Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - New England Patriots: Biggest Problem? Should Coach Jerod Mayo be on the Hot Seat? Roster “Keepers”

Starting point is 00:00:00 The New England Patriots have serious problems to solve, but what is their biggest problem area? Stick around, you're about to be locked in to the Locked On Patriots Podcast. You are Locked On Patriots, your daily New England Patriots podcast. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your team every day. Hello to all of you, Foxborough faithful. And thank you once again for making Locked On Patriots a daily part of your New England Patriots coverage. I'm your host, Mike DeBate.

Starting point is 00:00:36 I cover your New England Patriots for Patriots Country. Reach out to me. Let me know what's on your mind on X at MDABATENFL. You can find me where the skies are blue over on Blue Sky at MDABATENFL.BSKY.SOCIAL. And Pats fans, today's episode is brought to you by GameTime. Download the GameTime app, create an account, and use the code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Pats fans, thanks so much for joining us here today. We have an intriguing show on tap for you

Starting point is 00:01:09 on this Tuesday episode of Locked On Patriots as we continue to wallow in the mire of the Pats 30-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. I think we all have to acknowledge this defeat brought a lot of the Pats' biggest problems into glaring light yeah they were big before they got even bigger on Sunday is it coaching is it offense is it defense ownership special teams whatever you may think is the Patriots biggest problem that's what we're going

Starting point is 00:01:36 to talk about here today what is the biggest Patriots problem right now and for some of you that question may actually lead into whether or not gerard mayo head coach of your new england patriots deserves to be on the hot seat yeah sunday was not the best of days for gerard without any question but was this loss enough to legitimately put his job in jeopardy and last but certainly not least because we love to end on a high note we're going to be talking patriots must keeps yeah that's right folks you've heard of must-haves we're going to do must keeps those players on the patriots current roster that need to be there when they start things up in 2025 and of course i say we because those of you viewing on youtube can already see those of you listening i have a special treat for

Starting point is 00:02:21 you we missed them on monday but tuesday has now become tremendous tuesday the legend himself my good friend the kind of murphy fisto thomas murphy joins me today thank you so much for coming to me today and friendship on murph tremendous how about twisted oh you know what to each their own we love alliteration you twisted tuesday tumultuous tuesday tumultuous you know you know tumultuous Tuesday. Tumultuous Tuesday. You know, tumultuous Tuesday. How about that? You know, yeah, another head scratcher.

Starting point is 00:02:53 I get it, and I really do. And a lot of people are coming down on Alex Van Pelt right now for his play calling around the goal line over the weekend. And, you know, I've said it here. Mike said Mike's reiterated it. Spread it out and give Drake May an opportunity to find a run lane to get into the end zone when you're inside the five. Look, Alex, I'm not questioning you. I'm not saying that you should dive Drake May

Starting point is 00:03:20 over the top for two yards to get into the end zone, although I would. But, you know, it's a weapon that you're ignoring. All right? Right now, I don't care if you're pulling for a better draft

Starting point is 00:03:41 slot than you have, or anything else. It wins and losses are, are really, it doesn't matter anymore. What, what you have to be able to do is, is continue to develop and grow Drake May,

Starting point is 00:03:57 which you've done a very good job of. You really have. I, I couldn't, I couldn't be happier. I was one of those guys at the beginning of the year where I thought this kid was going to have to sit the entire year. I thought, you know, last Sunday would be his first game. He went out and proved himself early enough to get an earlier shot at it and for the

Starting point is 00:04:17 most part has looked very good as a rookie. But you have got to be able to let him decipher what he's looking at and make a choice. Excellent point. I like that. So that leads me quite nicely into my question for you today. Do you believe this is the biggest problem for the New England Patriots right now? Maybe a little bit of lack of leadership on the coaching bench or a lack of, as the late great Gorilla Monsoon would say, intestinal fortitude on the coach's bench to put this game in the hands of drake may is that something that you believe is hindering this team right now from

Starting point is 00:04:49 maybe being a little more successful than their 311 record is it hindering this team sure it is but it's not the biggest problem the the biggest problem is the trenches we cannot run the ball okay we cannot block we cannot pass block and we cannot stop the run. We, I'm sorry. Sorry. I hate when I do that, but the Patriots cannot run the ball. They cannot pass block. They cannot stop the run. And it's terrible. And it all starts in the trenches. I've said it for years and years that you build, you build from the trenches. And right now, this team couldn't block a sneeze. Yeah. It's amazing to think about this New England Patriots team and how many years this team won battles in the trenches.

Starting point is 00:05:35 That's where they beat teams, maybe even more talented teams, maybe even, dare I say, better teams on paper. Because they were so solid, not just on the offensive line on the defensive line right i'm going to get into that in just a moment but i do think the offensive line needs to be addressed here murph because i think you're absolutely right on this point it is their most glaring need you saw this on sunday it really left off the screen if you were watching this game at home but darian lowe gets beat for a sack gets beat for a tackle for a loss. It's inexcusable. It really is, man. To go in there with your head down and just completely whiff the way that this kid did on Sunday is inexcusable.

Starting point is 00:06:14 Yeah, absolutely. A very rough game for Darian all the way around. Ended up allowing two quarterback pressures and missed on three attempts to stop the run. You can't do that if you're a left tackle, especially when you're protecting a valuable young quarterback, a cornerstone, a must keep, if you will, folks. But it goes beyond just for Darian. I don't want to just come at this and say the Patriots left tackle position is terrible.

Starting point is 00:06:37 That line needs an overhaul. And you've been saying it for months here on Locked On Patriots, beyond weeks. This has gone back into the summer, telling us about the deficiencies along this line. Bladen Robinson had an up-and-down game, but you cannot be flagged when your team is driving on your first drive, put points on the board, put these Arizona Cardinals on their heels.

Starting point is 00:06:57 That could have been huge. That was a momentum killer, as I called it here on Locked On Patriots yesterday. Ben Brown, we've been seeing his praises. Oh, come on. He has two low yesterday. Ben Brown, we've been seeing his praises. He has two low snaps. 50-something years old, man, and I can keep the ball off the turf. Shotgunning a ball to a

Starting point is 00:07:15 quarterback. Come on. It's 101. I understand that Ben Brown's a guy off the street, but get it done. The opposite side, the right side of Michael Wenu and Montre Jacobs, they weren't as bad, but still not great. Michael Wenu, I think, has regressed. The biggest problem with the offensive line is depth,

Starting point is 00:07:37 and you're seeing the depth being asked to go out there and play starter snaps, and they can't do it. Murph, we're not only seeing regression on the field when it comes to the offense we're seeing regression on the field when it comes to the defense this was a top 10 defense last year top four against the run at last check the new england patriots went from 9th to 30th in dboa this season i know they've had personnel issues there as well. Christian Barmore being out was a huge problem there. Say what you will.

Starting point is 00:08:08 I know Matthew Judon isn't exactly having the season of his life in Atlanta, but this is a guy that played solid for you. In the New England Patriots system, every time he was out there, they're missing that presence. I think Keon White is giving a great effort. I think he's out of gas. He looks like he's been called upon to do more than he's capable of at this point. And I think right now it's unfair, you know, all the pressure that's been put on his shoulders, but guys like Anthony Jennings, guys like Jelani Tavai, guys

Starting point is 00:08:34 like Daniel Aquale, these guys played at an optimal level last season and they're not playing at an optimal level this year. That's a big surprise to me as well. Maybe not their biggest problem, but maybe their biggest surprise. Yeah, well, you know, Gerard Mayo has been passing the buck and then backing it off when it comes to the offense. You know, he seems to almost coddle DeMarcus Covington. Demarcus Covington is a fine defensive line coach, which surprises me as to how poor this defensive line is playing. But he's not a coordinator. He's not. This team misses

Starting point is 00:09:20 that coordinator. And Gerard Mayo wasn't the coordinator either last year that was that was steve belichick steve belichick was out there making play calls he was a a guiding force over there i wasn't in the i wasn't in the practice room i wasn't in the film room with the defense no i'm not going to say that so i'm not sure what mayo how much charge mayo took on that side of the ball because on sunday afternoons it it sure looked like it was Steve Belichick's call. Steve's not here. Steve's out West. Steve's getting ready to head to Carolina. And and that is sorely missed.

Starting point is 00:09:57 OK, the the the the crafts really messed up in in alienating him out the door. I realize that there's still one Belichick in the building, and he's not doing a fantastic job, but he's not doing as poor a job as Demarcus Covington. Change needs to happen this offseason with this coaching staff. I'm not sure that it needs to happen with Alex Van Pelt. I really don't. I think that they've, line is, what wide receivers to go after. And also, but on the defensive side of the ball, there's no excuse when you have everybody back.

Starting point is 00:10:55 And these guys cannot eat up space, shed blocks, and stop guys from getting to the second level. Very good point. All good points, folks. And unless I'm misunderstanding you, Murph, it sounds like coaching may end up being the biggest problem for the New England Patriots right now. Look, we all know that this is a rookie head coach with a relatively inexperienced staff. However, there is a level of accountability and continuity that you need in the coach's room when you're trying to rebuild. Do the Patriots have the right pieces in place?

Starting point is 00:11:26 Is the primary piece in place the right choice? Should he be on the hot seat? As always, there's more than meets the eye when it comes to this situation. Murph and I are going to discuss whether the new HC of the NEP deserves to be on the hot seat when this episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast continues, a proud part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team, every day. Locked On listeners, nothing captures the holiday spirit quite like live sports and entertainment, and Game Time is focused on togetherness this holiday season.

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Starting point is 00:14:06 State Farm Stadium. Folks, we've talked about this from an X's and O's standpoint, but I think this loss brought into sharp contrast a lot of the difficulties that the New England Patriots have had all season, and maybe it magnified quite a few of them. Murph, in the previous segment, we talked about offensive struggles, defensive struggles, communication struggles. Ultimately, all those arrows point back at the coaching staff. So it's a logical next step to believe that the coaching staff may be the Patriots' biggest problem. Not necessarily that these are bad coaches, but just maybe inexperienced for the type of rebuild that they were asked to lead.

Starting point is 00:14:44 A lot of fans were very frustrated by the product that they saw on the field on Sunday. I warned about this back in August when the schedule was released, and I said that I had this game circle was one of the most important games for the Patriots on this schedule because I wanted to see how they were coming out of a late bye. We knew they probably wouldn't be in contention by this point, maybe even eliminated from the playoffs. They are do they come out strong do they come out playing hard are they giving every effort we didn't see that on sunday and that is a direct correlation to the motivation they're getting in the coach's room so that leads me to believe

Starting point is 00:15:20 that there is a disconnect this is not just about the level of play that we see on the field. This is about a lack of motivation that the players are feeling to go out there and give their best effort. So in that vein, if the coach's room, led by Gerard Mayo, is not doing their job up to capacity, does that mean that this coaching staff, including Mayo, deserves to be on the hot seat? Oh yeah, without a doubt. You know, Gerard Mayo's been on my hot seat since the day he sat down next to Thunder. And they announced that he was going to be the head coach. All right.

Starting point is 00:15:56 I told you all, man, it's a hell of a lot different sitting in the catbird seat, wearing the crown, than being the assistant coach and being everybody's buddy and walking around telling you know rkk i could do it better i can do it you can't okay you've proved that you can't uh even though this offense has um has performed better than last year i think they're averaging you know two or three points more a game okay but you you know when when you go into an off season and you say if we we only had um decent line play if we only had decent play from the quarterback position and you end up with this okay it's terrible um you know the the regression on the side of the ball that that he grew up, okay, you know, as a player,

Starting point is 00:16:46 not really as a coach because his coaching experience is about as limited as anybody that you could possibly imagine. He wasn't, like I said, he wasn't even a defensive coordinator. This was not my first choice for this job. Now the question is, do you want to become the Cleveland Browns? Okay, do you want to become the Cleveland Browns? Okay. Do you want to become one of those teams that just completely recycles GM, quarterback, and head coach year after year after year?

Starting point is 00:17:18 And no, you don't. So I don't think the Crafts are going to make a move and move them out, but they should. Okay. think that uh the crafts are going to make a move and move them out but they should okay there's a there's an opportunity right now to go out there and uh and interview people and and bring somebody with a fresh take in here i i do i still do not know why um people keep clamoring for mike vrabel to come in here um what what did mike vrabel ever do in tennessee one of the weakest divisions in football while he was coaching there he didn't win a lot what gets me is is that people keep talking about mike grable and how he's a taskmaster and a hard ass that's who you just drove out of here boston media that's who you just drove out of, and now you're saying that's the answer? No, I'd look out to Washington's head coach.

Starting point is 00:18:07 I'd beg Josh McDaniels to come back in some way, shape, or form. Maybe Josh would come back if Rabel was the head coach. But no, last year, I wanted Flo. I wanted Flo to come in here and run this. He had experience as a head coach. I thought he did a pretty good job down there in Miami, and I thought he would have taken that to the next step. But no, the Crafts decided to go with the guy who went to Israel with them

Starting point is 00:18:32 and was quite impressive and learned how to coach in a boardroom. So, you know, you get what you get. But no, he should be on the hot seat. I don't think he is. Yeah, I don't think he is either. I think for the crafts to admit that they jettisoned and let's face it folks that's exactly what happened we've seen robert craft now make a couple of slip-ups and admit that it was indeed his decision to let go of bill

Starting point is 00:18:56 belichick the mutual parting of ways narrative does not really hold up anymore um i think for them to admit that they made the wrong decision and clean house would be disastrous for this franchise yeah because again like you said it's regressing them into one of the also rands in the nfl yep oh it's broke we got to fix it right away tear it down build a new one and you have that consistent carousel of ked coaches i'm not saying don't do it but you got to hit a home run with this next swing. You've got to. It's three balls, two strikes, and you've got to hit a home run with this next swing. Otherwise, that's the road that you're going to go down. If we do indeed believe that Mayo is not

Starting point is 00:19:38 on the hot seat, then my question to you is, Murph, what beyond just being a rookie head coach and needing more time and maybe needing additional personnel, have you seen from Gerard Mayo that leads you to believe this guy can be what we want him to be? Maybe he's not there yet. Maybe we threw him out there and put his feet to the fire far too quickly. But is there a spark there that you see that leads you to believe that he can be a solid head coach in this league if such and such happens? If you get a little good feeling stuff happening, he is kind of a rah-rah guy. He is kind of a slap you on the butt kind of guy. I do believe that he connects with the ball players uh that are in that locker room uh it just hasn't translated and that that you know goes goes back to talent

Starting point is 00:20:33 when if he has the talent and and gets a little success under his belt i think he's somebody that can keep momentum going um but there hasn't really been a lot of momentum. There really hasn't been a ton of good feeling in that building this year. And, you know, it's really difficult, like I said, from being everybody's friend to having to be the bad guy. It's also, you know, I mean, the way that this team, you know, top to bottom from Robert Kraft to Mayo, walked around with their chests pumped out and, you know, we're going to go and we're going to burn some cash and we're going to, you know, the whole list, you know, from the documentary to everything else.

Starting point is 00:21:25 I don't know how you move along in a positive way, but they're going to have to figure something out. And like I said, I think Mayo has the respect of the players, but I don't think the players that he has available to him right now can execute in the way that he needs them to. There needs to be a serious upgrade. I think with an upgrade in talent, he can be a good coach. Yeah, and I think a lot of Patriots fans believe that.

Starting point is 00:21:56 I know there's a lot of frustration right now when it comes to Gerard Mayo. And look, I will give him the benefit of the doubt when it comes to that. This team is devoid of talent. I said that yesterday here on Lockdown Patriots. No one's questioning that. There are a tremendous amount of holes that need to be filled in order for this team to even be competent, let alone a contender. So you always look at what the head coach has to work with and you say, okay, well,

Starting point is 00:22:19 he inherited a bad roster. If you want to believe that, fine. I think he inherited more talent than people are giving him credit for. at the same time this unit is not designed to work together it needs to be molded in his image so if you want to give him time to be able to do that i'm fully in support of you're going to run out of time though exactly and here's where i think that goes off the rails that's the impression you're giving to your fans and to the media i know it shouldn't count but it does count murph it absolutely does and when you hear him make comments like you said it i didn't about your offensive coordinator at the podium you hear him call his team soft the way he did

Starting point is 00:22:55 a couple of months ago it sends the wrong message it damages your image and again it declares open season on this coaching staff and on this organization from the media and the fan base. You need to do a much better job running this team and keeping that focus on you, on the field, and on winning. Anytime you have any type of distraction like this, especially for a 3-11 team, it's going to make matters 10 times worse. And you're seeing that right now. Gerard Mayo said back in August that Alex Van Pelt is the offensive head coach here. And it just seems like he has taken no accountability for the power that he has to change the direction in play calling.

Starting point is 00:23:39 Right. I thought it was a very unfortunate statement. We could change the name of Monday's show to Walk It Back Monday. All right? You would just walk back whatever Gerard said the day before because that's become the theme. I don't think he's handled the media very well. I don't think he's handled it. Another thing that I warned you about, this was the transparency that you all wanted okay you wanted a you wanted a head coach that spoke his mind and i think he did speak his mind i think in the back of his head he was

Starting point is 00:24:15 thinking you know why don't we run drake in from here and um but he left it up to alex van pelt and that's the way it is and i think it was very unfortunate that he did that to alex van pelt and that's the way it is and i think it was very unfortunate that he did that to alex van pelt on um behind the podium no matter what he said on monday morning yeah exactly i mean monday morning quarterbacking is always good for walking i like that walk it back monday i think you know we might use that murph we're going to keep that on exactly but at the same time you're seeing that repeatedly and you can't have that you are the head coach now for better or for worse rookie head coaches are going to make mistakes no question about it not just on the field but when it comes to missteps and miscommunications and things of that nature

Starting point is 00:24:55 but you have to remember that you're the guy now the accountability is yours the buck stops at your desk and if you continue to cultivate this team image in this manner, it makes people think there's no control. You've got guys on the team right now that are laughing and smiling post-game after a loss. You've got a head coach that's doing a radio appearance on Monday morning laughing and joking after what was a pretty bad loss to the Arizona Cardinals. All of it promotes a bad image. And for lack of a better term, you need to learn that you need to be able to do that. So I think for Gerard to make that next step, there not only needs to be an improvement on the product you're seeing on the field and a much needed upgraded roster, but I think he has to do a better job

Starting point is 00:25:42 of accepting the full accountability for the image of this team because as head coach it's all on you right and it only hurts uh 2025 it really does absolutely if you do want to make any coaching changes and you're keeping gerard mayo as the head coach all right what head what coordinator is going to want to come here when this is what gets said about them on the podium afterwards what what what players are going to want to come here when this is what gets said about them on the podium afterwards what what what players are going to want to come here when they're going to hear what they had a bad well we're soft okay i said it before that's okay to say in the locker room or say in a meeting room it's not okay to stay to say um standing behind the podium yeah and um I can't believe it.

Starting point is 00:26:25 You know, there are a lot of people in this town who are wishing that we were on to Cincinnati. No, we're on to Cincinnati. You know, that's it. But this is it, folks. This is what you asked for. And that leads me quite nicely into our wrap-up discussion today here on Locked On Patriots. Murph, you know we like to end on a high note. And that's exactly what we're going to do, because it's been a lot of negativity

Starting point is 00:26:46 so far on this tumultuous Tuesday. It went from terrific Tuesday to tumultuous Tuesday, folks, but we're going to redeem it a little bit in just a moment, because we're going to talk about those players currently on the roster that the Patriots should do everything they can to retain. It's a little too easy to say

Starting point is 00:27:02 Drake May and Christian Gonzalez, so we're going to leave them off the table. We know they're your cornerstones, but what other Patriots absolutely need to be back. If this team's going to make a step forward in 2025, Murph and I are going to reveal our choices on the matter. When this episode of the lockdown Patriots podcast wraps up right here on the lockdown podcast network,

Starting point is 00:27:22 your team every day. Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Locked On listeners, it's that time of year. The college football playoff is back, and with the newly expanded 12-team format, it's guaranteed to be bigger and better than ever, bringing you all the hard-hitting and high-flying excitement that you love. TNT sports coverage of the college football playoff begins December 21st, starting with the college football playoff kickoff show presented by AT&T at 11 a.m. Eastern. That leads into our first matchup, the Southern Methodist University Mustangs

Starting point is 00:27:58 battling the Penn State Nittany Lions at noon. Then the Clemson Tigers look to upset the Texas Longhorns in a showdown at 4 p.m. Eastern. Don't miss a moment of the action. Watch the college football playoff presented by Allstate live on TNT, TruTV, TBS, and Max. Patriots fans, thank you once again for joining us here today on Locked on Patriots on this tum you once again for joining us here today on Locked on Patriots on this tumultuous or terrific Tuesday, depending on your perspective.

Starting point is 00:28:29 And joining me today is my good friend Thomas Murphy, the legend himself, backed by popular demand. Murph, we've talked a lot of negatives when it comes to the New England Patriots so far. We've talked about their biggest problems. We've discussed whether or not Gerard Mayo and this entire coaching staff deserves to be on the hot seat but as nathan jessup would say murph there are certain players where even deep down in the soul of patriots nation and places we don't like to talk about at parties there are players that we want on that wall we need on that wall and we're gonna need them on that wall in foxborough or on that hill that they have to run on the practice field in order to bring this team forward and help them make a step forward in 2025.

Starting point is 00:29:13 Quarterback Drake May, absolutely cornerstone, essential for this team moving forward. He's your franchise quarterback, folks. You've got a franchise defender in Christian Gonzalez at the cornerback position on the opposite side of the ball. So let's put them aside. They're your two pedestal players right now, but this roster is full of guys that may deserve a shot or may not deserve a shot. Who on this team right now would you say is a must keep meaning the Patriots have to have of next year in order to progress in 2025. Antonio Gibson.

Starting point is 00:29:48 Very good choice. More Gibson, more better. Gibson had another phenomenal day. He had two receptions for 31 yards. He had, what, seven carries for 33 yards. When he's on the field, you're able to do so much more now i'm not getting on ramondre although you know we could for down at the goal line i'm sorry you're the number one back you're getting paid all this money you're the guy that's supposed to get in there even though the blocks aren't there okay you can't go into a goal line uh sideways all right um but no antonio gibson is one

Starting point is 00:30:24 and the other one that i'm going to give you it's also on the offensive side which is you know sideways. All right. But no, Antonio Gibson is one. And the other one that I'm going to give you, it's also on the offensive side, which is, you know, really scary. Austin Hooper. Very good choice. I think Austin Hooper has had a fantastic year. Toss out there to Clazzy Claire Cooper, you know, with Austin Hooper. Hooper drives the boat, Murph. Maybe he will be driving the boat in 2025.

Starting point is 00:30:47 No, all kidding aside. I think Austin's been, I think he's been excellent. You're seeing that pass catching prowess, that ability to work the middle part of the field. This is what they brought him in for. This is why I was a big proponent of bringing him in a few years ago.

Starting point is 00:31:00 I thought this kid coming in here could be a major upgrade and a big help for this tight endage group. He has done a great job. So tip of the cap on both of those, especially on Antonio Gibson, because I love this kid's running style. And the more you see of him, the more you realize what a perfect fit he is in what the Patriots are trying to do with outside zone.

Starting point is 00:31:19 Honestly, I think he may be even a better fit in this system than Ramondre. And I think Ramondre is a better fit in this system than Ramondre. And I think Ramondre is a great fit in this system. That's taking nothing away from Ramondre Stevenson. But Gibson's ability to receive out of the backfield may give him a little bit of a nod. So you've got a good one-two punch there when it comes to the running back room. I'm going to stay on offense, and I'm going to go with my man Hunter Henry. I think Hunter has been an invaluable part of what this team has done offensively this year whenever drake has needed someone to calm down uh to be a go-to guy a reliable target hunter is always there um i've

Starting point is 00:31:52 been very impressed by the upgrades this kid has shown with blocking i've covered him oh yeah rookie uh back into the time when i was on the chargers beat and covering him out in l.a blocking was never going to be a strong suit of hunter hen, and he's still got a ways to go. It's not a weakness anymore. Thank you. I'm so glad that you said that. Very well said. He's really turned this part of his game into something

Starting point is 00:32:13 that now he can be relied upon to throw a block or two. He knows the team needed it and needed it desperately and stepped up. This is what a captain does. This is what a solid leader does, and I think Hunter has been that. I also want to give him a tip of the cap. He totaled 61 receptions with a catch on Sunday. That is a new career high. His previous career high was in 2020 with the LA Chargers. I was no longer covering him with the bolts, but glad to see him in New England. And I hope he remains in New England for the foreseeable future he's going to eclipse a single season receiving yards as well he only needs 18 yards to do that I think he gets it this week against the Buffalo Bills uh he currently has 635 so good luck Hunter we need something to smile about when this game takes place on Sunday uh between the Bills and the Patriots so uh hopefully Hunter getting that record will be that moment. But Murph, conspicuous by their absence,

Starting point is 00:33:07 you haven't mentioned any must-keeps on the defensive side of the ball. Before we take our leave of this subject, is there anybody on defense other than Christian Gonzalez that you say needs to be here in 2025? You know, of course, Christian Barmore. Yeah. I'm going to take the easy way out here, folks. I'm sorry.

Starting point is 00:33:27 No, it's okay. Christian Barmore needs to come back. Devin Gottschall needs to come back. You know, it's a little hypocritical of me after I took these guys to task earlier in the game. Gottschall did have six tackles. Barmore, I think, is still working his way back. He missed so much time that, yeah, of course, and he's under a huge contract. Unfortunately, the guys that I named on the offensive side of the ball are

Starting point is 00:33:55 not. They're not extended. This is the only year that's on their deal. I don't think Hooper's signed for next year. He's not. he's not he's on one he's not yeah so and you know so is gibson i think it's going to be a little bit difficult because antonio gibson once again has shown people that you know you give him the opportunity he is going to come in and uh and take advantage of it and do good things yeah i do not blame you one bit for going with Christian Barmore on the defensive side of the ball.

Starting point is 00:34:27 I almost put him up there as a pedestal player, especially knowing what the Patriots defense looked like before Christian came back. And now what it looks like is he's getting his legs back. So I agree with you there. God, I think is a very good choice. I'm going to throw Marcus Jones name into the hat as well.

Starting point is 00:34:42 Look, Marcus has had his issues in the slot. I know a lot of people are worried about his size being undersized when it comes to being a slot defender, but this kid speed makes up for it. Taking out what he does for you in the return game, which is dynamic, right? I really think there is a solid corner when it comes to this kid. Once again, these are players that may not already not be going anywhere, but just players that Murph and I are identifying as you need to keep them, do anything you can to make sure

Starting point is 00:35:08 they're happy and healthy here in New England, because you're going to need them on the field moving forward. Folks, who are your must keeps? We'd love to hear from you. If you're viewing us on YouTube, drop us a comment in the section below. If you are listening on the various platforms on which you can listen to Locked On Patriots, drop us a line at LO underscore Patriots on X, and you can let us know

Starting point is 00:35:29 exactly who you'd like to see stick around and mention that you heard it here on Locked On Patriots. But in the meantime, I want to thank my good friend, the legend himself, for lending his wisdom, his counsel, and his insight the way only he can, and we are honored to

Starting point is 00:35:46 have you here each and every week before i let you go quickly let everyone know where they can reach out to you and what you got marinating in murph's kitchen oh you can reach out to me on zitter at teamerf207 also over there where the blue skies are uh you know the gray skies are clearing up to blue skies at the same thing teamerfph 207. Absolutely, folks. Wherever Murph puts pen to paper or voice to microphone, you want to check it out. Usually when it's voice to microphone, he's right here on the airwaves of Locked On Patriots. But anything the man does, I cannot recommend highly enough.

Starting point is 00:36:16 And, of course, I want to give a special tip of the cap to all of you everydayers out there, all of you Locked On Patriots loyalists that continue to make the pod possible thank you for sticking with us we got some exciting things planned for you before the end of the year and of course into 2025 most notably the return of mock draft monday going to be our sixth year doing this murph and as far as i'm concerned it's nowhere near enough we love it and we can't wait to kick it off and of, let's keep it right here because we are about to pivot our attention

Starting point is 00:36:45 and focus on the Buffalo Bills, including a crossover with our good friend, Joe Marino. It's been way too long since Joe and I have chopped it up on these airwaves. We can't wait to hit that microphone. So definitely subscribe, follow, download wherever you get your podcasts. You don't want to miss a single second of the action.

Starting point is 00:37:04 On behalf of my good friend, Thomas Murphy, I'm Mike DeBate, reminding you to stay safe, stay well, be the change you wish to see in the world. Have a great day, everyone, and we'll see you back here again tomorrow on Locked on Patriot.

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