Football is back, baby!
Well, kinda. The August kind, anyway.
It’s just NFL preseason action but it’s real, live, padded action at least. Which means it’s a significant step up from modern practice reps.
And thanks to first-year Patriots’ coach Jerod Mayo’s media generosity, we know that all healthy New England players are going to play in Thursday night’s exhibition opener against the Panthers at Gillette Stadium.
So, as you count down the hours until the big kickoff of the first game-ish action of the post-Bill Belichick era in Foxborough, here seven points of interest to ponder in the Patriots 2024 preseason opener!
1 – Come what Maye!: Drake Maye will make his debut in a Patriots uniform, likely on the second or third series of the game. The No. 3 overall pick, who’s had his ups and downs on the practice field, will get to display his potential and overall athleticism in front of his hopeful new home crowd. Maye looks and feels like a guy who’s better in live action than a practice setting. So now begins the (over)analysis in August of what Maye is and what he could be. Either way, it’s going to be worth talking about.
2 – Ask and ye shall receive: It doesn’t sound like things are going to work out between the Patriots and would-be trade option Brandon Aiyuk. Supposedly Eliot Wolf’s team now wants to focus on its young receivers.
Well, let’s go then! Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker have each had their moments in training camp. Tonight maybe they can help fans move on from the idea of Aiyuk coming to town. DeMario Douglas (hand) and Tyquan Thornton (soft tissue) have been limited in practice this summer, so they may not play. But K.J. Osborn, Kayshon Boutte, Jalen Reagor, JuJu Smith-Schuster and all the other very competitive receivers will have a shot to shine under the lights Thursday night.
3 – In the running: Mayo and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt have made it clear they want to lean on the running game as the foundation of the new-look New England offense. But that Rhamondre Stevenson-led rushing attack hasn’t found very much success on the practice field in reps against what should admittedly be a pretty good defensive front. Still, it would be nice to see some fruits from the labor of the laboring ground attack this summer. And while the top group may not be on the field long, it will be interesting to see what the backup running backs are able to accomplish because that still seems like an area of weakness and a possible target for an upgrade. But maybe Kevin Harris will have something to say about that.
4 – Christian revival: Second-year cornerback Christian Gonzalez is expected to be healthy and a cornerstone of the defense that’s expected to be the strength of the team. Regardless of the number of reps or the competition he faces, it will just be nice to see the new No. 0 – the first Patriots player to ever don that number for a season – on the field and in action. Gonzalez may be the most important non-quarterback on the team, both for the present and the long-term future. He’s that critical. Let’s hope he’s as good as he’s supposed to be after playing less than four games as a rookie.
5 – Line ‘em up: The front line of the offense and the back end of the defense may be two of the areas most worth watching from start to finish against Carolina. The offensive line is a work in progress with guys rotating through the left tackle spot and, by extension, on the right side.
There are starting jobs and backup roles to be won or at least solidified. To use Mayo’s term, nothing is set in stone on the line other than the fact that David Andrews and Mike Onwenu are two of the starting five. Similarly, there are plenty of questions and options in the defensive backfield, especially at cornerback. Beyond Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones and Marcus Jones (when he’s healthy), there are plenty of guys looking to prove themselves in the back end. Guys like Marco Wilson, Alex Austin, Isaiah Bolden, Marcellas Dial and others will be very much worth watching, regardless of the portion of the game in which they get to play.
6 – Mayo is the da man: Mayo has been on an NFL field and sideline many times as a player and then assistant coach. But this will be the first time as a head coach. That’s a special moment for him. It’s a time to learn. Oh, and by the way, it’s the first time anyone other than Belichick has been a head coach on the home sideline since Gillette Stadium opened in 2002.
Mayo and his staff will be working out the kinks in their game day roles and responsibilities. We may not see everything that goes on in that area, but it’s a huge factor in the way things are going to play out in the coming months and years. Good luck, coach!
7 – Wining ways?: It feels like it’s been a long offseason. Cash that was never burned. Weaponization of a team that still feels a bit unarmed. New cultures with ill-advised murals. Contracts handed out like candy and yet still a distracting contract dispute. And the best player out indefinitely with a non-football health issue. The Patriots could use a win. A feel-good, fun night. Some positive momentum and reward for work done. Oh, and the Panthers aren’t exactly a locked and loaded football team or franchise in their own right. Will Mayo do his best Herm Edwards impression and “play to win the game” on Thursday night? It can’t be ruled out and it might be in the best interest of the team and its fan base, as crazy as that may sound on Aug. 8.