The Patriots will open mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, a three-day exercise designed to set the table for training camp in July. As we did last month, we’ll remind you to not overreact to things, either good or bad — at this stage of the calendar, it’s still shorts, shells and no real hitting. At the same time, these camp sessions can provide some level of insight into how the depth chart is shaping up, how rookies are getting acclimated to the system, and how the veterans are doing as they get prepared for a new season. With that in mind, here are 10 things we’ll be focused on throughout the week.
1. How does Tom Brady look?
Oh yeah — that guy. Outside of a few shots of him working out posted to social media this spring, Tuesday should mark the first appearance of the quarterback alongside the rest of his Patriots' teammates. Those won’t be actual game reps, but it will be a good opportunity to see Brady working with some new members of the passing game, including N’Keal Harry and Dontrelle Inman. I’ll be looking specifically for his timing work in the 11-on-11 drills. Who will get an early spot in his Circle of Trust? In addition, he’s talked about adding a little more weight this offseason — could we see the effects of that on Tuesday? Brady has almost always been the most compelling guy on the roster, and this week is no exception.
2. Who is getting the bulk of the reps at backup quarterback?
In the first open session last month, it was Brian Hoyer, followed by the two youngsters — second-year man Danny Etling and rookie Jarrett Stidham. While you figure Stidham will be safe (they’re not going to cut a fourth-round pick without giving him a full year, and they also won’t be able to get him through to the practice squad), Hoyer and Etling will be vying for what appears to be one spot. (Etling could theoretically still make it to the practice squad, but I’m not sure they want to take that chance, at least not yet.) This figures to be a competition that could last into the summer, but this week should give us some early insight into how things are shaping up.
3. Who is playing left tackle?
Joe Thuney slid over from left guard to left tackle in the one open practice we saw last month. Was that just a one-off thing, or is there more to it than that? Health permitting, Isaiah Wynn should be over there at the start of the season. While there’s a certain comfort level in having Dante Scarnecchia helping Wynn get up to speed, until we see him at full strength in pads, the jury is still out. It's also worth speculating if they have anyone else over there at left tackle this week.
4. How will Michael Bennett fit?
Like Brady, the veteran defensive lineman should make his first appearance of the spring on the practice fields behind Gillette Stadium this week. The 34-year-old was acquired in hopes of providing a jolt to the New England pass rush. Where is he getting the bulk of his reps? What sort of shape is he in? And are his super-tiny shoulder pads really that small?
5. Which one of these guys will be able to help themselves the most?
We ran down a list of players who are (for various reasons) in the midst of a key stretch in a race for a roster spot — Obi Melifonwu, Derek Rivers, Rex Burkhead, Elandon Roberts and Phillip Dorsett. All five need to have a strong three days if they want to be trending in the right direction when training camp comes around.
6. Will the arrow stay pointed in the right direction for Harry?
Look, it’s really, really early, but the first-round pick out of Arizona State is doing as well as could be expected at this point. In the one open practice we saw last month, he was impressive working against a variety of corners and catching passes from multiple quarterbacks. Now, he’ll be working with Brady in what’ll be the closest thing to actual game reps this spring. We’ll see if he can keep trending in the right direction.
7. Who is best-positioned to step into the void created by Ben Watson’s looming suspension?
The tight end spot has had plenty of uncertainty over the course of the offseason, and now, with Watson set to miss the first four games of the year because of a PED violation, there’s a whole new layer of intrigue. Austin Seferian-Jenkins wasn’t at the open practice last month, but he’s probably the leading candidate at this point. Matt Lacosse looked good at times last month, while Ryan Izzo, Stephen Anderson and Andrew Beck are also possibilities. No one really stood out to us last month when Watson was there. But now, the opportunity is certainly there — is there one in that group who is capable of separating himself from the rest of the pack. This week could provide some clues. (For what it's worth, when it comes to Watson, he can still practice with the team until the start of the regular season, when his suspension is set to begin.)
8. Who’s going to handle kickoff and return duties?
The Patriots have a few special teams questions at this point on the calendar, including just how Jake Bailey is going to fit into their plans for 2019. The former Stanford punter and kickoff specialist could seize a sizable part of the special teams’ duties this offseason. Could he beat out Ryan Allen? And would Belichick have two kickers (Bailey for kickoffs and Stephen Gostkowski for extra points and field goals) on the roster? As for the return work, it appears to be an open audition for both kick and punt returner, although we’re interested in seeing what Dorsett and perhaps Harry can do when it comes to punt returns.
9. Where’s Sony Michel?
We didn’t see Michel at the first open practice, and while there are several different possibilities why, it’s important to note the young back did have knee issues over the course of his first year that caused him to miss three games in his rookie season. It’s also worth noting we have spotted him on occasion when New England’s social media accounts has posted offseason practice updates. Is that a sign the team is simply trying to play it safe at this point on the calendar? In addition, while I wouldn’t expect Demaryius Thomas to be out there, still, there are a handful of others — including Kyle Van Noy and Deatrich Wise — who weren’t out there last month who will be worth keeping an eye on if they suit up this week.
10. How is the back end of the cornerback depth chart looking?
The Patriots are stocked with talent at cornerback. Stephon Gilmore, J.C. Jackson, Jonathan Jones and Jason McCourty are all (theoretically) at the top of the depth chart. So what could that mean for others like rookie Joejuan Williams, or Duke Dawson and Keion Crossen? (For what it’s worth, the Patriots carried five corners into the regular season opener last year.) Could we see one of the corners (perhaps McCourty) make a move to safety as needed? And after sitting and waiting for a year, can Dawson find a role? All sorts of questions that arise from having a deep secondary.