The New England Patriots will open their 2024 season Sunday in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Most NFL consultants and followers anticipate it to be a protracted yr for the rebuilding Pats, who’re getting into 12 months 1 of the post-Invoice Belichick period. However win-loss report apart, how will Jerod Mayo’s group look? Which gamers will set up themselves as key items of the franchise’s future?
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Forward of the Week 1 showdown in Cincinnati, Phil Perry shared his big-picture predictions for the 2024 Patriots season on a brand new episode of the Subsequent Pats Podcast.
“Managed chaos” on protection
“I will predict that the Patriots have a top-five blitz fee in 2024 with (defensive coordinator) DeMarcus Covington,” Perry stated. “How do you attempt to generate a cross rush whenever you’re lacking these studs when it comes to the expertise? You throw numbers on the drawback. … I additionally assume they belief their secondary a lot that it isn’t going to trouble them to throw further items on the cross rush.”
Massive yr for Keion White
“Keion White will lead this staff in sacks,” Perry stated. “When it comes to bodily expertise, there’s no person higher. … Going from 12 months 1 to 12 months 2, we should always solely see extra constant flashes of that bodily expertise. We noticed all of it all through camp. This man is highly effective, he’s lengthy, and I feel when he will get between the white traces he has that mindset that you just’re on the lookout for from these sorts of bullrush cross rushers that might result in large numbers from Keion White.”
Christian Gonzalez: Professional Bowler
“I am excessive on Christian Gonzalez,” Perry stated. “He didn’t have a tremendous coaching camp. I nonetheless have heard nothing however optimism about Christian Gonzalez heading into 12 months 2. … They assume he is a very good participant, and so they’re gonna want him to be a very good participant to ensure that them to maintain these video games shut and preserve this season comparatively aggressive from week to week. …
“My prediction is, in his second yr, Christian Gonzalez will make a Professional Bowl. … I feel that could be a practical — perhaps lofty, however a sensible expectation for Christian Gonzalez primarily based on the place he was drafted, what we noticed from him in flashes in opposition to wonderful competitors, and basing it off what I do know of how folks within the constructing who’re round him day by day really feel about him as a participant and his upside.”
Take heed to the total episode for all of Perry’s predictions, together with when rookie quarterback Drake Maye will see the sector.
Additionally within the episode: An in-depth dialog with Patriots defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington.
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