Welcome to the Friday 5!
Every week through the NFL common season, I’ll drop 5 Patriots-related ideas on Friday to recap the week that was in Foxboro and sit up for kickoff.
Prepared, set, soccer.
1. What if …
Again in March, Milton Williams was thiiiis near changing into a Panther as a substitute of a Patriot.
Williams hit free company as a high goal for each groups, contemporary off a dominant Tremendous Bowl run with the Eagles. As soon as free company opened, preliminary stories steered Williams was headed to Carolina. As an alternative, after whiffing on Ravens left sort out Ronnie Stanley and Buccaneers broad receiver Chris Godwin, the Pats pushed all their chips in to land him.
Certain sufficient, a four-year, $104 million provide satisfied one of many final remaining blue-chip abilities to New England.
“I most likely blacked out for a little bit bit as soon as that occurred,” mentioned Patriots defensive position coach Clint McMillan. “It was thrilling to get a participant of that caliber.”
Are you able to think about if Williams hadn’t signed?
After all, who is aware of how the dominos would have fallen from mid-March to late September. However Williams sealed the Pats’ solely win of the season to this point, sacking Tua Tagovailoa on the Dolphins’ remaining offensive snap with less than two minutes left in Week 2. He’s additionally offered a gradual veteran presence and cross rush the Patriots desperately want.
On the season, Williams has two sacks, two quarterback hits, three hurries and a run stuff. The Patriots will want extra from him in the event that they need to produce their first successful season since 2021, and that begins Sunday towards the crew that just about stole certainly one of their greatest defensive gamers now and for years to return.
2. Digging deeper
Each receiver desires the ball. Their livelihoods rely on it.
So when Drake Maye mentioned Wednesday he has to throw extra to Stefon Diggs, that’s regular. However when Maye volunteers two weeks in a row that Diggs wants the ball, significantly after Diggs insisted he received’t name for extra targets, properly, which is it?
“I’ve acquired full belief in (Diggs),” Maye mentioned. “He simply retains exhibiting it each week. I must attempt to give him the ball extra. I informed him that right this moment.”
That quote isn’t proof of a disgruntled Diggs, whose historical past of changing into upset when he doesn’t see the ball sufficient is as well-documented as his on-field excellence. Maye’s quotes aren’t hearth. They may not even be smoke. However they’re not nothing.
Particularly not after Josh Allen dropped this Thursday in Buffalo when requested how he’s modified his sport to chop down on his turnovers: “That entire ‘everyone eats’ mentality that (offensive coordinator) Joe (Brady) allowed us to take over has allowed me to be free. (I don’t) fear a lot about the place the ball goes.”
Now, Diggs has mentioned he’s not calling for the ball. He’s been an excellent soldier publicly, and, extra importantly, productive on the sector. There’s an excellent case for him to play extra, because the Patriots’ most dependable receiver.
“I’m not going to chunk off greater than I can chew, I’m not gonna ask for something. It’s no matter they want,” he mentioned Wednesday. “I’m gonna simply deal with what’s in entrance of me. I acquired like, a rule of thumb: simply eat the meals that’s in entrance of you.”
So the place does Josh McDaniels stand in all of this?
Per week in the past, McDaniels claimed he’s by no means heard Diggs name for the ball. On Thursday, McDaniels mentioned of his receivers: “I feel the purpose for all of us is that we hope that the quarterback is throwing it to the individual that’s purported to get it. So the quick and lengthy of it’s, in case you begin making an attempt to power it to at least one particular person or one other, it will get a little bit bit totally different. And now you begin making errors.”
Hmm. One thing to observe.
3. Why promote now?
The following time Robert Kraft steps to a microphone, it ought to sound like his final.
In just about each press convention, Kraft mentions how he used to take a seat on the bleachers on the outdated Foxboro stadium; how optimistic he’s concerning the Patriots’ future; how necessary the draft is to long-term success within the NFL, and the way, after his household, nothing is extra necessary to him than the Patriots.
So, why would Kraft reportedly promote minority stakes in the franchise?
A principle: final 12 months, Irving Grousbeck made his son, Wyc, the Celtics’ governor, promote the crew instantly after their final NBA title. The Grousbecks cited “property planning,” earlier than sealing a $6.1 billion sale to new controlling proprietor Invoice Chisholm. Translation: Irving, 91, wished his affairs so as.
Kraft is 84. The succession plan is evident: Jonathan Kraft is subsequent in line. Within the meantime, Kraft can go away more cash behind for his prolonged household, roughly $740 million, with out relinquishing management of the crew.
Maybe it’s a easy money seize (who wouldn’t take a simple $740 million?) however the intestine guess right here is Kraft is trying forward with the household future in thoughts.
4. Getting soiled on kickoffs
On Tuesday evening, Mike Vrabel mentioned he spent two hours finding out the Panthers’ kickoff crew. He had good cause to.
By means of three weeks, the Panthers and Rams rank far and away as the perfect kick protection groups within the NFL. Their opponents frequently begin drives deep in their very own territory due to a “soiled kick” approach.
Soiled kicks are primarily high-arching knuckleballs that may land in the course of the sector and take an unpredictable bounce or fly at an angle, relying on how the kicker makes contact. The concept is to power non-returners to scoop the ball up and screw with opponents’ blocking schemes. So may the Patriots copy Carolina and undertake the identical method?
Pats particular groups coordinator Jeremy Springer confirmed Thursday that rookie kicker Andy Borregales has tried, although certainly one of his “soiled” makes an attempt at Miami resulted in a penalty that handed the Dolphins wonderful subject place within the fourth quarter. Underneath the NFL’s new kickoff guidelines, if a kick doesn’t journey far sufficient, opponents begin at their very own 40-yard line, and if the ball travels too far, opponents open at their very own 35.
Springer highlighted the danger and reward of this method whereas explaining why the Patriots haven’t absolutely dedicated to it thus far.
“Are you able to do it constantly? And you are feeling assured doing it constantly?” Springer requested rhetorically. “Typically, like I mentioned, climate can dictate it. Or simply (the kicker) hits one unhealthy ball, and now you’ve acquired a penalty on the 40-yard line. Do you need to do it once more and get one other penalty?”
5. What to do about Stevenson?
It’s time to take a seat Rhamondre Stevenson.
The Patriots must make their high again a wholesome scratch for Sunday to ship a message to him and the crew they won’t tolerate fumbling twice like Stevenson did final weekend. Stevenson additionally fumbled seven occasions final 12 months. There should be penalties for a participant whose errors are so expensive.
If Vrabel desires to ascertain a successful tradition, meaning reinforcing sure habits and attitudes and disallowing others. Turnovers are a high precedence for the Patriots in principle, with ball safety and ball disruption listed because the second merchandise on an indication of their crew assembly room that outlines the id Vrabel desires from his crew.
However are turnovers a precedence in apply? We’ll see on Sunday.
