The most powerful man on Earth is no longer part of our future.
And hope that we can get back to achieving the greatness we used to enjoy.
I’m talking of course about the 2024 New England Patriots.
In a year of tumultuous change, one thing will always remain the same.
I’ll be here for you.
–Though it’s fair to ask how many other people will be.
Granted, the two practices they’ve held so far have been midweek affairs with cloudy skies threatening rain.
It’ll be fascinating to see if things are different with bigger crowds over the weekend.
I mean, this felt like the year of Camp Covid.
But what’s most important is the way Drake Maye looked on this throw.
This is the major benefit of a 4-13 debacle.
And I’ll dedicate a blog to it some time soon.
Then play action passes from the exact same look, to make defenses have to think and play slower.
Like learing the choreography to “Step in Time.”
Everyone knowing everyone else’s reads and assignments without having to think about it.
Which is going to take time and reps. And like with Maye, that means patience.
Hand fighting and shedding blocks and so on.
The equivalent of teaching 1st graders what the numbers are called before they start learning to draw them.
Not that they haven’t been working together since OTAs.
–Perhaps the most significant position move on the roster is one of the least sexy and blog worthy.
And Onewnu isn’t complaining.
All season if necessary.
–There are a few obvious changes from last year’s camp.
The first, most significant one is the aforementioned coaching change.
Almost exclusively for the first week or so of practice.
Shortening the field on the offense to put them at a disadvantage, like swinging a weighted bat.
The plays in these two workouts have been entirely at mid-field.
–But there’s also a more relaxed vibe to the proceedings that’s palpable.
In fact, the music was blaring throughout.
But with one Van Halen mixed in.
(The Gary Cherone era?
That’s a rookie mistake that cannot be tolerated.
you’ve got the option to make errors, but don’t be an error repeater.)
Not a thing happened.
They just went to the next rep.
This is going to take some getting used to.
I have no idea if they help or hurt the efforts of teams getting ready to play tackle football.
And it seems to be working.
–On a related note, the special teams did some work on the new kickoff rules.
Though for the life of me, I had no idea what I was seeing.
All I know is that Marcus Jones seems to be the first option as the returner.
And he split reps with Demario Douglas.
Wait and see on everything else.
There were no deep shots like the one to Reagor yesterday.
A lot of working the flats and curls.
A good deal of checkdowns.
And a 20-yarder to TE Mitchell Wilcox over Schooler again.
And had a PBU from Julius Peppers on a ball intended for Hunter Henry.
Which gives you plenty of time to buy the shirt that I wore the shit out of.
Yes, there’s a ton of uncertainty.
But damn, it’s good to be back.
