- 2 years ago
Patriot Nation goes LIVE for a final preseason preview, roster projections with Mike Kadlick of WEEI.
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00:00 You're listening to the Patreon Nation Podcast.
00:06 Welcome back to the Patreon Nation Podcast, which of course is presented by Fanduul
00:36 and his official wagering partner.
00:39 Go to fanduul.com/boston to sign up now.
00:42 It's your boy Pat Lane here, as always with my guy Matt Sanjian.
00:45 And we have a very special guest today, Mike Kadlik on the show, former CLNS guy, now at
00:51 WEI.
00:52 We're very excited to have you on the show.
00:54 Welcome in Mike.
00:55 Thanks man.
00:56 I love live podcasting.
00:59 I don't mind pre-recording, but I like being live more.
01:02 Love having the audience.
01:03 So, fired up to be here, obviously first time on the CLNS airwave since I left.
01:08 So, this is going to be fun.
01:09 I'm excited to chop it up with you guys.
01:10 So, thanks for having me.
01:11 Of course.
01:12 Yeah, a little earlier than scheduled for, a little earlier than normally scheduled for
01:17 us I should say, for our normal listeners out there.
01:20 Yeah, you guys are usually the late night crowd, huh?
01:22 We're usually the late night show.
01:23 Yes.
01:24 Close it down.
01:25 Yep, that's right.
01:26 We're a little risque for afternoon television, you know.
01:30 So, it's mostly my face is the problem.
01:33 It's, you know, that's the problem.
01:36 But Patriots have wrapped up training camp.
01:39 That's it.
01:40 They're done.
01:41 Practices are over.
01:42 And, you know, of course, Mike, you've been there every day through all of it.
01:47 And what were your takeaways today, I guess?
01:49 You know, you walk out there, lay, you know, what's the last day of camp.
01:53 How does it feel?
01:54 And I guess, I guess before we talk about that, like, what are your, what were your
02:00 feelings about camp this year, just in general?
02:03 Forget about today, just like in general.
02:05 Yeah, it felt, honestly, it felt much more put together compared to last season.
02:11 I thought there, like at the beginning of last year, when I was there, the few times
02:15 I was at like OTAs with the Patricia and Joe Jaja offense, it felt like there was some
02:21 like fake optimism, almost like, okay, they put this together and this kind of looks like
02:26 it might work maybe if they can.
02:28 And it just obviously everything, you know, kind of went downhill last season where this
02:32 year it felt like, you know, there's actually some promise in what they can do on offense.
02:36 The defense has been fine.
02:37 The defense will, you know, you don't really have to worry about them.
02:40 They kind of just go out there and do what, you know, do what's asked of them.
02:43 And, you know, there's the narrative that they weren't great against good quarterbacks
02:47 and Judon actually talked about that today.
02:49 He had a, he had a good quote, but I think just from, from an offensive standpoint, it
02:54 felt like they really have something that they can, you know, put on the field and hopefully
02:58 win some games with like, Matt looks comfortable in O'Brien system.
03:02 O'Brien looks like he's, you know, taken over and taken charge.
03:06 Everything's timed up well, the receivers, the quarterbacks, the running backs, like
03:09 there were so many like silly mistakes last season where, you know I talk about this one
03:14 all the time, but it's like a famous John O'Smith and Kendrick Bourne on a mesh router
03:19 running into each other and both guys get hurt.
03:21 Like that's stuff that you, you practice day one, install day one, I'm high, you're low,
03:27 we high five and we mesh and one of us is open.
03:29 If you're running into each other at week seven, like that's, that's like pop water
03:33 stuff.
03:34 And so you weren't seeing that they were working on that stuff.
03:36 Everyone was dialed in.
03:37 So just a lot more comfortability in the offense.
03:40 I think that was sort of my main takeaway from camp in general and from today specifically,
03:45 it's gotta be Mike Onwendo.
03:46 I think the story of the last two days really was injuries, not only guys coming back, but
03:51 guys kind of getting banged up too.
03:52 Cause like Onwendo comes back, Gacyffi's on the practice field, Pierre Strong's on the
03:56 practice field.
03:57 But then today you have Christian Gonzalez get banged up.
04:00 Jonathan Jones is still not out there.
04:02 Demario Douglas has been, you know, going to the conditioning field.
04:04 So kind of a mixed bag on that front.
04:06 But the, the biggest question mark is going to be this offensive line and to see Onwendo
04:11 come back, even, even though he did, he wasn't a participant to be there in uniform, not
04:18 on pop anymore.
04:20 It clearly means he's on a good trajectory.
04:22 So that's gonna, that's gonna have a trickle down on the offensive line.
04:25 So that's, that's my big takeaway from today.
04:28 Mike, with Onwendo back, is your sense that Reef is going to go back out to tackle or
04:33 are they going to stick with City?
04:34 So there is Conor McDermott going to come back into this picture?
04:37 How do you think that works itself out?
04:39 Yeah, it's a good question.
04:40 Personally, I think they should try Onwendo at guard.
04:43 I mean, at tackle rather, I'm sorry.
04:45 I think they should put Onwendo at tackle.
04:48 And I think it's starting to trend that way.
04:51 From what we saw today, Reef is staying inside.
04:54 Nothing has changed.
04:55 I have to be careful with the words I say because Patriots, they've been on us about
05:00 reporting what we can say and not say and all that stuff.
05:03 Things have stayed put despite Onwendo being there, if you catch my drift.
05:08 So I think they might just plug Onwendo on there and keep Reef inside.
05:14 Because you would think they would make changes and they really haven't.
05:17 So with him still coming back, I think they might be able to plug him outside.
05:21 Obviously, we'll see what happens.
05:23 But I think they should because, look, the argument against it, at least from what I've
05:29 seen and kind of what I've assumed is that they didn't want to put him there because
05:34 then he'd be a right tackle and then you'd have to pay him like a right tackle if he
05:37 plays well.
05:38 But if you have a good right tackle that's worth the money, then just pay him and protect
05:42 your quarterback.
05:43 It doesn't have to be that difficult.
05:45 You don't need to loop-de-loop around it, if you will.
05:48 Just put the guy out there, let him play, and if he can be Max right tackle for the
05:52 next five years and you've got to pay him like it, then so be it.
05:55 He's also a great guard, though.
05:57 So you have Reef.
05:58 It'll be interesting to see what they do, but if it were up to me, I would put him a
06:02 tackle and make sure that you have him and Brown on the outsides if that ought to go
06:06 down.
06:07 I agree with you.
06:08 Go ahead, Matt.
06:09 Go ahead.
06:10 I just find it funny here that, especially with the Siddy Sowe stuff, it seems like they
06:14 could make the entire offensive line out of five guard-tackle hybrids.
06:18 They're just going to put four of the same guy and then David Andrews in the middle.
06:24 Yeah, it's bizarre.
06:26 I guess that's ... I kind of think it's a good thing and it's a bad thing.
06:30 It depends on how you look at it.
06:31 Because on one hand, you have guys who, if someone goes down, you can kick them out anywhere
06:35 and they're smart enough to at least be serviceable at the position.
06:39 On the other hand, you'd rather one guy who is a nasty left tackle but stinks a guard,
06:44 but you know that, "Okay, he's my tackle and I put him a tackle."
06:48 It's sort of a catch-22 in that regard.
06:52 No, I think they just ... In general, they need a lot of help at the position.
06:57 I think hopefully, one strange is healthy, one's on one who's back and roaring.
07:02 Then Trent Brown, a slow start to camp.
07:05 He obviously wasn't practicing, was still starting to ramp up.
07:08 He did get sort of a bulrushed pancake today by Dietrich Weiss, which wasn't a great look.
07:13 In general, big sample size.
07:16 Trent looks like he's ready to go.
07:17 To have him on the left side on Mack Fly's side will be huge.
07:22 It's huge.
07:23 I think the thing about on one who that's interesting is that, are they going to pay
07:27 him?
07:29 If you're not going to pay him anyways, then what difference does it make?
07:34 It doesn't matter where he's playing.
07:38 Maybe they look at it and say, "He's a phenomenal guard and he's a good tackle."
07:43 I think I'd rather have a good tackle than a phenomenal guard.
07:47 I think that's more important, especially if he's the best right tackle on your team,
07:53 he should be your starting right tackle.
07:55 Even if he's definitely, he could be the best right guard and right tackle on your team,
07:59 but I'd rather try to fill someone in at right guard than fill someone in at right tackle.
08:06 That's the big thing for me.
08:10 We'll see how Trent Brown plays.
08:12 We'll see when Cole Strange comes back.
08:13 Although it's interesting because people were talking about Cole Strange almost definitely
08:17 being good to go for the regular season, but Mike on one who may be not being ready, Cole
08:23 Strange isn't back out there on when he is.
08:25 Again, on one who only did conditioning and didn't do any team drills and stuff like that,
08:30 but still, the fact that he was out there in pads, that makes a difference.
08:36 I don't know what's going to happen with Strange.
08:38 Maybe he's the one that's going to miss time and they have to figure out what they're going
08:42 to do at left guard.
08:45 They have the depth, and especially where you drafted those guys this year.
08:49 You drafted Jake Andrews.
08:51 You drafted Antonio Maffi.
08:53 Those guys are interior guys.
08:56 Put on one on the outside if you need, and if Bradley Reeves stinks at right guard, you
09:00 have guys that can fill in if you need.
09:02 You don't have another right tackle, other than Sidney So I guess.
09:06 I don't know.
09:07 If Reeves is a mess, then it's not what I want to see.
09:09 Calvin Anderson is the other name here that's kind of a wild card.
09:13 Is he any closer to being back?
09:15 Do we have any idea?
09:17 Mike Reeves in his Sunday column wrote that he's getting close.
09:21 I don't know.
09:22 Those weren't the exact words, so don't quote me on that.
09:25 Somewhere along the lines of he's getting there.
09:28 He was there today not doing anything, not in pads and street clothes, just kind of standing
09:32 around watching.
09:33 There hasn't been any real reporting on it aside from that.
09:36 I think you kind of...
09:39 I wouldn't necessarily bank on him.
09:41 I think to have to bank on someone like that, it's tough on August 23rd.
09:45 So just... and Pat, back to your point on with Reeves and Unwendu, right?
09:53 Think about it this way.
09:54 If the right side of your line is going to be Riley Reeves and Mike Unwendu, whatever
09:58 way you slice it, I'm saying that Unwendu is better than Riley Reeves.
10:03 So put the better guy at tackle because that's the position where if it blows up, it's going
10:09 to be worse for your quarterback because guys coming off the edge.
10:12 It's easier, I guess, to kind of help in the middle with David Andrews in that than have
10:16 a guy steaming off the right side and blowing up Matt Jones's face.
10:19 So Unwendu, put Unwendu on the right side.
10:21 As far as Calvin Anderson, just going back to that, it's great if he comes back and can
10:25 be a death piece, but I'm not looking for him to start for you anymore.
10:29 I feel like that shit is kind of stale.
10:32 It's kind of crazy.
10:33 You look at the tackle position, you bring back Conor McDermott, you sign Calvin Anderson,
10:36 you sign Riley Reeves, and here we are with two and a half weeks until the regular season
10:40 starts.
10:41 Calvin Anderson hasn't played at all.
10:42 Reeves set guard and what McDermott's banged up right now.
10:46 So yeah, he wasn't there.
10:48 And he's been moving around the line even when he was healthy.
10:50 I don't think he was a lock to make this roster.
10:52 So it's a good thing they took as many shots as they did, but also we still don't have
10:58 a good answer.
10:59 Right.
11:00 Yeah, it's it's tough.
11:01 It's going to be it's going to make or break the team because look, today at practice,
11:05 there were a few times and one play specifically where Mac drops back and protection breaks
11:12 down and I think it was Jude on is just like beaming right towards him.
11:16 Obviously doesn't hit him because red jersey practice runs past them.
11:19 But then Mac is able to reset and he drops a dime to Kendrick Horn in tight coverage
11:23 on a crosser.
11:24 Beautiful throw, beautiful catch.
11:26 If it's blocked up, it's a touchdown, but you're not even getting there if the offensive
11:29 line isn't giving you anything.
11:31 So that's I mean, it's it's obvious, right.
11:34 But like that's that's going to make or break what you can do offensively.
11:37 And so it's yeah, it's a big question mark.
11:39 And again, you hope these guys get healthy before the season.
11:43 But if if that can't be blocked up, then they're going to have a hard time again.
11:46 And it's again, not going to really be Matt Jones as well.
11:48 So right.
11:49 Well, that makes it difficult because you wonder who are the guys that are going to
11:53 slot in.
11:54 And so I think I think when we look at it, you say, OK, our starting five, right, what
12:00 we're hoping for right will be Trent Brown, Cole Strange, David Andrews, probably Riley
12:05 Reif and then and then Mike on when the question is, if strange and when it aren't ready for
12:12 the regular season, are we putting are we starting two rookies on the offensive line?
12:17 Right.
12:18 It's only my view.
12:19 It looks like right now he's looked like the best guard outside of the top two.
12:25 He's looked like one of the best guards on the team.
12:26 I feel like you have to put him at left guard.
12:29 And then nobody else has done even close to what City.
12:32 So it was done at right tackle.
12:33 And he hasn't been amazing, but he's been better than than what else we've seen out
12:38 there.
12:39 So, you know, I just think I look at it and think, OK, that offensive line isn't bad.
12:44 But if those two guys don't come back healthy, you're starting two rookies on the offensive
12:48 line.
12:49 Right.
12:50 You know, one of them, one that's right.
12:53 And you know, and so great.
12:56 I like the kid.
12:57 He hasn't played tackle since he was a freshman in college, which was like 15 years ago.
13:01 So like it's just, you know, like that's it's a lot.
13:04 So you know, and especially like you say, against the Eagles and then the next week
13:07 against the Dolphins and then the third week against the Jets, like you're not getting
13:11 any breaks to start the season.
13:12 You know, you're facing some really good competition on the starting seven.
13:16 So in the front seven.
13:17 So it's going to be it's going to be tough for them.
13:20 And on when to come back today was a big step forward.
13:22 And if he's back healthy week one, that's going to that's going to really, really help
13:25 them.
13:27 Yeah.
13:28 So I want to I want to switch to another position here on the offense, because there's another
13:32 one where we've got some injuries clouding what's going to happen with the roster.
13:36 And that's running back.
13:37 This is a position I think is interesting.
13:39 We talked about it after the last game.
13:42 You could argue the best preseason performer running back has been J.J. Taylor.
13:47 And you've got Tom Montgomery, who in theory might be one of the better guys in the room,
13:51 who basically has not played at all.
13:53 Pierre Strong is the guy they drafted more highly last year and who made the team out
13:57 of camp.
13:58 And Kevin Harris didn't.
13:59 And now he is hurt.
14:00 So it's kind of hard to get a read on who's going to fill in those roster spots behind
14:06 Romandre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott.
14:09 What's your thinking on that at this point?
14:11 My thinking is, thank God they signed Zeke.
14:15 Outside of Zeke and Romandre, it's it's not only house of cards, but it's it's a bunch
14:19 of jokers.
14:20 And that's not to be derogatory towards these guys.
14:22 But it's just like they're not great outside of those two.
14:26 And they're unreliable because Tom Montgomery, like you said, Matt, he's great when he's
14:30 out there.
14:31 But we've only seen him for probably five or six plays over two years when he's out
14:34 there and they're great when he's there.
14:36 But outside of that, it's like he can't rely on him health wise.
14:38 So I'd be surprised if he makes the team at this point, even though he's out there back
14:42 because, again, you just you can't trust him.
14:45 So I think and this was and I'm sort of making tweaks and I know this is sort of half roster
14:52 projection episode, half where things are like right now going into this preseason game.
14:57 I think they're going to keep three backs and I think it's going to be Romandre.
15:00 I think it's going to be Zeke and I think it's going to be Pierce.
15:04 Yeah.
15:05 Kevin Harris hasn't shown enough.
15:07 Montgomery can't trust.
15:08 And I think strong, though he was banged up using concussion protocol today.
15:13 He shed the red noncontact jersey.
15:15 So I think he's getting there.
15:17 And I think I don't know exactly what day in the protocol is.
15:20 And frankly, I don't I don't know it like like the back of my hand.
15:24 But today's Wednesday, if he's in a white jersey, has another off day tomorrow, he might
15:29 be able to play on Friday, get a couple snaps.
15:31 And if he can show up and he might win that their job.
15:33 And I think that's sort of it's when you're when you're trying to break down a 53 man
15:39 roster like it's not always going to be running back first running back for the last spot
15:43 or wide receiver.
15:44 So you kind of have to make like it'll be the last running back or do we keep a line
15:49 back or who can play on special teams as well?
15:51 So like I look at the six receivers that they might want to keep.
15:55 I look at some linebackers that they might want to keep that can play special teams.
15:59 And I don't think they have the room for a fourth running back because no matter who
16:02 it is, I agree.
16:03 Whether it's JJ, whether it's Ty and whether or whether it's Kevin Harris, like I just
16:08 don't think they're deserving of a top 53.
16:10 So that's sort of where I sit with the running backs.
16:12 And yeah, like I said from the top, thank God they got to know.
16:15 I think JJ Taylor and Kevin Harris, you can stash on the practice squad too and effectively
16:20 have that fourth running back or fifth running back during the season whenever you need them.
16:25 Right.
16:26 Yeah, no, I'm with you too.
16:27 Like that's the practice squad and the waivers is kind of not that it's different than it
16:32 used to be.
16:33 But I know that the rules have sort of like changed since COVID and they're bigger practice
16:37 squads now and the rules for, you know, waving guys and who has to clear versus who doesn't
16:41 can change.
16:42 So yeah, there's going to be so many guys who get cut and so many guys who aren't going
16:47 to get claimed and they're just going to be right back with the team.
16:49 They're just going to be guys who you can pull back and forth and put on the roster.
16:52 Like you said, guys like JJ, guys like Kevin Harris.
16:55 I look at a guy like Malik Cunningham and I know that it's a different position.
16:58 I'm sure we'll get to it here, but I don't know if he's going to make the team.
17:02 I don't know if another team is going to claim him.
17:04 It depends.
17:05 I think he kind of got screwed with Saturday's game getting cut out because he wasn't able
17:10 to get another drive out there.
17:11 So we'll see what happens there.
17:12 But yeah, a lot of these guys, we talk about them getting cut, but a lot of them aren't
17:16 going to get claimed and they're guys who they like enough where once they come back,
17:19 they're basically going to cut them and say, look, stay another night in the hotel and
17:22 we'll see you on Monday.
17:23 So it'll be interesting.
17:26 But ultimately I say, I say three decks, but JJ JJ to me is, you know, he's bam Childress.
17:31 He's a guy that excels in the preseason and he's done nothing in the regular season to
17:35 justify that.
17:36 We've seen it over and over and over again in the regular season.
17:39 He can't get it done in a real NFL game against real NFL town.
17:42 And like, I like the guy, he works hard, obviously they obviously like him.
17:46 He's been around for a while, but he's just not that guy.
17:49 You know what I mean?
17:50 So practice squad, like Matt said, he'll be practice squad.
17:52 And if they need another body to catch passes or, you know, run down on special teams when
17:56 someone else gets hurt, then they'll pull him up.
17:58 But yeah, otherwise I don't see him worthy of a 53.
18:02 Yeah, I agree.
18:03 So Joshua Littlejohn's asking some of the questions, which is great, but he asked a
18:05 question about Taekwon Thornton and if Taekwon is back.
18:08 And I think that that's, it's funny because when Matt mentioned the injuries, that's what
18:12 I was thinking about because I thought he was going to wide receiver.
18:16 And so I guess the question is, are they going to start the season with six wide receivers
18:22 on the roster?
18:23 And if they don't, who are they going to get rid of?
18:28 Yeah, I'm in the boat right now that they're going to keep all six.
18:34 I think that it's going to be, according to Chris Price from the Globe, apparently
18:41 Taekwon is week to week.
18:42 So it's tough to, again, he's going into a season with an injury.
18:47 I know it's only his second year, but he's another guy who can't stay healthy, but he
18:50 has so much potential.
18:52 I don't think they're going to cut weight with him yet.
18:54 I think they would if he wasn't a second round pick from last season.
18:57 I think he would be off the team, but they can't do it yet.
19:00 I think again, he has too much potential and they spent a lot of capital on him.
19:04 So if he's here, that might be a guy who once they clear waivers, if they keep him on the
19:11 53, then they put him on IR, he's only out four weeks.
19:15 And then they can bring another guy back and add him to the 53.
19:17 So I don't think they're going to want to risk cutting a guy like Keishon Booty either,
19:22 because I wouldn't be surprised if the team smashed him up.
19:25 He's had a good couple of weeks.
19:26 He's strung together a couple of good practices here.
19:29 I think if he has another solid game in the reps he gets on Friday, then I think he locks
19:35 himself in a spot.
19:36 Because two, I noted this in my piece today on weei.com, but Booty saw a lot of special
19:42 teams reps today too.
19:43 I found that interesting because if like, again, when you weigh guys position by position,
19:51 if they can contribute on special teams, they're more likely to grab a job or if whether he's
19:55 just a wide receiver.
19:56 And so for them to start, you know, repping him as a gunner and as a punt returner and
20:00 things like that, if he can do a bunch of different stuff, then he's going to warrant
20:03 a position on the 53.
20:06 That's something that stood out to me too.
20:07 And that goes back to running back with Pierre Strong.
20:10 I think he plays more special teams than anybody else in that room.
20:13 And when you go down the line, that's where, you know, Matt Sokol is going to make the
20:16 team in my head.
20:17 There's like a mini roster battle between like Matt Sokol and Calvin Munson going on
20:21 for like the 53rd spot right now.
20:23 Munson's up against everybody.
20:25 He's a guy who everyone wants to squeeze him on and I get it.
20:28 Like right now I have him off, but there's so much like from right now to Tuesday, even
20:35 though we're only going to see one football game in front of us, like there's going to
20:39 be so many tells in that to see like who's going to be on, who's going to be off.
20:42 And they have a ton of decisions to make.
20:44 Yeah.
20:45 Munson's a guy who's like in a position battle with pretty much everybody right now.
20:49 Well, and it depends too, like you talked about, you know, other guys are going to get
20:52 cut from other teams.
20:53 You know, this weekend as other teams, you know, pounding the phone line, Hey, we're
20:58 going to cut this guy.
20:59 You want to send us a fifth, sixth round pick for him?
21:00 You know what I mean?
21:01 And then all of a sudden now the Patriots have acquired two guys through trades.
21:05 And so now two guys that you thought would be in the 53 men aren't in the 53 because
21:09 those guys are on it instead.
21:10 So, you know, it's, that's, that's kind of the, the, you know, the, the Tetris that you
21:15 play with the, you know, with the, with the roster projections.
21:18 Yeah.
21:19 That same with Zeke too.
21:20 He's a guy who, uh, he came in and he wasn't, he's like a lock for the 53 now where there's
21:25 guys that bring in, like you bring in another guy to, I mean the McCall guy that they brought
21:30 in yesterday who already got caught, but like, that's the guy who you bring them in and he's
21:33 just sort of competing or like the running back Marable.
21:36 He's just sort of, but no, Zeke, Zeke's on the team.
21:38 So now other guys naturally follow.
21:40 And like you said, it's a Tetris game, so it'll definitely be interesting over the next
21:45 couple of days.
21:46 Exactly.
21:47 All right.
21:48 Listen, we're going to get to the defense in a second, but we're first got to wear for
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23:05 Hey, Mike, yeah, like Mike, let's, let's flip over the defense out of the football defensively.
23:20 Give me like one person, one guy that people aren't looking at that you think is going
23:24 to be on the 53 man roster.
23:26 And maybe there isn't anyone in your projection, but give me one guy that people are kind of
23:29 like, I don't know.
23:30 And you're like, no, no, that guy's on the team.
23:33 After what happened today, I think Sam Roberts is a guy who's going to make the team as a
23:37 defensive tackle.
23:38 I think even after, even after being a dummy on, on, yeah, he was.
23:44 And, you know, as I was put it this way, when I, to, to go behind the curtain a little bit,
23:50 like when I'm writing a postgame article during the game, especially in preseason, I'm also
23:55 like actively doing my 53 minute roster production for the next day, just so it's, you know,
24:00 it's ready and you move things around.
24:02 So as soon as Roberts had those two penalties, I took them off my roster.
24:06 But then as he's, as the game, he's getting all these reps and he's playing pretty well.
24:10 He has a couple of run stuffs, whatever.
24:11 I'm like, okay, like this guy's going to play.
24:13 And yeah, I do.
24:15 It's like, it's funny because that stuff's, that stuff's not going to fly.
24:19 And that's not just a Belichick thing.
24:21 That's in any team thing.
24:22 If you're out there making bonehead plays, like you're not going to last, but I thought
24:25 he played well enough.
24:26 I think with, with McCall coming in, then leaving Carl Davis was up on, up on the conditioning
24:34 field today.
24:36 And there's sort of starting to be some traction that Lawrence guy could maybe be a surprise
24:40 cut here.
24:41 I don't know if, I don't know if he's going to, if he's still upset about his contract
24:45 or what's going to happen there.
24:46 So if, as far as depth along the defensive front, I think Sam Roberts could definitely
24:51 make a push and make the team.
24:52 I know again, I know he had that boneheaded play.
24:54 But I think that his play in general has outweighed and he's getting, he's getting decent time
24:59 on that front.
25:00 So I think, I think he'll probably make the team.
25:03 Well there was a moment in the Packers game where the Packers ripped off a run and I was
25:07 kind of like half looking at the TV and I saw him break run.
25:10 I was like, Oh man, like the second team defense isn't very good.
25:13 And then they showed the replay and they are running right at Carl Davis and Lawrence guy.
25:17 And it was like, Oh, that's, that's not, it's not great.
25:21 Here's a, and I, I don't know if this is something that could even happen, but it seems like
25:25 they're interested in beefing up the defensive tackle room, at least by claiming McCall.
25:30 The name that keeps coming into my mind is Grover Stewart for the Colts.
25:35 He's a guy who was on the last year of his deal.
25:36 He's an elite run stuffing defensive tackle.
25:38 The Colts aren't very good.
25:40 The Pats just played him last year and they know how good he is.
25:43 I don't know if a guy like that would ever be available, but I also feel like, you know,
25:47 God draws his listed weight is higher.
25:49 Supposedly he beefed up.
25:50 I don't know if you really saw it against the run.
25:53 I don't know if he looked improved Saturday night and Carl Davis is Carl Davis and McCall
25:58 didn't, didn't pass his physical.
26:00 If they're trying to add to the room, I think you could look to make a trade there.
26:03 Yeah, I'm with you.
26:04 There's so many, there are so many moves that are going to happen.
26:08 And I said this two minutes ago, but even not just in the Patriots room, but across
26:12 the entire league, like surprise cuts and potential trades that will come about tonight
26:18 into the, like right up until the deadline and even after, because as soon as the deadline
26:23 comes, guys get caught, guys get caught.
26:25 So like there's so much roster turnover that even if you think, and I know that some guys,
26:30 some guys on the beat with me, we kind of talk about like, they want to make the perfect
26:34 53 man roster.
26:35 It's like, they want to get it.
26:36 It's like a March Madness bracket.
26:37 It's like, there's no way it's going to happen because some guy's going to get cut out in
26:41 San Francisco that Belichick loves and you didn't know would be available.
26:44 And then it's like, so again, like you said, a guy like a guy like Stewart on the Colts,
26:50 anyone, I mean, you can bring in a guy like Jason Peters on the offensive line.
26:53 I feel like, I don't think that's going to happen, but there's, again, there's guys,
26:55 there's talent out there that you don't know is going to be available.
26:58 So yeah, anything, anything can happen.
27:01 But yeah, I think the, as far as the defensive line and that's kind of why I go with Roberts
27:04 because clearly they, they're looking to beef that up.
27:07 So I think that's, that's a spot that's kind of a mystery right now.
27:10 I think their defensive front in general is solid, but it looks from the outside looking
27:15 in, it looks like they want to kind of make improvements.
27:18 Oh, and something, something we've talked about Pat too, is that, you know, your week
27:21 one opponent is Philly with that elite offensive line and running game.
27:26 And you might tailor your fifth, your initial 53 a little bit differently than you would
27:30 in other years because you know, you want the right roster for that game and you're
27:34 going to make your usual adjustments going forward.
27:37 Exactly.
27:38 Yeah, no, it makes sense.
27:39 I mean, I, I just, you know, I get worried about that only because it's a, it's a, it's
27:44 a passing league, right?
27:45 But at the same time, then you, you sit there and look at what the Patriots have on the
27:49 back end and you think, well, they got a ton of depth of corner.
27:52 They got a ridiculous amount of depth at safety.
27:55 And you know, I think the linebacker group is the group that I'm most concerned about
27:59 because I think that Mack Wilson can cover the pass.
28:03 I don't know if Mack Wilson can stop the run.
28:06 And this is a defense that is predicated on them stopping the run so that that's, that's
28:11 what concerns me.
28:12 I know Juwan Bentley wasn't out there on, on Saturday night.
28:15 I get that.
28:16 I know Marty Mop who wasn't out there on Saturday night.
28:17 I don't know if he's going to be starting or not right away, but he might be.
28:21 And so then there's your top two linebackers aren't out there to start the game.
28:25 Like of course you're not going to look as good, but, but you know, if they're not and
28:28 you're relying a lot on Mack Wilson, I just, I don't, I don't know how I feel about that.
28:32 And especially if you're getting declining play from Lawrence Garneau and Carl Davis,
28:38 that's definitely a problem for you moving forward.
28:40 Yeah.
28:41 It's a, it's top heavy at that linebacker for sure.
28:43 And like, I mean, it's great when, like you said, when you do have guys like Bentley out
28:47 there, but when you got to then rely, when you, when you look at a 53 and then you got
28:51 to rely on guys like Chris Borden, Calvin Munson and whoever to be your run stuffers,
28:56 like those are special teamers.
28:57 So yeah, you're right.
28:58 I mean, I don't know the answer to linebacker because I look at and sort of piggybacking
29:03 off what you said, but Mack Wilson is the speed linebacker, the guy, like you said,
29:07 who can cover the pass, but he's not a great against the run.
29:10 He's, he's lighter than everybody else.
29:12 Like you're not going to want him to have to go up and grab, whether it's who do they
29:17 even have now, Philly, like DeAndre Swift or Kenneth Gale, like guys like that, who
29:21 are just not that Gainwell is a big guy, but it's, it'll be tough against that, that, that
29:25 offensive line too.
29:27 So yeah, linebacker kind of a, kind of a mystery because you have great guys on the
29:30 edge, but the inside is kind of outside of Bentley.
29:33 It's kind of a question mark.
29:34 Correct.
29:35 Yeah, no, I agree.
29:36 I agree with you.
29:37 And, and Josh Lutens talking about Jalen Mills, I think Mills has had a really good camp.
29:40 I think he's really good in the two preseason games.
29:43 And I know free safety can be an issue where you say McCord is gone.
29:47 And so that deep part of the field is an issue and it is, and no matter who they put back
29:51 there, it's not going to be as good as Devin McCord.
29:54 But at the same time, I sit there and say, well, they have the rotational piece that
29:58 can go in, right?
29:59 Mills can do it a little bit.
30:01 He won't do it every snap, but he can do it a little bit.
30:03 Kyle Durk can do it every now and again.
30:05 You know, Adrian Phillips could theoretically do it every now and again.
30:07 I think John Jones is a guy that can play that deep free safety depending on the matchups
30:12 and where guys are along the field.
30:14 So I think they have enough, enough depth that they can figure that out.
30:20 It's just like, that's the question is like, they don't have that guy like McCord anymore,
30:24 but they have enough pieces that they can figure that out.
30:26 I think.
30:27 Yeah.
30:28 I'm not like some people are kind of worried about the corner depth with Jones being out
30:33 and then Jack Jones kind of a question mark and Marcus Jones being better in the slot
30:37 and not great on the outs.
30:38 Like I'm fine with their defensive backfield.
30:40 I think you look at guys like Jack Jones, Christian Gonzalez on the outside, Jonathan
30:44 Jones is a chess piece to grill peppers as a chess piece.
30:47 Jalen Mills is a chess piece.
30:49 He can put a corner if they need to.
30:50 Like they're going to use all of their defensive backs in so many different ways, whether it's
30:54 in the box, out of the box, in the slot, on the boundary.
30:57 Like they're just going to enter.
30:59 Bill Pepper says it best, like spin the dial and just put dudes everywhere.
31:02 Marte Mapu can play back there.
31:03 He can play inside.
31:04 Like I think that they're going to put together a defense in the back end that is sensational,
31:11 might be strong because I don't want to put all my, all my eggs in one basket.
31:15 I do.
31:16 I think they're going to be really good back there.
31:17 I think even if a guy like Jack Jones does get suspended, like Jonathan Jones, I think
31:22 is going to be back for week one, as scary as it may be that he hasn't practiced in,
31:27 you know, going on a month now.
31:29 I think they're just being precautionary with them.
31:31 So if he's there, like you said, he can play free.
31:33 Mills can play free.
31:35 Duggar is better as a box safety, but I think he's improving every single year in every
31:40 aspect of his game.
31:41 So I think they're comfortable with him back there.
31:43 Adrian Phillips as well.
31:44 So I think they're going to, it's going to be the front, not so much pass rush, but you
31:50 know, run stopping.
31:51 That's going to be their issue in defense.
31:52 I think the defensive backfield is fine.
31:55 Now I know Christian Gonzalez got a little bit banged up.
31:58 It sounded like today, assuming he's good to go week one.
32:01 Is he going to draw the A.J.
32:02 Brown matchup?
32:03 Is that how you think that's going to go?
32:05 I do.
32:06 I don't know how, I don't know the other way you do it really.
32:10 I think it's, it's, it's always out him with some help, you know, up top and then you get
32:15 to John Jones on Devante Smith and Philly's not a great matchup matchup for them to get
32:21 on game.
32:22 It's, I mean, to be honest, to be, to be fair, Philly's not a great matchup for anyone.
32:26 I mean, there's a reason they were in the Superbowl last year, you know, they're very,
32:29 that's the best roster in football.
32:30 So yeah, it's going to be a little baptism by fire for Christian Gonzalez.
32:35 Exactly.
32:36 Right.
32:37 I mean, but again, who else, who else would you put on good on A.J.
32:39 Brown?
32:40 Right.
32:41 Like, I don't know.
32:42 And as, as much as I just talked up those DBs, it's, it's not a great matchup for them
32:46 to have to put their rookie on the top five to seven wide receiver in A.J.
32:50 Brown week one.
32:51 But if he's going to have a sauce gardener type season, like people want him to, then
32:55 he's going to be able to shut down A.J.
32:57 Brown.
32:58 He's going to be able to go in the next week and man up against Garrett Wilson or not the
33:02 week three Garrett Wilson, but then Tyree Kaelin, like they have a gauntlet to start.
33:07 So it'll be like you said, try a baptism trial by fire for sure for Gonzalez.
33:12 But no, I think he's their best corner.
33:13 I think he's cornerback one.
33:16 He was great to start camp.
33:17 He's I don't want to say fizzled off, but he's just kind of there even keel right now.
33:22 But that's kind of what you want from a corner too.
33:25 So I think they'll be fine.
33:26 I think they're going to throw him at the number ones.
33:29 Yeah, I agree.
33:30 I agree.
33:31 So we'll see.
33:32 And that's going to be again, that's why you draft that guy.
33:35 Right.
33:36 There's a whole reason you draft that guy.
33:37 And so, you know, you get him to stop to stop the other team's number one wide receiver.
33:43 And do you want him going against A.J.
33:44 Brown week one of his NFL career?
33:46 Not really.
33:47 But like, what are you going to do?
33:48 It's either going to be him or Devonta Smith.
33:50 Like it's half number one wide receiver.
33:52 So you got to put him against somebody.
33:54 Exactly.
33:55 Exactly.
33:56 That's how you learn.
33:57 And even if it doesn't go well, you hope he learns from it.
33:58 And that's why they play 17 games.
34:00 The season isn't all what happens on that first Sunday or second Sunday in September.
34:06 And I think he has a good mindset for that, too.
34:09 We spoke to him yesterday after practice.
34:10 He basically said, look, if you have a good play, forget about it.
34:13 If you have a bad play, forget about it.
34:14 So like next one, next one up mentality.
34:18 He seems to have a good head on his shoulders.
34:20 He's not going to get his own head.
34:21 He's just here to play football.
34:22 So even if he does get towards A.J.
34:24 Brown, I'm confident that he'll be he'll be fine.
34:27 Yeah.
34:28 I wouldn't be the first.
34:29 Exactly.
34:30 That's very true.
34:31 That's very true.
34:32 All right.
34:33 This has been a great conversation.
34:34 Before we let you go, though, we're going to do our two final segments and then and
34:37 then I get a question in.
34:38 Oh, for God's sakes.
34:39 Yes, we're running out of time.
34:40 Come on.
34:41 I got a quick it's a quick one.
34:43 Special teams.
34:45 Is there a kicker battle?
34:46 Is there a chance there's two kickers or that something happened to Nick Fulke?
34:51 Ryland and Fulke.
34:53 It's a kicker battle.
34:54 And throughout the beginning of camp, they were both great back and forth, neck and neck.
35:00 This guy hits a couple.
35:01 This guy hits a couple of the last two days.
35:03 They've both been bad.
35:04 Ryland was had a bad day yesterday.
35:06 Fulke had a bad day today.
35:08 It's not what you want.
35:09 I wouldn't shock me now if they do keep two kickers.
35:13 It's crazy to have to find room for two kickers on a 53 man team.
35:16 But it's not it's not something that I wouldn't would put past the Belichick.
35:21 I think I think they might do it because, look, maybe Fulke would want to come back
35:27 if they cut him, but at the same time, he could go to a place like Dallas where he's
35:31 from and kick at home.
35:34 They don't have a kicker in Dallas.
35:35 And in a dome.
35:36 Right.
35:37 Yeah.
35:38 And you're not cutting Chad Ryland.
35:39 So you have to keep Ryland.
35:40 It's a matter of if you can trust him enough to not have to keep Fulke.
35:45 This day, this week, as of right now, I have two kickers on the 53 man roster.
35:50 So we'll see what happens.
35:51 We'll see what happens on Friday.
35:53 I'm mad.
35:54 People will go nuts.
35:56 So I mean, two to six, just turn your radios off from two to six.
36:00 Don't even listen.
36:01 Don't just don't even listen.
36:02 Don't even listen.
36:03 Unless you're listening to us.
36:04 If we're doing a show, then that's good point.
36:05 Great point.
36:06 Or unless two to six, unless I'm doing it.
36:08 That's a great point.
36:09 If Mike is going into this, then you got to listen.
36:11 That's a great point.
36:12 Right.
36:13 So maybe don't.
36:14 Yeah.
36:15 Maybe they don't listen to the other radio station.
36:16 Just, you know, listen, listen, listen, show.
36:18 See if see if see if Mike's on the on the show.
36:21 That's all.
36:22 So.
36:23 All right.
36:24 Final two segments.
36:25 Here we go.
36:26 That was a good question, Matt.
36:27 That was a good question.
36:28 OK, it was it was.
36:29 Yeah, it was good.
36:30 All right.
36:31 Here we go.
36:32 And now for something we think you'll really like this week in sports history.
36:36 All right, I'm going to go first.
36:40 My this week in sports history is from 1883.
36:45 The Philadelphia Quakers make 27 errors against the Providence Grays in a twenty eight to
36:53 nothing shutout defeat.
36:55 So just so just so we're on the same page here prior to this, what did Devers play for
37:00 them?
37:03 So prior to 1888, wild pitches, walks and pass balls all counted as errors.
37:10 So but still 27 errors in one game is that's it's pretty incredible.
37:16 Yeah, that's that's something right there.
37:19 Calling a walk in error is kind of hilarious.
37:21 It's outrageous.
37:22 So what an outrageous thing to think about.
37:25 Yeah.
37:26 Yeah.
37:27 Mine on this day in 1992, Dennis Eckersley became the first pitcher to record 40 saves
37:35 in four different seasons.
37:37 Oh, man, we need him back in the booth, man.
37:40 I know I miss Eck up there.
37:42 Yes, we do.
37:43 I agree.
37:44 Strongly agree on that one.
37:45 Oh, dark blue golds.
37:46 I won from August twenty ninth, 1933.
37:50 The first televised boxing match, a six round exhibition at Broadcasting House in London
37:55 between middleweights Archie Sexton and Laurie Rotary, shown by the BBC.
38:00 How about that?
38:01 There you go.
38:02 Very good.
38:03 Very good.
38:04 Both both going both going way back today.
38:06 All right.
38:07 So who won the who won the trivia question last week?
38:10 Who was it?
38:11 Our winner was AJ Smith.
38:14 And the question, Michael, see if you can get this one.
38:18 In what season did the Patriots win their lone game at Lambeau Field?
38:24 And the bonus is, can you name anybody who scored a touchdown in that game?
38:31 Was it was it 2015?
38:35 That is incorrect.
38:38 You might be thinking of the 2014 game, but the Pats lost that one.
38:42 OK, yeah, they won there in 06, 35 to nothing went out there and did Rashae Caldwell score
38:48 a touchdown?
38:49 He did.
38:50 I knew he was an 06 receiver.
38:53 Yes.
38:54 Yeah.
38:55 Brett Favre got injured during the game.
38:57 So you got half Brett Favre, half Aaron Rodgers in that one.
39:00 Neither was very good.
39:02 Yeah.
39:03 Only win the Patriots have in the state of Wisconsin.
39:06 Yeah.
39:07 For some reason, I thought that that 14, the 14, 15 year, I thought they won up there.
39:11 But I guess not.
39:12 I still remember Jordy Nelson beat Revis on a slant, took it to the house right before
39:17 the half.
39:18 And that was the final.
39:19 Yeah.
39:20 The third down to win it was also to Nelson.
39:23 And that was one where Rodgers had like six seconds in the pocket and just waiting for
39:26 somebody to get open.
39:28 It was that's the last last loss of the season was that game.
39:31 They won every game after that.
39:33 So all right, let's get to it.
39:34 Let's get to this.
39:35 No, I don't think that's true.
39:38 They lost the bills in week 17.
39:40 Oh, well, I know what I mean.
39:42 No one but no one played that game.
39:44 That doesn't count.
39:45 No, no games are counted.
39:48 Yes.
39:49 All right.
39:50 Our trivia question for this week and a reminder of the rules.
39:53 The first person to answer correctly in the chat or Mike, you are eligible to answer as
39:57 well.
39:58 It's going to be entered.
39:59 We'll get an entry for a drawing we're going to do later this season to win something from
40:03 the Patriots Pro Shop.
40:06 So first person to get it.
40:07 And if nobody gets it on this stream, then make sure to comment on the YouTube video
40:10 or tweet at us or whatever and send us what your answer is.
40:15 The question for today.
40:19 Who leads the Patriots in franchise history in all purpose yards?
40:24 Receiving, rushing, kick return and punt return all combined.
40:29 That's a good question.
40:35 No one in the chat.
40:43 Yeah, it's an interesting question.
40:46 Yeah.
40:47 Is it hard?
40:48 I'm not going to tell you.
40:49 Yeah, you're right.
40:50 We'll get a couple more answers in the chat.
40:51 Before I start giving out hints.
40:54 Yeah.
40:55 Do I only get one guess?
40:58 What do you think, Pat?
41:03 Well, so here's the thing, right?
41:06 Oh, Sony Michelle.
41:07 That was a good guess.
41:08 Sony Michelle was a good guess.
41:09 Sony Michelle.
41:10 Not quite right, though.
41:12 Not quite right.
41:14 No, we you can get one guess, although I think should we tell Mike if he's right or not?
41:19 I think we probably should tell Mike if he's right or not, right?
41:21 I think we can tell Mike if he's right or not.
41:23 Yes, but you only get one guess because yeah, you only get one guess.
41:29 I don't want to guess this guy.
41:30 I don't want to do it.
41:31 Do it.
41:32 Stupid guess.
41:33 No, it's a stupid guess.
41:34 All right.
41:35 I'm just going to go with Irvin Fryer.
41:47 I like the guess.
41:48 It is incorrect, though.
41:52 And I'll say we do already have a correct answer in the chat here.
41:55 I'll shout out Jared Goyette.
41:57 Yeah.
41:58 Evan Falk was the correct answer.
42:00 There you go.
42:01 The other guess of mine, my other guess was going to be Edelman, but because he did punt
42:07 returns too, but he wasn't outstanding as a receiver.
42:11 He was a good receiver, but he wasn't rocking out 1,000 yard seasons.
42:14 The other thing that's tough is that the kick return, you get so much more yardage from
42:20 the kick returns than you do from the punt returns.
42:23 That that's really where you pick up the yards.
42:25 You know what I mean?
42:26 I mean, obviously you need to run and receive too, but yeah, I was a little surprised that
42:30 wasn't somebody like Troy Brown, who was just around for forever and just kind of had the
42:34 ball in his hands.
42:35 But Falk was, you know, the same way.
42:37 Yep.
42:38 Yep.
42:39 So, all right, we're up under the gun here.
42:41 Mike, thanks so much for coming on, man.
42:42 We appreciate it.
42:43 It's been great talking to you.
42:44 Hopefully I'll see you at SPOT again soon.
42:48 But before you go, let everyone know where they can read you and hear you and see you
42:52 and everything else.
42:53 All right.
42:54 @MikeKadlick on Twitter.
42:57 You can read my stuff, Patriot's coverage on weei.com, and you can listen on the Six
43:03 Rings podcast powered by Odyssey.
43:04 It's myself, Nick Fitzy-Stevens, and Andy Hart on there every day, some sort of show.
43:10 So some sort of something on there every day of the week, so you can listen to that and
43:14 follow me on Twitter @MikeKadlick.
43:17 What a freaking lineup that is, dude.
43:19 Andy Hart, Fitzy, and Mike Kadlick, come on.
43:21 It's good stuff.
43:22 Yeah, it's fun.
43:23 It's great.
43:24 Love it.
43:25 Well, thanks again, Mike.
43:26 We appreciate it, and thank you everyone in the chat, as always.
43:29 And Matt, well, someone will be around on Friday night.
43:32 It won't be me, because I'll be at a wedding Friday night.
43:35 Oh, yeah.
43:36 But, well, you know, someone will be here after.
43:38 It just won't be me.
43:40 So stay tuned after the game, and we'll go from there.
43:43 Take care, guys.
43:43 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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