As we embark on a new season for the Patriots, I keep coming back to one word as I think about the state of the Patriots: beginning. It's an overarching theme of so many parts of the team. It's a new beginning for Mac Jones after what transpired last year. It's a new beginning for Kendrick Bourne after being in the doghouse all last year and now looks more motivated than ever to prove the doubters wrong. It's a new beginning for Hunter Henry. Can he get back to dominating in the red zone? It's literally a new beginning for Mike Gesicki and I'm excited to see what elements of athleticism and playmaking he can add. It's a new beginning for Zeke Elliott. Will he get back to being the Zeke of old? Is this the beginning of something special between Rham and Zeke together in the same backfield? For the entire offensive line, it's a new beginning as Adrian Klemm comes in and tries to bring some stability and leadership as the coach.
Defensively, this is a new beginning in the back end without Devin McCourty. Who steps up and fills the void of being the quarterback of the defense? Do they change up what they did with D-Mac and go to more 2-safety shells? Will the expanded role of Jabrill Peppers and the addition of Marte Mapu add the element of speed and explosiveness needed to help perform better against all the mobile QB's they'll face? This is a new beginning for Christian Barmore? Can he take the next step and become a disruptive force in the middle of the line?
Special teams wise, it's a new beginning. Can Chad Ryland and Brett Baringer deliver as rookies?
I don't know about everybody else, but I'm really excited to see what this season brings. I think there's a lot of confidence in that locker room that they can silence the outside noise that this coach and this QB aren't good enough anymore to contend for the playoffs. I think we'll see a lot of improvements at the margins that at points over the last few years has failed them. With hiring a real OC, it allows Bill to play the CEO-type and not have his focus totally on one side of the ball. If they were better situationally and fundamentally last year, I believe they would have been a 10-11 win team. The games at Vegas, at Buffalo, and home vs. Cincinnati all come to mind as games that could've been won if they either take care of the ball or have better special teams play.
The Eagles clearly have the talent edge and I think even all Patriots fans can acknowledge that they should be and are underdogs. That being said, I think this game is there for the taking in the 2nd half and it will depend on whether or not this team has taken the next step in terms of being situationally and fundamentally sound.
Also, there's some guy who used to wear #12 that is going to be in the house.
Defensively, this is a new beginning in the back end without Devin McCourty. Who steps up and fills the void of being the quarterback of the defense? Do they change up what they did with D-Mac and go to more 2-safety shells? Will the expanded role of Jabrill Peppers and the addition of Marte Mapu add the element of speed and explosiveness needed to help perform better against all the mobile QB's they'll face? This is a new beginning for Christian Barmore? Can he take the next step and become a disruptive force in the middle of the line?
Special teams wise, it's a new beginning. Can Chad Ryland and Brett Baringer deliver as rookies?
I don't know about everybody else, but I'm really excited to see what this season brings. I think there's a lot of confidence in that locker room that they can silence the outside noise that this coach and this QB aren't good enough anymore to contend for the playoffs. I think we'll see a lot of improvements at the margins that at points over the last few years has failed them. With hiring a real OC, it allows Bill to play the CEO-type and not have his focus totally on one side of the ball. If they were better situationally and fundamentally last year, I believe they would have been a 10-11 win team. The games at Vegas, at Buffalo, and home vs. Cincinnati all come to mind as games that could've been won if they either take care of the ball or have better special teams play.
The Eagles clearly have the talent edge and I think even all Patriots fans can acknowledge that they should be and are underdogs. That being said, I think this game is there for the taking in the 2nd half and it will depend on whether or not this team has taken the next step in terms of being situationally and fundamentally sound.
Also, there's some guy who used to wear #12 that is going to be in the house.
