As we wait for the complete list of cuts, I'd like to deliver some intel from my scouting buddies and share a few thoughts to pass the time. It's sort of an ode to Peter King's "Things I Think," only with no mention of coffee (I mostly drink Cinnamon Tea except when I'm exhausted. Good sharing, I know. You're welcome).
I talked to a scout who has been hyper-focused on the AFC East this summer. Topics covered down below:
- Jack Jones
- Free safety after Devin McCourty
- Bailey Zappe and the possibility of another backup
- Rookie offensive lineman reports
- Tyrone Wheatley
- Juju Smith-Schuster's knee
- And more.
- On Jack Jones: "My goodness, does he play with a ton of swag, even if it is misguided sometimes. His eyes are always in the backfield. I can tell you, we'd attack his ass. He might pick one, but we're just as likely to get him for two. I'll take those odds."
- On the absence of Devin McCourty: "I would test their ability to communicate, especially in that third level. Formationally. Tons of motions. Shifts. Attack a zone with a couple receivers. See if they can handle it. Remember (Stephon) Gilmore's first year, early in that year, when they were a mess in the secondary? I could see that being an issue again early in the year. Lots of youth and clearly some of these safeties will be asked to do things they have done consistently at this level."
- Any concern about Bailey Zappe based on this summer? "He's ok. Never as good as some of you tried to make out last year, but fine. I mean, you try being an undersized QB playing behind some of the dregs that he had to this preseason. He played like he had no confidence that things would hold up for him. Was he wrong?" (My answer: no)
Should they seek a more experienced backup? "100%. The position is too important, and it gives the younger QBs someone they can bitch to, or commiserate with, or just bounce things off. I've never been a big fan of having only kids in the room."
- Rookie offensive linemen: "They got a lot of reps this summer. Should that help? In theory, yes, but what if a couple of them just aren't that good? I didn't see anything that stood out about the center (Jake Andrews) or the kid they're force-feeding at tackle (Sidy Sow). Having draft picks on the roster doesn't automatically mean you have depth. They actually have to show you that, and I didn't (see it in preseason games). I do like the (Atonio) Mafi kid. He's a bowling ball."
- Sticking with the line: "Trent Brown is someone I've always liked. You shouldn't have feet like that at his size. And when he gets those paws on you and is balanced, forget about it. That pass rusher is shut the bleep down."
On to my own thoughts…
- Who would have guessed that an innocuous tweet about keeping Nick Folk would make some of the folks on Twitter/X so angry? Some folks need a hobby.
The #Patriots are reportedly fielding calls on Nick Folk. I'd hang up. Ryland didn't earn the job and the trust (yet), despite the big leg.
— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) August 29, 2023
- I wasn't wild about the Patriots waiting until this week to try and bolster the offensive tackle position. You're asking Wheatley and/or Love to hit the ground running in two weeks? How's that anybody's idea of a good plan? I understand that other teams want to see how their own roster shakes out before they're willing to dip their toes in trade waters, but the Pats reached critical mass at that spot three weeks ago. Try harder and act sooner.
- Bonus scout talk…speaking of Wheatley, "Good feet. Smooth. But if he has power, I haven't seen it, but that's why they hired (Adrian) Klemm. Find it, coach."
- While we're on the subject, it is not a great look dealing a 4th round running back less than 18 months after drafting him. I know Bill said you have to give up something to get something, but that was quick. I've heard some suggest it was because of a change in the system. Stop. Pierre Strong just never became what they thought he would be. We'll see if he can answer some of Cleveland's problems at that spot, but he was unremarkable last summer and again this summer when we got our two biggest doses of him. His speed will pop at some point, but there's more to the job than a random play here or there.
- There's been some talk about JuJu Smith-Schuster's knee. I'm not taking a victory lap on this, but I was tweeting about this a) when they signed him and b) when he missed all that time this spring. He's a tough dude - no one I've talked to will dispute that - but that knee concerned a lot of folks, including at his two previous spots. Can it be managed? I'm led to believe it can, but we'll have to see it after what turned out to be a mostly quiet summer.
- Brenden Schooler will be an excellent long-term replacement for Matthew Slater whenever Matthew decides to call it a career. He is a worker, both on and off the field, and has excellent instincts. He is a good player for his role. Tough and physical for his size (he's slender).
- Jabril Peppers going forward is a monster. Going sideways and especially backward, not so much. Curious to see how the Pats deploy him. His energy and physicality are a plus for that defense. But they'll have to work hard to hide some of his deficiencies.
- Lastly, a reminder: it was a good summer for Mac Jones. Will that translate to the regular season? We're less than two weeks away from his first test, but organizationally, there is far more positivity and confidence around his play and state of mind than at any point last season.