Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - AFC-Style East versus West III: Patriots/Raiders Crossover - 5/13/2020

Episode Date: May 13, 2020

It’s AFC East/AFC West Divisional Crossover Week across the Locked On Podcast Network.  Joining host Mike D’Abate is Your Boy Q of Locked On Raiders to discuss both the New England Patriots and the Las Vegas Raiders’ 2020 NFL Draft report cards, their potential rosters and their chances to contend in the upcoming 2020 NFL Season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Patriots fans, you are now locked in to the Locked On Patriots Podcast. I'm going to show you how to make a beautiful and beautiful flower. I'm going to use a small flower pot. I'm going to use a small pot Hello to all of you Foxborough faithful, and welcome to your But I Don't Wanna Be a Pirate Wednesday episode of the Lockdown Patriots Podcast. Your daily home for news notes and analysis, flavored with the occasional opinion on your

six-time Super Bowl champions, the New England Patriots. Today's crossover episode is brought to you by Bilt Bar. Bilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to BiltBar.com and use promo code LOCKEDON and you'll get $10 off of your first order. Good day to all of you in Patriots Nation. Today is Wednesday, May 13th, 2020. My name is Mike DeBate, your host of the Locked On Patriots Podcast, which of course is a proud part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. And folks, because it's your team every day,

that means your questions, your comments, and your feedback, they're always welcomed, always appreciated. And feel free to share that feedback at any time by reaching out to me and following me on Twitter at MDABATEFPC. And while you're out there pillaging and plundering through the Twitterverse, please be sure to follow the Lockdown Patriots account as well at LO underscore Patriots. We're villains and black sheep. Really bad eggs. Drink up, me already show-o. Athletics, drink up Miati Jello. That's right, Patriots fans. In case you haven't figured it out, today's episode will feature a little piratey flavor as we kick off day three of AFC East, AFC West crossover week right here on the Locked On Patriots podcast. Monday was a day dedicated to the defending champion, Kansas City Chiefs, and yesterday

here on the pod was a day to dish on the Denver Broncos. But today is the day we cross blades with a pirate, and we welcome your boy Q, host of the Lockdown Raiders podcast, to break down all things silver and black, and that means the Las Vegas Raiders. And I know, folks, usually what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but not today. On this episode of Lockdown Patriots, we almost go-coast from Las Vegas to Foxborough, Massachusetts. And we will break down the impending matchup between these two teams, tentatively scheduled for Sunday, September 27th, 1pm at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. And this conversation between your boy Q and myself was truly a blast.

I'm such a fan of the work that he does on Locked On Raiders. Tons of fun, tons of information, and folks, if you thought Raider Nation was going to prevent me from making at least one reference to the Snow Bowl, well then, to quote my favorite movie pirate, Captain Hector Barbosa of Pirates of the Caribbean,

I'm disinclined to acquiesce to your request. Means no. That's right, Patriots Nation, of course I worked in that reference. Come on, of course I worked in that reference. Come on, of course I would. Adorning one of the walls in my home office is a picture of that very kick. Adam Vinatieri kickstarting the dynasty, literally and figuratively folks. But it definitely makes for a great rivalry between these two teams, and I for one am

really looking forward to this matchup, and admittedly I'm taking some liberties on this one. The Seinfeld reference, my Jack Sparrow and Barbossa impressions from Pirates of the Caribbean, but in actuality, I have tons of respect for the Las Vegas Raiders, and I think they have the potential to be a real sleeper in the NFL this year, and your boy Q will discuss that with me in just a moment. But before we make this crossblade crossover episode official, I did want to share some good news with you when it comes to the health and conditioning of your New England Patriots. And it relates to Patriots wide receiver Mohamed Sanu,

who by my own admission we haven't discussed a whole lot this year, when it comes to members of this roster on which I have my sharp eye. And there's a reason for that. And I don't think a lot of you would argue the point that since coming over from the Falcons last fall in exchange for a second round pick, Sanu's largely been a disappointment. But if I'm being honest about that, it's really not because Muhammad is not the player that everybody thought he was. It really is in large part to the ankle injury that sidelined him and hampered him for much of the season. He played eight games with the Patriots last year, made six starts, caught 26 passes for 207 yards with one touchdown. When you look at that production in an eight-game vacuum, it doesn't seem all that impressive. But here's something to try to keep in mind on this. Much of that

production came in only one game, and that was a 10-catch, 81-yard performance against the Baltimore Ravens. The following week against Philadelphia is where Sanu suffered his ankle injury, and after completely missing one game of action, Sanu never had more than three catches or 35 yards in a game during the final five weeks of the regular season, and was largely absent when it came to productivity during wildcard weekend and the playoff loss to the Tennessee Titans. And over the offseason, it really became evident as to how much this ankle injury was hampering Muhammad. He required surgery to repair it.

He underwent that surgery this winter. And here's that good news I was referring to earlier, folks. According to Mike Giardi of the NFL Network, Mohamed Sanu has the cast and the boot off his surgically repaired ankle and has begun rehab. And overall, this is great news for the New England Patriots. A veteran wide receiver presence is going to be key to the development of a young quarterback like Jarrett Stidham.

If Sanu is healthy, I think he can be a great asset to this wide receiver core, and he can really help Jarrett Stidham grow as a quarterback. If there is one concern that I have with Sanu being on the team this year, it's that he is set to earn $6.5 million in base salary in 2020, and that's the final year of his contract with the Patriots. It's not out of the realm of possibility that Sanu could either be a trade target or possibly even a cap casualty via cut. Our good friend here on Locked On Patriots, the Pats cap himself,

the Patriots salary cap top gun Miguel Benzon, has said several times that he would not be surprised to see Sanu cut loose. It's a smart move to free up salary cap space. But at the same time, you can't be so quick to just cut him loose from this roster. After all, the Patriots invested valuable draft capital to get Sanu, a pick that would have been a second rounder in this year's draft. So at the end of the day, they may decide that having Sanu on the roster is a better way to get their money's worth than simply cutting him loose and freeing up that $6.5 million. Ultimately, it's the Patriots' decision to make, but I for one am hoping that Muhammad

is able to come back, be a productive member of this roster, and help further Jarrett Stidham's progression. I still think Sanu has some stuff left in the basement here, folks, and he may end up being that savvy veteran that ends up paying dividends for the Patriots in the long run. But will Mohamed Sanu be on the field, wearing number 14 for the New England Patriots when they take on the Raiders in Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on September 27th? Well, again, folks, your boy Q, host of the Locked On Raiders podcast, will join me here in just a moment to break down anything and everything when it comes to this matchup of cross-divisional rivals in the AFC.

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Patriots fans and Raiders fans, we are all quite familiar with one another. Both fan bases remember a snowy 25-degree evening in Foxborough, Massachusetts, January 19, 2002. The 2001 AFC Divisional Playoff game between the New England Patriots and the then Oakland Raiders. The final game at Foxborough Stadium. And for those of you that are listeners to Locked On Patriots, the old-time Patriots fans, you remember those cold metal planks in the upper sections that I can tell you from personal experience

caused a freeze deep in your bones. Raiders fans remember it as the tuck rule game. Patriots fans remember it as the snowball. And it has intertwined the fates of these two franchises ever since. But enough about the past. It's time to talk about the future, and that future is the tumultuous year of 2020. The Patriots and the Raiders are scheduled to meet Sunday, September 27th, 1 p.m. at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.

So without further ado, let's kick off this crossover week here on the Locked On Podcast Network. My name is Mike DeBate week here on the Locked On Podcast Network. My name is Mike DeBate, host of the Locked On Patriots Podcast. And I am your boy Q, host of the Locked On Rangers Podcast. And Mike, you hit me where it hurts, talking tuck rule already. Well, you know, here in New England, we can't resist but bring it up. But you know what? It really is, I think, a begrudging respect that maybe our fans have for yours and the history behind the great Raiders team.

And, you know, I'm not saying that has to be reciprocated. I know there's still a lot of hard feelings on that, even almost 20 years later. But really, it's my honor to join you on the microphone today, Q. This crossover is one I've been looking forward to for quite some time. I am such a fan of Locked On Raiders. I think you have one of the best openings on the network. Patriots fans, if you're listening, check it out. I guarantee you, you will love the opening of this show.

But to me, the content is truly where your podcast shines like Raiders silver. Great stuff as always. And it's really my honor to join you today. And Q, this matchup between the Patriots and the Raiders silver. Great stuff as always. And it's really my honor to join you today. And Q, this matchup between the Patriots and the Raiders, the Las Vegas Raiders now, promises to be a good one. At least in my opinion. And matchups between these two teams are always memorable. I have to be honest. When I saw that the Pats and Raiders game was going to take place in Foxborough, I was a little disappointed.

I kind of wanted a trip to Vegas out of this deal, but all kidding aside, this is a team that I'm impressed with heading into the season. By all accounts, I think the Raiders had had a very successful offseason. In free agency, they've added a few starters on defense along with a ton of depth. Guys like the recently signed Prince Amokamara, Demarius Randallall and Jeff Heath in the defensive backfield I thought were key signings for the Raiders. Corey Littleton and Nick Kwiatkowski at the linebacker position. Add a little athleticism, a little depth there. Veteran tight end Jason Witten, you can't go wrong with bringing in a guy that has his experience and his savvy at the position. And Eric Cush on the offensive line adds some depth there as well. All in all, I think solid solid signings and I think the Raiders have the potential to be a sleeper in the AFC in

2020 when you look at the Raiders offseason Q is this the year that the vision of Mike Mayock and John Gruden finally comes into focus you know that's a good question and I think that it should be you know it's year three of this project and obviously it's year two with Mike Mayock, but this is year three with John Gruden, and he tore the whole thing down when he got there in 2018, and then 2019 looked like a pretty decent year, and there were actually even people that were talking about the playoffs. That didn't happen, but, you know, you could see the improvement

and a really good draft class and being able to bring in some talent, and that's what the team was really missing out on. They were really missing out on a lot of talent. So them being able to bring that in and have that great 2019 draft class. And then you mentioned the free agents that they were able to bring in this past offseason. I think that they have the makeup now. They have the talent on the roster to do some really positive, good things this upcoming season.

Now, we don't know when the season's going to kick off. We don't know if all the games are going to get played. We don't know if this early game between the Raiders and the Patriots is going to get played. But as it stands on paper right now, it looks like it could be a really good season for this team as long as they go and put it all together. Now, that's going to take John Gruden on the sidelines. That's going to take the players on the field to get it all together. Now that you have the recipes for a really good dinner, you have all the ingredients,

you know, you put that together and you come out with a masterpiece. But you got to be able to know how to cook. If you don't know how to cook, then it doesn't matter. You know, I can't cook. You can give me the greatest ingredients ever. I'm not going to make anything positive out of it. So that's John Gruden. That's on him to be able to find a way to get all the talent that you talked about, all the talent that they drafted, all the talent they drafted last year, and put it together and come up with a really, really good product for the Las Vegas Raider fans, Oakland Raider fans, LA Raider fans, Raider Nation worldwide. They all deserve a really good product. It's up to them to go get it done. The talent is there. Now you just got to go put

it to work. And I think they've got a shot at that. Again, you said the talent is there, and I believe in that. First of all, I do want to give you kudos on that cooking reference. A guy that's been in the news a lot for the New England Patriots the last couple of weeks is Bill Parcells. He was up for induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame. Former Raider Richard Seymour was the man that beat him out, and he will be inducted into the Pats Hall of Fame. Former Raider Richard Seymour was the man that beat him out, and he will be inducted into the Pats Hall of Fame probably at some point later this year in a ceremony. But he once famously said in his exit press conference from New England,

if they're going to ask you to cook the meal, they should at least let you shop for the groceries. And again, you mentioned that about being able to put the meal together, put the ingredients together, and build a winning team. And I think that's going to be something that Las Vegas Raider fans are really going to be in for a treat for. One thing, Q, that did strike me with the Raiders was their draft. And I know a lot of the national news surrounding the Raiders draft has been a little bit iffy. But I may have been more impressed with the Raiders draft than others in the national spotlight.

I think they were smart to select three offensive playmakers. Henry Ruggs Jr. has the speed of an elite wide receiver, and I really like this pick a lot. I also like the versatility that guys like Lynn Bowden Jr. and Brian Edwards bring to the table. I also applaud the selection of Damon Annette, and I know that a lot of people are going to look at the addition of Prince coming into this team now and saying, well, they have a lot of depth at the cornerback position. Maybe they reached a little bit with Arnett, but I thought it was a very Patriot-like pick. A player identified for his skill, his fit within the team, and they identified it and they went with it. And I applaud that because I believe the Patriots did the same thing here in New England with Kyle Duggar what was your overall impression of the Raiders draft

and in your estimation it's a few eyebrows in terms of production in the upcoming season well you know I was I was pleased with the the draft you know again Arnett was the guy that everybody was surprised by I mean and the only reason I was surprised by him is because he wasn't on my radar. Not because he's not a good player. I just didn't have him in my mock draft. Like, a lot of people didn't have him in their mock draft. And, of course, mock drafts are what we live and die by, right? So, you know, that's just our fault for getting hung up on that, you know.

And so that was the one pick that was like, whoa, okay. But after you go back and you actually do some research on it, you realize that, hey, this could be a really good pick. And this is a guy that, you know, really fits what the Raider mold is. Even the old school Raider feel, the bump and run, the being physical at the line of scrimmage. I mean, that's who this guy is. And so I'm kind of excited.

Actually, I'm really excited. I'm glad you said that it was a very Patriot-like pick because that's the thing. And I said it on the podcast the other day that when the Patriots make a move, everyone says, okay, that makes sense. That's a very good move. That was great by the Patriots. But when another team does it, it's like, well, why did you do that? You know what I mean?

Because the Patriots have built the reputation. They've built the reputation of, hey, we know what we're doing. We let this guy go. That's okay because we have depth behind him, and we'll just plug him in. We're not going to spend too much money. When they go and draft a guy, like taking a Division II guy with their first pick in the 2020 draft, I know it was in the second round, but you don't expect them to go to a Division School II to pick a guy. But they did. And I like the pick. I think it's great. They could have picked me. They could have picked you, and it would have made sense.

But if another team does this, like, what are you doing? You know what I mean? But if the Patriots do it, they say, oh, well, that means that they had a plan for Q and they have a plan for Mike. They're going to make it happen, and they're going to be really good players moving forward. I mean, it's just the Patriots have built in that we know what we're doing. Trust us on this. And that's why right now,

even with the Patriots having Jarrett Stidham as their quarterback regardless if that's the guy who's under center when the season starts everyone has to take their word for it like this is a good decision because well the Patriots have proven before time and time again they kind of know what they're doing yeah they do kind of know what they're doing and I think we'll get into that in a little bit when it comes to Jarrett Stidham I know that raised a lot of eyebrows among a lot of national media, but I may help to quell some of those concerns that people may have when it comes to Jarrett Stidham. But that leads me quite nicely into my final question for you today. But before we flip that hot seat and you grill me here on the Foxborough stage, naturally, the quarterback position is always the most high profile of any team, whether we want to admit it or not.

It's always going to be the most high profile. And the Raiders head into the season with Derek Carr, who's been their starter for a vast number of years now. But they also head into this season now with Marcus Mariota possibly nipping at his cleats. Theoretically, competitions like this could lead to a quote-unquote quarterback controversy. In your estimation, Q, do you believe that there might be a quarterback controversy in Las Vegas this year? And if so, who has the upper hand when it comes to being the signal caller for the Raiders in 2020? No, you know, I don't think there's any kind of quarterback controversy at all. I mean, I know Marcus Mariota is think there's any kind of quarterback controversy at all. I mean,

I know Marcus Mariota is the highest paid backup in the league right now, but I think that's for a good reason. You know, just in case something were to happen, just in case, you know, emergency break glass, he's there in that situation, just in case Derek Carr doesn't get off to a good start. Derek Carr will no doubt about it be the starter of the season. And as long as he goes out and plays like he did last season, and for most Raider fans hoping that he improves in some areas as well, he'll be the guy. Now, Mario is there to provide competition. He's there to provide insurance.

But he's not going to create a quarterback competition. Now, the one thing I will say that I'm very excited about is the fact that he is a guy who has been there, done that. So just in case something were to happen, he's been there, done that. He's already won a playoff game. He's a veteran. It's not Mike Glennon. It's not Nate Peterman or Deshaun Kizer.

It's not any of those guys, the guys that you cringe at when you see you take the field. It's a guy that you know has been there, done that, and can really make it happen. And really, it's funny, I just saw something where Logan Ryan, who used to be a Tennessee Titan, looks like he's going to be a Jet now, he was saying that in practice, once Mariota got benched, he was out there slinging it so much that he made that Titans defense that much better. So now I'm thinking that he's going to help out in practice as well, sharpen up the defensive side of the ball for the Raiders,

which is something that is needed in a major way. So I don't think it's going to be any kind of quarterback competition at all. I just think that he's going to be there just to kind of, you know, push Derek Carr a little bit. And he's pretty much been on record as saying that that's going to be the case. And so if there was, just to answer your question, just in case, hey, you know,

just in case they decided that there was some kind of competition or controversy, I think Derek Carr would be the guy with the upper hand. One, because of the pandemic that's going on and these guys aren't meeting in person. These guys aren't having practices. These guys are doing everything virtual. Derek Carr's been there, done that. He knows exactly what John Gruden wants. He knows the system. Been there two years. This is the first time he's been in the same scheme offensively three years in a row. And he's going into his seventh year in the league. I mean, that tells you right there, that's a recipe for disaster

if you can't keep some kind of continuity on the offensive side of the ball. So now they have it. So I think that Derek Carr will be fine. At some point, do I expect the team to go out there and get another quarterback and maybe try to upgrade that position? Absolutely. But I think that Derek Carr is good enough to get it done. You just got to go out there and see it.

And going into year three under Gruden, I think that, especially with the weapons around him that you mentioned earlier, I think he'll be able to get it done. And absolutely great insight and something that I was hoping that Patriots fans would be enlightened by your wisdom and counsel when it comes to this. And I'm glad that you brought up the backup quarterback position because in New England, we know the value of quarterbacks that can run scout teams and improve the defense by being that type of offensive juggernaut that they need to defend against.

We saw Brian Hoyer do it here in New England for a number of years with Tom Brady under center. I expect something similar out of Jared Stidham. And I'm sure we'll get into that in a minute because, Q, while you have provided a great amount of insight when it comes to the Raiders' potential in 2020, it wouldn't exactly be a true crossover, my friend, unless we flip the script and you put me on the hot seat. In just a moment, folks, your boy Q and I will talk about the tumultuous offseason in Foxborough and what it means for the Patriots this season when the crossover episode of Locked On Patriots and Locked On Raiders continues.

As we continue our crossover series here on the Locked On Podcast Network, we're talking AFC East, we're talking AFC West, and right now on the line to talk all things Patriots is Michael DeBate, host of Locked On Patriots. You can find him on Twitter, at Mike D-A-B-A-T-E-F-P-C. Again, at Mike D-A-B-A-T-E-F-P-C. And Mike, I will get into the quarterback conversation because obviously it's a new era.

Tom Brady's not there. But before I get into that, I just want to know in general, because we have been doing all week long here on the Locked On Podcast Network, we've been doing the AFC East and AFC West. What are your feelings? What are your thoughts on the AFC East in general, now that the Patriots, the team that you cover, don't seem to have that same stranglehold on the division? But they're a tough team to count out because, well,

Bill Belichick is still there, and he's proven time and time again that he absolutely knows what he's doing. Yeah, I think the AFC East is going to be an interesting division to follow this year, Q, without any question. Look, the Patriots don't have the stranglehold that they've had on this division for quite some time. I don't necessarily believe that's an indictment on what they've lost, meaning Tom Brady. Even guys like Kyle Van Noy Jamie Collins they've lost some big-time players but I think that's more of an indication of just

how good this division has become and how much improved all three teams that are the Patriots competition in this division have become the Miami Dolphins are unquestionably better this year than they were last year the Buffalo Bills have taken a giant step forward in my opinion and they may be in the driver's seat right now when you look at the hierarchy of the AFC East and a lot of people are sleeping on the Jets in the previous segment we talked about the New York Jets and you talked about Logan Ryan potentially heading to New York that could be a major signing for them and also Sam Darnold being healthy for a full year does allow them to be that type of team that a lot of people considered to be a possible playoff sleeper last year.

So again, I think because the AFC East competition has gotten tougher, I think it will be a tougher division to win this year. The Patriots right now are at a crossroads and they have the potential to hang around and be in contention for a division title. I just think they're facing tougher competition this year. And because of that, the AFC East could be up for grabs for the first time in a good long while. And there are a lot of potential teams that could contend. If you're putting my back against the wall, I would probably say Buffalo is in the best position right now to contend for that title simply because I just love the way they're constituted on offense and defense. again you mentioned don't sleep on a Bill Belichick-led team

I'd be very remiss to you know count them out before I finally see what they look like on the field so in contention but definitely not a foregone conclusion like they have been in years past yeah no doubt about it. I feel like that's kind of the same way that I look at the AFC East. And again, I mean, I think for years, NFL fans have been trying to put dirt on the Patriots and say that they're done and they're not going to make it happen. And time and time again, they prove everybody wrong. So just kind of wait before I say that they're not the same team anymore. But it isn't the Tom Brady era anymore.

He's in Tampa Bay with the Buccaneers. Gr. He's in Tampa Bay with the Buccaneers. Gronkowski's in Tampa Bay with the Buccaneers. At what point in the season or what point did it become a reality to you that, you know what, Tom Brady's not going to be back here next year? Honestly, right up until a couple of days before it became official that Tom wasn't coming back is when I started to see signs that this may not be the year. This may just not be in the cards for Tom Brady to return. You started to hear several of the reliable beat reporters that have covered the Patriots for a number of years. This is my third year covering the team. And, you know, I've learned my own ins and outs of how the Patriots media works. But guys like Mike Reese of ESPN

Boston, who is one of the most well-respected journalists in this area, started reporting that this might not end up coming down the pike. And when you start hearing Mike report things like that, all of a sudden your spidey sense gets tingled, your ears start to go up and you spit, and you start to wonder whether or not the reports about Brady not having a deal or not being able to work out a long-term deal with the Patriots or having a quote-unquote bad telephone conversation with Bill Belichick started to really put the pieces together and determine that he wasn't going to be back ultimately I was surprised that Tom wasn't back but when you look at the circumstances surrounding it, we probably shouldn't have been shocked. And ultimately, Brady is not back into England for one main reason.

It's not because he was sick of Bill. It's not because Bill was sick of him. You're going to read a lot of narratives that really don't hold a whole lot of water as far as I'm concerned. Tom was looking for a new challenge in his career. He was looking for a certain future, and the Patriots were looking for a certain future. And for the first time in 20 years, that didn't coincide with what Tom and the Patriots wanted. They just didn't see eye to eye this time around. It was an opportunity for the two of them to move in separate directions. And that's essentially what happened. So Tom is going to be down in Tampa this year. I expect great things out of him as always. And I think he'll have a big year in Tampa. It's the Jarrett Stidham era here in New England right now.

And from what I'm hearing, the Patriots brass is very high on this kid. And he may not just be the quarterback this year, but they may be trying to build around him for a number of years to come. Well, I'm glad you said that because I wanted to talk about Jarrett Stidham next. He's actually a guy I'm very familiar with from his time at Baylor but I mean what's your gut feeling about the former fourth round pick he was out of Auburn at that time but I mean is he the guy just again just your gut feeling what is what do you think about Jarrett Stidham I believe he has the potential I think he can be the guy the reason why I say that is because I did a lot of scouting

in Jarrett last year when it came to practice, when it came to the preseason, and even the little snippets that we saw of him in the regular season. First of all, he has tremendous poise. He comes in confidence. He knows how to make throws, and he knows he can make the throws. In terms of being accurate and in terms of having the arm to be a big-time quarterback in this league, Jarrett checks both boxes. You know, you know, from his time at Baylor, his time at Auburn,

he was able to do that and he did make throws and was able to be a very prolific quarterback quite often, more often than not. Whenever Jarrett struggled, it was usually because he didn't have the time in the backfield to be able to make the throws. That's the thing that concerns me about Jarrett Stidham. Will the offensive line be able to give him enough time to be able to step, make his throws and complete them? Because if he does have time, he's shown that he can actually put this ball on a dime. He's very good at being able to pick his targets and hit them accurately. It's whether or not he has the time in the backfield. And to me, that's what separates him from a guy like Tom Brady,

who was so good at that. You knew that no matter what was thrown at Brady, he was going to find a way to get rid of the football. He wouldn't take unnecessary sacks. He would only take them when it was necessary. And he was able to get rid of the football and prevent unnecessary downage. That could be an issue with the Patriots with Jared Stidham this year.

So he's going to need to shore that up. That's the only concern that I have from him, but I do like his, his mechanics. He's got a little bit of an issue where he tends to drop his arm a little bit. I think he will be working on that. Word has it. He is working on that very diligently in the off season. Again, I like his poise.

I like his ability to step up, make throws. Confidence with this kid is not an issue. He'll be there. It's just a matter of whether or not he can get the time to do what he needs to do as a rookie. And I say rookie. I know he's a second-year player, but it is his first year under center. And for all intents and purposes, this really is his introduction to the NFL.

So I have high hopes for the kid but there are some issues that Patriots fans should be aware of and maybe some issues that they may need to be a little bit patient with at first talking all things Patriots right now with Michael DeBate host of Locked On Patriots and all we heard in 2019 was Brady had no weapons no no weapons, no weapons. Has the weapons concern, has that been addressed in your opinion this offseason? Yes and no. I think in a lot of ways you're going to see a different type of Patriots offense.

Look, one of the big problems with the Patriots weapons, quote-unquote, last year is that their first-round draft pick, Nikhil Harry, spent most of the season injured. He did come back midway through the year, but was never quite the explosive player that they hoped he would be. Nikhil's been working very hard in the offseason. He's been training. He's been getting strong. He's been getting healthy. I look for big things out of him, so I think they'll get more production out of him this year than they got last year, so that immediately upgrades that position.

At the same time, the tight end position last year for the New England Patriots was abysmal. They ranked last in the NFL in terms of production out of the tight end position. This is a franchise that employed such great tight ends as you want to go back as far as Ben Coates, you want to take Rob Gronkowski under, even Aaron Hernandez, as much as people may not want

to talk about that name or they may be uncomfortable, you can't negate what he was able to do on the field. So in a lot of ways, this is a position that the Patriots have put a lot of stock in. I'm not saying Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene are going to come in and be the next great tight end tandem in this league, but they're going to automatically give you more production than you got last year. And last but not least, the running game. I think the Patriots are going to rely more on the running game this year. I think the depth they've added on the offensive line will open more holes for

Sonny Michel to be able to run through seams. I think you're going to see James White have a big year catching the ball out of the backfield. He may end up being the quote-unquote security blanket for a guy like Jarrett Stidham, because I think Julian Edelman is going to see a lot of double, maybe even triple teams, and that may open things up for maybe even a guy like Jacoby Myers at wide receiver to get open and make some catches. So I think in a lot of ways it's not so much the additions that the Patriots have made but the tweaks that they've made to their game plan that are going to make their weapons that much more effective.

Yeah, no doubt about that. And Mike, I got to ask you about the draft class. I mean, I really, really do. I mentioned it a little bit in the earlier segment, but I mean, the Patriots' very first pick they make is in round two, and they go after safety Kyle Duggar. He's from a Division II school, Lenore Ryan. I mean, one, that's a super Patriots move. I'm not mad at it because I like the player himself.

I think he's a really really good player he's going to do some good things in the league but when you saw that selection what were your thoughts and what do you think Duggar is going to do early on in the season for the Patriots well Duggar was on my short list of defensive backs and safeties that Bill Belichick might target I was a little surprised that he went with it at 37 I thought maybe that was a little over aggressive but look when I've talked to members within the organization that told me I was a little surprised that he went with it at 37. I thought maybe that was a little overaggressive. But look, when I've talked to members within the organization that told me about what the Patriots were thinking when this draft pick was taken is the Patriots had selected Duggar.

They had zeroed in on him. They knew he was the type of guy they wanted to bring in. Excellent blend of speed, length, size. He can cover a lot of ground. I love his ability to match up with tight ends. Patriots had a very good defense in 2019. The one thing they struggled with was covering tight ends. I don't think they're going to have that problem with Kyle Duggar because he brings that depth that they're going to need. And he's a playmaker. He intercepted 10 passes,

returned six punts for touchdowns. So you know he's going to play a big role on special teams. He's just a prototypical Patriot. And I really think that he has the ability to be very good in this defense they zeroed in on him and they made the pick and they weren't worried about where he was projected or whether he had a first round grade or a second round grade or a third round grade they knew the player they wanted they didn't believe he would be there in later picks when they were scheduled to pick again. So they said, you know what, we're going to roll the dice and we're going to take Kyle Duggar at number 37. And I think it's going to pay dividends for him this year. I really do. And again, I kind of go back and I know we talked about it before, but we go back and it's very similar to the Damon Arnett signing. You know, the Raiders

wanted Arnett. That was their guy. They thought they could have possibly traded back and still had an opportunity to get him, but then at the same time thought, you know what? Maybe he'll be gone if we trade back. So they went and made the move. They stuck to their board, and they just rolled the dice and got him. And again, if the Patriots had done it, everyone would have said it was genius. The Raiders did it, so everyone questioned it, but I feel like those two picks are very similar. Now, the next two picks that the Patriots made, still sticking on the defensive side of the ball. And again, I really like it. Josh Uche from Michigan and then Anthony Jennings from Alabama.

What are your thoughts on those guys and how much do they help the Patriots defense as well? Two of my favorite picks in the Patriots draft were these two picks, Joshua Uche and Anthony Jennings. Look, in my opinion, I think Uche may be one of the most underrated pass rushers in the 2020 NFL draft. He's an undersized edge defender, but he's got long arms. I think he's got the skill set to make an immediate impact rushing the passer.

He's got that combination of initial quickness, bend, and closing speed that I think is going to make him such an amazing part of this pass rush tandem that I think he can form with a fellow Michigan alum in Chase Winovich, who I expect a breakout year from when it comes to the Patriots. I think having these guys as edge rushers, former teammates, knowing the type of motor and the type of ability that they bring to the table, I think is something that the Patriots defensive coaching staff is going to be able to use. Jennings may end up being the sleeper pick of the draft for the Patriots. Very stout run defender. He sets the edge.

He's a pretty good tackler. He's an average pass rusher, but he has that underrated combination of quickness, power, instincts, and his change of direction ability is something I'm very impressed with. The more footage that I watch on Anthony, the knee injury in 2018 that lessened his athleticism some that's something that the Patriots are going to need to monitor but at the same time I like Jennings coming in I think he's a strong edge defender and the thing that I really like most about him Q is that he plays his assignment and he plays it as assigned That's something that Bill Belichick absolutely loves, and it doesn't surprise me that he would have gone this direction

and bring in Jennings in that regard. Talking right now with Michael DeBay, host of Locked On Patriots. You can find him on Twitter, at Mike, D-A-B-A-T-E-F-P-C. And I just got a couple more questions for you. Since this season is one of those that we really don't know, we are kind of just up in the air with how everything is going to shake out, what's going to go down. How long do you think, especially with a new quarterback under center

in Jarrett Stidham, how long do you think it's going to take for this Patriots team to really be able to gel and be on their A game? I mean, we don't even know if there's going to be a preseason or not. So they might start the season, and that might might be really literally basically the first game that they really start to play. So how long do you think it's going to take them to gel as a team? Yeah, I think that's a great point, Q. I think if we do start the season late, if they do cut into the preseason, if training camps or any type of mini camps are eliminated, which I expect at least mini camp will be eliminated, maybe even training camps as well.

I think it's going to be very tough for this team to gel early on. Look, you can't just replace a 20-year veteran with the savvy and the caliber and the greatness of Tom Brady and expect a kid like Jarrett Stidham to come in and immediately pick up where they left off. I like Stidham, and that's not a knock on him at all, but you just can't expect a young quarterback to do that. So at the same time, if they do start on time and they're able to get on the field, able to get a synergy going, have a strong training camp, go through preseason and then start the season on time, then I think the learning curve for this team is severely lessened. I think they have the ability to maybe win some games right off the bat, maybe put some

of these teams in the division on their heels and maybe open a few eyes doing it. But if they don't have this opportunity on the field, they're thrust into it right away, then this could be a long season in New England. And you may see that dreaded losing season that Patriots fans have been fearing for the last 20 years. I can guarantee you one thing, Q, if they do have a losing season this year,

and I've been saying this all week long, it's not going to be because they're tanking. That's not going to happen. Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots, just that is not the way they do business here. It's never a guarantee to get the player that you want to tank anyway. So for all people that think that they're going to tank for Trevor, this team is too talented to go 1-15 or 0-16 or whatever they wanted to do to ensure that, and because of that, you're not going to see them tank.

It could be a long season in New England if they don't get the time to prepare the way they need to. That just leads us right into my final question, and this is something I've always said. The schedule release was the other day, and as I went through the schedule, like I'm sure you went through the schedule for the Patriots, I went

W-Loss, W-Loss. I went through all schedule, like I'm sure you went through the schedule for the Patriots, I went W loss, W loss. You know, I went through all the teams that I thought the Raiders were going to defeat, and I gave the Raiders losses where I thought they were going to lose. And I've been a guy that's always said, teams don't go to Foxborough to win. I mean, it's just so difficult to win there at Foxborough. It's very rare when it happens. It's like, oh, wow, what happened in Foxborough today? You know, but again, that was life with Brady,

and now it's a different era. Life with looks like it's in them. So do you feel that that Foxboro magic will still be there? Because I'll tell you right now, I gave the Raiders an L when I was going through the schedule just because they were playing in Foxboro, but then at the same time while I was saying that, I thought, well, it is a different day and time, so maybe that magic's still not there, or it's not there like it was before with Tom Brady.

I think the Foxborough magic could be there, but I think you're going to see it later in the season. Believe it or not, I'm still very much undecided on this game. I think the Las Vegas Raiders have a good opportunity, especially if they get hot very quickly. I said to open our segment today that I was very impressed and thought that they could be a sleeper team in the NFL. I stand behind that.

I think they can come in and beat anybody. Again, it's tough to win in Foxborough because of the Bill Belichick mystique, because of what this team is able to do at home. But with a new quarterback, and again, we keep coming back to whether or not this season is going to be in full, how much prep time these teams are going to have. If they have very little prep time, that absolutely favors the Raiders in this case. They have some new additions, but they have stability, a quarterback in Derek Carr.

They have some stability on the offense and the defense. Patriots have a lot of new faces, a lot of moving parts. So in my opinion, if they do have a little prep time, wouldn't shock me to see them drop this game to the Las Vegas Raiders at home, simply because I think the Raiders may be a better team at that point in the season when these two teams face off. However, the last couple of games of the season

for the Patriots against the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, those are at Gillette, and I think this team will be gelled by then. I think if they are in contention for a division title, those two games are going to be very difficult for Buffalo and New York to come in and beat them. That should be interesting. It really should be interesting.

Plus, you know, in New England, you know there's always an extra cameraman somewhere. I had to give you one. I had to give you one. I'm so glad that you did that hey you know what I open talking about the tuck rule you hit the cameraman so you know what we're even now we'll

revisit this when we talk again when these two teams hook up down the line but this was a blast Q thanks so much for today absolutely man it was my pleasure it was a lot of fun I definitely appreciate you and I can't wait to talk to you down the line when we

get ready for the regular season matchup between the Raiders and the Patriots should be fun absolutely my honor and my privilege my friend can't wait and so Patriots fans three down and one to go on this AFC East AFC West intra-divisional crossover week right here on the

Locked On Patriots podcast Chiefs chats, Broncos bantering, and Raiders rants are a thing of the past. That can mean only one thing, and a Chargers crossover tomorrow here on the Locked On Patriots podcast. And admittedly, folks, this is a crossover that I've been looking forward to for quite some time. I actually cut my sports media journalistic teeth covering the then San Diego Chargers into the Los Angeles Chargers for publications like Cover32 and FullPressCoverage.com. It's an organization that I know well with a much different look this year for 2020.

And to help me break down the new look in LA, David Droegemeyer, host of the Locked On Chargers podcast, will join me here tomorrow where we'll discuss offseason moves, 2020 draft report cards, and how both franchises will be moving on in 2020 without two iconic quarterbacks under center. Folks, it is an episode you won't want to miss, so to ensure you don't miss a single episode of Locked On Patriots, be sure to subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts,

follow us on Spotify, and don't forget that you can always listen to Locked On Patriots right on your own smart device, and it's so easy to do so. Just ask it to play the latest episode of Locked On Patriots. And if you've enjoyed today's podcast, now tell that smart device to play the latest episode of The Draft Dudes. Once again, I am Mike DeBate. I thank your boy Q of Locked On Raiders for his time,

his insight, and his appearance today. But most of all, I thank you so much for listening and for staying locked in to Locked On Raiders for his time, his insight, and his appearance today. But most of all, I thank you so much for listening and for staying locked in to Locked On Patriots. Stay safe, stay well, and have a great day, everyone.