Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Analysis: Can Patriots Shatter Expectations? | Secondary Shakeup

Episode Date: September 1, 2025

Patriots' 2025 Outlook: Can New England Exceed Expectations?Nick Cattles breaks down the New England Patriots' potential for the 2025 NFL season, forecasting the finish. He analyzes the impact of coaching changes, including Mike Vrabel's arrival and Josh McDaniels' return, on the team's performance. Cattles examines roster improvements, highlighting key additions like Stefon Diggs and Will Campbell. The episode covers Christian Gonzalez's injury status, team captain selections, and recent roster moves, providing fans with comprehensive insights into the Patriots' upcoming season.Tune in for an in-depth analysis of how coaching upgrades and player acquisitions could reshape the Patriots' fortunes in 2025.Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOPatriots?sid=YouTubeLocked On NFL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft & More🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNFL#patriots #newenglandpatriotsListener SurveyWe’ve put together a survey to learn more about our listeners and make your favorite podcasts even better. Go tohttps://lockedonpodcasts.com/survey/ to get started. Everyone who completes a survey will be entered for a chance to win one of ten $100 Amazon gift cards.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!DoorDashWith DoorDash Streaks, you save every Saturday you order — stack it up all season and you could save up to $250. Order this Saturday. Keep the streak alive. Fuel your gameday — only with DoorDash. Terms apply. Promo period through 11/18.Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNFL at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnfl for 50% off your first year.UpsideDon’t let this offer drive on by, download the free Upside app now using my limited time promo code TOUCHDOWN for a limited time 25 cent per gallon bonus! Offers vary by user and location, Go to upside.com for terms and conditions.Click Here to download the app: https://getupside.onelink.me/zlLr?af_xp=custom&pid=barrington&c=barrington_lockedon25&deep_link_value=promo&deep_link_sub1=lockedon25&af_dp=upsideapp%3A%2F%2FYahoo FantasyPresented by YahooFantasy #YahooPartner. Draft now at https://yahoofantasy.com/lockedonnfl.PrizePicksDownload the PrizePicks app today and use code LOCKEDONNFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup.GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FanDuelRight now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

It's time to nail down my 2025 prediction for the Pats and tell you how I got there. That's what we started on this episode of Lockdown Patriots. You are Locked on Patriots, your daily New England Patriots podcast, part of the Locked on Podcasts Network, your team every day. What's happening? I'm Nick Cattles, born and raised in New England, also co-host of the, Greg Bedard Patriots podcast with Nick Cattles and a sports talk show host veteran. On today's episode, the sea of change has been swift and significant at one critical level of the defense. And Mike Vrable, the front office, continue to add to the trenches.

But first, it's time to tell you where I have the paths finishing in 2025. We appreciate joining the show, making us your first listen for being in every day. The Lockdown Patriots podcast is a proud partner with Lockdown Podcast Network. your team every day. And today's episode is brought to by Fandul. Right now, new customers can bet just $5. And if your bet wins, you'll get $300 in bonus bets to use across the app. It is time to predict the 2025 season.

I am done waiting. I've seen. I've heard. I've read all that I need to give you my best prediction for this upcoming season. And I think the Patriots will finish at 9 and 8. You might think that's not good enough. You might think that's too good. But I think this is a 9 and 8 football team in the ceiling.

Because you could always predict 9 and 8, but of course, few things change here. Few things change there. Injuries, unknowns. The ceiling for the 25 Patriots, I feel, is 11 wins. And the only way the Patriots get to 11 wins is if everything works out for them. if they stay completely healthy, if some of the teams they face end up being even worse than I think

that some of them are going to be. Somebody explodes like a Travion Henderson. Drake May takes a gigantic leap. The defense is top 10. If everything on God's green earth fell right for this team, I think they could win 11. But I've got them at 9.

So why more? Why more than doubled the wins in 2025 than 2024? Let's start with coaching. Let's start with Mike Vrable, the devils and the details. A lot of close games in the NFL year after year after year. Bruce Nolan of SB Nation wrote, on average, between 50 and 60 percent of NFL games are decided by one score or less in any given season.

And to give you an idea, the Patriots had nine one score games in 2024. So if you have a coach like Mike Vrable, who I respect the heck, out of and I truly believe that he gets his team prepared as good as any coach in football, somebody that pays attention to the details, somebody that understands timeout usage, end of half, end of game situations, when to punt on fourth down, when to go for it on fourth down, how to change game plans week to week if necessary, the rules of the game, all of that stuff. Brable's on top of it.

And if you don't believe me, if you think I'm being a homer, Jeff Howe of the athletic, wrote a column where he spoke to 31 coaches and executives in the league. And one of the questions that Jeff Howe had for these executives was who they thought would exceed expectations this year. Name three teams that will exceed expectations this season. There were 25 responses to this question. The Patriots were number one. The Patriots, along with the Cardinals and the Raiders,

they each got seven boats. We're talking about people that are in the game. We're not talking about a podcast host, a radio host, a local scribe. We're talking about guys and women that are in the game of football. An executive said to Jeff Howe, quote, The Patriots will be super well coached and the division is wide open. Now, I'm not sure the division is wide open because I think Buffalo is the clear leader in the clubhouse for that. But that's an executive in the NFL telling us,

the Patriots are going to be super well coached and it begins with Frable, but it does not end there. How about Josh McDaniels? For my money, one of the best offensive coordinators in the NFL. He has proven that time and again. Even without Tom Brady, he's done a good job in certain situations like Mack Jones and Cam Newton, given those circumstances. And I'm not the only one that feels that way.

Again, I'm not being a homer. And if you think I am, let's go back to that Jeff Howe article in the athletic. 30 responses to the following question. Who are the three best offensive play callers in the NFL? Sean McVeigh finished first with 25 votes, which is just amazing. Kyle Shanahan finished second at 18. Then you had Ben Johnson, Kevin O'Connell, Andy Reid, and then Josh McDaniels. McDaniels was tied with Cliff Kingsbury and Liam Cohen.

Of course, the new head coach down there in Jacksonville was Tampa's play caller a year ago. So according to 30, 30 of the. 31 execs and coaches responded to this question. According to, you know, 30 of these execs and coaches, Josh McDaniels would fit right around six or seven as best play caller in the NFL. And you've got the very best ahead of him. I would not put him ahead of Sean McVay. I wouldn't put him ahead of Kyle Shanahan. I think Kyle Shanahan's issues are more head coach-related third, fourth-down decisions. But I think as a play caller, he's been good. And I know we can always go back to the Falcon Super Bowl. But we're talking about on balance in totality.

Johnson is known as one of the best offensive minds that we have seen coaching offense in a long time. And Kevin O'Connell heavily respected. And obviously, Andy Reed is Andy Reed. So we're talking about the best names. McDaniels is right there. Terrell Williams, new defensive coordinator, has a heck of a reputation. Many believe that he's one of the best coaches in football on that side. And so we'll see if he can be the D.C. that people think he can be. But overall, this staff is qualified. Just tons of qualified people. Doug Morone and Thomas Brown and Todd Downing, McDaniels, Vrable, Williams, loaded coaching staff compared to 2024. Then we look at the talent on the team. Let's talk changes. How about the offensive line? In 2024, your starting left tackle was

Vedarian Lowe. This year, we know who it is. It's Will Campbell. And even if Will Campbell is just average, he's still going to be a significant upgrade over low. Left guard was Michael Jordan, Layden Robinson. Jared Wilson is going to be the answer there, it seems like. And I would give the edge to Jared Wilson, especially as the season progresses. Sensor, you have an issue. David Andrews versus Garrett Bradbury. I think Andrews is better when he's healthy. Bradbury, I have concerns about past protection. So that's one spot out of the three so far.

Right guard. You had Michael Wenu along with Layden Robinson in 2024. Now you have a fully focused coming off a good camp. Michael Wenu, full-time, right guard. I like it. And finally, right tackle, even if Morgan Moses isn't the same guy at 34 years old coming off of an injury and surgery, he's still going to be much, much better than the Montre Jacobs who could not even make the roster this year.

The Montre could not even beat out Marcus Bryant. So the offensive line's better. The wide receiver core is better. Number one wide receiver last year was Pop Douglas. This year, Stefan Diggs goes into your season as the number one guy. you look at number two it was booty versus pop right booty last year pop would be the two guy this year last year wide receiver three you had kendrick born caught like 25 30 passes this year it's going to be a battle between booty and hollins you still have booty or hollins at number four who would

be going against jalen poke from last year i don't even need to talk about that and then you've got kyle williams matched up against kj osborne i would take kyle williams every single day of the week and twice on Sunday, you see what I did there. And then you've got Efton Chisholm the third, don't call me the second or the first, against Taekwon Thornton and Jvon Baker. O lines better. Wide receivers are better.

Travian Henderson has been added to the mix. Then defensively, Carlton Davis, outside cornerback, a cornerback two, one of the better cornerbacks in football, easily one of the best two guys in the league. Your defensive line with the additions of Landry and Milton Williams and Calebon Chase on, who had a spectacular camp.

So your talent's just better. And then finally, you look at the schedule. Let's look at the head coaches. How many coaches do the Patriots face in 2025 that you would say are as good or better than Mike Vrable? I've come up with four names, Pete Carroll, Mike Tomlin, Sean McDermott, and John Harbaugh. That's it.

That's the list. And as a matter of fact, the Patriots, they face either a rookie head coach or a second year head coach five times this year. Aaron Glenn, twice in the division, Brian Callahan, Kellynne Moore, and Dave Canales. You've got one of the best head coaches that I think you will see in this conference

and Mike Vrable. I think many would tell you he's a top 10 coach in football and maybe some would say he's between 10 and 15, but he's right there. And you're going against guys that just are not as good as him, and you're also going against a number of, of first timers slash second timers as far as second year head coaches. So the schedule, and you look at the level of competition, if you want to set it at over

under seven and a half games, wins, if you look at who the Patriots play, they play 10 games against teams with win over unders at seven and a half or worse, four and a half over under Cleveland Browns, five and a half, you get the Saints, Giants, Jets twice, Tennessee, six and a half. the Panthers and Raiders, seven and a half, you got the dolphins and the falcons. 10 of your 17 games against teams that Vegas is telling us probably don't win eight games. So coaching talent schedule, 9 and 8, ceiling of 11 wins. All right, the very latest on, Christian Gonzalez, a ton of changes to the secondary. And we've got your 2025 captains.

All that next is we continue with today's episode of Lockdown Patriots, part of the Lockdown podcast network, your team every day. This episode is presented by Yahoo! Fantasy. The NFL season is right around the corner and you can feel the buzz. Fantasy football season is here. Everyone's researching, drafting, and building their championship squads. If you haven't joined a league yet, well, now's the time and it's all happening on Yahoo! Fantasy.

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Let's start with the not so good. We talked about Christian Gonzalez last week. and had our attention squarely on the practice on Monday, and whether or not Gonzalez was going to show up. And I am here to tell you that Christian Gonzalez's week one is in significant peril. He did not practice on Monday. Mike Vrable said the following about Gonzo, quote, I wouldn't anticipate him out here today.

So hopefully that improves, but he's working hard and trying to improve and he wants to be out there. I think that which is good for us and for Christian and the team is to try not to be frustrated. Obviously, those things happen, and it's how we respond to them. So Gonzalez, not at practice on Monday. Patriots have a day off on Tuesday. Do you think Gonzalez after missing practice since, you know, a month ago, do you think him being out of practice for four or five weeks that he's going to be able to parachute in on a Wednesday, get a couple of days of running around and be ready for week one on Sunday? I find it hard to believe. I guess it's possible, as KG told us, anything is possible at one point, right?

So I guess it's possible, but I would find it very, very, very unlikely that Gonzalez plays in week one, which begs the question, is this a surprise? Because when you look at the original reports, as soon as Gonzalez left practice with an injury, it came out rather quickly that the Patriots felt like it wasn't a serious issue and that he would be available for week one here we are on the precipice of week one still hasn't practiced yet and so coach rabel was asked if gonzalez had a setback and he said quote well it just hasn't gone and then he paused it just hasn't gone pause you know again he's working hard and whether it's again we could say this one injury is going to be three to four weeks one's going to be one to two everybody heals

differently. I think it's pretty clear when Mike Vrable says, well, it just hasn't gone and then stops himself. I would just imagine you could complete that sentence and say, it hasn't gone to plan. It just hasn't gone to plan or it just hasn't gone the way we thought it would go. It just hasn't gone the way we hoped it would go. But Vrable did not finish that sentence for a reason. And if you look at Gonzalez and you wonder, did he put the work in? Is this a guy who just wasn't ready for the season. He worked his tail off in the offseason. He added Pilates reportedly to his offseason regimen to even work on the flexibility

and the pliability a la Tom Brady. And it just, it feels like this one is a tough break for Gonzalez and a tough break for the team. And with Gonzalez not out there right now, it really underlines the massive changes we've seen in this defensive backfield. you look at the safety position you are now going to start it seems like from what we understand Jalen Hawkins and Craig Woodson those two guys will be your starting safeties different right last year obviously it was it was Dugger it was peppers Hawkins got some time he got some snaps didn't really stand out was okay but now you've got Hawkins starting and you've got the rookie

Woodson starting. Then you look at outside cornerback. You go from Christian Gonzalez and Jonathan Jones. If Gonzalez is out this week, you would have Alex Austin and Carlton Davis. Now, of course, Austin has been in New England. He's gotten snaps before. But still, it's different. You go from Gonzalez and Jones to Austin and Davis. So now you have, you know, two new starting safeties, two new starting outside corners if Gonzalez is out. You wonder where Marcus Jones fits in. He's played some slot he's played some nickel back during joint practices and during camp he has been outmatched at certain times because of his size he has been taken advantage of by tight ends more specifically t j hawkinson made his life miserable during the second viking's joint

practice against the patriots and jones it's not because he doesn't try it's not because he's not even good at coverage it's it's mostly when when he gets beat he gets beat because he's just not big enough to compete with some of the guys that he's facing. So Marcus Jones, to me, it's interesting. I'm not really sure how he, you know, is a part of this equation defensively on a consistent basis. I don't know if he's going to be, but I will tell you one thing about Marcus Jones. He's a captain.

And I think he's the most unexpected captain. Monday's practice, Mike Vrable announced the captains to the team. team then sent out a social media post and Marcus Jones was on the list. Kind of surprising. Taylor Kyle's from CLNS noted that Vrable said Jones's leadership was, you know, one of the main reasons why he's a captain, also consistent on the field this offseason. Mike Reese wrote that Jones said he was surprised to learn he was voted a captain, describing himself as someone who leads by example.

So we had the question of, hey, if Jabryl Peppers is no longer here, which he isn't, who's going to be the alpha, who's going to be the voice? And if you look at the captains, Marcus Jones would be that leader. But even Jones says he's not necessarily a big voice in the room. He leads by example. Some other notes about the captains for 2025. Hunter Henry's on the list. Now, this isn't as surprising, but it is interesting that he's now been a captain for a different staffs in New England.

He's been leaned on by different staffs, which I think tells you a lot about Hunter Henry as a leader, his leadership skills, his maturity, just super dependable, super dependable. The other captains that we got, Drake May,

not a surprise. I mean, pretty much every starting quarterback is a captain for their team. So it's not really a surprise that Drake was named a captain. Robert Spillane, again, not really a surprise if you watch the latest Forged in Foxborough episode. I mean, my goodness, they talked a ton about Robert Spillane. They followed him home and you watched him with his children and his wife. He's the quarterback of the defense.

He was a captain before getting to New England. So Spillane being a captain's not that much of a shock. Harold Landry on the defensive line, that's interesting because it's not Milton Williams. And it's not Christian Barmore. It's Harold Landry, but you can understand that, the experience. special teams was pretty obvious. It was Brennan Scholar. He's an all pro.

He's your best special teams player. So those are your captains. May, Spillane, Landry, Scholar, Jones, and Henry. I just mentioned Gibral Peppers. Well, the Gibral Pepper's mystery continues. While Mike Vrable in the front office add not one, not two, but three new names to this team that could impact 2025.

That's next as we continue with today's episode of Lockdown Patriots. part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. The NFL season is almost here, and Fandul is making sure you're ready for kickoff with a can't miss offer. Right now, new customers can bet just $5, and if your bet wins, you'll get $300 in bonus bets to use across the app. I mean, I love using Fandual. It fits however you like to bet, player props, building a same game parlay, or even

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are getting paid just to make their daily commutes. And you can't too. Plus, you can cash out any time to your bank account, PayPal or an e-gift car for Amazon and other brands. Don't let this offer drive on by now. Download the free upside app using my limited time promo code touchdown for a limited time 25 cent per gallon bonus. That's promo. code touchdown offers vary by user and location go to upside.com for terms and conditions you know I'm not sure I'm not confident if we'll ever get a straight answer on the gibral pepper's decision made by Mike Vrable and company and you know if you look at what Vrable had to say before Monday's practice he was asked about releasing Jibrill peppers and

According to Evan Lizar, Vrable said, quote, these are tough decisions, got a lot of respect for Drabil as a person and a player, unquote. And then Vrable went on to downplay the scheme fit narrative because a lot of people, including myself, wondered, was this just a scheme thing? Was Peppers just a bad fit for this scheme? Now, I said, I found it hard to believe that Peppers would be gone because of scheme fit, given Anthony Jennings and Kyle Dugger are still in town. and Pepper's he's a veteran he's an experienced guy

and you would think if Duggers a bad fit then he would go then you think about the money go but then you think Jennings bad fit supposedly and you would think he would go he's not making a ton of money but Vrable said this is this is not a scheme thing

and Pepper's also kind of jumped on the pile here via social media He posted on Monday going nine years in this league. I've had seven head coaches and six defensive coordinators, LOL. There is no scheme you can place me in where I won't find a way to be effective. Now, Mike Reese also had some more information on the Pepper's release. Reese wrote over the weekend that one front office source from an NFL team said Pepper's name had come up in trade discussions earlier in August. So the Patriots decision to cut ties with Peppers did not come as a surprise.

prize to that team. Reese then question, could the Patriots have fit Peppers into their plans in more of a nitro? Absolutely. Would Peppers have been okay with that? That's less clear at this point. And I feel like I'm going to stand by what I said during our breaking news episode right before the holiday weekend.

We went through all the possible options as to why Peppers would be released. And I just feel it's most likely having to do with a disagreement about the role. and not necessarily the scheme, but the role that the coaching staff wanted Peppers to play. Peppers is, you know, he's getting older. He doesn't have a ton of time left in the league. And he might just say, hey, look, I want the opportunity to be a top two safety for my team. I want to start. I have earned the right to start.

And I would agree with Peppers on that. And, you know, that's my place. That's what I want to be. And I think that's the most likely answer here. but I don't know if we'll ever get a straight answer. Meanwhile, one of the things you've got to question with Pepper's now gone, does the defensive backfield lack a playmaking element? I mean, you could look across and say, all right, well,

you know, Jalen Hawkins is steady. He's not really a big playmaker. Craig Woodson, as I think it was Mike Giardi wrote last week, Woodson's been around the football a lot during camp, but he hasn't made a ton of plays on the football. And so do they have that playmate? making peace on that back end, especially at safety. I think that's a question.

I also wonder, you know, the good vibes. And I know good vibes don't win you football games. Good vibes don't make you championship level. But there is something to be said that Kendrick Bourne and Jabro Peppers were two of the good vibes guys in the locker room. They were always keeping things upbeat. They were always facing the reporters. they always brought energy to the team.

And I'm not saying that can't be replaced. It just has to be replaced because those two guys did bring the good vibes and energy even during seasons when the team absolutely stunk. And there's something to be said for that for sure. So Peppers is gone. That means you had to replace him on the 53-man roster. This is something we questioned during the breaking news episode. And the guy who replaces Peppers is defensive.

tackle Eric Gregory. He was claimed from Cincinnati, and I would imagine this tells us all that the Patriots coaching staff feel that defensive line is more important than linebacker, or they just don't think anybody is good enough to pick up that linebacker, and they believe in Eric Gregory. Now, who is Eric Gregory? Taylor Kyle's of CLNS posted that Gregory lined up. Try that again. Gregory, I can't say it. Gregory lined up at multiple IDL spots this preseason, tongue twister.

Gregory's ability to hold his ground and knife into backfields versus the run, and he flashed as a penetrator and looper online games. Evan Lazar wrote that Gregory is known for being a gap control, defensive tackle, who can stop the run. And that's a question that we've had about the interior defensive line. will they be able to consistently stop the run? They're going to ask Milton Williams to play more snaps than he played in Philadelphia. And so this is a little bit of insurance with Eric Gregory. And that's not it. Not the only addition.

I've been saying over the past week or two that I would love more veteran offensive line options. And the Patriots added two NFL veteran offensive linemen. Tackle Thayer, Munford, Jr. signed to the practice squad. Patriots released Jack Conley, who was more of a guard than tackle. Mark Daniels wrote that Munford spent the last three seasons in Vegas, played 68 snaps at right tackle, 245 snaps at left tackle. And of course, because he was in Vegas, he played two seasons with Josh McDaniels, or at least a year and a half.

So he played left tackle, he played right tackle. He's played, you know, just 900. plus snaps, a thousand snaps in the NFL over the past three seasons. Evan Lazar posted that Mumford played some right tackle and was used as a sixth offensive lineman and tackle eligible packages. So you could see Munford play that role. But the Patriots weren't done. Mike Reese reported that the Patriots signed Brendan James to the practice squad and released

Alec Lindstrom. James played at Nebraska was a fifth round pick of the Chargers in 2021. appeared in 46 games, three starts with L.A. So again, you have, you have more connections. Munford with McDaniels. You've got, obviously, James with Thomas Brown and Stretch. And Mark Daniels wrote, according to Pro Football Focus, James has played 241 snaps at center, eight at left guard, eight at right guard.

So more center than guard, but he's at least sprinkled in eight snaps at each guard position. And he signed with the Titans this offseason, and he was released as part of the final roster cut. So the Patriots continue to add, and you've got limited options at this time of year. You've got to try to get the best that you can get. All right, that wraps up this edition of Lockdown Patriots. Thank you for making us your first listen and for being an everydayer.

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