The Patriots open training camp this week but before camp officially opens here are five things we’ll be watching for in camp. 1. The quarterback competition:All eyes in camp will be the quarterback competition between Cam Newton and Mac Jones. Bill Belichick isn’t calling it a competition, but it is a competition. Jones will have plenty of opportunity to prove he can be the starting quarterback of this football team….

About a week ago now, we devoted one of these 25 days to the offensive coordinator of that 1996 team and an unsung hero, Ray Perkins. Today, it’s only fair we take a look at the defensive coordinator, Al Groh and what he meant to that team. Groh had a lengthy college and NFL coaching career beginning at Army in 1968. Stints at Virginia, Air Force, North Carolina, Texas Tech…

Patriots Co-Offensive Line Cole Popovich will not coach in 2021. Co-Offensive Line Coach Carmen Bricillo will assume full time coaching duties for the season. Popovich is sitting out the season due to the NFL’s vaccination mandate. Popovich was spotted wearing a mask during June’s mandatory OTA’s so it is safe to assume that he is not vaccinated. With Popovich sitting out the season, it does stretch the Patriots coaching staff…

Rookies have reported to Foxboro for the start of training camp. All eyes of course will be on Quarterback Mac Jones but the 2021 rookie class is talented and the expectation is that they will make a difference. When evaluating rookies from a coaching lense, there are different things each of them need to do at their respective position in order to gain playing time. Bill Belichick will NOT play…