Patriots Training Camp 2024

RedOctober3829

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The same player that got signed off our practice squad later in the season. If the team thinks there is something there I don't think they'd take that chance over keeping Zappe. This season is a bridge year and I'd rather they try and develop Milton and if they lose Zappe so be it.
Yeah, he got through waivers, was on our PS for a while, signed off our practice squad and he's now a wide receiver.
 

Rico Guapo

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Apr 24, 2009
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I'd much rather send Zappe to the PS than risk exposing Milton who has intriguing physical tools and is the type of player the Pats should be willing to spend a roster spot on developing at this stage of the rebuild.
 

Ferm Sheller

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Mar 5, 2007
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I don't know what to do about Milton, and I'm not sure how anyone here could know, but I hope that the Pats know.
 

cshea

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They invested a draft pick in Milton. Cunningham was a UDFA. 6th round picks are not locks but Milton hasn’t bombed out. I think he sticks and is the gam day inactive emergency QB.
 

astrozombie

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Sep 12, 2022
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I don't know what to do about Milton, and I'm not sure how anyone here could know, but I hope that the Pats know.
This is where I am too. It's not quite the same as the RG3/Cousins situation in WAS (which weirdly sort of worked out for WAS and Cousins) because I don't think Milton is going to be given any serious investment at the expense of Maye. They could try converting him to another position, but that has mixed results. He seems like he is too intriguing to let go, but too raw to actually develop.
Personally, I would love to see him develop into a Taysom Hill role where he is a credible enough threat to take off for a short gain or launch a 50 yard throw. I have pretty low expectations for the Pats this year, so some weirdo gadget plays with Milton in there - with and without another QB - would certainly be entertaining.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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Isn't well known enough to be a joke that everyone raves about Milton in practice but that it doesn't translate to actual games?
 

5dice

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Is this a parody account? Like a caricature of the most negative and entitled and whiny sports radio callers of Boston in one amazing SOSH account?

My guess is by week 3 Brisset will get hurt playing behind this line if no changes are made to improve it with better players. I think we would get a large dose of Zappe followed by Milton, i dont see them going to Maye this season unless he shows something in practice or they simply have no other option left.

I think the most discouraging news from camp so far is everything i hear is sounding like this team has actually regressed since last season, same offensive pre snap penalties dogging them and just a basic vanilla plain jane offense that will scare no-one in this league. Only 3 weeks left to get this team ready, yikes!
How will they improve the line with better players?
From where?

You and several different posters have spelled Jacoby’s last name incorrectly in this thread. It’s Brissett, not Brisset. Since he will be talked about this year a lot spell it right in your parody posts, unless that’s part of the joke account’s shtick.
 
Apr 7, 2006
2,657
There's a decent chance that Joe Milton would get claimed. I am not remotely of the "Milton is challenging Drake Maye for playing time" band, but there is no WAY I try to sneak him onto the ps. Just make him the #3 QB and put Zappe (or whomever) on the practice squad.
 

lexrageorge

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If Zappe gets claimed, there will be plenty of Bailey Zappe lookalikes available on the waiver wire to take his place on the practice squad.

While it is unlikely Joe Milton amounts to much, there's no point throwing away a 6th round pick on a developmental player if you have no plans to develop him.
 

Garshaparra

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There's a decent chance that Joe Milton would get claimed. I am not remotely of the "Milton is challenging Drake Maye for playing time" band, but there is no WAY I try to sneak him onto the ps. Just make him the #3 QB and put Zappe (or whomever) on the practice squad.
I think they're going to keep more big bodies around, and Milton will end up on the PS, and protected weekly. Another team would have to take him on a Monday to poach, which did reduce a lot of the movement. Zappe will be a lot of fun to watch in the CFL.
 

j44thor

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Aug 1, 2006
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Can we at least stop with the Malik and Milton comparisons. One has an NFL quality arm, the other does not. With Milton the question isn't can he get the ball there it is does Milton even know where it is going enough to be an NFL QB. Malik might want to get the ball there but simply doesn't have the physical tools. Milton is very unlikely to amount to anything but it will not at all be for the same reasons Malik didn't work out. The rest of the comparisons are at best lazy.
 

Patsfan1983

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Apr 30, 2011
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I think Zappe is protect Maye's future from the OL protection and thats about it. Ala Brissett gets hurt early and Maye needs more time
 

jercra

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Jul 31, 2006
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I think Zappe is protect Maye's future from the OL protection and thats about it. Ala Brissett gets hurt early and Maye needs more time
Sure, but why Zappe and not Milton? They will already not be good, even with Brissett in all season, so if he's out there's not going to be a lot of difference in the quality of offense between Zappe and Milton. Zappe is almost certainly more likely to make it to the PS and is easily replaceable if he doesn't.
 

Jimbodandy

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Sure, but why Zappe and not Milton? They will already not be good, even with Brissett in all season, so if he's out there's not going to be a lot of difference in the quality of offense between Zappe and Milton. Zappe is almost certainly more likely to make it to the PS and is easily replaceable if he doesn't.
And Milton is big enough and athletic enough to be able to make the occasional chicken salad out of the chicken shit the OL gives him. And even if he doesn't, he's less likely to get freight trained and end up on the DL himself. Plus, as you note, Zappe has been available to all and was not picked. Milton might be. For a third QB, I'd rather have lottery pick upside than a low ceiling and not really that much floor too.
 

Jungleland

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Aug 2, 2009
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Zappe has no future with any good version of this team. If Brissett gets hurt, you figure out how to get through that game without getting Maye or Milton killed, then sign someone off the street if you don't want to throw either of the rookies out there. It's totally possible they end up feeling Milton belongs on the practice squad, but in no way should he go there just to protect Zappe's spot on the roster.
 

Van Everyman

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I love how 3 series in a preseason game and a single incomplete pass have subtly turned the narrative from “If they can’t rely on Maye after 10 practices then the Patriots will have totally failed!” to “If Maye doesn’t start week 1 of the season then the Patriots will have totally failed!”
 

chilidawg

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I love how 3 series in a preseason game and a single incomplete pass have subtly turned the narrative from “If they can’t rely on Maye after 10 practices then the Patriots will have totally failed!” to “If Maye doesn’t start week 1 of the season then the Patriots will have totally failed!”
I'm not sure I've heard either of those narratives.
 

Eddie Jurak

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I don't like Douglas running back punts. In fact I hate it. It feels like a huge unforced coaching error.

He wasn't effective last year, with 11 returns for 56 yards, 25 of it coming on one return. I think this is due to his style. He doesn't get get the ball and go, he tries to use his quickness to juke the guys coming at him. Which usually works, except that while he is almost at a standstill making the first one or 2 guys miss, the rest of the defense is closing in. As a result, he's not gaining yards and he is taking hard hits.

He's fragile, missing 3 games due to injury and playing only 46% of snaps last year. He's also been out or in the red jersey in practice.

He's crucially important to the offense. Despite playing less than half the snaps, he led last year's Pats in targets and receiving yards, and only Elliot who was mostly catching short stuff and had more catches (and only 2 more at that). And he's maybe the only separation guy in the reciving corps, and the closest thing they have to an Edelman (lacking the durability).
 

lexrageorge

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I don't like Douglas running back punts. In fact I hate it. It feels like a huge unforced coaching error.

He wasn't effective last year, with 11 returns for 56 yards, 25 of it coming on one return. I think this is due to his style. He doesn't get get the ball and go, he tries to use his quickness to juke the guys coming at him. Which usually works, except that while he is almost at a standstill making the first one or 2 guys miss, the rest of the defense is closing in. As a result, he's not gaining yards and he is taking hard hits.

He's fragile, missing 3 games due to injury and playing only 46% of snaps last year. He's also been out or in the red jersey in practice.

He's crucially important to the offense. Despite playing less than half the snaps, he led last year's Pats in targets and receiving yards, and only Elliot who was mostly catching short stuff and had more catches (and only 2 more at that). And he's maybe the only separation guy in the reciving corps, and the closest thing they have to an Edelman (lacking the durability).
Marcus Jones was their primary punt returner in 2022, and was again the start of 2023 but he got hurt after 2 games. And Jones has missed some practices this summer. The much heralded Myles Bryant led the team in punt returns last year, and he gone.

I don't disagree that Douglas may not be the best option. But someone has to field punts.
 
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BaseballJones

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Oct 1, 2015
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If I squint through my optimism glasses, here's what I can see:

- The OL coalesces into an average group. I cannot see them being any better than that, but maybe - MAYBE - they can become "average".
- Maye continues his growth and by week 4 he's starting and we're seeing things we haven't seen out of a QB here in quite a while.
- Marcus Jones is the kick/punt returner who electrifies the crowd and gives the Pats a dynamic return threat, breaking off several long returns including a couple of touchdowns.
- Polk and Baker and yes, even Thornton, take steps forward and become a legit WR group. Douglas, IMO, is already there, but it would be awesome to have four good young WRs. LONG way to go but remember, I'm squinting here.
- The defense plays really well and guys like Wise and White and Dugger and Gonzalez really pop and play at pro bowl level caliber.
- The coaching is surprisingly good.

End result: somehow they get to 9 wins against a difficult schedule, and, though they miss the playoffs, we see unbridled hope for the future.
 

snowmanny

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Dec 8, 2005
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I think we are all hoping that at some point it all comes together like it did during that Vikings game in 1994. But I can wait until next year. But, hey if it goes as you say and happens now I won’t complain.
 

Eddie Jurak

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Marcus Jones was their primary punt returner in 2022, and was again the start of 2023 but he got hurt after 2 games. And Jones has missed some practices this summer. The much heralded Myles Bryant led the team in punt returns last year, and he gone.

I don't disagree that Douglas may not be the best option. But someone has to field punts.
True. I just think Douglas is one of the least fungible offensive skill players on tehe team, maybe the least fungible, so better to use Reagor or Peppers or someone like that.
 

Bowser

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Sep 27, 2019
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If I squint through my optimism glasses, here's what I can see:

- The OL coalesces into an average group. I cannot see them being any better than that, but maybe - MAYBE - they can become "average".
- Maye continues his growth and by week 4 he's starting and we're seeing things we haven't seen out of a QB here in quite a while.
- Marcus Jones is the kick/punt returner who electrifies the crowd and gives the Pats a dynamic return threat, breaking off several long returns including a couple of touchdowns.
- Polk and Baker and yes, even Thornton, take steps forward and become a legit WR group. Douglas, IMO, is already there, but it would be awesome to have four good young WRs. LONG way to go but remember, I'm squinting here.
- The defense plays really well and guys like Wise and White and Dugger and Gonzalez really pop and play at pro bowl level caliber.
- The coaching is surprisingly good.

End result: somehow they get to 9 wins against a difficult schedule, and, though they miss the playoffs, we see unbridled hope for the future.
I can squint and see some of that, too, but I don't see how the OL gets to average. Maybe below average and yet not a disaster, but this group remains the team's Achilles heel. Also, I can't go with you on Tyquan. Just, no.
 

j-man

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Dec 19, 2012
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If I squint through my optimism glasses, here's what I can see:

- The OL coalesces into an average group. I cannot see them being any better than that, but maybe - MAYBE - they can become "average".
- Maye continues his growth and by week 4 he's starting and we're seeing things we haven't seen out of a QB here in quite a while.
- Marcus Jones is the kick/punt returner who electrifies the crowd and gives the Pats a dynamic return threat, breaking off several long returns including a couple of touchdowns.
- Polk and Baker and yes, even Thornton, take steps forward and become a legit WR group. Douglas, IMO, is already there, but it would be awesome to have four good young WRs. LONG way to go but remember, I'm squinting here.
- The defense plays really well and guys like Wise and White and Dugger and Gonzalez really pop and play at pro bowl level caliber.
- The coaching is surprisingly good.

End result: somehow they get to 9 wins against a difficult schedule, and, though they miss the playoffs, we see unbridled hope for the future.
all well and good but unless u can score more than 20 pts a game if u lose in week 2 u are stating at a 0-6 start and Seattle has very good DBS they just do not have a OL as well
after the first 6 games is your beat shot at a win steak Jax london NYJ and @ Tenn
 

DJnVa

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all well and good but unless u can score more than 20 pts a game if u lose in week 2 u are stating at a 0-6 start and Seattle has very good DBS they just do not have a OL as well
after the first 6 games is your beat shot at a win steak Jax london NYJ and @ Tenn
Sure, but if all those things happen then they’ll be scoring 20/game.
 

cshea

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Not sure what the full quote or the context was of his radio answer earlier, but FWIW, at his press conference before practice this morning, Mayo said "we don't know" who the starting QB is yet:

View: https://twitter.com/ezlazar/status/1825541000527241526


It does seem like they're setting the table for it to be Maye. Mayo's first line of training camp was that Brissett was the starter and that's been walked back over the past week or so.
 

Cellar-Door

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I read Mayo's comments as:
1. Brissett can be a starter and he's done what he needs to do to justify starting.
2. Maye is on a development plan and they will follow it.
3. The plan doesn't preclude starting Maye week 1 if he meets certain criteria and appears the better QB than Brissett.
 

Van Everyman

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I read Mayo's comments as:
1. Brissett can be a starter and he's done what he needs to do to justify starting.
2. Maye is on a development plan and they will follow it.
3. The plan doesn't preclude starting Maye week 1 if he meets certain criteria and appears the better QB than Brissett.
Agree. I just included that follow-up tweet because without it, you might have concluded 1 and 2 but not 3.

I, for one, do not want them forcing Maye into the starting role before they are reasonably sure he will be able manage it. Put another way, I kind of only want to see Maye starting if he is absolutely killing it in preseason and practice. And we're not there yet.

Wolf and Mayo have generally focused on playing the long game. They've done a good job of that thus far -- reinforcing the culture while rebuilding the talent one piece at a time. As the Sports Media Industrial Complex pushes them to take leaps before the team is ready, they will need to remind themselves of why they chose that route in the first place.
 

Mooch

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The fact that the starting job is still up in the air says to me that Maye is developing faster than they anticipated. That's a good sign.
 

joe dokes

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A very good sign. And also a bit of Brissett not exactly killing it.
I have no opinion on who *should* start, but no one actually thought Brissett would be "good," did they? His ceiling is "slightly above not awful," and he has the type of attitude that a team like this needs. And, as the latter is his best asset, he can use it whether he plays or not.
 
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cshea

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Feels like this is the week to get Maye reps with the 1's. After this week the games count and it's tougher to split reps in practice. Doesn't really do anyone any good.
 

cshea

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I have no opinion on who *should* start, but no one actually thought Brissett would be "good," did they? His ceiling is "slightly above not awful," and he has the type of attitude that a team like this needs. And, as the latter is his best asset, he can use it whether he plays or not.
Good is probably a stretch but I think he's closer to average than awful.

His best trait is he doesn't turn the ball over much (and, yes, I saw the horrendous red zone pick last week). He's never had a year as a starter with double digit picks, and his INT rate is 2nd lowest to Rodgers over his career. One of those years was behind a disaster of a line (2017 Indy when Luck missed the year). On the flip side, he doesn't throw a lot of touchdowns either. He's not going to get you to 30 points on a weekly basis but until the Pats turn it over to Maye the formula is going to be tp play good defense, avoid the crippling turnovers, and get to 20.

If he played here last year I think they would've won 7/8 games just by the crippling turnover avoidance (the Indy fiasco, the Giants game, the Raiders game, etc.).
 

BigSoxFan

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Jayden Daniels has been named the starter. Caleb is obviously starting. I think we can see where this is headed for Maye. There needs to be a pretty compelling reason NOT to start him soon. His own development, OL, Jacoby playing unexpectedly well, etc.