As the New England Patriots wrapped up their preseason Thursday night, excitement and expectations are building for the regular season.”I think this could definitely be a potential playoff team,” Trevor Knight said.Knight, a former Nashua South and University of New Hampshire quarterback, is now the head football coach in Dracut, Massachusetts, and mentors high school quarterbacks across the Granite State.Knight said he has been impressed with one group in particular.”They jumped out the gate, and one thing I’ve noticed is how great their special teams have been,” Knight said. “I think it says a lot when your special teams is playing that well, coming out of the gate like that. Your coach obviously has stress, the details of all the small things.”>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <> Subscribe to WMUR’s YouTube channel <<

MANCHESTER, N.H. —

As the New England Patriots wrapped up their preseason Thursday night, excitement and expectations are building for the regular season.

“I think this could definitely be a potential playoff team,” Trevor Knight said.

Knight, a former Nashua South and University of New Hampshire quarterback, is now the head football coach in Dracut, Massachusetts, and mentors high school quarterbacks across the Granite State.

Knight said he has been impressed with one group in particular.

“They jumped out the gate, and one thing I’ve noticed is how great their special teams have been,” Knight said. “I think it says a lot when your special teams is playing that well, coming out of the gate like that. Your coach obviously has stress, the details of all the small things.”

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Even with optimism, Knight said it could take time for quarterback Drake Maye to make a leap in his second year.

“There could be some growing pains just because it’s a new offense. It’s like yes, he’s in his second year, but this is a completely new offense, the verbiage, everything could be drastically different, so it could take some getting used to,” he said.

The Patriots open the regular season Sept. 7 at home against the Las Vegas Raiders. They enter with the league’s third-easiest schedule based on opponents’ winning percentages from last year.

“I wouldn’t be shocked at all if we’re in the wildcard or can push a little bit,” Knight said.

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