Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - New England Patriots: OTAs Controversy; Stevenson, Gesicki Among Pats Fab Four on Offense?

Episode Date: May 26, 2023

In the wake of rampant speculation as to the reason for the New England Patriots being penalized for a violation of NFL offseason rules, details have emerged to shed some light on the situation. Host Mike D’Abate provides his thoughts on the Pats latest controversy before welcoming Clare ‘ClazzyClare’ Cooper of Pats Propaganda and A Clare Perspective: A Patriots Podcast to discuss the Pats “Fab Four” offensive skill position players heading into 2023.Find and follow Locked On Patriots on your favorite podcast platforms:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/locked-on-patriots-daily-podcast-on-the-new-england/id1140512627Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1c5ZxFmwg3WbfxAU3tR5Ve?si=k196wH-yRqifUcQQz8SjIQStitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/locked-on-patriotsAnd follow host Mike D’Abate on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the New England Patriots and talking with fans.Twitter: @mdabateNFLSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.FanDuelMake Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. 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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The New England Patriots once again find themselves at the center of controversy. Over a meeting? 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. Thank you once again for making Lockdown Patriots a daily part of your new england patriots coverage we are a proud part of the locked on podcast network your team every day subscribe or follow for free on youtube or wherever you listen to podcasts to ensure that you get the latest episode as soon as it's available i am your host mike debate and i

cover your new england patriots for patriots Country of Sports Illustrated. So reach out to me and let me know what's on your mind on Twitter at MDABATENFL. And while you're out there showing some love to the Twitterverse, please be sure to follow the Locked On Patriots account as well at LO underscore Patriots. Pats fans, thank you for joining me here today. As always, where would I be without all of you everydayers out there? You Locked On loyalists, those of you who make Lockdown Patriots possible, honored and humbled by your support. And

Pats fans, we have an exciting show for you today. Claire Klazzi, Claire Cooper of A Claire Perspective is back after a two-week hiatus, feeling better and definitely back in the saddle. And Claire and I are sharing our combined top four, or what we're calling our Fab Four Patriots on offense.

Not going to count the quarterbacks on this one or the offensive line who are vital to success, but we're talking about the top four skill position players. And Claire and I have chosen two apiece. We will share those with you in just a moment. And unfortunately, folks, at the time we recorded, tight end Anthony Ferkser had not been reported as a signing with the New England Patriots just yet. But stay locked into Locked On Patriots because we will be talking about that one tomorrow.

And of course, the unfortunate season-ending injury suffered by linebacker Raekwon McMillan. Stay locked into Locked On Patriots because we will be covering those and more on Friday's show to take you into the weekend. But first, just when you thought they were out, the New England Patriots got pulled back into the tangled web of controversy. And yeah, folks, unfortunately, you just can't make this stuff up. So let's recap what's really been a wild 24 hours for the New England Patriots.

After holding their first two OTAs earlier this week, the Pats originally announced on Wednesday they were canceling the third session. And that was scheduled for Thursday. And members of the media were actually supposed to take their first look at the New England Patriots on the field, including several new faces, not just on the coaching staff, but on the roster as well. And as I said yesterday here on the pod, really didn't raise too many eyebrows at first. After all, rescheduling of this type is something that Bill Belichick has done many times before. He's canceled or postponed offseason practices during both voluntary OTA and, of course, mandatory minicamp during several of the years that he's been at the helm here in New England. So case closed, right?

They offer good behavior and not so fast. On Wednesday night, Mike Reese of ESPN reported that the Patriots were losing two days of organized team activities due to a violation of rules. And this raised an eyebrow or two. And just like clockwork, folks, the truly brainless started their Patriots are cheaters Twitter campaign. But it did start some pretty rampant speculation as to the reason why the Patriots were being penalized for a violation of the NFL offseason rules. Well, on Thursday morning, details started to emerge that created and shed some light on the

situation. In short, the actual infraction took place in the meeting room, not on the field, as a lot of people had expected. Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio was the first to shed a little bit of light on this. And quoting Mike directly here, per a source with knowledge of the situation, it was a meeting violation. An observer from the NFL Players Association believed that one of the optional early offseason meetings was a violation because the 15-minute meeting in question, which was a special team session, was made visible on the internal schedule.

In the opinion of the NFLPA, placing the meeting on the formal schedule converted it from optional to mandatory. But the story is not done yet, folks. Boston Sports Journal's Greg Bedard additionally indicated that the Patriots were actually being docked a little bit more than just the two practice sessions. Head coach Bill Belichick, a little lighter in the wallet after this one, fined $50,000 for the team's transgression. And Greg's report led a little bit more insight as to what was going on and specifically mentioned Patriots special teams coach Joe Judge. And I'm quoting Greg's piece directly here on Boston Sports Journal.

At the heart of the matter, Coach Joe Judge conducted special teams meetings that caused offense and defense players to be at the facility longer than their maximum four hours, permitted during phase two of the club's program. But wait, folks, there is even more. The Athletics' Jeff Howe uncovering a bit more on the situation, reporting that the Patriots had posted a schedule of voluntary special teams office hours to let players know when coaches would be available and if the players were interested in dropping by for a meeting. This was according to Jeff's source from The Athletic. An NFLPA representative noticed the posted schedule during a routine visit to the facility and informed the team the schedule could give off the impression

that the office hours could be mandatory. According to league rules, all off-season workouts and meetings are voluntary. So we're talking about interpretation of rules. We're talking about meetings that were optional yet not optional. A lot of wordsmithing going on here. But bottom line, folks, the NFL determined that the violations occurred on May 1st, May 2nd, May 4th, and they centered around those special teams workshops, word used by the league, not by me, folks, conducted by Joe Judge.

And the league did note that the Patriots have complied fully with the situation and that essentially all is okay. The Patriots will take the two days off on Thursday and on Tuesday and they'll return to the field on Wednesday. So as of Thursday afternoon right now, media access to New England's OTAs has been postponed until Wednesday. Another session going to be open to reporters on June 8th. Bottom line, all of this ultimately cost the Patriots two OTAs once again on May 25th and on May 30th and left Belichick with a pretty hefty five-figure fine. So that's what we know at this point. I want to give a little tip of the cap and nod to the gods, to Mike Reese, to Mike Florio, Greg Bedard, Jeff

Al for playing patchwork and helping the story make some sense. So of course, folks Mike Florio, Greg Bedard, Jeff Powell for playing patchwork and helping the story make some sense. So, of course, folks, as always, stay locked into Locked On Patriots for the very latest on the situation. And just for all of the trolls that you might be encountering out there, they're going to continue to take the light in yet another Patriots cheating scandal. Folks, this was not cheating. Let's make this clear.

It was not a cheating scandal. It was a rules violation. Several teams have had them in recent years. I know a lot of fan bases, some of which I'm about to mention, love to pigeonhole the Patriots. But bottom line, folks, New England joins the Dallas Cowboys in 2021 and 2022, the Chicago Bears in 2022, Houston Texans in 2022, San Francisco 49ers back in 2021, as well as the Jacksonville Jaguars a couple of seasons ago, they've all been fined and or docked OTA days for violating offseason rules. If you think the Patriots are the only ones getting whistled for violations, you're being naive and you're probably just watching things through a hateful Foxborough lens. It's a bigger story with the Patriots. And the reason why it's a bigger story with the Patriots is basically because of hastily reported misinformation.

You all know what I'm talking about. From Spygate to Deflategate, it's just misinformation that snowballs and gets bigger. And that's exactly what you're hearing here. Any type of hastily reporting, you will not find that here on Locked on Patriots. Pats fans, the illustrious Claire Colazzi. Claire Cooper is about to make her illustrious return to Locked On Patriots. We're going to talk Patriots Fab Four on offense when this episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast continues. But first, folks, today's episode brought to you by our good friends over at FanDuel

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Visit FanDuel.com and get a no-sweat first bet up to $1,000. That's FanDuel.com slash LockedOn. FanDuel, official sportsbook betting partner of the NBA. Patriots fans, thank you once again for making LockedOn Patriots a daily part of your New England Patriots coverage. Don't forget, LockedOn Patriots, a proud part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. And folks, if you notice, it's a little

brighter in the studio today. That's because we have the privilege of welcoming back one of our favorites. It's been far too long. We missed her, and we're glad to see her back in action here on Lockdown Patriots. Of course, a columnist, extraordinaire for past propaganda, and a host of her very own Patriots podcast, A, a columnist extraordinaire for Pat's Propaganda and a host of her very own

Patriots podcast, A Claire Perspective, brought to you by FPC Patriots. She is the illustrious Countess of Clas, Miss Claire, Clazzie Claire Cooper. Claire, welcome back and thank you for joining me today from across the pond. No, it's great to be back, Mike. Thanks for having me back. As always. And no, it's definitely, it's our pleasure, our honor to host you as always. And today we've got some great things to discuss. I opened the pod today with rules, violations and the postponement of OTAs. Obviously, we were expecting to talk a little bit more about that heavily, but it also lends itself quite nicely into what we had already planned to speak on today, and that is what I'm calling a Fab Four in terms of New England Patriots players on offense, defense, special teams that really are going to help drive the season. Maybe not the best players in terms of technical skill, but maybe the most important players in terms of enacting what Patriots need to do.

And I thought you'd be the perfect person to join me because obviously Fab Four, Beatles, UK, I thought it would be a nice little tie-in. I'm kidding. I'm kidding. That's a loose link. It's a stretch. Oh, I'm kidding. I'm kidding, folks. No, Claire is a great evaluator of talent.

That's exactly why we've put her in this position. You know, Claire, we'll set a little ground rules before we go into it first because obviously the quarterback position is the catalyst of the offense um it's going to be that way again this year mac jones the assumed starter bailey zappy could get a legitimate shot to compete we'll find out more as we view OTA training camp and obviously, you know, mini camp in between, but they're at the center of any conversation. So we're going to take them out of the equation for the purposes of this discussion. In that same vein, I put the offensive line.

I mean, many people consider that just as important, if not more important. I've said it several times here on Locked On Patriots, and I see a lot of everydayers in the YouTube comments making this same point. It doesn't matter who's throwing the ball. If they don't get the proper protection, it's not going to matter, and it's not going to end well. So Patriots making some veteran additions there, a couple of promising rookies. I think they deserve that top spot along with the quarterbacks, but that leaves the skill position players so Claire in that vein and to properly and fully respectfully welcome you back here to Lockdown Patriots you will have the first choice countess who is your first choice to be inducted into the

Lockdown Patriots Fab Four of New England Patriots offensive players well thank you for letting me go first and as you as you mentioned previously yeah we've always said and i mean we've said a million times actually on the show how it doesn't matter who the you know who's throwing the ball as you said if they're on their butts it doesn't matter who they're throwing it to so yeah the offensive design is always very key which he was like it's a bit sad when you took that out of the equation but still we'll go with the pass catchers and and the and the weapons and things like that so i have to i can't not do this um you all know what is coming next what you might not know is who but you probably have guessed it by now because i've been quite vocal when it comes to my appreciation of this signing and my kind of number one never

mind fab for now i'm sorry i'm not in on that i'm in my number one guy possibly and that's mike gasecki because after the initial kind of getting over of the signing of this and the wondering and the concern of have we just removed john o'smith and inputted another athletic body that kind of thing and yes there is still the risk of that I fully appreciate that we were sitting here not very long ago kind of waiting to see if Johnny Smith was going to be this very athletic pass catcher but I think when it comes to Mike Gusecki we've seen a bit more of what he will do when it comes to working in New England and I think that was that was slightly different when it came to Johnny Smith. So yeah, I've been watching tape.

I've looked into these. I've got his stats from the past few years and stuff like that. Not that I'm going to throw stats at you folks. Don't worry. But yeah, as if you didn't know, the Patriots signed Mike Gusecki on a one-year, 4.5 million deal.

And it is only a one-year. And this was something that was a bit of contention was with him on a one-year deal and to Henry on a one-year deal what you know what does this mean for the tight end of the future and we really kind of don't know but I'm going to look at it as just looking at the present and looking at what we're looking to come up to and what I'm hoping to see this season and that is plenty of Mike Gusecki plenty folks I mean he's a very athletic guy as I've already touched on I mean he was um in the New Jersey I'm sorry I'm trying to read my writing here New Jersey prep state in basketball and volleyball so you know this guy's got some skills when it comes to that

five seasons with the with the dreaded dolphins but he took a backseat in 2022. And I think that's what he's kind of coming off is not one of his best seasons. And a lot of that is more to do with how the Finns were kind of implementing their offense in regards to utilizing Tyreek Hill and Jalen Waddell rather than a reflection on Mike Gusecki himself. Personally, that's, I mean, other people may disagree, particularly Finns fans, and I fully appreciate that. But what I've seen and what I've witnessed, it just seems that the way that their offence is running,

there just wasn't enough to go around when it included him, not enough mouths to feed. And, you know, fully appreciate that. And that's what happens. And, you know, it moves players along and good for us, really, because it means that, you know, he was available for the Patriots to pick up and he's definitely fits a hole that he's needed now you can argue that we know that Mike Gusecki isn't a blocker there's so many people that will say he's a glorified pass catcher no there's no glorified about it he's a pass catcher he's an athletic guy

and he's a tight end I don't care what you say he's a tight end he's wearing number 88 he's a pass catcher he's an athletic guy and he's a tight end i don't care what you say he's a tight end he's wearing number 88 he's a tight end don't take this from me folks um he boasts as a deep threat i mean he's got yards after the catchability but with his athletic ability and with his height being six six you know he's got the size so he can win catches in regard to that and there's this tape on him jumping significantly you know a lot of contested catches where he can utilize his length to really make those grabs and I think that this is what's going to be key and this is what's going to be interesting to watch because yeah you know the Patriots haven't got one of the number one offenses so our guys are going to be covered and you know there's some

there's some quick guys out there so someone like Gusecki being able to match up against these you know these players to get those kind of contested catches to be able to utilize his his length as I said I think he's going to be something that's very interesting and I think all I can really I keep hitting it home but it's the athletic ability for me it's that and and the fact that he's he's a veteran he's been in the system he knows how to use his his skills and he knows how to use his size that kind of thing so it's good that you're bringing him in with you know I don't I don't want to call Mac a rookie but it kind of feels a little bit like it with the way that he's only had one year because of the whole losing his second year

it feels like he's just off the bat of his first year for me. So it just feels like Mac's still going to grow. And hopefully with Gusecki's sort of, with his experience, with his time in the NFL and with the, you know, being used to his own skill set, I think it's going to be good that they're bringing something in. And I always hate to use this phrase, but people love the phrase weapons. And I think that although I know he's not, know people's number one pass catcher that kind of

thing I think he might come in and surprise a lot of people and and plug into the offense something that a bit of spark that's that's needed and that's nothing against Hunter Henry you guys know how much I love me some Hunter Henry but I just think with the the slightly difference that that Gasicki's got in his skill set, in his size, sorry, in his athletic ability, I think that's going to be something that they can utilise at Bill O'Brien. You know, he's used to that sort of thing,

you know, the way that they set up with the two tight ends. And so I think it's just going to be, I can't help but get really excited to see this. And that's why he's kind of my number one in the Fab Four. As I said, forget Fab's kind of my my number one in the fab four as i said forget fab four it's just number one with gasecki for me no i'm glad you went with gasecki and i think he is definitely worthy of induction into this group for the reasons that

you've mentioned i mean obviously the patriots needed to return to 12-man personnel they need a viable pass catcher to flank alongside Hunter Henry, someone who is capable of winning battles in the red zone, someone who's capable of getting contested catches. Mike Gusecki gets them both. He's also someone that can take reps out of the slot as well. So when you have that complimentary piece and someone who is as good as a route runner as Hunter is as a tight end, you need someone that can win those short yardage battles. Mike Gusecki, I think is key to this team and I think he's a great choice. So, you know, we all win those short yardage battles. Mike Gusecki, I think, is key to this team.

And I think he's a great choice. So, you know, we all know our affection for Hunter Henry. There's no question about it. We've been very vocal about that here on Locked On Patriots. But at the same time, I think Gusecki fills such an important role this season that it was hard to leave him off. So great choice, Claire. And I love it right off the start.

And in that vein, you had mentioned that this is kind of be a catch phrase that a lot of people are going to be talking about here in new england i love kendrick's game i have from the time he came in in 2021 and just look at the statistics that he compiled in 2021 folks 55 passes caught 800 yards five touchdowns played in all 17 games. He was an Ironman. He was always out there. In the Patriots' lone playoff matchup with the Buffalo Bills, blocked seven catches, 77 yards, two touchdowns. He was the only bright spot in that game, folks. Let's face it, that was a pretty dismal memory for the New England Patriots, but Kendrick stepped it up and played very well. He even showed an ability to be a threat in the running game at times. I mean,

he's going to carry the ball out of the backfield in that jet sweep, 12 carries, 125 yards, even tossed the touchdown pass, 25 yarder, first quarter scoring strike to Nelson Aguilar, who is now a Baltimore Raven against the New York Jets in week seven. So Claire, if you stack all of that, it was almost a foregone conclusion that Kendrick Bourne was going to come in here and be a real key piece of the New England Patriots offense in 2022. But it just didn't work out. And we've all heard the stories about him falling out of the good graces of the past coaches, the problems that he had during joint practices with the Carolina Panthers, showing up late to a meeting. He got sent home, and the relationship just never recovered from there. When he did get in the game, he did manage to change the complexity

of the offense, and he made big plays. I think he can be a versatile weapon for Bill O'Brien, and it's mostly because of his versatility, of the fact that he can do multiple things. He can align in the slot. He can align on the outside. He can win from either alignment pretty good physicality for a guy his size that can really help i think to give mac jones that type of target he's going to need and the reliability that respectable level of success that he had with mac in his first year with the team i think is really

going to work or pay dividends for this team going forward. Bill O'Brien is known for his yards after the catch. You need yards in certain situations, and sometimes the only way to get those yards is on the ground. Claire and I give you our final two choices for the New England Patriots Fab Four of offensive skill positions right here on Locked on Patriots when we continue. Patriots fans, thank you once again for making Locked On Patriots a daily part of your New

England Patriots coverage. Don't forget, we are your team every day. And a special shout out and a tip of the cap to all of you everydayers out there, all of you who make Locked On Patriots possible. Don't forget, tomorrow here on the pod, we are going to continue to break down the patriots rules violations when it comes to otas we're going to have all the latest on that for you here we're going to continue to cover that story and much much more so stay locked into locked on patriots make sure you smash that subscribe button and download subscribe to follow wherever you get

your podcasts folks today as you can see the illustrious claire claise claire cooper of pat's propaganda and a clear perspective of patriots podcast joins me here on the pod. And Claire, in the previous segment, we talked a lot about the New England Patriots and their top four or fab four offensive skill position players. Took the quarterbacks out of the equation, took the offensive lineman out of the equation but I think we got a pair of good ones in Mike Isecki and in Kendrick Bourne but I know we were excited to talk a little bit about the running game as well and I want to give the ball back to you at this point it is your selection who gets the third corner of that Patriots square when it comes to the fab four of offensive skill position players for your new england atriots well because

i couldn't go tight end again um i had to kind of i thought i'd mix it up and i'd go for running back because running back isn't necessarily a topic i often sort of deep dive into and it's it's not kind of for the want of not to it's just a case of i'm always so focused on tight ends and offensive lines you you know i'm a very an o-line kind of girl so I thought the key that I wanted to do um when you put this to me in regards I thought right that's it I'm going running back and I'm doing some deep dive into running backness um and the one thing that popped up to me that I thought was kind of it feels like a little bit of maybe kind of like a boom or bust because this guy has been signed so i'm talking about a veteran that has been signed um and i think we're going to see this and it's either going to be great or

it's going to be really not so great i think and and i and that's james robinson now the guy was an undrafted free agent in 2020 and he went to the Jags. And he made history by becoming the first undrafted running back to start in week one of a season. And I think that really just reflects on how good this guy, this potential that he had and what he kind of brought to the table. He's a very powerful running back. Now, the one thing that, not to kind of allude to who you're going to be choosing, but the one thing is the Patriots do have a powerful running back. However, he can't carry the team. And I think that the addition of James Robinson might be bringing something to the table, bringing some strength.

Now, I'm still looking at this and I'm still mildly curious as to kind of the why, you know, Damien Harris went out and James Robinson came in and I'm still not quite so sure on that one. But in regards to this, I mean, at the Combine, he scored a 5.65. He was a candidate for a bottom of the roster in practice squadron. And as I said, he made the roster for the Jags in 2020. the one thing to sort of really take into consideration in regards that before i kind of look at his stats for you because i don't want to throw loads of stats at people because i really try not to do that but he went to a team who technically then had a year of tanking so for him to bring up good numbers

really says for his skill set because you know the Jags in 2021 you know really weren't sort of looking at sort of really making it and under the you know the guise of Urban Meyer and stuff like this it's it doesn't doesn't feel great for the kids so I feel like he had a bit of a rough start when it came to it but I mean he has suffered injury and this is why the Patriots kind of I don't want to say got him cheap that feels really really mean but it's technically the truth um in regards to that he had an ankle sprain in December 2020 um in October 21 he suffered a bruising to the heel and then in December 21 is when he had that Achilles tear and it was kind of he was sort of out for the season and I mean he was battling a knee injury in 2022 so the one thing this is why I said the boom or bust thing because it really

feels like there's this there's a really good chance that in that his injury may have hindered him and that's the worry because he looks like a very violent style of back you know in between the tackles kind of thing he's got passing game experience which which gives him the positives and he's got a powerful run so is it a case of that they see something in this guy, you know, what he has done in regards to his stats and stuff like that? He had an amazing first year, but the thing is that his first year then is bookended by the injuries. And that's something that can always be really significant when it comes to running backs.

But it's also significant in regards to the fact that the way that they play. Running back, we know, is renowned to be a position that is kind of volatile and injury prone. And you get a lot of running backs. Well, running backs get sort of red shirted first year and things like that. And that's why he made history. And I think that was interesting when I read that courtesy of, I think it was NFL.com, how that he became the first undrafted free agent running back to start. And that was interesting because it was something that I would never really have thought about and that feels like it gives him that little bit of kudos of this this guy has got something and he's got some strength and

it's the sort of thing that Bill Belichick's going to really see isn't it and it's just the the concern of if the injury has taken too much out of him that's why it feels like this is that year of i feel like this guy could be really great but there's that huge risk of it being taken out of him in regards to injury and him not being the you know him not being the um i think it was over a thousand yards that he carried for in 2020. 2021 was 767. So, you know, he's put it up there when it comes to numbers. But 2022 is when he started to sort of fall apart after, you know, after the big injury and then battling with the knee. And then he went from the Jags to the Jets and things like that.

So rockiness has sort of befell this guy. And I think that maybe this is a big opportunity. And because of that, because of that in itself, it feels like his year at the Patriots is an opportunity and possibly one of those prove it, chip on the shoulder kind of thing. So that's why I do feel it's a bit of a boom or bust. I feel like it's either going to be his injury

and it's not going to be great, or he's going to really go out there and just rip it to shreds because he wants to prove that he can be the guy that he was you know when he was that first undrafted free agent to start in week one as a running back and and that kind of thing so I'm quite excited this is why he was in my fab four the sort of thing was because I'm excited to see it was less of what i know and more to do with potential and what i am excited for which is why he hit my list he is an unknown entity for the patriots right now um as i suppose a lot of them are because as you said we've only just touched you know tas and things like this there's no pads there's nothing real to to really evaluate so he is very unknown and that's part of why he was he was put on mine because I I'm thinking I'm looking at this thinking we could have a really good gem here Bill Belichick could have done the

really sort of got his value for money again when it comes to running back so chess versus checkers as I always say yeah and I think he actually did with James Robinson as well look I think there's a theme here in terms of the players that we've taken and maybe like reclamation project or things of that nature or return to prominence even with Mike Gusecki let's face it Gusecki had not really lived up to the previous year's expectations with Miami last year under Mike McDaniel just didn't fit well in his system now working with Bill O'Brien I think he comes out of his shell Kendrick Bourne I think is in a much better environment now to return to the 2021 Kendrick Bourne that we saw rather than

the shell himself that he was in 2022 because of a poor coaching fit James Robinson to me may be the best of all of these examples and for for the reasons that you've said, this kid clearly proved that he can do it. Not only can he do it on the field, but he's shown the determination to be able to do it as well. Coming in as an undrafted free agent, working his way to the top of the Jags running back core and becoming the first undrafted rookie free agent running back to really hold a lot of milestones. That says a lot about this kid's work ethic and what he's able to do.

And A.C. Altair is always going to hinder a running back, especially because of all the cuts, all the ways that you need to move. It's just a very tough injury to overcome. So in those regards, I love the choice of James Robinson, and I really do think that he is going to be a cornerstone of this team this year. And for a reason that lends me into my choice for the fourth and final square. And I was almost going to ask you, you said not to get into how you're choosing. I was going to say, how do you know who I'm choosing?

But then I remembered, folks, the clairvoyance. She always sees beyond. I knowvoyance she always that's it the clairvoyance she can read me better than the tea leaves folks and I have chosen a running back as well probably to no one's surprise and I'm going with Ramondre Stevenson and look the Patriots might be having some positional competition and positional battles during mini camp training camp uh running back's not one of them folks uh remandre stevenson is the guy and he clearly emerged as the team's top rusher last year with damian harris missing a lot of time with injury 1040 yards five touchdowns averaging five yards per carry in that lead role he also caught 69 passes for 429 yards and a touchdown as a backfield receiver and to me what really i think endeared patriots nation most to remondre stevenson was the struggles mac jones

was having struggles the offense was having when they needed a spark or any type of offensive output they typically look to remondre to get it and i think they'll do that again this year there's a physical powerful running style in this kid that I know he'll use, but he also has the vision, the athleticism. He can make tacklers miss in short yardage, and he also has some success with the catch and run. Obviously, 69 passes, 421 yards receiving, that's going to lend itself into his game. But here's the thing, and this is why i'm really glad that you included james robinson on this list ramondre needs help he absolutely needs

help he needs someone to come in and consistently and reliably help to shoulder that workload so if reclamation or another lre word is the word for j Robinson, Mike Gusecki, Kendrick Bourne. I think Ramondre's R-E word is rest. That's what he really needs in terms of being able to rest and be productive for the remainder of the season. He kind of hit a little bit of a wall in the latter part of the year, and it's because he was being used too much. It wasn't because all of a sudden he forgot how to play football, folks.

He did. He just was tired, and you can't blame him for that. He played over 66% of the team's offensive snaps last season. That was a dramatic increase from 24.7 in his previous season. So that really, I think, is something to keep an eye on. And just to validate that point, Ivan Fears recently spoke with Six Rings and Things podcast, spoke with our good friend Nick Fitzstevens, and made a comment about Ramondre Stevenson needing that help. Quoting Ivan directly here, I think Ramondre is what we used to call a three-down back, but he's going to need some help. There's not too many backs out there that can play 17 games, and the number of snaps we're talking about with carrying and

being healthy and strong at the end of the year that's just too much so he's going to need some help that's where james robinson becomes a very key part of this team and that's where i think he earns his stripes as a member of the fab four offensive skill position players for the new england patriots and folks what do you think? Did Claire and I hit this nail on the head? What are your favorites? What are your thoughts on the Patriots offensive skill position players? I'm not getting a whole lot of national love, Claire. And, you know, we're, I think we're biased to our players here in New England. There's a lot of optimism, and I don't think that's a bad thing. I actually think it's a very good thing for the New England

Patriots. So drop us a comment in the line below. Let us know what you think of the Patriots' offense. And remember, folks, sorry to interrupt you, but remember, folks, he didn't let me pink Hunter Henry as well. He specifically told me no two tight endings. So just for the record, I had to go with either Gusecki or Hunter. You know I wanted to go with Hunter as well, really. So please bear that in mind when you when you make a decision on what you think i would have put hunter henry as well

folks definitely if you have any uh any lament about hunter henry not being chosen directed at me because it was my fault but in order to make things right with the countess of clazz again and don't worry i promise that was going to retire the billy zane impression i'm not going to do it about being i am going to say that we will spend a good amount of time chronicling hunter henry's role in this offense and what we can expect from him in 2023 very soon here on lockdown patriots so for all your hunter henry fans out there we are going to give him his equal time as well. But the purpose of today's conversation,

I think that we made some interesting choices at the very least. Whether you agree with them or not, you'll let us know. But Countess, do you have any parting thoughts before we take our leave of the subject for the week? No, I think there's a lot to be excited about. There's a lot that could potentially go wrong, and I hate to say that, but there's a lot to be excited about. There's a lot that could potentially go wrong,

and I hate to say that, but there is. There's a lot of uncertainty, you know, anything from Mike Gusecki not necessarily clicking in the offence to James Robinson being too injury prone or too kind of affected by his previous injury. But there's also so much to be positive for, and there's also so much to be positive for and there's also so much to look forward to I kind of just want to get through OTAs because I really want to get to

see these guys in pre-season I want to actually see them play football starting to get really impatient now because I want to see what Mike Gusecki has got when he's in the team when he's part of a game and stuff like that and and the likes obviously of James Robinson and Kendrick and and Romandre Stevenson, as we've talked about. So I'm just, it's starting to build now the excitement and the anticipation and hopefully the positivity of we've got these. And obviously the guys that they've drafted, the interest of seeing what they can bring to the team.

So it's all the anticipation is starting to build. So yeah, it's just a positive. It's just like, it's just bring me me football just bring me the football season now well the league definitely took away a couple of otas so they're making the calendar go by a little bit quicker on that regard but uh well not really folks they took away the otas they didn't take away the days themselves so we still have to get through them but i agree with you mini camp and train camp cannot come fast enough folks they're going to continue to bring you all the coverage you can handle here on Locked On Patriots, so stay locked in.

If you're not an everydayer yet, folks are going to want to become one because we are going to give you boots on the ground coverage as soon as we're able to get to Gillette, and it will be definitely a lot of fun to watch this team in action on the field. But in the meantime, please continue to stay locked into Locked On Patriots. And of course, you can catch my illustrious co-host today here each and every week on Locked On Patriots. Claire, before I let you go, please let everyone know where they can find you, what we can expect coming from the great pen, the great voice of Claire Cooper.

As you mentioned in the intro, yeah, a Claire perspective, a Patriots podcast brought to you by fullpresscoverage.com. As it's the off season, I generally switch from a weekly thing to kind of a fortnightly thing. However, because of the stuff that I want to talk about,

there was an episode last week with the beloved Andy Hart of WEI. And fingers crossed, I will bring you an episode the end of this week as well that will be just myself, just kind of chatting on what's gone on with the schedule. Maybe my lovely assistant should join me as well.

So I have put a message out there for mailbag and stuff. So thank you to everyone who was sent in. So, yes, there'll be another episode hopefully coming to you shortly. And then I'll be back next week with a guest hopefully. So, as I said, it's the off-season, but I'm trying to bring you plenty of content still. But you will get a clear perspective fortnightly at least while it is the off season at least fortnightly and yes keep an eye on Patsburg Aganda we're trying to work some things out in the in the background to kind of get ready for the season so I know we're not giving you a lot of kind of

off-season coverage at Patsburg Aganda it's because we're busy trying to sort of sort things out and work things out to to get ready for the season so and with time passing us by we're kind of struggling a little bit to kind of get it in place so please be patient with us but please keep your eyes on patspropaganda.com because we will be bringing you content and as soon as the season starts we hopefully have got some new and exciting things for you so please don't not bookmark that on your on your web browser and stuff like that so keep an eye on patspropagandaber.com. And obviously, E2G Sports Network brings you One Patriot's Place with myself most weeks

and Murph every week. So yeah. Absolutely, folks. I've always said when Claire puts pen to paper or voice to microphone, you'll find it on the Bird app. Definitely subscribe, read, absorb. You'll be a better football fan. You'll be more entertained.

What more can you ask for? And of course, don't forget to stay locked in daily to locked on patriots for the latest from foxborough on your new england patriots and claire it is always an honor always my privilege to have you join me on the microphone so thank you for joining me here today but most of all folks thank you all for continuing to make locked on patriots your first listen every day don't forget tomorrow here on the pod we will continue to dive into the very latest from new england patriots otas and what it means moving forward as the patriots try to get through their third and final phase and head into mandatory me camp coming up in just a couple of weeks

all that and more right here on locked on Patriots. Stay locked in and in the meantime continue to stay safe, stay well, and be the change you wish to see in the world. Have a great day, everyone, and we'll see you tomorrow right here on Locked on Patriots.