Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - New England Patriots: Mac Jones, Starting QB? Offensive Line and More: Mailbag Monday

Starting point is 00:00:00 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. Thank you once again for making Lockdown Patriots a daily part of your New England Patriots coverage. And of course, hopefully, your first listen each and every day. Don't forget that Lockdown Patriots is a proud part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day which means you should download subscribe to follow locked on patriots wherever you get your podcasts to ensure that you get the latest episode as soon as it's available i'm your host mike debate i cover your new england patriots patriots country

Starting point is 00:00:55 of sports illustrated so reach out to me and let me know what's on your mind on twitter on x on the bird app whatever you want to be calling it these days, at M-D-A-B-A-T-E-N-F-L. Also, if you're showing some love to Locked On Patriots social media style, follow our account there as well at L-O underscore Patriots. And Pats fans, today's episode brought to you by LinkedIn Jobs.

Starting point is 00:01:18 LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, and they help you do it faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com slash LockedOn job for free at linkedin.com slash locked on nfl that's linkedin.com slash locked on nfl to post your job for free in terms and conditions apply pets fans the bye week is now a thing of the past and your new england patriots are back to work and ready to get back on the practice fields this coming Tuesday

Starting point is 00:01:45 as they prepare for a Week 12 matchup against the New York Giants. And I know a lot of you out there are wondering about draft position and what the Patriots might do on the field and how it's going to affect it. Well, we're going to spend some time talking about what the Patriots need to do on the field in these remaining seven games. That's right, folks. It is Mailbag Monday. So that means the man who Mondays were created for has graced us with his presence today. My good friend, the kind of Murphy Fisto himself, the legendary Thomas Murphy of E2G Sports.

Starting point is 00:02:17 Thank you for coming to me in friendship today and joining me, Don Murph. Oh, it's great, Michael. It's great coming off off the bye nice and relaxed and set for the rest of the season. And I'm glad we don't have a game to talk about. So that means we get to get to more of your questions. And we got some good ones this week. We absolutely do, folks.

Starting point is 00:02:37 Thank you for taking the time to send in a question to us. It's been a long time since we've done a full Mailbag Monday here on Locked On Patriots. And without and without further ado buddy let's get into it and the biggest question on everyone's mind this week is who will start for the New England Patriots at quarterback going forward Murph we talked to Bill O'Brien on to on Monday morning he offered a little bit of insight but didn't exactly tip his hand said the Bill Belichick would be thinking about it one way or another. Why ask you, my friend?

Starting point is 00:03:10 Caden Lincoln wants to know. All of our fans, all of our everydayers, our casual listeners, and our first-timers here on Locked On Patriots want to know who should start at quarterback for the New England Patriots going forward. Well, you know, what O'Brien had to say this morning, not a lot of people are going to read into that, are they?

Starting point is 00:03:29 Assistance make recommendations and head coaches make decisions, and that's the way it's going to be. I told everybody last week who was going to be starting against the Giants. We sat here in this chair at the end of last week after the game, and I said that Mac Jones was going to be starting, and Mac Jones is going to be starting, simply because Mac Jones is the best quarterback in a Patriots uniform right now. And whether you people like it or not, Bill Belichick is still trying to win football games. You know, the dreaded T word comes out an awful lot, Murph.

Starting point is 00:04:00 Yeah. You know, we hear it all the time. Are the Patriots tanking? Do they want to tank for Caleb Williams? And we saw Caleb put on a pretty good performance yesterday. Drake May looking pretty good. So there were some options out there that give you optimism, folks, going into the 2024 season. But that's 2024. For 2023, New England Patriots need to take a look at what is in their best interest. Are they simply playing out the string? Are they trying to play for pride? Is there something still in that quarterback room that they see in Mac Jones? I know a lot of you fans out there seem to think that that ship has completely sailed, but speaking with Bill on Monday morning, it didn't quite seem like he was ready

Starting point is 00:04:42 to hand over the reins to someone else. He was complimentary of Mack when he didn't have to be. And he said, I believe everything is fixable. It's important to point out there were 10 other guys on the field. There were coaches on the sidelines. If you're putting all of the blame on one guy, you're missing the point. You're missing the bow here, and you're not looking at the big picture. He doesn't believe in the yips. He says Mack has played well well mac will play well again those two last statements whether you agree with them or

Starting point is 00:05:10 not and i'm not endorsing them neither is murph these are bill o'brien statements right those two statements folks were not provoked they were given freely by bill o'brien which leads me to believe that they still think there's a level that Mac Jones can go to that he hasn't gone to yet that could change the Patriots' mind heading into 2024 if, in fact, they believe that they have the quarterback that can win them games. Yeah, exactly. I agree wholeheartedly. Stop trying to read between the lines, folks folks just take a look and see who is uh taking those number one reps this week at practice and that's the guy that's going to be out there and the guy that was taking the number one reps last week uh before they they broke for uh for the bye week was

Starting point is 00:05:58 mac jones that's it called it very well said. And he did. And Bill O'Brien did make that point as well, stating that Mack got the first team reps. He did say that Bailey Zappi got in there, got a chance to play a little bit more. Will Greer rotated in. I love Will Greer. Honestly, folks, if you can go back a couple of drafts ago, I loved Will Greer coming out of West Virginia. I thought he was a fantastic prospect. I liked what he showed at the senior bowl. Everybody that was there that I know that scouted him thought that he had the stuff and maybe he was just in the wrong spot too. You don't know. But right now, like I said last week, Will Greer has not moved up the depth chart and he's been here for eight nine weeks now this is not an easy uh

Starting point is 00:06:47 offense to absorb and to take in and when you haven't when you weren't there for an entire offseason and somebody hands you the encyclopedia biltanica you know it takes some time so let's not rush anything i'm glad that you mentioned will Greer because he's a name that comes up an awful lot, but very enigmatic when it comes to Patriots fans. Not a lot of stock to purchase in his body of work because it's not that extensive at a pro level folks. We're talking 2019. The last time that he saw in game action, Will Greer's record as a pro football quarterback

Starting point is 00:07:20 Owen too. He's got a completion percentage of 53.8 thrown 228 yards no touchdowns or interceptions zero so it's difficult to say you're ready to hand the ball over and the keys to the kingdom to a guy with that stat line that hasn't taken a meaningful snap in an nfl uniform in over three years. That's a lot to put on a guy's shoulders. And then you go back to what they said about Will Greer coming out of college, coming out of West Virginia.

Starting point is 00:07:52 People think that he benefited from their system as much as he helped their system grow. And I think that is a good 50-50. I really do agree with that assessment. He's the guy that's going to throw for the big play. So if you're looking for someone that's going to take the chance down the field, Will Greer is not afraid to do it. Mark Schofield joined me here last week and gave us some good insight on Will Greer, stating that in 2019, when you talk to him at the combine, he's going, I feel I'm the best quarterback

Starting point is 00:08:19 in this class. You'll love that confidence. There's definitely no shortage of bravado but he's got to win from the pocket that means he's got to work the middle of the field he's got to anticipate getting rid of the ball sooner that's something he did not do a very good job of at West Virginia if you think Max Hangouts would a long time Will Greer is someone that is not designed to shed the ball quickly so he can does he have the skill to be able to change his game and do it? Maybe. I think he's an adaptable quarterback. He's definitely got the, uh,

Starting point is 00:08:50 the skillset and the athleticism to do it, but it does take time and he may not be ready for that. Yeah. I think the Patriots are weighing all of these options right now. That's why Bill O'Brien is saying, so you're going to have to earn your spot with your practice performance this week. That's why I don't think that's a bad decision. I think that's the best decision the Patriots can make. I agree. I agree. As far as I'm concerned, it's still about winning football games.

Starting point is 00:09:14 It's still, you know, in Bill's mind, it's still about chasing that elusive number. And he's going to go out there and do whatever he can to win those games. Draft status, draft position, be damned. Absolutely. And it is, you know, folks, it's a tough situation when you're looking at the New England Patriots and you're looking at what they want to do with the quarterback position. This is a team that didn't have to worry about the quarterback position for the most part for about two decades, if not more. For the first time, do they really have the guys in place? And look, Bailey Zappi has had the opportunity to come in now

Starting point is 00:09:49 three different occasions, 10 completions, 104 yards, one interception, not exactly a lot of confidence there as well. And for everyone that's talking about Malik Cunningham, and yes, there is an untapped potential there. We also haven't seen it from right in the times that he's been given the opportunity say for that first drive against the Texans back in the preseason so keep a sharp eye on the situation because a decision will be made sooner or later uh the Patriots at the practice fields at about 1 p.m on Tuesday and we'll start to get

Starting point is 00:10:21 some answers then we may not have our answer until the end of the week until after Thanksgiving, but yeah, it could be interesting this week. Watch this. I expect Mac to be in there, but watch the sidelines, go back and watch,

Starting point is 00:10:32 watch former games and watch the sidelines as he's coming off. There is nobody shunning Mac Jones. There is nobody in Mac Jones except for coaches and that's their job. Oh yeah. Don't get confused. All right. That's that's coach's job is to get into somebody's face and let them know when they screwed up and when they missed this guy and they missed that guy. But no, you don't see other players doing that.

Starting point is 00:10:56 You don't see it. You don't see the admonishment like you do up in Buffalo when people are screaming, just get me the damn ball. Guys, Mac's still getting a fist bump. So, you know, let's move on. Well, Kate, we thank you for your question today. It definitely is the question on most Patriots fans' mind. And hopefully we're able to give you a little insight. But we've got another great one coming from the mailbag in just a moment, Murph.

Starting point is 00:11:20 Because the question is about those big round men up front that you love to talk about. We're going to talk about the offensive line, its relation to the running game. We're even going to sprinkle in a little of our opinion as to which guy along that line is a must-have for next season. We're going to talk about all that and more when this episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast continues, a proud part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Lockdown listeners, these days, every new potential hire can feel like a high stakes wager for your small business. You want to be 100% certain that you have access to the best

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Starting point is 00:13:55 And Murph, in the previous segment, I think we talked about arguably the top question on all Patriots fans' minds right now. Who should be starting quarterback when the Pats take the field on Sunday and even moving forward? But one of the areas where this team has been probably as much deficient as any is on the offensive line. Maybe the only unit that has been more maligned than the quarterbacks or maybe even Coach Bill Belichick, but I think the line has gotten a lot of grief for obviously not protecting the quarterback, but also not protecting against the run. This question, I think, may be one of the most poignant and maybe the most important question to ask in Patriots Nation right now, because it involves the offensive line and

Starting point is 00:14:36 it involves the running game. And Leslie at Cape Cod Gurley on Twitter asked a phenomenal question here, and she wants to know, how will the Patriots offensive line shelter the quarterback to provide successful attempts for the running backs? Murph, this is always your area of expertise. You know more about these big round men up front when it comes to pass protection, when it comes to run blocking. What do the Brats need to do on this offensive line to get this running game going? This team is not running the ball nearly enough.

Starting point is 00:15:13 A lot of people got on Mac Jones for saying this, for wanting to run the ball more often. It's simply a matter that seven times out of ten, they know that it's going to be a drop back and they're going to sling it. I can't set up play-action pass if there's no play to action. All right. This team has done a much better job over the last three to four weeks of run blocking. Whether you believe the stats or not, they are doing better. A lot of people have made comments that it's nice to see Ramondre acting like Ramondre again. He has looked fantastic. And Zeke has looked really, really well too. And this comes to a committed effort to a run game. Now, when offensive linemen are constantly thinking

Starting point is 00:16:01 backpedal, constantly thinking push guys out to the side, make sure that you get your double teams right, watch for that stunt up the middle. It's hard to get into a rhythm. When you get into a rhythm early as an offensive lineman, as one of those big round guys up front, we love to run block. We do. We hate pass blocking. Pass blocking sucks, man. Just be honest. It's just, it's boring. Okay. I can't hurt anybody. All right. I'm not talking about harming people. I'm just talking about hurting people. I just want to put somebody on there. There's a difference. That's it. There's a difference between, you know, pain and injury folks. And, um, and that's what we're talking about here. No, uh, what they, what they need to do is, is commit to the run more often. And one thing has been really

Starting point is 00:16:46 different, really difficult with the shuffling in and out of different guys at the guard position, different guys at the tackle position. Like I've said before, the problem with most of this line is the fact that they're depth pieces, but they're being asked to play frontline pieces, being asked to play starters minutes, take starters snaps. And it's not second nature to everybody yet. Okay, these young guards that are in here, it's just not second nature to them yet.

Starting point is 00:17:19 Yes, they might have somebody, a veteran to either side of them, but it's still, you've got to know your job and when to do it. You've got to know when to shed a block and get further upfield to turn that four-yard run into a six or a 10-yard run. And that hasn't happened yet. A commitment to the run game will get these guys even better and it will help pass blocking because you're in a rhythm, you're in a mood. Okay. Yes. They complete this this pass we get a first down and then i get to run block again holy smoke inside folks you're only going to find here on locked on patriots from a man who played the

Starting point is 00:17:56 position coach the position and knows exactly what it takes to be that protective force along that offensive line it is not easy and yes run blocking is definitely a lot more fun, a lot more rewarding than providing pass protection because pass protection, when you make mistakes in pass protection, it's a lot louder than it is with run. We don't wear forearm pads to pass block. Yeah, exactly. And you look at what the Patriots lineup consists of right now.

Starting point is 00:18:24 Trent Brown has been a bright spot when he's on the field. When he's on the field. He's dealing with an injury right now, as well as a personal matter. He wasn't at practice last week, so you have to take a look and wonder whether or not Trent will be present and accounted for when the Patriots take the field on Tuesday. That is something to watch closely, folks. I'll be watching very closely at Foxborough on Tuesday. I know you all will as well. Connor McDermott, he comes in, provides decent protection. He's a veteran. He knows the system here in New England. He was taken off the field on Sunday against the Colts. You don't know what his status is

Starting point is 00:19:00 going to be moving forward. Cole Strange has had an up and down season. Injuries have really derailed what he's capable of doing. We've seen flashes of what he can do at the left guard position. I'm not going to berate Cole Strange by any stretch of the imagination. It's just inconsistent because there hasn't been enough of a sample size. David Andrews is solid in the middle. You know you're going to get 110% from him. If he's healthy, he's out there, and he's someone you can rely on. You don't have to worry about David. I like what I see from

Starting point is 00:19:30 CitySew at right guard. I think he's finding his niche there. He's still a rookie, folks. He's still a rookie, absolutely, and he's going to make mistakes, but he will be someone that you can absolutely count on to be a part of this line moving forward. And the guy that I think worked his way into the Patriots internal free agency priority list, worked his way up to the top, is Michael Lueno. He definitely is someone that needs to be there at the right tackle position, providing that protection, doing what he needs to do. That was the best move that the Patriots could have made. Should have done it week two, like we said to. Yeah, exactly. doing what he needs to do that was the best move that the patriots could have made and should have done it week two like we said to yeah exactly and that's what makes it so important to shore up the left side now right trent is going to be out an encouraging sign on the field last week murph

Starting point is 00:20:16 was riley rafi activated from injured reserve a move i'll be honest with you i did not expect that i thought we had seen the last of riley this season he's coming he could potentially come back folks 21 day window is open if he does and trent can't make it you need his veteran presence on the left side at the tackle position because i think mcdermott is someone that eventually may get exposed and we've seen what badarian law can do out there the guy's doing the best he can, but it's just, it's really difficult to expect a lot out of him. So if they do that, folks, the New England Patriots

Starting point is 00:20:50 have a chance to move forward. But like Murph said, if you're going to be successful blocking for the run, Patriots need to move the line of scrimmage like they did against the Indianapolis Colts.

Starting point is 00:21:00 That's going to facilitate gap running plays. That's where this team runs the ball the best and you're going to see romandre stevenson come alive and ezekiel elliott come alive they both had excellent games on sunday against the colts they were not the reason why you lost give me more exactly 88 from romandre stevenson in terms of rushing yards 54 from ezekiel elliott far from being the line's best effort, far from being what their best effort

Starting point is 00:21:25 is capable of, such a move in the right direction. That's how you go about helping to facilitate this running game. Right. Excellent question, Leslie. Thank you so much. Get more in because we need more questions about big ground guys. Absolutely. And Leslie, thank you so much for a great question. We always appreciate your wisdom, your counsel, and your support here on Locked On Patriots. Thank you, along with Kate, for being an everydayer. And Murph, we're not quite done with the Locked On Patriots mailbag just yet because we have another question from a long time everydayer, one of the OG everydayers here on Locked On Patriots, a man that may be worthy of a promotion to Capo Regime at some point.

Starting point is 00:22:07 I really do believe this guy is one of our great supporters. He's a great friend and a great football fan. Our good friend, Joel from Hull. Joel has a question about breakout performances. He also has a question about which Patriots might best be served by seeing a lot of time in the Patriots' last seven games. Want to see what these guys can do? Joel wants to see what these guys can do,

Starting point is 00:22:31 and he wants to know what Murph and I think about what guys need to see the field to end this season on a high note. Murph and I are going to share that in just a moment when this episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast wraps up right here on the Lockeddown Podcast Network, your team every day. Lockdown listeners, when it comes to game day, the only thing just as important as cheering on your favorite team is making sure that your game day table is well stocked. Why root for your team on an empty stomach?

Starting point is 00:23:00 Order on DoorDash and save on all of your favorite football watch party favorites. After all, Patriots fans, nothing says game day like some wings. Am I right? Well, now you can enjoy the hickory smoked wings and any of their 14 delicious sauce flavors from Bites at Patriots Place. That's right. It's just like a piece of Gillette Stadium delivered right to your door just in time for kickoff with DoorDash. So act now and you can get 50% off up to a $10 value when you spend $15 or more on your first order. That's when you download the DoorDash app and enter the code LOCKED23. So don't delay, do it today.

Starting point is 00:23:37 And don't forget to use the code LOCKED23, L-O-C-K-E-D-2-3 for 50% off up to a $10 value on your first order when you download the DoorDash app and spend $15 or more. Subject to change. Terms apply. Patriots fans, thank you so much for taking time out of your schedule to join us here on Locked On Patriots, making us a daily part of your New England Patriots coverage, kicking off your Thanksgiving week here on Locked On Patriots.

Starting point is 00:24:06 We hope you can take Murph and I and all of the great guests we have lined up here for Thanksgiving week with you in your travels if you are traveling for Thanksgiving. And if you are, we wish you all the best. And hopefully your travels will be safe and enjoyable to spend time with your families on Thursday. And don't forget, folks, it may be Thanksgiving, but it's still Crossover Thursday here on Locked On Patriots. Joining me is my good friend and colleague, not only from Locked On, but also at Sports Illustrated's fan nation, Patricia Trena, who has covered the New York Giants for a

Starting point is 00:24:38 number of years. Patty is among the best in the business, a dear friend, and it's going to be my honor to share the microphone with her on Thanksgiving Day as we cross the streams, Locked On Patriots, Locked On Giants style, so stay tuned. You are not going to want to miss that one, folks. But here today is Familia, folks. There is no other way to put it. This man is the Don of Locked On Patriots,

Starting point is 00:24:59 and he's already proven that in his wisdom and counsel. My good friend, Thomas Murphy of E2G. I pay him to say that. A little bit. A little bit. Check's a little late this month, Murph. But, you know, it's okay. We don't mind.

Starting point is 00:25:10 You've got to kick up. Bud, we've talked a lot of offense so far. Kate had a tremendous question. Wanted to know a lot about our thoughts on which Patriots should start at quarterback this coming week and moving forward. Leslie had another phenomenal question, wanting to know what the offensive line needs to do to get the running game going. I think we were able to provide at least some wisdom and counsel on these subjects, folks. You'd be the judge on that. But this one is a little bit more objective, my friend. And this one comes from, again, like I teased coming into this segment, a good friend of

Starting point is 00:25:46 the program. Murphy's not just a good friend of mine. He's not just a good friend of yours. He's a friend of ours. And if you've seen Donnie Brasco, you know what that means. You know what we're talking about. Our good friend, Joel from Hull. And Joel is the definition of every dayer here on Lockdown Patriots.

Starting point is 00:26:02 We appreciate all of his support. And Joel, I think, has a question that we can have a little fun with here to close the show today, buddy. Which Patriots players do you want to see get extended time on the field to gain more experience? Murph, there are several ways to answer this question. You can go rookies. You can go veterans that are breaking out.

Starting point is 00:26:24 Where do you go on this? Who do you want to see more of in the second half of the season? Keon White. I want more Keon White. I want him unleashed. I want him let go. There's been a lot of talk about the pressure rate. And I have gotten on this in my keys week after week is the pressure rate getting onto the quarterback. and it's been there it's been good but these guys aren't getting home all right i want to see keon white uh start to get more reps out there he's he should be um uh well into the playbook now the the issue with

Starting point is 00:27:02 white to this point is has been his relying on instinct and not on the playbook as to where he needs to be and when he needs to be there. And that's led to a couple of breakdowns, a few long runs that he needs to clean up. But he can't do that without experience, and you're not going to get that experience in practice. I want to see more Keyon White. Oh, I think a lot of us want to see more Keyon White. Oh, I think a lot of us want to see more Keyon White. That nonstop motor, that ability to get after the quarterback is something that Murph, you and I touted from the moment he was drafted. We sat here on these airwaves and the draft concluded, and we had said that this was a guy that could possibly drop back into coverage, that could be

Starting point is 00:27:39 versatile all over the place. Several people thought that we were crazy, but at this stage in the game and knowing what the Patriots are facing moving forward, you have to think Keon is a big part of their future plans at defense. So let's showcase what the kid can do. Give him the opportunity to get after the passer. Don't make him a one-dimensional run defender. In a lot of ways, I think the Patriots were playing it safe early on i think you need to unleash keon a little bit and show what he can do provided he's healthy folks and i have no reason to believe he's not the patriots will i think utilize him a little bit more um and he's a rookie as well so you want to see what the rookies are going to be able to do

Starting point is 00:28:19 but the guy i really am looking forward to seeing more of murph is Jelani Devine. Jelani is having his best season as a pro so far, folks. All 10 games, 61 total tackles, three quarterback hits, four pass breakups, one interception, one forced fumble. That's a great stat line. He rated on a lot of airwaves in this town when he was extended, when he was given a better deal. Yeah. All of a sudden, that deal is looking good. It's looking real cheap these days for what he's been able to a better deal. Yeah. All of a sudden, that deal was looking good.

Starting point is 00:28:45 It's looking real cheap these days for what he's been able to do out there. Yeah. Just to give you an example, folks, and I'm sure you've seen the graphic over the weekend, lowest passer rating allowed with a minimum of 20 targets faced in the NFL, 54.0 for Jelani. Damn. This is a good season, and I want to see more of him folks. Not so much because he's going to prove himself because Jelani is a veteran, but when you have season like this, I think it's incumbent upon coaches. It's incumbent upon the players around you to give

Starting point is 00:29:17 you the opportunity to finish it and see it through. I want to see Jelani continue this type of production now for the remainder of the season. So keep him out there. Don't preserve him, folks. The argument is you don't want him to get hurt, obviously, and you want to protect him because he is a valuable part of this defense. But I really would love to see more of him and continue on and really put up, I think, his best season as a pro. So Jelani Tavai is a guy I want to see more out there and see him grow as a player day by day

Starting point is 00:29:46 and game by game. That's it. And, and just to, to, um, you know, put a cherry on top of that, this kid has earned it. Okay. It's kind of hard to, you know, when you see somebody go out there and put it all on the line, whether it's causing a fumble where it's jumping on a fumble or tipping a pass. So somebody else is making an interception. This kid has been everywhere. He's earned it, and it's kind of hard to say, yeah, you did your job. Go sit down for a while. Absolutely. But flipping it over, if you don't mind, over to the offensive side of the ball,

Starting point is 00:30:17 I want to see who I'm dubbing the three amigos. I want to see more Keishon Butte. I want to see more Demario Douglas. And yes, I want to see more of the Slim Reaper, Tyquan Thornton. Now, that last part of that is predicated on his health, which has not been his strong point. To right now, the availability of Tyquan Thornton has been in question, and we all have heard the old adage a thousand times, the best ability is availability. This kid has talent,

Starting point is 00:30:54 and if he's used in the right way, I think he can bring something to the table. I am not putting down anybody that has been a pass catcher on this team. But, you know, we got to see what's going to happen in the long run with some of these guys. And then somebody else that I'd like to see a lot more of. And this also goes back to the great question that Leslie asked on the running game is I would like to see more Pharoah Brown. Yeah. Let's walk like an Egyptian here, people. All right. I'm not.

Starting point is 00:31:31 I like. I love me some Pharoah Brown. Every time he's on the field, something good happens. Okay. Nobody's thing. It's kind of like me when I used to play baseball. All right. One of the best, one of the things that I'm most proud of in my baseball career. All right. It was the fact that I had never been caught stealing a base.

Starting point is 00:31:49 Never, never. And we're not talking three bases here. I've never been caught because nobody, nobody expected it. There's there's round Murph over there. Wasn't he snapping center for high school back in the day? Yeah, he was. I bags second and third man i i wanted to be ricky henderson for christ's sakes and nobody saw it coming nobody sees pharaoh brown coming and every time that he touches the ball good things happen whether he's he's run blocking or he's getting out in a pattern he's moving chains i want to see more pharaoh brown and i want to see him extended too so let it be written so let it be done we all want to see him extended too. So let it be written. So let it be done. We all want to see more Farrow Brown on the field. He's been a chunk play machine without question, but this guy runs a better route than he's given credit for.

Starting point is 00:32:31 He's a tremendous blocker. We knew that coming in, but his ability as a pass catcher and his electrifying nature of the way he plays the position. Yeah. I'd love to see more Farrow on this field. And I think the Patriots were very surprised that he became available, pleasantly surprised. And I think the fact that he's been here showcasing what he can do only is going to enhance his abilities moving forward.

Starting point is 00:32:54 So, yeah, get him on the field. Let's see what he can do a little bit more. But I agree with you. If there's a guy that I want to see on the offensive side of the ball, it's Kayshaun without any question. I want to see the guy at LSU that was able to adjust his body to make four contested catches. He can do that, folks. He did it so often. If you're looking for issues with regard to his health or whatnot,

Starting point is 00:33:17 supposedly everything looks good. It looks solid. So I'm looking at this and saying it's time. It's time now to take him off of Belichickian double secret probation, put him out there, showcase what he can do. If it's good, you've got yourself a keeper for next season, and then you can build on two solid rookies and he and Pop Douglas. If not, you have to know. And to meet with a wide receiver, that's the only way that you can know. That's the only way that you can know. I mean, O'Brien talked earlier today about who's earning their say.

Starting point is 00:33:49 He wasn't just talking about the quarterback position. He was talking about all positions. And maybe Boutte is not a practice player. I've coached those guys myself that for whatever reason it doesn't click in practice or it's not. Something looks off in practice. it's not something, something looks off in practice. Okay. That, that might be the case. I find it hard to believe. I think this kid's a playmaker. I think he's somebody that is, is quick, decisive. And you know, once in a while you have to look to coaching and, and I keep going back over there, but you know but over the past several years, the wide receiver group has not been stellar,

Starting point is 00:34:28 and they need to be coached up, and maybe that's where a change needs to be made. Bottom line, folks, it's going to be interesting what the Patriots are going to do, what they're not going to do. Unfamiliar territory for the Pats, who have not been this far out of contention this late in the season in over two decades. So how do you handle the players on the field how do you make sure that players who need their reps are getting them this team just has to learn how to win for the last 20 years they had a quarterback under under center that knew how to win they had a tight end that knew how to win they had a um a uh uh a slot receiver that just hated to lose, which I love. You could say that about all three of them, but that's the way. This team just needs to learn how to win. Yeah, they really,

Starting point is 00:35:15 truly do, and with the talent they have in that room, you can teach this group how to win, but the question is, how do you walk that fine line of helping this team win with also knowing that you're making your future a lot brighter as well with higher draft pick it's a very fine line to walk folks and unenviable position for your new england patriots but it will make for interesting football and i think maybe a little more intriguing football than all of us are anticipating so joel what can i? Thank you so much for the amazing question to bring us home today. Leslie, Kate, amazing questions as well. All of you everydayers, all of you locked-on listeners,

Starting point is 00:35:51 really, truly touch my heart each time you send in these great questions, proving that this is a phenomenal fan base and a fan base that is staying loyal to this team. I know it's not easy to be a Patriots fan right now, but for two and a half decades, was great times here in new england the measure of a true fan is where you lie with this team in good times and in bad you can criticize all you want that's what fans do you want to see the best product on the field but don't shake your loyalty because this team needs it now more than ever and it's great to see continued loyalty for your New England Patriots win, lose, or draw.

Starting point is 00:36:27 And speaking of loyalty, how much better can you get than my good friend over here on the opposite side of the screen? Don Murph, before I let you go today, please let everyone know where they can reach out to you and where they can interact with you and what we can look forward to Thanksgiving week here from the great pen, the great voice of Thomas Murphy. You can find out whatever is tickling my fancy right over there at E2GSports.com. Of course, the monster keys to victory, not to going up in the draft order, but the keys to victory will be out on Friday.

Starting point is 00:36:59 And until then, I'm not, you know, postings, this and that. Nothing happens in baseball till after Thanksgiving except for moronic, you know, postseason awards. And what better description could you ask for than that, folks? You can't. It doesn't exist. But all kidding aside, I thank you, Murph, and thank you for always being here for the handoff when we need you. We are thankful for you, my friend. So to you and yours, a very

Starting point is 00:37:26 happy Thanksgiving. We look forward to having you join us here, maybe after Thanksgiving and before the New York Giants game. What do you think, folks? Maybe a little post-holiday Monster Keys. I don't know. I think our appetite is just big enough to be able to work it.

Starting point is 00:37:42 Monster leftovers. Monster leftovers. We're going to call them leftovers this time around. I like it, Murph. Ingenuity. It's great. That work it. Monster leftovers. Monster leftovers. We're going to call them leftovers this time around. I like it, Murph. Ingenuity. It's great. That's it. All right. But all kidding aside, folks, we thank you for being there and for being a Locked On Patriots every day or a first-timer or a casual listener.

Starting point is 00:37:58 We appreciate each and every listen. So on behalf of my good friend, the Count of Murphy Fisto himself, I'm Mike DeBate reminding you to stay safe and to stay well and to be the change you wish to see in the world. Have a great day, everyone, and we will see you back here tomorrow on Tuesday's episode of A Lot on Patriots.

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