10 Things We Learned From The Training Camp In Foxborough

Everyone is focused on Foxborough at the moment, and the training camp sure helped us learn a few things. Are fourteen days and eleven practices enough?

Being the king in New England is a good thing, as you get to receive unusually light workloads. Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski know it best. Head coach Bill Belichick is probably resting these two in the preseason. Foxborough is ready for the show.

Sony Michel will miss the preseason and the start of the regular season. The Patriots’ first-round rookie running back had fluid drained from his knee last week. He wasn’t in the best shape during the sixth practice, and has been missing sessions since then.

New offensive tackle Trent Brown will probably make the team’s O-line better. The former 49er is the best offensive player in camp, and this is important for the line.

Malcolm Mitchell and Jordan Matthews are out now, which laves clear paths for Braxton Berrios and Riley McCarron. They will probably fight one another for the spot.

Cordarrelle Patterson is working really hard to establish himself as a decent offensive weapon. The former Raider and Viking has made contest catches at every part of the field, and managed to carry the ball with the first-team offense.

The Patriots benefit from the D-line depth. This includes the skills of Danny Shelton, Deatrich Wise Jr. and Derek Rivers.

Fans were so focused on the the sideline. De facto defensive coordinator Brian Flores is making his mark on the unit that was previously led by Matt Patricia. Linebacker Don’t’a Hightower said Flores has excellent communication skills and ability to help young players pick up the defense., adding that his energy is contagious.

Stephon Gilmore won’t let go of the No. 1 cornerback position. Eric Rowe is locked into the opposite spot on the outside. What about Duke Dawson.
And Jason McCourty?

The punt return job is still open. Julian Edelman will sit out the first four games of the season. It seems like Patrick Chung, Chris Hogan, Braxton Berrios, Riley McCarron and Rex Burkhead could do the job.

And last but not least, head coach Bill Belichick is happy with the way things develop. “I felt like our players really, overall, had a real good spring. We got a lot done. Some guys really made big, strong jumps, maybe a little bit more than normal or maybe we anticipated,” he said.

Keep up the good job, Pats.