Felger on the Patriots using virtual reality
Both Eliot Wolf and Jerod Mayo have hinted that the New England Patriots may be using some virtual reality to help their quarterbacks get added reps ahead of the 2024 season. On Wednesday’s Felger and Mazz, Felger reacts to the ideas of the Patriots using virtual reality to help get extra reps in. With Felger’s history of hatred towards technology, it wasn’t a surprise to see where this rant went.
Felger: I’m out! Out! Out! Out! Out! Out! Out! Thank you, Thank you, Out! Oh, God, that reeks that reeks of Evan Rothstein or John Kraft or some freaking squid upstairs with the goggles. That’s how we’re getting Drake Maye ready? The virtual reality? We’re putting him in the simulator?
Mazz: Yep!
Felger: That’s what we’re doing?
Mazz: Yep!
Felger: You’re porked! Porked! I don’t believe in what’s going on down there. I don’t. I don’t. The virtual reps? See I even don’t….like, I’m not even yelling at Jerod Mayo there there, like, cause I know Mayo is a football player. He’s a football guy. That’s where he’s brought up. But someone from upstairs is coming down with the goggles and says, “Jerod, this is what we’re doing”, and so, yeah, OK. Who’s Jerod at this point in his career to say “we’re not doing the goggles?” So they’re putting the goggles on them, and that’s how we’re getting them ready! There you go. Scary!
Listen to Felger and Mazz from 2-6 every Monday-Friday on 98.5 The Sports Hub, with hosts Mike Felger, Tony “Mazz” Massarotti, and Jim Murray “Big Jim”. You can listen live in the Sports Hub App and subscribe to their podcasts here. Follow @FelgerAndMazz on Twitter to keep up with the show!
8 things to watch during Patriots OTAs and Minicamp
Distribution of quarterback reps
May 11, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) works with a member of the coaching staff at the New England Patriots rookie camp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Head coach Jerod Mayo said after the draft that third overall pick Drake Maye wouldn’t be named the starter right away and would have to compete for the job. The most likely contender for the job alongside him is veteran free agent signing Jacoby Brissett, who many expect was signed to mentor Maye regardless of what the depth chart looks like.
In that sense, the expectation should be for the Patriots to set up a competition between Maye and Brissett for the initial starting job. It’s very possible that Brissett has the inside track on that job to start, given how Mayo has spoken about Maye’s need for growth.
If that’s the case, the Patriots will have to tasks simultaneously at the quarterback position. They’ll need to prepare Brissett to start the season, while working on Maye’s development.
What this all boils down to is the distribution of first-team quarterback reps. How many snaps Brissett gets compared to Maye could be an indication as to how close Maye is to potentially taking over as the starter. The balance between these two should be the biggest story of the spring.
Distribution of left tackle reps
Oct 30, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor (76) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
After quarterback, left tackle is the biggest question on the Patriots’ offense in terms of who will be the starter. The top contenders at the position are likely returning tackle Calvin Anderson who spent most of last year on NFI and IR, free agent signing Chuks Okorafor, and third-round pick Caedan Wallace.
Anderson has played left tackle in the past, but last season with the Patriots only played right tackle. Anderson started two games before missing the rest of the season with a heart issue (he also missed most of training camp due to health issues). Okorafor has only played right tackle in his NFL career, but was a left tackle in college. Wallace, a college right tackle, is looking to make a similar move.
Prior to the draft Patriots VP of player personnel Eliot Wolf told reporters Okorafor was viewed as the starter, but that there was plenty of time for that to change. Spring practices will be the first chance to see just how close this battle could be, in terms of how the coaching staff divides the left tackle reps during team drills.
How involved are last year’s top receivers
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 24: JuJu Smith-Schuster #7 of the New England Patriots runs for a first down in the second quarter of a game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on September 24, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Heading into spring practices, four wide receivers project as roster locks – DeMario Douglas, Kendrick Bourne, and rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. Free agent signing K.J. Osborn also seems highly likely to make the team with most of his one-year, $4 million contract guaranteed.
There’s a real chance that ends up being the Patriots’ full wide receivers room. Five is the number of players most teams keep at the position.
Right away that may rule out two of the Patriots’ most talked-about receivers from this time last year – JuJu Smith-Schuster and Tyquan Thornton. This time around, they’ll be competing – along with Jalen Reagor – for a potential sixth wide receiver spot. Any of the three can’t just out-perform the other two in this group, but will also have to prove to the team its worth it to keep a sixth player at the position (all of this is of course pending injury).
Smith-Schuster brings experience, and is the toughest to get rid of in terms of his contract (over $9 million in dead cap this year if he’s released, over $5 million if he’s traded, then over $2 million next year either way). Thornton adds a real speed threat, but also has no guaranteed money remaining on his rookie deal (he’s entering his third year). Reagor has the upside of being a potential kickoff return threat (something that holds more weight with the new rules), while being on an affordable one-year deal.
No matter what, any of these players will have to prove their way onto the roster. Over the spring, we’ll see how many chances the team gives them to do that, keeping in mind developing their two rookies (and continuing the development of Douglas) is also important.
Competition at third running back
Dec 31, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; New England Patriots running back Kevin Harris (36) runs with the ball against the Buffalo Bills during the first half at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Another position battle, this time further down the depth chart. Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson have things locked up at the top of the running back depth chart, but for a team that has struggled with running back depth in recent years the third spot is worth keeping an eye on.
Last year, Kevin Harris was the main guy in that role as he was up and down between the active roster and practice squad. As this year starts he’s probably the favorite to be back in that role but will face competition from veteran JaMycal Hasy, who was signed off waivers late last year, and UDFA Deshaun Fenwick.
In addition to seeing how involved those two get in the offense, their special teams reps will be important too. Any player that is going to stick as a third running back will likely need to play a role in the kicking game.
Jaheim Bell’s usage
Florida State tight end Jaheim Bell runs after the catch. Credit: Florida State Athletics
At rookie minicamp, versatile seventh-round pick Jaheim Bell lined up almost exclusively as a traditional tight end. That makes sense given the focus for that practice was more on basic fundamentals, but as the team starts installing the playbook expect his role to grow.
Bell handled multiple assignments in college as a tight end, big slot receiver, and even passing down back. He also played in the kicking game. If he’s going to make the roster this year, playing multiple roles will be key. We’ll see how much they throw at him early as practices start this week.
Marte Mapu’s suage
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – NOVEMBER 05: Marte Mapu #30 of the New England Patriots runs downfield against the Washington Commanders at Gillette Stadium on November 05, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
2023 third-round pick Marte Mapu is another player whose usage in practice could tell us a lot. An athletic sideline-to-sideline off-ball linebacker in college, the Patriots worked on turning him into a safety last year. He ended up playing a limited role on defense behind Jabrill Peppers and Kyle Dugger.
Will the Patriots keep on that path, or move him back to linebacker? His skillset at that position may play better in what defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington has called a more “aggressive” defensive style. Earlier this offseason Mapu said he’s been working with coaches from both positions.
How does the boundary cornerback position shape up?
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 31: Alex Austin #28 of the New England Patriots intercepts a pass intended for Dalton Kincaid #86 of the Buffalo Bills during the second quarter at Highmark Stadium on December 31, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
The Patriots’ boundary cornerback spot may end up being the most competitive position battle of training camp. But before we can get to who is competing, we need to understand what role they’re competing for.
Christian Gonzalez will return as the team’s top boundary cornerback once the season begins (even if he’s not healthy enough to begin spring practices after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury last year). That’s all but certain.
After that is where all the questions begin. With Myles Bryant signing with the Houston Texans in free agency, the team is in need of a new starting slot cornerback. Will that be Jonathan Jones, returning to where he spent the majority of his career? Or will Jones continue playing on the outside?
If Jones stays outside, the competition after him is for the third and perhaps fourth rotational boundary cornerback spots (with Marcus Jones likely taking over as the primary slot cornerback, unless Shaun Wade makes a strong push in camp). If he moves back inside, that competition suddenly becomes for a starting cornerback spot – as well as depth spots behind it.
Who is competing for that role – whatever it ends up being? Players to watch are Wade, Alex Austin, Isaiah Bolden, Marco Wilson, sixth-round rookie Marcellas Dial and UDFA Mikey Victor. This is also a spot where it would make sense for the Patriots to add a veteran (Stephon Gilmore?), especially if Jones moves back inside.
Kickers
Kicker Chad Ryland (37) and punter Bryce Baringer had what Bill Belichick called “a good learning experience” in harsh conditions (Photo by Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)
Of all the positions that will be evaluated over the next few weeks, the kickers’ performances may hold more weight than any. Their reps as OTAs and Minicamp come the closest to resembling what their actual job will be on gamedays.
Can Chad Ryland give the team a reason to have more faith in him heading into camp after a rough rookie year? Will veteran free agent Joey Sly truly push him for a starting job? Or will both have the team looking to sign another kicker – potentially somebody out of the kicker-heavy UFL – to compete for the job in camp?
