6 position battles to watch in OTAs, training camp
The New England Patriots' current roster is one of the deepest in the league which means we may have some good old fashioned position battles on our hands. Not one player's position is safe on the team (okay, maybe with the exception of Tom Brady) making this preseason a must watch for New England fans.
With OTAs finally underway, now is the perfect time to look at the best Patriots position battles to keep an eye on as we inch closer and closer to training camp.
1) TE: Austin Seferian-Jenkins vs. Matt LaCosse
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Who will be the number one tight end when the Patriots open up at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 8th? With the recent four-game suspension of Ben Watson the answer to that question becomes a bit more difficult to determine. Matt LaCosse has been taking the most reps behind Watson in OTAs, but Austin Seferian-Jenkins is an athletic tight end who has proven he can produce when he is healthy. If LaCosse or ASJ are able to separate themselves, then they may even have a chance of taking first team reps over Watson once his suspension has been served.
As we know, New England loves going to two tight end sets in their run game, so this battle may very well come down to who is the better blocker. Both LaCosse and ASJ are viewed as average blockers and known more for their receiving ability as tight ends. This position battle will have a lot to do with how each tight end performs in the trenches during the preseason.
2) LB: Elandon Roberts vs. Jamie Collins
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When Jamie Collins resigned with New England many Pats fans rejoiced. The Patriots were getting back a former All-Pro linebacker. Why shouldn't fans be happy? Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but Collins is far from the player he was when he was named second-team All-Pro in 2015. The former Browns linebacker ranked 82nd amongst LB's in 2017 and 58th in 2018 according to Pro Football Focus. There were also reports coming out of Cleveland that Collins would "roam" around the field and disregard his assignment. This should be something that New England's coaching staff can handle, but definitely a cause for concern.
The Patriots' starting linebackers are projected to be Dont'a Hightower, Kyle Van Noy and Ja'Whaun Bentley. Elandon Roberts started 11 games for the team last year, but the team seems to be a bit higher on Bentley who was out with an injury most of last season. Brandon King is also expected to contribute as a core special teamer. It is unlikely the team opts to carry six linebackers, so it looks like it could come down to Roberts and Collins for the last spot.
3) RB: Rex Burkhead vs. Damien Harris
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A lot of Patriots fans questioned the selection of Damien Harris 83rd overall. The team already had Sony Michel, James White and Rex Burkhead. Do they really need another runningback? To answer shortly - yes they do. This group struggled to stay healthy last season which forced the team to sign Kenjon Barner for a few weeks and put wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson in the backfield. With Michel and Burkhead's injury history New England wants to do everything they can to avoid that situation in the upcoming season.
While Burkhead and Harris have a strong chance of making the roster, they are going to be competing heavily for playing time. Harris does a lot of the same things that Burkhead can in terms of catching screen passes, running between the tackles and pass blocking. They have a comparable playing style, but Harris is the player with the higher ceiling. Preseason will help determine who will receive more playing time behind Michel and White.
4) DL: Danny Shelton vs. Byron Cowart
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Byron Cowart's road to make the team became a lot more difficult when New England chose to re-sign defensive tackle Danny Shelton. Cowart was drafted by the Patriots in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL draft. The former number one recruit is versatile enough to play both defensive tackle and defensive end, he just doesn't appear to be exceptional at either. He is a tad undersized to play DT and too slow to play DE.
If Cowart is able to pack on some pounds before the start of training camp then he has a legitimate chance to beat out Shelton.
Lawrence Guy, Mike Pennel and Adam Butler are all but locks to make the team leaving the last spot up for grabs as it's unlikely they carry five defensive tackles. Right now Shelton has the upperhand, but that can change if Cowart shows out in camp.
5) DB: Duke Dawson vs. Keion Crossen
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Cornerback might just be the deepest position on New England's roster. Stephon Gilmore, J.C. Jackson, rookie Joejuan Williams, Jason McCourty, Jonathan Jones, Keion Crossen and Duke Dawson round out the group. Every one of these corners belong on an NFL roster which means that the Patriots brass have a difficult decision to make come August 31st.
New England carried six corners on their roster heading into last season and we should expect more of the same heading into this season. Gilmore, Jackson, Williams, McCourty and Jones should all be safe. This leaves the last spot to be decided between Crossen and Dawson. Crossen is a valued member of the special teams unit but did not make much of an impact as a defensive back this past season. Dawson on the other hand was inactive for the entire 2018 season.
While Dawson should win this battle over Crossen a year after being selected in the second round, the former Florida Gator needs to prove he can contribute on special teams.
6) P: Jake Bailey vs. Ryan Allen
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Speaking of special teams, how about a battle between the punters? You have to save the best position battle for last.
While it's difficult to envision New England parting ways with Super Bowl star Ryan Allen, it is starting to become more and more of a reality. The team traded up to select Jake Bailey in the 5th round which may be an indication of how high they are on the former Stanford punter. Just look at the leg on this guy.
Yes, the only highlight in this entire article is an 84-yard punt.
