Patriots offense IS improving | Greg Bedard Patriots Podcast
Greg goes deep into Saturday's practice, takes stock of the offense and QBs, and wonders if Mayo called out Christian Gonzalez.
The Greg Bedard Patriots Podcast is presented by:
Gametime! Take the guesswork out of buying MLB tickets with Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code CLNS for $20 off your first purchase. Download Gametime today. Last minute tickets. Lowest Price. Guaranteed. Terms apply. Go to https://gametime.co !
The Greg Bedard Patriots Podcast is presented by:
Gametime! Take the guesswork out of buying MLB tickets with Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code CLNS for $20 off your first purchase. Download Gametime today. Last minute tickets. Lowest Price. Guaranteed. Terms apply. Go to https://gametime.co !
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00This is the Gregg Bedard Patriots podcast with Nick Cavins
00:10Everybody welcome in to the Gregg Bedard Patriots podcast brought to you by
00:14Game time take the guesswork out of buying baseball or even football tickets with the season rapidly approaching
00:21There's a game on Thursday night
00:22If you can imagine that with game time download the game time app create an account and use code
00:29CLNS for $20 off your first purchase last-minute tickets lowest price
00:34guaranteed so
00:37Just wanted to get with you guys. It's now it's Thursday evening
00:41Thursday have Thursday on the bright it is Sunday evening
00:45Patriots had the day off today. They last practiced on
00:50Saturday sort of want to give you an update
00:52We're gonna talk about Saturday's practice a little bit the status of the offense
00:58also going to
01:01Tease you a little bit with a column that I'm publishing on Sunday on Monday at Boston Sports Journal about ten things
01:07I think I think about the Patriots at this point
01:10So just to reset they're gonna have practice on Monday and Tuesday off on Wednesday the game against the Panthers on
01:16on Thursday
01:19If they're gonna be off again Friday Saturday, they're supposed to be doing something on Sunday and then
01:25The Eagles come in next week for a joint practice and preseason game
01:34Also just you know one note
01:36If you're on Twitter, you saw this I was not at practice on
01:41Thursday and Friday Thursday was non padded, which I didn't really care about Friday. I was not there for
01:48Family considerations nothing big just something I wanted to do and felt like I needed to do and
01:55Giardia was there to hold down the fort quite well
01:59So and I hate missing camp. I really do and it doesn't happen very often
02:05I can't remember the last time it happened, but you know, it is what it is
02:10Life goes on
02:12So that was the ninth practice
02:14A couple things that stood out sort of the headlines off the top
02:19Matthew Judon appeared to be in a really really good mood
02:26Certainly a stark contrast to what we saw a few days ago with him and Mayo and leaving the field coming back on the field
02:33This time he looked like his old self
02:36Well, he looked like Matthew Judon at one point
02:39He chased Antonio Gibson some 40 yards down the field and sort of dove at his feet sort of, you know
02:45Half joking when he really didn't need to do that at all
02:50Was just sort of having fun with it and there was another time where?
02:55Jacoby Bursett and Hunter Henry
02:57hooked up on a spectacular catch by Henry where it was like he was going down the left sideline and
03:03It was to his back shoulder and he sort of contorted himself and caught it one-handed
03:09And it was a catch
03:11Mayo ruled it a sack. I think he's a little bit
03:15biased towards the defense and so Mayo called the playback and Jude on motion to the
03:23offensive sideline like a mock cry thing, so
03:27Matthew Judon was in a very good mood on Saturday
03:31And yes that indicates to me that things might be going well on the contract front
03:36I wouldn't be surprised a surprise that we didn't hear about it on the off day
03:40But sometime this week whether it's Monday morning first thing we get
03:46Schefter Reese
03:49Breaking news sort of thing
03:52or
03:53Somewhere around the preseason game, but I think something's gonna happen. I have no knowledge of it. It's just
04:00The vibe that I'm reading
04:02after covering this this league for 20 years
04:07Injuries are starting to hit hard
04:10Taekwon Thornton was on the sideline not practicing
04:17That's just not what we want to see now
04:20Giardia's reported and others have reported that it's not serious blah blah blah maybe you know before
04:27But before a day off maybe they thought it wise for him and you know, like Marcus Jones has been out
04:33A core for Calvin Anderson David Andrews didn't finish practice Joshua blood cell wasn't out there
04:39Maybe they were just sort of looking ahead maybe trying to get some guys some extra rest
04:45I'm not sure but the Taekwon Thornton thing
04:48Anytime he's out, especially with the start to camp that he's had and his history. It is not a minor deal
04:54It's a big deal. He needs to be out there. He needs to be earning his spot
05:00You know we see with these guys Taekwon Thornton Marcus Jones and Marta Mapu, especially we're talking about three
05:07undersized guys
05:09Who have had injury issues you can even put pop Douglas in there
05:14But at least he's practicing more and more and doing more and more and you can certainly see the impact that he has on the field
05:22But
05:24That's rough, especially in Thornton's case
05:27Overall the defense won the day
05:31They had an interception. There was another one that was credited to Alex Austin. I'm sorry. He blatantly held
05:39Austin Hooper, I'm not giving him credit for the interception. There were multiple sacks and stuffed runs
05:46But the offense had had its moments as well Bursette and may both produced touchdowns in seven and nine seven on nine
05:54may had to
05:57And
05:58Should have had a third if Mitchell Wilcox who I think his middle name is drop didn't have another drop in the end zone
06:08Jacoby Bursette let an awesome drive situational was like a minute 35
06:16Completed a deep pass the KJ Osborne had two other completions
06:20Then all of a sudden the clock was running and it got down to five four three two one
06:25they got the snap off and
06:28Bursette just lobbed this it was somewhat of a prayer but hunter Henry just made an outstanding diving
06:34Catch for the touchdown. So so that's good
06:40You know, if you just look at camp stats and I think you guys know how I feel about them
06:45You would say that the offense is far from
06:49Far from doing well, I would disagree with that. I just think that
06:53And even Drake may now drink may he certainly stood out in seven on seven
06:59Which he has tended to do
07:02It has not been as good like I think he was
07:06What did I have him for three for nine three sacks a throwaway in team Bursette was nine of 13 with an INT in team
07:16That INT by Bursette was he put up a ball for I want to say it was
07:24a
07:26KJ Osborne, but no, excuse me. It was for Jalen Rigor
07:35Azizi Hearn made a great was in great coverage tipped the ball up Jalen Hawkins picked it off
07:41look, it's a 50-50 ball Jacoby put it where it needed to be and
07:47The other team just made a better play
07:50But the offense overall is making progress it's very hard to quantify
07:56But just my sense from watching the field watching what's going on
08:04I feel better about this offense. I think they're moving. They're making progress
08:11Pretty much every day now. It's a stark contrast to Matt Patricia's offense who I
08:18Would say that both of them started camp in similar fashion
08:24But
08:26The difference in the steady progress the that the offense is making and it's incremental
08:31It's not huge on a daily basis, but you can just see the players becoming more comfortable what they're doing
08:38To me. It's a testament to the coaches and that they know what they're doing
08:43Alex van Pelt and Ben McAdoo and others know how to install this offense. Unlike those former coaches and
08:51As long as the players know that they that they're seeing progress on film
08:57Then they buy in to what the coaches are doing and I think we're getting that now
09:02we didn't get that with Matt Patricia for obvious reasons and
09:07So that's why I think it's it's much different
09:10This time around
09:14Let's see what else
09:20David Andrews at one point
09:23Took himself out of team periods now. I wasn't sure. I'm not sure if that was predetermined or what?
09:30but
09:32And he also missed a few days with his kid was in the hospital
09:36So maybe they just wanted to bring him along slowly, I'm not really sure
09:41but that always causes an issue because
09:45Now Nick Leverett who is solid as a center moves up to the first unit. I like him. He's got this
09:53Spunk he's tough
09:55He has his energy about him. I really like Nick Leverett and I think he's gonna help all three interior spots
10:02When I was I think it'll be the top backup probably at all of them
10:07You know, we'll see with like the Leighton Robinson's of the world
10:13But I really like Nick Leverett. The problem is
10:16now that boost atonio mafi up to center with Drake May and that's not good for anybody and
10:23Mostly because he can't snap the ball and you think that they would be able to do better than that, but
10:29They haven't been able to
10:32So
10:35Let's go over some of Drake May in team
10:40He was sacked by Jeremiah farms
10:42He did get off a late throw to pop Douglas who made a great sort of twisting behind him catch
10:49But I ruled it a sack. It was a sack
10:55So second team period Harris stretch front to the left then
11:02They ran the same action off of that what you're gonna see with this offense
11:06so, you know stretch run to the outside that means the the the running back takes a
11:11Direct course to the end looks for a cutback lane if he can find it
11:17But it's a long handoff think Peyton Manning used to have to do this in his offense
11:22so, you know and then you'll
11:24What you'll do the next time around is you'll fake it and then all of a sudden because the defense is going that way
11:29You'll leak somebody out behind. So what may did
11:35Was he executed the play action and then he had sort of a panic throw?
11:40Over the middle to Javon Baker and the safety. I'm not sure exactly who it was
11:46Because things were going fast
11:50If it was a real game Javon Baker would have been completely blown up or
11:54The safety would have picked it off in front of him
11:56It was a hospital ball over the middle and then on third down
12:01incomplete out of bounds to KJ Osborne
12:05So team period 132 on the clock appeared to need a field goal
12:10Incomplete the Harris on a swing pass to the left. The pass was a little bit behind him
12:14I ruled it a drop, but it wasn't a great pass Harris left end sweep
12:21Complete the Mitchell Wilcox down the middle for about 14 yards
12:25Complete to
12:27Jalen Polk on a bullet out pass
12:30diving snagged by Polk good placement by
12:33May good velocity clocked it and then had a sack throw away
12:40Certainly shows the arm difference between May and Mac Jones. There's no way Mac Jones
12:44I think could have gotten that ball out of bounds may was able to off his back foot. Just get it out of there
12:50And
12:52I'm pretty sure that led to a it's at least over 50 yards
12:58From where I was sitting. I thought it was 58 yards for joy sly into a crosswind. So that was impressive
13:0514 period Gibson stuff by Tristan Hill
13:08Complete to Osborne short pass sack by wise white hasty right and run to the one yard line
13:1715 period 56 seconds remaining think they needed a TD threw one away
13:23Incomplete to Baker thrown out of bounds great coverage by Miss Marcellus dial all the way down the field
13:29He was basically in Baker's hip pocket the entire way
13:34Incomplete the Juju Smith Schuster on a little five yard out from the slot
13:39But Juju Smith Schuster slipped again when he's not dropping passes
13:43He's he's slipping and then incomplete batted down at the line. So
13:49not a lot of success for Drake May in those team periods, but
13:55you know, I'm starting to come over to the point of view that
14:00He's being a little limited not totally but a little limited by what's around him, especially with the offensive line. I
14:07I would be very interested to see if Drake may get snaps with the first team unit
14:14That's a delicate balance that these coaches
14:17have to
14:19navigate
14:20because
14:22one of one of my big takeaways from watching practice on Saturday is that
14:28If this isn't Jacoby Bursett's team right now
14:31It feels like it's pretty close and that's no slight on Drake May look Jacobi Bursett's a veteran
14:36He's been around he's playing well mostly because he's been in the system before
14:41He's playing with representative players
14:44But if that's the case if Jacoby is just about
14:49Solidified himself that he's the quarterback of this team at least to start the season which I'm in favor of
14:56Do you want to mess with that or do you want to keep it going maybe
15:01Maybe some other practice further down the line is a better place
15:04But I do think at some point in time
15:06I think the Patriots need to put Drake May out there with the starting offensive line the best weapons
15:12Maybe to boost his confidence a little bit but also
15:15Just to see where he is and to see get it on film and get the coaches talking about like, you know
15:21So do we think this is possible?
15:23Week one or earlier. What do we think? I don't think you can even have that discussion until you see that so with two practices
15:32before
15:33the preseason game Monday and Tuesday, I
15:36Would like to see a period and it wouldn't surprise me. This is normally when it's done when the coaches send
15:42The other quarterback out there with the starters just to see what's possible
15:46But I just hope that they talked to Jacoby about it when they do this kind of stuff
15:55Hunter Henry was outstanding in this practice had two great catches
16:00Remember all that talk that I said
16:04About
16:06About maybe hunter Henry losing a step because I hadn't seen him like OTAs minicamp early on a training camp. Okay, that's over
16:13He's back and a factor
16:18Joey sly wasn't up for me in this practice
16:20He had the 58 yarder and he was four for four in the kicking competition. I thought Chad Ryland missed one
16:27He had been really good and was taking command
16:30So I had them both good from 27 yards from the right hash both good from 33 yards left hash
16:38Sly good from 40 yards right hash
16:42Ryland I had Ryland as a miss. It's close don't have a perfect angle and then both made from 45 yards
16:50Like I said, I do think Drake may have looked really good in the red zone seven on seven
16:55His decisiveness ball delivery
16:59It's it's when the offensive line gets out there things get a little bit wonky his footwork gets a little bit wonky
17:04But seven on seven he looks really good
17:08Down for me
17:11Big one is Juju Smith Schuster. I don't know what they're doing with him
17:16I don't know what they're doing with him
17:19out there I
17:21Maybe they're hoping to showcase him in a preseason game. Maybe some team gives up a seventh round pick
17:26That's a little bit cap cap wise. It's a little bit better for the team if that happens
17:35Or they're just saying, you know
17:37Just making sure with injuries and things like that. They're just prolonging it
17:43Don't unless there's some injury or what-have-you I
17:48Don't think there's much much of a chance of Juju making this team also down Drake May and team
17:55Three four nine with three sacks is three four nine with three sacks, but it's not all his fault. Don't don't confuse things and
18:03Taekwon Thornton missing practice
18:06Can't happen
18:08Another big development
18:10That I don't know what to make of
18:12so
18:14Chooks a core for and Calvin Anderson were both out of this practice with injuries. So that's
18:19two out of your top three tackles
18:22But this marked the third straight practice with the Darien Lowe starting at left tackle Caden Wallace is that right tackle?
18:29I
18:32Don't understand that now I know
18:35It's certainly in this practice I understood maybe they were only going to do Vidarian low for two days but because of the injuries
18:41It necessitated a third day
18:46Still
18:47It seems like the offensive lines been better with Caleb Caden Wallace at left tackle and in a core for right tackle
18:53So if that's the case, why not go back to Caden Wallace and let Vidarian low rep it right tackle
18:58So
19:00I don't I really don't know what to make out of what they're doing with the offensive tackle
19:07It
19:09Mildly concerning but you know
19:12I will say things seem to be coming together on the offensive line and with the offense as a whole
19:17So I'm not overly alarmed. I think these coaches are showing me and showing the players that they know what they're doing
19:23So I'm not going to be
19:26Too
19:27Concerned about that right now, but I reserve judgment as always to change my mind
19:34we'll take a break and be back and
19:38Talk a little bit about things. I think I think it's the middle of the summer. It's hot
19:45But you know what summer means to me
19:47Baseball, I love going to the park. I love supporting the old town team and
19:53when I want to go
19:55See my favorite team
19:57Game time is the perfect place to go game time is an authorized ticket marketplace of Major League Baseball
20:02Which makes getting tickets faster and easier prices on the game time axe
20:07Actually go down the closer it gets
20:11To first pitch with killer last-minute deals all in prices views from your seats and their lowest price guarantee game time takes the guesswork
20:18Out of buying baseball tickets. I was just looking at the website game time
20:24Dot-co they also have the app game time. I was looking big event coming up a New York team coming to Boston
20:32Red hot hometown team. I got to tell you they have
20:37The prices are a bit pricey for the first game of the series, but guess what on game time?
20:43they have these things called flash deals, so an
20:46outfield grandstand ticket that normally costs 152 bucks. It's 132 bucks 20 bucks off
20:53That'll get you in the park that'll get you a good view
20:56Nobody in front of you no poles in front of you. That's the kind of stuff you find when you go over to
21:03game time I
21:05You know what? I also love about game time. Well, there's a few things. Okay, I
21:10Love seeing the view from your seat on my phone before you buy. That's a must
21:15I won't buy tickets from any place unless it has that game time has it also the all-in pricing
21:22Shows your total cost up front, you know, you go to these other sites and you're like, oh, that's a good deal
21:27Suddenly you get to the end and there's all these fees and taxes and other things and all of a sudden you're paying double
21:32Then what you thought that does not happen at game time
21:37So make sure you get over there take the guesswork out of buying MLB tickets with game time download the game time app
21:43Create an account and use code CLNS for 20 bucks off your first purchase
21:48Terms apply again create an account and redeem code
21:53CLNS for 20 bucks off download game time today last-minute tickets lowest price
21:59Guaranteed. Okay, so I am publishing a column on Monday morning. I already wrote it. It's 10 things
22:05I think I think some of the things I've touched on in this podcast already
22:12You know, not all of them but just to give you a tease
22:16We'll be talking about the offense or I'll be writing about the offense Jacoby Bursett's leadership
22:22Drake Mays progress the futures of Juju Smith Schuster and Matthew Judon offensive tackle Hunter Henry and
22:28Gerard Mayo so far including and and you know, we'll we'll talk about this now
22:36It sure sounded to me the other day that Gerard Mayo was calling out
22:42Christian Gonzalez, so
22:46Let me let me set this up by this was a question in the transcript I heard it in the press conference
22:54Someone asked we've seen some cornerbacks rotate through I'm just curious about the depth there with guys like Marco Wilson and Isaiah Bolden
23:01How do you feel like you guys are behind Gonzo and Jonathan Jones?
23:06so basically the premise of the question was to say that
23:09We all know Christian Gonzalez and Jonathan Jones are good to go. They're starters. What have you?
23:16Basically bypassing those guys, which I don't disagree with they're gonna be starting
23:24But listen to Gerard Mayo's answer and and let me see if you picked up what I did
23:32This is Mayo. We feel pretty good at this time
23:35Once again, those guys have to earn a role on this team and it's not really just defense
23:40You want your corners to be able to play special teams as well?
23:44So the battles will continue even with Gonzo he has to go out here each and every day and push it
23:50I always tell these guys that success is rented and not owned and
23:54The rent is due every day and that applies to Gonzo as well when I heard that. I
24:01Was like whoa, that was kind of like out of nowhere
24:05that
24:06The questioner was bypass bypassing Gonzalez. Basically. He wasn't part of the question
24:12It was just like okay when we know you guys are solid there. You guys are good there with Christian Gonzalez and Jonathan Jones
24:18but what about these other guys and
24:21Mayo seemed to say like whoa, wait a minute like
24:26Don't don't put guns. Don't put Gonzo in that category yet
24:31Because he hasn't done a good enough job to me. It was Mayo calling out Christian Gonzalez, which I don't mind. I applaud
24:38Love it Mayo has indicated to us that he is going to use the media to send messages to players
24:44Talked about how he watches their precious press conferences. They watch his press conferences. He was a player
24:51He understands all this stuff probably reading between the lines of what Belichick was saying
24:56But to me, it's clear. He was calling out Christian Gonzalez who let's be honest. He's been inconsistent to start camp some days
25:04Inconsistent to start camp some days. He looks awesome other days. He looks kind of pedestrian
25:11That's not to say I think he's pedestrian or anything like that. But I just think I think Mayo's trying to
25:17Kick him in the butt a little bit be like dude. We need you to be a lockdown guy
25:24For us if we're gonna be anything on defense and we're gonna win with our defense
25:27We're gonna take care of the ball. We're gonna run the ball. That's our formula and
25:31For us to do that like you got to be Pro Bowl if not all pro level for us
25:39You know don't be thinking you accomplished anything as a rookie because you didn't and
25:43You're starting over at zero because you're coming back from injury and I really like that
25:49From Mayo and I like the accountability. I like the message that it sends
25:54And I bet you I bet you we do see a different Gonzalez. Not that
25:59Not that he was bad or anything like that
26:01But I do think we're gonna see an uptick from Gonzales or at least that was the aim of that. So it's interesting
26:09So I think that'll about do it
26:12For this version of the Greg but our Patriots podcast to make sure you guys get the game time app. I have it
26:18I use it. I love the
26:21Check the seats. There's
26:23The pricing fluctuates they have deals on there
26:27You know say you're outside the ballpark you want to go you don't like the tickets
26:32But if you go out you wait out you have the app just wait, you know, maybe first inning
26:37Maybe it goes way down. That's that can happen with game time. I've also used it with concerts
26:42I love it
26:43And I love being able to choose your seat because that's a must with me
26:46So make sure you check out the download the game time app create an account and use code CLNS
26:52For $20 off your first purchase last-minute tickets lowest price
26:57Guaranteed so we will be back probably Nick and I will be back on
27:03Probably Tuesday
27:05After the last practice before the preseason game sort of take stock of what's going on
27:11Leading into that game some of our thoughts about the game then we'll be back to review the game later in the week
27:17But as always
27:19Thanks so much for listening supporting us. Make sure you check out BSJ 50 bucks for the year. That's it
27:26You get me and Giardi on Patriots. Obviously your Patriots honk, which we love
27:30So come on over and plus with the preseason starting up. I
27:35Just found out I'll have access to preseason film again, which you can't get I don't think anymore or you haven't been able to get
27:44NFL game pass or whatever the heck it's called now
27:47But I will have film and I will be sharing film on the site starting with this game
27:54Throughout the season. That's what we do me and Giardi and
27:58Break it down along with all our sources to give you the inside information
28:02So, please if you haven't yet, please join us. We'd love to have you over there
28:07But thanks for listening and we will talk to you next week
28:10You