championship.

Orange Bowl (CFP Semi-Final): #2, Clemson VS #3, Wisconsin

In the second playoff semi-final game, ACC champ Clemson takes on Big Ten champ Wisconsin in the Orange Bowl. Clemson has made the CFB playoffs the last three years with them winning one under head coach Dabo Sweeney. This is Wisconsin’s first trip to the playoff as they are led by running back Jonathan Taylor. I believe this game will be won by Wisconsin due to their defensive ability, and ability to chew the clock with Jonathan Taylor. Wisconsin beats Clemson 17-16 to advance to the National Championship to play Notre Dame.

National Championship: #3, Wisconsin VS #4, Notre Dame

The 2019 National Championship will feature Wisconsin against Notre Dame. Notre Dame is arguably the biggest brand in college football history, and Wisconsin will look to prove that they are the best in the country for the first time in their long history. This game is between two very evenly matched teams on both sides of the ball. Both QB’s are good, both o-lines are good, both defenses are good, so it will come down to a few key players for each team. I believe Notre Dame’s defense, specifically Te’Von Coney, will lead Notre Dame in stopping Jonathan Taylor en route to their first National Championship win since 1988. Notre Dame beats Wisconsin by a score of 22-19.

This will wrap up my college football season preview and predictions. A lot has changed as Ohio ST, Alabama, Washington, and Oklahoma did not make the playoffs, and Notre Dame finally won. Be sure to watch this upcoming college football season, and see how correct I am in my predictions.

 

 

 

Patriots Training Camp Preview: Special Teams

Leave a reply

There are many new faces on the Patriots compared to last year. The Pats acquired four guys from trade, fifteen from free agency, and nine from the NFL Draft. They also lost nine players from trade and free agency and had three players retire.

In this new series, I will be looking at every player from each position leading up to training camp. For this installment I will talk about the special teams. The Pats special teamers have not changed that much over the years, but it could be different this year. They did not lose any key special teamers, but they added an undrafted rookie punter.

Stephen Gostkowski #3 (2006-Present):

Stephen Gostkowski is the second longest-tenured Patriot player behind Tom Brady. He is entering his thirteenth year for the team this upcoming season. Gostkowski was drafted in the fourth-round in the 2006 NFL Draft and was immediately expected to replace Adam Vinatieri. Over his career, Gostkowski has played in 184 games. He has 340 FGM on 388 FGA, and 593 XPM made on 599 XPM. He holds the all-time record for most consecutive extra-points made with 479. Gostkowski is a four-time pro bowler, two-time first team All-Pro, one-time second team All-Pro, and is 18th in all-time scoring in NFL history.

Gostkowski has proven to be one of the best-kickers in NFL history over his career. His career has been weird the past few years, missing more extra points than usual. One of his misses came in the AFC Championship in 2015, which cost the Pats the game. With Gostkowski being one of the best kickers in the league, coupled with the Pats not having another kicker, he is a virtual lock to make the team.

Ryan Allen #6 (2013-Present):

Ryan Allen is entering his sixth year in the NFL and for the Patriots. He has been the starting punter and holder for the Pats ever since he entered the league. Allen has played in all 80 games in his career. He has 345 punts, 45.3 yards per punt, and 127 punts inside the 20.

https://twitter.com/ezlazar/status/948785960510205952

As a left-footed punter, Ryan Allen is exactly the type of player the Patriots value. However, last year was his worst year as a pro. He only averaged 43 yards per punt. He is more known for pinning the opponents back inside their own 20 yard line, but he sometimes cuts a punt too short. Also, he has been shaky as a holder the past few seasons. Allen will have some competition this year as he is not the only punter on the roster.

Matthew Slater #18 (2008-Present):

Matthew Slater is entering his eleventh season in the NFL and for the Pats. He was the 153rd overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft out of UCLA. Slater has been one of the best, if not the best, special-teamer of all-time. As a returner, Slater has 35 returns, 637 yards, and 0 TD. He makes his money as a gunner on special teams. Over his career, he has 53 special teams tackles and 1 forced fumble. He has been recognized as a seven-time pro bowler, four-time first team All-Pro, one-time second team All-Pro, and a two-time Super Bowl champion.

https://twitter.com/fearthe_beard11/status/975122307424268288

Slater has been a captain ever since the 2011 since. He is quite the vocal leader. He was a free agent this past offseason. It looked like Pittsburgh was going to sign him. Instead, Slater resigned with New England on a two-year deal. There is really no chance that he will be released.

Joe Cardona #49 (2015-Present):

Joe Cardona is entering his fourth year in the NFL and for the Patriots. He was drafted 166th overall in the 2015 NFL Draft out of the Naval Academy. This made Cardona only the fourth pure long-snapper selected in the NFL Draft, and second for the Pats. Cardona has played in all 48 games in his NFL career so far, and has made contributions in both of the Super Bowls that he has played in.

Cardona has been a very good long snapper for New England in his career. Being one of the best long-snappers in the league, he will most likely make the roster.

Corey Bojorquez (Rookie):

Corey Bojorquez is the only addition to the Patriots special teams groups this summer. Bojorquez was picked up by New England as an undrafted free agent out of New Mexico State. He started 25 games in his last two years at NMSU. In those games, he had 116 punts and 45.1 average yards per punt.

Bojorquez is a lefty punter. He got a spot with the team after his tryout and can give Ryan Allen a real run for that punter spot.

 

Overall, the Patriots consistently have one of the best special teams in the entire NFL. It looks like this trend will only continue this season.

mccourty

Patriots Training Camp Preview: Safeties

Leave a reply

There are many new faces on the Patriots compared to last year. The Pats acquired four guys from trade, fifteen from free agency, and nine from the NFL Draft. They also lost nine players from trade and free agency and had three players retire.

In this new series, I will be looking at every player from each position leading up to training camp. For this installment I will talk about the safeties. The Pats have kept their main group of safeties in tact while adding two via free agency.

Devin McCourty #32 (2010-Present):

Devin McCourty is the leader of the Patriots defense. He is now heading into his ninth year in the NFL and for the Patriots. McCourty started his career in New England as a cornerback. In his rookie season he had 73 tackles, 17 PBUs, and 7 INT. The next season saw McCourty start in all 16 games, all the while earning a pro-bowl nod and second team All-Pro honors. McCourty spent his next two seasons at cornerback where he had 159 tackles, 25 PBUs, and 7 INT. He was selected as a second team All-Pro in 2012.

McCourty changed his position to free safety in the 2013 offseason due to the departure of Patrick Chung. He spent his next six seasons at his new position, playing and starting in 77 games. In those games, McCourty had 393 tackles, 35 PBUs, and 6 INT. This span included 2 selections to the second team All-Pro team, and one selection to the Pro-Bowl. He had also performed in the playoffs, and in the 19 games he had played he had 84 tackles and 2 INT.

With McCourty being the leader of the defense over his career, the Pats had a big decision to make. It was either resign Darelle Revis or keep Devin McCourty. They went with McCourty; he signed a five-year 47.5 million dollar contract that offseason. With him being the vocal leader for the Patriots, I don’t see anyway of getting cut.

Duron Harmon #21 (2013-Present):

Duron Harmon is now entering his sixth season in the NFL and for New England. He is a former third-round pick out of Rutgers University and has played in almost every game in his career. Over his five-year career, Harmon has missed one game and played in 79 games. Harmon has racked up a total of 114 tackles, 20 PBUs, and 11 INTs thus far. He also has 13 tackles and 3 INTs in his 13 playoff games. Harmon was a key part in the 2014 Super Bowl team. He helped cap off the comeback against Baltimore with a game-sealing INT.

Harmon got himself into trouble this offseason by getting arrested for trying to smuggle marijauna into Costa Rica. That being said, Harmon has been the ball-hawking safety the Patriots needed all these years. With guys like Chung and McCourty excelling at open-field tackling, Harmon brings something different. He has come up in the clutch so many times and has evolved into a defensive leader alongside McCourty. Harmon is more than likely going to make the roster this upcoming season.

Patrick Chung #23 (2009-2012, 2014-Present):

Patrick Chung is now in his tenth year in the NFL and ninth for New England. Chung was the 34th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. His first four years in the NFL were successful. He played in 50 games, amassing 231 tackles, 19 PBUs, and 7 INT. Chung became a free agent in the 2013 offseason and signed a three-year deal with the Eagles. Chung’s time in Philly was uneventful; he had 63 tackles and 3 PBUs, and later was released by the team. Chung came back to New England after his release and played in 63 games. He had 345 tackles, 28 PBUs, and 3 INT.

https://twitter.com/CaseyBake16/status/929926707561336832

Chung has split time at strong safety, nickel corner, and linebacker in his recent years in New England. He is a very versatile defensive player and superb at open-field tackling. Overall, Chung is a key-piece in the Pats secondary and he has a very good chance of making the team.

Jordan Richards #37 (2015-Present):

Jordan Richards is entering his fourth-year in the NFL and for the Patriots. Richards was the 64th overall pick by New England in the 2015 NFL Draft. Richards’ first two years saw him appear in 25 games, in which he had 20 tackles and 2 PBUs. He found a bigger role last season, playing in all 16 games and piling up 22 tackles and 1 PBU. He started in Super Bowl 52 against Philadelphia due to the Malcolm Butler benching. Richards was awful in this game. He missed numerous tackles and let up big plays.

As a hybrid safety, Richards brings some value to the team. However, he did let up so many plays last year and missed so many tackles. A lot of Pats fans cannot wait to see him gone, but he may have a legitimate chance of making the team yet again.

Eddie Pleasant #26 (2018-Present):

Eddie Pleasant was signed by New England on July 24, 2018 as an unrestricted free agent. Pleasant is entering his seventh season in the NFL and first for New England. Pleasant spent his first six years in the NFL for the Houston Texans, playing in 78 games. During that time, Pleasant had 99 tackles, 17 PBUs, and 3 INT.

Pleasant will head into training camp competing with strong safeties like Chung, Richards, Ebner, and others. It will be tough for him to make the team, especially after getting signed so late into the offseason. The odds are stacked against him.

Damarius Travis #39 (2017-Present):

Damarius Travis is entering his second year in the NFL and for the Pats. Travis was picked up by New England in 2017 as an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota. He had a good career for the Gophers, playing in 39 games and notching 189 tackles, 13 PBUs, and 4 INT. He went on to have a successful preseason for the Patriots last year, playing in all four games. Travis had 19 tackles, 1 FF, and 1 FF, which secured him a spot on the practice squad.

https://twitter.com/CaseyBake16/status/903402749877944320

Travis is a sleeper to make the team next year. Travis very well could make the roster, especially with the disappointment Richards has been.

Nate Ebner #43 (2012-Present):

Nate Ebner is entering his seventh year in New England. Ebner was picked up in 2012 by the Pats as an undrafted free agent out of Ohio State. He has proven to be one of the best special-teamers in the NFL since then. He has played in 82 games over the course of his career, mostly as a special-teamer. Ebner has lead the team in special teams tackles numerous times in his career. He was recognized as a second team All-Pro behind teammate Matthew Slater in 2016.

Ebner’s ability to be coachable and excel in his role as a special-teamer has caught the eye of Bill Belichick:

“His development has really been outstanding. I would probably put him in the, not the all-time top, but maybe in the top-five percent all time of players that I’ve coached, from where they were in college to how they grew in the NFL. [He] has adapted in a relatively short amount of time to the knowledge of our defense, to the understanding of opponents’ offenses, to instinctiveness and reading and recognition at a position that he plays right in the middle of the field, which is among the most difficult – inside linebacker and safety – where the number of things that can happen is the greatest.”

Ebner missed all of 2017 with a knee injury. But he will most likely make the team next year due to his special teams acumen.

A.J. Moore (Rookie):

A.J. Moore was picked up by New England as an undrafted free agent this offseason. Moore spent his college days at Ole Miss, playing in 39 games in four years. He totaled 132 tackles, 2 sacks, and 5 PBUs.

Moore is at a disadvantage because he is an undrafted rookie. His ability to cover receivers has never been that good, yet he is a solid tackler. With guys like Chung, Richards, Travis, and Pleasant all vying for roster spots, there is virtually no chance he makes the team.

 

The Pats will have a few tough decisions to make with this safety group. Guys like Richards, Ebner, and maybe even Chung could be gone by Week 1.

 

Gilmore

Patriots Training Camp Preview: Cornerbacks

Leave a reply

There are many new faces on this Patriots team compared to last year. The Pats acquired four guys from trade, fifteen from free agency, and nine from the NFL Draft. They also lost nine players from trade and free agency and had three players retire.

In this new series, I will be looking at every player from each position leading up to training camp. For this part of the series, I will take a look at the cornerbacks. The Patriots lost a key-piece to their secondary this past off-season with the departure of Malcolm Butler. New England then went on to add one CB via trade, two by draft, and one as an undrafted FA.

Stephon Gilmore #24 (2017-Present):

Stephon Gilmore is entering his seventh year in the NFL and second for the Pats. Gilmore was the 10th overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. He played five seasons in Buffalo, recording 225 tackles, 62 PBUs, and 14 interceptions. Gilmore’s final season in Buffalo was his best; he started 15 games and had 5 INT. He was voted as a Pro-Bowler for this season. Gilmore then signed a five-year, 65-million dollar contract with the Pats.

His career in New England started off rocky and he missed three games due to a concussion. Once he came back to the Pats, he played like the elite corner he was in Buffalo. In the 13 games in which Gilmore played, he notched 2 INT and 50 tackles. Gilmore started all three games in the playoffs, amassing 10 tackles and 6 PBUs. He also had the play of the game in the AFC Championship – a crucial pass deflection on fourth-down to seal the victory.

Gilmore’s contract will be debated with Pats fans for his entire tenure with the team. It is a lucrative deal, but it also gives the Patriots a legitimate number one cornerback to anchor the secondary. He showed he can cover the best wide-receivers in the game last year and will almost certainly make the roster next season.

Jason McCourty #30 (2018-Present):

Jason McCourty is in his tenth year in the NFL and first for the Patriots. He was the 203rd overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Tennesse Titans. McCourty played his first eight years in the NFL for Tennesee and played in 108 games over that span. He had 13 INT, 496 tackles, and 2 TD in his career for the Titans. McCourty was released by Tennessee after refusing to take a paycut. He was rumored to have interest in going to New England that offseason, but the Browns gave him a better offer. McCourty started in all 14 games he played and had 65 tackles, 3 INT, and 1 TD. His career in Cleveland was cut short as the Browns looked to revamp their roster with younger talent. McCourty was traded to New England in the 2018 offseason for a sixth round pick.

With McCourty coming in, the Pats have a guy that can replace Butler’s role on the team. As he gets older, McCourty continues to excel at zone defense, and read the QB better than many of his peers. He and his twin brother Devin will look to team up against opposing offenses this upcoming season. McCourty has a highly-likely chance of making the team due to his ability to read the pass.

Eric Rowe #25 (2016-Present):

Eric Rowe is entering his fourth year in the NFL and third for New England. The 2015 47th overall pick in the draft started his career in Philadelphia. After playing all 16 games for the Eagles in 2015, he was traded to the Patriots. Rowe’s career in New England began in 2016 but he only played in 9 games due to injury. He had 26 tackles, 8 PBUs, and 1 INT. Rowe also contributed with 11 tackles and 1 INT in the playoffs. His next season was riddled with injury; he only played in 8 games. In those contests, he had 14 tackles and 2 PBUs.

https://twitter.com/CaseyBake16/status/901237184585494529

Rowe’s play in Super Bowl LII against Philadelphia frustrated a lot of Pats fans. He was getting beat off the ball and let up big plays consistently. Overall, Rowe has the potential to be a good nickel corner, but I would not be shocked if Belichick released him.

Jonathan Jones #31 (2016-Present):

Jonathan Jones is an undrafted free agent out of Auburn University. He is now entering his third year in the NFL, all for New England. Jones has appeared in all 32 regular season games for the Patriots in his two-year tenure with the team. In his first year he had a small role, mostly as a special-teamer, and had 6 tackles, 1 FF, and 1 PBU. His next year was a quiet, breakout year as he started four games and saw increased snaps at corner. He had 36 tackles, 1 sack, 8 PBUs, and a game-winning INT against the Chargers.

https://twitter.com/CaseyBake16/status/924728538477056002

Jones will take a big step this upcoming year as Malcolm Butler is no longer with the team. He is going to have to show that he can continue to get better and become a consistent starter for the team. Jones has a very good chance of making the team.

Duke Dawson (Rookie):

Duke Dawson was the 56th overall pick by New England in the 2018 NFL Draft. He was also the highest picked defender taken by the Pats. Dawson hails from four years with the Florida Gators. In those four years, he played in 32 games and had 81 tackles, 6 INT, 3 TD, and 17 PBUs. His senior season was his best; he had 34 tackles, 4 INT, and 9 PBUs. Dawson was selected as first-team All-SEC.

Dawson could be pushed into a starting role as a rookie very early in the season. His talent is definitely there – it’s just of matter of how soon he can begin covering elite WRs. I can not see the Patriots cutting Dawson. After all, he was their highest defensive player selected.

Ryan Lewis #27 (2017-Present):

Ryan Lewis is entering his second year in the NFL, both for New England. Lewis was an undrafted free agent out of Pittsburgh before he was picked up by the Arizona Cardinals. He did not play a snap last year and was waived by Arizona. New England then snagged him. Lewis’ college career consisted 30 games, 103 tackles, 1 sack, and 2 INT, including one of off Deshaun Watson.

Lewis will have a very tough time trying to make the Patriots 53-man roster. The Pats have a lot of young-depth at the position that have a sizable advantage over Lewis. He could be riding the practice squad for the second year in a row.

Cyrus Jones #41 (2016-Present):

Cyrus Jones is now in his third-year in the NFL and for the Pats. The former 60th overall pick has not lived up to expectations so far. His first year in the league he played 10 games, both at returner and cornerback. As a corner, Jones only had 7 tackles and 0 INT or PBUs. It only got worse for the college-standout when he muffed 5 balls as a returner. He looked to improve in his next season, but a torn ACL sidelined him before he could even get started.

Jones had so much potential coming out of college, but it has yet to pan out in the NFL. Sometimes, teams need to realize that a pick can be a waste and ties have to be cut. I believe Jones will not make the roster due to his inability to keep up with WRs off the ball and his poor returning skills.

Keion Crossen (Rookie):

Keion Crossen was the 243rd overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. He spent his time in college as a two-sport athlete for the FCS School, Western Carolina. Crossen was a two-year starter for the Catamounts and played in 46 games. He amassed 165 tackles, 3 INT, and 19 PBUs in his career. Crossen also holds the school-record for fastest 100-meter dash, timing in at 10.33 seconds.

Crossen is a dynamic player in the secondary for the Pats. His ability to play man defense on elite, shifty receivers will be something to look for in training camp. Overall, he will still have a tough time making the roster, but he could impress the right people with his return skills.

J.C. Jackson (Rookie):

J.C Jackson is an undrafted rookie out of the University of Maryland. Jackson started his college career in Florida, but a shoulder injury saw him transfer to JUCO. After his time in JUCO, he went to Maryland and played two seasons for the Terps. In those two seasons, Jackson played 24 games and had 80 tackles, 4 INT, and 13 PBUs. Jackson decided to forgo his senior season and enter the 2018 NFL Draft.

https://twitter.com/ezlazar/status/991452262529753088

Even though undrafted players usually start at a disadvantage, Jackson is off to a strong start for New England. He got a lot of reps across Gilmore during OTAs, which is a good sign for the youngster. If Jackson continues to bring his intensity to training camp like he did in OTAs, I think he has a fair argument for a spot on the roster.

Jomal Wiltz #22 (2017-Present):

Jomal Wiltz is now in his second year in the NFL, both for the Patriots. After spending his first two years in college at JUCO, Wiltz signed with Iowa State. In his two seasons for the Cyclones, Wiltz had 90 tackles, 2 INT, and 17 PBUs. His senior season afforded him an honorable mention for the All-Big Ten team.

Wiltz is going to have a very hard time making the roster for the Patriots. The only way Wiltz has a chance is by wowing the coaches with his special teams ability. However, he’s to be considered a long-shot at best.

Final Takeaway

Overall, the Patriots have a lot of depth at cornerback this year. Watch closely to this group of guys as there seems to be some interesting battles brewing.

Patriots Training Camp Preview: Linebackers

Leave a reply

There are many new faces on the Patriots compared to last year. The Pats acquired four guys from trade, fifteen from free agency, and nine from the NFL Draft. They also lost nine players from trade and free agency and had three players retire.

In this new series, I will be looking at every player from each position leading up to training camp. For this installment I will talk about the linebackers. The linebacking core last year for New England was very depleted due to injury. They managed to maintain their depth while also drafting two linebackers this year.

Dont’a Hightower #54 (2012-Present):

Dont’a Hightower is now in his seventh season in the NFL and for the Patriots. Hightower was the 25th overall pick by New England in the 2012 NFL Draft out of Alabama. In his rookie year, Hightower was playing with guys like Jerod Mayo, Rob Ninkovich, and Brandon Spikes. In 2012, he played in 14 games and had 60 tackles, four sacks, and one TD. The next three years saw him appearing in 40 games, and racking up 279 tackles and 10.5 sacks. Hightower’s 2016 season saw him playing in 13 games and having 65 tackles and 2.5 sacks. This season got Hightower recognized by the NFL, as he was named to the AP All-Pro Second team.

Hightower has also shown up in a big way in the playoffs. His first four playoff games consisted of 22 tackles and one INT. He came up huge in Super Bowl 49 against Seattle, where he tackled Lynch at the one yard line to prevent a late score. The Patriots’ next Super Bowl proved to be a big one for Hightower as well. He had what many people call the “turning point” of the Super Bowl when he strip-sacked Matt Ryan.

https://twitter.com/patriotszn/status/924497845494996993

Dont’a Hightower had high expectations heading into the 2017 season. However, those expectations were ruined as seven weeks into the season as he suffered a torn pectoral muscle. The Pats placed him on the IR, and he finished with 14 tackles and two sacks. A healthy Dont’a Hightower is one of the best linebackers in all of football. With a guy like Hightower back, the Pats are in it for another Super Bowl run. He is a lock to make the team come regular season.

Kyle Van Noy #53 (2016-Present):

Kyle Van Noy is entering his fifth NFL season, and third for New England. Van Noy entered the league as the 40th overall pick for Detroit in the 2014 draft. After two and a half years in Detroit, Van Noy was traded to New England. He played seven games for New England after the trade, and had 27 tackles, one sack, and one INT. In 2017, Van Noy started in 12 of the 13 games he appeared in. He had his best season in the NFL, as he totaled 73 tackles, and 5.5 sacks. Van Noy also stepped up big in the 2017 playoffs when he had 16 tackles and one sack.

Van Noy was a very solid mid-season addition by New England in 2016. He was pushed into a very big role after the Hightower role, and he stepped up big. Van Noy can cover tight ends and rush the passer when needed to. Overall, considering the skills Van Noy has, and the lack of depth at linebacker, I think he will make the team.

Elandon Roberts #52 (2016-Present):

Elandon Roberts was the 214th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. He is now entering his third NFL season. As a rookie, Roberts played in 13 games and started five. He totaled 45 tackles and one forced fumble in that span. Roberts also played in all three of the Pats’ 2016 playoff games, having seven tackles. He had a larger role in his second season due to the injury to Hightower. Roberts played in 15 games while starting 14 and had 67 tackles, two sacks, and one fumble recovery. He played in the three playoff games, and had 15 tackles. His play in the Super Bowl garnered a lot of hate from Pats fans, however. This was due to the amount of blown coverage by Roberts that led to the Super Bowl defeat.

Roberts has exceeded a lot of fans’ expectations as a sixth round pick. He has had a solid career so far, but his Super Bowl 51 woes need to be fixed. Overall, he is still very young in his career, and I think he is more than likely going to have roster spot for next season.

Marquis Flowers #59 (2017-Present):

Marquis Flowers is heading into his fifth year in the NFL and second for New England. He was selected 212th overall by Cincinnati, and played three seasons there. His career with the Bengals was mainly as a special-teamer, as he had only 13 tackles over 32 games. He was then traded to New England before the 2017 season. Flowers played in all 16 games for the Pats, while having 30 tackles and 3.5 sacks. He also played in the three playoff games, totaling six tackles and one sack in that span.

Flowers was a quiet pick up for New England, as many people viewed him as a special-teamer only. He managed to show that he can rush the passer at will, or drop into coverage. After the season, Flowers signed a one-year deal with the team to remain in New England. Overall, with the ability that Flowers possesses it will be tough to cut him.

Christian Sam (Rookie):

Chrisitan Sam was the 178th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft for the New England Patriots. Sam played all four seasons during his career at Arizona State. In Sam’s first two seasons for the Sun Devils he played in 22 games. In that span, Sam had 114 tackles, four sacks, and two INTs. He was a medical redshirt in 2016 when he suffered a season ending foot injury in the first game of the year. Sam came back, and had his best season to date. He played in 12 games and had 127 tackles, three sacks, and one INT.

Sam is a very athletic linebacker who works best in zone coverage. He has great vision and makes quick reads, almost like a safety. Sam will still have to fight to make the team, but he brings a lot skills that the Pats did not have before. He could make it to the practice squad, but the Pats risk him being picked up by another team.

Ja’Whaun Bentley (Rookie):

Ja’Whaun Bentley was selected in the fifth-round with the 143rd overall pick by the Patriots. He was a four-year starter at Purdue where he played in 37 games. In Bentley’s first three seasons at Purdue, he had 175 tackles, one sack, and one INT. Bentley played in 12 games in his senior season, and had 97 tackles, one sack, and one INT. Bentley was an honorable mention for the All-Big-Ten team and was a Pro Football Focus All-American for his 2017 season.

https://twitter.com/SchutteCFB/status/932015422978785280

Bentley is a lot different than his fellow member of his draft class, Christian Sam. Bentley is more of a hard-hitting run-stuffer. He does not excel being in coverage or pass-only situations. The Patriots did draft him higher than Sam though, and they see something in him. Overall,

Harvey Langi #48 (2017-Present):

Harvy Langi is looking to enter his first healthy season for the Patriots. Langi was an undrafted free agent out of BYU when the Pats picked him up in 2017. He was one of the four undrafted free agents last year to make the final roster. Things did not start out well for Langi as tragedy struck him before the season started. In October, a driver rear-ended Langi’s car which lead to injuries to his neck, head, and back. Langi was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list due to his injuries, and missed the rest of the season.

Langi’s 2017 season was a sad one as he only played in one game. He has a chance to show what he would have been last year as he looks to make the roster again. It will be tough to make the roster with the addition of the two new draftees. Langi could be cut then placed on the practice squad, but anything can happen with him.

Nicholas Grigsby #50 (2017-Present):

Nicholas Grigsby is entering his third season in the NFL and second for the Patriots. Grigsby was an undrafted free agent out of Pitt before he signed with the Rams. He spent most of his season for the Rams on the practice squad before playing the final six games. Grigsby was then waived before the 2017 season, and was picked up by the Baltimore Ravens. He did not play one game for Baltimore and eventually the Patriots picked him off of their practice squad. Grigsby played in 5 games for New England in 2017, and had 5 total tackles.

Grigsby is primarily a special-teamer. I believe out of all the linebackers on the Pats, he will have the toughest time making the team. His best chance is by making the practice squad.

Overall, the Patriots have a few new additions at linebacker. Guys like Sam and Bentley can come in right away and contribute. Also, the return of Langi and Hightower from injuries could be key in another Pats’ Super Bowl run.

Patriots Training Camp Preview: Defensive Tackles

Leave a reply

There are many new faces on this Patriots team compared to last year. The Pats acquired four guys from trade, fifteen from free agency, and nine from the NFL Draft. They also lost nine players from trade and free agency and had three players retire.

In this new series, I will be looking at every player from each position leading up to training camp. For this part of the series, I will take a look at the defensive tackles. The Pats acquired one DT via trade, and two as undrafted free agents. They also were able to keep their main defensive tackles from last season.

Malcom Brown #90 (2015-Present):

Malcom Brown is entering his fourth year in the NFL and for the Pats. He was New England’s first-round draft choice in 2015, as he was taken as the 32nd overall pick. Brown played all 16 games in his rookie season while starting 12. In those 16 games, Brown had 48 tackles, 3 sacks, and 2 fumble recoveries. He also played in the two playoff games that year where he recorded six tackles. Brown’s 2016 season saw him play all 16 games while starting in 13. He had 3 sacks, 50 tackles, and a safety, over the course of that season. Brown played in 13 games and started 12 last season. He suffered an ankle injury which made him miss three games. In the 13 games, he did play in, Brown had 49 tackles and 2.5 sacks. He also had 6 tackles in the Super Bowl 52 defeat to Philadelphia.

The Patriots recently declined Brown’s fifth-year option which will make Brown a free agent next offseason. Brown has been a very good player so far with New England. He can stuff the run, but also occasionally rush the passer. Brown has a very likely chance of making the roster, but with the Pats declining his option anything can happen.

Danny Shelton #71 (2018-Present):

Danny Shelton is going into his first year in New England and his fourth in the NFL. Shelton was the 12th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft and was the only defensive tackle picked ahead of Malcom Brown. In Shelton’s rookie season he played in 16 games and started 15; he had 36 tackles. His 2017 season saw Shelton start all 16 games and had 59 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Shelton suffered a calf injury in the 2017 season which caused him to miss 2 games. In the 14 games he played in, Shelton had 33 tackles.

https://twitter.com/DLineVids/status/842044399164968963

The Pats acquired Shelton via trade with the Cleveland Browns. The trade included the Pats receiving a fifth-round pick and Shelton for a 2019 third-round pick. New England declined Shelton’s fifth-year option making him a free agent in 2019. Shelton is a very big man whose only really good at stuffing the run. He is a very good compliment to guys like Brown, Flowers, and Clayborn because of that. Shelton has a very likely chance of making the roster, but he can not show up overweight.

Lawrence Guy #93 (2017-Present):

Lawrence Guy is heading into his seventh NFL season and his second for New England. Guy was a seventh-round draft pick in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Colts. In his first five seasons, he played for three teams, Indianapolis, San Diego, and Baltimore. Over those three seasons, he appeared in 67 games, and had 129 tackles and 6.5 sacks. Before the 2017 season, Guy was signed to the Patriots on a four-year deal. His first season saw him start in 15 games and appearing in all 16. He had a career-high in tackles (58) and had 1 sack. Guy also played in all three playoff games having 21 tackles and 1 sack.

Guy is a very versatile defensive-lineman as he can be a pass-rusher on the outside or a run-stuffer on the inside. With a lot more competition this year on the d-line, Guy will have to still battle for a roster spot.

Vincent Valentine #99 (2016-Present):

Vincent Valentine was the 96th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. He is now entering his third year for the team and in the NFL. Valentine’s role in 2016 was primarily to backup guys like Malcom Brown and Alan Branch. He played in 13 games and started 2. In those 13 games that he played, Valentine had 19 tackles and 1 sack. Valentine did not play one snap the entire 2017 due to a knee injury.

Valentine is primarily a run-stuffer as a 330 lb defensive linemen. With him coming off an injury, and the Patriots adding to the defensive line, it is going to be very tough for him to make the roster. Valentine’s best chance of making the team is most likely through the practice squad.

Adam Butler #70 (2017-Present):

Adam Butler was a pleasant surprise for the Patriots last year as an undrafted free agent out of Vanderbilt. Butler was forced to step up after many of the Patriots defensive linemen got injured. He appeared in 16 games his rookie year and started 6 of them. He had 19 tackles and 2 sacks over those 16 games. Butler also contributed in the playoffs with 3 tackles and 2 sacks in three games.

https://twitter.com/dbc5361/status/952380761415536640

Butler has shown so much potential as an undrafted rookie to be a good player in the NFL. However, even though he had a solid season last year that does not mean he will be a lock to make the roster. Butler is going to have to work very hard in preseason and training camp if he wants to make the 53 man roster.

Frank Herron (Rookie):

Frank Herron was picked up by New England as an undrafted free agent out of LSU. Herron was a four-year player at LSU but only played in 23 games over those years. His college career consisted of him having 67 tackles and 2 sacks.

Herron’s character issues are what dropped him out of the draft, but he did do well in the games he played. If Herron can stay on the field, I think he will have a career in the NFL as a backup. Herron’s best chance of making the Pats is by practice squad.

John Atkins (Rookie):

John Atkins was also picked up by New England as an undrafted free agent. He is joining his former college teammates, Sony Michel and Isaiah Wynn, as a rookie for the Patriots. Atkins had a four-year career at Georgia where he played in 36 games. Over the span of his career, Atkins had 81 tackles, 0 sacks, and a fumble recovery. He was a key factor in Georgia’s National Championship appearance.

Atkins is a run-stuffer only he has had zero sacks over the span of his career. The 330 pound defensive tackle will have to work very hard to make the team. His best chance to make the team is by practice squad, or a key-player getting hurt.

Overall, the Patriots defensive tackle group has only gotten better. The addition of Danny Shelton added to guys like Brown, Butler, and Guy will be a key reason to why the Patriots make another Super Bowl run.

Patriots Training Camp Preview: Defensive Ends (@bigmike7772)

Leave a reply

There are many new faces on this Patriots team compared to last year. The Pats acquired four guys from trade, fifteen from free agency, and nine from the NFL Draft. They also lost nine players from trade and free agency and had three players retire.

In this new series, I will be looking at every player from each position leading up to training camp. For this part of the series, I will take a look at the defensive ends. The Pats acquired one DE via free agency and one as an undrafted rookie. The defensive end position was a concern last year due to health issues, but a lot of guys will be coming back.

Adrian Clayborn #94 (2018-Present):

Adrian Clayborn was acquired by New England this off-season during free agency. Clayborn is entering his 8th season in the NFL, and 1st for the Pats. He was drafted by Tampa Bay in the first round of the 2011 Draft and played four seasons for the Bucs. Over those four seasons, he only played in 36 games due to injuries. Clayborn was then signed by Atlanta in 2015 as an unrestricted free agent. His first two seasons in Atlanta started off slow with him only having 7.5 sacks in that span. However, his 2017 campaign proved why he was a first-round pick. He played in all 16 games that season, but only started 2. In those 16 games, Clayborn had a career high in sacks (9.5) including a game against Dallas where he had 6 sacks.

Clayborn is a welcome addition to what was a depleted front seven for the Pats last year. Adrian will look to team up with Trey Flowers and wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks. He will definitely make the team for the upcoming season.

Trey Flowers #98 (2015-Present):

Even though Flowers was drafted in 2015, he is the longest-tenured Patriot at defensive end. Flowers is now entering his 4th season for New England in 2018. Trey missed most of his rookie season after a shoulder injury placed him on injured reserve. Flowers’ 2016 season was a massive breakthrough the Pats needed for their Super Bowl run. He played in all 16 games that season and had seven sacks. His real breakout on the national level came in Super Bowl 51 against Atlanta. In that game, Flowers had 2.5 sacks and a crucial one on 2nd down to push the Falcons out of field goal range.

Flowers had another solid season in 2017 where he had 6.5 sacks. Overall, Trey is the leader of the defensive line for New England at such a young age. He can only get better and will most certainly make the team for next season.

Derek Rivers #95 (2017-Present):

Derek Rivers is entering his second season in the NFL. He was the highest draft pick for New England in 2017 as he was taken 86th overall. Rivers did not play one snap during the season though as he suffered a torn ACL. He played college football for Youngstown State at the FCS level. He quickly became one of the best pass-rushers of all-time in FCS. Rivers totaled 41 career sacks over his four-year career. This was a school record and is fifth all-time in sacks at the FCS level.

https://twitter.com/DLineVids/status/825481079683325952

Rivers has a lot of potential for the upcoming season. He is a complete pass-rusher and can get to the QB at a high rate. I believe he will make the roster for the upcoming season.

Deatrich Wise #91 (2017-Present):

Deatrich Wise is entering his 2nd season in the NFL and for the Pats. He was drafted by New England in the 2017 NFL Draft with the 131st overall pick. Wise got a lot of playing time in the 2017 season due to the injuries to the Patriots front seven. He played in all 16 games, and had 5 total sacks. He also had 2 sacks against Tennessee in the divisional round of the 2017 NFL Playoffs.

https://twitter.com/ezlazar/status/1010230976356716544

Wise has shown as a fourth-round pick that he can contribute to this team. He is a very good pass-rusher and can also occasionally be put on run situations. I believe that Wise will make the roster for next season.

Eric Lee #55 (2017-Present):

Eric Lee is entering his second year in the NFL and 1st full season for New England. Lee was picked up by Houston as an undrafted free agent but was later released after the preseason. The Bills picked Lee up and placed him on their practice squad until October. He was picked up by New England in November of that year. Lee played 6 games for the Patriots and had 3.5 sacks and one INT. His only INT came off the team that cut him a month earlier, the Buffalo Bills.

Lee was a good pickup for New England halfway through the season last year. He showed what he brings to the table last year, but will still have to battle to get a spot on the roster.

Geneo Grissom #96 (2015-Present):

Geneo Grissom was actually drafted 14 picks before Trey Flowers in the 2015 NFL Draft. Grissom will be entering his fourth season in the NFL and for the Pats. Grissom has definitely not outplayed Trey over his stint in New England. Over his three year career, he has played only 34 regular season games with only one sack. His best game came against Tennessee in the 2017 playoffs where he had two sacks.

https://twitter.com/DLineVids/status/952697712398426112

Grissom has been a disappointment in New England. I believe he was only kept on the roster last year due to the lack of depth at pass-rusher. Grissom is a candidate to get cut for the upcoming season if he doesn’t show his talent in training camp.

Trent Harris (Rookie):

Trent Harris was picked up by New England as an undrafted free agent from Miami. Harris had a four-year career at the “U” where he played in 44 games. Over that span, he had 15 sacks and 26.5 tackles for loss. His senior year he had 8.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss.

Harris is a DE/OLB hybrid as he can also cover tight ends and slot receivers. Trent’s best option of making the team is practice squad unless he does something amazing in preseason or training camp.

The defensive end group for New England this year is a major upgrade from last year. With additions like Derek Rivers and Adrian Clayborn, the Pats are bound to make another Super Bowl run.

Patriots Training Camp Preview: Offensive Tackles (@bigmike7772)

Leave a reply

There are many different faces on this Patriots team compared to last year. New England acquired four guys from trade, fifteen from free agency, and nine from the NFL Draft. They also lost nine players from trade and free agency and had three players retire.

In this new series, I will be looking at every player from each position leading up to training camp. For this installment I will talk about the offensive tackles.

The Patriots have had a solid tackle group since Brady took over. The Pats lost a significant o-linemen this offseason, Nate Solder, and will look to replace him with the new guys they brought in.

Marcus Cannon #61 (2011-Present):

Marcus Cannon drafted in the fifth round of the 2011 draft by the New England Patriots. He was drafted as a project and he ended up working out. Cannon was a backup for the beginning of his career for Sebastian Vollmer. In 2012, Marcus played in all 18 of the Patriots games ans started one. He got six starts in 2013, four in 2014, and eight in 2015.

After Vollmer retired, Cannon got the starting job at right tackle. He showed up to the Pats in 2016 in the best shape of his life. He started all 15 games that he played in and was signed to a five-year, $32.5 million contract extension. Marcus was named a Second-Team All-Pro in 2016 and was a key part as to why the Patriots won Super Bowl 51. Cannon played in only seven games in 2017 due to a toe injury and was later placed on the injured-reserve.

With Nate Solder out, Cannon is now the leader of the offensive line. Hopefully he stays healthy next season for the Patriots to make a run for the Super Bowl. He will 100% make the 53 man roster.

Isaiah Wynn (Rookie):

Isaiah Wynn was the Patriots’ 23rd overall in the first draft round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Wynn played four years at Georgia University alongside new Patriots’ RB, Sony Michel. In his freshman year he played in all 11 games for the Bulldogs. He then played in 25 games over the next two years, and solidified himself as the leader of the o-line. Wynn started all 15 games for Georgia his senior year which ultimately brought them to the championship game. Over the course of Isaiah’s college career he has let up only four sacks.

Even though Wynn has shown how talented he is at left tackle, many people put him as a guard leading up to the draft. At only 6’2″ Wynn is very undersized, but makes up for it in outstanding hand placement and footwork. He showed how amazing he is at left tackle at the Senior Bowl where he dominated the defensive linemen.

When the Patriots selected Wynn the ticket they sent in said tackle. This is most likely due to the fact that Nate Solder left this offseason. Isaiah will have to fight to start Week 1, but he will definitely be on the roster.

Trent Brown #77 (2018-Present):

Trent Brown is entering his fourth year in the NFL, and his first with the Pats. Brown was acquired by the Patriots from San Francisco via trade during the 2018 Draft. In Brown’s rookie season he started the last two games and played in six total. His 2016 campaign saw him start all 16 games for the 49ers. Trent gained some praise from Super Bowl MVP, Von Miller in 2017.

“He’s the best right tackle in the National Football League! And he may even be a top-five tackle, period, in the National Football League. There’s not another tackle who’s that tall, that big and can move the way he moves.”

https://twitter.com/VeteranScout/status/916420354871934976

Brown started the first ten games of the 2017 season, but was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. Trent Brown is a very big man with him being listed at 6’8″, 355 pounds. Brown is fast for his size though and is able to not only keep up, but excel against the best edge rushers in the league. As a right tackle, Brown most likely won’t start over Marcus Cannon. However, if Brown shows what he can do at left tackle and beats out Isaiah Wynn, he will have a roster spot.

LaAdrian Waddle #68 (2015-Present):

LaAdrian Waddle is entering his sixth season in the NFL, and fourth for the Pats. Waddle was an undrafted free agent in 2013 and was picked up by Detroit. In his rookie season he started eight games. In his next season he started in ten games, but couldn’t complete the season due to knee surgery. Waddle was then cut in his third season for Detroit in December of 2017. He was picked up by New England the day after.

Waddle signed a two-year deal with New England in 2016, but was inactive for all-but two games that next year. 2017 is where Waddle showed he can be a solid option as tackle for the Pats. He was active in 12 games and started in four due to Marcus Cannon getting injured. In the 2018 offseason he re-signed with the Patriots on a one-year deal.

LaAdrian has proven to be an excellent option as a starting tackle in case someone gets hurt. I believe he will make the team due to the fact that he can play at left or right tackle when asked.

Cole Croston #74 (2017-Present):

Cole Croston is entering his second year in the NFL. He was picked up by New England after the 2017 NFL Draft as an undrafted free agent. Croston was kept on by the Patriots as a member of their practice squad for the 2017 season. He only played in three games last year with him, getting his first NFL snaps as a left guard in a 33-8 victory of Oakland in Week 11. Croston was ultimately kept on due to the fact that he can play tackle and guard.

Croston will have to work very hard if he wants to make the 53-man roster. I believe he will make it, but he could also become a member of the practice-squad. However, if the Pats do place him on the practice squad, I wouldn’t be surprised if another team did not pick him up.

Ulrick John #67 (2018-Present):

Ulrick John is heading into his fifth NFL season, and first for the Pats. This is Ulrick’s fifth NFL team since entering the league in 2014. He was drafted in the seventh round by Indianapolis, then got cut. He then got signed by Miami where he only played two games. The most games he has played in a season came from Green Bay where he played in five games. John’s next season was in Arizona where he started all three games that he played in.

Overall, Ulrick has only had three career starts in ten games. He was signed by New England on April 23, 2018, but his chances of making the roster are very slim.

The Offensive Tackle position has had some big names come through since 2001. The Pats look to protect Tom Brady en route to their sixth Super Bowl.

Patriots Training Camp Preview: Tight Ends

Leave a reply

There are many different players on this Patriots team compared to last year. New England acquired four guys from trade, fifteen from free agency, and nine from the NFL Draft. They also lost nine players from trade and free agency and had three players retire.

In this new series, I will be looking at every player from each position leading up to training camp. For this installment I will talk about the tight ends. The tight end position has been very valuable for the Patriots since Belichick took over. They became the first team to use three tight end packages and move tight ends to wide receiver slot. This past year they gained two tight ends from free agency and added one through the draft.

Rob Gronkowski #87 (2010-Present):

Gronk is considered the best tight end in the NFL, and has been for most of his NFL career. He is entering his ninth season for the Patriots after being drafted in the second round. Rob has proven to be great, but has also had some major injuries along the way. He has not played in 16 regular season games since the sophomore season. There were murmurs of Gronk retiring after New England’s loss in the Super Bowl against Philadelphia. It escalated all the way to the Patriots exploring trades for Rob. However, Gronk will be a Patriot for the upcoming season.

Rob has shown on the field why he is so good. In Gronkowski’s rookie season he had ten touchdowns. He then followed up with an outstanding second year showing with 18 TDs, 90 receptions, and 1,327 yards. He broke the single season touchdown record by a tight end in NFL history en route to becoming a first team All-Pro. 2012 and 2013 was where Gronk missed a lot of time, participating in 18 games over the two-season span. He then came back in 2014 and 2015 with 1000+ yard seasons and 23 combined touchdowns. In 2016 he missed a lot of time again due to injury and only played in eight games. Gronkowski last season had a healthy year with him seeing the field for 14 games. He hauled in 69 receptions, 1084 yards, and eight scores.

https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/945006630113984512

Gronkowski will need to be a major piece for the Patriots offense if they want to win another Super Bowl next year. Gronk needs to stay healthy for the season, especially with Edelman’s pending PED suspension. Rob will make it to the Patriots roster, no doubt.

Dwayne Allen #83 (2017-Present):

Dwayne Allen is entering his seventh season in the NFL and his second with the Patriots. The Pats acquired Allen via trade in the 2017 offseason to help with the loss of Martellus Bennett. The Pats have a history of bringing in veteran backup tight ends to fit their offense, and that is what Allen was supposed to be.

Allen started his career in Indianapolis as the Colts’ third-round pick in 2012. His rookie year he had 45 receptions, 521 yards, and three TDs. The next year he missed almost entirely due to a knee injury. He came back in 2014 where he had 395 yards and eight scores. In his last season with the Colts he played all 16 games and had 406 yards and six scores. The Patriots traded a fourth-round pick to Indy for Allen and expected him to be the solid backup tight end that Gronk has always had. Allen’s season was ultimately a disappointment with him catching only ten passes for 86 yards and a TD.

https://twitter.com/CaseyBake16/status/929906514898407424

Dwayne is coming off an awful season for the Pats and will need to show something off big in training camp, or else he might not make the roster.

Troy Niklas #86 (2018-Present):

Troy Niklas was signed by the Patriots in the 2018 offseason. He signed a one year deal worth $940 thousand. Niklas has been primarily a blocking tight end in his career, which is why the Pats brought him in. He will be entering his fifth season in the NFL and his first for the Patriots.

Niklas’ first full NFL season came in 2015 where he played in 16 games and had four catches, 33 yards, and two TDs. He missed 13 games in 2016 due to injury. Troy had 11 catches for 132 yards and one score in his last season for Arizona.

Even though Niklas’ stats don’t look appealing, he has been on an NFL roster for his whole career due to the fact he has been a successful blocker. Troy will still have to fight in training camp to make the roster, but he has a good chance to make it.

Jacob Hollister #47 (2017-Present):

Hollister is entering his second season in the NFL and the Patriots. He was an undrafted free agent signing out of Wyoming after the 2017 NFL Draft. He played a larger role than a lot of people expected out of him last year.

Jacob played in 15 games last year for the Patriots. He had four catches and 42 yards last year. He also showed how good he was at catching the ball in preseason where he had 12 catches for 146 yards and a TD. Hollister only played one playoff game and he had one catch for a yard.

https://twitter.com/FilthyHits/status/895853246752804864

Jacob Hollister exceeded expectations last year when he played in 15 games. He definitely has a good chance of making the roster for the upcoming season as long as he does well in training camp.

Will Tye #82 (2017-Present):

Will Tye will be entering his first full season for the Pats and his fourth in the NFL. He was acquired by the Patriots in October of 2017 after being cut by the New York Jets. He did not play for the Patriots in 2017 and was placed on the practice squad for the remainder of the year.

Tye had his most success for the New York Giants. In his two-year stint with the Giants he had 90 receptions, 859 yards, and four TDs. He then was claimed by the Jets, where he only played three games and had four catches for 38 yards.

https://twitter.com/NFLonLive/status/676595952933838848

Will has been an extremely good blocker and has played a lot of fullback because of it. If Tye can return to his form from his Giants days, he will have a shot at making the roster.

Ryan Izzo (Rookie):

Izzo was the Patriots 250th overall draft pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. He was a four-year player at Florida State University.

Ryan was more of a blocker than a pass catcher in his college career, with him not having more than 320 yards once in a season. His senior season consisted of 20 receptions, 317 yards, and three TDs. In total, he left college with 54 receptions, 761 yards, six scores, and 29 games under his belt.

Izzo will have a very unlikely chance to make it to the active roster next year. His only hope will be making the practice squad.

Shane Wimann (Rookie):

Shane Wimann was picked up by the Patriots as an undrafted rookie out of Northern Illinois. He had a solid career for NIU where he played 31 games.

Wimann is also a dominant blocker like many of the tight ends the Patriots have. He hasn’t been to special in the pass game with only 65 receptions, 635 yards, and 17 TDs. Shane is a big man though coming in at 6’4″ and 260 pounds.

Shane will have to show something in training camp if he wants to make the practice squad over guys like Izzo.

The Patriots have a lot of new faces at tight end this year which will make it hard to narrow it down for the 53 man roster.

Patriots Training Camp Preview: Quarterback

Leave a reply

With Patriots training camp approaching on July 26th, there are many different players on this team from last year. The Pats acquired four guys from trade, fifteen from free agency, and nine from the NFL Draft. They also lost nine players from trade and free agency and had three players retire.

In this new series, I will be looking at every player from each position leading up to training camp. For this part of the series I will talk about the most important position on the field: Quarterback. Quarterback has been the most consistent position for the Patriots since 2001. Ever since Tom Brady got his first start in 2001, the Patriots had only had four Quarterbacks start for them (Bledsoe, Cassel, Garoppolo, Brissett). The Patriots are bringing in three QB’s to training camp this year.

Tom Brady #12 (2000-Present):

Tom Brady is entering his 19th season for the Patriots where he has had a very successful career. He is a 5-time Super Bowl Winner, 3-time NFL MVP, 4-time Super Bowl MVP, and 13-time Pro-Bowler. Brady for his entire career has had 66,159 pass yards, 488 TD, 160 INT, and a record of 196-55-0. One of Tom’s MVP’s seasons came last year where he amassed 4,577 pass yards, 32 TD, and 8 INT.

He led the Patriots all the way to the Super Bowl where the ultimately came up short to the Eagles. Tom has been one of the main reasons as to why the Patriots are consistently in the Super Bowl.

Brady, who will be 41 at the start of the season, has shown no signs of slowing down yet. Expectations for him are still very high. Every year, it is expected that the Patriots will win a Super Bowl and it is expected that Brady will lead them there.

The verdict is that Tom Brady will 100% be on the Patriots 2018 roster.

Brian Hoyer #2 (2009-2011, 2017-Present)

Brian Hoyer was the Patriots backup QB for the last half of the 2017-2018 season. He began his season in San Francisco where he started six games. Hoyer went 0-6 in those six games and had a stat line of 1,287 pass yards, 5 total touchdowns, and 4 INTs. He ended up getting released by the 49ers after San Francisco traded for former Pat’s QB Jimmy Garappolo.

After getting released by the 49ers, the Patriots signed him for the rest of the season due to only having one QB on the roster. This would be the second stint in New England after being drafted by the team in 2009. Hoyer was part of the 2011 Patriots that went on to win the AFC Championship. Brian has only appeared in eighteen games in his four years with New England with him, and a stat line of 328 pass yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 INT.

Once he left the Pats in 2011, he had a very solid few seasons in Cleveland. In his first year for the Browns, he started three games and went 3-0 with 615 pass yards, 5 TD, and 3 INT. He then started 13 games for Cleveland where he had a record of 7-6 and 3,326 pass yards 12 TD, and 13 INT. His next season would come in Houston under his former offensive coordinator, Bill O’Brien. He had his best statistical season where he had a record of 5-4, 2,606 pass yards, 19 pass TD, and 7 INT. This would be his last season in Houston though. He then had an uneventful season in Chicago and then went to San Francisco.

Brian Hoyer is a very solid option as a backup quarterback to Tom Brady. He has been in the league for a long time and has some quality experience as a starter. Overall, Hoyer will most likely be the backup to Tom Brady for the upcoming season.

Danny Etling (Rookie):

With the 219th pick in the NFL Draft, the New England Patriots select Danny Etling, QB, LSU. With all the rumors going around about the Patriots selecting a quarterback early to be the predecessor to Brady, they waited all the way until the seventh round. Etling was kind of a surprise pick with him not being rated higher than a lot of undrafted QBs.

Etling started his college career at Purdue where he appeared in thirteen games over the span of two seasons. In those thirteen games, he had 2,490 pass yards, 16 pass TD, and 12 INT. He would then transfer to LSU where he played two seasons. Over those two seasons, he played 24 games and had 4,586 pass yards, 27 pass TD, and 7 INT. His senior season at LSU was his best season in college. He appeared in thirteen games and threw for 2,463 pass yards 16 pass TD, and 2 INT.

Danny Etling, 23, will most likely be a project for the Patriots. He will not be a quality backup right away, but he has potential. I believe the Patriots will keep Etling on the practice squad on the upcoming season to learn from Brady and Hoyer.

The position of quarterback for the Patriots has always been the most consistent since Brady took over, and not much looks to change this year.