Mandatory minicamp begins on Monday in Foxborough and we’re hoping to see a few things we didn’t get to see during the voluntary part of the offseason.
While there still won’t be any pads or anything like that, this will be the first time we’re supposed to get a look at the roster in full, or at least as full as possible given the fact that a few guys are still coming back from injuries. Attendance was very strong during the nine OTA practices, but this is ultimately where the entire team will start to lock in on the season ahead of training camp in July.
We continue to hammer the point home that it’s hard to really get any type of idea just how good the team can be without pads on, butt here’s what we’d like to see over the next three days:
String them together, Drake.
In fairness, we only saw three of the nine practices and he very well could have gone off in all the others, but he was bad, decent and very good the three times we saw him. Maye went 1-1-1 if you will. It’s still basically a passing camp with a bit more offense installed this week, so you hope he can stack on days. The third practice last week where he was accurate everywhere – including a highlight reel ball down the left sideline to Rhamondre Stevenson – is why people believe he’s the guy. It’s obviously all there, but if he can do it regularly against a very good defense this summer, there’s far fewer questions about the next franchise QB heading into year two.
Separation within the wide receivers group.
Assuming he still hasn’t hasn’t been cleared medically as reported by Mike Giardi, Stefon Diggs will participate in individual drills and some light walkthrough stuff, but won’t participate in 7-on-7 or team periods. Still, he looked the part last week during his first practice in front of the media during those drills following his first true WR1 experience with the video. Mack Hollins didn’t participate in the voluntary portion, but he was there every day a s hype guy and to take mental reps. It’d be nice to see him out there for the first time, but not at the risk of anything serious before camp obviously.
No one really flashed during OTAs when you get past the two new guys. You could say rookie Kyle Williams to an extent and of course everybody’s new favorite Efton Chism III seems uncoverable, but when Diggs participated in indy period, you could just feel what a WR1 looks like. The drop off is significant already when you put someone like him in the current room and he’s only been here for a couple months.
Pop Douglas has a chance to be special in a Josh McDaniels offense, but like Maye, needs to show consistency. He’s got a year on Maye and needs to take a step forward this season. Kendrick Bourne (seemingly) should flourish as he once previously did under McDaniels, but after a rough season, hasn’t elevated to a true No. 2. There’s Diggs and then everybody else.
Kayshon Boutte, Ja’Lynn Polk – who hasn’t participated in team periods – and Javon Baker are all part of that group that could be here or be looking for new jobs. It’s a coin flip right now. A strong minicamp may change some minds that could need changing.
Can any of the other tight ends do something?
After Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper, there’s not much there. One of these guys needs to make a few plays over the course of these three practices, otherwise there will be bodies coming and going heading into and during training camp. As long as they’re healthy, Henry and Hooper is a fine 1-2 punch, but the depth is severely lacking. A trade for Kyle Pitts wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world either way given Henry’s age and Pitts’ ability.
Defense should still be better than the offense, for now.
Of course, the O-line is another major question, but the whole no pads thing really takes away any ability to know if they’re truly getting pushed around or not. It’s also worth noting that this defense is built to be elite, especially up front, so pushing around a newly constructed offensive line is to be expected.
It will be nice to see more of Carter Davis III along with Christian Gonzalez after Davis attended earlier voluntary sessions, but missed the final few while vacationing (as he showed on Instagram).
In the three practices we attended, the defense owned the day in two of them. I’d expect at least one if not two days of that again this week, which would make a strong offensive showing that much more encouraging even if it is just minicamp in June.