New England Patriots training camp has been in session for a few weeks now, and soon there will be real game action to analyze.
The Patriots’ first preseason matchup is Thursday night against the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium. Which players should fans keep an eye on in this matchup? Are there any good free agents still available or potential additions the Patriots could make?
We answered those questions and more in a brand new mailbag. Let’s dive in.
Editor’s Note: Questions have been lightly edited for clarity.
What do you think about the Pats signing another linebacker like Bobby Wagner or Bobby Okereke? Do you think Khalil Jacobs, who I’ve personally been high on since before the draft, could step up and have a role with special teams and on those blitz looks he excels at? — @BlackroseZ38217
Zeke, you might have been one of the few who looked at Khalil Jacobs as a potential factor in the NFL. The Patriots were the only team in the league that invited him for a pre-draft visit. And, to me, he’s been one of their most impressive rookies. Along with Tanner Arkin, Jacobs was one of only two undrafted rookies to land on my way-too-early 53-man roster projection last week on Next Pats.
The Missouri product plays with noticeable enthusiasm and has good speed when in pursuit of the football. Mike Vrabel said last week that he tried to give Jacobs a hard time about his 40-yard dash time (4.77 seconds, 1.65 10–yard split) during his visit. Jacobs quickly argued that it was a timing error.
“I’m like, ’32 teams timed your 40 wrong?’ But to his credit,” Vrabel said, “he plays a lot faster than the 40. He has a play speed about him.”
Jacobs describes his play style as “see ball, get ball” and has done exactly that both in the run game (where he’s met ball-carriers at or near the line of scrimmage on multiple occasions) and in the pass game. He had a near pick in the Blue vs. White scrimmage late last week and was in tight coverage on Lan Larison to help force an incompletion in the end zone on Monday.
Right now, I think they’re OK at off-the-ball linebacker with Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, Chad Muma and Jacobs. In today’s NFL, where there are typically only two true off-ball ‘backers on the field, that feels like a fine group with a young up-and-comer learning from some more experienced vets.
If you want some under-the-radar players to pay attention to in the preseason opener, I’d put Jacobs at or near the top of the list. Arkin, who’ll make a loud block or two, would be right up there as well. Rookie corner Karon Prunty, rookie tackle Dametrious Crownover, and rookie receivers Cam Dorner and Nick DeGennaro are all worthy of a mention as well.
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Khalil Jacobs has impressed among the Patriots’ rookies in camp.
Greetings from old England. Is the Josh playbook more open with Drake Maye than Tom Brady? He spoke of the “new stuff” with Cam Newton but never got a chance to use it, will he now? — @leedaleuk
There have been plenty of designed-quarterback-run calls that we’ve seen from Josh McDaniels this summer, but I wouldn’t say it’s a brand new offense compared to last year’s. As is always the case with McDaniels, there has been an emphasis on multiplicity.
In the running game, we’ve seen zone runs and more downhill calls. In the passing game, we’ve seen them air it out on go routes and posts, and we’ve seen screens and option routes underneath.
There are a few key differences, I would say, between the Tom Brady-led Patriots offense and the one we’ve seen this summer.
First, the volume isn’t going to be the same as what it was with Brady, who had two decades of experience — much of that with McDaniels — to draw upon late in his career. The autonomy at the line for someone like Brady who spent a football lifetime (and then some) in this offense would also be different for a player like Maye going into his second season in the system. There were elements of the at-the-line adjustments that were common for Brady that the Patriots simply never got to last year. We’ll see if they get there this year. While Maye’s say at the line has likely become more emphatic, it’ll take time before it becomes second nature.
Second, and this is likely what you were driving at with your question, there are certainly elements of the offense — namely the ones that call for Maye to use his athleticism — that would not have popped up with Brady. We saw many of those elements last year with their bootleg calls and designed-quarterback-run plays. Those will be back, and while we can’t say specifically what they looked like or where they were run, I think it’s right to assume that in critical situations, they’re comfortable letting the quarterback keep the ball in his hands.
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Drake Maye is entering Year 3 with the Patriots.
It seems to me that there have been a lot of positive plays from Tommy DeVito in camp. Do you feel he is an upgrade over Josh Dobbs as the backup QB this year? — @MProkop1126
Tommy DeVito, in my opinion, has had one of the better camps we’ve seen from a true backup quarterback. Outside of Drake Maye’s rookie camp — and Mac Jones’ rookie camp, for that matter — when a first-round passer was treated like a backup despite being the obvious next in line, DeVito’s summer performance as a No. 2 has been maybe the best we’ve seen since Jimmy Garoppolo was Tom Brady’s understudy.
In the Blue vs. White scrimmage last week, DeVito starred, finding Pop Douglas for a couple of short touchdowns and then lobbing one deep down the middle of the field that hit Douglas in stride for an explosive gain. Having had some time now in Josh McDaniels’ offense, he looks relatively comfortable. And when he’s under duress, he has enough athleticism to make something happen on the move.
There is no question here who will start, of course, but DeVito has looked just fine to this point in camp. He should have ample opportunity to continue that positive momentum in the preseason opener against the Colts on Thursday.
Do you think Lan Larison has a good chance of becoming the new third-down pass-catching back like the James White role? — @Td196
That race to be the No. 3 back is an interesting one to me, TJD. I’d put Terrell Jennings atop the list for now, though Larison has flashed in the passing game. Rookie back Jam Miller has also looked good at times. I wouldn’t rule out the Patriots keeping four backs since those players typically contribute in the kicking game, and we know the injury rate at that position can be high.
But I don’t know if Larison has stood out to this point as a must-have on the 53-man roster. There’s still time for him to cement his place, though. Let’s see how he does this week against Indy.
Two questions: No. 1, do they keep six or seven WRs? No. 2, nobody is talking about Gabe Jacas being part of the edge rotation. Is it because he’s missed so much time and is an unknown, or because he doesn’t look like a Year 1 impact player? — @BKHopkinton
Let’s answer your second question first, BK. I think Jacas has looked stout in the short time we’ve seen him. Playing on the edge isn’t like playing quarterback or middle linebacker or another position where you are the glue for the rest of your unit. He should be able to slide in and contribute relatively early despite missing time, in my opinion. He’s looked sudden and strong at the point of attack, and he’ll be one of the players I’m watching closely during Tuesday’s joint practice since he’ll have an opportunity to go up against a solid Colts offensive line.
On the receivers, I could certainly see them keeping seven. Vrabel said as much last week. That means someone is going to be sitting quite a bit — or maybe inactive — if everyone is healthy. But it might be more valuable to the Patriots to keep seven wideouts they know can play versus keeping a fifth or sixth corner, for example, they’re less sure about.
I kept only six receivers in my latest 53-man projection, leaving Efton Chism off in the hopes of getting him back on the practice squad, but it wouldn’t stun me if they keep seven. When you get down to roster spots No. 50-53, you might as well keep the best player when trying to choose between two players at different spots. In all likelihood, the last receiver on the depth chart is going to be a better player than anyone also vying for that job.
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Gabe Jacas has largely played well in his snaps at camp.
With seven WR do you think Kyle Williams could be cut? — @Scribby1787121
I don’t think so, Scribby. Especially given what Vrabel said about him the other day: “I really, really know that Kyle is going to help us. His speed is going to help us… I know that he is going to be a large part of what we’re going to do.”
Williams made a good-looking reception deep down the middle of the field on Monday from Tommy DeVito, which was one of the highlights of the practice. But he also later dropped a short pass.
While he could afford to be more consistent, as Vrabel mentioned, he does have an easily-identifiable NFL-caliber trait: speed. Even if he’s a part-time player, that speed could lead to A) an explosive play here or there the way it did a season ago in Tampa Bay and Baltimore or B) more space for his fellow wideouts as they weave their way through opposing secondaries.
How has Craig Woodson looked? Finished the year very strong so I’m curious if he’s parlayed that into his offseason work. — @haroldballsagna
I think he’s looked strong, Harold. He’s typically in the right place at the right time. He hasn’t always been able to finish with pass-breakups when targeted, but he’s been a forceful hitter at times — a rarity in camp when players often let up and “thud.” I’m guessing his production on the ball will only improve as he spends more time with ball-hawking veteran Kevin Byard.
Who are some players from other teams that may be cut that are of interest to the Patriots? — @patriots_harley
I’d be looking at tight ends and edge rushers, George. This week could be a good opportunity for the Patriots to get a close look at some potential additions with the Colts in town. They have a young go-to guy at tight end already in Tyler Warren. They also have vets Mo Alie-Cox, Will Mallory, Drew Ogletree and former Patriots tight end Pharaoh Brown at that position. If they impress in Tuesday’s joint practice — but not enough to secure a roster spot in Indy — could the Patriots look to add?
How have Jared Wilson’s shotgun snaps looked in camp? — @hambino78
Just fine, Mark. There have been very few clear hiccups with the quarterback-center exchange from where I’ve sat.
Thanks for all the good work covering all things Patriots. Who will have the better Patriots career: Efton Chism or Kyle Williams? — @LereimTrygve
Appreciate you, Trygve. I’ll go with Williams for now. Liked his game prior to last year’s draft. Think he has the want-to to get the most out of his ability. But we’ll see.
Keeping the beard Phil? — @Taco_Stevep
Long gone. Too hot. Maybe it’ll make a comeback with the colder weather. David Andrews really seemed to hate it, so I think I have to give it another try soon. What does he know about beards, anyway?