Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Update: Patriots’ Will Campbell Struggles | Drake Maye Overcomes

Starting point is 00:00:00 The fourth overall pick spent his day in Minnesota on the struggle bus. That's what we start in this episode of Lockdown Patriots. You are Locked on Patriots, your daily New England Patriots podcast, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. What's up Patriots fans? I'm your host Nick Cattels, born and raised in at New England, also host of the Everything Pat's podcast. podcast, co-host of the Greg Bedard Patriots podcast with Nick Cattels and a sports talk show host veteran.

Starting point is 00:00:35 On today's episode, the most steady part of camp goes off the rails on the second day of joint practices against the Vikings. And Drake May clearly passes the biggest challenge of his second NFL camp. But first, the top pick gets beat up by a top talent. We appreciate you joining the show, making us your first listen. And for being an everydayer, the Lockdown Patriots podcast is a proud partner. the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. And today's episode is brought to by Monarch Money. Take control of your finances with Monarch Money.

Starting point is 00:01:08 Use code lockdown NFL at Monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year. So my hope, my hope this week was that Will Campbell, if he struggled on Wednesday, he'd come back and he would have a better practice on Thursday. You get the Friday day off, then you go into the preseason game on Saturday. So learn from the lessons that you were given by the pass rush of Minnesota, the defense of Minnesota on Wednesday. Come back, take what you learned, and have a better practice on Thursday. It's all about the process. That was my hope for Will Campbell this week.

Starting point is 00:01:48 Unfortunately, Thursday was a tough day for Campbell. Phil Perry posted Jonathan Grenard giving Will Campbell all he can handle. looked like three sacks in the span of 11 dropbacks off the rookie's side. Doug Kide posted Campbell mostly beaten on the outside by Grenard. Now, I will say I'd rather have Grenard beating Campbell to the outside than the inside because that would give time theoretically for May to break contain, get away from that pressure. It would also allow May to step into the pocket, which is important. and we all know Campbell's biggest issue has been getting beat to the inside.

Starting point is 00:02:29 So maybe Campbell was focused too much on getting beat to the inside and then gets beat to the outside by Grenard. But I would rather have somebody beat to the outside because it's easier for the quarterback to get away from that pressure. Back to the task at hand. Kide also posted Campbell had a false start in the final period. this is going to happen. This is going to happen when we're talking about a rookie left tackle.

Starting point is 00:03:00 You're going to have bad days. Mama said they're going to be days like this. You're going to have a bad day or two or even three, maybe even four during a training camp. You're going to have bad days. But what I don't want to see, what I don't want to read, what I don't want to hear is Will Campbell stacking bad days. We don't want one bad day on Wednesday. followed up by another bad day on Thursday. You don't want to allow this to become some kind of avalanche.

Starting point is 00:03:30 You want to stop that downward momentum. You have a bad day on Wednesday, correct some things, have a better day on Thursday. Don't start stacking these rough days. Because unfortunately for Campbell, the job is the job. And when you're a left tackle, you have one bad stretch, like the stretch she had during Thursday's practice, giving up three sacks in a span of 11 dropbacks. When you are giving up three sacks, three pressures in a span of 11 dropbacks, if that's a regular season game, that could single-handedly ruin the game.

Starting point is 00:04:09 So the margin for error at the position Campbell plays is so slim. And he said that during the draft process, he mentioned. You know, if a tackle gets beat one time, it's a big deal. If you give up a sack, it's a huge deal. You can have so many other reps, take so many other snaps, do your job correctly, protect the quarterback. But if you give up a sack, if you have a bad stretch, it could ruin the day. And if your left tackles day is ruined, usually your offense's day is ruined.

Starting point is 00:04:44 So don't stack the bad days. I can live with a bad day here and there. 21-year-old rookie left tackle, but don't stack them. The other thing we have to discuss is the fact that this matchup is one of the toughest matchups Campbell is going to have all year long. Jonathan Grenard, if you're unaware, or maybe you don't necessarily appreciate how good that guy is, Grenard is excellent. He is one of the best pass rushers in football, and that is not being hyperbolic.

Starting point is 00:05:17 If you look at pass rush win rate back in 2024, Grenard was 10th overall at edge, a top 10 edge rusher in that analytic. But then when you dive deeper into the stacks, you really, you really start to understand how good Grenard is. Grenard was one of just two edge defenders in the NFL, alongside Miles Garrett, you've heard of him, One of just two edge defenders in the NFL alongside Garrett to record 50 plus pressures, 10 plus sacks, 25 plus run stops, and 10 plus runstuffs.

Starting point is 00:06:02 One of two guys to put that collection of statistics together last year. And I'm not going to sit here and excuse Will Campbell's tough two days. but if you're going to get beat and if you're going to get beat semi consistently get beat by a beast and Grenard is a beast I would feel even worse

Starting point is 00:06:28 if Will Campbell was getting beat like you got beat on Thursday I'd feel even worse if it was some unknown guy if it was some mid-pass rusher if you're going to get beat like you got beat get beat by one of the best at least it softens the blow just a little bit.

Starting point is 00:06:48 Another question I have, and obviously I wasn't on the ground in Minnesota, so I can't answer the question, but Jared Wilson did not practice on Thursday. He was out there in pads, but he did not practice. Ben Brown, interestingly enough, Ben Brown was the first left guard up during the joint practice. And I don't know if that played games with Campbell. I don't know if Campbell was overcompensating to the inside, being concerned about Ben Brown's ability to hold up. I don't know if he was concerned about the communication between he and Brown. I don't know if that messed with Campbell in any kind of way.

Starting point is 00:07:30 Maybe not, but I absolutely believe that it needs to be mentioned. He had a left guard who's really a center playing next to him during this joint. practice against that defense and that pass rush. And you got Garrett Bradbury at center, who's been up and down roller coaster style all camp long. So maybe some of that, maybe some of that impacted Campbell's Day. Again, maybe not, but I want all of you to know those with the circumstances he was dealing with.

Starting point is 00:08:06 And Saturday is going to be Campbell's last shot to put some really good film up. The third preseason game is going to be useless. I don't think anybody cares unless you're fighting for the final roster spot. Nobody cares about that game. So Saturday's it. You had these two huge joint practices, back-to-back rough days for Campbell. He's going to walk into Saturday and have himself a good day. Because not only is the third preseason game useless, the media is not going to be at practice.

Starting point is 00:08:37 We're not going to get these reports next week or the week after about what's happening at practice. So we will have no idea what is happening as the Patriots get ready for week one against the Raiders. We won't have much of a clue until game week. And of course, those practices are limited to the media and what they can see. So this is really the last shot on Saturday, I think, for Campbell to show out a little bit. It's been overall, I'd say, a mixed bag. He's had some good days. He's had some bad days. And most of the bad days. We're the one-on-ones. But now we're talking team drills. We're talking 11 on 11s. He's had a couple of rough days back to back now. And we don't know what's going to happen on

Starting point is 00:09:22 Saturday as far as who's going to play for the Vikings. We know that J.J. McCarthy is not going to play. So I don't know if the Vikings are going to have their starting defensive line out there. But Saturday is it. One consistent positive all camp long takes a step back on day two against Minnesota. That's next as we continue today's episode of Lockdown Patriots, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. Ever wish managing your money felt easier with Monarch money, it can. Whether you're growing your savings or planning a big purchase, Monarch puts you in the driver's seat.

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Starting point is 00:10:34 Use code locked on NFL at MonarchMoney.com for 50% off your first. year. That's monarchmoney.com code locked on NFL for half off your first year. One app, one single app will help you an awful lot. Check out monarchmoney.com. That code, locked on NFL. The defense all camp long has been the one steady. The one steady has been the defense, has been the pass rush. We have discussed it. And this week, I expected the offense to struggle against that very, very tough Minnesota defense. But I thought the Patriots defense would show up all week long and play very, very well. I have some questions about J.J. McCarthy.

Starting point is 00:11:21 I have some questions about the wide receiver position without Justin Jefferson out there. And I thought the Patriots defense would continue that steadiness. Wednesday, it was good. Wednesday, tons of pass rush. Yesterday's episode, we praised the defense. they had a good day. On Thursday, not so much. I don't like reading the word shredded. And that's what I saw.

Starting point is 00:11:48 I saw Andrew Callahan posting that the Patriots defense was getting shredded by McCarthy. Callahan has the numbers. He posts Minnesota one practice, especially up front. Pat's starting defense got diced. McCarthy was 16 for 19, several. touchdowns in 11 on 11s. He even scored in a one minute drill. Greg Bedard

Starting point is 00:12:15 had McCarthy stats. He had 15 of 19. So Callahan had 16 of 19. Bedard had 15 of 19. As far as several touchdowns, Bedard had not one, not two, not three, but McCarthy throwing four touchdowns.

Starting point is 00:12:32 Bard also had the Patriots defense down for two sacks. And he wrote that McCarthy had a couple of scrambles. Not the greatest look for the defensive backs. You're not dealing with Justin Jefferson. Jordan Addison's a really good number two receiver, really good, like them in college,

Starting point is 00:12:52 like them a lot in college. But you don't have Justin Jefferson. And, you know, some of the work that you're dealing with here is the red zone that condenses the field. the defensive backs getting shredded by McCarthy, not the greatest thing that you can hear or read on the surface. Now, I will say, we always talk about context. I will say this.

Starting point is 00:13:20 According to Evan Lazar, there were a number of throws that were completed against Marcus Jones in coverage. And Marcus Jones, as we know, he will fight, he will scratch, he will claw. he will cover pretty well, but he's not a big guy. And so there was a couple of mismatches the Vikings took advantage of when Marcus Jones was out there. I also read that McCarthy threw a couple of dimes. So it's not as if the receivers were running wide open all day long, but you just can't allow J.J. McCarthy to have that kind of day when he doesn't have Jefferson.

Starting point is 00:13:59 I know that you don't have Christian Gonzalez, but they don't have Jefferson. one for one Carlton Davis was out there you just can't allow McCarthy to go 16 of 19 and throw four touchdowns the guy had a day he had a freaking day and Kevin O'Connell you give him a lot of credit I think he's a smart offensive mind and it certainly sounds like O'Connell got the better of Terrell Williams in day two Williams got the better of O'Connell in day one so a little bit of a back and forth fight. And, you know, you might wonder about the pass rush. Both sacks, the Patriots had two sacks on the day.

Starting point is 00:14:42 Both sacks were by one guy, Christian Barmore, who's had a really good camp. That's the good news. Barmore, again, making game-changing plays, practice-changing plays, I guess you would call him. And he's had a very good camp. Now, back to Evan Lazzar. Lazzar did say that he heard there was some pressure on McCarthy. So even though you didn't finish with the sacks, there was some pressure on McCarthy, but you go back to Badaard and Badaard said McCarthy only scrambled twice.

Starting point is 00:15:13 So if you get two sacks and two scrambles, the pressure on McCarthy on Thursday wasn't close to the pressure the Patriots got on Wednesday. So a step back. And in the pass rush has been really good all camp. But on Thursday, it took a little bit of a step back. Just a little bit. And you could look at the tight end position. Patriots trying to deal with T.J. Hawkinson with Minnesota. They had a rough time against Zach Ertz and Washington.

Starting point is 00:15:44 So we've got to keep an eye on that part of the defense as well, which is, hey, can you defend good tight ends consistently? but overall it's one bad day as I mentioned with Campbell you don't want bad days being stacked the defense has not been stacking bad days this this is one bad day and I can chalk it up to a bad day it doesn't excuse everything that happened out there but the fact that they've had one bad day or really bad day makes me less concerned if this was something that we're seeing as a trend the pass rush was starting to fall off as a trend the coverage was falling off as a trend i'd be more concerned but one bad day is not going to

Starting point is 00:16:26 make me run to the panic button and start smashing that thing just not going to now it'll be tough to figure out uh what the patriots defense truly is if you're going to base it on saturday because as i mentioned in the first segment mccarthy's not going to play on saturday o'connell saw all he needed to see and that makes sense mcconnell saw mccarthy go bananas on thursday and said, yeah, let's just allow him to keep that confidence going into next week. We don't want to mess with that. Dude, just had a great practice. Let's just have him sit back and chill on Saturday.

Starting point is 00:17:02 So that means Sam Howell is going to get the start. So if the Patriots defense comes out guns ablazing against Sam Howell, and if there's a backup offensive line and the Patriots are starting their ones, there's less to be excited about. But this team, the Patriots, they are going to compete in truly, I mean, be in the conversation when you get to Turkey Day, gobble, gobble. They're going to compete if the defense is good enough. I think this offense is headed towards average.

Starting point is 00:17:33 That's my hope. Somewhere in the middle of the pack, which means the defense has to be good. If you want to compete, be in football games, be in the conversation late November, early December, it's going to rest on this defense. So as long as they don't stack bad days, you get Gonzalez back healthy. I still feel like they've got the horses. I still feel like they've got the coaching, and I would not be overly concerned. But I'm here to tell you what happened at the joint practice

Starting point is 00:17:59 and at the joint practice on Thursday. This defense was shredded. If you want to look at it from 30,000 feet, Wednesday was a really good day. Thursday was a tough day. The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. They're probably not great, but they're probably not bad.

Starting point is 00:18:20 slash getting shredded by J.J. McCarty on a consistent basis. That's how I look at it. I have questions, defending tight ends, defending the run. I've got some questions about the defense. But I think overall, big picture, this defense is going to be good. I'm not worrying about the defense right now. if I was to try to list the worries, the defense would be on the lower end of the spectrum.

Starting point is 00:18:54 Because on balance, totality of this camp, they've shown up, they've got pass rush, they've had good coverage, and they're hopefully getting Gonzalez back for week one. Let's end on a high note, huh? We get that other stuff out of the way.

Starting point is 00:19:12 The second year quarterback, steps up in Minnesota. That's next. We continue with today's episode of Lockdown Patriots, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. This episode is presented by Yahoo! Fantasy. Best time of the year, folks.

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Starting point is 00:20:25 Stay tuned for more killer announcements and start playing Yahoo Fantasy Football now at Yahoo! Fantasy.com slash lockdown NFL. Here's the best news this week. You ready for it? The best news this week? The number one goal was reached. your number one priority was taken care of and that's drake may drake may was really good on thursday given the offensive line issues that we

Starting point is 00:20:57 talked about and the wide receivers had some trouble separating consistently so without wide receivers consistently separating and an offensive line that was leaky may was really good he's really good Doug Kide posted, May went seven for eight with touchdowns to Diggs, Douglas, Henderson, and Booty, and seven on sevens. Now, you might be screaming Nick, seven on sevens. I understand. Let's get to the red zone drills. Taylor Kyle's.

Starting point is 00:21:29 May battled quick pressure and a lack of separation in red zone drills, but made good decisions and delivered on throws that were there. Phil Perry, May on the money when given time, but two good throws to pop down. Douglas were dropped. Greg Bedard had stats for team periods. Drake May was 9 of 13 with not one, not two, but three touchdowns on the day. The most important part of Drake May's two joint practices against the Vikings is that when you look at the turnover number, there is a big, fat, shiny zero, squatouche, nothing. May did not turn the football.

Starting point is 00:22:12 ball over. Heading into the joint practices, we said that was the biggest thing we were looking for. I didn't care if May completed only 55, 60% of his passes. I don't care if he had a couple of throws that he sprayed over the head of receivers because, you know, the coverage was sticky or maybe he was getting pressured a little bit. The thing that I cared about the most was whether or not May was going to make a dumb decision or two dumb decisions or three or four or five.

Starting point is 00:22:46 And he didn't. He made good decisions. He didn't turn the ball over against a Brian Flores defense while his offensive line was giving up pressure. And at least on Thursday, the wide receivers were not consistently getting open for him. He handled chaos.

Starting point is 00:23:06 And that's really all you could ask. He handled the chaos. Phil Perry posted that, may seem to make good decisions consistently. Offensive issues on Thursday did not, again, did not appear due to the soon-to-be 23-year-olds play. Offensive struggles, not on May. May's doing his part, making good decisions, mostly being accurate, doing what he's

Starting point is 00:23:31 got to do to be successful. Doug Kide posted, thought May played pretty well. Wasn't helped out by the O-line or the receivers. Again, that was the theme. So Drake May is out there against the second best defense, according to DVOA in 2024. Offensive line that is shaky, especially on the left side with Will Campbell

Starting point is 00:23:54 and Jared Wilson's not there today. So all of a sudden now you got Ben Brown and Garrett Bradbury in front of you. There took a sis staring you in the face. He's got this offensive line. He's not doing great. Flores is throwing a kitchen sink. And Drake May. Showed poise.

Starting point is 00:24:14 He showed poise. He showed that he understood what Flores was doing before the snap, after the snap. The diagnosis was there from your quarterback. Young man did homework. Because the only way that you're going to deal with a Brian Flores defense, especially with your offensive line, having some trouble, the only way you're going to deal with that and make good decisions consistently, according to Phil Perry, the only way you're going to do that is if you pay attention

Starting point is 00:24:41 of what they do, you watch the film, you do the homework, and you prepare yourself the best you can. And May is also, during these joint practices, he's extending plays, which is critical, extending plays without making mistakes. And that's the balancing act that May has to accomplish. I think through this season, he's going to have to extend some plays. He's going to get some pressure. Extend the play. Make sure you remain. as a passer while you're getting away from that pressure in the pocket. Keep your eyes down field, but don't make mistakes. Still make good decisions.

Starting point is 00:25:21 Make good decisions. Here's something else that I love about what Drake May did during the two days against the Vikings. He responded. The Washington preseason game didn't go great. Sunday's practice didn't go great. Monday's practice didn't go great. but the mental toughness was there he fought through it yesterday's episode we talked about

Starting point is 00:25:48 may showing grit determination battling his way fighting out of the corner against this viking's defense Thursday more the same the mental toughness fortitude Andrew Callahan posted if you want to know about mental toughness Listen to this anecdote. Callahan Post's unbelievable finish. After taking two sacks in a false start in a miserable one-minute drill, May lobs a 40-yard prayer to booty in the end zone for a touchdown with no time left. Entire Patriots offense rushed booty in celebration.

Starting point is 00:26:32 So May takes two sacks, then his left tackle as a false start, and what's he do? Gotta have it kind of play. Fines Booty for a 40-yard touchdown. I don't care if you want to categorize it as a prayer. Don't care. He made the play. Getting sacked twice, having a false start. Offense is absolutely falling apart in a one-minute drill.

Starting point is 00:26:57 Pressure is on. You've got to make the play, young man. He steps up and he makes the play. That is responding. That is mental toughness. That is fighting adversity. There's no questioning Drake May's confidence. The confidence meter has got to be at a 10.

Starting point is 00:27:11 And he's elevating guys. He's helping guys. He's not getting all the help that he needs, but he's making plays. He's finding ways to impact the practice. He's coming up somehow, some way with highlights. There are moments where he is telling his team, jump on my back, fellas. We're going to make this thing happen.

Starting point is 00:27:39 And I just have one, one thing, one thing to ask the Patriots, Mike Rable, Josh McDaniels, the organization, I have one thing to ask of you, can you help the young man? Can you just help the young man out? He's out there doing all he can. Whether you get a chip for the left tackle, almost every single pass play, whether you're got a, I don't know, rub some magic pixie dust on Jared Wilson to make sure he's healthy and you can solidify the left guard spot. Don't have Ben Brown out there. Whether, you know, digs and pop, those guys can separate consistently for their quarterback. That would be a great thing to see. How about the run game? How about Stevenson? Gibson.

Starting point is 00:28:36 Helping in the run game. Henderson. some impact plays from your rookie who continues to be just absolutely explosive during camp. And how about some love from Josh McDaniels in a scheme to scheme guys open if they can't separate to get those tight ends involved in the past game to utilize those running backs? Just help the young man out. Just help him out. Because given the circumstances, he showed up on Wednesday and Thursday. against one of the best defenses,

Starting point is 00:29:11 one of the most versatile defenses with an elite play caller, with things not working optimally around him. And he was good, if not really good, both days. That's how we end on a high note. That wraps up this edition of lockdown. Patriots, reach out to me on Twitter at Nick C. Radio.

Starting point is 00:29:34 Don't forget to throw a comment in on the YouTube channel, and don't forget to help us. Hit that like button, folks. The thumbs up only takes a second. Don't forget to subscribe. Those subscriptions, subscribers are climbing and climbing. Thank you for making Lockdown Patriots your first listen and for being an everydayer. For your second listen, check out Lockdown Fantasy Football with hosts Vinnie Eyre and Kate Maghuk.

Starting point is 00:29:55 Find Lockdown Fantasy Football on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. Have a great day and enjoy the game on Saturday. Thank you.

Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Update: Patriots’ Will Campbell Struggles | Drake Maye Overcomes

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