With Patriots training camp opening up in less than a week, we opened up the mailbag for questions on Twitter. Here’s what Patriots fans want to know:
@yuruhwizzrd
Good to have you back Doug!! I’m interested to know, what are your expectations for Mac and the offense this season? #MailDoug
Thank you! It’s great to be back on the beat.
To answer your question: better. How much better is the real question because it would be difficult to be as bad or worse than the unit played in 2022 with Matt Patricia and Joe Judge at the helm.
The goal should be to be more improved than the Patriots’ offense played in 2021 when Mac Jones was a rookie and Josh McDaniels was offensive coordinator. The team’s offense ranked 10th in EPA per play (a metric that tries to define how many points a play is worth) in 2021. It was 24th in 2022
Jones should see a leap with an experienced leader like Bill O’Brien taking over as offensive coordinator. The passing attack has more upside with the additions of wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and tight end Mike Gesicki replacing Jakobi Meyers and Jonnu Smith.
Jones was one of the NFL’s worst quarterbacks under pressure, however, last season. So the Patriots’ seemingly shaky depth at offensive tackle is a concern.
@Falvitus
Will the Patriots ever display retired numbers in the stadium especially given they have more real estate now with the renovations?
This is just my opinion, but I think they would have to revamp their system for retiring numbers to more publicly acknowledge them. It just feels a little bit odd that Gino Cappelletti, Mike Haynes, Andre Tippett, Steve Nelson, John Hannah, Bruce Armstrong, Jim Lee Hunt and Bob Dee have retired numbers but, for example, Ty Law, Richard Seymour and Rob Gronkowski do not. We’ll find out Week 1 what plans the Patriots have for Tom Brady when he’s honored in the team’s season opener.
New England is in a middle ground where they either need to start over from scratch, wipe the slate clean and not have any retired numbers or start adding more retired numbers. Because No. 12 should never be back in circulation, but players like Law and Seymour are actual Pro Football Hall of Famers with Super Bowl wins on their resume whereas multiple players whose numbers are currently retired were neither Pro Football Hall of Famers nor Super Bowl champs.
It creates an awkward dynamic.
@FTtocs9914
Why haven’t the Pats signed their first 2 draft choices ? Rookie camp starts tomorrow.
I wouldn’t be overly concerned. Those deals should get done soon. Deadlines can spur action. There’s also this worth considering: The player drafted immediately before Patriots first-round pick Christian Gonzalez, Washington Commanders cornerback Emmanuel Forbes, remains unsigned. The player drafted before Forbes, New York Jets edge defender Will McDonald, just agreed to his contract on Thursday morning. It might take Forbes to agree to his deal before the Patriots get something finalized with Gonzalez.
Similarly, the player drafted directly ahead of Patriots second-round pick Keion White, Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch, only agreed to his rookie contract on Tuesday. Sometimes those other signings have to slot in first.
There’s also no real mystery involved in what Gonzalez and White’s contracts will look like since there’s a rookie wage scale.
@NiickCrampton
Is there a world where Douglas or Boutte can make a year 1 impact (excluding STs)? Do you think Tyquan will make a year two jump in production?
In an ideal world, rookie wide receivers Kayshon Boutte and Demario Douglas would take a backseat to the veteran options — Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker and Kendrick Bourne, and 2022 second-round pick Tyquan Thornton — this season. Boutte and Douglas didn’t seem close to overtaking any of those options on the depth chart during spring practices, but it’s not completely out of the realm of possibility that they could stand out enough in training camp and preseason to make an impact in Year 1. Injuries obviously could play a factor, as well.
Boutte is extremely talented but has to prove he’s fully healthy and can be dependable off the field. Douglas showed impressive quicks in spring practices but is undersized and comes from a smaller school.
As for Thornton, not to sound like a broken record, but he too has to prove he can stay off the injury report. He was banged up last spring and missed four games during the regular season. Then he was present for one open practice this spring before missing the rest of the sessions. Thornton did bulk up from 182 pounds to 185 pounds this offseason.
@PatsFanKev
Do you expect any internal extensions prior to the season starting? Obvious candidates being Uche, Onwenu, and Dugger, but also curious about Judon, Henry, or any others?
The Patriots already have extended DeVante Parker and Ja’Whaun Bentley.
It would make a ton of sense for the team to extend Josh Uche, Mike Onwenu and Kyle Dugger. The Patriots have an overabundance of cap space heading into the 2024 and 2025 seasons. It’s better spent on their own players than free agency who would be unknown commodities in this system.
@Heatmiser32
Given the unknown status of Jack Jones and the amount of cap space available, would it be worth trading for a legit CB? If so, anyone available? The Free agent market doesn’t provide much help
Maybe I’m being overly optimistic, but I think the Patriots would be fine at cornerback even if Jack Jones isn’t available after being charged with nine gun charges after two loaded firearms were allegedly found in his carry-on bag.
There are still three starting-caliber options in Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones and Marcus Jones, plus Jalen Mills could always move back over from safety. He’s not a fan favorite, but slot cornerback Myles Bryant also played nearly 61 percent of snaps last season on one of the NFL’s best units.
Email your questions to dkyed@bostonherald.com or tweet them at @DougKyed.