Patriots Beat: Ezekiel Elliott Signs w/ New England + Day 14 Recap

CLNS Media Sports Network

Alex Barth of 98.5 The Sports Hub and Pat Pulpit's Brian Hines go LIVE to react to the Patriots signing 3x Pro Bowl RB Ezekiel Elliott. Elliot inks a 1-year deal worth up to $6M. They also recap Day 14 of New England's training camp!  This episode of the Patriots Beat Podcast is brought to you by:  FanDuel Sportsbook, the exclusive wagering partner of the CLNS Media Network. Get a NO SWEAT FIRST BET up to $1000 DOLLARS when you visit https://FanDuel.com/BOSTON! That’s $1000 back in BONUS BETS if your first bet doesn’t win.  21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. $10 Deposit req. Refund issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See full terms at fanduel.com/sportsbook. FanDuel is offering online sports wagering in Kansas under an agreement with Kansas Star Casino, LLC. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MI, NJ, OH, PA, IL, TN, VA), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), Gamblinghelplinema.org or call (800)-327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA), visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), 1-800-522-4700 (WY), or visit www.1800gambler.net (WV).  #Patriots #NFL #NewEnglandPatriots

Transcript

00:00 All right, everyone welcome back into another live edition of the Patriots beat podcast right here on the CLNS media network

00:08 Brian Hines from Pat's pulpit back earth 95 the sports hub as always

00:13 Patriots wrapped up their 13th and maybe final practice here in Foxboro today before they depart for

00:19 Green Bay the big news kind of came

00:22 Two hours after we left the practice field off the field because they signed

00:29 Carson Wells this morning, but then they say Ezekiel Elliott the running back

00:34 One year deal worth up to six million. I believe it was a three million dollar base

00:39 Salary 1 million bonus looks like they had to outbid some teams to get his services to but they got that Z contract done

00:46 It's someone who's been on our radar here for about a month

00:49 We knew they needed some running back position

00:52 Someone who could pass block someone who could do those short yardage

00:56 Situations behind Ramond Ray that Damian Harris how the last few years and there probably isn't up there then Zeke

01:02 That's available to them. So the

01:04 Patriots get that one done and Zeke will be in the building

01:07 rocking number 15

01:09 As he did at all

01:11 Yeah, I think this is a really good signing and let me preface everything I'm about to say by saying

01:17 This is not on the level of like a DeAndre Hopkins signing would have been they still 100%

01:23 Absolutely should have been in on Hopkins and they made a mistake not getting him that all being said for where they're at right now

01:28 Ezekiel Elliott's an ideal addition when you look at what they needed they need first of all

01:34 They just needed to take carries off from Andre Stevenson's plate. We've talked about this. He can't be a 300 touch guy again this year

01:41 They need whether it was in the passing game in the running game

01:43 They needed somebody else to offer something and Kevin Harrison Pierre strong never flashed it now looks like Pierre strong is hurt. So

01:51 They were gonna need to bring another back in why specifically is Elliot a good fit

01:55 I think in terms of some of those more physical carries those goal line short yardage carries

02:00 He's a guy he's not the player. He was in Dallas, but he's still a guy

02:05 I think that in that regards is is a playmaker you need two yards. He's gonna get you two yards

02:10 He's also an excellent pass blocker and given what we're seeing it right tackle

02:16 They may need to leave an extra blocker in on it

02:19 You know regularly in order to accommodate for that in Ezekiel. It's a guy who can do that

02:23 I also think he's a guy that and he doesn't get enough credit for this

02:26 He's a very smart football player and in a very young running back room having a guy like him

02:32 To work with some of those younger backs. I think would be beneficial down the road

02:36 Now I think people are falling into this trap of and I absolutely this is the most casual

02:41 You talk about the casual fan of the NFL

02:45 the casual fan has infiltrated the discourse of

02:49 professional football with this idea that there is a

02:53 Binary in terms of player evaluation either a player is an all-pro or he sucks

02:59 If a player does not played an all-pro level. Oh, he sucks

03:03 That's what you hear and this is true for a number of players on the Patriots

03:06 But I feel like you're seeing this happen with Ezekiel Elliot. Yes. He's not the all-pro back

03:11 He was in his during his peak in Dallas

03:13 He absolutely is not that player but that doesn't mean that he's terrible. That doesn't mean that he's unrosterable

03:19 He's not going to be the all-around back

03:21 He was back in the day

03:22 But I do think there are things that he brings to the table that this team needed

03:27 Was he the only player who could have delivered that I don't think so

03:31 You know, I think to a different extent a guy like Leonard Fournette

03:34 maybe so it's a little bit different but would have brought some of that but

03:38 at the end of the day

03:40 This was a role the Patriots needed filled the two draft picks last year. We're not filling it

03:45 They were not they did not look like guys in Pierre strong Kevin Harris who were could handle some of these responsibilities

03:50 It was a role. They didn't have filled. They now have it filled. That's progress

03:54 How much of a difference will this make I he makes the offense better not better to the extent the guy like DeAndre Hopkins would have

04:00 But he makes the offense better and for that I think it's a it's a good sign

04:04 I think the veteran leadership is one thing that

04:10 Maybe in looking at which is a good point because I think we forget because we're Andre is so good

04:15 He's still just entering his third year here right and Harris and and strong obviously second year guys

04:21 So getting a veteran in there that that'll be good just for that room

04:25 And I mean they're running that coach Vinny since area was a safety, right?

04:29 So getting someone in that room who's done it has that experience will be big and then we know he's not the all-pro guy

04:35 he was but

04:37 Really effective still in and that short yard situation

04:41 I had some well Tom Curran posted these stats on Twitter and I thought it really highlighted how good he was in this role still

04:47 Third and short last year. He was ninth in the league fifth among running backs

04:52 fourth and converting rushes inside the 10-yard line to touchdowns

04:56 Scored touchdowns on 8 of 11 carries inside the three which was fourth in the league and he hasn't fumbled since 2020 which is about

05:04 150 plus carry so he could still get it done in that short yard situation

05:09 And that's where you probably project them best to play here with Stevenson still the number one guy

05:14 Well, I think that's part of it. I wouldn't rule out him playing on some passing downs as well just for the blocking element

05:21 I'll say this too. We don't do a ton of fantasy football on this show

05:25 I do want to do a fantasy episode at some point leading up to the season

05:28 I may try to make that work because I think Brian we're hearing me on your red now

05:33 so you might need to put the headphones in but I

05:36 Think there you go

05:39 When it comes to the fantasy elements of this

05:42 You're gonna have is he could you know Ramon Dres the workhorse back?

05:46 But you're gonna have a Zico who's goal line threat and it looks like they're putting in packages from Lee Cunningham on the goal line

05:51 As well, so you talked about the 12 touchdowns for Ezekiel Elliott

05:54 It's gonna be crazy

05:56 They have so many options now for a team that was horrible in the red zone last year

05:59 And look part of the reason they were horrible is because they couldn't get inside the five

06:03 They would get to like the 15 of the 12 and stall out

06:07 But this is a team now when they get inside the five-yard line

06:09 You have her moderate Stevenson you now have a Zico Elliott. You might have a Malik Cunningham package

06:14 We'll talk about Mike is sicky

06:16 But if you have him you have to Monte Parker

06:18 This is a team that now has a ton of options to score in the red zone and that's also encouraging and it should

06:24 Important offense and fantasy wise like I

06:30 Think we're my sketcher now, right?

06:32 Like because we haven't seen enough of that from Pierre strong to give him that role even when he was healthy

06:37 He's missed the last two practices now

06:39 Montgomery same type of thing just the availability is a concern but like Ramon Dre is the guy

06:45 he might not have the wiggle at the top of the route that James White once had but

06:49 He's the best in the group. We've seen Matt go to him a ton throughout throughout the spring and summer in that role

06:56 So you'd imagine that next?

07:00 They're kind of just keeps filling that role as the pass catcher and Z can contribute there as well

07:05 But it should be Ramon Dre's role there. Well, it can Z can help take some of in between the tackle carries off his shoulder

07:13 Yeah, I I'm not entirely convinced that

07:17 He's gonna be entirely a running down back. We saw last year early on before time Montgomery got hurt

07:25 We've even brought up time Montgomery in this that's a guy who's right. It's not very much in danger

07:30 They cut they instead of alternating situations

07:33 They just alternated drives and it was this is a remote

07:35 This was a remandera drive then a Damon Harris drive then a time Montgomery drive again because of what Zeke brings as a pass blocker. I

07:41 Wouldn't rule out it Ramon Dre still gonna be like he's not like Zeke's not gonna catch a lot of passes

07:47 We're Monterrey will still be involved as a pass catcher

07:49 But I do think there are in certain certain matchups in certain situations

07:54 There's gonna be times where you see Ezekiel Elliott on the field to pass block

07:57 the other thing I would add to that is

07:59 I

08:02 Just lost my train of thought there. I don't we got some some interference Brian some background noise for me. Oh

08:07 We're trying to work

08:10 Okay, there you go. I think you got it

08:12 D the other thing I'd add to that where I could see Ezekiel Elliott in passing situations is if Mike

08:18 You're sick. He's gonna miss time and and that's not me reporting anything like we have no idea other than what we saw at practice

08:25 It does kind of open the door for some

08:27 21 personnel in two backs in the shotgun and one goes out in the pattern and the other stays in a block because we're monitoring

08:33 Is pretty good pass blocker - we'll see if they add that that's down the road, but that could be in the conversation as well

08:39 Yeah, I mean we saw Oh Brian and Alabama right moved to mere Gibbs all around in the slot stuff like that

08:46 So maybe you see some some Ramon

08:49 Dre moving out

08:51 You know, they have a lot of options how they can play with that. But yeah

08:55 Again, it was a signing that we all knew they needed a running back. He was part of my list

09:01 So it was good to see them get that done. They obviously had the money now one-year deal

09:07 So you not much worry there still some incentive just tied into that just I like to move

09:12 I like to move and nice to just you know, get a big name in the building get a little juice right going

09:17 I saw Ramon Dre was already tweeting and he looked excited about it. So

09:21 Just a good good sign in there in the running back room

09:24 Yeah. Yeah again, they're better team today. Yep, then they were

09:28 Then they were yesterday and and that's what you're looking for in a signing like this and it'll be interesting to see in Green Bay

09:34 How they start getting him into the into the offense. Yep, but it wasn't the only

09:39 Hang on real quick on this because somebody asked this question. We should address this -

09:43 How is it a better signing than Dalvin cook and that is a fair question

09:49 I

09:51 Think the answer to it and it's not an answer a lot of people gonna want to hear and some people might consider it

09:55 A cop-out. I don't think it's a cop-out. I don't think Dalvin cook was ever signing here. I

10:00 Don't think that was ever going to happen Dalvin cook wants to go somewhere

10:04 Where he can be the number one back be a lead back be a 70% usage rate guy and get his value back up and hit

10:10 Hit the free hit free agency next offseason get a bag. They were

10:14 You saw it. What are the tweets Ian Rapport put out today was like the Patriots still believe in Ramon Dre Stevenson

10:21 But knew they needed to take some of the workload off his plate

10:23 That's coming from the Patriots camp that we still believe in Ramon Dre Stevenson as our running back

10:28 The Patriots were never going to demote Ramon Dre Stevenson. They believe in him too much and honestly

10:33 I'm not entirely sure they should have for cook. They're comparable players. If you look at the numbers last year in a worse offense

10:40 Ramon Dre Stevenson was better almost across the board

10:44 I

10:46 Dalvin cook was never they were in the market for an RB to

10:50 They were in the market for a mod race even some spellback Dalvin cook was never coming here for that

10:56 Now if you're gonna say screw that they should have essentially benched Ramon Dre and made Dalvin cook their feature back

11:02 I guess if you want to have that conversation we can have it

11:04 I just think for the assets it would have taken to do that. It wouldn't have been worth it

11:09 but I

11:12 Just I don't think they were ever getting Dalvin cook. Yes, Dalvin cooks a better player

11:15 He would have been a better player. But you know, that's that's like talking about why didn't

11:20 Why didn't the Chiefs it is an extreme example, but why weren't the Chiefs more aggressive in getting Aaron Rodgers this summer?

11:27 He would have been a better backup for Patrick Holmes than Blaine Gabbert again

11:30 That's an extreme example

11:31 But like for what they were trying to fill Ezekiel Elliott's as good as they were gonna get they were never gonna get

11:36 Dalvin cook to sign into this role. Yep. I agree with you there, but

11:41 other now people the comments are gonna say compared to have and cook to Blaine Gabbert again or

11:45 to Blaine Gabbert

11:48 Stretch your mind a little bit. It just it this they were setting a backup running back. This was a backup running back

11:54 This was never a role for a starter and Dalvin cook was never going anywhere. He couldn't start

11:59 Yep, which will be interesting because there's been some positives in the Jets camp out of you know, bright or a breeze Hall lately

12:06 so it'll kind of be interesting to see if

12:09 Cook is still and Devon a chain had a good debut for Miami. Yeah, so

12:14 Be interesting to see where that market kind of falls and are you surprised a little that the Patriots?

12:21 You know jumped on this first. They didn't let the market kind of dictate itself with someone like cook maybe signing elsewhere

12:27 Pleasantly surprised. Yeah, or or maybe they know something or maybe the Dalvin cooks signings coming tonight or tomorrow and it's just not out yet

12:35 And we don't know but one year 1 million dollar signing bonus 3 guaranteed up to 6. That's about right. That's

12:43 You know, I I'm not gonna sit here and say they over

12:46 I don't think they overpaid him to get it done

12:47 which is why I'm kind of like whatever with it because I

12:50 It's I thought it was gonna be more like the two and a half million range. They overpaid him by half a million

12:55 Awesome. Great. Good job. I think this is about the right contract. We'll see what the

13:01 Incentives end up being but I'm gonna guess there's like, you know to get up to the full six million

13:06 I'm gonna guess they're gonna have to go to the AFC Championship game or the Super Bowl

13:08 He's gonna have to hit all pro kind of like we do with Devante Parker's contract. Yep, and you know what?

13:13 Yeah, it's it's that thing. We're sorry to cut you off

13:15 If he ends up making six million dollars, he was worth it. We worth it, right?

13:20 I think it's gonna be one of those things. Yep, exactly

13:22 But um, we'll get into a few right one more on it one more on it. Sorry

13:27 No, I keep cutting you off cuz somebody put nope. I want this one. Nope

13:30 This is the story of the day. So let's keep doing it to running backs, but more like thunder and lighting

13:35 I think it's thunder and thunder. I think it's just under and more thunder

13:38 That's what I'm gonna call them thunder and more thunder

13:40 Yeah, I like that and then a sprinkle of hopefully they can still get pierced drawn in there somehow at that speed

13:47 But look, I think those two guys will still be involved. Yeah to some extent, you know, it looked it's a 17 game season

13:54 guys are gonna get hurt they're gonna have their chances, but

13:57 They missed their chance to outright claim the number two running back spot to this point and I would say rightfully

14:02 So I think the Patriots acted I thought they were gonna wait another week

14:05 I thought they were gonna see what they had in joints. I wonder if Pierre Strong's injury has something to do with this

14:09 They'll still play a little bit. It's not gonna be as much you could talk about those being bad draft picks

14:14 I mean, this is the story that we've seen with them

14:16 We don't really know if those guys can play or not. The Patriots just kind of buried them

14:20 they buried him last year and they're burying him again and

14:23 There it's on their own. Maybe they're seeing something behind the scenes that they have to do that

14:27 But we never got to see those guys get a fair shake. The real guy who's in trouble here is Simon Montgomery

14:32 It's hurt hasn't practiced in a couple weeks has a history of injuries

14:36 At this point. I think you start talking about maybe you can get him on the practice squad

14:40 I'm one of those veteran spots cuz I don't know who else is gonna sign him at this point if he's that banged up

14:44 but I

14:45 Had him off my last roster projection and I had on a TV TV running back, right?

14:50 I just left that open spot which now becomes Ezekiel Elliot. I just I don't see you know

14:55 I think time Montgomery's roster spot if it's if it's still there it's holding on by a thread

15:00 I

15:01 Did the trains leaving the station at this point and they're gonna have to get on without him if he's not on the field in

15:06 Green Bay, I think that would be it for me. That would seal it for me

15:09 He's off the roster if he's out there for the first joint practice

15:11 Because this is when you're really repping some of your regular season stuff. All right, maybe I can see it a little bit but

15:18 Short of that. No, I think he's just about done. So when you went TBD, did you have Kevin Harris and Pierce?

15:24 I'm guessing you'd have strong. I had strong I

15:28 So it was strong

15:30 Ramon Dre and then the TBD I had Harris up look they cut him last year. They got into the practice

15:35 Yeah, I'd imagine they could do based off what we've seen so far you could imagine that they can do that same

15:40 That same process this year, but yeah

15:43 So that that's news of the day there in the running back room, but they did a few other minor roster moves

15:49 They reportedly signed XFL linebacker Carson Wells. Yeah

15:54 There'll be two other roster moves here, right? They have a full 90 90 man, right?

16:00 Yeah, so they'll have to cut two people and then they extended Raekwon McMillan who is on IR

16:06 He'll be out the whole year, but they extended him a one-year extension through 24 worth just over like

16:13 2.2 million and this is the second time they've extended him since he's been here when he's on IR

16:19 So they obviously love McMillan and they still you know project him to have a role here next year when he's healthy

16:25 Yeah, every time guy guy gets a serious injury. He gets paid

16:29 it's a

16:31 No, it's a good signing. I think people know I like Raekwon McMillan as a player

16:34 You know, how many knee and ankle injuries later? Is he gonna be the same guy?

16:38 I don't know but I think they like his work ethic. They like him as a tone center

16:41 They like his football IQ and and they'll keep bringing him back. It was for next to no money

16:46 I don't remember what the I don't know the exact money off the top my head, but I know it was

16:49 next to next to no money, so

16:52 One year up to 2.2 million. Yeah, bring it back. See what it looks like after the injury. It makes sense. Yep

16:59 that was the off the field stuff today a few roster moves more coming as we just said, but

17:06 Let's hear from our pals at FanDuel real quick before we get into the on the field stuff from the 13th training camp practice today

17:14 Football season is about to kick off and FanDuel is giving you the chance to win all

17:23 Season long right now when you bet on a Super Bowl winner

17:27 You can get bonus bets every time they win in the regular season

17:31 Just pick any team to win the Super Bowl and you'll get bonus bets for every victory

17:35 I wonder how many people are gonna bet on the Patriots. You can use your bonus bets on spreads

17:39 player props

17:42 over-unders and more so visit fan duel comm slash Boston and start earning bonus bets with

17:49 America's number one sports book

17:52 That's fan duel comm slash Boston

17:55 All right, so

18:02 Unfortunately kind of the news of the day on the field was an injury

18:06 to Mike Giesecke

18:09 You saw a little better than I did

18:11 But it looked like one of those new live tackling drills where they kind of go to the ground and he got his arm

18:17 right arm shoulder area

18:19 Kind of tangled up with with Jelani Tavae. It looked like and looked like he was in some discomfort. He left with trainers right away. So

18:27 No, no, not what you wanted to see there and get sick. He goes goes out for the day

18:32 So it was weird like initial look at it watching it live

18:35 I remember

18:36 at the start of that rep the way to I tackled him kind of went low and I

18:40 Rolled up on him a little bit and then I started seeing

18:43 Gets icky get up slow and it was like, all right

18:47 Is this an ankle is this a knee and they start grabbing his arm? So I I'm maybe it was when he braced himself for the

18:52 fall

18:53 Who knows what it was? So he you know slowly got up walked off the field with the trainers under his own power

18:58 But he wasn't moving that arm at all

19:00 That to me seems like a shoulder thing

19:02 I'm not a doctor. I don't know but I feel like if your elbows hurt you can still move your shoulder, right?

19:07 If your shoulders hurt, that's it. So

19:09 If he dislocated it, who knows it

19:12 What degree dislocations that you pop back in and you're good to go. Is it sore for a couple days did things tear?

19:18 You know worst case scenario would be broken collarbone a C joint thing like that. You're talking about him missing time in the regular season

19:24 It sucks though because he'd been playing really well the last couple weeks and I thought I wrote about this yesterday

19:30 His chemistry with Matt Jones was really getting there and they were starting to have some fun

19:34 So I don't think it's gonna be like season ending or anything

19:38 It just it didn't seem that severe on first and don't call me to that. I'm not again

19:42 I'm not a doctor but you know on first glance it didn't seem that bad but

19:47 If he misses like could he miss time to start the regular season?

19:50 Maybe then the question becomes does he go on IR?

19:52 Is he gonna miss four weeks and I believe I meant to double-check this for the show. I was just running in. I

19:58 Believe you're now limited to how many players you can return from IR

20:03 Now they change that

20:06 Yeah, so I gotta double-check this but it becomes this interesting thing. Do you start him on IR? Do you not?

20:13 Yeah

20:15 so he

20:17 he hurt his right shoulder before and

20:20 Miami in 2020, I believe I was just trying to look it up. Yeah, he only missed one game though

20:27 It's the only game he's missed in his career. Yeah, he had like a dislocation or

20:31 I'm not sure if he did tear his labrum completely, but he did hurt that shoulder before so I

20:38 Don't know as Bill says I'm not a medical doctor. I don't know how those

20:43 Right, you know can kind of linger and stay with you

20:46 But yeah, it was disappointing because I mean, I think we said yesterday

20:51 I you're starting to see this chemistry build with Mac Jones and it's getting more involved in the offense down in the red area

20:57 He had two really nice passes up the seam yesterday from Jones and we saw throughout the spring in the summer

21:03 It looks like they want to do a lot in that too tight end package. So I don't know I

21:08 Don't think it might be a season-ending thing. Maybe like miss the first month of the season. That's just a

21:15 speculation guess at this point

21:17 we'll see obviously more information as it comes out whether he's in Green Bay or not, it would be a good tell this week, but

21:24 Disappointing disappointing there, but now it's kind of between Matt Sokol or you know

21:29 Tony Fierkes are here to kind of separate themselves as that second tight end in that battle

21:33 yeah, it definitely creates that that new tight end battle now like you just said for the

21:38 For that third tight end job. I'm trying to find so last year they change it used to be you could pull a minimum

21:45 An unlimited number of players off. I are

21:48 Last year it was eight

21:51 Now I'm looking to see if it if it changed again

21:54 I'm trying to find it, but you are limited the number of players, but if it's eight, that's not that bad

22:02 But it's it's again. It's something to keep in mind and you would still have to make the initial

22:07 53 right and rosters to

22:10 Be put on IR then then you're allowed to return

22:14 So probably wouldn't be I'm guessing you could still get Matt Sokol or Anthony Ferrick show to the practice squad

22:20 Or just sign them once you move

22:22 Gisiki to IR if it gets to that point, but

22:25 That was yeah, we'll kind of wait wait and see on Gisiki there

22:30 But pretty pretty good day for the offense. I'd say well, you know back on the actual football field

22:36 Mac Jones looked pretty good

22:39 Starting to see a little more of this Bill O'Brien offense, you know

22:43 Maybe kind of move out of you know, the base stage the base install stage getting into some more, you know advanced looks today had

22:51 It opened up a really nice long touchdown to remonder Stevenson through the air

22:56 Couple things that we'd like to see without getting into too much detail to Kendrick Bourne building off some of the stuff they did in

23:02 the preseason game

23:03 So, I don't know good good signs still from that from that Bill O'Brien offense as it's starting to maybe get a little more complex

23:11 Deeper in the camp here. Yeah, I thought it was a good day as a whole

23:14 Like you said Mac had a couple of nice throws today the one in the back of the end zone to Kendrick Bourne for the touchdown

23:18 One teachable moment there on the two-minute drill right where remandering Stevenson probably should have gone out of bounds

23:25 Didn't they didn't have enough time to clock the ball and Bill O'Brien talked her Mandra talked to Mac after that

23:29 so a teachable moment, but

23:31 Yeah, I thought as a whole the other guy thought had a good day. They was city. So I

23:35 He seemed to kind of be holding up a little better. So again as they work with that

23:40 Reconfigured offensive line. I think that he's a guy that you're looking at maybe playing a bigger role

23:47 So yeah, but no, I thought I thought the offense was good today another good sign another good day for them

23:53 And we'll see we'll see the real test starts on Wednesday, right? How does it look against Green Bay?

23:58 Yeah, so back at right tackle. He was good until he dropped the punt at the end and to practice there

24:04 They finally put the rookies back. We've been waiting for that. Yes

24:08 What was the last time when Isaiah wind did it and like I that's the last time I remember it happening

24:14 Like yeah 2019 so they put a few rookies back. I was 18 18. Geez. Yeah. Yeah, that was my first year

24:22 okay, I think that's the last time they did it cuz I

24:24 Don't remember who it was somebody that year

24:27 Every team used to do it and and somebody tore their Achilles

24:31 Doing that and so team stopped doing it for a while. But no they did it today and

24:36 Two for three two for there's that's good. No surprise Keon white just like like it was nothing caught it easily

24:42 Yeah, and it was Moffy. He caught the other one

24:46 They were fielding punts at the at the end a few of the rookies and

24:49 Moffy caught his gave a nice little juke move Keon white made it his look easy as expected. So

24:54 You know somebody somebody brought this up. They did this

24:58 Two years ago. This was a little different. It wasn't rookies. It was a handful of players

25:03 I think a rookie or two might have done it but it was alignment. Yeah, it was

25:08 They it was how many how many?

25:11 How many balls could they each catch you to catch one right and then still holding that when you get another one

25:17 All right, you gotta catch that and then here comes a third right in in one of the time

25:22 I think somebody got like seven. Yeah, it was I think was Marcus Jones. It was like he had them in his jersey and stuff and

25:28 Yeah, that was that was so fun. Well, that was a wild one

25:32 Yeah, someone I'd have to probably have it on my Twitter somewhere who caught all of them

25:38 But I have to go dig for that. But yeah some fun to end practice

25:42 But it was city so at right tackle again Riley reef back at right guard like we saw yesterday for really the first time

25:48 But yeah kind of good stuff from the offense in that two-minute drill

25:53 DeMario Douglas was right in there with that that top unit which was

25:56 You know Kendrick Bourne spoke after practice like that's pretty big step for a rookie to be in that two-minute drill where you have some

26:04 Trustworthy guys need some trustworthy guys on the field there and Mac went to him three out of the first four plays

26:10 Looked like one might have been a miscommunication, but they completed the other two. So good to see DeMario

26:16 Still still involved there on the offense

26:19 Yeah, it's at the point. It's kind of ridiculous. We're at the point with him. We're like, yeah, he's good

26:24 He's on this rookie receivers. Good. Yeah, he's still good. He's being involved great like we're so over it right now

26:30 It's kind of funny, but no, he's still there. He's still good. Yep

26:34 Well, somebody made a nice catch today - actually. Yeah, he had a few I think a few catches

26:40 mostly

26:42 From zappy. I was trying to see if I could add it up quick, but I'm not gonna do math right now

26:47 But don't you know burn as rule you don't do math on the earth you math

26:50 We don't need to every I've done it on this show and people have seen what that looks like

26:54 Yeah, it's not pretty as we saw in the in stadium press box trying to add up

26:59 So bad somebody goes it's like this - 20 was 65 I was like, all right, whatever

27:06 We got a math degree over there. No, we're gonna Oppenheimer over there doing math in his head

27:12 but uh, that's why we just

27:15 Like ESPN or those game logs who do it for us. So yeah, exactly but

27:20 the other offensive thing still some Malik Cunningham at quarterback and

27:26 You know clarify this isn't a competition right like he's not

27:32 taking snaps

27:35 He only took five quarterback snaps today, I believe and he only threw one but

27:39 What's notable is he's working in with Mac like for a player to or working in with zappy here and there

27:46 So they keep saying he's a receiver

27:49 He's still working at receiver

27:50 But it looks like that plan for him is starting to change a little bit like they might have some packages

27:56 For him at quarterback not a competition, but just the plan might be starting to change which is notable. It's weird

28:03 It's kind of its own thing. Like you said, it's not a competition, but he's not

28:06 He's not really on the quarterback depth chart. Yeah, Tracy McSorley gets no reps anymore

28:12 I don't even think that's a Cunningham thing. I think that's alright

28:14 We got to get serious and start getting ready for the season thing

28:16 It's like you said, you know in the middle of max drive

28:19 You'll see him just run off the field and here comes Cunningham for a player to and then the same thing happens was happy and

28:25 You know that could be and I thought Doug Codd had a good piece on it

28:29 I agree a lot with him that could be a number of things. Are they installing a package from Lee Cunningham?

28:33 Is that that just their way of seeing what he has at quarterback long term?

28:38 I think it's probably mostly the former but you're inherently gonna evaluate him as a quarterback when he's out there a quarterback. I

28:44 Think that they're putting in a package for him and whether that's

28:48 The old Deshaun Watson run package from Houston that he ran with Bill O'Brien

28:52 Whether it's there's elements of the old Cam Newton goal line package that they ran that was so successful here

28:59 It's probably gonna be a little bit of both probably some new things as well. But that's

29:04 Kind of what it feels like is that?

29:07 There this is what it's gonna look like

29:10 There's just gonna be times in games a couple times a game where Malik on a ham is just gonna come in

29:14 you know the taste of hill comp is lazy, but

29:16 Yeah, I think that's kind of what it is

29:20 And then maybe he mixes in as a wide receiver now now and then as well too and maybe on special teams

29:26 Those short yardage situations right? Like that was one today. Yeah, it was like

29:30 Third or fourth and short out goes Mac in comes Malik and we talked about at the top of the show with Zeke

29:36 Just maybe another

29:38 You know potential option down in there in the red area like inside the five inside the ten-yard line just to keep defenses on their

29:44 toes even more so give me

29:46 Give me pony where you have Malik Lee come down quarterback

29:51 the with Ramon Dre and Zeke on each side and you have the

29:55 Malik can keep it you can give it a Stevenson and then either way you have Zeke is the lead blocker in that

30:02 That'd be fun. And then Keone why you could give it you could give it to Zeke - of course

30:07 Oh, yeah, then Keone white it's like that

30:09 Now we're getting nuts Keone white and Johnny Lumpkin as your two tight ends with Zeke Ramon Dre and Malik behind them

30:17 now that would be yeah, that would be something but

30:20 I wanted to give Shawn Wade some props today because he had another

30:25 Maybe if it wasn't Kendrick Bourne's one-handed catch it was it might have been Shawn Wade somehow broke into the backfield on a screen pass

30:32 Zappy and just like one-handed it out of the air and it would have been a pick six if it was live

30:39 but impressive play from Shawn Wade had some good moments and Thursday's preseason preseason game and he's just

30:46 Quietly kind of starting to stack some stack some good days together there in the secondary

30:51 So, I don't know what have you seen anything from Shawn Wade besides, you know that play today. That's kind of caught your eye

30:56 I thought he'd a couple other good coverage plays today. Look it's something we talked about with Isaiah Bolden a couple weeks ago

31:02 We don't know what Jack Jones status is the hearings coming up Friday. That's obviously gonna be big and

31:06 If John Jonathan Jones being banged up as well, and are they gonna want to play him on the boundary after Christian Gonzalez?

31:14 And Jack Jones who's next at boundary corner and we talked about Isaiah Bolden filling that role and you know, he's been

31:19 He's leveled out a little bit since he had those strong couple of practices leading up to the first preseason

31:24 Yeah, he's been bad, but he hasn't been as good

31:26 So I that competition is still kind of open for that spot and if you can get six one Shawn Wade in there look I think

31:32 Shawn Wade was a super promising player at Ohio State. I mean you're you're a Buckeyes guy Brian, you know, right?

31:41 Er, no, are you a Michigan guy? No, you're a Buckeyes guy

31:43 Wisconsin Oh

31:45 Wisconsin

31:47 Keegan was the Buckeye guy was the buck. All right. It's you're all the past ball pit people big ten

31:52 It's a big ten company, I guess

31:54 Yeah, it really is it which covering the Patriots is fitting. Did you see?

31:59 Alright, we're gonna have to mix a college football minute in at the end here. All right

32:02 Anyway to get back to the point like like Shawn Wade's a player who?

32:07 was

32:09 Really promising like he was a top recruit heading in Ohio State

32:13 Had a couple of really good years there at Ohio State and then the problem is it was so he only started for three years

32:20 He was a slot corners first two years

32:23 they moved into the boundary and it kind of messed him up and

32:25 I think the idea was he was always gonna be a boundary corner at the next level at 6-1

32:29 but

32:31 the change was just too jarring and

32:33 You know

32:33 He falls from being a projected first round pick to being a fifth round pick and he's kind of sat in the background in New

32:38 England for two years

32:39 But he has a lot of natural talent

32:40 So if they can tap into that whether it be his boundary corner whether it be as a nickel back like that's there if they

32:46 Can get his confidence back up. So if he starts to get rolling, he's definitely got to pay attention to he's not a guy that

32:51 If he gets rolling, I would call it a fluke

32:53 But it's one practice. I'm not willing to say he's rolling yet

32:57 But it is interesting to see him make some plays the natural talent is enticing and I feel we've mostly I mean the preseason

33:05 He had a lot of you know slot work

33:07 He had some good reps against John Metchie and then they used them like back at free safety a lot. So

33:12 just maybe move them around see if something sticks and

33:16 Maybe maybe this is the start of something if he goes and has a you know

33:20 Good few days in Green Bay. That would be really really intriguing to build on that

33:24 And yeah, so so Wade I looked at he was the USA Today high school football player of the year defense in 2016. So a

33:32 Guy that came in with a ton of a ton of hype a ton of prestige and it's yeah

33:37 They moved him to the boundaries last year and it kind of screwed with him. So see if they can get him back on track

33:41 Would be interesting

33:44 they have might need a need there, so

33:46 Any other little little details you had throughout practice

33:52 I mean your guy your guy took over a busy day for Chad Ryland. You're gonna give us the recap there. Oh, yeah, so

33:59 Chad Ryland back doing his kicking duties seven for eight

34:03 Including one with the you know that two-minute drill where they rush out

34:08 Yeah, yeah in there and then his one miss was like just miss on the left upright. So

34:15 You know pretty pretty consistent day from for Ryland. It was all good

34:19 It's tough to see the yards looked like he was working still in that like 40 to 50 range

34:24 Still just same old story plenty of distance plenty of height on the ball. But but a good day from from Chad Ryland today

34:30 And your guy Bryce Beringer. Yeah, he shanked a couple. Yeah, it wasn't great

34:35 You have the hang times but Corliss way to a couple sub fours Corliss Weitman was impressive today

34:40 I give my credit where credit is due

34:42 He had some good puns. Zeke Zeke's gonna wear 15, which is the most waitman's number right now

34:47 and we're still waiting on two roster rooms, so

34:50 Hmm wonder what's gonna happen that that would be interesting. I don't know that because he had a good day. So

34:56 But I'd still go Beringer Beringer. I don't ages. I don't think they're gonna cut waitman one way or the other like bear

35:03 but

35:05 There's there's value in keeping waitman on the practice especially with the lefty foot, right?

35:10 Like I talked about that a lot

35:11 so like Marcus Jones even mentioned last year when they brought Pallard Ian or no was Jake Julian a lefty in the in the

35:20 Training camp

35:21 Do you remember?

35:23 I think he was yeah, cuz Marcus Jones I

35:27 Think he was cuz Marcus Jones talked about like how useful it was to be able to catch a lefty and a righty

35:33 No, no, so so Julian was righty. It was when they signed

35:37 Polarity polarity last year on the practice wide when Bailey was still kicking that was there for that's what it was

35:43 Yeah, okay. So yeah, there's they like the value there of having a lefty and a righty

35:49 Hunter, you know, maybe go Douglas who?

35:52 Said he didn't even know how to catch a ball off a punt till he worked with the unit at or the staff at the Shrine

35:58 Bowl, so

36:00 Yeah, kind of surprised if they cut him this early and maybe even sticks around on the practice squad

36:05 But yeah, good day from waitman good day from Ryland

36:08 That was really really the special teams minute kind of there but Beringer was still holding the whole time, too

36:14 So we'll kind of see how that shakes out that that to kicker thing. It's not I'm not saying it's gonna happen

36:20 But I'm also saying it's not gonna go away. It's not saying it's not going away yet

36:24 Yeah, it's not something you can write off completely based off what we've seen

36:28 All right. Let's do this real quick here before we wrap it up a Pete's off 25

36:32 Because I think they got some things wrong

36:34 Yeah

36:35 And we are getting to that point soon where we're gonna talk about which which players Patriots fans should watch just college football season for

36:41 the draft

36:42 Just real quick off the Georgia number one's correct. Like I mean, come on, Michigan's too high at number two

36:48 Ohio State's too high Ohio State's about right Alabama's for LSU's five USC six

36:54 Penn State is seven Florida State's eight Clemson's nine Washington's ten, Texas 11

36:59 Tennessee's 12 and I'm gonna end it there because Notre Dame is 13 and they get ranked for being Notre Dame and no other reason

37:04 Here's my gripes Brian and then I'll let you go USC should be number two

37:10 Returning Heisman Trophy winner in a conference that is imploding

37:13 They're gonna be in the college football playoff and they probably have the second most talented all-around roster after Georgia and they have the best quarterback

37:21 I'd put Ohio State at three because if they figure out the quarterback thing, they're gonna be filthy

37:28 I'll give you Michigan at four over Alabama because they were in the playoff last year. Alabama wasn't

37:33 LSU's about right at five or six

37:37 Penn State's too high at seven unless you really believe in drew all our Florida State should be higher

37:41 I think Florida State's gonna be sneaky good this year. I really like Jordan Travis

37:45 I really like Johnny Wilson talk about guys Patriots fan should watch you want that first-round wide receiver if

37:50 DeMario Douglas is a guy and then they have that shifty quick slot receiver go get six foot five

37:55 227 pound Johnny Wilson to line up opposite him and there's your T Higgins

37:59 Clemson at nine's too high, but Clemson's always too high. I'm not surprised by that

38:04 Washington at ten. I didn't think that they'd respect Washington this much sneaky good ranking. I like Michael Penix

38:10 Yeah, I like Washington respecting them, Texas should be higher

38:14 They're they're gonna be filthy. I think even without B. John I think Quinn yours is a player

38:18 they got a bunch of good receivers Aggie Hall and

38:22 Why am I blanking on their Xavier worthy is their best receiver? He's gonna be a first-round pick

38:27 That's the guy you told me to watch right Xavier worthy. Yeah, and then other body type guys

38:33 No, no save your worth Johnny Wilson's the guy I told you to watch from Florida

38:37 He's the big body guy Xavier worthy is like kind as like if safe flowers played on the boundary kind of guy. Okay, and

38:44 then

38:47 Tennessee's the wild card because we'll see we get a Joe Milton

38:49 a wild wild Joe

38:52 Chuck and oranges

38:54 120 yards or whatever. What do you have on it? This guy is what we were talking about today. We wish we had NCAA

39:01 Yeah, Alex is stuck playing Madden. Oh six

39:04 That's it happened yesterday

39:07 Oh, and then one other thing for me on the rankings

39:09 I was 25 when their offensive coordinator doesn't get fight hasn't his contract he gets fired if he doesn't score enough points. It's hilarious

39:15 That'll be they have to be the 74th highest scoring team

39:19 Essentially that scored 25 points a game which was 74th in the league in the nation last year

39:23 That was less than UMass

39:25 His offense doesn't even have to be as good as UMass and he gets to keep his job

39:28 But somehow their 25th ranked team in the nation. All right, what do you any any thoughts on the top 25 there?

39:33 I was pretty much with you like I mean, I think

39:36 USC should be automatically top three at least because they should just cakewalk through

39:42 The pack 12 this year, especially with Caleb Williams

39:46 Yeah, Ohio State Bama, Michigan

39:49 Probably in that like three four five

39:51 I'm with you on Florida State

39:54 I think they could definitely be better than eight where they were there are right now

39:58 And yeah, I like Quinn yours

40:00 I think Texas Texas will be better than 11, especially if they have you know

40:05 All these talented receivers that you're talking about. So yeah, I was pretty much with you on there. I'm not a Clemson guy

40:12 I don't really like them. But I think yeah USC was probably my biggest biggest great. That's six there

40:18 Your Badgers came in at 19

40:20 Hey, they're there

40:24 And they were bad last year weren't they they were very bad but they they blew it up

40:28 They blew the whole thing up. We got new Eric fickle and Phil Longo

40:33 We actually have these things called wide receivers. Now. We got

40:38 CJ

40:39 Took CJ Williams from USC

40:41 Bryson Bryson green from Oklahoma State who was apparently like he's like that the Mario Douglas at Patriots

40:49 Camp right now just in Wisconsin. I was constantly. Yeah

40:52 I forget one of his I

40:55 Forget who it was someone who is there at Wisconsin now who played at Ohio State?

41:01 He either played at Ohio State or he played in high school with JSN. He's like he's the quickest receiver. I've ever seen since JSL

41:09 okay, so I'm buying I'm buying it away, but

41:12 Yeah

41:14 We'll see. It's just year one just year one of the fickle era, but we'll see it should be it should be exciting

41:21 We'll still bully. There's a quick college football minute for you. We'll still bully people with Alan. Don't worry

41:26 But of course, that's you know as this tradition not every college football traditions going to the wayside

41:32 Yeah, don't worry most of them. Those are not all of them. Wisconsin will still play bully ball

41:36 they'll still be pounding the rock and breeding offensive linemen and

41:39 linebackers, but

41:41 All right, but that'll do it from today's Pat's beat podcast

41:46 We are off tomorrow as the Patriots travel to Green Bay and then Wednesday Thursday

41:52 We will be back with some special guests. It looks like who will be out there to break down the practices for us here

42:00 But until then you can Alex on twitter at real Alex Barth and go read all his work over at 98 5 the sports hub

42:07 Calm you can follow me on twitter at I am Brian Hines and go read all my cup hats pulpit calm

42:13 Thank you guys as always for tuning in and we will see you soon

Category

Transcript

Comments

Recommended