Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Prove It or Lose It? - Patriots Prospectus for Bentley, Thuney and more - 6/19/2020

Episode Date: June 19, 2020

With rumors circulating that there might be interest from the Philadelphia Eagles in guard Joe Thuney, the New England Patriots are once again faced with the prospect of trading their most valuable offensive lineman. Joining host Mike D’Abate to address these rumors is Steve Balestrieri of PatsFans.com. The duo also discuss the likelihood of linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley taking on a more prominent role in the New England defense. Lastly, each provides his own take on which member of the Pats’ D is entering a ‘prove-it’ year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Patriots fans, you are now locked in to the Locked On Patriots Podcast. I'm going to show you how to make a beautiful and beautiful flower. I'm going to use a small flower pot. I'm going to use a small pot Hello to all of you Foxborough faithful. And thank football and Foxborough. It's Friday here on the Lockdown Patriots podcast, your daily home for news notes and analysis infused with the occasional opinion

on your six-time Super Bowl champions, the New England Patriots. What is happening, Patriots Nation? My name is Mike DeBate, your host of the Locked On Patriots podcast, back in action today, Friday, June 19th, 2020, after an unexpected but much-needed day to recharge. And of course, Locked On Patriots is a proud part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. And folks, because it's your team every day,

that means your questions, comments, and feedback are always welcomed and greatly appreciated. You can always share that feedback by reaching out to me and following me on Twitter at MDABATEFPC. And while you're out there saying, how you doing to the Twitterverse, please be sure to follow the Locked On Patriots account as well at L-O underscore Patriots.

Patriots fans, we are almost ready to put a cap on the week here on the pod. And it's kind of had a homecoming feeling here on Locked On Patriots this week. It started off talking about some Colin Kaepernick to New England rumors with my good friend Ian Glendon of Full Press Coverage. From there, I opened up the Locked On Patriots mailbag and did my very best to address your questions, comments, and feedback. And of course, folks, on Wednesday, we absorbed the green wisdom and counsel of our main man, Thomas, the Count of Murphy, Fisto himself Murphy.

And we talked about the numerous challenges that are likely to be faced by the New England Patriots coaching staff, not just on the field, but off the field as well. Well, in keeping with this week's homecoming theme, we're going to take it full circle, and we're going to close the week the same way we open the week, with some interesting roster rumors. One in particular, and that rumor surrounds an all-pro guard that, to be honest, I really didn't expect to still be a Patriot at this point in the year. But here we are.

And that is offensive guard Joe Tooney. Now, since the Patriots placed the franchise tag on Joe Tooney, it's long been assumed that they would do whatever it takes to somehow reduce or maybe lessen the impact of the approximately $14.8 million that tag comes with. So far, it's been quiet on that front. It doesn't seem like there's been a lot of progress either way. Keep in mind that the Patriots have until July 15th to reach a long-term deal with Joe, or the Pats and he will be locked into a one-year contract at the franchise price.

If the Patriots don't want to absorb that type of salary cap hit, and I have to imagine they don't, then they will have to consider one of two options. The first is one I already touched upon, working out a long-term deal. Obviously, by doing that, they could spread his salary out, lessen the salary cap impact for 2020, and then in turn use that space for either extensions or possibly to bring in other free agents. The other option that the Patriots have in order to free up cap space with the Tooney deal is to trade him. Now, the trade market for Joe Tooney seems to be pretty quiet. I thought if they were going to move him, it would have been during the draft. The closer we get to a potential start of the 2020 NFL season, the more likely I believe it will be that Joe will be sticking

around in Foxborough this year. But over the past couple of days, there have been a few new rumors surrounding Joe Tooney, possibly heading to the Philadelphia Eagles. Yeah, folks, those same Philly Special Eagles. And before I say anything further to invoke the vile memories of Super Bowl 52, let's just say that there might be some interest in Joe's services in the city of brotherly love. One of their star offensive linemen, Brandon Brooks, recently suffered a torn Achilles. Now, the Eagles do have some in-house options that I'm sure they'd like to kick the tires on. However, if they feel that their in-house options are simply not up to the level of what they would have gotten from Brooks,

then they may look to upgrade. And what better way to do that than to trade for a second-team all-pro guard in Joe Tooney? So, at present and on paper, folks, there seems to be a fit between Tooney and the Eagles. The question is whether or not the Patriots would want to do this. And no, folks, I'm not talking vendettas from previously lost Super Bowls. I'm posing the question of whether or not it's in the best interest of the football team, which is something Bill Belichick predicates himself on,

to trade an all-pro guard that is going to be vital in providing the protection and stability on the offensive line needed for a young quarterback like Jarrett Stidham. I and several of my guests here on Locked On Patriots have said that one of Jarrett's biggest weaknesses is being able to get rid of the football when he's under pressure. If you have an inexperienced quarterback playing behind a weak offensive line, it could be a recipe for disaster. And even though the Patriots have a great deal of fiscal responsibility, it's hard to believe that cap savings alone would be enough to entice the Patriots to trade their all-pro

guard. Also, you have to figure that Bill Belichick is not going to let one of his best offensive line pieces simply walk out the door to Philadelphia for pennies on the dollar. Philly's going to have to up the ante. In short, folks, Philly's going to have to make Bill Belichick an offer he can't refuse. I'm not so sure the Eagles will be willing to do that. But that's just my two cents on the matter. I think we need a second opinion on that.

And who better to go to than the opinion of one of the best and most knowledgeable columnists that you'll find in Patriots media anywhere. A very good friend of the Locked On Patriots family makes homecoming week complete as Steve Balistrieri of Patsfans.com will join me here on the hot seat. And we will talk about whether the Patriots losing Joe Tooney, keep in mind I said today's theme is prove it or lose it, would actually be the best thing for the football team. And to satisfy the prove it theme of today's show, we'll be talking about those players on the Patriots roster that are facing a prove it year. Perhaps a year in which they have to burst the roster bubble just to make it on the

final squad. So sit tight folks, an action-packed pod today. Steve Balistrieri is here to lend his wisdom and counsel on prove it It or Lose It Friday and thus put the finishing touches on homecoming week right here on the Locked On Patriots podcast. But before Steve joins us here on the hot seat today, folks, I just wanted to take a brief moment to acknowledge that today is June 19th. It is also the celebration of Juneteenth. And this year, more than any other year that I can remember, Juneteenth is being celebrated across social media and across the country in ways that we

haven't seen before. For those of you that are unfamiliar with the holiday, Juneteenth is the day in which Americans commemorate emancipation from slavery in the United States. It's true that the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on January 1st, 1863. However, it wasn't until two years later, on June 19th, 1865, that enslaved people in Galveston, Texas finally learned that they were free. That day became known as Juneteenth, and it was a day to reconnect with lost family members and to find values of racial equality and empowerment for future generations. This day has long been celebrated by black communities across the country and is now a holiday that is observed in 47 states. Amidst our collective push toward justice and equality for all Americans, I encourage

you all to pause on this Juneteenth, even if it's over the weekend, to celebrate black freedom and recognize and reflect upon the ongoing struggle against systematic racism that persists in America today. I, along with all of my colleagues here at the Locked On Podcast Network, stand against racism and social injustice. Together, let's lend our ears, open our hearts, and combine our voices to help be the change we wish to see in the world. Folks, Steve Balistrieri will join me here on the hot seat

on the Locked On Patriots Podcast in just one moment. But as we head towards what we hope will be a beautiful summer weather weekend, we are reminded that summer is a time that we want to look and feel our best. But you know what else wants to look and feel its best? That's right, your ride, your wheels, or as we say here in New England, your car. And as always, right there for me whenever I need them to help keep my automobile looking and running its best are my friends at rockauto.com. And folks, whether you're a professional mechanic or a do-it-yourselfer like me, rockauto.com and folks whether you're a professional mechanic or a do-it-yourselfer like me rockauto.com's prices are the same for everybody and they're reliably low in fact rockauto.com is committed to offering the lowest possible prices and access to rockauto.com's

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you want a level-headed and knowledgeable guest to kind of navigate you through some of the difficulties that we might see on the field this year in Foxborough. Well, the good news is I have just that guest. He is one of the best and most knowledgeable columnists that you can find anywhere in Patriots media. You know his great work from patsfans.com, as well as being the co-host of two amazing podcasts, Patriots fourth and two and one Patriots place with our great mutual friend, Thomas Murphy. He is my pies on Steve Balistrieri joins me today. Welcome back to the locked on Patriots podcast, my friend.

Oh, Mike, thanks for having me. It's always a pleasure talking Patriots football with you, as you well know. And, uh, you know, I think we could all use a little distraction this morning. Absolutely. We definitely could for so many reasons. And, you know, Steve, this has been an interesting offseason. I think that really kind of is such a gross understatement that I'm almost shocked that I'm able to make that with a straight face. But at the same time, the Patriots definitely don't take any days off and they haven't done so this

offseason it's been quiet on the roster front but there is still one major question surrounding the status of offensive lineman Joe Tooney now I was surprised as a lot of fans were and even some of our colleagues in the media were when the Patriots used the franchise tag on Joe. Talent-wise, there's no question about it. He is obviously one of the best, if not the best, offensive guards in the NFL. So from a talent perspective, you know the Patriots wanted to keep him in the fold. But from a financial perspective, he was thought to be out of New England's price range. Now, with the tag, Tooney's going to count for $14.78 million against the Patriots' salary cap this year. It's possible they may keep him on the books with that kind of salary,

but I think this means one of two things. They're either going to make every effort to extend him, or they might entertain the idea of trading him. And with the July 15th deadline, and that deadline, folks, is the deadline for any team to be able to sign him to a long-term deal that's fast approaching now over the past couple of days a new suitor seems to have emerged and the idea was floated around most prominently by Albert Breer of MMQB that the Philadelphia Eagles might have an interest especially with Brandon

Brooks having torn his Achilles that opens up a need at the position in Philadelphia, and reportedly they're pretty high on a guy like Joe Tooney. Steve, if you're Bill Belichick and Nick Casario, what are the positives and the negatives in trading Joe Tooney at this stage in the Patriots' efforts to develop a 2020 roster? And million-dollar question, my friend friend would you do it well the pro is that you would free up a bunch of cap space obviously because they're you know under a million bucks i think i haven't looked at mckell's page lately but i think he has it somewhere in the neighborhood of like 670 000 i think right, which is not enough for the season. So that would free up, obviously.

Now you'd be back over 15 million bucks. But the problem is, the con with this is it's not going to help you at all this year, even if the Eagles get really generous with you, which I don't think they would. So what happens is you're not going to help yourself this year. They're not going to give you a player. They're going to give you probably a draft pick or maybe, you know, two middle picks. Who knows?

But, you know, if that's the case, you're not really helping yourself this year. Would I do it? No, I wouldn't. I would make every opportunity to sign Tony to a long-term deal, which we heard, you know, would I really want to trade him? No, I really wouldn't. But I'd make every opportunity to keep him because the other thing involved is once you get past the projected starters here, there's still a lot of questions on this offensive line. Yeah, absolutely. And I'm so glad that you made that point.

And I'm going to expound upon that in just a moment. But one point I wanted to come back to that you made was whether or not it's in the best interest of the football team. We know, Steve, from our time covering the team, from our time being fans of the team, most people know that Bill Belichick is the type of coach that will do what he feels is best for the football team. Now, whether the fans agree with him in that regard is another, that's another conversation for another day, folks. But he will do what he feels to be in the best interest of the football team. Miguel currently has the Patriots at just $650,989 under the cap, meaning that's the

cap space that they have available. $14.87 million is, excuse me, $14.87, not $7.8. I made an inversion earlier, folks, and I apologize for that. That could mean that the Patriots would like to open up some salary cap space without any question. But to do it at the expense of trading a guy like Joe Tooney, knowing that at this stage in the game, you may not be able to get that type of capital that's going to help you this year. They have such a drastic need to be able to provide guys on the offensive line that are going to be able to protect Jarrett Stidham. He's a young quarterback. He's a quarterback that has questions when it comes to his ability to get rid of the football

and play under pressure. The struggles that he had both at Baylor, both at Auburn, also feed into that. You can see that. It's when he has to get rid of the ball or make quick decisions under pressure, that's where he can have some difficulty. Now, I think that will be alleviated as he gets more experience, but especially at the beginning, he's going to need adequate protection. And to do that, I think he's going to need both Tooney and Isaiah Wynn healthy and at their best protecting him on that left side of the offensive line. So I agree with you. I think that unless the haul that they're going to get from the Eagles is

going to be so good that they can't pass it up, I think it's better for them to keep Tooney on the roster, even though trading him would open up significant cap space, I think they're better off rolling with what they got because it's more beneficial for you to not only develop Jared Stidham, but protect him. You don't want your young quarterback getting injured this early in his career that could have further implications down the line. So we're in agreement on that, Steve. And, you know, I'm not surprised, but in some cases it makes me feel smarter knowing that you agree with my assessment. So I thank you that my friend but I want to stay on the subject for just a moment and we mentioned some of the depth that the Pats have on the offensive line or lack thereof and assuming Tooney remains or even if he does depart I think they have

solidity on the offensive line with most of the starting positions. Where the Pats really struggled last year, in my estimation, was at the swing positions. We all remember Marshall Newhouse at the tackle position. Folks, I'm not going to go into a lot of detail on that, but let's just say it obviously didn't work. But those roles, those swing roles are so vital in building a strong offensive line, Steve, especially when you're protecting a young quarterback who again his biggest flaw is quickly getting rid of the football under pressure in your estimation who steps up here into those swing roles on the offensive line this year not only at tackle but on the backup interior as well yeah i mean you

know when i'm looking at things it's in a perfect world and you know we know we don't live in one but in a perfect world you're you know last year's third round pick Yannick Caduce it's going to be healthy he's going to be back on the field he's going to step up and he's going to be your sling guy you know um I'm not sure I mean we haven't seen him on the field so it's really hard to say he's going to be that guy but then you know um in a not so perfect world then you have guy you know some other veterans uh jermaine alumino or cory cunningham those kind of veteran guys i i don't know if i really want those guys being my swing guys. I'd rather have that young guy, you know, as being my top backup.

And the other thing that going back to Joe Tooney for a second, you know, because of the departure of James Farrington, Ted Karras, Tooney's your backup center right now as well. So that just bodes even more where, you know, I don't want to get rid of him. But, you know, when I'm looking at the, you know, your top backups, I think you have to look at the two second year players that were both hurt last year, and that would be Yannick Adjouz.

And I never pronounce his name right for aolt. Yalda Froholt. Yeah Yalda Yalda yeah but yeah if I'm looking at in a perfect world and again we don't live in one but you know I would have Froholt and Caduce as my two backup, top backup guys. You know, and again, I mean, last year we have everyone coming back. Now David Andrews coming back. You know, Isaiah Wynn's coming back. Hopefully both of those guys stay healthy. Last year, you know, I don't think either Jack Mason or Marcus Cannon played up to their levels that we're used to.

So there's still a lot of questions on this offensive line. Now, if everyone's back healthy and they play up to what we're used to, the offensive line will be a source of strength for them. Yeah, I think it absolutely can be. And I think you made a lot of great points. And again, once again, folks, points that I agree with. Yanni Kajusti, to me, is the guy that should be that type of a swing tackle. He has the talent.

We've seen footage on him in college proving that he's more than capable. There are some people believe that he was a solid second round or maybe even a first round talent if his health was not in question. A lot of people thought that's why he fell to the depths that he did in the 2019 draft. And some people even thought he was a steal for the Patriots he still may end up being so we just haven't seen enough of him on the field from a professional standpoint to be able to know whether or not they've got someone that they can build around here or whether or not it might be a liability with any type of health

issues or just inability for his skills to translate to the pro game I don't think it would be that if anything derails Yanni Kajust game. I don't think it would be that. If anything derails Yanni Kajusti at this point, I think it would be his health more than anything. Corey Cunningham is a depth chart piece, but he's also limited in his skill set and what he's able to do. He was a healthy scratch more often than not last year. There has to be a reason for that.

The sixth rounder that they picked up this year, Justin Heron, a lot of people have insinuated that he may move inside. I've looked at tape and film on Justin more extensively since they picked him up than even pre-scouting him in the draft. I think that might be a mistake or a last resort for the Patriots simply because I think he's better off on the outside than he is on the inside from what I've seen. But he does have the versatility to be able to do that. So keep a sharp eye on that this year, folks, as well at the tackle position. Interior, I think this is even more interesting.

And our executive producer, Jay Soderberg, here joined me a couple of weeks ago on Locked On Patriots. And we talked about some of the concerns we have with the interior of the offensive line. Obviously, David Andrews is saying, and we're hearing all the right things on him, that he's healthy, he's back to being where he needs to be, he's going to be able to step in and provide that leadership. The Patriots haven't done a whole lot to address any type of depth behind him, which should bode well for how the Patriots feel about his health

and his prospectus moving forward. But Steve, you know, we're dealing with blood clots in the lungs. And Jay made a very good point two weeks ago here that we're dealing with a pandemic that attacks the respiratory system. So his health is so important for the Patriots, and it's going to be so delicate for them to balance that, that we may need to see players step up and maybe even take some snaps at the center position in a backup role. If David has to be either held out or if the unfortunate circumstance presents where David is going to be held out for any significant amount of time, this is a position that concerns me a little bit. Now, obviously we mentioned Yelda Frohold. He could be a backup interior swing position, not a really a true center though. The only other center that

they have on this roster right now, that's a true backup center would be Dustin Ruddard, who's the rookie that they picked up in the seventh round this year. So I think a lot of this is going to be a wait and see for the Pats. This does concern me a little bit in terms of the backup behind David Andrews. Some of these guys may need to step up. Michael Onwenu, I think, is another guy that could end up filling one of those spots on the interior. Could he possibly be a center? Who knows? I don't think so. I believe he's better off as an interior guard, but they do have some young pieces there, and I think this is going to be an interesting year for the Patriots in terms of who's going to be able to plug those holes and how they're going to be able

to fill the depth pieces on the line. Because last year was a, I stopped short of saying a disaster because I think that's a little too, I really think that's a little too harsh. I don't think, you know, Newhouse and those guys were a complete and utter debacle, but it was close to it as you could get, and you saw that in the lack of offensive productivity last year. Well, and then speaking about Michael Onwenu, he's one big dude.

I haven't seen him in the flush yet, but, I mean, you're talking about a guy that's 375 pounds. Right. He's going to be one of those big, big offensive linemen, and if they do decide, you know, because they may need some help inside and to push him inside, he might be someone to watch in the running game. He will. Just because of that size and width that he has.

He might be a real important piece inside in the running game. I'm not so sure. I mean, you know, his athleticism isn't bad for a big man. It's going to be interesting to see how he does in training camp against, obviously, the pros for the first time. He's going to be someone really to watch because they might need him this year. Absolutely. That's something I'm really looking forward to and watching on Waino as he kind of molds into the type of offensive lineman that I believe the Patriots think he can be. When the Patriots drafted him, first thing that I thought of right off the bat was his wingspan. This guy just has a massive, massive amount of arm space and body space that just takes up so much of the field

that to me it's going to be very difficult to envision a scenario where a pass rusher is going to be able to get by him as long as they're within his reach. That to me is really that's the key. And whether his athleticism allows him to be able to shift and move side to side to get into position, if he has a bead on a pass rusher, I can't imagine any type of pass rusher being able to get around him. Even the most adept and quick and agile pass rushers are going to have difficulty getting by a guy of his size. So I agree with you. It's going to be interesting to watch on the interior line of the interior of the offensive line this year. And I, for one, can't wait to watch it. I love to watch offensive line, defensive line battles, because to me, that's where games are won in the trenches. And I always have a sharp eye on those. Steve, the O-line is not the only area in which the Patriots are going to need a veteran

to step up and prove himself, though. The defense has some of those players as well, one of which spoke to the media this week, and I'd like to get your thoughts on his role and also which player might be a wildcard this year on the strongest unit of this 2020 Patriots team. All this and more with Steve Balistrieri when the Locked On Patriots podcast continues. Folks, Steve Balistrieri of Patsfans.com joins me today to close out the week here on Locked On Patriots.

And Steve, the Pats are going to be a team that I believe is going to win or lose on the backs of their defense. As much optimism as I heap on Jarrett Stidham, he most likely will be unable to carry this team the way Tom Brady did. I mean, Steve, we have to be honest about that. But the defense can step it up. And players like Stephon Gilmore, Devin McCourty, Dante Hightower, just to name a couple, they're

going to step it up. It's just in their nature. But I think there's one guy on this team that might be looking at a prove it year. And I think he's up to the challenge. And that is Juwan Bentley. Juwan spoke with the media earlier this week, and he was very matter of fact and very clear that he wants more, meaning that he wants a bigger role and more responsibility. He sounded very confident that he's ready for that role. I thought Bentley's reduced role last year stemmed from the presence of Jamie Collins more than maybe a regression of his talent.

I think that reduced his number of snaps in the rotation because Collins started off so well, had such a synergy in this defense that I believe it made Bentley's role maybe a little bit more reduced. I don't want to say expendable because it certainly wasn't that case, but maybe not as vital as it had been because they had a guy like Collins to take the pressure off. But in my opinion, you don't get the green dot on your helmet as a rookie. If you don't have the confidence of Bill Belichick, Stephen,

your estimation, how much of a role will Bentley play in the defense this year? And do you believe he can handle that responsibility? Oh, I absolutely believe he can handle it. I mean, if you look back at that rookie year that you just mentioned, I mean, he showed right off the bat that nothing was too big for him. Obviously, you know, it was cut short due to injury. But he was playing really some solid football for them.

And I think he hit the nail on the head, you know, when they brought back Jamie Collins last year. You know, Collins is that uber-athletic kind of, you know, X-factor piece. So that, you know, and then they had Kyle Van Nooy and Landon Roberts had been kind of a fixture here. So that cut into his playing time. And then they had Kyle Van Nooy and Landon Roberts had been kind of a fixture here. So that cut into his playing time. When I'm looking at, of course, now all three of those guys are now gone.

So I think he's going to play a big role this year. I really do. I think when you're looking at your off-the-line linebacker type of player, I think he's one of really two that they have with any experience him and donta high power i see his role being big this year and i don't read anything into it for you know his reduced workload last year yeah i agree with you on that i think if you look at the promising start this kid had to his career, everybody remembers the interception against the Lions, and that was really, I think, the gem of his rookie season. But it also is noteworthy that his rookie season was only three games.

Suffered the torn bicep. That landed him on injured reserve. But in those games, just in that small sample that we have of Juwan Bentley, I always thought he looked like a potential three-down linebackerer, stepped right in, had a very good feel for this defense. And obviously again, Bill Belichick put the green dot on his helmet during the preseason. And at some point you knew that there was a great deal of confidence that he had in him to be able to dictate, know where he was on the field and also get his fellow players around him to be in the right place at the right time. That's not an easy task. If you can take to that very early and then I think that's a big time

feather in your cap when you're a defensive player especially under a Bill Belichick system he's had a couple of years now to be mentored by players like Dante Hightower and even Van Noyen Collins so I think he's got the pedigree now to take over that leadership mantle both on and off the field. I also look for him to assist this year in ways that maybe people don't expect him to. Maybe helping out with the run-stopping responsibilities that Alandon Roberts did last year. I think he could be a guy to step in and fill that role. Again, if he can emerge as that balanced three down linebacker I think it's going to be a huge boost to this linebacking core this year you're already

looking at departures of Van Noy of Collins and Roberts they need someone to step in provide that type of stability and provide that type of leadership and knowledge in the system to be able to move some of these younger players forward. From what I heard from Juwan, he looks like a guy that really is ready to take that step. And I think the talent that he's shown on the field, really during the time that we've had the opportunity to watch him, is something that I think is going to shine through this year. And folks, for anybody worried about his health, he played all 16 games last year.

I think that's noteworthy as well. Nobody should be concerned, at least for the time being, about Juwan's long-term health. He was durable last year. I just think that the log jam at the position kind of shortened his role a little bit. That's not going to be the case this year. I really look for him to shine and shine in a big way.

Steve, that leads me quite nicely into my last question for you today, and that is, Bentley is not the only guy on this roster, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, that's facing that prove-it type year. I think the Patriots have a few of those guys. I have my eye on a certain player in particular that I think needs to prove something to the New England fan base and the New England coaching staff this year,

but I don't want to steal your thunder just yet. Who do you believe on this roster, on the defensive side of the football, is facing the biggest prove-it year in terms of making an impact on this 2020 Pats team? Well, I'm going to say a second-year player because I know a lot of us have immediately penciled him in for a much bigger role, and that would be Chase Winovich. And I have all the faith in this kid that he's going to be all that we expect him to be.

But at the same time, you know, he didn't play a ton, you know, in his rookie season. But that's kind of expected, you of expected because outside linebacker and defensive end, they were pretty deep there last year. But we're all expecting him to step into a much bigger role this year, and I think that's the guy I'm going to be looking at because I think more than anybody, we're automatically assuming that he's going to do that. And that's why I think he's going to be the guy that has to prove it. I think you're onto something there with Winovich. I believe he's definitely up to the challenge.

And I think he's also going to have to take on that Rob Gronkowski-like role in the locker room. And folks, don't roll your eyes. That is an important part of team chemistry, is having that guy in the locker room that can lighten the load, be the prankster, be the guy that's willing to be the butt of the joke for the betterment of the team when it comes to a media perspective. I think especially this year, it's going to be so vital to team chemistry to have that guy in the locker room that can be that fun-loving,

everybody-wants-to-be-around type guy in the locker room that can be that fun loving uh everybody wants to be around type guy and i think chase can do it say nothing of the fact that i believe his on-field skills are right up there with where he needs to be he's going to be a much bigger uh you know part of this defense this year um our good friend thomas murphy has said several times about chase bill belichick put him in the right positions to be able to succeed and showcased his strengths perfectly last year. He didn't overplay him. He didn't ask him to do things he wasn't capable of doing or things that he wasn't ready to do. He was right there in the thick of things to be able to showcase what this kid could do well. This year, you're going to see

that role increase, and I completely agree with you. So great choice on that one, my friend. I'm going to stay on the defensive side of the ball. I'm going to stay on the edge rush and I'm going to go with a player that it pains me to say this, but Dietrich Wise Jr. I think is facing a pretty big prove it year for the Patriots this year. For the first time since he's been here, I think he's going to be on the roster bubble. And again, folks, it does pain me to say that because my first assignment in covering the Patriots back in 2017 was profiling Dietrich in his rookie profile, you know, coming over in the 2017 draft. And I really, I thoroughly enjoyed being able to interview him. He could not have been more gracious, more appreciative, and he could not have been more motivated or more confidence building in terms of

what he played in terms of what he said he played right into it he knew his role coming in he envisioned his role coming in and he was completely fine with it he just seemed like the prototypical patriot but arguably you know coming from a season in 2018 where he had four and a half sacks. He had 30 total tackles. His ability to play increased. He's been durable. He's played 16 games, two out of the three seasons, played 14 last year. So I really think there's not a question of durability when it comes to Dietrich. It's just about finding your right fit in this defense. And for any reason last last year it just didn't seem to click his numbers went down uh dropped to only two sacks dropped to 24 total tackles i think he's going to need to increase that and i really hope that he's able to do it because i just i love his outlook i love his

attitude and i love the way he appreciates being a new england patriot but i think he's going to have to show something on the field this year especially with some of the younger players that might be pushing him for a roster spot. Guys like a Joshua Uche or even like somebody like an Anthony Jennings that's coming in that has a lot of pedigree, a lot of potential, maybe some injury concerns. But if he can show something in training camp, it might put some pressure on Dietrich. So again, I think we're looking at two players, one that's entering their fourth season, one that's going to enter their second, and guys that really need to step up. I have all the confidence in the world that Chase will.

I have a lot of optimism that Dietrich will. But ultimately, it's going to be about what they do on the field. And hopefully, these two guys can be meaningful, productive players for the Pats this year because they're going to need that veteran leadership. And I think these two guys can provide a good boost for a lot of the younger players on the roster. Steve, what can I say? I always appreciate you coming in, lending your wisdom and counsel, and talking football with you is one of my favorite pastimes.

I couldn't think of a better way to end the week, so thank you for taking the time out today. As always, my my friend please let us know where we can find you and when i say we i mean the collective patriots nation because most of them know where to find you but if we have some new listeners that don't where can they find you on social media and what can we expect from the great pen of steve balistrieri coming in the next few days? Well, you know, you can find me at patchfans.com. That's where I do all my football writing out of on social media, on Twitter at TV7SFG.

This Sunday, my Sunday football column, I'm going to delve into the trade scenarios with Joe Tony, where I don't think it's a very good move for the Patriots. I don't really think it's a good move for the Eagles either, honestly. I mean, you know, the need is there, obviously, for both teams. But I don't see it being in the best interest of the Eagles to pony up the money for him right now. So we'll see how that all works out.

But that's one of the things I'm writing about. And yeah, as always, Mike, thank you for having me on the show. I appreciate it. The pleasure is all mine, as it always is, my friend. And we look forward to having you back here real soon. You are part of the inner circle here at Locked On Patriots. You're a part of the familia here that is a part of this podcast and without you and your

support and the support of great guys like my earlier guest this week and Ian Glendon and of course our main man Thomas Murphy, I would not be where I am today. So I always appreciate you guys. Always a blast talking ball with you and I look forward to doing it again real soon. Have a great weekend my friend.

You too, Mike. And so we put a bow on the week that was here on the Locked On Patriots podcast. And as always, I want to thank my great guests, three guys that have been there for me whenever I've needed a helping hand. Ian Glendon, Thomas Murphy, and Steve Balistrieri. Not only three very knowledgeable football minds, but three great friends who I appreciate a whole lot. I also want to thank each and every one of you listeners that took the time to send in

a question for this week's trending Twitter Tuesday and the reopening of the Locked On Patriots mailbag. Keep a sharp eye the next few weeks, folks, because the Twitter mailbag will be opened and open often. So keep that great insight and your great questions coming. As for me, I will be back on Monday to bring you the latest news notes and analysis from Foxborough. In addition, an exciting slate of guests on tap for you next week.

You will not want to miss a single episode of Locked On Patriots. So to ensure that you do not miss an episode, follow us on Spotify, subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, and don't forget, you can always listen to Locked On Patriots right on your very own smart device. Simply ask it to play the latest episode of Locked On Patriots. And before I sign off for the week here on the Locked On Patriots podcast, I just wanted to take a moment to wish a very happy Father's Day to all who assume the role of father. Whether it be a dad, a grandfather, an uncle, a godfather, or anyone who assumes the role of father, enjoy your day of

honor. It's certainly well deserved. I also recognize that for some, this day may not be easy. Many of you listening, for a number of reasons, may not be able to celebrate a relationship with a father. Or for some like me, your father may have passed on from this life. It's been 11 years since my father has passed, and Father's Day is bittersweet for me at best. And while I miss him terribly and wish I had more time with him, I am beyond blessed to have had his love and guidance for 28 years. From the bottom of my heart, happy Father's Day, Dad. As always, my greatest honor in life is being a son to you and Mom.

Once again, my name is Mike DeBate, and I thank you all for joining me this week on the Locked On Patriots podcast. I thank you so much for listening today and for staying locked in Locked On Patriots. Stay safe, stay well, be the change you wish to see in the world, and have a great day, everyone.