NFL Notebook: What's about to happen at Patriots camp, and pre-camp reads on battles

Finally, real football is back.

On Monday morning, the Patriots will hit the practice fields to begin preparations for the 2020 season. And, really, we were never sure we'd make it this far with the pandemic.

The thing I love about the Patriots is that unlike some other NFL teams (I’ve been around) — which might skew things depending on power struggles, draft status and free-agent contracts — what you see is what you get. Whoever stays on the field, plays the best, and is the most consistent will earn themselves a job and/or role for the upcoming season. So every practice — OK, maybe not all the non-padded practices — means something. And, if you’re paying attention to the right things, you can mine a lot of information from what is happening on the field.

These are the things I’ll be looking for starting Monday (spots are limited with the NFL's tight Covid-19 restrictions and I'm not sure how often BSJ will be allowed into the 14 padded practices, but we're hoping for the best and the will roll with the punches — the Patriots are doing their best after being put in a really unfair position by the league) and my early read on how the competitions stack up:

Efficiency at quarterback

A lot of attention will be placed on the order and number of reps, but there's a long way to go in the competition. Really, I wouldn't be surprised if Brian Hoyer took most of the reps early, at least the first week, and then Cam Newton and Jarrett Stidham took over in the second week. And Bill Belichick could wait until the media is gone after the 14 practices in 17 days, to really get down to the dedicated first-team reps. Why Hoyer early? The man has been around and knows exactly what he's doing, which could be good for the other QBs, and for the team.

This competition — and it's real, although a healthy Newton should win out rather easily — will be about efficiency. Who gets the team in and out of the huddle, who deals with defensive wrinkles easier, who moves the chains consistently?

Another huge factor for the Patriots at QB: Can Newton's arm hold up and take part in every practice? It's one thing for a 40-plus Tom Brady to take practices off, it's quite another for a 31-year-old Newton who is new to everything and everyone. He needs to be out there, and he needs to prove that shoulder is sound.

But there is one thing that Stidham is going to have to overcome to really win this job, and that starts our pre-camp reads.

Pre-camp read: One huge advantage for Newton and the reason why he's a decided favorite to be the opening day starter is his legs. The threat Newton presents to defenses with his legs, especially on third down, can make up for any deficiencies in accuracy. Stidham may be athletic, but he's no consistent threat to run because he has a slight build. Newton is a Mack truck. Stidham needs to show his arm and accuracy is by far better than Newton because 55 percent completions and his legs, is better for this offense than 65 percent by Stidham in the pocket.

What the hell is going on at linebacker?

We all know that the Patriots' linebacker position is now in total disarray after free agency and Dont'a Hightower's opt-out. There is an assorted cast of characters that will be thrown into the mix, including rookies Josh Uche and Anfernee Jennings. How it all sorts itself out on the field will be fascinating to watch.

Pre-camp read: Feels like Brandon Copeland will be a jack-of-all-trades and will be a potential fallback option if things don't go well. The Penn grad certainly has the brains to run this defense. Ja'Whaun Bentley needs to be The Man, first and foremost.

Findings answers at right tackle and backup center

No Marcus Cannon and nothing behind David Andrews means there will be a lot of shuffling on the offensive line. Yodny Cajuste, Korey Cunningham, Jermaine Eluemunor and Justin Herron should get looks at RT. Somebody needs to be a viable alternative at center should Andrews not play a full season.

Pre-camp read: Patriots need Cajuste to pay off to start seeing more out of their drafts, and hopefully Tyler Gauthier is a lot better than he was last year. Players are not static, they can and often do get better.

A shake-up at running back?

Nobody knows when Sony Michel is going to come off PUP — Michael Lombardi said he could stay on and not be back until midseason — so the race is on at running back. Is Damien Harris ready to roll after a redshirt season? Can Lamar Miller show he's healthy and be a possible starter? Will Harris and Miller make Michel expendable? Anything can happen.

Pre-camp read: Michel knows the score after seeing the Miller signing, so I expect him to fight to get cleared as soon as possible. Plus, he's a tough kid. Harris is really going to have to the stage all to himself in the early going, so this is really put-up or shut-up time for him. He could be the new franchise back if he hits quick, or he could find himself on another team.

What's the deal with the edge?

No Kyle Van Noy or Hightower means the Patriots are going to need some impact on the edge. John Simon is fine as a role player, but the team needs Chase Winovich to hit big as a starter. Is Uche an edge player or a linebacker? Is this the last stand for Deatrich Wise and Derek Rivers? Can Shilique Calhoun stay healthy and cash in on his ability?

Pre-camp read: Winovich proves, or at least gets the chance to show, he's a full-time starter while Simon and a cast of characters split the role on the other side.

Can the rookie TEs make an instant impact?

Not since the days of Gronk and Hernandez have the Patriots so desperately needed something from rookie tight ends (and they really didn't get much of it in 2010). Devin Asiasi, especially, has to be a viable contributor in the passing game. It would be very helpful if Dalton Keene can be a fullback/H-back.

Pre-camp read: Asiasi has a ton of splash plays in camp but it takes a while for him to be a constant contributor in the season. Keene becomes an instant sensation in a Jim "Crash" Jensen role.

NICKEL PACKAGE

1. One big takeaway from the season premiere of Hard Knocks, with the Chargers and Rams, is that these NFL owners have more money than God. Whatever their team needs — new weight rooms, new meeting space, multiple locker rooms — they will have zero issues doing that. Remember that the next time owners cry poor to the players, and they will this offseason.

2. Signing Everson Griffin was a huge coup for the Cowboys and he'll be a great fit for that defense, if he's past the emotional issues he had a few years ago that halted his rise to stardom.

3. No worries about Patrick Mahomes resting on his laurels, or his fat contract.  “He’s a competitive prick. OK?" said offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy to reporters. "He’s a great kid, but he’s a competitive prick. He wants to improve at everything he could possibly improve upon. He wants to be the best at whatever he can do. And along the way, he wants to make sure that he’s leading the guys, he wants to be held accountable by his peers, but also, too — he just wants to work. And that’s what you love about being around him every single day.”

4. One of the early stars of Packers camp is former Boston College running back A.J. Dillon, mostly for his physique.

https://twitter.com/RobDemovsky/status/1294675597373911041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1294675597373911041%7Ctwgr%5E&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpackerswire.usatoday.com%2F2020%2F08%2F16%2Fsocial-media-astonished-by-the-size-of-packers-rookie-rb-a-j-dillon%2F

“He has got some massive legs,” coach Matt LaFleur told reporters. “We have not seen a running back built like that — not in my career, that I’ve been around. ... He’s a big boy.”

5. Long way to go to play in an NFL game, but what an achievement by Alex Smith just to get cleared to play.