FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts. – Quick thoughts and notes about the New England Patriots and the NFL:
1. Rhammondre and RBs: When former Patriots running back James White (2014-21) assesses the team’s personnel at his old position, he makes a connection to the past.
“It almost reminds me of before I got to the Patriots when they had Stefan Ridley and Shane Vereen [in the early 2010s]Danny Woodhead, Kevin Faulk, and others are gone. “At the time it was like, ‘This is your back field now. “I feel like that’s the transition there now.”
The transfer came as a result of Damien Harris signing with the Bills in free agency, and a potential replacement, James Robinson, was released three months after signing this spring.
White believes Ramondry Stephenson is ready for another heavy workload in his third season in the NFL.
“It’s not often that there are that many picks a Patriots running back has,” White said after Stevenson recorded 66% playing time last season and totaled 1,040 yards and five touchdowns on the 210 carries. “[Coach] invoice [Belichick] He likes this guy, so he just has to take advantage of the opportunity.”
While the 6-foot, 225-pound Stevenson is the obvious #1 choice, there is a level of uncertainty with unproven individuals behind him.
That sparked speculation in some circles that Belichick might consider adding him to the ranks, with Dalvin Cook being the best free agent option available. White said he would be surprised if that happened, leaving a chance for the prospect just in case Stevenson was injured.
Thus, White views training camp as critical time for nine-year veteran Ty Montgomery (limited to one game last season due to a shoulder injury), third-year runner JJ Taylor (5-6, 185) and sophomore Pierre Strong. Junior (5-11, 205) and Kevin Harris (5-10, 225) to prove they are worthy complement options for Stevenson, who bounced back a bit at the end of last season.
“I see a group of talented youngsters and then a seasoned veteran in Tai [6-0, 216]White said. “Being around it a little bit last year, at OTAs and training camp, [Ty is] A guy who feels like he’s still trying to prove himself and feels like he’s got a lot in the tank… he never really got a chance.
With the return of Bill O’Brien [as offensive coordinator]They’ll probably go back to having a ‘minor comeback’, and I feel like he’d be the guy to take over if they didn’t have Ramondry take the full brunt.”
White will watch closely in training camp to see how strong a response — the South Dakota graduate who pitched just 51 snaps as a rookie after being drafted in the fourth round — to a full year in the team’s system. While the team’s offseason program officially ended on June 16, Strong took a break last week to continue his workouts at Gillette Stadium.
“He obviously has the speed. It’s probably just the mental part of it. When I’m a beginner there’s a lot to learn, and I kind of like [in 2014]White said.
“He’s going to throw a lot at him in training camp. They’re going to test him. Leave him in a few pre-season games to see what kind of load he can accept, if he can catch the blitz, run between the tackles. If he can show what they expect, he’ll be there.”
White added that Taylor also has a long-overdue opportunity for a more stable role, and warned anyone not to overlook Harris, last year’s sixth-round pick from South Carolina.
“Kevin is a physical runner,” he said. “When you look at him, you might not think much of him. But he’s a good player, he goes downhill and he’s a lot faster than you think.”
2. White’s opinion: White, who was a visitor at Patriots training during mandatory mini-camp, was asked to provide an overall picture. His answer: “It looked competitive. The offense seemed a little looser this year at this point. It seemed like the players were active on the offensive side. The ball wasn’t hitting the ground a lot of times. The process seemed to be in place – guys would just stand on the line of scrimmage and go – and that’s what I used to see it from a Patriot-type attack.”
3. Overtime Concerns?: One point quarterback Mack Jones and others have throughout the spring is that it’s hard to get a real rating without pads. So the key early in training camp, once the pads come out after the initial ramp-up period, will be how the offensive line holds up.
For all the talk about the possibility of adding receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who would obviously help – offensive tackle can prove to be the biggest question the Patriots have. With Trent Brown seemingly heading in the wrong direction after missing the first day of mandatory mini-camp after a long absence during the voluntary OTAs, Calvin Anderson, Riley Reeve and Connor McDermott were in the top three at spring practices.
4. Jack Jones Mode: The Patriots’ first camp practice is scheduled for July 26, and a popular question on social media is if Jack Jones is expected to be around after being called up last Tuesday on a gun charge. Jones won’t be back on the court until August 18th, so at this point with the team still on his side, why not be there to start training camp?
5. Team BB and 33: Belichick went head-to-head with the 33rd team’s website in a feature called “Meet Bill Belichick. Topics included his respect for Paul Brown; the coaches he enjoyed competing with; how football developed during his tenure; the special teams and how kicking was an essential part of the game’s history; and his philosophy of hiring, developing, and promoting young coaches from within. If not, Belichick said in the interview Coach, he would have pursued a career in business.
6. They said so: “I’m telling you right now, Mack Jones is going to be a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback in the very near future, be it this year or the next two. He’s good.” — ESPN Analyst Kirk Herbstreit on “Show Pat McAfee.“
7. RB Market: White sympathizes with franchise-branded running backs Josh Jacobs (Raiders), Saquon Barkley (Giants) and Tony Pollard (Cowboys) in hopes of securing lucrative long-term deals. “It’s definitely hard to look back on a pullback, it looks like the market has been pulling back,” he said. “I still feel like we’re still a vital part of the attack. You block, you run and you catch the ball – you assist around and touch the ball 20 times a game, sometimes more.”
8. Gino For Hall: Why isn’t the late Patriots player Gino Cappelletti inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame? It’s a good question, with John Tierney of Talk of Fame website Which makes the case long overdue. There is no argument here.
9. Ross Takes: Russ Francis (1975-1980, 1987-88), whom Howard Cosell once referred to as the “all-world tight end” on “Monday Night Football,” said to “Bats from the past“The podcast he believes separates the best tight ends in history: those with ‘total’ skills — blocking, speed to get to the field, hands to catch the football. That’s why he idolizes former Patriots Rob Gronkowski,” he said.
10. Did you know? Since 2010, there have been 27 individual 1,000-yard rushing seasons by tight ends, according to ESPN Stats & Info. From 1970 to 2009, there were 24.