6 rings: Patriots' offense shows life in preseason win over Packers
Although the Patriots and Packers didn’t complete their preseason game on Saturday night due to Isaiah Bolden's injury, we still saw plenty of football, a little over three quarters to be exact, that helped us get a feel for where this team is at leading into the last full week of August.
Using the information we've seen so far throughout training camp, here’s a look at how New England’s roster could look come cut-down day in late-August:
Quarterbacks (3): Mac Jones, Bailey Zappe, Malik Cunningham (R)
Out: Trace McSorley
The first two are easy with Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe. This won’t change, no matter how much people would like to see Malik Cunningham push for the second-string spot.
Cunningham did, however, see some added reps at quarterback with the first offense this week in practice and also saw time at gunner on the punt team. The rookie even saw a rep at kick returner in Saturday's game. They’re going to get him on the roster one way or another. We'll call him a quarterback for now.
Running Backs (3): Ezekiel Elliott, Rhamondre Stevenson, Pierre Strong Jr.
Out: Kevin Harris, C.J. Marable, Ty Montgomery, JJ Taylor
The Patriots running back room got a whole lot more interesting this week with the additions of Ezekiel Elliott and C.J. Marable.
From what we saw against the Packers, the only “locks” are Elliott and Stevenson. Pierre Strong was out with a concussion, Kevin Harris ran for just 31 yards on 10 carries, and CJ Marable didn’t even get a chance to play due to the game ending with just over 10 minutes left. Once again, the “rest” of the room was a virtual no-show.
According to The Boston Globe’s Chris Price, Ty Montgomery is considered “day-to-day” and while they like what the veteran can bring to them offensively, specifically in the passing game, it’s hard to justify holding onto him if you can’t rely on him to stay healthy. Until he proves it, he’s off the roster. They go with Strong Jr. as the third back to start the season.
Wide Receivers (6): Kendrick Bourne, Kayshon Boutte (R), Demario Douglas (R), DeVante Parker, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton
Out: Tre Nixon, Thyrick Pitts (R), Raleigh Webb
For a room that receives plenty of flack, the Patriots wide receivers had themselves a day on Saturday night. Kendrick Bourne, who for reasons (sort of) unknown was in the doghouse last season, shined with three receptions from Mac Jones, including one where he climbed the ladder for a highlight reel grab. Bourne looks to be back on track in New England's new offense.
Rookie Demario Douglas was also impressive. While the former Liberty Flame played just two snaps in Green Bay, he made them both count by hauling in a catch on each for a total of 17 yards. The 5-foot-8 shifty receiver looks like he'll have an impact in the slot for the Patriots.
New England’s other sixth-round rookie, Kayshon Boutte, was New England’s leading receiver on the night with two receptions for 49 yards - 40 of which came on this long touchdown from Bailey Zappe:
After an up-and-down start in Foxborough, Boutte has come on strong of late. His push earns him a spot on the 53… for now.
Tight Ends (3): Mike Gesicki, Hunter Henry, Matt Sokol
Out: Anthony Firkser, Johnny Lumpkin (R), Scotty Washington
With Mike Gesicki nursing a shoulder injury, this is the first time I’m adding a third tight end to the room. Matt Sokol makes the team.
Sokol is New England’s best blocking tight end and while they'll likely just play more 11 personnel while Gesicki recovers, they’ll still want somebody else at the position. Sokol has earned it thus far.
Side note: I’m very bullish on what Mac Jones and Hunter Henry have going right now. He looks like the quarterbacks de facto security blanket and could be a reception machine.
Offensive Line (9): David Andrews, Jake Andrews (R), Trent Brown, Atonio Mafi (R), Conor McDermott, Mike Onwenu, Riley Reiff, Sidy Sow (R), Cole Strange
Out: Calvin Anderson, James Ferentz, Chasen Hines, Bill Murray, Kody Russey, Andrew Stueber, Micah Vanterpool
The Patriots continue to need help along the offensive line. Mac Jones played just three drives for New England on Saturday and was sacked twice for 20 yards.
One idea that has come up over the last few days is putting Mike Onwenu (when he comes back from injury) at right tackle and keeping veteran Riley Reiff, who looked solid on the inside against Green Bay, at guard. This would allow New England some consistency in front of Jones without having to thrust a rookie like Sidy Sow into the spotlight for week one.
Long story short for the room as a whole, no one has impressed enough to either a) crack the top-9 or b) push to keep a tenth lineman.
Defensive Line (7): Christian Barmore, Daniel Ekuale, Davon Godchaux, Lawrence Guy, Sam Roberts, Keion White (R), Deatrich Wise Jr.
Out: Carl Davis, Jeremiah Pharms Jr., Justus Tavai (R)
Sam Roberts was given plenty of opportunities on Saturday night to play himself onto New England’s roster and despite two bone-headed penalties making it difficult to justify, he earned it with quality play.
The rest of the room around him remains chalky with Barmore, Ekuale, Godchaux, Guy, White, and Wise Jr. Carl Davis is one of my “last three off”.
Linebackers (7): Ja’Whaun Bentley, Chris Board, Anfernee Jennings, Marte Mapu (R), Matthew Judon, Jahlani Tavai, Josh Uche
Out: Diego Fagot, Trey Flowers, Joe Giles-Harris, Calvin Munson, Ronnie Perkins, Carson Wells, Mack Wilson
The linebacker room stays virtually the same aside from the subtraction of Mack Wilson. The speedster, unfortunately, finds himself on the chopping block with rookie Marte Mapu now fully healthy.
Chris Board latches on as a special teamer with Bentley, Jennings, Judon, Tavai, and Uche rounding out the room.
Cornerbacks (5): Myles Bryant, Christian Gonzalez (R), Jack Jones, Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones
Out: Isaiah Bolden, Quandre Mosely, Rodney Randle, Ameer Speed, Shaun Wade
No surprises here. Gonzalez and the three Jones’ will all play a major role in New England’s secondary this year. One to keep an eye on is Marcus who, according to the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed, was dinged up in practice last week.
Myles Bryant, who everyone wants to see cut from this room, is a roster lock. The fourth-year cornerback repped with the Patriots’ starters against the Packers and made plays when put in the right spots. He’ll be on this team.
Safeties (4): Kyle Dugger, Jalen Mills, Jabrill Peppers, Adrian Phillips
Out: Joshua Bledsoe, Brad Hawkins
New England’s safety room being the most loaded on the roster also makes it the most difficult to predict.
Do they trust Jalen Mills at free safety? Will they cut bait with veteran Adrian Phillips? Does Joshuah Bledsoe get another chance?
Right now, the only two locks are Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers. Although Bledsoe continues to be impressive, I see him being on the outside looking in come September.
Specialists (6): Bryce Baringer (R), Joe Cardona, Nick Folk, Chad Ryland (R), Brenden Schooler, Matthew Slater
Out: Cody Davis, Corliss Waitman
Two kickers? Yup. Two kickers.
Despite having no idea why they’d do this to their rookie kicker in Chad Ryland, Saturday’s game in Green Bay showed me that the Patriots want to have two boots on their roster. Ryland for kickoffs and Nick Folk for extra points and field goals. It’s so crazy, it may just work.
As for the rest of the room, no surprises. After struggling throughout the week, rookie Bryce Baringer was boooooming the ball at Lambeau on Saturday night and it looks like he’s clearly the frontrunner at punter.
LAST THREE ON: Malik Cunningham, Nick Folk, Sam Roberts
LAST THREE OFF: Joshuah Bledsoe, Ty Montgomery, Carl Davis
Make sure to follow Mike on Twitter @mikekadlick, and follow @WEEI for the latest up-to-date Patriots and Boston sports news!
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